Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Listen Up
Word of mouth is often the best form of advertising. I told ___ about ___ and then he/she loved it and then he/she told ___ and so on and so forth. Well the homey, Pete, said "hey do you like Radiohead?" I replied "yes" and then he said "well dude you gotta check out Atoms For Peace." True story. Enjoy.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Get Barreled #2
#Cavotuesday
Daily blogging is damn impossible in these shoes (I am actually barefoot) but I am the story teller here so let's pretend I am wearing shoes, not just any shoes but fancy dress shoes, that you only wear on special occasions. Fancy shoes are never comfortable because you never wear them enough to break them in. Shoes are meant to be broken in. I am clearly not a shoe person but I really need some new shoes. Obviously the shoes are a metaphor por mi vida. No I don't speak Spanish (lies) but yes I have quite a few stories in this bag, not a purse, just a bag. I will go easy on the tangents (never).
In 2012, Billabong began using the tagline "Life's Better in Boardshorts!" in their major ad campaigns. Every Sunday while I sold mushrooms at the Santa Monica farmers market, I would stare at the tagline prominently displayed in the surf shop window directly across the street. I fell in love with this tagline. Life is what we make it and if we can make it better, yes please do so. I associate boardshorts with warm weather, sand beneath my toes, ocean mist in the air, scantly clad females, less responsibility, the list goes on. Yes life IS better in boardshorts (truth spoken). I might add life is also better barefoot. Barefoot is the business.
Last Cavotuesday I was spitting fire about my barrels. I added the possessive on purpose. I am taking ownership here because no one was talking barrels in 2006. After I wrote the blog, I thought ok you talked about the Nolan tee, cool, nice little summary piece now let's go back to our regularly scheduled program then I saw this today...
Jack O'Neill is a legend. In 1952 Jack invented the wetsuit and changed the world of surfing forever. The dude is clearly an icon and yes he also rocks a pretty sweet eye patch on the daily!
Pabst Blue Ribbon is a dinosaur in the game of beer but has proven itself lately to be quite the popular kid on the block. PBR can thank the good old fashion American public for bringing their brand back from the dead. Great read right here.
So the two icons got together and created a collection for Spring 2013 release. First off, as I mentioned before I played with the idea of a single keg barrel and my tagline (get barreled) for quite some time but it never looked right. It was hard for me to visualize a person wearing a tee shirt with a huge keg barrel on it. Then I saw this chick on the Internet and I thought well thats um creative...
I guess I still find humor in all this. I appreciate branding collaborations. Sure they don't always make sense but I like the idea of merging two different target audiences and taking a chance. It sort of comes off as one brand piggy backing on another or maybe just one brand looking for new life from the other. One could argue that surfing and beer go great together. But then not all surfers party and not all beer drinkers are alcoholics...you can see where this is going. Personally I am not a fan of PBR in the surfing world but hey that is just me. Me as in the guy who coined "get barreled" in 2006. Hype or not, bottom line is that I am happy that the barrel is finally getting its time to shine.
Call it a coincidence or not but this just popped up in my News Feed on FB. This proud father and his happy FAM BAM live in Sydney, Australia. A little international love is all good. What can I say? I am sucker for Dads, kids, babies and people who support my project. Thanks Kyra! Much love.
Daily blogging is damn impossible in these shoes (I am actually barefoot) but I am the story teller here so let's pretend I am wearing shoes, not just any shoes but fancy dress shoes, that you only wear on special occasions. Fancy shoes are never comfortable because you never wear them enough to break them in. Shoes are meant to be broken in. I am clearly not a shoe person but I really need some new shoes. Obviously the shoes are a metaphor por mi vida. No I don't speak Spanish (lies) but yes I have quite a few stories in this bag, not a purse, just a bag. I will go easy on the tangents (never).
In 2012, Billabong began using the tagline "Life's Better in Boardshorts!" in their major ad campaigns. Every Sunday while I sold mushrooms at the Santa Monica farmers market, I would stare at the tagline prominently displayed in the surf shop window directly across the street. I fell in love with this tagline. Life is what we make it and if we can make it better, yes please do so. I associate boardshorts with warm weather, sand beneath my toes, ocean mist in the air, scantly clad females, less responsibility, the list goes on. Yes life IS better in boardshorts (truth spoken). I might add life is also better barefoot. Barefoot is the business.
Last Cavotuesday I was spitting fire about my barrels. I added the possessive on purpose. I am taking ownership here because no one was talking barrels in 2006. After I wrote the blog, I thought ok you talked about the Nolan tee, cool, nice little summary piece now let's go back to our regularly scheduled program then I saw this today...
