gabrea's blah blah blog

2010-12-27T10:03:00.000-08:00

The Blah Blah Blog is dead...
The Blah Blah Blog is dead...
The Blah Blah Blog is dead...
The Blah Blah Blog is dead...

Long live the Blah Blah Blog!
After almost 5 years, we are closing down the Villarrubia journal known as the Blah Blah Blog, and are re-starting in a whole new way of documenting the adventures of the 3 Libertines in love. We hope you take the time to join us on these ongoing adventures through our eternal love affair, and keep up with all that is us and our lives.

Reset your links and bookmarks to:
http://gabrea.tumblr.com/
now known as...

A Libertine's Journal
A Libertine's Journal
A Libertine's Journal

2010-12-15T17:09:00.000-08:00

The Yachting life...
The Yachting life...

It's a Sea-man's life for me!

2010-12-11T19:03:00.000-08:00

A simple list of things I love...
A simple list of things I love...

I have been critiqued for writing ad-nauseum about how great my life is, non-stop about all the things I love, blah-wonderful-fucking-blah over and over again. To the haters, I offer this post.

I love My Family. So awesome they are! I'll eat them up, I love them so.

I love My Wife. She looked so hot tonight, just a shade hotter than yesterday, and a notch below tomorrow...

I love My Son, the Outsider. Get used to it boy. It looks good on you...

I love My friends. Lucky am I.

I love the Mosh Pit in my house. My Son. My Drums. My Life. So fucking awesome...'nuff said.

2010-12-10T06:17:00.000-08:00

Santo!
Santo!

Every doggy needs a name! Santo means "Saint". He has suffered like one, and is sweet as can be. Santo he is!

2010-12-07T19:49:00.000-08:00

Puppy!
Puppy!

Andrea said I look like a little boy with his new puppy in this picture...

...and the literal little boy, with his first puppy, Charlie, circa way-the-fuck-back.

This is our new yet-to-be-named Puppy! "Amfi" (previously named by the foster family very lovingly"another mother fucker" because of how many foster dogs they had - a.k.a. Amfi ) was found starving, beaten, eating garbage and in bad shape with its 2 other family members by a wonderful girl named Kadri, who has fostered him for the last 3 months (i'll share pics of his original sorry state when i get them...). Our story started when I saw a picture of him on the Sayulita Life/Sayulitanimals page and honestly felt like I made a connection with this little dog through that picture. That may not sound so odd, but Andrea and I are proud "puppy/kitty pure-bred buyers" , never really wanted to adopt, and feel no shame about this. Most of our pets in our life have been bought from breeders, and assured were pure of blood, if not of attitude. While we recently adopted a tiny kitten (Puff, y'all - see below!) we have never adopted a dog that looks grown, even though its only 6 months old. Just seems odd, not normal, and took a few days to decide. Love made the decision, and we knew it would be a maturing thing for us, and a great gift for the dog. 10 minutes after Amfi was in our house, we knew we did the right thing. He is so calm, loving, and while a little sad, he is perfect. Even when Dulce (our Weinerdog/Chihuahua) went nuts over the fireworks outside, Amfi just sat there. calmly loving where he was. He is nervous, but knows we mean well. This is a special night. We have a menagerie. We have a big family of all breeds, and we are happy to have a new family member, who needs us, and we need him. Now he just needs his real name.

Super-Max, and his new buddy... minutes after arrival.

...and a great pic of Puff, just for shits and giggles. She is SO cute, dammit!!

2010-12-03T09:43:00.000-08:00

Rock n Roll Hurts....

So does love, and i love this kid so much!! My boy loves our new drums, and spends mucho time just sitting on them jamming. He repeats everything I say, and when I was saying Rock n Roll hurts the other day due to my new blisters on my hands, he has made of habit of repeating this. He also loves the song "Coin Operated Boy" which is what he is "playing" for me. The kid has rhythm, style and he is only 2. The Superman shirt and striped leg warmers don't hurt.

2010-11-29T17:28:00.001-08:00

Christmas time is here!
Christmas time is here!

I love Christmas. I love my family. Andrea and I have always made a big deal of putting up our X-mas tree, and this year, Maxxi being 2.3 years old, is extra special. He gets it. He knows who Santa is, and is totally stoked there is yet another person who will bring him presents. While the whole family was a little under the weather, our spirits were lifted by the joy of Christmas in our lives yet again...

The finished product - the Loteria Christmas Tree deluxe!

2010-11-27T21:46:00.000-08:00

Long live Los Gatos Negros!
Long live Los Gatos Negros!

Today, Los Gatos Negros de Sayulita were born. Today, I am the luckiest cat in town, as I get to start a new band with some loco-locals, and really start annoying the neighbors con ganas (with pleasure, amigos!) My friends Treva and Ernesto were in a band...they broke up...I got a drum kit whose power was fueled by ancient dreams of rocking... we got together today to fill the gaps... and it was....AWESOME. Silly pictures and posters to follow...

It looked like this.

And a little like this...kinda....sorta...(i.e. second self-indulgent photoshop poster)

Andrea shot some video. It sounded way better than this, in fact you can only hear Treva's awesome voice and most the guitars when I stop playing drums, as you can't expect much from a Canon Sure shot-camera-thingee...Trust me, it sounded awesome, and you know it looked great. Very Sexy. The song is "Fell in Love with a Girl" by the White Stripes, and we do it Awesomely-lee. eeeee.

I am happy tonight.

