Morning after before

Day 2

Coffee and homemade cinnamon rolls.

Fire in the disco

Family Reunion 2012

Just outside of lawrence KS

Traveling

Here's angela in our rented motor home as we make our way to wilson lake in western kansas.
We flew to kansas city and now we travel west by motorhome to meet my mother's family for a reunion. Wilson lake is our old stomping ground from childhood. Very exciting stuff.

Proof

Panceiling

Ronnie's nuts!

On our way to adams family musical

At the pantages

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Glassy K

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Window K

Good morning

I'm in malibu helping my friend K with his studio construction. Yesterday was productive and fun. Its also quiet here, one could even say peaceful, which is a feeling I don't get to have with any regularity. I'm having coffee in my pj's and watching the pacific ocean do its thing.

I think this one is Maisie

The Seamonster at Work

A good day of construction thus far.

Boudica

More

Drywall on the ceiling of the control room.

Made it!

Heading out to see the seamonster

Frusciante loves a little spot.

Simone the Survivor

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Hey Citizen - Dark Matinee

Of Many Mini Marathons

I've been thinking about energy and it's expenditure and time. I am more aware of the limits of time than I used to be. The awareness at times reaches a delicate paranoia. Tied to my awareness of time is an observance of the use of energy. I perhaps counted too many calories early this year. I think about what it takes to keep me moving, and I'm afraid of the days when I won't be able to continue the pace of life that I feel I need to maintain in order to accomplish the things I want to do in the time allotted.

Friday I brought a back pack to work with running clothes and I wore my running shoes. At the end of my work day I changed into my clothes and loaded up my pack and ran the 8.5 miles from the office in the San Fernando Valley to our apartment in Hollywood. I didn't realize how much difference a pack on your back can make. It was hot and it was pretty tiring while doing it. It felt great. I've decided a point a to point b run is far more satisfying than running a large loop.

After my run I took a nice bath and read from "The World According to Garp." It was nice to soak in the hello kitty bubble bath and be off my legs.

After my bath it was time to get back to work. With our debut show coming on sunday there was much to be done. I brought the bass drum up from the garage and used paint thinner to remove paint from the drum, which it acquired during this video shoot:

Angela had a plan for using Mod Podge and glitter to redecorate the tarnished set and bring it new life. I was skeptical, but as you can see for yourself, she did an excellent job. She worked on it from Friday night until Sunday morning, leaving just enough time to allow for drying.

Following the paint thinner fun I locked myself up in my room to practice all three musical sets for the show. I love feeling prepared, it makes the performance experience so much enjoyable.

Finally my Friday ended with dinner and part of a stupid movie on the couch. Falling swiftly asleep just after midnight.

Saturday morning I awoke to the sound of Angela working away on her drums. I pulled a pillow over my head and slept another hour. I pulled myself out of bed and got a cup of coffee. I read some news on the Ipad and Angela made waffles. A fine way to begin a busy day. After breakfast I cleaned the kitchen and saw to Simone. There is still daily medicine to give him and I know watch him eat. I have to protect his food from our other cat frusciante, the fat bandit.

I ran through the musical sets again and then lifted weights for 40 minutes. While I did this Angela drove to the craft store for more Mod Podge and Glitter. I showered and dressed and started locating the various amounts of gear required for the show. As soon as Angela returned I met her by the garage and loaded up all the gear. My truck is just big enough to haul all the items needed.

as we tried to pull out of the driveway my truck bucked and let me know that it was out of gas. It wasn't actually out of gas, it was just parked with the rear of the vehicle above the front which makes the gas slosh to the front and away from the intake. A stranger helped us push our overloaded truck onto the flat street where it then started.

setting up for rehearsal was stressful. The Palms isn't really set up for live bands, but I hack the sound together with what I have and at the end it's complicated as shit but it works. Several friends showed up just as Turbo was ready to run through out set. This made me far more nervous than I would have liked. It was actually better for show day that we got some of this out before, still tough. After Turbo we rehearsed the Invisible Material set and finally the Devin Tait set. Everything went well and sounded good to my ears. I was happy.

We got to store some gear out back on the patio after rehearsal, thus saving a lot of hauling. I had not been back to the patio/deck in many years. I have many strange and sometimes extreme memories of the beer bust back in the day, say 2001, 2002? The patio has fallen into disrepair, it was an odd sensation. Funny that Devin and I would be the ones to bring a Sunday beer bust back to the palms, even if just for a day.

Saturday night was chores, chores and more chores. I made dinner for Angela while she struggled away on her drums. We were both beat by the end of the day. I rubbed her feet and she fell deep asleep. I could not sleep. I read until my eyes were tired, and that still did not do the trick. Finally I just laid down and counted myself asleep.

The big day finally arrived. Angie was still working on the drums. I painted her headphones read for her. I went to guitar center for strings and while I was there I bought her a set of red glitter drum sticks, it just made sense.

set up at the palms went smooth, being able to rehearse at the venue was a big bonus. We did a quick sound check after set up and then prepped our selves in the dressing room below.

People slowly began to trickle in. I was surprised in the end by the turn out we had. As we took the stage I was thrilled to see so many of our wonderful friends in the audience. I was slightly nervous but I felt ready. Our first song started. I was not happy with my guitar tone/level. It was fine. I played well. Before our second song I turned up my amp. We played "I need a Priest" second. It went very well by all accounts. I was slightly behind my queue coming in on the second verse. Angela and I were probably the only people that could tell. Our third song "Welcome to the Fallout" was a slight disaster. verses fine but falling apart in the first chorus. My guitar somehow massively out of tune. I used the second verse to sing and tune. Second chorus slightly better. The rest of the song was then only OK. "Beat of the Broken Hearted" went well. I looked over at Angela singing, all blond hair and sequins and light. Stunning. We closed with "Doom Sensation" it felt great, tight. Relief.

