Bee's and Botox

Sorry it's been a while since my last post. We have been super busy at the shop filming. Yes, we too have jumped into the ever glamorous world of reality tv. Whether or not we make it onto your tv screen has yet to be seen in this early stage but we are sure having a fun time filming it. Tomorrow we wrap and finally get to rest. Monday it's back to work as usual and I will post more about the whole experience, pictures included.


Off the topic side shoutout to my followers in Russia. Spasiba!

3 Out of 5 People Have Face Tattoos..

In recent months I've started this game I like to call, "Skewed World Ratio". Either at home or at the shop, I'm surrounded by what I consider 'normal' people. So at any random moment I can give you a totally accurate world ratio, right? Like the other night, there were 6 of us outside. Based on the 6 of us I can tell you that 100% of the world has tattoos on their knuckles. Also of every 5 people, they collectively have 13 face piercings. Hell, if you just take 2 of those 5, they have 9.

This game is always good for a laugh. What type of Skewed World Ratio do you and your friends represent? List some below.

Shop Vacation Day #3

HOORAY FOR VACATION!!!!

Day 3

(yesterday didn't count)

I woke up all bright and shiny, look at me, no make up. Look at that kitty, no clothes.

I ran to office depot for stuff and things, then off to the shop for more vacation.

Today I finished that demotivational poster I've been working on for weeks. 

Here it is:

great candid shot by Austin, it had to be made into something.

THEN what did I do, rolled around on my stool for a little bit, repositioned some lights, dusted, went to the bathroom, measured the front window and sat outside and stared at the sun again for an hour.

Day off tomorrow!!

Every minute I'm not driving to and from the airport, my ass will be in bed watching cartoons.

(for those of you who don't realize, I've gone crazy and the only way to lessen the stress in my life is for me to think I'm on vacation while I'm working)

Shop Vacation Day #2 FAIL

HOORAY FOR VACATION!!!

DAY #2 FAIL

I couldn't expect 2 days in a row to be easy, had to go driving all over Hollywood looking for Nick who had stalled SOMEWHERE. Turns out he was at a gas station and not dying on the side of the road. All is well.

I DID however, see this pigeon today and he made me happy.

more tomorrow.

Shop Vacation Day #1

HOORAY FOR VACATION!!!!

Day 1

Hey Hey everyone!! Wish you were here! Today has been amazing, the sun was out, I saw some birds, did some arts and crafts and relaxed out in the sun. The above picture was taken when I was doing absolutely nothing, AND LOVING IT!

Later I sat on the floor and painted miniatures. There is nothing more relaxing than painting motorcycle tanks, look at my fun little accomplishment, I'm sure the Nash guys will be proud. Boy oh boy that was fun.

it's a mini version of Austin's bike now

THEN I went back outside and stared at the sun for like an hour. Good times. 

What am I going to do tomorrow? Man I don't know, probably lay out and get a tan, play some darts, enjoy some local cuisine. Wish you were here!!!!!!

(for those of you who don't realize, I've gone crazy and the only way to lessen the stress in my life is for me to think I'm on vacation while I'm working)

ME

I may lead on that I have everything figured out, but I'll be the first to admit that I don't. But that doesn't keep me from trying to get to the bottom of everything I can't explain. How else do you learn. If something effects me, all the more reason for me to have a basic understanding so I know how to deal with it. 

The past 12 months have been a major testament to my ability to adjust to my ever changing surroundings, situations, company and the ever present "other peoples problems". To say that I'm stressed, is an understatement. I try to be everything to everyone, try to make everyone happy, I try to always have a smile on my face and I work so damn hard to be there for everyone. 

I was just thinking of all the change thats happened in my life these past 12 months and the sole fact that I have not murdered anyone yet, is amazing.

Here's how I add up! I should probably be dead. 

Go ahead and take this test:  Stress Test 

After taking this test, I really need to reevaluate how I deal with life. You all can fend without me for a while, I need a vacation. Since I have to be at the shop, I will mentally act as if I'm on vacation. Maybe I'll go pick up some drink umbrellas and flipflops.

Ok vacation.

Cigarettes and Socks and Video Games!!

Recharged.... I have a bag of squishy new socks and a fresh carton of smokes.

Tomorrow we head back to work. My job is to finish the gaming station I started Saturday. Speakers still to come and I need to find a really long composite cable. More on that process tomorrow. Cartel movie and game nights, here we come.

Ok done.

Clearing the Shrubs ... a brief conclusion.

My entire last post was all about "Beating Around the Bush".. get it? Assault Circling the Shrubs. (I chose 'assault' rather than 'walking' because that version of the meaning I saw more fit to express my anger.)

Anyways.

Since we were in the thick of it, over at the shop, I wanted to get things off my chest while still being somewhat candid. From all the responses I received by e-mail and fb comments/messages, it became clear that most of you had no idea exactly who was being, round about, called out. Either way, all has been mostly sorted, the infected bird has fallen out of the nest.

Once rid, I immediately cleaned what the rest of us consider our home away from home. I packed up all the crap that was not representative of our overall vision and remodeled the entire infected section.

Friday night, bring on the rain. (like that of a plot-shift in a made for tv movie)

Saturday was a day of cleanse and renewal, we all had an amazingly successful and fun day at the shop. The rain washed away all the filth and negativity, our clan is now stronger than ever. We are back on our mission to take over the world with our collective awesomeness.

GO CARTEL! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Ok done.

