A BLOG ABOUT nothing

2012-01-25T13:02:00.001-08:00

Our Front Yard

2012-01-15T23:11:00.000-08:00

Jamie would be so proud...

I did this 12x12 in two nights.

I guess I got the painting bug. Don't worry, it's gone now. Somehow I got the idea that I wanted to paint a picture of Presley. So I did a couple thumbnails to get it sorted out. I thought it would be cute to capture her with her best friend, Mr. Bunny. Then I thought to myself, it can't just be of them alone. What to fill the negative space with? Trees. I like trees. She likes trees. We play outside on the lawn everyday. It has 3 big beautiful trees. Right now is winter and all their leaves are yellow, orange, red and brown and all over the yard. Presley loves to romp and stomp through them. I guess I got a little too caught up in capturing the trees that the focus came away from my original intent. Steph said if I were to paint in the image of Presley holding her bunny that it would look out of place now that the trees were given such a bold treatment. I think she's right. Looks like my first painting of Presley will have to wait.

Finally Finished

2012-01-10T09:59:00.000-08:00

Alright Hamers and Blakes, just a mere ten months after taking your advice and going with "the one with the circles" I bring you an actual physical completed painting above our couch! At this rate I'd be willing to let it go for a slick $50k.

Happy New Year

2012-01-08T22:33:00.001-08:00

Turning 1

2012-01-02T15:48:00.000-08:00

On the left is my mother on her first birthday. On the right is my daughter on her first birthday.

The Amazing Chuck Close

2011-12-29T10:08:00.000-08:00

I first saw Chuck Close's work while Steph and I were on our Honeymoon in San Francisco and took a trip to the MOMA. I was blown away at the viewer's participation level. We turned the corner and it was on the same wall, so I got an up close look at this massive painting that was double my hight. All I saw were mostly red shapes. As I walled backward this image of the artist himself began to appear. I took 2 or 3 trips to the painting and away to really get the full effect. It was both abstract and realistic all at the same time. Mind blowing.

I really wanted to let Chuck Close's work speak for itself, but his paintings are just so interesting. I did a zoom-out, regular size, and multiple zoom-ins on this self portrait to really showcase where his genius presents itself. I find it mind boggling that a human brain can paint with such depth, color, dimension and emotion with just little odd-colored squares and circles. One tidbit of information, he works from the confines of a wheelchair.

In motion here!

Audrey Kawasaki

2011-12-25T13:43:00.000-08:00

I love the juxtaposition between the soft feminine and the bizarre sometimes grotesque.

Why must I always fall in love with artists whose work I could never afford? (Andy Warhol, Piero Fornasetti, Chuck Close, Jackson Pollack and now Audrey Kawasaki.) Just once, I wish I could find paintings I love on Etsy or Craigslist by Uncle Buck who paints with his feet and lives in a van down by the river and sells his work for $4 and a pack of cigarettes.

Merry Christmas Everyone

2011-12-24T21:03:00.001-08:00

Presley Turns One

2011-12-19T16:14:00.000-08:00

Our baby girl is getting so big!

More about the Eames

2011-12-07T19:33:00.001-08:00

I have to repost this from one of my favorite blogs, Doorsixteen. I've posted before (here) about how I have much respect for Charles and Ray and their artistic contribution to America and the world. But Anna from Doorsixteen found this video of rap icon Ice Cube giveing a "shout out" to the Eames'. Classic.

Did you know that Ice Cube studied architectural drafting before getting into rap? Yeah, me neither, but apparently he did, and now he’d like to tell you why he loves Los Angeles…and why he loves Charles and Ray Eames.

I like this a lot. I enjoy when my interests fold in on each other in unexpected ways.

Speaking of which, have you seen Eames: The Architect and the Painter yet? Evan and I went to see it at theIFC Center a couple of weeks ago, and we really enjoyed it. The movie (narrated by James Franco, yay!) more about their lives, motivations and work processes than it is an exhaustive look at their output, and that’s what makes it so interesting. If you have the chance to see it in the theater, GO. It’s a fun hour and twenty minutes.

If you can’t see the movie in the theater, you can catch it on December 19th at 10:00pm on the PBS series “American Masters,” and after that on PBS on demand.

