I received something very special today. Daewon gave me one of his decks with a very special message on it. Definitely made my day. Would have never imagined I’d get to meet and skate with my favorite skateboarder of all time. To receive something like this from him is very special. This deck is proudly hanging on my wall. Amazing skateboarder and all-around awesome human. Thanks Dae!
Back Nose Blunt dedication day to late professional skateboarder Kristian Bomholt. Jon Fitisemanu and friends shred the DVS park in loving memory. It’s the first time I was ever filmed skating. Thanks Daewon and Jon for that. R.I.P. Kristian.
Back in September of last year I got to go help shoot The Dodos for a Fuel TV episode. I’ve been too busy to post anything from the trip. Here are a few shots from the trip.
Boy oh boy do I have a doozy of a story. As some of you may have heard, Thom Yorke announced two shows in L.A. where he would be joined by Flea, Nigel Godrich, Joey Waronker, and Mauro Refosco at the Orpheum to play tracks from The Eraser. I’ll go ahead and say now that the show was incredible. But before I go into that, there’s the tale of how I ended getting to see this amazing show.
As was expected, tickets were gone within minutes of the announcement. I was bummed. As luck would have it however. Colin had a friend who managed to score 2 extra tickets for the second night, and was willing to sell them at face value. I jumped at the offer. I’m sure tickets being sold at the show would go for way more, so face was awesome! I was to pick up the tickets from his friend Justin outside the Orpheum the night of the show. Just so we’re clear, I have never met nor seen this friend Justin.
So the show night roles around and I’m pumped. Got my cash in my pocket and I’m looking for Justin. I give him a call and he tells me that he’s hanging out in front of this little food spot just passed the front of the Orpheum. I stayed on the phone with him as I made my way passed the front of the Orpheum. I then saw a guy on his phone right in fron tof this little food shack. I called out to him “Justin?” he called back “Daniel?”. Bam, I walk up an introduce myself, we shake hands, talk about the show the night prior, I hand him the cash, and then we head over to the ticket box so he can swipe his card for the tickets.
We say our farewells and head inside. Lots of celebrities present as well. We wandered around inside, bought a limited edition LP, and then it happened. My phone rings:
Me: Hello?
Justin: Hey man, what happened? Do you still need the tickets?
Me: What are you talking about we just got the tickets.
Justin: No you didn’t. I’m still out here waiting. Where are you?
Me: Inside.
Justin: How’d you get inside?
Trust me, it felt like I had just walked into the Twilight Zone. Justin insisted that he hadn’t sold us the tickets. It wasn’t a problem. He sold his two to someone outside. I insisted on meeting him so I can put a name to the face. I just couldn’t believe that he hadn’t sold us the tickets.
What did that mean? Well, it means we bought our tickets from a complete stranger who just so happened to be named Justin looking for someone named Daniel. After the show I met up with Justin and yes, totally different person. Insane!
The show was incredible! Thom Yorke blew the roof off the place. I was worried about Flea. I wasn’t sure how it would work out, but he totally nailed it. It was awesome! He played a few new tracks including that new track off the Twilight soundtrack (shameful I know, but the song is great). I definitely lucked out. Bought tickets from a complete stranger and ruined someones night (the person who was supposed to buy the tickets I bought), but awesome nonetheless.
When I was five years old, my older brother and I would sit on the living room floor drawing or coloring listening to my mom sing. She’d dance around the house cleaning, stopping every now and then to get one of us to join her. Those are few in not so many happy childhood memories. Memories that could not have existed without the music of Michael Jackson. So you can understand how hearing of his death today has been a pretty sad thing to experience.
Michael has been through some shit in his life. As of late, these molestation accusations which we still don’t even fully know are true or not. On top of that, the dude was a physical disaster, a freak even, but can you really blame him for turning out to be the person he became? A product of fucked up parenting, abuse, and childhood stardom yielded a very misunderstood man in my opinion. More like a child trapped inside a man. It’s fucking tragic.
In a way, when I think about all the shit he’s had to deal with, his death must have been a welcome release. He can finally be left alone (hopefully). On the verge of this epic comeback tour, it’s seriously fucked to have him pass. The skeptic in me started hoping he had momentarily Tupac’ed to make some awesome back from the dead tour. But no, he has gone. How he died, who knows? I’m willing to bet it was suicide, but the presence of his doctor at his place makes things quite sketchy.