2010-11-25T21:40:00.000-08:00

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

It's Thanksgiving today! While being a long time resident of Mexico may make you forget the big day as it sneaks up on you, I must celebrate it loudly, as I have so much to be thankful for!!

My Son holding his new kitten. Carrying little "Puff" across the house, to her litter box, saying "I love her, Dad!". I am thankful for that.

Him hugging both his magic "familiars" Dulce and Puff, and saying "I love you guysssss!!" is pretty awesome too...

My Son going "balls out" literally for my drum kit. He loves it, wants me to play it, dances to my punk rock beats, and is the sing-song-sidekick to my super-hero-drum-dad. He shines around music, and I am thankful for that, so much.

My Wife, and My Son.. My best friends. No one knows me like Andrea, and my boy knows me like no one has ever known me...as a son, to a father. I am thankful for that...ah..Lot.

My Family! Oh my, this picture makes me happy! The amazing wife/best-friend/super-freak of a baby-momma, the 2 cyborg pets...of doom!...and my little demon-seed, Maximo. Also, all our parents, brothers and loved ones not near by but always in our hearts.

We love our home and are so thankful to have a place to call our own, that smells, looks and loves like us, and we give thanks for the friends we are surrounded by in Sayulita, and all the love and power we receive from every one.

Thank you Dark Lords, for all of this!

2010-11-25T06:30:00.000-08:00

Maurice Sendak, Carole King, the Dresden Dolls, and cartoons about rebellious kids eaten by lions, backed by tragically upbeat Goth music about seeking love - another Thursday morning in my world...

It All starts here.....with Pierre and Carole King. We always lean towards vintage kids viddy when we can, and a favorite is a collection of animated films from the mind of Maurice Sendak, godlike in our house, and this disc full of animated versions of his books includes his classic "Where the wild things are", as well as some gems you wouldn't know about unless you are a tad bit older than I am (41, bitches!). Anyhoo, the second part of this collection is backed by an all Carole King soundtrack of amazing kids songs that many 70's kids grooved on, and as adults many new fans love. After many watchings and listenings, today we bought the album and I know it will be listened to and watched throughout Maxxi's life. So great. Below is one of our fave stories, "Pierre" about a boy who just doesn't care (like me many days) but learns that it's always best to CARE (not totally sold on that idea....but its a good thought for my kid) after being eaten by a Lion. This awesome version of the animation I found has the Carole King soundtrack removed, and replaced by a cover version played by a band close to my heart, the Dresden Dolls. The band I just joined (fun!) is doing a cover of another one of their songs (see below) so they rock. Enjoy this stoney thread of musical and cartoon consciousness....

Maurice Sendak's "Pierre" - music by Carole King, performed by the Dresden Dolls

The Dresden Dolls playing it live... great music transcends genre and time...may bore non fans...

And lastly, my fave Dresden Dolls song, which as through a dream come true (my life is full of those, by the way...) the band I am jamming with is going to play! So great. This is Coin-Operated-Boy, very awesome song and viddy.

2010-11-24T20:11:00.000-08:00

Kitty!!!!

We got a kitten today. "Puff" the magic cat-dragon, as she has been dubbed, has many roles in our world - she is the first kitten to Maxxi (he still loves his doggy better...), arch enemy-slash-best friend to Dulce (said dog), and future "Ratera" or mouse killer for us! We love kittens and used to be actual "Cat people" before we realized how much better dogs were, but mostly we are gonna be stoked when little Puff becomes Puffy the mice slayer. Sure, sure, we will fall in love with her, but we hope in the future she does not let her cuteness make her lazy, as it does for many people. For today, we have an awesome new family member, who happens to be incredibly tiny and cute, and we already love her.

2010-11-24T06:33:00.000-08:00

Saul Bass, Star Wars and the future of the Blah Blah Blog

After almost 5 years of blogging in this journal, started right before we left the states for Mexico, the Blah Blog is getting a face lift! I am pretty stoked as I have become bored of it's look and lack of features - such as easy wandering back through back posts, links to sites I follow, and more. Keep an eye for the big change hopefully before the new year. The visual direction I am taking it in is based around the art of Saul Bass, an American graphic designer and Academy Award winner that worked with many of the movie greats on such opening sequences design as Psycho, North by Northwest, and my fave, The Man with the Golden Arm.

Here are the opening credits for the latter, a movie about a jazz drummer who is addicted to Heroin. Love the subject matter, and love that Frank Sinatra played the drummer. The movie by Otto Preminger is pretty awesome as well, as you can see in the above trailer link.

There are alot of Saul Bass homages to modern movies out there, but here is my fave, no suprise to me or those who know me. Enjoy.

2010-11-21T20:33:00.000-08:00

More Revolution!

La Familia mas Enamorada, Revolution Day Centennial, Nov 20 2010

Always great photos by Donna Day, friend and role model in photography!

2010-11-21T18:41:00.000-08:00

They grow up so Quick

Maximo is sleeping in his big boy bed for the first time tonight. 10 minutes ago, we left him in his room, in his big bed, surrounded by plush friends and dreams of goat cheese (he had it for dinner, and really really liked it. I am sure he is dreaming of it right now... ). He seemed very open to the new bed, seemed to appreciate the amount of room he had, and we think felt generally safe. Mom and Dad (and his beloved Dulce) are across the hall, and as soon as we start to leave the door open to his room, he will surely have his doggie partner in crime sleeping with him. This is a special night, but its true, he is growing up too quick. We need a new baby ASAP!