TCBINW #4

2011-11-30T14:06:00.001-08:00

Mixed Martial Arts

2011-11-29T14:25:00.001-08:00

I've tried to not get into UFC and the like for years, but it seems the universe wanted me in. I guess it starts with my mom taking me to my first (and only) karate class when I was about 7-8. The great dragon master (or whatever they call themselves) made me take off me Sears department store issued belt that came with my sweet karate outfit.... I cried in the car and never went back again. I can laugh about it now. Just now though.
Well, fast forward a few years and my buddy Jermaine invited Steph and I to watch a UFC event where San Luis Obispo's own Chuck Liddell knocked out his opponent just a few seconds into the first round.
Skip ahead a handful more years and my buddy Brandon invited a bunch of us over to his place to see Cain Velasquez show Brock Lesnar who's boss in nearly the same fashion.
I think it was that last one, mixed with the new fatherhood feelings I was having to develop the means to protect my growing family that made it all come together for me. When Presley was born I had the strong feeling that she needed to be enrolled in some form of self defense classes when she is old enough. I want her to be able to protect herself when I'm not there to do it for her. Then I started thinking, "Can I really protect my family if the situation arises?" No matter how much I have that husbandly/fatherly drive to do so, I'm not sure I can. I mean, I've never been in an actual fight in my entire life. (I guess you could say I've been a lover not a fighter - haha) All the while my best bud Jimmy has been into MMA for a bunch of years.
So here we are. I started looking at You Tube videos on self defense and that lead into looking at videos of various martial arts fighting each other in tournaments. The more I watched and read into it, the more I realized there were two aspects of fighting. The standing-up (striking) and the ground game (grappling). Which was the best? If I was to learn something, what would be most effective in protecting myself and my family? There were so many to choose from. Karate, Judo, Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, Jiu Juitsu, Kung Fu, Savate, Boxing, Wrestling, etc. I slowly began to realize there were two front runners. Muay Thai Kickboxing for standing/striking and Brazilian Jui Jitsu for ground/grappling. I asked my buddy Brandon one day about all the hoopla concerning the different fighting styles and the UFC. He said that the conclusion that I came to was the very conclusion that many professional fighter came to. To be most effective, it is necessary to train in multiple disciplines. Take the best of each fighting style, leave out the parts that don't work, and mix it all together into one efficient bag of tricks. Thus you have the birth of the term "Mixed Martial Arts," now the newest fighting style aptly named MMA. Ahhh, I see now.
Where does this leave me? Well, I've decided that when I'm done with school and have more time, that I'll enroll in a class or two and see where this takes me. In the mean time, I've become a UFC fan.... quite accidently.

Jay Z

2011-11-09T10:38:00.000-08:00

I don't know why, but I've been really getting into Jay Z lately. I think it started with Steph watching the video "Empire State of Mind" everyday before she went to New York. One thing that I love about this video, aside from the Mad Max styled Maybach, is the quick cameo. Did you catch it? It's Aziz Ansari!

La Vaca

2011-10-21T22:47:00.000-07:00

Avila Valley Barn

2011-08-11T10:47:00.001-07:00

A tribute to my favorite movie.

Jamaican Ska

2011-07-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues that the creators picked up on radio from the American South. By the early 1960s, ska was the dominant music genre of Jamaica. Typically the history of ska is divided into three periods: the original Jamaican scene of the 1960s (First Wave), the English 2 Tone ska revival of the late 1970s (Second Wave) and the third wave ska movement, which started in the late1980s in southern Califonrnia (Third Wave) and rose to popularity in the US in the 1990s.

TCBITW #3

2011-07-14T16:28:00.001-07:00

The English Beat

2011-07-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

On Memorial Day weekend Steph and I decided to head out to the Cliffs Resort to go see The English Beat. I honestly didn't think there'd be that many people there. Think of Pismo/Shell Beach as a sort of Costa Mesa/Huntington Beach kind of place. Not exactly the ska crowd, I thought. While there were actually a handful of real rudies, there were probably 1-2 thousand people there. It was really great. Great weather, great views of the ocean off the cliffs, and a great band. This was our first time seeing The Beat after being introduced to them in high school. Today, the two original singers Dave Wakeling (British) and Ranking Roger (Jamaican) each front the band on two continents. Dave tours with The English Beat in the U.S. and Roger tours with The Beat in the U.K. Although Dave (white shirt) is the only founding member of the band in the show we went to, they still played all their hits from over the years. This video I posted is a new song by their backup singer. Good times!

TCBITW #2

2011-06-19T22:45:00.000-07:00

This is me and my wonderful daughter Presley on our first Father's Day 2011. She is wearing a dress someone knitted for my mom when she was pregnant with me, when she didn't know what gender I was. Mom mom saved it all these years incase I had a girl. : ) Presley is also standing on my first blanket as a newborn. Thanks go to my amazing wife for my amazing life. I love my girls.

The Cutest Baby in the World (TCBITW) #1

2011-06-14T16:51:00.000-07:00

Our Beautiful Central Coast

2011-06-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

To those of you who visit this blog (yes, all two and a half of you) and are not from the Central Coast, this is a video of San Luis Obispo County. Steph and I live in Santa Maria, which is a stone's throw across the boarder in Santa Barbara County. But we spend all of our time in SLO. So this video speaks to our lives here in California's Central Coast. This video is absolutely beautiful and we have done most of the things shown. It's a little sad, but I can feel my L.A.-ness fading for our beautiful new home.

