Sunday morning

Maximo Lobo, magic baby

Submissive wiener

Town Cryer of Sayulita

2 peas in a pod (of love)

the Sayulita Surf Journal
November 1, 2009

"La Lancha" Halloween Hangover

Happy Halloween!

King Maxxi, starter of the Wild Rumpus

Oh, what a night. Andrea and I love Halloween, its been a big part of our relationship and lives together. Over the last few years we have kinda dropped off the costume band-wagon with little fan-fare. This year, everything is different, and more importantly, it's all new, thanks to a little guy we call "King Maxxi". Our son has re-started all old things as new, as we get to see them through his eyes, listen to them through his laugh, and live them with him in our lives. His Mother, my darling Andrea has a fire in her that can only burn from the love of Motherhood. She and our amazing friend and soul-sister Lisa Brewer made Maxxi his own "Lobo" costume to rule over the Wild Things with, and Mom was his very own Wild Thing Moishe. I took off my costume, and let me freak flag fly, and all was good in the world. After an awesome time in the Sayulita plaza handing out candy to the cries of "Queremos Halloween!" (We want Halloween), the battle cry of sugar crazed Mexican and Gringo kids alike, we ended the evening at an awesome party at our dear friends the Koch's home. Good thing they live next door, because their "Bloody" Margaritas put me in the grave....early.

I can't wait for Christmas.

Sayulita, where the real wild things are...

Blast from the Past - 2002

Me and My Forever muse, Folsom St. Fair 2002 - our friend Jenna sent us this for my 40th, a picture we did not have. Great times, great memories!

A day on the ocean

photo: Donna Day

Sayulita Surf Journal - Worst Day Ever


Hurricane Rick is upon us, our town talking about the big swell coming all week. I went out surfing this morning with Nick and Justin, first to Enclote, with no surf there, then to "La Lancha" - boy, was there surf there. To go back a bit, I went to sleep and woke feeling "off". Not sure what's wrong with me, but something is off kilter - like my soul is sick. It really showed in my surfing, and now continues in my mood. We arrived at La Lancha, and the waves were so huge, my hand trembled as I held my board, awaiting a break in the waves just to paddle out. My partners already well on their way to the line up, I saw a channel and took it. I was battered pretty bad, but I made it. That was about as good as it got. 1.5 hours of getting knocked around, living with fear, and fighting for a good spot I never found. ug. After exiting the water without catching a single wave, we headed back to Enclote and surfed another hour. I cought a few waves, but my spirit was drowned and my morale low. They can't all be good days, but I live to surf another day.

my 40th birthday

Today I went for the awesomest surf of my young, yet exciting career on the waves. My 9th day out (who's counting?), and conditions were perfect. My friend Nick and I went out mid-day (my first afternoon surf) and headed to our local spot. The sky was blue, the water was warm, and below me was my new surfboard helping me get closer to flying. On my mind were thoughts of my wife and son, bright lights on my dark soul, and life was good... but in this life of great days, weeks, years ... this week has been particularly great. I just turned 40 this week, and I am on top of the world. My birthdays are always celebrated heavily and passionately thanks to the love and devotion of my wife, Andrea, and this week was no exception. I sit here looking back and feel that behind me are days full of love and joy, and nights of fire, smoke and oceans. I am blessed.

My new ride, the "Holy Muscle of Love" (see Alice Cooper for more on that...)

Last Sunday my birthday week started in earnest with the arrival of my new surfboard. I sold my first surfboard that came with us from S.F., and traded up for a longer, awesome-er ride - No small thanks to a birthday stipend from my Mom and Dad - they rule for that and many other reasons. Not to mention the wonderful support from my wife, cheering me on as I do this new thing that is quite contrary to my disposition that says "sports = bad!" As of today, I have taken the board out twice and am truly in love. My first day out was Tuesday, and that same day we left town for a few days of Birthday fun in Vallarta, so that surf session kicked off the joy and love of the week. I am taking away from surfing more than I could have ever expected, and less than the future holds - Calm? More zen? I welcome it all, and welcome this new challenge and adventure.