Jack O'Neill is a legend. In 1952 Jack invented the wetsuit and changed the world of surfing forever. The dude is clearly an icon and yes he also rocks a pretty sweet eye patch on the daily!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Get Barreled
#Cavotuesday:
I have always loved surf culture. I enjoy following the trends, the brands, the professionals, the artwork and the history of all things surf. Cavotu (est. 2005) has always been dubbed a lifestyle brand long before the phrase became a hip cliché used by the masses. My inspiration for the brand today is still drawn from surf/skate/California culture.
I became obsessed with drawing barrels and taking pictures of barrels. I was researching all types of barrels from old school wine barrels, to rusted out oil drums to silver beer kegs etc. I watched endless hours of surfing videos as I fantasized about what it felt like to be inside the tube aka getting barreled. A “barrel” in surfer terminology is where the wave is hollow when it is breaking, for some surfers it’s the be all and end all of surfing, and sometimes called a “tube.” The Nolan tee was the design that emerged during all this madness.
All this talk about surfing, designing shirts, ideas, telling stories…it really puts a smile on my face. I have been told that I have nice teeth and that I should show them off more often. There are quite a few things I don’t do anymore and smiling was added to that list for some stupid reason. I raise my glass of water to you my friends, here is to the future, here is to the future, cheers!
**SIDE NOTE**
Cavotu (the word and the logo) is a registered trademark. However I have never trademarked or registered any of my phrases/taglines but I have an extensive hard drive of original Cavotu designs. I also make a habit of mailing my own personal artwork to myself and never opening it; therefore it is sealed and dated by the postmark.
In my youth, I was often labeled a “surfer” based on the
fact I had long blond hair, I wore surfer clothing and a majority of my friends
were in fact real surfers. I spent
a great deal of my free time hanging out at the beach, paddling out and riding
waves. I learned how to surf in high school and later sharpened up my skills in
college by taking surfing electives. The “A’s” helped boost my GPA and the
units went towards graduation but more importantly the class motivated me to be
in the ocean 3 days a week and I really needed that. I appreciate the ocean and
I appreciate the scene however I never fully dedicated myself to the sport. To
this day I have never owned my own surfboard and/or my own wetsuit therefore in
my mind I am not a surfer.
I have always loved surf culture. I enjoy following the trends, the brands, the professionals, the artwork and the history of all things surf. Cavotu (est. 2005) has always been dubbed a lifestyle brand long before the phrase became a hip cliché used by the masses. My inspiration for the brand today is still drawn from surf/skate/California culture.
In 2006, I rounded up a few surfers to be a part of the first Team Cavotu. (Parker, Prunckle and Boyle in the photos above and below) I honestly had no idea what I was doing (still don’t to this day- cheers to consistency!) but I knew sponsoring young talented athletes was a great way to get the Cavotu name out there. Around this time a major shakedown went down in the surfing industry with the closure of Clark Foam. You can read all about it here but it really was a big deal. Now that we had a Surf Team it seemed like the perfect time to release a “surf” tee. I coined the phrase “get barreled” and “stay vicious” shortly after.
I became obsessed with drawing barrels and taking pictures of barrels. I was researching all types of barrels from old school wine barrels, to rusted out oil drums to silver beer kegs etc. I watched endless hours of surfing videos as I fantasized about what it felt like to be inside the tube aka getting barreled. A “barrel” in surfer terminology is where the wave is hollow when it is breaking, for some surfers it’s the be all and end all of surfing, and sometimes called a “tube.” The Nolan tee was the design that emerged during all this madness.
Asher Nolan was a professional surfer that I befriended in one of my court ordered (yes I have been to jail, yes more than once, don’t judge me) classes back in 2002. Nolan rode for Hurley, got paid to travel the world and surf everyday. We were both in our early twenties so our weekly conversations were short and meaningless mostly about surfing, partying, and girls. I wanted his life. I am pretty sure he didn’t want mine. When it came down to naming the “get barreled” design, Nolan was the first word that came to mind.
Since the Nolan tee was released in 2006, I have often gone back and forth with the idea of designing a new version with the same “get barreled” tagline. More often than not, I am never 100% satisfied with my artwork hence the major delays/procrastinations/excuses as to why I have not released more products with more frequency. I will admit in retrospect, the Nolan was not my favorite design. My fans, supporters, friends ate this one up and the limited edition run easily sold out despite the fact that I never fully loved it. The story on the other hand is great; great as in everything made sense. So the idea of a new version has always remained in the back of my mind…
I realize that everything in the fashion game has usually been done at least once in one form or another so I am not taking this one personal but I do find it rather amusing. I would easily argue that I bet the story behind this tee, whatever it might be, is far inferior than the story behind the Nolan tee but regardless I came across this earlier today while looking thru the latest catalog from Swell.
