Thursday, December 30, 2010

Have A Drink And Smile

 
Two years ago my father in law started making his own wine. Over the past two years of experimentation and research and hundreds of opinionated wine "connoisseur's" he is starting to find his niche. The brews are made from mid missouri fruits such as blackberries, wild plums, and grapes from a vineyard of a family friend. I have to admit that he is starting to make quite a name for himself in the small community where they live.

This past summer my in laws added on a new garage and a small cellar where he will be able to keep his stock, brew new batches, and my least favorite part....taste testing. For you see taste testing requires many little paper cups filled up with sweet and delicious wine, fresh out of the glass tanks in which they are made. This makes for a fun few hours, but as time passes you start to forget your whereabouts, you start to forget about that 7 a.m. tee time, and if you stick around long enough you start to forget how to put full sentences together. You see what I'm getting at right?

A few weekends ago my wife and I go to visit and I walk in on this 20' long cabinet that use to belong in an old bar in some old small town where old men probably sat around and grumbled about old cows or old cars or old wives. This thing is AMAZINGLY AWESOME!!!! It was a purplish color (could have been a topic that the old men grumbled about) that my father in law, with a little help, sanded down a little bit and added the compartments that will hold the wine that he crafts. I thought it needed to look like a piece that has been handed down through generations of italian wine makers, thrown on a cargo ship, and after changing trucks a few dozen times delivered to the new wine cellar. I added a distressed black over the whole piece while letting some of the history show through. I think it turned out really nice and as it gets banged around it will just add to the charm. I won't tell you what he paid for this, but lets just say it changed hands over a cup of genenral store coffee.

I hope to add more pictures as the production and inventory grows, until then have a drink on me.






Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Rain Or Shine



This is what I walked into this afternoon. I believe it to be my 5 year olds take on the Vans Warp Tour. It's fully equipped with an outdoor wrestling ring, mega ramp,guitars, a functional skate shop, and a medical and/or beer garden tent. Enjoy the show everybody.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Thank You Kansas City....Goodnight!


So for this holiday season, Standard Style a locally owned and operated clothing boutique, had a holiday give away each day leading up to Christmas. Guess what..... I freaking won!! I rarely ever win anything, an occasional free lottery ticket, maybe a free carwash because I spend a million dollars a year on cleaning my cars, or my once a summer golf outing when my foursome is so hungover that I get to win only because I was somewhat responsible the previous evening.

So what did I win you ask. A pair of Baldwin denim and an Ever hoodie. The denim are made by a company started by the owner of Standard right here in KC. The hoodie is a somewhat limited run that they won't even have in stock (or so I was told). Regardless it was a very generous gift that I was really impressed with. It's a way cool place with way cool people, so thanks Standard and Merry Christmas.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Why Must You Always Dress In Black

While we are on the subject of Ben Harper, here is a little goodie form a jazz festival where he, in my opinion, killed it. He's pretty magical when it comes to playing that lap steel and tearing through solos like a tornado in Kansas. He's so good in fact that he has his own lap steel model through Asher, check it out here  http://www.asherguitars.com/lap_steel_ben_harper.php.

I've always liked the way this dude has dressed too. He always looks like he just left the coolest vintage clothing store ever made, yet always looks clean and polished. Might have something to do with a little company called Propr. Check it here http://www.proprclothing.com/

Oh...and his band isn't half bad either.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

If I Had Known Then, What I Know Now.....



I have been revisiting alot of music lately, mainly focusing and playing my favorite bands. I've had this song in my head for the past few days and broke out the Austin City Limits show they played in 2009. Pearl Jam toured with Ben Harper (another favorite) and this stood out in my mind. I love how Ben comes up on stage and greets everybody and gets all giddy, cracks me up.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

ONE LIKES TO BELIEVE IN THE FREEDOM OF MUSIC



I DVR'd the RUSH documentary "Beyond The Lighted Stage" last week. I had time to sit and watch it Saturday night and enjoyed the hell out of it. It basically started like any other music documentary and progressed through the years, but the way the story was told is what made it interesting. They have influenced so many artists from Vinnie Paul (who is/was the drummer for one of the most progressive/known metal bands to date). To Gene Simmons ( KISS anyone, anyone ). To Trent Reznor ( Industrial modern sound pioneer of Nine Inch Nails ). The list goes on and on and across so many types of music.

One of the chapters towards the end of the show was how so many generations are fans and followers of this group. Most of the ones that were there from the beginning are now doctors, lawyers, parents, grandparents, etc. They have passed the music on to the next generation and that generation on to the next. I know for a fact I am not afraid to play them in front of my son and hopefully one day he can share an evening of RUSH and become the super fan that I have become. If not I will continue to geek out quietly, under the radar, by myself until the next time I get to share the live experience with the other 20 million world wide geeks. Until then, " Begin The Day With A Friendly Voice......."

Thursday, November 25, 2010

They Say It's Your Birthday, nananananan na na

Today my son turns five. I mean really? Five years old, where did those last five years go? Well anyway, I'm super proud of this kid and honored to be his dad. He has a huge heart and is such a cool kid. Happy birthday kian, me and mommy are crazy about you and love you lots.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

I Wish Turkey Only Cost A Nickel...

