Time To Catch Up

It's been a long time since my last entry (which was just about some music I was listening to). My roommates Taylor and Brock have been asking when my next entry is going be. Well my friends, today is your lucky day. There's not much going on at work so I figured today was a good day to continue. Taylor and Brock: this is for you guys.

The last couple of weeks have been pretty crazy w work. A few weeks ago, our buddy Gregg hired Taylor, Brock, and I to work the MTV Video Music Awards. Pretty cool considering we hadn't done that award show yet and it's always kinda cool to have a credential that can get you to certain places the public can't (I love being able to walk up to the front of a huge line or in a crowd and just flash the badge and by pass all the suckers...errrr public). Although the 2-day work week for a pain in the ass, during the downtime, we got to walk around downtown LA and around the venue. Saw some celebrities which is always interesting. Though I didn't get to meet any big names, it was very cool to stand a couple of feet away from Johnny Knoxville and some of the other Jackass guys and Kanye West*

This past weekend, I was able to work the Jack's 5th Show concert. JACK FM is my other job. It's a classic rock station based out of culver city. They have JACK stations all over the US, and when I go home, if I'm not listening to q101, I'm usually listening to JACK (104.3 I think...it used to be the oldies station if memory serves me correctly). My ma even tries to listen to the Chicago JACK station, but I highly doubt she does unless I'm in the car. Anyways, I digress: last year was my first JACK concert. It was a riot. Even though we worked almost the entire show, I was able to cut away and check out the last 2 acts (the B-52's and Foreigner). Even met Billy Idol and George Clinton backstage. I'm not a huge fan of any of the acts, but it's always cool to flash your credentials and go backstage and bypass security. I will say that after seeing Foreigner last year, I'm a big fan now. This year, I was able to get 4 guest VIP passes for some friends, which is why I want to get into the music industry and work either booking or promotions. I love being able to hook my friends up w tickets or shirts or other kinds of shit. Being able to get concert tix for friends would be great. It's my way of showing them the fun of walking up to a line, flashing your badge or saying your name is on the guestlist and walking in w no hassle. It's little things like this that amuse me.*

This years' show was alot of fun. It's never super hard work, but it can get a little stressful at times depending on what you're doing. Don't get my wrong, it's not a cakewalk job, but as long as you can handle not freaking out and just realize that 99% of the people are either drunk, there to have a good time, or both, it makes the stress level go down. Granted I'm not in charge of anything super important, so I'm sure that helps my situation out alot. The big headliner this year was Steve Miller Band whom I was really excited to see perform. They're good live, though w no stage show, nothing spectacular. The shit part of their closing set was that it seemed about half the audience left before and during their set. So everytime they put the houselights up to show the crowd, it was thinner and thinner each time. Kinda felt bad for SMB, but I'm sure they've played to smaller crowds at county fairs). I will continue to look forward to the JACK shows as long as they keep me apart of the crew (hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying that). But it's a great time to catch up w friends and just experience a little more out of the norm that I grew up experiencing. The weekend is always a great time to truly live our JACK promotions motto: 'Work Hard, Play Hard'. Thankfully we didn't have a softball game the next day and I drove myself to Irvine, cause all day Sunday, I was a barfy-hungover mess. Great weekend!******