The “gettin barreled” tee is offered in 3 different color ways and is part of the 2013 Spring Men’s line for RVCA. I have been a fan of RVCA since their humble beginnings. Pat Tenore, founder, seems like a real genuine dude. RVCA was purchased by Billabong a couple years ago so they are definitely setup for the future when it comes to financial backing. RVCA now has the opportunity to take their brand to the next level to which they have and continue to do so.
All this talk about surfing, designing shirts, ideas, telling stories…it really puts a smile on my face. I have been told that I have nice teeth and that I should show them off more often. There are quite a few things I don’t do anymore and smiling was added to that list for some stupid reason. I raise my glass of water to you my friends, here is to the future, here is to the future, cheers!
Cavotu (the word and the logo) is a registered trademark. However I have never trademarked or registered any of my phrases/taglines but I have an extensive hard drive of original Cavotu designs. I also make a habit of mailing my own personal artwork to myself and never opening it; therefore it is sealed and dated by the postmark.
Friday, January 25, 2013
...once
I was editing the website earlier tonight, minor tweaking/tinkering of this and that. Years ago I would spend hours every night messing with the damn thing. I am still far from an actual web designer. Yet I still call myself an artist. I still enjoy the design process, the simplicity of how colors relate to one another, how it defines my current mood. I was feeling a bit green tonight for some odd reason.
I have not been feeling well, I will be honest and say that I do a great job of letting my emotions and feelings get the best of me. I remain hopeful, although it seems like a waste of good energy thinking about hope all the time. I suppose I could focus on blank...the color green is most commonly associated with hope among other things...
I have not listened to this album in quite some time but tonight it brought a tear to my eye along with a smile at the same damn time.
"...remember to breathe and everything will be okay"
I have not been feeling well, I will be honest and say that I do a great job of letting my emotions and feelings get the best of me. I remain hopeful, although it seems like a waste of good energy thinking about hope all the time. I suppose I could focus on blank...the color green is most commonly associated with hope among other things...
I have not listened to this album in quite some time but tonight it brought a tear to my eye along with a smile at the same damn time.
"...remember to breathe and everything will be okay"
Thursday, November 8, 2012
3 years old
Today is my daughter's third birthday. Yes it is a HUGE deal in her world. We have been talking about this day for months, well more so my son has been talking about it for months. The amazing S loves the concept of birthdays and everything that goes along with them. Quite possibly normal for a 4.5 year old boy but then again you most likely have not met my son. Who are you anyways? My son is truly an amazing boy and I am not just saying that because he is my son. He is one gifted, dare I say 'mofo' that is going to turn some freaking heads in the future or shall I say continue to do so. All tangents aside, funny how real life plays out in my writing, my son constantly steals the show. Yes he is the first born but still I am just trying to give my daughter her day, her moment, this blog entry is hers....breathe.
I have never been more aware of time now that I have children. Watching my children grow up has given me a new appreciation on life. I sort of feel like I am wasting time or that time is passing, these are supposed to be my good years, or at least that is what I thought. I do not regret having children. I do not regret meeting their mother. I do regret some of the choices I made along the way. I hope and I pray that I will never make those same mistakes again. We are creatures of habit and go thru the motions which is fine or maybe not. But then you blink your eyes and a year has passed. I remember my daughters 2nd birthday like it was yesterday, darker days, still pretty dark but if I look at in phases then it was just a phase in the dark period. There is still no carrot. There is still no light. I am grateful. Please don't get me wrong, I only complain because I am highly emotional and highly effected. I thought I made some choices that were solid. I thought wrong. I hate the now of move forward and constantly starting over.
There have been many times throughout my days/nights/weeks where I ask myself, "how much more can you take?" "why do you keep on keeping on?" The answers always vary, the excuses I tell myself, the denial I live in, the fantasy that I continue to paint and repaint, different shades, different layers, who knew how much freaking paint I would have to use. But then if I think this is not just any ordinary painting. This is a life size mural that goes on for miles and miles. I can't give up. This paint brush is super glued to my hand. This is just one of those waves that I gotta ride out...I miss the ocean (dude its a 5 minute drive away says the voice in my head)....breathe.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Get Pin'd
When I dabbled in the hat game, I thought about the sock game, and when I dabbled in the sock game I thought about the shoe game. Obviously the first 2 on that list came to fruition but I still roll with the motto "never say never", tattoo that ish on my neck. I'm not sure if it goes well with the "never win" tattoo on my forehead but nonetheless let's talk shop aka accessories.
