Sunset over LA from the Griffith Observatory

Tiki Dan

Seriously in need of better ways to spend my time? Undoubtedly. However, this is still important, I have unlocked the mystery of the totem that has haunted me for years, much the way the Easter Island Heads have provoked the curiosity of the masses for years- Across the street from me, someone, chainsawed this face into a palm tree. It has been revealed that the artist is none other than Tiki Dan, a now deceased genius who was in serious trouble with the LAPD for his flagrant disregard for law in his quest for beauty. Apparently there are many, however disappearing, evidences of his time on this planet all over LA power poles and palm trees.

Almost jumped

So okay, yeah, the image belies more than actually happened, but maybe not more than COULD have happened, thanks to none other than yours truly, savior of the evening. Basically, it went down like this, the Saints murdered the Pats, and we saw it all go down at our local watering hole in Los Feliz, Ye Olde Rustic, one hell of a spot, might I add. Anyhoo, we walked out and after meeting up with another friend buying smokes, I noticed there was a guy following closely, playing music out of an ipod speaker, following just a bit too closely. Perhaps native New Yorker, perhaps just me, I dropped back a bit to chat up this guy who seemed just a bit too close. Somewhere in me, I felt the guy was impinging, didn't quite know why yet, but enough to make me engage him in conversation, ala, you're awful close to us, I see ya, what's yer deal chief? So he and I spoke a bit, dropped back from my two friends, when I noticed his head nods and looks seemed to be to his buddy who was on the far side of the street. As we approached the corner and his friend sped up to make the light and cross over, I called back my buddies and said, "Hey come back here". They did, I told them to come with me quickly across the street, which they did, and they went into another wine bar. The guys had met up, come back across the street, down the block towards and past us, and then into a parking lot to reconvene. That's when I knew I was right. My buddies were in the bar still, but I made a point, to nod and say what's up as the guys backtracked a third time to walk past and away- The old, I see ya pal, maybe next time, glance.
So far LA's been a breeze, not so much as a worry. That one though, I know in my soul, was a two man set up. Bad guys 0, us, well I guess we don't really get points, but we didn't get mugged, so I call it a win...

Bigsby Palm Pedal

So Justin added this Bigsby Palm pedal to his guitar. It's both a b bender and a g bender. Basicaly, the strings run through that contraption and when he pushes on it with his palm, it tightens the strings and raises the pitch.

SWAT team

So, I was out walking the dog yesterday when I heard a loud pop from the building across the street. The couple in front of me, hands full of groceries, stopped and looked at the building. What was that, the lady asked her guy. I don't know, he said. Kinda sounded like a gun shot, I said. Then bang another, and a few seconds later, another. Let's go, he grabbed his girl, they ran across the street towards the building, out of the fire line I suppose, and down the street. A few blocks down I came across two cops walking quickly up the street, talking on their radios. I told them about the possible gunshots I heard, and from where, and they asked me to come up the block with them. In under three minutes, the entire North East District SWAT team was there and there were officers cordoning off Vermont Avenue. Snipers with M16's, tactical shot guns, and body armor were slowly making their way up the block. Turns out, there was some construction work going on with nail guns that fire .22 caliber charges. Good to know the response time is so good though...

Celebrity Look-a-likes

A pissed off Brandy, and Conan the Barbarian. Coincidence? I think not...

Last Night

My Wednesday Night was more fun than yours.

This is a Norman Rockwell Painting entitled: Time to go home

Gettin our tuxes

Me and Jammer, getting monkey suited.

Vegas

No this is NOT me, and no, I did NOT gain a lot of weight. Thanks, assholes.

Brooklyn

The Manhattan Skyline in the background, out over Downtown Brooklyn.

New York, New York

Back in NYC, and more importantly, Brooklyn. A couple images...
My Man Brisk, with a slick Burner 75 feet up, The Empire State Building as seen between the Legs of the Manhattan Bridge, and the Empire State Building reflected off some other building by Bryant Park.

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge

When I turned 21, I turned to my dad and asked him if I was old enough to tell him about some of the stupid shit I'd done without him getting all upset. He said, "Sure, lay it on me." So I proudly told him I climbed to the top of the Brooklyn Bridge (by walking up along the main cables) He calmly looked at me for a moment and then said, "Oh yeah? You too?"

Aberdabers done got hitched!

My little sis got married! Couldn't be happier. It's funny, I never really thought I'd care so much about weddings and stuff like that, but it was really beautiful and wonderful, and her husband is such a great guy, it was really a special day. Photographs courtesy my buddy Cal Crary:
CalCrary.com And that's my mom in the last one.