"don't try." - ink on skin (Photo: Donna Day)

We spent 3 days in Old Town Vallarta, and besides going out to great restaurants, eating and drinking non-stop, and generally having a love-fest, my lady got me the gift that last forever - a new tattoo! Anyone who follows my varied writings knows that I am a devotee of Charles Bukowski, and my fave quote of his, which also adorns his gravestone is "Don't Try." When asked by a fan how he writes and creates, he wrote in a letter to a friend "You don’t, I told them. You don’t try. That’s very important: not to try, either for Cadillacs, creation or immortality. You wait, and if nothing happens, you wait some more. It’s like a bug high on the wall. You wait for it to come to you. When it gets close enough you reach out, slap out and kill it. Or if you like its looks you make a pet out of it." I love that "drunkard zen" view of inspiration - or is it procrastination? Whatever, I love it, and now its on my arm. I take this as my mantra into my 40's and beyond...

"B.F.F.'s" - awesome times with my favorite person(s) (Photo: Donna Day)

I am blessed to have my best friend in the world be my wife. For 10 years now, we have been each others confidant, wonder-wall, toxic-twin, and all around fellow raconteur. This has given us the liberty to not have to count on anyone else for anything, as the person we trust most and count on was always at arms reach. We moved to Mexico and kept each other company during the "lonely" days, and party days the same. These days we are blessed with a wonderful circle of friends and a community for both us and our son to grow up in. We celebrate every day that we have the great friends around us that we do, and that they have added so much joy and magic to the Sayulita we love so much. We ended my birthday week with a get together at our local haunt, Sayulita Fish Taco, where all our great pals showed up. It was a blast, and we glowed from the good times for daze to follow. It's pretty amaing to be 40, after looking towards it with wondering eyes for so many years. I couldn't be happier about where I am at, who I have around me, and what the future holds. This has been the best birthday ever, I can't wait for the next.


"So fucking happy" - Mi familia, celebrating my 40th (Photo: Donna Day)

A Decade of Destiny,Devotion and Decadence

Our oldest picture together, March 18, 2000 - Andrea's 26th birthday, still "just friends"...?

Today is the 10th anniversary of Andrea and I meeting. On October 11th, 1999 I was assigned to interview this new prospective Production Coordinator at the company we both used to work at. That morning, through the fog of my life, this dark, so cool, one-of-a-kind alternative to the alternative chick walked in, and little could I have known (or did I?) that this was the most important day of my life. That very moment I was meeting the woman that would come to mean so much to me, and to give me through her love the power and ability to do anything my black black heart would desire.

Andrea has allowed me over the years to be the darkest, baddest, down-right dangerous to know motherfucker; and been my partner in love-crime right through me becoming the brightest, lovingest and awesomest Daddy my son could dream of having. That is the magic of having the right partner in the world, they are the key to the lock you were born with - it was all destined to be, all the stars aligning, the right hearts broken, all the right roads taken or forsaken, leading right up to a meeting that would forever change history, and make you the person you were meant to be.

I get a little stoney thinking about it today: what if some Genie-devil would have appeared to Andrea and I, on this fateful morning in 1999 in that interview office, and told us that in 10 years we would be married, living in Mexico in a house we built, and have a one year old son? What would those kids say to that craziness? Today I can only say that it was meant to be, and that if that reality diverged, we would have ended together in another way. I know this, I feel this, and I love this. Andrea is my one and only true love, and we are meant to be here today, together, and nothing could or will ever change that.

As I turn 40 this week, I know that I am where I should be in life, and most importantly, with who I am supposed to be with, forever. I can't wait for the rest of my life.

"First day of my Life"

This is the first day of my life
Swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed
They're spreading blankets on the beach
Yours is the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
Now I don't know where I am, don't know where I've been
But I know where I want to go

And so I thought I'd let you know
That these things take forever, I especially am slow
But I realized that I need you
And I wondered if I could come home

Remember the time you drove all night
Just to meet me in the morning
And I thought it was strange, you said everything changed
You felt as if you'd just woke up

And you said, "This is the first day of my life.
I'm glad I didn't die before I met you.
But, now I don't care, I could go anywhere with you
And I'd probably be happy."

So if you wanna be with me
With these things there's no telling
We'll just have to wait and see
But I'd rather be working for a paycheck
Than waiting to win the lottery

Besides, maybe this time it's different
I mean I really think you like me

"First day of my Life" - Bright Eyes *note from author: if you have never heard this song, go listen to it with your loved one now.