Tiger Army

2011-06-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

Continuing down Band Memorabilia Road, we have some stuff from Tiger Army. Steph and I used to go see these guys all the time. They put on the best Halloween shows at the House of Blues every year. The photo is with Ruby, Nick13 (lead singer) and Steph at a show where they waited outside the bathroom for him to come out and snap a pic with him. I took the picture and he was very nice and polite with them. The poster is autographed by the whole band (Nick13 - guitar/sing, Geoff Kresge - stand up bass, Fred Hell - drums). I honestly can't remember when I got this signed. But I know I did! I don't even think I have this anymore. I couldn't find it going through my stuff in the garage, I had to use this really low quality old photo. Here's a Youtube clip of how much they used to rock.

America's Next Great Restaurant

2011-06-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

Steph and I were addicted to this reality contest show called America's Next Great Restaurant. We were so excited to see that one of the prizes for the winner was a place in the Hollywood and Highland Center not far from the L.A. temple. So our next trip down we made it a point to go visit Jamawn Wood's Soul Daddy fast and casual dining restaurant. We weren't disappointed. His modern take on traditional soul food is delightful.

Steph had an herb roasted chicken (healthier than the classic fried chicken and tastier I might add), cheesey grits, sweet potato salad and a mini cornbread waffle. I had bbq pork ribs, braised kale, wild rice (this was the best part), and a whole wheat biscuit. All this was really yummy.

(I love the modern wood slats on the entrance too.)

The Godfather

2011-05-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather is cinematic perfection in every sense.

AC/DC

2011-05-04T16:16:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my awesome brother Billy for showing me the baddest band in the world.

It's about time.

2011-05-02T10:07:00.001-07:00

Big Sandy

2011-04-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

Steph's favorite band and a bunch of real nice guys.

Three Bad Jacks

2011-04-21T08:36:00.000-07:00

Continuing down Band Memorabilia Lane...

Save Ferris

2011-04-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

It was 1997 when It Means Everything came out from Save Ferris. I had already been heavily into the Orange County ska scene by that point and have seen Save Ferris and all the rest (Aquabats, Reel Big Fish, VooDoo Glow Skulls, etc) about a hundred times. Well, and old friend and I went to see these guys again at The Barn at UC Riverside. It was their record release party for this album and they were doing a signing afterwards. Here's a little video for all you people out there that are unfamiliar with their music.

Nursery Before and After

2011-04-18T19:14:00.000-07:00

before-during-after

If you follow this blog (and who does, really?) then you've probably been here to see the nursery already. But it got a major overhaul just like the entire downstairs: paint, flooring, new furniture, decor, etc.

Flogging Molly

2011-04-18T16:02:00.000-07:00

Another band that Steph and I adore: Flogging Molly. We went to go see them at UC Irvine and stayed after to say hi to the band and get some photos. We told them thanks for such a great show, took some pictures and got all their autographs. Trouble is, those photos and videos of the show are now sitting in a folder as "corrupt files" that can't be opened. Somebody out there in internetland...I need help!

A Fire Inside

2011-04-18T13:17:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of favorites in this world. When it comes to music, there is a favorite band for every genre. If you were to ask me in 2002-2005ish, which band did you live and die by, it was AFI. On Halloween night 2002, Steph and I went to see Tiger Army at the House of Blues Sunset Strip. That night we met the guy that was to become the Best Man at our wedding, Jimmy! But during the show we (Steph) spotted Davey Havok in the balcony. Never to be told she can't do something, Steph marched right up there, passed VIP security and asked Davey for a photo and autograph. I never would have had the guts to do something so ballsy. You were NEVER allowed cameras into these venues either, but I don't think there was a single time Steph ever got caught bringing in our camera, despite thorough searches. Well, I'm glad she did. Now we have this to remember.

Just a few months later in 2003, AFI's new album Sing the Sorrow came out and I went to the Tower Records store (also on Sunset) to meet and greet the band. I was debating whether or not to have all the guys autograph my arm and get it tattooed over that day or have them sign the new CD. I'm glad I went with the latter. Everybody in line had about 5 seconds with the band and I was thinking of what to say the whole time. I never figured it out until right when they were signing the CD. I showed Davey the picture of him and Steph and told him thank you for being so nice to her. That was it.

My musical tastes have moved on, and my crazy adolescent devotion to non-important things has faded, but they were good memories to have.

Piero Fornasetti

2011-04-14T21:47:00.001-07:00

I guess I'll start an "artist series" with all my favs. Piero Fornasetti created more than 11,000 items, many featuring the face of a woman, operatic soprano Lina Cavalieri, as a motif. Fornasetti found her face in a 19th century magazine. “What inspired me to create more than 500 variations on the face of a woman?” asks, Piero Fornasetti of himself. “I don’t know,” he admits, “I began to make them and I never stopped.” The “Tema e Variazioni” (theme and variation) plate series based on Cavalieri's face numbered more than 350. His style is reminiscent of Greek and Roman architecture, from which he was heavily influenced.