No time for real relief. Change over for my Brother's band. I changed hats so that I could hide under the brim and just play bass. This plan worked perfectly. Devin's set was so much fun. People really got into his Mashup of Sweet Dream/Sunglasses at Night. I had fun.

Another change over and Invisible Material. I'm pretty beat by this point and not hearing so well anymore. We bashed out the set and that was that.

Tired, happy, thrilled with my friends, starving. Dreaded spaghetti of cords all over the floor. Wrap up, pack up and load out.

Some friends are going to a store opening down the street. I hear there is food and free drinks. I go for the food. There is no food. I get 2 free pairs of underwear. I'm happy. I'm tired.

Finally we drive home. We get a 6 pack which I really need. I unload the gear and Angela showers. I shower. We text people and watch TV and drink some beer. Angie makes tofu sandwiches. We eat and we watch TV and we finally sleep.

Me

Exhausted and starving but happy. Dark matinee was a success as far as I'm concerned. Our bar was happy and so seems to be our friends. First turbo show down. Time for a little bit of quiet reflection and resting. Or not.

2 hours to go!

Show day sunshine

Dark Matinee reherasal day

Still (livin') Life

I'm pretty excited for the debut of my band this weekend. I'm excited to go camp at Lake Wilson in Kansas for a reunion of my Mother's side of the family. Good Times.

The Good and the Bad Things with Simone.

Our most beloved cat Simone was scary sick all last week. After several trips to the vet, some messy rounds of assisted feeding and medication he seems to be on the mend. He was diagnosed with Hyper Thyroid. He had lost a fair amount of weight and his appetite all but stopped. He is still being picky about food, I've taking to waking early than I'm accustomed in order to see that he eats. It's getting better though and I am just happy to live in an age where animals have access to healthcare.

As you could see from the pictures Angela and I went to Palm Springs this past saturday/sunday. Angela's friend from San Diego got married at the Ace Hotel in a fun, informal ceremony. This was my first overnight visit to Palm Springs. We were talking about coming back before we even left the city limits on Sunday. For a holiday weekend both the drive too and from were very much free of traffic. Our accommodations at the Palm Canyon Travel Lodge were exactly as advertised, afford-ably hip~! The landscape around Palm Springs makes me feel at peace. I really do adore the West of the States. It is certainly where I feel most at home.

The set list for the inaugural Turbo Sunshine show has finally been settled. 1. Hey Citizen 2. I Need A Priest 3. Welcome to the Fallout 4. Beat of the Broken Hearted 5. Doom Sensation

Angela has been hired full-time/permanent at her new job. I'm so proud of her. I'm looking forward to seeing where this new journey takes her. It's been nothing but hard work and no reward for her for the past couple years, and now it's finally starting to pay off. yep, good things.

Memo day at Jennns

Pool time

Yeah travelodge

Andscape

Ele!

Off to palm springs!

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Turbo Songshine

Dark Matinee

Ladies and Gentlemen

The first ever Turbo Sunshine gig!

I'm the lead singer of the first band.  The bass player of the second band.  The guitar player of the third.  This is going to be a really fun day for me!

Always press record

Trip 2

Turbo Gear Truck

Things I find in my books

I have started reading The World According To Garp again.  I picked up my well worn copy, complete with missing cover and started to read.  I do love the book.  As I finished my first session of reading I leafed through the pages to find something to mark my spot, and I came across the item pictured above.  It's a second hand book.  I really like to think this particular book has been to Norway when I have not.  

This particular book mark happens to be a ticket stub to a funicular.  It's the most popular tourist attraction in Bergen, Norway.  

Floibanen Funicular

I'm at devins job before he is.

Tigre Fino fine arts !!!

Look Where We Could Be Headed

Free River.

What we do best

Walk a Smile

I'm on the subway, just leaving North Hollywood. I'm glad the train is gaining speed and volume as it means I'll no longer have to hear the conversation taking place in the seat in front of me. Already they are drowned out. I walk here after work because Angela had a job interview today in Westwood, and she then drove across town to eagle rock to help our friend Tiger prepare his art space for a show. I'm on the redline headed down town, where I will then transfer to the gold line so that I can meet her there.
Sometimes it feels like a pain in the ass to always be making plans and doing things after work but I realize on days like this how good for me it is. Breaking a routine is good for my mind, and it gives me new thoughts.
As I walked from work to the subway today I was thinking about an article I read which talked about how the act of smiling can make you feel happiness, even if you were not happy prior to smiling. I report anecdotally that is worked. To be fair I was already happy to be out for a walk on a beautiful day, but it made me feel even better to smile as I walked. I even started a game where I would try to make eye contact with people as I passed by them, and I would smile big at them as I did, they nearly all smiled back, it was good fun.
I'm at hollywood and vine, under where my brother works. Hi devin.

The subway car is now full. I wonder how much it weighs.

Wild Nights

I can't stop

Taking photos of this cat.

First Turbo Photo Shoot

Well... Sorta

American Quicksand

The title of this post is the most recent Turbo Sunshine song. Turbo Sunshine is the band I've been working on with Dolly Dagger and Devin Tait. I like this new song a lot. Tonight I was forced to play it for a couple of friends. It was a nice feeling because they both really liked it. I really like it.