Mom putting little Maxxi down for his first big boy sleep... so sad yet happy at the same time... and proud of our little man.

2010-11-21T16:10:00.000-08:00

A family that drums together... rocks together!

Day 2 with the cherry bomb drum kit! Hangin' out with awesome soul brother Jess and Maxxi - bangin' drums and making music in a family way!

the Cherry bomb casually changing a spare room into a rehearsal space...with style!

2010-11-21T07:39:00.000-08:00

Talkin' bout a Revolution (day)

Father and Son revolutionaries - Mexican Revolution day 2010

Yesterday, November 20th 2010 was the celebration of the Centennial of the Mexican Revolution, always a fun time every year. On this day, in the year 1910, the Revolutionary war began. While this was a time of political stability and general growth for the country, things were not good for the people's well being - thus, political unrest reared its lovely head as it's known to do in our lovely adopted country. Some of the more famous faces to come from this uprising were the revolutionaries Pancho Villa and Emilio Zapata, awesome cabrones on many fronts.

We celebrate Revolution day in Mexico with parades and small children (and some adults) dressing as revolutionaries and other traditional Mexican characters. Horses dance, Bands play, and many of us (Me!) drink much of the day. We started our day wandering the festivities, and then moving on to mid day naps right after. My kind of revolution.

If you want to know more about Sayulita's history, Revolution and the formation of it's Ejido , check out this great story from El Sayulero by Yesica Doreli Ramos Gomez HERE!

Viva la Revolution, Mexico!!

Horses dance in the streets of Sayulita

Locals check their heads out in the campo where the festivities were held this year...

More locals rocking vintage wear

My little revolutionary with his rebellious Auntie Treva

...and his big sister Astrid, looking all beautiful in Mexican garb

2010-11-19T19:17:00.000-08:00

Drums!

Little Gab - circa 1986, new set, the Villarrubia family living room. Hair quite feathered...

I used to play drums when I was a few (many) years younger. For some time, I dreamed of being a famous drummer in some awesome Punk / Goth / Rock n Roll band - while I did join many an awesome band, I never did get famous outside local scenes and west coast tours. I gave it my all for a long time, had a fucking good time in my late teens/early 20's ...and then around 27 I gave up that dream for other dreams in film, video games and general wonderfulness - all to come true. While I always missed playing live and being in a band, I did not miss the challenges of being married to 4-5 guys, most of everyone on drugs, in bad relationships, long drives in vans across states... you get it - shit always going wrong just when it was right. Anyway, I always looked forward to getting a kit some time again and rocking out with good people. Now I am 41, and today I bought a drum kit again! So stoked. Not only do i get to share this with my son, who absolutely loves music and the drums I'd say by tonight's first-time chaos party we had setting them up, but I also have some great friends/fiends I am going to get to jam with - and if they like my vintage rusty skills, its an insta-band! Like minded freaks, soul-sisters and brothers. Awesome. I got the music related high I haven't had in years, and it feels goooood...

Big Daddy Gab - circa Today, November 2010 - new kit, Villarrubia family spare bedroom/new rehearsal spot in Sayulita, Hair thinning... smile wide.

Little Maxxi - My biggest fan, the little drummer boy to be.

Taking the new steed out for a ride...

2010-11-18T20:59:00.000-08:00

I've not forgotten them...

I've stopped my dreaming,
I won't do too much scheming
These days, these days.
These days I sit on corner stones
And count the time in quarter tones to ten.
Please don't confront me with my failures,
I had not forgotten them.

"These days..." by Nico and the Velvet Underground

2010-11-10T06:26:00.000-08:00

The Good Shit

Lots of great stuff in our lives right now. Season has started in Sayulita, the sun is out, the nights are (very) cool, and things feel a bit back to normal after a long summer. So much awesome... here are few things that strike me as extra awesome this morning...

Affection from my Son

Maxxi started being extremely affectionate this last week. He is a lover of a kid anyway, but started handing out hugs like candy, and not wanting to take a pic unless he was hugging one or both of us in the picture. He is constantly, without provocation, telling us we are his best friends, that he loves us, and asking "Do you love me Mommy/Daddy?". These are special times.

My Love of Sayulita

I love my town, and without floods and all the other natural disasters of late, plus the weather evening out, its easier to love. Above is a pic of some horses I took on the way to "work" yesterday. Maxxi loves horses, and these horses were clearly in love. This is an everyday sight for us, and we never take for granted the rustic-ness of our world. Below is a pic taken on Day of the Dead by our friend and amazing photog Donna Day. It captured the feeling and the look of our graveyard in the best way possible. I was and continue to be fascinated by this picture, and am glad to have it in my world. The last pic below is a foto I found online of our town. Don't know who took it, but it sings and shows a lovely side of our town. Glad to live here.

SupermaX

My Kid rocking super hero outfits. Wether Superman, Batman or Darth Vader, its all a dream come true for me... and for him!

Sunday Mornings taste awesome again - Rollie's makes us fat and happy!

If you have visited Sayulita, you most likely have eaten at Rollie's. A local legend and wonderful long-time establishment, Rollie Dick and his wife Jeannie (and a wonderful cast of community members) run this breakfast (and dinner) joint by treating their guests like family, and feeding them till they need to be rolled home! Andrea and I feel season has started and ended with the opening and closing of Rollie's. Lucky for us, season just started! Rollie is famous for singing the "Rollie's song" with his son taped over the stereo. It's something we all love, never tire of, and makes us feel like we are home. Here it is, in it's entirety, with the man at the mike.