I purchased a fancy brand spanking new pin machine (size one inch diameter pins only) back in 2009. The box remained sealed shut until last week. Yes, you read that correctly. One would think that when they make a substantial purchase on a fun new toy that they would be so excited to rip the packaging to shreds like it was Xmas morning but sorry folks, this is me, I am Joey, still not a big fan of Xmas morning or any gifts/package/opening/unveiling for that matter. I have no shame. I am a strange bird.
Rather than elaborate on my logic for why the box remained sealed, let us focus on the present. The present like today, today is a nice Fall season throw on a light rain jacket kind of day. Sounds like a cool day to release something um, dare I say cool?
Limited edition pin packs are now available on the website (here, click here for Cavotu.com). Everything has been completely DIY. The packaging came out pretty sick, small details make all the difference. Each six pack is different. I might open up a Q/A sesh for custom orders but as of right now if you buy then you get random Cavotu fun/goodness. All the pins are 1 inch in diameter. Perfect for your shirt pockets, hats, backpacks, jackets etc. Collect em, trade em and well pin them of course.
I would be a liar if I said I wasn't proud of this particular project. I miss dabbling in the creative juices. Be on the lookout for more product to come. You smell that? No, go ahead, smell again. Yep, you are right. It smells like a fire and I am going to keep this one burning.
Get pin'd mofos!
I purchased a fancy brand spanking new pin machine (size one inch diameter pins only) back in 2009. The box remained sealed shut until last week. Yes, you read that correctly. One would think that when they make a substantial purchase on a fun new toy that they would be so excited to rip the packaging to shreds like it was Xmas morning but sorry folks, this is me, I am Joey, still not a big fan of Xmas morning or any gifts/package/opening/unveiling for that matter. I have no shame. I am a strange bird.
Rather than elaborate on my logic for why the box remained sealed, let us focus on the present. The present like today, today is a nice Fall season throw on a light rain jacket kind of day. Sounds like a cool day to release something um, dare I say cool?
Limited edition pin packs are now available on the website (here, click here for Cavotu.com). Everything has been completely DIY. The packaging came out pretty sick, small details make all the difference. Each six pack is different. I might open up a Q/A sesh for custom orders but as of right now if you buy then you get random Cavotu fun/goodness. All the pins are 1 inch in diameter. Perfect for your shirt pockets, hats, backpacks, jackets etc. Collect em, trade em and well pin them of course.
I would be a liar if I said I wasn't proud of this particular project. I miss dabbling in the creative juices. Be on the lookout for more product to come. You smell that? No, go ahead, smell again. Yep, you are right. It smells like a fire and I am going to keep this one burning.
Get pin'd mofos!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Mary Jane
Happy Cavotuesday folks, friends, fiends, foes. Ok ok sometimes alliteration is just dumb, dumb as in look at me, silly me. I am the silly one who has not written a blog in weeks so I quickly stumble over my words, slip and slide through the first paragraph which is supposed to introduce the topic and pull the reader in for..........more.
Not a day goes by where I don't come across something blog worthy, I guess we all do. Life happens and it is safe to say that the general population is not blogging about it on the Internet. I am not special yet I have a tendency to proclaim that I am more aware of my surroundings than others. Observant with that capital O. At one point the grade school girls called me Oey. Far from the coolest nickname in the book but fortunately the name Oey only stuck for about 5 minutes in reality. Unfortunately Oey remains eternally in my memory.
School days are behind me now unless I decide to go back and stack degrees like it's a hobby. Speaking of hobbies, oops none here, oh wait I got a new one, I have been swimming laps 4/5 days a week. Yes I have been getting my "Michael Phelps" on sans the 12,000 calorie diet and the medicinal greenery. Awesome lead (I tell myself).
This morning as I walked out of my kids school, a young girl and her mother crossed my path. The school director instantly yelled out, "Good morning Mary Jane!" What? Really? I walked out with a smile on my face and kept these lips sealed. No need to comment to a total stranger aka my son's fellow classmate. MJ could even be his right hand girl for all I know, the life of a four year old, sweet.
Now I can't help but think that little "MaryJane" was named after...well her great great grandmother from the old country of course. Obviously my opinion, which is just an opinion, leans towards the exact opposite. I think that Dad and Mom are total stoners and that they love marijuana so much that they had to name their daughter after their first love or as my friend Tony likes to call it "the greatest thing that has ever happened to me."