We finally started the softball fall/winter session the other week as well. I was really hoping to have a better session than last year when we finished 7-6 (?) and missed the playoffs for the 3rd time. We started off hot, but went on a 5 game loose streak which in the end killed us. This session, our team was jacked to play. We felt good going in, even for a 9:30a game, but in the end, took another loss to the ego and the standings. Not a great way to start the season. Luckily because of the JACK show being the 2nd week of the season, we ended up getting out bye week that same week as well, so hopefully, things will start looking up the rest of the season. I can't wait to get back to playing each week; I need to start getting back into shape and start eating healthy, cause I'm getting pretty fat. Back when I had just graduated college, because I finished in the winter, I didn't have a job lined up, so I temporarily got a job working at the local Pizza Hut cause we were friends w the manager, who went to the Derby all the time and we got to know her. I worked there a couple months and put on so much weight, cause all I would do is eat pizza and drink pop. I got so close within 2 spins on the scale, that I quit the next week. I'm getting to that point again (2 spins), so it's time to start bucking the fast food/pasta/pop/Bud heavies. I was killing it for a while w not eating fast food. I went 4 months w/o eating fast food, but maybe 2 or 3 times and now I've been eating alot of McDonalds cause it's so much cheaper and more convienent than getting hot wings everyday (which I'll gladly do). welcome back to my life Miller Lite and Tanquary (though after this past weekend, even writing the words GIN or BEEFEATER is giving me a headache).********

Really looking forward to this weekend. Last year, I went to an Angels game w a college buddy and ran into another college friend who lived in Irvine w her husband. Their seats were 2nd row behind the visitor's bullpen and they invited us to join them as their friends never showed up for that game. Because it was so late in the 2009 season, I assured them that if the following year they get the same tickets, I'll buy the White Sox series. So about 2 months before spring training this year, I got a phone call from Hilary (my friend) asking me if I still wanted them to get the White Sox series tix. 9 months later, here I am with their seats to the Sat and Sun games. They didn't get Fridays game, which is fine, cause I ended up getting tix for that game from a lady on craigslist who was selling 8 so now I'm taking some other friends (different seats, but should still be a good view nonetheless). I might as well get a hotel in Anaheim this weekend, cause I'm gonna be driving down there alot. The only bummer is that the Sox have sucked so badly the past 2 1/2 weeks, we're completely out of the playoff race unless by GOD's merciful hand, we win out and the Twins loose every single remaining game. I doubt this will happen, but either way, it'll be fun to finally see the ChiSox play this year. I think i've maybe seen 5 or 6 games all year on TV. We are the only people I know in LA that don't get WGN. So I usually only catch highlights on SportsCenter or on the White Sox website.*

Gonna wrap this entry up soon. Hopefully I'll get to add another entry later this week. I've been going to a couple food websites every now and again and bookmarking recipes. I made chili last week which didn't turn out very good. I might've used too much wine cause it had a very winey taste that didn't match the way I was hoping and there wasn't really any kick to it, even though I added diced jalapenos. I was hoping to get the consistancy of Weinerschnitzal chili or Yesterdog chili. Failed miserably. Guess I gotta go back to the drawing board.*

Yesterday, Sunday, Taylor, Brock, and Vegas Greg went to a little place in Playa Del Rey that serves a 2 lb. burger. Usually when I'm hungover, I can't eat, but the homemade cherry coke helped a bit so I ate a little bit. Feel like a jackass when we order the big burger cause when they bring it out, people stare. Some lady even took a picture of us w them (we had 4 guys w 4 2-lb. Desperado Burgers...we looked like freaks). I'll be eating that burger the rest of the week. It's a really good burger (the bun is made of Hawaiian Bread), but it's next to impossible to get through.*

Currently listening to: Billy Talent - "Fallen Leaves" and "The Devil On My Shoulder"
                                Robert Plant - "Angel Dance"
                                Everything in Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' catalog
                               
*My head is still hurting from this weekend. gin sounds disgusting to me right now. I didn't drink any tequila at all this weekend, rediscovered my love for Coors Light, but can't think about drinking any right now. I need a water, excedrin, gatorade, an ice-blended coffee, and maybe an Arnold Palmer to rehydrate after this weekend. Then I'll be fully functionable.

New Music

Just a quick note of music I've been listening to lately. A post will happen shortly. Too much going on (i.e. fantasy football).