"Assault Circling the Shrubs"

I like to think of myself as a momma bird. Nick and I have a nest that we built for our family, so they can be safe and grow to do amazing things. We uprooted and searched for the perfect spot everyone would love, gathered everything our future chicks could need for a great start and worked tirelessly day in and day out because that is what you do for family.

Finally the day came when the chicks hatched, each one as talented as the last. Breaking out of their shells and immediately jumping into the arts that make them, them. I am so proud of all my hatchlings, I can't believe how smooth...

Wait what the hell, there is still an egg, he should have opened with the others. Why are there stickers of the egg all over the egg, that's weird. Either way, he's family, that means he will be just as amazing as the others.

All of the chicks help clean up the nest in preparation for the slow bird to finally hatch and pull his weight like the rest. We all begin to worry, he's late, something has to be wrong. Oh wait I hear honking, he's finally here!

The egg slowly starts to hatch, as if to be on no ones schedule but his own,

but it's ok he's family, he will be great.

Three days later, we are starting to lose our patience so we drag him out and clean him up ourselves. Days go by and the nest is filthier than usual, thats strange all my chicks are usually so clean. We began to notice that when ever our slow bird gets excited, he sheds little feathers all over the once clean and organized nest. The rest of us all know by now he's a little "special", so we are picking up the slack and cleaning up after him every damn day.

FAMILY, HE WILL BE AMAZING!

Three months go by and there is shit all over our nest, literally. Our late bird has since proven himself to be the weakest link and now infested with mites. So as much as I might think he is family, he will only infect the rest of us. We have to think about the survival of the strong since we too are now starting to feel sick.

I now have to debate whether pushing the sick chick out of the nest (to his death) is worth it, so we can save the rest of the nest.

Ok done (but not done)

Sundays go like this

Thursday: oh my god, just two more days.

Friday: of my god, just one more day, I'm so tired.

Saturday: Yay! This is the last day, tomorrow I can sleep in and get to all those things I want to do around the house at my leisure.

Sunday: (sleep in till noon) Gahh I don't want to do anything, I'm hungry, I don't want to go anywhere, someone get me food I'm starving, no I don't want that food, why did no one clean this vomit off the floor, why is this place so filthy, whos dishes are these, who used the last of the toilet paper, Gene take the trash out, where's Adam, whos laundry is STILL in the dryer, why haven't you cleaned the stove I put 7 post its with arrows pointing to the mess, why is this sink not fixed I just sprayed myself, damnit I just cleaned this floor whos shoe prints are these... NICK!!!!, *dun dun* ooooo Law and Order is on again, snack time, sleep.

Monday: (back to work) ahh I can't wait to be off on Sunday.

Ok done

So here's the backstory to the relevant

Nick and I had moved to pennsylvania back in 2010, leaving our apartments and jobs to set off into a new adventure. I found myself a job in the little biker town of New Hope, selling knives, swords, black powder guns, jewelry, armor and random antiquities. Something completely new for me. I worked the faire as a pirate and met a lot of great people along the way. Nick did his music thing and started building guitars. We spent a lot of time with family, battled the weather with shovels, planned a wedding and moved home to LA to open a store.

I know I missed a lot of steps in there but it's alright, I'll get to it.

We found that, while building guitars, the sale process would be a bazillion times better if the potential customers could actually play them (hence wanting a store front). So 15 minutes after we said "I Do" and we're outside high-fiving and lighting up cigarettes, we got a call from Richie letting my flower girl Adam (our world class tattoo guy) know that he was out of a job since the shop we all went to closed while he was back east with us. We went into business mode and started planning a move to take over that location and get our friends their jobs back. Adam has been with us every step of the way (being superbestfriend and an amazing roommate and asset). While Richie (our barber) seems to have made it his mission to drive us insane with constant ambiguity and an even more horrendous ability to be punctual. He is amazing at his job, he truly is an awesome barber but his inability to be a team player is absolutely driving me mad. (more on that later since there is alway a new batch of bullshit that arises with that one).

ANYWAYS!

So that's how the shop started. Fast forward through the building, we found Devin, our hilarious piercer. Although slightly "hood" since he came straight from Cincinnati the day before he started, he is one of the funniest characters we have and we love the crap out of him. Gene Louis is another character we all couldn't live without. Another world class addition, when he's not driving around chickens, he's cracking-wise and mesmerizing the masses with his singing.

ENTER THE NASH CREW

Taber Nash has been on our side since the second we decided to add motorcycles into our shop repertoire. Taking time out of his busy schedule in Vancouver Washington, to guide us in the right direction. Now he and his family are moving down and taking over the back of our shop for services. Dragging in skateboard ramps, stand up video games, ye olde timey refrigerators, oh yeah and shop lifts and such (cause they'll be working). The past few days have been all about tearing holes in the walls, breaking down doors, drawing pictures of guys peeing in the shower, using all of my precious toilet paper and punching each other in the nuts. I truly can't wait for the garage to be open. No sarcasm, this shop is going to be rowdy as hell and I can't freakin' wait!!!!

Ok done

Introduction to this here blog world..

I'll probably jump all over the place here since, in light of new technology, I am now accustomed to short texts and couple word responses. I never finish emails, I just stop writing and hit send. So I guess, above all, I'm going to use this here blog to try and retrain the way in which I express my written word. I want to be less constrained by "character" counts and not have any of my stories half hidden by "see more" links. More expression is what I'm aiming for, more colorful set ups, full stories and no censorship.

In resent months, I found myself holding my tongue a lot on facebook. I don't like that I have to, but for the sake of business and family, there are standards and things I cannot have opinions on publicly. Here I plan to build a following of people who want to hear the things I cannot say via other forums.

Ok done