Now I know a couple of pot heads who named their daughter Kaya which I have always thought was totally cool. But when I say cool, I mean cool because Kaya is one of my favorite Bob Marley albums and the name just sounds Hawaiian which I attribute to the islands, surfing, fun in the sun, etc. (I need a vacation, bags are freaking packed). But not cool enough to be something I would do. Plus my last name pretty much distorts the hell out of any cool name. Truth spoken/typed.
Things are obviously different now and young parents have been exploring names far from the traditional options. I am not going to lie, naming my children was super challenging. I read the books and wrote several lists, yes hand written lists. I would walk around at work saying the names out loud, trying to imagine what it would be like. Yes I did. I still went into both labors without a name picked. Sure I had my top 5 but after each birth I looked at my top and was like 'no way!' In looking back I am stoked on the choices I made, S and P totally fit, I could not see it any other way.
So I am sure MJ will probably get that vibe for the rest of her life. The boys/girls will snicker in school and the teachers will always say it with a smile. But maybe not, maybe it really is just a name and I am the weirdo for having these thoughts. I suppose she can always just go by Mary. Maybe her folks are huge Spiderman fans and her brother is named Peter Parker. Highly doubt it but that would be madness. Regardless, I would never be able to pull that trigger. Even if I smoked herb all day every day, I would still never name my daughter Mary Jane.
Peace and love.
Not a day goes by where I don't come across something blog worthy, I guess we all do. Life happens and it is safe to say that the general population is not blogging about it on the Internet. I am not special yet I have a tendency to proclaim that I am more aware of my surroundings than others. Observant with that capital O. At one point the grade school girls called me Oey. Far from the coolest nickname in the book but fortunately the name Oey only stuck for about 5 minutes in reality. Unfortunately Oey remains eternally in my memory.
School days are behind me now unless I decide to go back and stack degrees like it's a hobby. Speaking of hobbies, oops none here, oh wait I got a new one, I have been swimming laps 4/5 days a week. Yes I have been getting my "Michael Phelps" on sans the 12,000 calorie diet and the medicinal greenery. Awesome lead (I tell myself).
This morning as I walked out of my kids school, a young girl and her mother crossed my path. The school director instantly yelled out, "Good morning Mary Jane!" What? Really? I walked out with a smile on my face and kept these lips sealed. No need to comment to a total stranger aka my son's fellow classmate. MJ could even be his right hand girl for all I know, the life of a four year old, sweet.
Now I can't help but think that little "MaryJane" was named after...well her great great grandmother from the old country of course. Obviously my opinion, which is just an opinion, leans towards the exact opposite. I think that Dad and Mom are total stoners and that they love marijuana so much that they had to name their daughter after their first love or as my friend Tony likes to call it "the greatest thing that has ever happened to me."
Now I know a couple of pot heads who named their daughter Kaya which I have always thought was totally cool. But when I say cool, I mean cool because Kaya is one of my favorite Bob Marley albums and the name just sounds Hawaiian which I attribute to the islands, surfing, fun in the sun, etc. (I need a vacation, bags are freaking packed). But not cool enough to be something I would do. Plus my last name pretty much distorts the hell out of any cool name. Truth spoken/typed.
Things are obviously different now and young parents have been exploring names far from the traditional options. I am not going to lie, naming my children was super challenging. I read the books and wrote several lists, yes hand written lists. I would walk around at work saying the names out loud, trying to imagine what it would be like. Yes I did. I still went into both labors without a name picked. Sure I had my top 5 but after each birth I looked at my top and was like 'no way!' In looking back I am stoked on the choices I made, S and P totally fit, I could not see it any other way.
So I am sure MJ will probably get that vibe for the rest of her life. The boys/girls will snicker in school and the teachers will always say it with a smile. But maybe not, maybe it really is just a name and I am the weirdo for having these thoughts. I suppose she can always just go by Mary. Maybe her folks are huge Spiderman fans and her brother is named Peter Parker. Highly doubt it but that would be madness. Regardless, I would never be able to pull that trigger. Even if I smoked herb all day every day, I would still never name my daughter Mary Jane.
Peace and love.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
She says
A month later I emerge from the shadows. I would love to come back firing, all hyped up, juiced on that positivity and type out some super cheese line like "everything is wonderful" but...NOPE. The last time I checked they still call this place "HELL" so it's all good. Cheers to consistency right?
So August, whatcha got for me?
I've been making a valiant effort to do more random stuff. Step out of my comfort zone, force the awkwardness and venture out into unfamiliar territory. And no I am not talking about hallucinating drugs but that does sound rather tempting, hmm. I am talking about life. I am tired of feeling dead.
So what's cool?