Life is good! Get me some more pancakes, stat!

2010-11-01T12:09:00.000-07:00

Halloween!

Halloween is wonderful! Last year was great, manipulating our little 1 year old into his Max and the Wild things costume, but this year things took a turn for the better...a turn to the dark side! Maximo is a little boy now, totally aware of his world, and his little place in it. He knows what he loves - Thomas the Tank engine, Cars, Superheroes, and most of all (besides Mom and Dad as he is prone to call us lately...) Star Wars! Daddy being a major Star Wars geek, this is John Williams music to my ears and eyes. Maxxi was stoked to be Darth Vader this year, and Andrea and I got back into the Halloween groove we have always been stoked on, and made some costumes with the help of our dear friend Lisa Brewer, who really made them, we just guided her spirit with our geeky-ness. Anyway, this is what Mexican-Halloween-awesomeness looked like...

Father vs. Son - Dark Jedi Battle, Sayulita Plaza October 31, 2010 - notice Mommy's Princess Leia hair-do shadow on the ground, oddly placed drumkit in the background, and totally tripped out little un-costumed Mexican kids all around. Odd times.

The Villarrubia Dark Jedi Family portrait...

the Princess getting Darth Vader's diaper on...

...and the twisted Vader family heading to the Plaza for sensory overload...

The endless battle between father and son...

Ending the night with a cranky Darth Vader on the Millennium Golf Cart

2010-10-22T06:28:00.000-07:00

Home

I love this song, the words say it all....

Alabama, Arkansas,
I do love my ma and pa,
Not the way that I do love you.

Holy, Moley, me, oh my,
You're the apple of my eye,
Girl I've never loved one like you.

Man oh man you're my best friend,
I scream it to the nothingness,
There ain't nothing that I need.

Well, hot and heavy, pumpkin pie,
Chocolate candy, Jesus Christ,
Ain't nothing please me more than you.

Ahh Home. Let me come home
Home is wherever I'm with you.
Ahh Home. Let me go ho-oh-ome.
Home is wherever I'm with you.

La, la, la, la, take me home.
Mother, I'm coming home.

I'll follow you into the park,
Through the jungle through the dark,
Girl I never loved one like you.

Moats and boats and waterfalls,
Alley-ways and pay phone calls,
I've been everywhere with you.

We laugh until we think we’ll die,
Barefoot on a summer night
Nothin’ new is sweeter than with you

And in the streets you run afree,
Like it's only you and me,
Geeze, you're something to see.

Ahh Home. Let me go home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.

La, la, la, la, take me home.
Daddy, I'm coming home.

Him: Andrea
Her: Yes Gabbi?
Him: Do you remember that day you fell outta my window?
Her: I sure do, you came jumping out after me.
Him: Well, you fell on the concrete, nearly broke your ass, you were bleeding all over the place and I rushed you out to the hospital, you remember that?
Her: Yes I do.
Him: Well there's something I never told you about that night.
Her: What didn't you tell me?
Him: While you were sitting in the backseat smoking a cigarette you thought was gonna be your last, I was falling deep, deeply in love with you, and I never told you til just now.

Home. Let me come home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.

Alabama, Arkansas,
I do love my ma and pa...
Moats and boats and waterfalls,
Alley-ways and pay phone calls...

Ahh Home. Let me go home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.

2010-10-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

I Got Life...

Woke this morning with this Nina Simone song playing over and over in my head. First thing I did was dig up this video and watch it with Maxxi. When we have the least, we have the most. We have life.

Ain't got no home, ain't got no shoes
Ain't got no money, ain't got no class
Ain't got no skirts, ain't got no sweaters
Ain't got no faith, ain't got no beard
Ain't got no mind

Ain't got no mother, ain't got no culture
Ain't got no friends, ain't got no schooling
Ain't got no name, ain't got no love
Ain't got no ticket, ain't got no token
Ain't got no God

What have I got?
Why am I alive anyway?
Yeah, what have I got?
Nobody can take away

I got my hair, I got my head
I got my brains, I got my ears
I got my eyes, I got my nose
I got my mouth, I got my smile

I got my tongue, I got my chin
I got my neck, I got my boobs
I got my heart, I got my soul
I got my back, I got my sex

I got my arms, I got my hands
I got my fingers, Got my legs
I got my feet, I got my toes
I got my liver, Got my blood

I've got life, I've got my freedom
I've got life

I got a headache, and toothache,
And bad times too like you,
I got my hair, I got my head
I got my brains, I got my ears
I got my eyes, I got my nose
I got my mouth, I got my smile

I got my tongue, I got my chin
I got my neck, I got my boobies
I got my heart, I got my soul
I got my back, I got my sex

I got my arms, I got my hands
I got my fingers, Got my legs
I got my feet, I got my toes
I got my liver, Got my blood

I've got life, I've got my freedom
I've got life, I'm gonna keep it
I've got life, I'm gonna keep it
I got life

2010-10-21T13:31:00.000-07:00

Paradise re-found

After a long, wet, hot summer - full of turmoil and challenges including-but-not-exclusive-to floods and fallen bridges - we are all reminded again that we live in paradise. This last weekend the weather shifted from humid and hot to pleasantly cool and perfect. While we live by the beach where most of the year its sunny, and sand is always between our toes and in our shoes, every year Summer comes, the heat rises, the rains pour down and things get shitty and complicated. Summer in Mexico can try the most patient of souls, and make you want to run for the hills, literally. That is why many part timers are glad to have their 2nd homes somewhere else. Funny that at the beginning of every summer I write how much I miss it, and at the end I babble how glad I am its gone. Funny. Ha-ha? Queer? yes.