10 years later, la Familia Villarrubia 2009

the Sayulita Surf Journal - Day 3

(above) my very own Gidget, Andrea Villarrubia on her first day out

Today was my 3rd day out on the waves, and things are going swimmingly. While my first day was really magical, with all conditions and actions falling together cosmically correct, day 2 was ripe with lessons, as it should be. There were tons of people out there, and I really stressed over my role in the water, and not getting in peoples way. Probably the right thing, but surely distracting and not condusive to catching waves. The first wave I did catch I lamely rode right to the front of the rocks, got off and was suddenly caught "inside" between a literal Rock and a hard wavey place. I was scared, I got out, I got slammed some more. Boards are hard to carry, and even harder in waist deep water. Later a did a head over heels trying to catch a wave too far on the front of my board. Lots of lessons that day. Now back to my 3rd day out - it was stellar. I caught a bunch of waves, no one was out but Nick and I, and I improved on various fronts. Not only did I mind my location and not get slammed into the rocks, but I did some great pop-ups and really improved in my form. I caught some great fronts of waves, and rode them all the way out. But damn, it sure is fucking tiring getting back out in the water after riding in. Lord. Exhausting! I guess nothing that fun is free! All together, things are going well.

Andrea went out for her first surf last week as well, and enjoyed what was a very trying surf, with lots of big waves, a similarly dangerous rock adventure, and tough times getting back out. This is a new thing for us to get used to and have alot more practice before it becomes easier, but we are digging it. More to come!

The La Lancha Lancers Co-ed team (L to R) Mariano, Justin, Nick and Gidget Stoops

Inspiration

I used to mostly only paint when I was inspired by forces bought and sold over illegal markets. Sure, you could call that inspiration, but it was quickly to fade, and the product was questionable in it's soul. That was years ago, and over the last couple years, my inspiration has returned to me in spurts, with all together different muses.

"La Tabla de Sayulita" Acrylic on canvas 2009 (l to r) the artist and his muse

The piece above was my most recent, and artistically, my most advanced painting to date. A Mexican Loteria Card as many of my paintings lately are, I painted it for my friend Nick Sherman's 42nd birthday, and is inspired by his surfboard, the Virgin of Guadalupe, and friendship. Nick loves surfing, and lent me this very board for my first surf session (see previous post). To reflect his worship of the sport, I thought the board should carry a religious significance in the painting, as surfing surely does for Nick and others.

This is my dog Dulce, in Loteria form. This is the latest in a series I am doing for Maximo's room, starting with a Devil Baby card I did not long ago. I love the way she spreads over the 2 cards. My dog is constantly worried, and looking over her shoulder, and I feel I captured that paranoia in her eye. Maximo looks at the painting and says "Doggie!". Mission accomplished.

I, Surfer

Andrea and I moved to Sayulita 3.5ish years ago, and before leaving SF, invested in new surfboards. We had never surfed before, were and are instinctively against all organized sports, and I personally grew up hating everything about male competition and machismo that comes with the sporting life. With all of that considered, we were moving to a hot surf town, were leaving all the trappings of our old lives behind, had watched "the Endless Summer" and "Riding Giants" enough times to feel that this was a sport built on good vibes, a love of beach and ocean, and friendly support of other surfers. This sounded so great, so we figured we would arrive in Sayulita, and spend our days surfing and hanging out on the beach.

When we arrived and slowly settled in, we got to take in the reality of a small surf town, and what we saw was an ocean full of male competition and machismo - locals that made life rough for the newbies, and a sport that took daily commitment to improve at. That sounds bad, there are lots of awesome people having an awesome time who surf here all the time, but they already surf... You can't surf once a month and get good, you have to go all the time, and you have to want to go. I do not mean to sound negative, I am being honest as these were my hang-ups and the things that kept me out of the water. We took a few lessons, but found that going to the beach to surf and basically hang out in a floating social scene made us nervous, and we never went again - what can you say, we are human, and anti-social at that. That changed today. Today, i am a surfer. I fear no more.