Last weekend I rolled to Casino Morongo to meet up with my friend, Julie. Now Julie has a cool person job and she travels with the hottest female DJ in Las Vegas, the one and only Tina T. My plan was to meet Tina, experience life, listen to some music and lurk around the random Indian casino in the middle of nowhere. Yes it was silly. Yes I drank way too many Red Bulls. No I am not a dancer and/or club goer but to be honest, Tina's set was solid.
The moral of the story is that I followed thru with a random idea. I was really hoping to get some inspiration from Tina. Tap into that young energy and hear the motivation of a talented female who makes a living on playing music for thousands of people in random cities every night. But Tina ended up rolling out the side exit and our stars have yet to align. Sort of like a too good to be true scenario but next time for sure. So I wandered around Morongo and watched all the people gamble their hard earned dollars into stupid slot machines, hoping for that big break screaming out that show me the money while the casino just rolls in the dough...
So August, whatcha got for me?
I've been making a valiant effort to do more random stuff. Step out of my comfort zone, force the awkwardness and venture out into unfamiliar territory. And no I am not talking about hallucinating drugs but that does sound rather tempting, hmm. I am talking about life. I am tired of feeling dead.
So what's cool?
Last weekend I rolled to Casino Morongo to meet up with my friend, Julie. Now Julie has a cool person job and she travels with the hottest female DJ in Las Vegas, the one and only Tina T. My plan was to meet Tina, experience life, listen to some music and lurk around the random Indian casino in the middle of nowhere. Yes it was silly. Yes I drank way too many Red Bulls. No I am not a dancer and/or club goer but to be honest, Tina's set was solid.
The moral of the story is that I followed thru with a random idea. I was really hoping to get some inspiration from Tina. Tap into that young energy and hear the motivation of a talented female who makes a living on playing music for thousands of people in random cities every night. But Tina ended up rolling out the side exit and our stars have yet to align. Sort of like a too good to be true scenario but next time for sure. So I wandered around Morongo and watched all the people gamble their hard earned dollars into stupid slot machines, hoping for that big break screaming out that show me the money while the casino just rolls in the dough...
Friday, July 20, 2012
Over Me
I found myself watching TV today, and for the record I never watch TV. I totally planned on purchasing this huge flat screen for my pad like 5 years ago but ended up getting screwed around by the TV place. Bottom line was that I never got my TV and never got motivated to buy another one. Life is better without TV. Period.
Ok so it might sound odd when I tell people I do not own a TV but I really don't miss it. Today I was lurking around my parents house and I turned on CNN to watch the Batman fiasco. I could only handle a few minutes of it. Not to say the tragedy is insignificant, stuff like that is really disturbing and scary. Just too much overall.
I think about death a lot lately. I think about cars losing control on the street and crashing into me as I am walking. I have been walking around more than usual. I used to enjoy walking but now I'm indifferent.
I was inside a movie theatre during a major earthquake. It felt so surreal as the floor and walls were moving. I can't even imagine what it would be like to witness the homeboy shooting spree.
I remember lining up around the block to see the original Batman in 1989. I was so excited, I even wore my favorite Batman shirt. I know those movie watchers were super excited to be the first to see the latest installment in the Batman series. I have always admired the Gotham city saga. Whatever age, it's just super cool and everyone agrees. I will most likely see the film once the crowds simmer down.
I got super sidetracked on my original purpose of this blog. My intent was to ramble on about the Laguna Beach MTV show but now I'm burnt. Peace.
Ok so it might sound odd when I tell people I do not own a TV but I really don't miss it. Today I was lurking around my parents house and I turned on CNN to watch the Batman fiasco. I could only handle a few minutes of it. Not to say the tragedy is insignificant, stuff like that is really disturbing and scary. Just too much overall.
I think about death a lot lately. I think about cars losing control on the street and crashing into me as I am walking. I have been walking around more than usual. I used to enjoy walking but now I'm indifferent.
I was inside a movie theatre during a major earthquake. It felt so surreal as the floor and walls were moving. I can't even imagine what it would be like to witness the homeboy shooting spree.
I remember lining up around the block to see the original Batman in 1989. I was so excited, I even wore my favorite Batman shirt. I know those movie watchers were super excited to be the first to see the latest installment in the Batman series. I have always admired the Gotham city saga. Whatever age, it's just super cool and everyone agrees. I will most likely see the film once the crowds simmer down.
I got super sidetracked on my original purpose of this blog. My intent was to ramble on about the Laguna Beach MTV show but now I'm burnt. Peace.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Follow Thru
Yes, for some it might be a simple part of life, say something and then follow thru but not me. Following thru is my weakness, not to be confused with being lazy. Maybe I just have issues with prioritizing my life. I am trying to stay positive with this post so let's just say I am working on my follow thru game. Baby steps people, truth spoken.