It's a Sayulita myth, truth, half-truth - that every year the weather changes on October 15th, mid month. We have always heard this, and even spread the myth ourselves. This year, I swear, it happened that very weekend, more around the 17th, but still.... And my birthday being on the 14th didn't hurt my frown turning upside down, worries of the last weeks melting in a pile of happy-tears and joy-songs with my boy and wife. Lots of great time at home, no rain, all love, so good.

My boy is 2 and counting and molting into the most amazing little question mark. So many questions, so many answers, so Maximo. I love him. I love him. I love him. Loving him is loving his mother, which has always been easy for me, even before she was a mother. My favorite thing is him yelling "My mother!" when I take too much of her time, or "My Father!" If I hold any other kid. Possession rules. Speaking of possession, he had me at "I'm Darth Vader Daddy!!"...oh, my boy.

I am your father...no really. I am.

Anyhoo, summer is quickly becoming a faded memory (except if you walk through my town and see the fallen bridge, and washed away homes) ... and I wanted to make note of how lovely it is to appreciate Paradise again, with my loves in my arms and hearts.

my birthday morning, with my fave peeps of all...

2010-10-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to me.

Father and Son, October 14, 2010 - El Tejon restaurant, Sayulita

2010-10-10T11:17:00.000-07:00

California Dreaming Revisited
California Dreaming Revisited

This Summer we took a vacation to top all summer vacations, based around Maximo's 2nd birthday, and reunions with distant loved ones. We started planning this trip 1 year before with our friend Katie, as a family get-away to Yosemite, getting our kids together for the first time, and generally to have an awesome time with friends not seen in many daze. Over the year it grew to be a 4 week family-and-friends-free-for-all. So much love, so many memories, it breaks my heart with love thinking back. Thank you to all the people in our lives that make us feel whole, known and loved.

Here is a glimpse at the best of days...

We landed in the safe and warm embrace of the Rogers-Dahlman clan, deep in the heart of Redwood City. Maximo's new best buddy, Owen, showed him the best time, and the lightsaber battles and love were flowing freely. It was the perfect place to start this adventure, with the most amazing family treating us like royalty. Long time dear friends, and role models on how to be awesome parents. I miss them.

The honorable Billy Stoops, Andrea's pappy, Maxxi's main man, and My rock and roll lord, met us in Oakland, and the family grew by one awesome Gran-daddy. Off to Sacramento for more Grandparent love, taking off from this fairly sketchy train station.

Maximo turned 2 on August 27th, and Nono and Nona Villarrubia got him his first bike. Next, the Harley.

Summertime in Lincoln, CA. Its a "dry heat"...its a fucking hot heat.

My Pops!

Maximo's birthday, Monterey Bay Aquarium!

Jellyfish are stoney.

San Jose, California - back yard BBQ with all the old crew, at Katie's house. Best friends, the people who knew ya when, and so glad to see them now. Them meeting Maximo was a big part of this trip, and now Maxxi has all the awesome uncle and aunties he could ever dream of.

Loving life in Truckee, CA - the Heapy Home, hosts Jay and Kelly in our arms, fresh Cosmos in our hands, and Maximo behind the camera

Jay Heapy, the biggest man on the boat, impressing the extremely hot chicks behind him with his girth...

Russian River, casa Culture Blend - Labor Day Weekend. Another special time with old friends and sights for sore eyes. We left here full of love, and reminded now matter how far away we may be, we have people who know us and love us.

Drinks and Dominoes.

9 A.M. Every day.

Yosemite, Glacier Point - the tears are from the sun in my eyes, and my love in my arms.

Our Yosemite (and life) spirit guide, Jason Heapy, with Half-dome dwarfed by his heart, behind him. Maximo's most favorite uncle. Uncle Jay is with us every day.

My family, Sunrise, Yosemite, Half-Dome, full happy.

Katie, one of my oldest, dearest friends. Best friends forever! We have known each other since we were kids, and here we are on vacation with our kids. That is life, love and the reminder of who we are and who matters to us.

The Villarrubia/West Clans w/ spirit guide Jay Heapy, in front of a really big tree.

A bit of city and culture for one night on the town - San Francisco with Jerry and Jenna! Maximo stayed with the Grandparents and off we went. We famously finished a bottle of tequila in a very short span of time. Heads hurt in the morning. Best of times!

The end of the road. It often ends where it begins. With family. Saying goodbye to Nono y Nona Villarrubia, and forever remembering their kindness throughout this entire trip. We want to see them more, and Maximo needs to see them more! He is so happy with them, and we are too. Thank you Moms and Pops. Hasta la proxima...

2010-10-09T15:55:00.000-07:00

Born Free...41 years ago!
Born Free...41 years ago!

I love my birthday! My awesome wife always takes care of me, makes me feel the most special, and most often gets me a tattoo! While she is cautiously optimistic that I won't tattoo my face anytime soon (pretty sure I'm gonna tattoo my face before I die...which could be soon...) she seems OK with me covering my hands. Another dedication to how much I love her, our son and staying free can't hurt. Well, the pinkie and pointer finger hurt. Alot. But that was but moments in a life full of equal pain and pleasure. I'll take that any-day.