We have been blessed by having some great new friends this year, the lovely Sherman-Dea Family who live right down the street. Nick, Treva and their lovely daughter Astrid are a great example of family, amazing parents, and just honest to goodness real people. No fake, no pretense, just kindness and diversity of thought and action. We love 'em! Nick came to Mexico and committed to becoming a surfer, and he has. He has brought up going surfing a few times, and today I took him up on it. I woke super early, nervous as hell at what I was going to do. I worried all those old worries - male competition, embarrassing myself in front of my peers and other locals, dying... Luckily none of that happened. We joined a few other long time surfers and went to a local spot called "La Lancha" - this was the perfect first surf ever. No one there but us, 3 other guys that wanted me to do nothing other than succeed, and me catching some waves! It was fucking awesome. There was no "baby pool", so I jumped right in and headed way out, and had a great time. Thanks to Nick for holding my hand, lending me a longer board, and being a good friend.

The La Lancha Lancers (L to R): Justin, Gab, Jackson and my spirit guide, Nick Sherman

Family Fotos

Today our friend Donna Day, an amazing Photographer from Seattle and New York who is now living in Sayulita with her family, came over to snap some portraits of us. She brought fun temporary tattoos for Maxxi to sport - he (we) chose a trad heart motif for his first temp ink.

Gracias, Donna!

Facepoop

Andrea has recently started a Facebook page to keep in contact with some friends, and secretly spy on others. I join in on the latter bad behavior, as being a digital voyeur is what the internet is all about in my opinion, and I love bad behavior. Opting for having our own webpage from the early days, we never really jumped into the mySpace trend when it was all the rage, and kept out of Facebook till recently. There has always been something about "social networking" that never sat right with me, but I stand to be seen as a hypocrite as I do have quite a solid online presence. I don't know, I just feel that what Facebook is all about isn't what I am all about. With that said, lately we have had quite a bit of Facebook time in our house, catching up with some lost friends, seeing their faces after a long time, and seeing their lives. It's funny that it takes this thing to see what friends are up to, yet sending an email or phone call (yeah right, phone call??) to catch up often is the last thing we do. Fascinating. Maybe that's what we are evolving into, animals that want more short touch bases that allow more privacy while sharing. Don't even get me started on Twitter...

Today when checking out an old friends Facebook, seeing his life, and what he has been up to, I was bombarded with feelings, missing, longing, a slight tinge of missing the city life some of the old pals are up to.... so I wandered over to Gabrea.com, and checked out my latest posts. Then I read Andrea's last 2 posts on !Que Madre! again (tear-jerkers, beware!), and reveled in the love in this house. I went for a run in the jungle this morning that was awesome. It's awesome I am surrounded by jungle to go running in! Andrea took a walk through similar jungles with friends and babies this morning. Yay jungles! I think on all this, and grab onto those feelings of longing, and cherish them because clearly I miss my friends, and I should reach out more. That tinge of city life now seems more a drop of envy of not getting to spend time with all those wonderful people when they get together, but the location could be any, as I can't think of anyplace else on the planet I would rather be.

What am I writing about? Well, I think Facebook is funny, and I wont have my own page anytime soon. It's nice to see what old friends are up to. The city looks shiny and fun from afar, but up close it probably isn't for me these days. The jungle is awesome, I am glad it is my neighbor and backyard. I love where I live. That's all for now.

On a clear day you can see forever

It's Sunday morning, and today I woke early with my son. My wife tends to be the one that rises with the sun and the Son every day - so most Sundays as hard as it is for me, with my love's gentle request, I take the gig. I always appreciate it once it's all in motion; coffee is stirring my hardened blood, love stirring my barely beating heart, a strong shot of satisfaction from the knowledge that I am giving a little back to my wife who works so hard for me and my Son - all of that makes me warm in the morning Mexican light. Suddenly, life is good. I clear the dreams away with some morning smoke, and I am alive again.

First things first. Slow down. The boys take to the couch for a little "just woken" snuggle and TV, and end up watching most of "Speed Racer", a recent Wachowski re-envisioning of the 70's Manga Japanese cartoon of a gifted, duh, speed racer- in truth, only I watch it, while Maxxi seems very happy to thumb repeatedly through a photo album of my life as a baby back in Argentina. I laugh to myself wondering at the magic of what I am watching. Maxxi seemingly fascinated at pictures of a little baby that looks just like him - Me. Far out. The film is surprisingly entertaining, I cheer for the good guy, feed the boy, and we strap up for a morning walk through town.