Last Sunday I rolled down to see the Palmer Squares rock the house at Badfish Clothing in San Pedro. From what I heard, this was their first California mini tour so I am stoked to be a part of it. Badfish has been around for a few but I finally got the chance to speak with the owner, Josh. Real cool cat, down to earth, much respect. Josh was all smiles to see his spot packed on a Sunday night. Free show during the summer season definitely brought the kids out to play. I wasn't familiar with the other acts on the bill but the crowd seemed to know whats up when they heard their favorite jams.
I usually snap a few pics during live concerts but never even think about recording videos. I have a feeling you are going to hear more about these dudes in the future so I filmed a couple songs. Enjoy!
Last Sunday I rolled down to see the Palmer Squares rock the house at Badfish Clothing in San Pedro. From what I heard, this was their first California mini tour so I am stoked to be a part of it. Badfish has been around for a few but I finally got the chance to speak with the owner, Josh. Real cool cat, down to earth, much respect. Josh was all smiles to see his spot packed on a Sunday night. Free show during the summer season definitely brought the kids out to play. I wasn't familiar with the other acts on the bill but the crowd seemed to know whats up when they heard their favorite jams.
I usually snap a few pics during live concerts but never even think about recording videos. I have a feeling you are going to hear more about these dudes in the future so I filmed a couple songs. Enjoy!
Friday, July 13, 2012
Thirteen
Whatever you do, don't do this...um yeah whatever, I don't even let that Friday the 13th nonsense phase me. I would say that the majority of my days are filled with one small disaster after another, no I am just drama, it's really how my day rolls out. I jokingly say that I often find myself fighting off mini heart attacks all day.
Today was actually pretty cool. I hoped for blank and it happened. Just like that, then everything fell into place after that. I really couldn't complain. Thank you. I put that positive energy out there and received positive results. Now let's try that again tomorrow and keep the ball rolling. Stay vicious my friends.
Today was actually pretty cool. I hoped for blank and it happened. Just like that, then everything fell into place after that. I really couldn't complain. Thank you. I put that positive energy out there and received positive results. Now let's try that again tomorrow and keep the ball rolling. Stay vicious my friends.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Thursday
"Hold onto your passion and enthusiasm and infect everyone else with it…" -Bobby Hundreds.
Another day here on the grind. I make it point to check in everyday with the companies that continue to inspire me and remind me to keep pushing forward. The Hundreds is by far one of the brands that I look up to the most. And it is not even about their clothes, which I do not even particularly care for which might seem odd to some especially since they are an apparel brand. What I admire is their dedication, their consistency, their connection with their fans, their roots, their goals, their drive, their passion etc, the list goes on. The Hundreds have been able to create global brand awareness not because of their $2 Alstyle oversized cotton tee shirt with some screen printed logo on it. They have taken it to the next level because of their passion. They have risked it all and kept moving forward.
This is clearly my problem. My hesitation, my lack of confidence and my worry have lead me down the going no where path. But it leaves me questioning if I am even capable. Why do I lack that motivation? Why do I lack that drive? I am sort of left here SMH.
Another day here on the grind. I make it point to check in everyday with the companies that continue to inspire me and remind me to keep pushing forward. The Hundreds is by far one of the brands that I look up to the most. And it is not even about their clothes, which I do not even particularly care for which might seem odd to some especially since they are an apparel brand. What I admire is their dedication, their consistency, their connection with their fans, their roots, their goals, their drive, their passion etc, the list goes on. The Hundreds have been able to create global brand awareness not because of their $2 Alstyle oversized cotton tee shirt with some screen printed logo on it. They have taken it to the next level because of their passion. They have risked it all and kept moving forward.
This is clearly my problem. My hesitation, my lack of confidence and my worry have lead me down the going no where path. But it leaves me questioning if I am even capable. Why do I lack that motivation? Why do I lack that drive? I am sort of left here SMH.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Seven Eleven
Today is my 32nd birthday. In my youth I was stoked on having a July birthday because I was out of school, summer season was in full swing and I felt free as a bird. As I got older the responsibility of work often got in the way but I still managed to enjoy my special day in one way or another. I can't help but look to the past and reflect on my most meaningful birthday moments.
I turned the big 21 while I was living in Singapore during my college exchange program. I had a fake ID since I was 19 so buying booze and drinking in bars/restaurants was not that exciting but the idea of doing it legally was still pretty powerful. The legal drinking age in Singapore is 18 so none of my new friends really thought much of the milestone. I still managed to let loose all day and night.