Currently listening to: Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio) - Demos
                                Street Sweeper Social Club - Ghetto Blaster E.P.
                                Gogol Bordello - Trans-Continental Hustle
                               

Great Week

Last week was a whirlwind. I took a nice little vacation last week to go to my buddies wedding in WI. Having Jimmy in LA was a riot, didn't get much sleep, though I was expecting it. So early Wed AM, my buddy Gregg dropped me off at the airport and hour before my flight...my mistake, as I missed boarding my flight. So I sat at LAX for a couple of hours just killing time. When I finally got onto a plane, instead of going to MINN/St. Paul, my new plans were to fly to Detroit. The flight to detroit wasn't too bad and the flight from detroit to GR was quick. Finally arrived in GR where my brother Lance and his girlfriend Shawn picked me up and took me out for dinner at The Greenwell which was so good. After dinner they dropped me off at my buddies place where I used to live and Seegs and I went to the Derby. Met some friends there and it was like old times.

We decided to leave for WI a few hours earlier, so Seegs, Max, Trav, and I hopped into a car and took off. It was a good little road trip through the UP of MI. Gorgeous weather. Max introduced us to the Trailer Park Boys, which I had seen earlier by an old roommate, I thought it was dumb at first, but then the more I watched the funnier it got. my love for Canadians increases yet again. Once we got to the Beacons in WI (where the wedding was), we met up w most of our other friends. It was awesome to see familiar faces and catch up over some drinks. I didn't take any pictures which was dumb on my part cause I had my camera, but oh well.

The long weekend was awesome; seeing friends and their parents and celebrating yet another wedding. I've never cried at a wedding, but Jon's speech got to everyone and I dont think there was a dry eye in the house. The food was the next best part as it was the best food I've ever had at a wedding. I had to stop eating or I wouldn't be able to drink. But I was drinking wine all night, so that worked out in my favor. Huiz makes his own wine and it was very good. I'm not a big wine drinker, so the less it tastes like real wine, the better in my opinion. A special thanks to Drew, Evie, Huiz, Steph, Seegs, Max, Trav, Doug, Lindsey, Roede, Jer, Karlee, Dave, Dana, Kurt, Kylee, Matt, Alexis, Jon, Tom, Liz, Jill, AJ, Anna, Sara, Getz, Shari, K-Bomb, Stacey, and of course Andy and Lindsay. If I forgot anyone, sorry. It was good seeing almost everyone I wanted to while back in GR. (I bet only 1 or 2 of those people will ever read this anyways).

It was sad to say goodbye to everyone when we left. I caught a ride home with Matt and Alexis back through Chicago. I texted Huiz and we were both depressed on the way home. It's just a bummer that we miss out on so much as we grow older. People get married and have kids which is awesome, and it definitely gives us another reason to get together and celebrate.

I was dropped off at my sister Linnay and brother in law Matt's place in Munster just in time to celebrate my nephew and my bdays. It was good to see the whole family and I got to finally meet my 2 new nephews (Elliot and Jake). Kaylee, Simon, Cameron, and Adam are growing up really fast and are a hilarious bunch. Again sorry for the lack of pictures.

Monday morning, I went golfing w my dad on their course they live on. It was good to swing the sticks again, but even better to spend time w him doing something he loves. I like golf, but I'm awful at it. But it was a good time to spend together and play sports like when we used to play catch everyday when we lived in Highland.

from the cart.

I went to hang out w a couple of friends in IL Mon night. It was good to see Joe, TK, Vinke, and Brock. We were goign to go see another buddy who was in the hospital, but his nurse didnt' think he should have visitors. I got White Castle on the way home. I'm a dick, cause I do have pictures of that.

So good.

