slow news day

Get ready for more potholes

Heavy rainfall expected to erode Sonoma County's ailing roads


By SAM SCOTT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Thursday, December 31, 2010


Admittedly, Matt Prince was on his bicycle Thursday to work off extra pounds gained during the holidays.

But even Lance Armstrong would have felt some unwanted jiggling riding down Lichau Road’s cratered surface.

“I should have full suspension for this,” Prince said, pausing west of Sonoma Mountain on the road’s shoulder. “It’s a mosaic of potholes.”

Of course, it’s no surprise that Sonoma County is beset with potholes. For six years running, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission has named the county’s roads the worst in the Bay Area.....etc.

Merry Giftmas

heady

Well you're slim and you're weak
You've got the teeth of the hydra upon you –T. Rex



You want two heads on you body
And you've got two mirrors in your hand. -Jefferson Airplane



When logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead
And the white knight is talking backwards
And the red queen's off with her head
Remember what the dormouse said
Feed your head, feed your head -Jefferson Airplane



Never Eat Anything Bigger Than Your Head. -B. Kliban

imaginary friends

Gotta Love Ikea

Ikea sometimes gets a bad rap. So the furniture may not always be solid wood or old world craftsmanship. So you won’t see Krenov or Nakashima there. But hey, the price is right, the innovation is clever and the ergonomics & functionality are clear.

Ikea has empowered me. Not only can this home handyman wannabe assemble his own furniture. I have also solved many a storage and lifestyle issue with Ikea products.

And the store is a trip! Wandering through the labyrinth of displays just generates inspiration and new ideas. You can project your imagination and vision into one context after another. Their designs are stylish and often inspired. Their quality control is first rate and assembly is straightforward. Even the store layout, parking access and loading enhance the whole process. Their marketing is brilliant. I did have to pass on the Swedish meatballs, not being a carnivore, but people rave about ‘em.

Trying out the products can be dangerous though, as it may just lead to purchase. That’s what happened with our Poang chairs. Garrett needed a place to sit in his apt; so off to the store in East Palo Alto. As soon as we sat in the display models, we were hooked. The Poang is for me the most comfortable chair around! (Sorry there Eames) It cradles the lumbar and its springiness is buoyant. And it's style makes a design statement. The myriad of options will fit any taste or budget too.

No, I'm not on the Ikea payroll. I'm just bloggin here... though my ravings do sound like a testimonial. Anyway, I got a Poang chair for G and couldn’t resist getting one from me to me!

Looked Hella Fun

Scoped out the surf at Princeton Jetty in El Granada today.... while visiting son, Garrett. Dang, no boards! Next time though; so stay tuned.

MATT'S NEW SLIDE SHOW!!!

Is it prescience or coincidence? Why not ask the ball? And adding to the mystery is music by Shawn Lee & Clutchy Hopkins.

between storms....

So Eat Already

Christmas colors abound in my culinary creation for tonight’s Hanukkah feast. Is that politically incorrect? Not for this irreverent gathering.... They're serving a Hanukkah ham for God sakes.












And how do I prepare my signature grilled veggies? Parboiling makes all the diff. Then I marinate in my concocted sauce. Good coals and lots of close monitoring are all part of the technique. Finally comes the presentation of this highly visual dish, where I layer and juxtapose each piece with an artist’s eye……SO EAT ALREADY!











Oh yeah.....all the good folks here at DaBlog want to wish you and yours a Happy Holiday Season!

McTavish Revisited (see 11/16 post)

Here's an epilogue on the damage to Dugen, who is not only embracing a new sport but as it turns out, is a pretty good sport himself!


Some email excerpts....

Hey Matt, Sorry I haven't gotten back to ya sooner. I wanted to say thanks for coming to check on me and hanging on that eventful day.