Sayulita in the morning holds a certain magic, the air still cool from the nights rain, yet you can feel the evaporating moisture creeping up on you like a bully that chased you yesterday. "I can take him" I tell myself. We walk through the Sunday market, which never holds much retail value to us, but is always fun to amble through anyway. Maximo was in rare form, waving and smiling at all takers, filling his fan-club roster with every gal he passes. I feel proud. The heat continues to bully us, so after circling most the town, we head home. Mom is stirring, Maxxi is grumping, and its time for my little speed racer's first pit stop of the day.

The last weeks are layered with so much love, lessons and wonderful memories that it seems more than one man deserves. My Son turned one year old and has allowed Andrea and I to celebrate our first year doing the most important job ever gifted on humans - parenthood. As we closed his first year, it is just as easy to wonder at how much he has grown, as how much we have. We were given yet another perspective by having Maximo's amazing grandparents here for the birthday week. Gramps Billy Stoops and my folks Nono and Nona Villarrubia brought so much love and magic to Maxxi's first birthday week that it is just impossible to imagine it without them. As a younger man I can be honest that often distance from my parents was a good thing. I was a boy who moved out early, lived a very non-traditional young adulthood, and though I saw my parents often, had my own private life. Today I can see such a clear future where I want nothing more than my parents as much in my life as possible, and for my Son to have them in his life as well. I barely knew my grandparents, as we left Argentina very young and rarely visited. I do not want the same to be said by my Son. With the house finished, and us almost ready to move upstairs, all grandparents will soon have their own guestroom downstairs, and a home in Sayulita to call their own. It's the least we can do to say thanks for a life of love.

Love. Love is everything to me, and has given me all that I have. I am thankful for all the love in my life, my Wife being the focus of that love - yet some days I let it get buried in all the other things going on, or in some cases, in all the nothing going on. I quote Huxley often in saying "a true traveler finds boredom rather agreeable than painful, it is the symbol of his liberty, his excessive freedom..." - sometimes idle minds are the devils plaything and we can let boredom become a lack of action, or cause of frustration. I am making a pact with myself to assure I keep my freedom an always positive energy and outlet, and not become so adjusted to this amazing life we have created for us that freedom and free-time becomes a negative. I will think on this often, today and on. As I exit this first year of parenthood, I want to shed some of the instinctive "I am a new parent, I have no time for other things" cliche, and make sure I put more time and effort into my love with my wife. I have nothing without her, I am nothing without her, and this life would not be here without her being in it. Time to shine a brighter light back on my wonderwall.

As we enter a new season here in Sayulita, There are some things I want to do more of. I want to write more. I want to write more casually, with less effort and more passion. "Don't Try", as my latest debauched idol Hank Bukowski said till his grave and on his gravestone - just DO. More little bits of life, written on the fly. Always my inspiration, Andrea is doing some great writing these days, full of love and life. First, she is publishing an amazing mothering blog, !Que Madre! - motherhood looks good on Andrea, and it has made an amazing woman that much more... also, she is showing her love for our town of Sayulita on a weekly basis writing the opening of our local online paper, the Sayulero. You can read her intros on current and past issues here - they even interviewed yours truly recently!

I love Sundays, I find them retrospective on the week behind, the life I am in, and the possibilities ahead. Today I have no plans (which I love), a Woman I love across from me, favorite love songs playing on the record player, and a baby sleeping in the bedroom surely ready to spend a fun day with his folks. We are going to go for a walk and breakfast in a few, first drinks at 1pm, nap at 3, family bath at 5 and surely a long lazy day surrounding it all. Through the haze, at least today, I can see clearly.

I build this garden for us...

Construction is done! Huzzah and Hooray! We started our house in 2007 and feel like we have truly finished it for all intents and purposes. Sure, we can add a palapa some day, and it is not painted in the new areas, but what was once a 1 bedroom little love-box now is a 3 bedroom, 3 level love palace, with the coolest bedroom / loft for Maxxi ever. We are so stoked. Yesterday I spent all day moving rocks, plants, dirt, and today I can barely move (exaggeration, but it sounds good, no?). It was a hard day and very satisfying. I completely re-designed the front of our house - what was once a vine covered wall is now back to it's triumphant red glory, with an awesome rock lined plant-bed on both sides of the door, filled with all sorts of Agaves and other Mexican beauties. I can't stop looking at it, and can't wait to see what the rains do to inspire it's growth - it is going to be amazing.
Welcome home!