It’s a shame. Michael was a genius. The moonwalk, Thriller, Billie Jean. Legendary. Seen a few greats fall in my lifetime to-date, but he’s by far the biggest to go thus far. Along with Michael, Farrah Fawcett has passed. And shit, even Billie Mays, the bearded dude who yelled at people through the TV. Fucking shame.
Michael, thanks for the happy memories your music made and will continue to make possible. R.I.P.
Went up to Vasquez Rocks today for Father’s Day. Pretty awesome rock formations. We did some hiking, some wildlife, and even got a little lost. They’ve apparently filmed tons of stuff here. I think most recently a scene from the new Star Trek movie.
We ate at this place nearby after. The little restaurant from Thelma & Louise. Worst service ever, and the food sucked. The place did however look kinda cool.
Something amazing happened a few nights ago. We were sitting around deciding what to have for dinner when the topic of In-N-Out burgers came up. The missus and I were discussing how delicious it was. We then started talking about what could possibly make it better. Then it came to me. What better item to accompany two beef patties and some grilled onions, than delicious bacon? How has In-N-Out not jumped all over this?
We fried up some bacon and left it warm, then shot over to the In-N-Out. We slipped the bacon on in little bits and…heaven. IT WAS AMAZING! I can’t begin to explain just how perfect that tasted. It was so good that since then, I’ve fried up some bacon and placed it in a little aluminum sleeve, gone over to In-N-Out, and had me a bacon double-double. Try that shit! It’s heaven! HEAVEN!!
I just got back from an awesome trip to SF with the team. It’s long been a dream of mine to go on tour with the guys I’ve always been a fan of, and while this wasn’t exactly some long epic tour, it’s probably, but hopefully not, as close as I’ll ever get.
It basically came about when I was asked if I could assist Reda with getting some shots for the catalog. We were co-sponsoring a contest with Thrasher, Zero, and Quicksilver at Wallenberg. The Big Four. Probably the last time we’ll see it too, since it’s getting demolished soon. Basically they wanted to get shots of the guy in SF. I was psyched! I figured I’d drive up to SF the day of the event and then drive back, but as it turns out, I was invited along for the whole trip. There would be a demo on the drive up with the Girl and Chocolate guys the day before, and we were going to come along.
The above photo was taken on the Mancation that I have yet to post pics from, but I figured it would serve as a good introduction to this life changing post. You see, that image quite literally captures what I would probably look like in a few months if I don’t do what I’m about to.
So what is this big news? Nothing is 100% just yet, but it’s like 99.5% sure that I’m moving out. Finally. Is it the right thing to be doing in a time like this when the economy is shit and I’m getting paid less? Probably not, but it’s something I need to do to gather some mental sanity. I need a change desperately. Like, super desperately. It’s one of those things that I need to just do already, or I may never just get up and go and do it. It’s not going to be easy by any means. Money will be tight and I have no furniture, but things will work out. They have to. Put the stress, the ulcer, the everything at ease. I need a fresh start…
So on that note, hurray for me! Moving to South Pasadena. If anyone feels so inclined, feel free to send gift cards. X-mas around the corner and B-day in Jan. This dude needs lots of basics. Ikea, Amazon, Target, Kohls, BB&B. It’s all good!
I’ll put up pictures of everything, the move and all that good stuff. Move in on the 13th. It’s going to be gnarly!
Something very sad yet very awesome has happened today. I have parted ways with my beloved Scion XA. I’ve had a combination of responses to this. Everything from “Why?!” to “Go for it!”. She’s been with me for 5 years now, and I poured my heart in soul into her, but it was that time. I needed to think about getting something that didn’t cause me any stress or heartache. So I traded up to it’s older, more mature cousin. It’s only been a few hours. But it was the right thing to do.
Good-bye old friend, I hope your next owner takes care of you as much as I did. We went through some shit together, lots of good times and memories. She won’t be forgotten…
The park is done and it looks amazing! Here are some photos.
What a week. Seriously it’s been top fucking notch. “The world is trying to swallow me whole.” I’ve been saying that all week. I’m writing today only as a way of venting off some anger that is sitting really hard in my gut right now. I’m sure it’ll help somewhat, and just get me to move on. So lets begin.