Found out today that I did fracture my cheek and severed a nerve, but there's not much to be done with it. Luckily it isn't disfiguring that much, if at all. But it broke it in two places. Man, It's weird that it didn't hurt all that much. Glad the nerve when numb. Check you out soon. Peace, Dugen

Hey Dugen,

I’m glad to hear you are on the mend & even back in the water!

Sounds like a freak injury indeed. It will surely add to your rugged good looks and your repertoire of surf stories. Later, Matt

Control Freak

In Search Of.....

Ancient civilizations are the basis of the world as we know it today.

Perhaps someday on some distant planet, someone will actually read DaBlog.

Fall Frolic

An idyllic Fall morning brought some sweet rights to the Channel today. Waist high waves, often holding up for long rides on workable faces gave us pure enjoyment. A quick pop up made a real difference to set up the ride, and if you got in the pocket, an inviting little wall awaited.

Marty and David do set the bar pretty high for long sessions. After 2 1/2 hours I was kinda tired, but the waves were much too fun not to linger. As the small crowd thinned, it was just David and I trading wave after wave.

Now home, hours later, I am still incredibly buzzed. Good times!!

McTavish's Revenge

“The board is a high performance animal that likes to be pumped and accelerated; and may otherwise get a little squirrelly just going down the line” I cautioned Dugen, my would be buyer from Craigslist.


Though only four months into surfing, he still insisted he was drawn to my McTavish Original. He sure sounded more passionate than the other two inquiries. They were so fixated on the board being dinged, that they seemed to be shopping for a car ornament. Dugen instead wanted to know about how it would ride. Thus I was feeling more inclined to accommodate someone with such resolve to take on a new sport.

I even agreed to meet him at Bolinas today and let him do a demo. He said he’d be driving a 2001 Subaru Outback that was green mist in color with a bike rack. Get out! That’s what I drive too. With such synchronicity, it seemed right.

The waves were knee high, mushy and the Channel current was sucking hard. One challenging day for a demo. Still, Dugen was undaunted and actually catching waves with surprising athleticism for a 42 year old guy just learning to surf. So I hooted with support and perhaps some ulterior motive to close the deal. And clearly this is a board he will quickly learn to love.

“That thing will look good on your Subaru too.” I suggested, remembering the car ornament theory.

It was all going so well. I even lucked into several fun sections too. When I next looked for Dugen, he was on the beach holding his head. Naturally I paddled in to his aid. Seems he got smacked in the face and a very linear welt was already showing.

We made it back to the matching Subarus and I had to comment, “Dude, you know you are bleeding?”

Dugen replied, “So will you take $450?” This tough surfer was also a tough negotiator.

Since he was already beaten up, I came off my $495 and we met at $475. I could see his medical bills piling up. I accepted the currency hoping it wasn’t as bloody as the cloth he kept dabbing into his mouth.

I couldn’t leave Dugen in this state; so I dialed 2 Mile Surf Shop to ask for the nearest doc. We ended up on Mesa Drive where there is a little clinic. Seems that there may be some damage to his sinus and there continued to be blood. Still, better spirits began to prevail. Shit happens, right?

The nurse even suggested that I had found a new surf bud. “I think I’ll give him plenty of space in the water though”, I joked.

“Okay man, good luck. I did try to tell you that board is a wild stallion!”

Party Down Giants &/Or Halloween!

Livin The Dream....

Spent the weekend in Redwood City, helping G find an apt. After spinning our wheels, we finally found just the right place in San Mateo. It's a sweet, early 50s vintage studio with plenty of light & some charm too....and just up the street from a Caltrain station. Major progress!







Two weeks into the new job, it's challenging.... yet going well. Kudos to G for making such a life change!

Bates Residence

My son Garrett has started his new gig at DreamWorks in Redwood City and is currently in search of a place to live. It's been a little sketchy so far!

positive & negative space out

I don't know if the beer has much taste.... but this tasty commercial is rich with 60s flavor!!! Groovy visual effects....yeah baby.

