A Lexus Projector…

Tuesday I went to the Super Elegante record release party, which was
all put together by cate alum Alexis, here pictured with the elder
Ryang James.

Patrick and the younger Ryang made it out as well.

And this ipod was just chilling on the drum set.

These two kids were just randomly snapping pictures, so I got a picture with them.

And then we heard a song, which was all right.

Wednesday I hit the Chinatown studio for some screen snaps.

John got slightly hammered.

And I went warm and fuzzy.

We did some multimedia shots as well.

And had to bust out the ronan p. nagle invented floor picture.
 

Fuck yeah.

You should also maybe take a look at a preliminary go at entrepeneurship: Mr T Cuts Down Trees.

Reel Mill Ante Meth Clap…

Tuesday, I got a call from the jetset couple. Sam needed a reel for his
acting giveaway package. And so, without thought of limb or extremity,
I cut away and made Sam look pretty good. If they let me, I might even
post the montage.

Then the very next day the PS crew went down to swanky effects house the Mill.

We entered the famous soho elevator.

Where me and Jenna were found out.

By the receptionist closed circuit cam.

We just loved their infinite sushi platter and peach martinis.

And I chatted with flame artist Dave, who way back in august first introduced me to Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah.

Belated Xmass parties always put me in a good mood.

Thursday small poker went down at John’s.

Random Pat showed up, a guy I met once and who played with us a few times. What a hoot.

I played calm and steady, slowly rollercoasting towards twenty bucks.
John lost and lost and lost. Cassesns slowly became the big monster.
Pat bought in once. Then towards the end, john took out Nick , who
cursed the poker gods yet again (he only lost ten though), to make back
a good chunk of his money. And I made a major move against Cassens,
going up to thirty-five. But I stayed in with King Ten, hit my top
pair, and got perfectly goaded by john “I guarantee I have you beat” to
go all in and lose it all to his trips, letting john buy himself out
right in the end to come out forty on top. I too curse them pokah gods,
though I too, lost only ten.

Friday, work dropped the bomb. Thirty six hours of Meth users footage
for six PSA and a Documentary. Oh shit, my next two months might just
be crazy.

At the end of the day, Jenna and I went out to Punch, where I had a sublime sesame seared tuna.

And jenna showed off her old-man-eye-catching triangle.

And finally, Saturday, after loading 12 hours of Meth, Jennifer Jenna
and I went to Tonic to check out Michael Leviton and Alec Ounsworth.

Michael Rocked it, as always.

But the real deal was Alec’s (lead singer of Clap Your Hands) other band.

Which included the coolest pregnant drummer I have ever seen.

Alec got snapped all moody and dark.

And the chill guitarist just kept it chill.

Laterz.

Movie Pong, Eggs, Investment Strings, and Chinatown Subway Art...

Friday night I tasted the sweet delicious plentitude of Domino’s 5 5 5 deal.

With Murray,  Rodrigo, and Maria.

We wanted to do a Syriana Munich double feature, but didn’t prebuy so
went back and played some pong. I had the best record with a 2-1,
almost pulling off the undefeated but losing in the last game to Garza.

Then we saw Munich which I mostly enjoyed, maybe didn’t need the final
sex scene, but its themes of home always being worth fighting for and
asking when an eye for an eye will ever end are sound. I also took 18
pictures of myself of which this was the best.

Sunday morning I ate at the fully packed diner with Jenna.

And had my first Omelet ever. (there is a chance I had a bite of one
back on Oak St. at wes, but memories are murky and won’t hold up at
court). It was too fluffy.

Sunday night we chilled with rope.

I took most of Nick’s money, only to lose it to John in a quick tourney.

And I purchased this original John Mclane. What would you pay for it?

Monday I visited Nick’s apartment for the first time, down in his chillin’ Chinatown digs.

His cousin drew and Nate watched a little basquiat action with us.

And the mom-cookie-giftpack became unearthed.

John drew a portrait of me on the 4 train.

And lord knows every post should be lucky enough to end with elevator picts.

Before, The End, and More…

Well before I left for Sunny Cali, New York had a transit strike! I
know its old news, but I just need to blog it a bit. Look, News
camera’s down my block on 96th, it’s local correspondent Gary Anthony Ramses.

And this is me sharing a cab with three strangers (front row girl obviously not pictured).

And in big news, i have now opened my new art gallery. Yes, a place to
gather all the photodrawings I'm working on, and they're all big enough
to click on. Please check it out: Galeria Follada.

Later, after the break, I met John’s infamous Rene.

Who stopped by while John showed me his new Katz portrait.

And of course, then came The End Of The Year As We Know It. Jenna modeled some outfits.

I put on a nice shirt.

And we headed off to Chez Charlotte, who was throwing a big bash for the Last Days.

Party.

Champange.

Becky and her Brother Steve.

Random people.

Absynthe.

Cool dresses and vests.

I rocked my new kick ass Hot Pink Monsters.

The First Kiss Of The Year.

Drunk girl passing out.

Drunk couple.

Drunk couple kissing (I HATE YOU BLURRY PICS!)

The ride home with no gastronomic surprise, thank yaweh.

And So, Good Night, 2005.

Good Night.

There And Back Again…

Well, kiddies, I just made it back from that glorious Golden State, and it was fabulous.

Don’t believe me? Take a look at Xmass 05. That’s the complete shebang.

But here come the stories. The full monty. (It's seven days in five posts). Enjoy.

Day 1.

Took an annoying flight.

Landed at the gate hub of my youth, Delta LAX.

The fam picked me up.

Went shopping at The Grove.

And ate at the old farmer’s market next door, with carolers behind.

We shopped at the Mac Store.

And did some multimedia posing at the Sony Store.

 

Guitars.