If anyone has a spare 40-grand laying around, there's a Fornasetti hutch I wouldn't mind having in my dining room.

Normally I'm not so indecisive.

2011-03-29T23:41:00.000-07:00

I know you're not going to believe me, I made these 3 pieces separate from each other and did not specifically set out o make "bike art." Funny how thing work out.

This makes it look fancy, no?

2011-03-26T00:46:00.000-07:00

New Art. I call it..um...Untitled No.2

2011-03-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

I know I've been saying this for months, but I really am going to paint something on that big white canvas above our couch. And I also know that I've already "decided" on what to paint there multiple times. Well, here's the latest piece I think could work there. Maybe.

First Day...

2011-03-24T14:18:00.000-07:00

...at home alone as Mr. Mom. Not too shabby.

This is Amazing

2011-03-22T15:46:00.000-07:00

I'm not a Lil Wayne fan, but this beat is a killer! Produced by Mr. Bangladesh (he produced the What's Your Fantasy track by Ludacris. It was Luda's first hit and still his best thanks to Bangladesh), it's nice to get a glimpse at the painstaking detail that goes into producing a track for a rapper to jump on.
[Update] Upon watching this again after I posted it, there is a little language once Lil Wayne's lyrics are overlaid...so beware.

I Am Renewed

2011-03-20T22:34:00.000-07:00

Before I post some long over due Before & After photos of Presley's room, I would like to give an expeditious account of life in the last 3 months:

Delivery - Quick and painless. Well, that saying doesn't entirely fit, it was quick by normal standards. Two hours of labor and pushing and "pop"...baby.
The next 4 weeks are literally a blur of frustrated nursing attempts, no sleep whatsoever and well, that's about it. (Before I move on, just let me emphasize the often glanced over inside joke of all parents. NO SLEEP MEANS NO SLEEP. All the classes, books, websites and advice in the world cannot prepare you for such a lifestyle change. I once read that after 2 weeks of no sleep the human body will just die. I felt close to that.)
She's growing so much that she doesn't even look like the same baby we brought home from the hospital.
She's much more aware of her surroundings and likes to show off her million dollar smile to all the nice people of our home ward.
Now that she sleeps better at night, mommy and daddy are much happier.

The reason for my blogging absence.

2011-02-03T17:02:00.000-08:00

Cute, huh?

Presley Anne

2011-01-02T16:30:00.000-08:00

Introducing the most beautiful thing in the world, our baby Presley. I think she's so cute I just want to eat her face off, is that weird?

Merry Christmas Planet Earth

2010-12-23T09:08:00.000-08:00

It just isn't Christmas without A Charlie Brown Christmas. I used to catch it on t.v. every year growing up as a kid. Then when we were first dating, Steph bought me the vhs (what are those?) and I kept it until I got a dvd player and threw all my old tapes away. I have yet to replace it. One day. Merry Christmas to all two and a half of you who read this. May the Lord bless you this coming year with health and happiness.

Baby Shower

2010-12-22T10:34:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all our friends and family that made it our to our little cupcake's baby shower. It was a ton of fun. This last picture is the moment of the night and deserves some explanation. One of the games being played was the Baby Word game. Anyone caught saying the word "baby" throughout the night was thrown a stick of crumpled aluminum foil. This became quite rowdy at times for the ladies. Well, as the night was concluding, it was time to see who had the stick. Presumably the holder had to do some embarrassing act in front of everyone. Well, Vonda (pictured with hands on hips in a very defiant manner), in the last second got thrown the stick by Deena. She argued that the game had just finished and she didn't deserve to have it. IT TURNS OUT there was $5 in it!!!

"Hahaha, in your face Vonda."

Love, Deena

Modernism At Its Best

2010-12-17T15:14:00.000-08:00

This video is amazing. The author, Marilyn Neuhart and her husband, reminisce about the times when they worked with and interacted with the world's most iconic furniture designer, Charles Eames. His impact that began in the 40's and continued through the sixties extends infinitely. Although true modernism has it's roots in Germany with Walter Gropius in the 20's, Charles Eames took the ideologies and made them accessable to mainstream America throughout the mid-century. The photos of all the furniture and prototypes are beautiful. He always had such a great view of the world as well. One quote I love:

"If your work is good enough, it can be art, but art isn't a product. It's a quality."

I've always felt that you can see art in anything. A beautifully designed building can be artwork. A bridge can be a work of art. Heck, my bicycle is a work of art.

This Magic Moment...

2010-11-27T00:28:00.000-08:00

The single greatest scene to grace the screens of American cinema.