Sorcerer

Though maligned by critics and a dismal failure at the box office, this 1977 Friedkin film, to me, is an astounding and highly visual film. The Tangerine Dream synthesizer driven soundtrack is integral, as the tension ratchets up from the get go!

Perhaps expectations were colored by Friedkin’s previous successes with The Exorcist and TheFrench Connection; for this film is a total departure. It also went up against Star Wars at the time. Further it may have been misconstrued as a film about the supernatural, which it is not. The Sorcerer in this film is fate!

I revisit this one every so often and always find it a source of amazement. Incredible jungle landscapes are the back drop for this inexorable progression toward fatalism.

Hurried Harvest

Rain pelted down as we snipped the grape clusters from their vines. Yesterday's harvest in Skinny’s hillside vineyard, home of MoDog Merlot, was unlike others. The grapes were less voluptuous and bountiful this year. Some of the south facing rows were sunburned and raisin like. Resourceful birds had gotten under the netting in places too, feasting on the tasty morsels.

Still there was an ample yield and lots of flavor to the grapes. Skinny estimated nearly 500 pounds, just not the usual 700 +. Sugar content would need to be augmented this year as well. Nature has its way, adding intrigue to the craft of winemaking. For Skinny, it’s a passion and not a livelihood; so no monetary pressure for this country gentleman…..er one with a day job.

I got home, wet, muddy, and cold from picking, sorting and schlepping buckets. Thirsty too....so I popped open a bottle...Racer 5 IPA that is.....enough with the grapes!


Epilogue......

Thanks to Matt, Andrea, Claire, Deborah and George (and to the rest of you for your psychic support) we harvested ~ 500 lbs of good quality grapes during intermittent drizzle on Friday avoiding the 4 to 5” that fell on Saturday and Sunday. The last grapes were harvested in the dark. Surprisingly after eliminating the raisins, under-ripe and shriveled clusters, the remaining 500lbs (~12 cases) was of excellent quality. More chemistry is required for this vintage since the sugars (cool summer) and total acid (long hang time) were both low so I have added cane sugar and tartaric acid.

Cheers, Skinny

Sound System

Dang, my car stereo is fried....could sure use a new sound system.

where I wanna be

All the Gods who play in the mythological dramas
In all legends from all lands were from fair Atlantis. -Donovan

High Stakes

Clown: I say destroy the cosmos, ask questions later. -Spawn

Jersey Breakfast

Don't look now, but......

...a little visit from Max Schreck.


When you came in the air went out
And every shadow filled up with doubt -Jace Everett









In transit you pass among the strangers of the world
Paying tribute to the thief who stole away your shadow -Covenant

Young Idealists

Not to worry, Chris Matthews, cause DaBlog is so not "your place for politics". Still this Matthew is staying informed.....

While viewing tonight's debate, I flashed on a photo I took back in ' 75 as an aspiring young photographer covering some political dinner in San Francisco.














And a youthful Jerry wasn't the only one with more hair in those days....

Halloween Vibe

Released in 1922, Murnau's silent film, Nosferatu starring Max Schreck is by far the scariest & creepiest of all Vampire films!!! Just the thing for Halloween viewing. Nyahaha!

nice shape

Just browsing today at Northern Light.

When good Pandas go bad......

GOT PANDA?

Gliese 581 G

inner power

Atty. Steve is THE DEFENDER

Just did a photo shoot for Criminal Atty. Steve....so if your next scam goes bad or that deal doesn't go down, let me know & I'll hook ya up.

Double Dipping

I’ve surfed the Patch so much lately; that I needed to hit the Channel ....if only to maintain some credibility. Plus that’s where everyone was...Marty, Mark, Doug, David, Loren, et al.

I first encountered Loren getting his pre-session blog shot and he commented that the inside left north of the groin pole was peeling nicely. (By the way Loren...it's dueling blogs today,even though I told Marty I wouldn't attempt to go head to head with you). Caught a quick fun one there on the inside before easing my way further out and into the line up.