We all tattoo ourselves for different reasons. Some for art, some for reminders, some for both. My body is covered in words about freedom, liberty, and staying true. Life is not easy, and we should not think it will ever be...difficulty should not limit us, but inspire us. This tattoo reminds me that we were born free, with the opportunity to be anything we want. Sure, some of us have more opportunity, some less, but we all have free will. I was born in a poor, immigrant family, and I can share stories of my family first in the U.S. that will shake ya a bit. With that said, my old man took what liberties he earned in his traveling from his home to a scary, far off land, and made his life. All our lives are ours to make, and we need to remember we are born free with these options. I was born free. I have all I need. The love of a good woman (Brothers! Listen! Treat your woman well. Go tell her you love her right now!). The joy of a family...and free will. What more can a man ask for? To die free? I am working on it.

Another step in making myself completely un-employable by rat-racers and their ilk

2010-10-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

My Life, My Future, My Way...
My Life, My Future, My Way...

Life has had it's challenges lately, for without the bitter, the sweet is less...well, sweet. Hard times make us all question our past decisions, and future consequences...when really, none of this matters. Now matters. On what may be the hardest morning after a rough sleep, I woke, sat on the pot, picked up a paper and was handed this horoscope.

"Libra (Sept.23 - Oct.22): The Latin motto "Dulcius ex aspiris" means "Sweetness out of difficulty". It has a different meaning from "relief after difficulty" or "character-building from difficulty". It suggests a scenario in which a challenging experience leads not just to a successful outcome, but also to a delicious, soothing harmony that would not have been possible without the difficulty. This is what I foresee coming for you, Libra."

Classic Rock
Finally...All the right members for making beautiful music...

Modern Rock
Life can never be too bad when I am in such an awesome band!!
all photos by Evrim Icoz (c) 2010

2010-10-02T23:26:00.001-07:00

Sayulita Today...
Sayulita Today...

2010-09-21T22:04:00.000-07:00

He is his Father's Son...
He is his Father's Son...

2010-09-12T17:05:00.000-07:00

Sayulita Flood of 2010
Sayulita Flood of 2010

Last night we came back to Sacramento from a lovely 6 day, internet and phone free escape to Yosemite, in the midst of our 4 week adventure in California. When we got online, what we found chilled us to the bone, as we found out what had been happening back home in Sayulita. Below is the info posted on a website created by one of the parent volunteers from our local school, CVIS, which is sorely in need of flood relief as is the entire town. Read on, and do what you can if you can. The original page is here

The Tragedy.
Monday September 6th, the rain came down in sheets. School was canceled, roads were closed, the river filled up with brown muddy water - but the worst was yet to come. Tuesday night the town of Sayulita, and up and down the coast line of Bandaras Bay, saw rains continue to fall, and the full force of Mother Nature was unleashed. The river flooded over its banks, filling houses with many feet of water or taking them away all together. People fled on foot, leaving all of their personal belongings behind. Sayulita's bridge collapsed, shops and restaurants on the river fell, and Costa Verde International School could only watch as a house, then a road, then their retaining wall was taken by the now powerful river, threatening many of their classrooms.

A Community Responds.
In the following days - without electricity or running water - neighbors helped neighbors by taking them in, providing a hot meal, or filling sandbags. It was a town in crisis. Now, as tractors and people mobilize, we are able to assess the damage and the need - and it is great. Costa Verde International School, along with a group of volunteers, is now calling out to their international community for help.

Our plan.
Tamarindo and Mangal Neighborhoods: These were the areas of town most affected. We are organizing clean up crews to go door to door with buckets, mops, and shovels. Many neighborhoods are simply unlivable until the mud is cleared away and garbage is taken away. Once houses have been cleaned, we will assess and provided needed household supplies.

Beach: Cleaning crews will also be mobilized to clean up the beach, which was filled with garbage and debris washed down from the river. This will be an on going effort.

Public kindergarten school (next door to Costa Verde): Their building was badly damaged, so we will be helping them clean, providing them with laborers and building supplies so that they can rebuild, and will replace lost teaching supplies.

Costa Verde International School: With our retaining wall gone, Costa Verde school is on the edge (literally) of being taken by the river with the next rain. Thirty volunteers - teachers, parents, children and even a couple of tourists - laid 1,000 sandbags in the hopes of saving their school. But it is only a band-aid. It will take many generous donations to be able to rebuild the retaining wall and keep the river secure from future flooding.

Here is how YOU can help.
There are three simple things you can do: volunteer your time, provide supplies, give money.

Time:
If you are in the area, your donation of time is needed.

Here is a schedule of activities that Costa Verde is organizing:

Saturday September 11
9am at CVIS with Jessica to go into neighborhoods to help
9:30am at Don Pedros for a Sayulita beach cleanup
Monday September 13
9am at CVIS with Lina to go to the Kinder and into neighborhoods to help
Tuesday September 14
9am at CVIS with Lina to go into neighborhoods to help

Supplies:
These items can be dropped off at Costa Verde:
gloves/sunscreen/mosquito repellent
mops/brooms/squeegies
multi-purpose cleaning liquid
rags
trash bags
buckets

Money:
We understand many of you care deeply for the Costa Verde and Sayulita communities, but may not be able to physically be here. That does not prevent you from making a difference! One hundred percent of your generous tax deductable financial donations go directly to supporting the people of Sayulita and to rebuilding Costa Verde International School. Your money will support our clean up efforts, provide emergency supplies to families and local public schools, and to ensure Costa Verde's retaining wall is rebuilt. Please visit http://www.colegiocostaverde.com/ and click on "Donate" to make your gift today!