Halloween

2010-11-16T00:17:00.000-08:00

This was the first year we decided to really celebrate Halloween (aside from watching The Nightmare Before Christmas and passing out candy to the 2 kids who knock on our door) by having a raging party. Well, if you call a bunch of married mormons pot-lucking and playing a couple rounds of Taboo a "raging party," then yes, we know how to bring the house down. Pictured in costumes are about half the guests as the other half were poopers.

Pumpkin Carving

2010-11-15T15:54:00.000-08:00

It's just not Fall/Halloween on the the central coast without starting it off at the Avila Valley Barn. We started the day with Jaime and Bryce for a little fall-fun-free-for-all. We (I think I was the only one) wanted to go on the tractor pulled hay ride to go pumpkin picking at the patch behind the barn, but every other person on the central coast had the same idea. I've never seen so many people in one place before, you'd think they were giving away golden tickets for a free trip to Willy Wonka's Pumpkin Factory. Afterward, our good friends Scott and Kelli had all of us over for pumpkin carving and a little football watching fun.

More B&A

2010-11-08T16:50:00.001-08:00

Before

After

I finished the downstairs half bathroom a day too late. After ripping out the painfully heavy room-length countertop, we opted for something that gave our tiny bath a bit of wiggle room. I really wanted to go modern, hence the stark white and chrome, but we warmed it up a tad with the beech wood butcher block countertop. We also found these old pieces of art we've had in a box for years...they might originally be from Target. We were scrambling to finish the bath before our grand Halloween gala and both were surprised at how perfect these forgotten artwork panels went with the theme. The electrical was done some months ago with a lot of blood, sweat, cursing and tears, but what we didn't quite finish was getting a mirror in the frame before guests arrived. Well, here we are, eight months after moving in and finally done.

Oliver Peoples eyewear

2010-11-03T15:21:00.000-07:00

Best directed commercial I've ever seen.

(now I want new glasses)

The great Tim Burton

2010-10-30T09:13:00.000-07:00

After the sensational "PeeWee's Big Adventure," Tim Burton was greenlit for one of the most unique and entertaining movies of all time, "Beetlejuice." Michael Keaton's brilliance in his title role of Betelgeuse, earned him the leading role in Burton's next film "Batman," starring opposite acting virtuoso Jack Nicholson as the Joker. Warner Bros. was hesitant to produce the film until the saw the finacial success of Beetlejuice. Batman later became one of the most finacially successful films to date. This led Burton to negotiate for total control of the sequel Batman Returns. Equalling, in my opinion, a far superior film in art direction, set design, costume, script and the over all darker atmosphere.
Let's not forget the cherry on top that's made almost all of Burton's movies magical...musical scores by Danny Elfman.

The Living Room Painting

2010-10-28T14:02:00.001-07:00

  I've finally figured out what I want to paint on the white canvas above the couch. It's literally been 6 months of searching everywhere for the perfect image to recreate. I'm not genius enough to make something up on my own, plus there are people far more talented than I, why not find something great and copy it? (for next to nothing) Well, when I find something, I generally throw it on my desktop background and live with it for a couple weeks. That's about the time it takes to get bored of something. If it passes that test I'll photoshop it into the living room and see how it looks. Plus I'm very picky. I'm not exactly sure what I want, I just know it when I see it. But it has to be modern...none of these landscapes with deer in it and junk like that.
  Well, here it is. From Cost Plus World Market of all places...go figure! So I took a picture of it and now I'm going to attempt to recreate this on my canvas. (good luck me)
  update - I just looked up the artist. Her name is Jodi Fuchs and you can get her stuff on Etsy.

Top 5 songs of all time

2010-10-26T12:17:00.000-07:00

(Understand that these may not be everyone's cup of tea)
***In no particular order***

1. Fear Before the March of Flames - "On the Bright Side, She Could Choke"

  Favorite song off my favorite album. So much raw emotion. This song is from the album How Odd People Shake. It singlehandedly changed my taste in music way back in 2005 or somewhere there abouts. The entire album is pure perfection...every song...every note...every lyric. Not many albums have that. But alas, all good things come to an end. The band has since released many more albums all straying from their original sound further and further to be all but unrecognizable now. At least I have this gem.

2. AFI - "God Called in Sick Today"

  AFI was a huge part of my life for a bunch of years. The music, style, art, fashion...everything. I have a cd booklet from Sing the Sorrow signed by the whole band and Steph even has a picture with Davey Havok's arm around her. Well, this song is probably the most mellow one they did during their "middle years". AFI started straight punk, then slowly moved through Horror Punk (think The Misfits/Halloween/and vintage monster movies) and continued though goth/electronica/whatever. My heart lays in the middle.