My Life in photographs

I am lacking the words to write with. My brain is dry and I just can't get the head-movies to become screen-words for me or anyone. I am not sure if its the heat of the Sayulita Summer = fucking HOT, or...Is it that my mid-day drinks turn into Lazy-sauce by the time and freedom comes to write anything of value? Shit, I don't know, but here are some new pictures I totally love, and what's happening in my life. So good.

I am a Father. This is my Son.

My first Fathers Day. It sneaks up on you, and then floors you with a feeling that is like no other... of entitlement, of pride, of feeling wanted for what you finally are, after years of imagining it's possibility. What a great day. I love my Family, I love my Son, and I love my role in it all. Things are exactly as they should be.

Maximo Lobo on his first flight - Mexico to Hawaii

Traveling with an infant ended up alright. Life in general is constant and trying with a baby, not to take away from the wonderfulness of parenthood. But in all reality, it's hard work and that is no suprise. Though our flights to and from were in the 15-24 hour travel daze, he was as patient as he could be with us, Andrea nursed a bit more than usual, and we all drank drank drank.

Villarrubia Family + little golfer man, Kauai 2009

It looks like I am holding a tiny little golfer in my arms. A Midget, who just wandered into the picture from some mini-golf game. He doesn't seem to mind I picked him up - awesome! Hawaii rules. It's Mexico, except cleaner, less humid, the natives are super mellow and settled into their ways. I liked it alot. Kauai is a gorgeous island, truly a garden. I saw god a few times while boating along the Napali coast, and I don't even believe in the gal...

Comic Knight and Padawan - Other Realms Comics, Honolulu, Hawaii

This is a special moment here. This is the first time that my Son and I are together in a Comic Book shop. I am a life long collector, and I absolutely love Comic Books. I have been reading them since I first arrived in the U.S. as an illeagal immigrant all those years ago (73' for those in the know...) Whenever I was sad, sick or just needing some love, my Dad used to bring me home American Comics, and I quickly fell in love with the heroes of both Marvel and DC - though most my life i have "Made mine Marvel" as they say, as I near 40 years old, I have really been enjoying DC. Its all about Green Lantern, yo. Anyway, I look forward to Maximo enjoying my comics, as I have a huge stack waiting for him already here in Sayulita.

Maximo not eating sand = More beach time = Summer = Awesome = Tans = Good times! (awesome)

Casa Loteria 2.0 is almost done, and it rocks. 3 Bdroom, 2 bath, deluxe apt in the Jungle...
sweeeet....

A Good Night

I put my son to bed most nights by reading him 2 bedtime books. This is a special moment for me, as being a father in the first year of a baby's life can often feel like you are second fiddle to the always awesome and important Mom. It is easy to be a bit jealous of this amazing connection your son has with his Mother, and no matter how much you know, read, understand, it just kinda hurts some times. Thus, these precious 20 minutes every night are pretty special. Tonight they got even better.

My Son started talking a few weeks ago with the word "Doggie". Super awesome, fun, and great to see him connect word to thing. He has been flirting with sounds that seem to be "mamamama" and a mix of what could be a "daddy + doggie" combo. Tonight, as we opened the first bedtime book, he made his little giggle of excitment, I started to read... and he turned his little head up towards me, put his hand on my face, smiled and said "Daddy".

Tonight is a good night.

Family picture of the week

Don't you judge me. I live in Mexico. It is quite normal for me to 1) take my son to my fave local bar 2) said bar to have a high seat especially for him up at the bar 3) for him to sip his water out of shot glass. I mean, it's perfect baby size, all babies should use shot glasses! This is my life, love it or leave it.

Travel through time Ad of the week


"Because one is enough, when it's you. Show where you're headed in the ultimate fashion climax. Fits so tight it shows all you've got. Your a walking turn-on, and it treats your body as well as she does. Easy on, Easy off, quick as a flick of her tongue...comes in rust, blue or black....and short sleeved....are you man enough to fill it? $45." - I want one.