I turned 23 in Sevilla, Spain while I was on my 3 month European backpacking adventure. The trip was amazing and exhausting all at the same time. I visited 10 countries that summer. On that particular night I saw a traditional flamenco show and had a nice dinner by the river.
I spent my 26th birthday flying over Del Mar, California in a hot air balloon. It was an amazing present and I am still grateful for that opportunity. The winds got the best of the balloon and we ended up crash landing in someones backyard. No one got hurt and our driver said "don't worry, this happens all the time" but yeah right buddy. Definitely a classic day.
I spent my 30th birthday in my favorite city in world, New York. I was gifted a 5 day trip to NYC to enjoy, experience, and get inspired. I was alone but that was clearly by choice. The energy of NYC always brings me back for more. I can never get enough of that city.
Last year I was house hunting. I was in the process of placing an offer on small two bedroom home in San Pedro. I spent my 31st birthday with my realtor, inspectors, bankers etc as we walked thru final inspections on the property. It was a huge adult step day and I felt super confident with my decision. Unfortunately the deal fell thru and the downward spiral quickly took off from there.
Which brings me to today. I'm 32 and I am alone. No plans. No trips. No gifts. No fancy anything. Yes I am a bit sad but I am hopeful that things will not stay like this forever. I have my work cut out for me but I know it is possible. I did not get in this situation over night so I expect it will take some time to climb out of the hole. Just gotta stay positive. Easier said then done though. Cheers!
I turned the big 21 while I was living in Singapore during my college exchange program. I had a fake ID since I was 19 so buying booze and drinking in bars/restaurants was not that exciting but the idea of doing it legally was still pretty powerful. The legal drinking age in Singapore is 18 so none of my new friends really thought much of the milestone. I still managed to let loose all day and night.
I turned 23 in Sevilla, Spain while I was on my 3 month European backpacking adventure. The trip was amazing and exhausting all at the same time. I visited 10 countries that summer. On that particular night I saw a traditional flamenco show and had a nice dinner by the river.
I spent my 26th birthday flying over Del Mar, California in a hot air balloon. It was an amazing present and I am still grateful for that opportunity. The winds got the best of the balloon and we ended up crash landing in someones backyard. No one got hurt and our driver said "don't worry, this happens all the time" but yeah right buddy. Definitely a classic day.
I spent my 30th birthday in my favorite city in world, New York. I was gifted a 5 day trip to NYC to enjoy, experience, and get inspired. I was alone but that was clearly by choice. The energy of NYC always brings me back for more. I can never get enough of that city.
Last year I was house hunting. I was in the process of placing an offer on small two bedroom home in San Pedro. I spent my 31st birthday with my realtor, inspectors, bankers etc as we walked thru final inspections on the property. It was a huge adult step day and I felt super confident with my decision. Unfortunately the deal fell thru and the downward spiral quickly took off from there.
Which brings me to today. I'm 32 and I am alone. No plans. No trips. No gifts. No fancy anything. Yes I am a bit sad but I am hopeful that things will not stay like this forever. I have my work cut out for me but I know it is possible. I did not get in this situation over night so I expect it will take some time to climb out of the hole. Just gotta stay positive. Easier said then done though. Cheers!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Cavotuesday
I guess you could say I am sleep deprived. My mind is heavy and I can't even slow it down. I have a tendency to procrastinate so when the motivation is flowing I have no choice but to keep it moving. Sleep is overrated and life is happening. Might as well get it done.
I attended a friends art show the other night. We lost touch over the years but have managed to connect on FB off and on. Lately I have started to hate FB more than love it but it is what it is. I had no idea my friend was dabbling in the painted canvas game. Here is a quick snap of one of his pieces.
I should of took more pics but my mind was not even thinking about this blog a few days ago. Last time I checked in with this cat he was collecting vinyl and producing music. As an artist, I can appreciate the transition into other forms of creativity. It's definitely the right approach to avoid getting stagnant. Yet that's exactly what happened to me, I got stuck in the mud. Obviously I am still learning around here.
So another Cavotuesday, another reason to stay inspired and keep moving forward.
I attended a friends art show the other night. We lost touch over the years but have managed to connect on FB off and on. Lately I have started to hate FB more than love it but it is what it is. I had no idea my friend was dabbling in the painted canvas game. Here is a quick snap of one of his pieces.
I should of took more pics but my mind was not even thinking about this blog a few days ago. Last time I checked in with this cat he was collecting vinyl and producing music. As an artist, I can appreciate the transition into other forms of creativity. It's definitely the right approach to avoid getting stagnant. Yet that's exactly what happened to me, I got stuck in the mud. Obviously I am still learning around here.
So another Cavotuesday, another reason to stay inspired and keep moving forward.
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