KFC and  jack In The Box for the hour and a half drive up the coast to gorgeous Santa Barbara.

Checked out Luis Jose’s digs.

And finally arrived at the Montecito Inn with all our Luggage.

Not a bad suite with the toilet paper like French fries.

Day 2.

Met up with Hickserino. Took a walk through Montecito and ate at Panino.

And looked upon the ostrich farms car.

Oh State Street (santa barabara’s main downtown drag).

The glorious shops of Paseo Nuevo, where we consumed like good holiday economy boosters.

And hit the amazing Galanga Thai (or thy, if you’re LJ).

With headbands, of course.

Ending the night with a wondrous SB Pastoral.

Day 3

Morning shopping makes you crazy.

So does Xmass trees and ice creams.

But it prepares you for the annual Hicks party which began with Brazier and Cristina.

And look at that Patsy Hicks,

It turns out Criessen’s now engaged. Look at that rock, not to mention
the fact that our generation is getting older, this will be our fourth
marriage (all girls, though, who will be the first '98 Cate Guy to marry?)

Young sister Katy hosted well.

Look at that showing of the younger generation.

And Mr Hicks.

Rachel nee Pigeon and Kristin.

The glorious Weiss.

The unstoppable She-na-nay.

A pitstop of annual corralling.

One Sassy Caitlin.

Four Hicks-a-singing.

Five Stephens’ posing.

Ashlyn and Kristi.

Kristi really excited.

Hanna and Olivia (who was once my student in Soph Sem).

Julian playing piano.

And we’re off for a night on the town.

To the James Joyce, where Brad Devo and Georgia joined us, with her husband Josh.

Straight chillin’.

With more unexpected guests, Catrine and Duncan avec buxom girlfriend
(I had not seen him in six years, and he pulled the metamorphosis of
the century, from skinny little sophomore, to Santa Barbara Bob Loblaw
(ashlyn coined that one)).

We closed the bar down with peanuts, so we headed to Brad’s place.

I played a four way poker tourney, where I made it to the final two the
under dog by about 80% of chips, only to tie it up and make ten dollars
with good one play against a sugar deprived Josh.

Seamus rocked it, while sleepovers occurred, Andrew, Brazier, and I shared a cab home.

A small moment to document the amount of accoutrements I carry on a regular basis.

 Day 4

Early wake up.

Because we were on a mission to check out our old School Grounds. Frosh dorm, aptly named Savage House.
 

Dinning Hall Maduka Steady Trophy pose.

The incredible hillside view I took for granted on most sunsets.

Enjoying it with the fellow alums.

Aptly named sophomore and junior dorm, Long House.

Senior year dorm Cook House. That’s right, this one’s not aptly named.

Stained glass windowed Chapel.

Sometimes aptly named High House, where I never lived.

Senior lawn and the scenic path.

Weird new statues at the Hitchcock Theatre, where i performed a fare share of thesbian rites.

Brazier’s created Paden Ross hole.

Thanks for the memories Cate School.

A goodbye to Brazier at Rincon Beach.

Feo and Molly (we miss you Ralph).

And King Kong, which was too long by about an hour, but okay for some of its jaw dropping moments.

This is what people thought.

Italian Dinner.

Posing at the mall.

And Back home to wrap my presents.

Day 5.

Xmass! Yay!

Presents.

My presents.

LJ’s ecstatic receival(sp!) of his new MiniDV camcorder.

More gifts, including my Gambler sweatshirt.

Among other hoodies.

Then the evening arrival of the LA Stephens’s, Uncle James, Aunt Lolly, and grandma Laney.

Tay and Nick, Aunt Pril, Uncle Steve, and cousing Louie.

Classic (half) Jewish Xmass dinner: Chinese. Chinese Chillin’.

Posing for Outlines.

Moxie!

Like father, like son.

And the other 25th Surprise, Luis Jose’s 30th Birthday!

Happy birthday! Presents (for birthday).

And for everyone.

End of the night at chez-hicks with their cousins Kathy and Will.

And of course, duckman.

Day 6

Skipped breakfast at the Hicks’.

To attend Suite breakfast with the Fam.

Stories were told, and laughs were had.

And before the goodbye, the full attendance picture.

Plus the young ‘uns version.

Good seeing y’all.

Video tape confessionals pools side followed. (now that Luis Jo has a camcorder,
he’s more annoying than I am with my, constantly shooting. But I
believe moving picture cams change the reality a bit more, everyone
acts different).

Aviator cruisin’.

Charlie Chaplin kissing.

Into the enchanting California sunset.

Before attending The Family Stone, which turned out to be a sleeper
charmer hit. Go in with low expectations and it might surprise you. And
you know I’m a sucker for Claire Danes.

Popcorn powders in the States? Incredible.

Weird place final dinner.

And the quick drop off Hicks Goodbye.

Day 7.

The end is nigh! Crazy packing.

With Italy-like roof box stunt (shipping away fake xmass tree).

IHOP breakfast.
(weirdly unpictured).

And the goodbye to Luis Jose.

More aviator shinanegans on the our and a half back to LAX.

And final goodbye to the fam.

Penis in the LAX bathroom stall.

Sam, my sister’s ex on the airplane TV CNN.

An annoying five hours to arrive and pass the penis head tip of Manhattan.

And the final key maneuver, taking the illegal cab past an unmoving thirty person regular taxi line. Thanks guy.

What a fucking trip. 3000 miles, 13 family members. 17 Friends. 438 Pictures taken, 178 posted Whew.

Happy Christmass, Merry Channukah, and Feliz Kwanza To All…

Yes. Happy Holidays!

I am in sunny Santa Barbara on vaca.

My gifts rock.

And much much more shall come when I return to The City. Have a great one.