 

 

 

My parents dropped me off at Midway tues morning. I was hanging out at my terminal people watching as I thought about the White Sox. They were playing in KC the day earlier and I thought how cool it'd be to see the players walking through. Literally 10 minutes later, Ozzie Guillen walked by. I grabbed my backpack and took off like a mad man after him, I caught him and his wife on the walking excalator, and asked for a picture. He obliged, but said he was in a hurry as he kept walking. I was so nervouse trying to get my camera out of my bag. Finally, we go to the end of the excalator and posed for a pic, I was shaking cause I was so nervous and then some lady behind us started chirping "Don't stop....Keep moving!!!" Ozzie angrily turned to her as she kept yelled and snapped back "So?!?!" I guess you had to be there to enjoy it, but he was not happy. I took the worse picture of my life and Ozzie shook my hand and told me to have a good day. I told him it was awesome to finally meet him and he again shook my hand and headed off.

me and Ozzie at Midway

It was a perfect end to a great trip. Back to sunny LA. I'm glad to have seen most people I wanted and it's always great to get back to the midwest, but I'm sure as hell happy to be back home in CA.

WINN-ZOER

Got a new phone cause the old one broke. I went to Verizon to get it fixed/replaced, but was luckily due for an upgrade. Landed the Bold. Love it. It's rad. Though i have to make sure to close all apps cause it eats up my battery fast and I hate when that happens. I also hate the people that work at Verizon Wireless on Wilshire and 26th in Santa Monica. They are all worthless. I'll go to the cute girl in Burbank who's from WI from now on.

The past couple of days have been a blur. Literally it's been blurry. My buddy Jimmy Winn was in town on vacation and we partied like we were back in college. We haven't seen each other in 3 or 4 years, so it was quite the scene. I unfortunatly had to work while he was here, but that didn't stop me from enjoying his company and going out and destroying all that were in our path. He arrived Sunday morning and after a low key afternoon or TV and naps, we headed to Q's (a local bar where Taylor plays beer pong every week) to start the partying. But before going to Q's we ran to to the store and grabbed some tequila. There was an unbelievable sale on 1800, so grabbed that and headed home. After putting down 5 or 6 shots at home, we went to Q's to meet up w my buddies Gregg and Matt for beer pong. A couple more shots of tequila and 2 pitchers of beers later, neither of us remember how we ended up at taco truck. Work was gross the next day. I wasn't hungover, but i wasn't normal.

Finally when the work day ended, I headed home to find Jimmy and our buddy Marc (who lives in Redlands now, but is a friend from Illiana) lounging at our apt. A quick little dinner and the rest of the 1800 and we were off to Hollywood. More tequila and some cocktails and beers and what'd ya know, we were back at taco truck. Great night, 3 hours of sleep, and being pretty drunk at work as I sit here trying to concentrate enough to finish this entry. It sounds like I drink alot. I don't. I hardly drink, especially during the weekdays. But a friend was in town. I'll always be up for partying if friends are in town. My liver needs some time to recover now. But I leave for Grand Rapids tomorrow at 5:30a for Andy and Lindsay's wedding in WI and to visit family and friends the rest of the week. It's been a great past couple of nights. Here's to a great couple more this weekend. Cheers!

Currently listening to: The Good, The Bad, & The Queen, tons of Arcade Fire, old Gorillaz, & Queens of the Stone Age live material

Music

I don't have anything new to write about. I downloaded a shit ton of music the past couple of days at work. All I do is listen to a podcast (Dan Patrick) and download music from piratebay.org.

Currently listening to: Franz Nicolay - "Major General".   Just go buy the album. He's the former keyboardest for The Hold Steady. "Major General" is his debut from last year. He will be releasing his follow-up this Oct. It's entitled "Luck & Courage". It's an awesome title and an even better album cover.

awesome album cover

Another lazy Sunday

It's Sunday and I don't feel like making food, so my plans for today are to go outside and maybe swim in our pool for a bit and then go get a burrito. Living in CA has been awesome since I love Mexican food so much. I don't know if I can consider it my favorite food, but it's up there. There's a place by Taylor and my old place on Bundy and Wilshire, that's like 2 blocks away on Bundy and Santa Monica. It's called Taco Plus. Some of the best Mexican food ever. Their burritos are huge and so good.  There's also tons of food trucks in LA which has become the new food fad in the US. I've only been to a couple, but they are always so good, especially coming out of the bars. Best tacos I've ever had. In GR, whenever I stumbled out of the bars, there was always a hot dog vendor 5 feet from the entrance. Out here, there's food tucks (roach coaches) and bacon-wrapped hot dog stands which are also awesome. Especially with the jalopenos. Not so much w the mayonaise. I've actually haven't tried it, but it just sounds disgusting- though I'm sure it does taste good. I mean, if you're eating a hot dog, you might as well put some mayo on it, it's not like you can make a hot dog healthy, right? Nothing wrong w adding lard to bits and pieces that are leftover from pork products.