3. Flogging Molly - "Black Friday Rule"

  I had to put up a live version of this song to show the world the amazing Flogging Molly. Skip to (3:50) to hear this song really pick up from just a long acoustic intro by Dave King. I love Bridget's violin on this song so much. The last minute thirty of this song is music legend.

4. She & Him - "Sentimental Heart"

The musical fusion of Matt Ward and Zooey Deschanel of acting fame. Sweet.

5. Bob Marley and the Wailers - Simmer Down

  Ska music. In the 1960's this became a uniquely Jamaican fusion of local mento, calypso and American blues/jazz/r&b picked up on radio over the Gulf and the Carribean from Florida and Cuba. Ska predates regge and dub. This song in particular is from the first release of Bob Marley and the Wailers backed up by The Skatalites. It was directed at the rude-boys of the Jamaican ghettos and was a message to simmer down the violence. Ska has since gone through many phases. Leaving the original Jamaican roots of the 60's to travel across the pond to England in '79 &'80, to Orange County in the 90's. It's still around here today...somewhere.

  I love Top 5 lists. I think it tells a lot about somebody to know their Top 5s in various categories. I just might make this into an ongoing series. Feel free to add your Top 5s in the comments section. Ok, so this première liste is about my Top 5 favorite songs of all time. This was a tough one as I had to reach into several different genre and periods of my life that added up to much more than just 5. After making an abridgment of the account of my music, I bring you "Top 5 Songs of All Time".
ps-Thanks to Jamie for the great idea.

My Beautiful Girls

2010-10-22T14:09:00.000-07:00

week 6

week 11

week 17

week 20

week 26

week 29

We've been giving Presley a lot of water and plenty of sunshine and she's just been growing like a wild flower. My wonderful wife has been so great this pregnancy. We went to our first birthing class at the hospital and there were so many couple there that were complaining of getting sick or back ache or heartburn etc, but Steph has been just about A-okay this entire time. I hope I don't jinx ourselves (knock on wood). Look how beautiful she looks in these progress pictures we've been taking almost every Sunday after church.

The One AM Radio

2010-10-20T20:47:00.000-07:00

Since a couple posts ago I mentioned my old highschool friend Crystal (who goes by Fontaine in the band), I thought I'd mention her amazing band The One AM Radio and post one of their songs, "Credible Threats".

Trying something new.

2010-10-20T19:52:00.001-07:00

Okay, I'm going to try and write more when I post visual content. Not promising anything as I am not much of a writer. But I find myself reading website, blogs, or magazines quite often and lamenting when I have so many questions about a picture or video that go unanswered. So, even though there are only 2 1/2 of you who read this blog, I'll do my best to fill in some of the cracks on why I post what I post.

Oh behave!

2010-10-11T15:17:00.000-07:00

This is a clip of the song "Jaan Pehechaan Ho" (translation-Let's get to know each other) from this awesome Bollywood suspense/thriller movie from 1965 titled "Gumnaam" (Anonymous or Unknown). If anyone wants to watch the film in its entirety...(2 and a half hours)...click here. If you watch this whole clip of this song I posted, it's hard to imagine this lady didn't give herself brain damage with all that wild dancing. I first was shown this clip by one of my long time friends Crystal shortly after I got home from my mission. It's the intro to the movie Ghost World starring Scarlett Johansson and Thora Birch. One went on to star in blockbuster Iron Man 2, while the other went on to star in...um......you get the picture. This mid-sixties rock n' roll song, well, rocks. I've totally dug this song since then and it has stayed in the back of my mind. I never thought you could get it on cd as the Ghost World soundtrack doesn't include it and good-luck finding an album of some obscure 1965 Indian movie. Even if you managed to have a genie grant you a wish, it would be on vinyl. No offense to all you vinylphiles out there. This is where my on-line genie comes into play. I found this website that converts any YouTube video into an MP3 file for you to download for free in just seconds. I know!! Just copy the entire url out of the address bar and paste it into the "Enter URL" here space on the website and a couple clicks later you're jammin'. Now I can listen to this rare gem anytime I want on my iTunes. (*pats on back)

The Office (not the show)

2010-09-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

Pretty much done. Just want to replace the carpet with the same flooring that we used downstairs. Not in a real hurry for that. (thanks Blakes for helping paint!) ps-got the idea for the instillation around the clock from here.

I've been blogged!

2010-09-23T00:19:00.000-07:00

My before&after pics are featured here on BetterAfter. That's the second time. Remember the first one with our table?

LA trip: through the eyes of a hungry man

2010-08-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

Is it weird that when it comes time to plan a trip all I can think about is the food? I swear I'm Anthony Bourdain trapped in a scrawny kid's body (with no chance of a life jet-setting to countries all over the world just to eat their food). I can honestly see myself turning into this guy.