Thank you.
Simply, thank you. We literally could not do what is needed here without you. This blog will be updated daily, so please check back frequently for updated information and photos. Also, please share this blog with others. We know not many news organizations are not reporting on the flooding here, so please spread the word about our plight.

2010-08-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

Going back to Cali
Going back to Cali

This Sunday we are heading back into the old 'hood, our stomping grounds, where we began what we've become - Northern California, and all the glorious grounds that bear our roots; San Jose, San Francisco, and all the far-out places there-about. Not only do we get to see the fab faces of old friends we haven't seen in years, but they get to meet our boy Maximo, and he gets to meet all his new Aunties and Uncles. That plus seeing our families make this a trip too awesome. We are deep in packing mode, space is limited!

Sure beats paying for an extra seat for Maximo! Look how happy he is...

No babies were hurt in the taking of these pictures!

2010-08-18T08:28:00.000-07:00

"La Madera ya esta muy alta..."
"La Madera ya esta muy alta..."

too high. not good.

I recently went for a surf, and hung out in the smalls for 2 hours, surfing by myself and having a great time while my more experienced co-horts jammed in the big boy area. At the end of my surf, I paddled out to where they were, and immediately got caught in the wrong spot on the right wave. What could have been an epic ride, was a fear-bag, destined for pain. As I knew that i was too high up, and no time to act, I held on to my board, and just ... fell. As I was tumbled underwater, i felt the current take me, and miraculously, came out the front, popped up, and rode the wave. I lucked out, and laughed the whole way. In-experience helped me survive. A few weeks later, in a similar situation, I had the time and maybe slight experience enough to pull off the wave, and not bail... a local Mexican surfer looked at me and said "La Madera ya estaba muy alta!" which means "The wood was already too high on the wave" - thus, on a cliff, destined to bail. Those words stick with me, as does the experience, which I laid down in pencil above.

2010-07-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

Andrea at our "date anniversary" dinner, July 23, 2010

10 years in love
10 years in love

Andrea and I just celebrated 10 years since our first date. It was a fateful day, finally asking her out after a year of being "just friends". I took her to see X-men the movie, and as geeky as this was, she put up with it and even seemed to enjoy it. Her first of many forced-geek adventures. We had an amazing day - lots of walking, talking, and spending time losing ourselves in Golden Gate park, when really we were finding ourselves all along. The day was long, the conversations special, and the emotions I can feel to this day.

It was two kids falling in love.

2010-07-22T14:26:00.000-07:00

A Scorpion bit my baby on the balls
A Scorpion bit my baby on the balls

Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and love the Cows
Or: "SO FUN!" It's camping!

Los Villarrubias - at the spot, before the storm, in the love.

Camping. Camping = adventure, relaxation, new places, old faces and a general raising of spirits (to both mouth and heaven). I love to camp with my family and friends, spend lots of time doing nothing, barely talking, burning things, drinking things, smoking things and eating even more...things - preferably dead and made of meat. Our Mexico camping history is short and checkered, with our last attempt stopped in it's jaunty tracks by rain...This is the story of another camping trip. The kind of camping trip where rain just comes to wash off your sins, break your tents, complicate your night...but it won't stop ya. Nothing can. No Cow. No Scorpion. No muddy road (well, for the Van it did...)...you get it. This camping trip rocked.

The Caravan on the road again for the first time

We went camping with our Club - the Beach Wagon Dragons? The Poisoned- Thought Parents? Who knows which, what, who....its our awesome group of families. Our Gang. The Koch family and the Dea-Shermans, the coolest friends a family lost in the world could get found with, plus 1 dog / familiar per family. We had tried to get this trip together last year, but life got in the way. So glad this time we put life aside, if only to live a little. Destination: Corrinches Reservoir in the town of Mascota. The opposite of our dusty little beach town, this is a cool and correct mountain town. We were stoked for chilly weather, the green grass, and a get away often hard to find in paradise...really!!

Blue skies, green grass, and the promise of a simple three days away.

After an early morning meeting for a Sunday, clearing the hang-overs and dream-drops from our eyes with coffee and vodka (me), we headed off, a 3 car caravan on a 3 hour tour to Mascota. The road cleared the week from my head, and great songs, good smoke and family really got me excited for our arrival! Mascota greeted us with sun and blue skies that we all knew could be 1 of 2 faces she had. But for now, we said "Hello! Take us into your hills , we love you Mascota!". To the hills we went. Crossing a small rushing river we had been warned about, we felt the hardest was over. It was not, but luckily, nor was the best. We arrived at the actual Reservoir (called a "presa" in Spanish) and found camping was not really the joint there, so with a little direction from the locals, we headed through various gates into the wilderness and the unknown...

The first of many gates that would lead us to the promised land.

Mud. Lots of Mud and rocky terrain was the welcome our dear Mascota had for us. We were opening gates that led to areas probably not often thought of as camp sites, but that is what Mexico is often about - finding your spot in it, and most likely, no one bothering to complain. This was that kind of place. Our only immediate problem was the Good Ship. If you know us, you know that the "Good Ship" is our Van, our trusted whale who we rode to our destiny in Mexico and keeps us safe always. Wellllll...the Good Ship is intended for more luxurious roads than this one, and we took her to the bad part of the forest. Let's keep this short (and not boring) - As She entered danger, the clouds darkened, storm was coming...She was almost stuck in mud, She almost did not get out, but in the end, She got free and She barely got to shelter before the hard rains hit. By "She" I mean us. But really. Its the Van's fault. So, since she was bad, we left her at the Reservoir restaurant, and loaded all the other cars with our shit, and off we went.