Most weekends, I sit at home and completely veg out. I'm serious. From the time I get home on Friday night from work until Mon morning when I leave for work, I usually watch TV and take naps. I don't feel too bad about this, until I actually go outside to get a c.d. out of my car and I realize how nice it is. Sunday's we usually have softball, but our season just ended and we didn't make playoffs and our next season doesn't start for a couple more weeks. So now it's back to watching tv and taking naps all weekend. I'm currently watching pop-up video. I forgot how awesome it is. I also forgot how annoying the little sound effects are when the facts pop up.

I just wanted to drop a little note, cause I was watching tv. I'm gonna go outside and swim for a bit and have a couple beers since it's most likely 80 degrees outside and i'm inside in the dark. I figured out how to post pictures, so hopefully I'll be able to take more pictures and post interesting ones. For sure when I'm back home and at my buddy's wedding.

our pool at 11423 Ohio.

Currently listening to: Iggy Pop & The Stooges - Down on the Street (check out the RATM version). This is one of my favorite songs.

NO H8

A CA judge finally overturned Prop 8 yesterday. A huge sigh of relief literally went through southern ca. This is a huge step for the movement of anti-discrimination. Obviously it'll be fought and end up in the Supreme Court, where I'm confident the ban on prop 8 will be upheld. I'm big on human rights. Whether or not you agree with the issue, equality and the right to be joined in union w someone you love is a BASIC human right. Americans pride themselves on being progressive: Civil rights for blacks, women, and now G&L. Progressiveness is a something that can always be improved. Ignorance is the thing that needs to be squashed.

The last couple of weeks, I've been paying attention alot more to the political scale (prop 8, sb1070, etc). When I used to live back in MI, without fail, i would be engaged in at least 1 argument per week w my friends either about politics, religion, sports, etc. These most likely were always alcohol-fueled, but not all the time. I grew up in a pretty conservative area of the US. Mostly dutch, white kids from fairly to very well-off upbringings. Everyone was very blue collar; some people had alot more than others, but everyone has that midwestern work ethic that shines through. People where I'm from pride themselves on that work ethic, as we should. Anyways, arguments every week back in college and post college w friends. I am on complete opposite sides of many of my really good friends. I don't hold this against them, and I hope they don't hold my political leanings against me. I've always thought and mostly gone against the grain. I have no problem w that. I know alot of my friends used to say that I did it just to be different and not to conform. I used to despise when they would say that. But there was some truth to that: I was different. Sure, we had the same upbring and background, but we think differently. There's nothing wrong with that obviously. Of course I think they're wrong and I'm right on some issues and vice versa. but that's completely subjective. As mad and frustrated as I would get during/after these arguments was that it was so cool to be so open with my friends. Yes, sometimes (almost all the time) these arguments would get explosive, turning from calm explanations to yelling matches. But 99% of the time, by the end of the night and after a couple more beers, all would be fine. That's why I think we all got along as well as we did. We didn't always agree on things and arguments became part of our friendship, but I know I would bring up some valid points and they would also bring up some valid points too. What was good was that we listened, argued the shit out of the statements, agree to disagree and still be friends at the end of the night. Maybe, not everyone feels the same as me. Maybe these guys think i'm the biggest asshole in the world. Maybe I'm truly some ignorant shit that doesn't know when to shut up. At least I hope I still have friends back home...Uh oh, better make sure that plane ticket is refundable...