As I studied the conditions, I watched as David (wtBb) caught two sweet, long rides. He was on it today. Then Doug made an agile pop up, dropping into a steep, fast & larger size wave. His stance was confident and formidable.

My wave was not as successful. After making the drop, I crouched and grabbed a rail hoping for glory as the wave walled in front of me. Next thing I knew I was hurled into the soup as the wave closed out on me. “How’s that workin for you?” posed the Dr. Phil voice in my head. Hmmmm.

A little later I dropped into another close out, only this time cut back to avoid the inhospitable section before me. Ugh! Now I heard another voice, that of the Patch Siren sweetly singing. I stayed on the wave and took it to shore to heed the calling.

The Patch dweller returneth!

It seemed I’d now paddled into a whole new realm. The rights were coming with regularity and both size and shape. The sun broke through the clouds creating a metallic sparkle on the beckoning wave faces. My confidence was regained and the shape was holding. A few hours of solid carving eased the earlier tweaking from my Channel close outs.

Sometimes I’m just a denizen of the Patch... What can I tell ya?

P.S. Props to Mark, who showed up later at the Patch on his long board, after short board shredding in the Channel. He caught one from beyond the outside rock.....well basically out to sea, and rode that wave all the way to the parking lot! And Robert was rockin the peak way outside. He was too far out there to really see; but I heard his resonant shouts of, "Here it comes!"

Islands

took this image out back....











....and had to juxtapose with this YouTube I came across....

Truly Gritty

“If everything isn't black and white, I say, "Why the hell not?" –John Wayne











Don't get me wrong, I love the Coen Bros...... but the classic 1969 version is gonna be one tough act to follow.........



Oct. 2nd Postscript.... This is so fricken weirdly coincidental. I just found a new VHS tape of True Grit at a yard sale across the street for a buck! I must be psychic.

Too Much Information!

I think I'll just try to get right with the universe instead and hope for the best.

celebrity sightings

Seems like my son Garrett has been livin in the fast lane since he moved to LA.













Yesterday he he hung with controversial comedian, Andy Dick.






And here he is chillin with Dusty.








Hollywood insider.....or total stalker!?

Flip It Good

Surf is on! The Patch is showing the start of the S swell from New Zealand. Waves are averaging waist high + with the better sets almost shoulder high. It is working outside, middle and inside as well. -2 Mile Surf Report

There have been so dang many setbacks for me lately, that I was stoked to have a positive surf session today. It just restored me to have some exhilarating rides and reconnect with surf buds.


Yeah, I was actually so downbeat that I had made a NO collage.






















Happily I turned that around & now IT”S ON!

Matt's All New Slide Show!!!

In the unlikely event of a water landing, that seat cushion may not be all you need! In-flight music by Thievery Corporation.

Some early comments: Flows together well and is very chill... Less ominous than some of the others and has a relaxing vibe throughout.... Great new addition!...Was that Ren?

Inside Rock

Mary caught me on this fun early morning cruiser in The Patch. Talented painter that she is, it doesn't surprise that her photos are quite painterly. Being both resourceful, & determined not to miss the action, she even fabricated a bicep-attached pouch to hold her waterproof Pentax. I love the sense of vast expanse. Good eye, & thanks Mary.

So later in the session, I took off on a fast little wall on the inside where they tend to speed up. I’ve heard that section called “the race track”. I was quite enamored with my ride I must say, so much in fact, that I was shocked to notice the inside rock had reared it’s gnarly head like two feet in front of me! “WHOA!” I exclaimed as I confronted my impending doom. No time to maneuver here. Instinctively I chose plan B…. ie, B for bail. I abandoned ship and hoped for the best. What luck, bod and board were unscathed. Note to self: remember what lurks below.

rail grab

photo mash up

Just got back from Santa Cruz, where I photographed abstract paintings for an artist friend. I juxtaposed some with images I took while enroute.