Happy Thanksgiving everybody.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Rust In Peace

There is something about a bike that looks like it has been through a blizzard while being shot at with paint ball guns. For most a brand new shiny bike catches the eye, but to me a bike that looks like it has been around for decades and rode as hard as possible everyday to and from work, or the grocery store, or the coffee shop, and on and on is what catches my eye. Image courtesy of SKULLBIKECLUB blog, and the quote they wrote is " You can't buy this sort of awsomeness!" So true.

Friday, November 19, 2010

We Have Assumed Control....

It's no secret that I am a huge RUSH fan. My brother in law got me into to them a long time ago and I have been following them very closely, almost to closely, ever since. I happened to run across this commercial on you tube this morning and just have to share. The boys are quickly popping up every where you look...ok, every where "I" look, it's a mark of a true RUSH geek.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

BRAKELESS???

thats right kids, Nigel rides brakeless. The kid is something else to watch. Feeeeeel Meeeeee!


Run 4 Cover (Starring : Nigel Sylvester) from 13thWitness™ on Vimeo.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Rockin Rob.......tweet, tweet, tweet.

Ki has a little buddy from school who's dad plays little concerts for kids. At first it sounds kind of hokey and cheesy, much like the dreaded kids bop cd's. It is actually quite the opposite. He does sing and play the traditional kids songs, but with a cool upbeat twist and alternate arrangement. He's a super cool dude that truly enjoys what he does and really gets the kids involved.

Anyhow, Saturday he played a little show for his cd release party at a little winery in town. We got to witness his energy and watch the kids get completely wrapped up in the music. Cool stuff for a music lover like myself. We also got to taste some local wines that were brewed up basically in our backyard. Check him out at http://www.rockinrobsings.com/.





Friday, November 12, 2010

The Only Living Boy In New York

I heard this song for the first time in a long time last night while the TV was on. I was in another room and just froze when I heard it. Do you ever have those surreal moments when you just stop and take a minute to remember where you have heard or witnessed something. Well this song reminds of sitting around on a cold and rainy sunday afternoon and listening to old vinyl with my dad. I'd give anything to have one of those days back. Enjoy and make your own memories.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

I may have just conquered mobile blogging.

I have been trying to get pics to upload to my blog and with this last test may have stumbled on to something. Here goes nothing.


Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint!

Monday, November 1, 2010

The 98% Finished Feature Wall

Well here it is. The 98% finished reclaimed wood feature wall in the basement. Gone are the red walls, gone is the beer decor, and gone is the old school big screen television. I think it turned out pretty cool. I'm yet to find a media cabinet for the tv, sooooo it looks like a new project will be firing up soon.




Tuesday, October 26, 2010

we're going mobile.

Still trying to figure this mobile Blogger out. Please stand by while I experience technical difficulties.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

So I Jumped The Fence And Yelled To The House, Hey What Gives You The Right

A good friend of mine owns a fence building company and builds beautiful fences. Mainly residential, at times a commercial one comes along, and my favorite of all the tear downs. Some people have old fences that need to be torn down to have a nice new shiny one put in it's place. I occasionally stop by his house to say hi or let the kids play and occasionally he has a trailer full of old scrap wood. If this was cartoon you would see a lightbulb go on above my head. As soon as I see old barns, heaps of old wood waiting to get burned, or in most recent cases, trailers full of old wood I get all excited. I start thinking how can I use this again, re purpose it, rebirth it, re-whatever else I can re-create with it. I have built a few things lately out of reclaimed wood and I think it is my new favorite material to build with. Everyone that knows me knows I like modern design, but this old new wood gives a different look to the modern world of design. I love the clean lines of a room and then a haggard old re purposed piece of furniture or art that makes a statement. As for now a few projects are being finished and pics are soon to follow. Stay tuned as I am working as fast as I can.

"Signs, signs, everywhere signs, blocking up the scenery, breaking up my mind, do this don't do that can't you read the signs."

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Riding My Bicycle, Riding My Bicycle

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a love for bikes, although I am not always riding them, I still love them. It started with BMX and progressed into mountain biking (without ever having ridden on a mountain) then into road riding (without all the tights and jerseys and flip up hats) and now has come round full circle to BMX. Could it be my mid life crisis, could it be my quest for being the cool dad, or could it be me trying to show my son how fun it is to ride wheelies, jump curbs, ride with a "crew". However my crew is not as big as it used to be, it's only me and him, but we have two wheeled freedom none the less.

I recently bought a used mirraco that I instantly tore apart down to the frame, cleaned it up, painted it a hipster flat black with light blue bars and forks, greased every bearing and thread only to find it a bit too short for my liking. Alot has changed from my BMX days. The bikes have almost become simpiler by design and parts. Riding brakeless is an option to keep weight down, pegs on one side, low seat height, high pressure in the tires, etc, etc, etc. (before and after pic below)

It's fun, but I get looked at funny, an adult on a BMX bike looks funny to them. "That bike is tiny" they say, "I like your purple pegs he he he" they scoff. To me it's normal, to me it brings back killer memories of the church jump, to me it gives me my engineering release to understand how it all works again, to me it brings smiles. I'm off to shop for a new 21" frame,maybe round up my crew, and.......ride my bicycle.








Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Ground Control to Major Tom.........

So I took a little time off from blogging ( a year and 2 months to be exact ), but I plan on doing my best to keep this thing updated with current projects, family stuff, and other things I find interesting. Lets give this another go and see what happens.........Stay tuned!!!!