I got robbed last night at knife point by two assholes. That brings the count to 2 times at gunpoint, and 4 at knife point. What a wonderful world we live in. Like I said earlier it’s been a pretty stressful week. A lot of life drama, home issues, and world issues of course. None of it brings a smile to my face. So yesterday I decided to leave work a little early and go home and skate. My way of relaxing and just letting off steam. Then this shit happens.
A block away from home on Beverly, one dude came around the corner on a bike and rode past me then another dude pulled out right in front. I could faintly make out what he was saying since I had my headphones on. I took them off and hear, “your feria (money) homey!” and then *flick* out comes the knife. My initial reaction was to pick my board up and back up a bit. Then a little poke to my back let me know douche bag “A” that rode past me was in cahoots and was already behind me with his knife. Nothing strange or really scary about it. Just frustrating. I said, “alright homey chill, I know how this shit works. But I don’t have any money on me man.” He kept blabbing on in his cool guy gangster speak demanding money, but seriously, I had nothing on me. His buddy took the board, and the one guy took my ipod. I thought this shit was done. They took everything I had. But of course not. He thought I was lieing to him. He kept demanding money, and I kept saying I didn’t have any. That’s when it got a little serious cus his knife went to my throat. I’m thinking wow, if this dude is going to kill me, it’s going to be for nothing, I don’t carry money on me. I said the only thing that came to mind, “I don’t carry cash on me when I skate because of people like you foo.” He didn’t like that much, but after a tense minute, they took off, and I had to walk home feeling like a bitch.
Now, here’s the thing. Why? Like seriously. Why do that to another human being? A good friend told me it’s drugs. Which would make total sense. It’s people like this that perpetuate stereotypes. Talk about making your race look stupid. I’m pissed that it happened, livid. And it makes it all the more worse that society makes it so that no one gets involved. If you know Beverly, you know how busy the damn street is. You think anyone got involved. Fuck no. All I wanted to do was relax and have a good sweat to vent. Instead I have my board taken, and my ipod jacked by a dude who won’t like any of the music on there and probably doesn’t even own a computer and if he did wouldn’t know what to do with the shuffle anyways. Lets be honest, that’s probably the case. But again, why? I feel sorry for individuals that need to take something from someone else in order to get by. Bad parenting? No parenting? Retardation? Lack of education? Struggling economy? Society? Who’s to blame? And shit, should I feel like a bitch? In my mind I think a board I got for free, and a shuffle aren’t anything worth getting stabbed over.
The world is a piece of shit nowadays. You have people dieing in vain, scientist letting their curiosity further fuck with the world, people starving. Ultimately it’s because of all that, that losing what I lost is not a big deal, it’s all replaceable. But in a time when I’m already bummed on society, this thing just did it for me. I’m so done right now, just too fucking angry. It’ll pass but it’s a bitch.
Will I stop skating around my neighborhood? Fuck no. As a matter of fact I’m sure I’ll see “goofy”, “jester”, “dopey” or what ever the fuck his stupid name is, and his buddy again. At which time I could only hope karma does it’s job. I mean personally, I think it already has, because the dude is probably going to die soon and leave behind a single mom (just playing the stats). I’m ashamed to be hispanic/latino for at least a brief moment because of people like that. It just doesn’t make sense…
I wish it was Friday so at least I could say the week was over, but nope. 2 more days. Lets see what other shit can happen. Take care people, it’s all we all can really do.
We went hiking again with Dave. This time to a place he had already gone too. You see, a few weeks back Dave went on a hike and sent me a picture off his phone that looked like some sort of mine shaft. After confirming that, we decided that we needed to make the trek.
Dave decided to bring his camera, so I did too (of course) but it was a strict 50mm lenses only trip. We didn’t go insane with the photo taking since the primary purpose was to do this hike, but we got some cool stuff.
I finally got around to getting together some images from Podiumfest 2008. Podiumfest was a rager held here at the main office to celebrate…something. I’m guessing it was a combination of having all the reps from around the world under one roof, and recession. The reasons don’t really matter though since it’s basically a night to get hammered.
It was definitely an amazing evening and the pictures do it absolutely no justice at all, but I tried my best to capture the
essence of the evening.
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