The Garden Juice Mexican Food - downtown LA

Dattilo Ristorante - uptown Whittier

(food cooked in a wood burning brick oven)

Random Thai food

L&L Hawaiian BBQ - Cerritos

La Creperie Cafe - Long Beach

The Cheesecake Factory - Huntington Beach

TGIFriday's - Oxnard

Living room is 90% there.

2010-08-24T15:30:00.000-07:00

Before:

After:

We just need to figure out what to do with the fireplace disaster, then finish the plumbing in the half-bath for the sink and faucet.

HH Photography

2010-08-22T17:26:00.000-07:00

Can I say how much I love the Hamers? Phil is the Chinese-iest white guy I've ever met, Heather is just a peach (and cooks some mean Chinese food), and they have two beautiful children. Heather is an amazing photographer, to boot. If you live in our area or will be stopping by, get your photos taken! Visit her website here.

self portrait

2010-08-21T23:22:00.000-07:00

What to do?

2010-08-16T04:20:00.000-07:00

Furniture renderings

2010-08-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I'm so into modern furniture, I just am. I guess it stems from wanting to be an architect deep down. I'm fascinated with modern architecture, but furniture really does it for me. I've designed these pieces (digitally only) and photoshopped them into rooms to see how they'd look in a real setting. There are still a ton more furniture sketches that need rendering. I have no intention of trying to sell these ideas to anyone. Actually, if someone happens along this blog and decides to make these, I'd gladly buy them to put in our home. Stephanie says this is another one of my life phases. She maybe right.

the Black Rose Phantoms

2010-08-01T01:07:00.000-07:00

Here is some artwork I did for an old friend's band, The Black Rose Phantoms a few years ago. The first one never got used to my knowledge and the the second one was the cover to an EP they released. I did other pieces for them that got made into Tshirts and other forms of merchandise. I know I know, it's a little (lot) morbid, but that's the look they were going for.

Baby: A Proclamation to the World

2010-07-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

Our little family is about to grow by one. In a week we will find out if we will soon be welcoming Presley Anne or Jaxson Hughes to the Faulk gang. Kobe and Chandler aren't going to know what hit them. Here is our first picture of our little soy bean. Almost looks like it's waving hello. (kinda creepy)

Photos of L.A. from the GoodYear Blimp

2010-07-28T22:17:00.000-07:00

Gettin' there

2010-07-22T21:31:00.000-07:00

We still have a long list of to-do's, but this is progress, no?

Three Cups of Tea

2010-07-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time and it was A-MAZING! Totally changed my view of the people of that region. I simply thought the area a hotbed for terrorist breading and activity. Also that they were solely American-hating violent Islamic extremists, and unfortunately some of that is true. However, there is a vast majority of hospitable, peace loving people. Greg Mortenson, an American mountaineer turned humanitarian, takes you through the enormous trials to provide secular (non:Islamic fundamentalist,Taliban-operated, violence-loving, American-hating schooling as is common in the rural areas) education for the children in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It's the most effective way to build a peaceful relationship with an area we are at war with. Providing the future generations in that area with real options to make a living and provide for their families through education diverts the number of poor men that flow into the Taliban because they have no other options in life. It's strikingly similar to American gang members. Well, I'll get off my soap box now, but all two and a half of you that read this blog should get this book.

Paper Planes (MIA cover) - Hoodlums

2010-07-16T16:20:00.000-07:00

*beautiful*

This is the future of art.

2010-07-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

Thanks Sam for bringing these guys to my attention.

Color Hills

2010-07-05T00:23:00.000-07:00

When I was a little man

Playdough came in a little can

I was Star Wars' biggest fan

GI Joe was an action man

Shaggy drove the mystery van

The Aquabats was my favorite band

Take me back to my happy land.

This makes me cry a little bit.

2010-06-19T10:04:00.001-07:00

Memorial Day

2010-06-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

Since our good friends, Bryce and Jaime Blake, have already blogged about our awesome weekend, I'll just link to it...enjoy.

Go Lakers!

2010-06-15T23:35:00.000-07:00

One of the most beautiful things in the world.

untitled No.1

2010-06-11T15:40:00.000-07:00

Frank&Bride pattern

2010-06-11T02:36:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I'm on this "art" kick lately. But this is a pattern I did a year ago or so for no good reason other than I love Frankenstein.

New painting - TBD

2010-06-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

I want to put a huge painting above the couch (where we will eventually have a couch). I love modern art and figured stripes were the way to go, so I need help deciding.

LA/OC freeways

2010-06-05T16:32:00.000-07:00

I honestly don't set out to make "southern california" art, it just happens. I often don't even realize it till I'm done. Well, this one was inspired from our totally-awesome-and-not-confusing-at-all freeway system of Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

To prove my point, that not all my art is "southern california" themed, I sketched this up in PS3 (where I do everything) and have decided to paint this on a gallery wrapped canvas and put on the wall in our landing as you head up the stairs.