Eternal Idol Worship of the week



the lady who's wise words will forever remind Andrea and I that "...It's all the same fucking' day..."

"I mean, if you, say, say, maybe you want a cat for 365 days, right — You ain't got him for 365 days, you got him for one day, man. Well I tell you that one day, man, better be your life. Because, you know, you can say, oh man, you can cry about the other 364, man, but you're gonna lose that one day, man, and that's all you've got. You gotta call that love, man. That's what it is, man. If you got it today you don't want it tomorrow, man, 'cause you don't need it, 'cause as a matter of fact, as we discovered on the train, tomorrow never happens, man. It's all the same fucking day, man." - Janis Joplin

First Rain of the season

The first rains are here! Fuck yes. I love rain, and Sayulita is a great place to dig it in... expansive views, muddy roads, hot days...a rain really makes you take stock of your situation around here. The last 2 years I kept talking about the rains coming early and all the locals kept sayin "later! later!". Not this year. You can just tell things are starting early, rains, winds, tremendous mind-altering heat...oh lord... things may be different this year, and Summer may really put the screws to ya... but I am ok with that! Lets go.

My son is just 9 months old, and today was the kind of day where he did nothing but sweat, and I and his mother did nothing but sweat...so we are all just a big ball of moisture...sound shitty? Well, it takes some getting used to, but that is life in Paradise. Nothing comes for free kids, never forget that.

Picture: Maxxi and I on a rainy day in Sayulita, May 2009

My First Mexican Tattoo (a story about True Romance)

my heart will never be the same

Today I was gently applied my first tattoo acquired in my beloved Mexico. I have many tattoos but I have not gotten one in Mexico...till today. So stoked.

Have YOU ever stood in a Mexican tattoo shop with out a shirt on??

Word on the street among the tattooed of Sayulita and Mexico is that there are not that many great tattoo artists out there. There are plenty of shops it seems, in Vallarta you may find one every corner of old town - but none that stand out in the right way. I did some late night, drunken research, and luckily I found a shop with some good art, a good vibe from their page, and more importantly, some good pics to judge from. After a hearty "Fuck it!", there we went.

On the table, with my gang in the background, cheering me on

The shop was called Mystique Tattoo, and the owner and artist was a young man named Miguel. His shop has been in old town for 6 years, this by his look and my opinion would have made him 12 when the shop opened it seemed. Mexicans look young like black don't crack, if you catch my meaning. Anyway, they are blessed with the visage of youth.

My gang... THE Andrea in question and Maximo Lobo

After a long morning heading into Vallarta (about an hour from Sayulita) and a solid 20 minutes of circling, with Maximo in arm and wife by my side, I went off to bleed.The shop was super clean, Miguel very nice, and things moved along quickly. I love getting tattoos, so there weren't too many nerves, just lots of excitement to get started. We did, he drew, I barely bled, and we were done! Watching someone get tattooed can be boring to a 8 month old, so Mom and boy went for a walk before the piece was done. A 20 min tattoo is a joy, while it brings you right back into the old familiar feelings, and as anyone who has knows, it makes you want more! Definitely plans in the works for the next one, both Andrea and I...

As I know it was forever meant to be...

For me, this is something that was on my "Life-to-Do" list for some time so naturally it was a big day. I love Andrea so much. That should say it all, and it does in my mind...but...Even though I do have "Gabrea", our joint name tattooed on me, Its not the same as having her name. I have been talking about and meaning to get her name tattooed on my chest for over a year, so it's overdue. I honestly don't know how to make it clear enough to whoever is watching from above and below that I love her this much. Forever. Endlessly. With this upcoming Saturday being our 5 year anniversary of getting married, I had to do it. I don't think it could have been stopped, by forces of good or evil. It wasn't. I feel an amazing energy off this action, reaction, pro action...and that energy is LOVE. As new parents, we are currently in a time of exhaustion, with our child just working out movement and want, sleeping, not sleeping, etc... plus our second floor being built with Mexicans on our house and in our house all day... let's say we are rarely without commotion. For me, this branding, this personal pain, loss of blood, is a quiet salute to my love, my woman, my True Romance that will never go away, without me going as well...and even then...