But in all seriousness, I love my family and friends and I miss them more than i can ever say in words. Every week I try to get someone to move out here. I've made some awesome friends out here. Life long friends. And even some people I knew from growing up in IN and MI live in LA too. So it's great to see them everytime we get together. It would just be cool if more would follow. I know that it's next to impossible for many that have family, wives/husbands/kids, jobs and it's expensive as shit. But for now, you better believe I ain't moving back anytime soon.

I've been getting some awesome feedback on the blog so far. To be honest, I didn't think I'd make it this long. I think this is pretty nerdy and to be this open with anyone who reads it, is a bit unnerving. But I'm enjoying this so far. It's cool to let people know what I think and get to experience while on the opposite side of the US without having to tell the same story over (while forgetting bits and pieces which i do all the time) and bore people to death w things i think are cool. but others could care less about. Don't know how to post pictures, anyone know how to do it? Not that I have a ton that aren't on facebook. I hardly use my camera anymore, but maybe if i can figure how to post pics, I'll start to use it more often. If you have any suggestions/stories/questions/etc you want me to address, let me know. Id love to have a mailbox full of shit i can write about on here.

How about them White Sox? some of my buddies have been texting me about them. I unfortunately don't get to catch many games as I'm usually working when they play and we are the only ones in LA that don't get WGN in our package. However, the other week my buddy informed me that we do get the MLB network which I watch more than ESPN now. I could watch baseball highlights all day. Does anyone else watch 'The Club'? Sooooooo good. Biased because it's about the ChiSox, but if it was about the pirates, I'd prob still watch. You can ask my buddy Nardo and he'll agree that I'm the biggest pessimist. in '05 when the Sox were in the world series and up 3 games to none, I was still nervous. I'm not as uptight anymore, it's more that i'm superstitious. so i try not to jinx anything good that's happening in my life, whether it has any direct effect in my personal life or not, i'm still superstitious. I won't take a certain way home if i have a feeling a cop is there. or I'll grab a box of cereal from behind the first one on the shelf cause i think it'll taste better. Im weird. you should all know this. besides, you're the freaks reading this weirdos' thoughts.

I just got done reading Ozzy Osbourne's book. It's awesome. My buddy Matt got it for me from his work. I feel oddly connected to Ozzy. Not like in a truly personal way, but just like 6 degrees of kevin bacon way. I was never really a huge fan of Ozzy until I would watch 'The Osbournes' reality show while in high school ( i think i was in h.s.). He was a bumbling idiot who everyone's parents in the midwest were afraid of. And now, here's this show full of cuss words w his family just being a normal (as normal as you can be when you're a rock icon) family. They really were fairly normal family. Anyways, after I had moved to LA and been out of work for a couple of days, I got an interview at a radio station. What i didn't know was that the station i was at was also the same station where KROQ was located. Until I walked in and saw the KROQ sign in the lobby. I was listening to KROQ's morning show on my way to the interview and Sharon and Kelly Osbourne were being interviewed. Didn't think twice of it until I walked in. As I'm waiting, out come Sharon and Kelly bullshitting with their assistants and the radio people. The next instance was on the next reality show I worked on for MTV. Our EP (executive producer) of the show, JT, was one of the masterminds behind 'The Osbournes'. So he had a couple of stories about Ozzy and the family. He wasn't a name dropper, so he didn't delve into the details, which I respected. As we were in post-production, JT's buddy Jack would drive his Aston Martin up to our office and come in for meetings. The sexiest car I've ever seen. Now, just hoping to finally meet the man himself. His book was unbelievable and now he's one of the people I want to meet before he or I die (this list includes MJ, Junior Griffey, Jim Rome, Larry David, Dave Grohl, Ozzie Guillen, Eddie Vedder. People I'll have to wait for: Johnny Cash, Joe Strummer, MLK Jr.).

Currently listening to: The Henry Clay People - "You're Famous Friends"
Go buy: The Deftones - 'Diamond Eyes' and The Henry Clay People - 'Somewhere on the Golden Coast'