Yes folks, that means we're nearing the completion of phase:1 - downstairs construction. Still no photos till we're done.

Ah California, the greatest country in the world.

2010-05-29T03:41:00.000-07:00

Explorers are we, intrepid and bold,

Out in the wild, amongst wonders untold.

Equipped with our wits, a map, and a snack,

We're searching for fun we're on the right track!

I've just had a revelation...

2010-05-22T21:29:00.000-07:00

...a big damn revelation.

Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band

Old SNL Will Ferrell

2010-04-22T23:58:00.000-07:00

Is it bad that this video has been the basis of our relationship all these years?

Sock Monkeys

2010-04-14T02:05:00.000-07:00

Our friend from church, Chadley, makes the cutest hand made sock monkeys. (plus she helped paint our new place) They are by far the best looking and constructed ones out there. I am definitely going to get one soon. She sells them here on Etsy. She also makes vintage inspired aprons that Steph's in love with.

How freakin' cute. With his own tattoo.

Befores

2010-04-09T00:55:00.000-07:00

Since we are getting close to finishing the downstairs and getting some afters, here are some befores.

(this wasn't supposed to happen)

At this moment I am literally contemplating what it would be like to be cut in half by a giant mirror.

Which one?

This one.

A big thanks to all those who've put in some back breaking help for us!

The dawning of a new era.

2010-03-29T14:37:00.000-07:00

After a long weekend, Stephanie and I are proud parents of our new baby girl. I think I'll name her Marsha, because we adopted her in March. Isn't she pretty?

The end of an era.

2010-03-17T20:23:00.000-07:00

So the situation goes as follows:

1. Chillin' in my house.

2. *bang!*smash!*pow!*

3. What the...?

4. Ran down stairs and looked out the window.

5. (disbelief)

6. Run out side.

7. See chick that hit me whip out a cigarette, like it was nothing.

8. (some junk)

9.(fast forward)

10. Cops arresting that hooker because she was drunk.

I know it's St. Patrick's Day, but come on! At 3 in the afternoon?
How do you hit a PARKED CAR?!?!

Bye sweetheart. I'll miss you.

New SHE&HIM video - In The Sun

2010-03-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

Zooey Deschanel and Matt Ward are so great in this band, here's their single off the new release, Vol.2.

new home

2010-03-14T17:28:00.000-07:00

I promise I will soon be posting pictures on my blog of all the work we've been doing on the house. If you happen to be Stephanie's friend on FB, then you can see a bunch of the pictures. I just wanted to let my fans know that today at 5:15 I almost killed myself for the 113th time while working on this darn house. I shocked the heck out of myself while doing some electrical work. My body feels all warm and tingly...and not in a good way. That's it! I'm paying a professional. Plus, I would really like an electrician to double check the stuff I've already done and make sure the house isn't going to burn down.

Attention Planet Earth

2010-03-05T11:09:00.000-08:00

I know it's been forever since I've posted. But, I've been up to my eyeballs in home renovations since we moved into our new place a couple weeks ago. All of the "before" pics will be coming soon as we aren't even close to having anything in the "after" stages.

In the mean time....my dining room table before&after (from a few posts back) was recently featured here on BetterAfter. (< click that)

New Vampire Weekend video - Giving Up the Gun

2010-02-19T11:00:00.000-08:00

I love that the RZA from WuTang Clan is in here, along with Little John and Jake (what's his face). These guys are great. I could easily make this a Vampire Weekend tribute blog...but I won't.

Ode to Los Angeles

2010-02-12T23:18:00.000-08:00

Ode to the city

Which I was born & raised

With magnificent skyrises

And fields which cows graze

Just kidding about the cows

There are no open spaces

We're packed in like sardines

In urban tight places

it's like looking in the mirror

2010-02-11T22:37:00.000-08:00

Modern Family

2010-02-11T13:59:00.000-08:00

The best new show on television.

Chandler and Kobe "helping" mommy scrapbook.

2010-02-05T15:18:00.001-08:00

Messin' with my blog.

2010-02-02T22:40:00.000-08:00

Making bigger pictures. I solved one problem and created another. Now my post pictures are bigger, but when you click on them, they don't expand. Oh well. I like the way the blog looks.

New video host.

2010-02-02T22:16:00.000-08:00

I'm going to start uplaoding videos to Vimeo. Some of my readers can't see YouTube videos on this blog for some weird reason.

Tigers...rawr!

2010-02-02T22:06:00.000-08:00

post by Stephanie

Danishes aren't just for eating.

2010-01-30T20:36:00.000-08:00

There's a whole town of them.

Solvang, CA

Nojoqui Falls

2010-01-30T20:16:00.000-08:00

We were in tears over this last night.

2010-01-30T09:23:00.000-08:00