We have arrived!

Enter awesomeness: We found the coolest little spot in the middle of a raised valley, full of green grass, big views, and no other humans!! The sweet spot. We proceeded to set up our camp, big tents, small tents, sun/rain tents that didn't last... the whole bag. We were so stoked! Andrea and I have a new tent, and it says it sleeps 8. Its just our size, like a little heroin den, without the dope. Space for all. Sleeping, standing. good times. Even when the rain came, we didn't care. We were sleeping in the wet spot, and that was good.

I am Theo, I am the fire-starter.

We had bought 1 billion pieces of firewood (almost) and soon the fire came into shape thanks to the fiery heart that is Theo. He is the fire-starter. What came next was what this is all about to me. Joking. Smoking. Midnight Toking. Relaxation. Family. Friends.

Camping
Camping

That's a pretty awesome sight, and not just because the Cows are heading towards the car.

This is how my dog ruins a Father-Son self portrait, and creates the funniest photo of the weekend.

We were in a Cow Cruising area. Not only did they cruise this area/hill/our campsite, they really liked to poop in it. During our time there, they seemed to get more and more interested/furious about us being there, and then finally came in closer. Ate a tea kettle chord. Pissed off the dogs. There were a few times where Cows stopped seeming silly, and became just big and scary. We were eating their family at night in our steaks and burgers after all...but in the end, they were just Cows. Not Brilliant. Scared of dogs. Beside the Cows, we didn't really see anyone else out there, but a few Cowboys, and they seemed nice. Though we were on someone's land, that someone didn't seem to care.

First contact

You couldn't really ask for more on a Tuesday afternoon.

My loves.

We found a little rushing river/shower not far from our camp. This was our first shower in the 2 days we had been walking and living in the dark red clay mud of the land we were squatting at. It was pretty awesome. I had my hair washed and styled by our 2 resident awesome child-creatures, Astrid and Talula (Maximo's big sisters). I would have waited in line for hours for a hair-washing at this point, so I felt lucky. My son loved the water, my woman looked amazing laying in and around it. It was a good spot.

Best. Hair-washing. Ever.

the Little Ball biter in question.

We ate well. We drank well. Lots of meat for those of us that prefer that bag, lots of non-meat for them other guys. On the last night, after some rain during the day, Maximo was by our (fly infested) food tent when he started crying, pointing at his butt, yelling "hurt butt!!" The worst of the hurts, in my opinion. Clearly this was not normal, and Andrea rushed to find the problem, and took off his diaper. To the quick - Maximo had a scorpion in his diaper. It had stung his balls. HIS BALLS, sweet jesus. In short, he was fine. He stopped crying pretty quickly, was tired from not napping, and went to sleep shortly after as we all worried about him, watched his breathing, and stressed out for an hour. When he woke, he was fine!! Crazy. Amazing. But not surprising. Why? Because my son has balls of steel. He is the little MAN. Shortly after, another scorpion fell into my boot from a lamp. I saw it, shook it out, panicked. Didn't get bit. The next morning, one fell at Andrea off a box. Saw it, killed it. Yet, another one when we were loading up the van. Holy shit. I still got that "Scorpion worry" still now.

So Bizarre....

Maximo Lobo and the wolf-dog Daisy. On Cow watch.

This was 3 nights in wilderness. This was somewhere and something new in it's own way. We had a blue moon one night. I have camped, but I have not camped with a 2 year old boy that is mine. Or with these great new friends. Or in the wild wilderness of Mexico, where the Cows are bull-ies, the Dogs watch your tent at night, the Scorpions come in 4 packs. This was something good, and I can't wait to do it again.

Wrapping it all up in Style, Andrea and Treva keeping the car from vomiting our stuff out...

Same time next year!

2010-07-11T21:25:00.001-07:00

How to spend a happy Sunday

share a drink with a friend

get a foot massage from someone that loves you...

...and don't forget to stop and smell the roses!

2010-07-08T21:21:00.000-07:00

The Good Life
The Good Life

2010-07-07T20:19:00.000-07:00

"all good things are wild and free" Henry David Thoreau

...the question remains... am I good? Am I wild? Am I free?
Some days I feel none of the above. Other days uncontainable and uncontrollably all. I like those days best...

2010-07-07T18:44:00.000-07:00

The circle is now complete...I was but the learner, now I am the Master.

Watching "the Crawl" with my son for the first time. I cried the entire time, barely able to make it through all the words as I read them to him. True love.

So many dreams coming true. I have slowly been infiltrating Maximo's mind with all things awesome = what Daddy loves. Since he already loves his Momma Andrea, next on that list were comics, and his love affair immediately commenced. What started with neat pictures on Daddy's T-shirts, has become a full on obsession with reading Daddy's comics, and looking at such awesome heroes as "Geen Lawnten" and "Super-Batman". Next, naturally, has been Star Wars - which not surprisingly, sounds like "Staw Wars" when he says it - a little southern, a little retarded. Nice. It's amazing what kids lock into. From the first time Maxxi saw a picture of Yoda, he was hooked. He didn't have to know anything about our diminutive Jedi, he just knew he loved him and wanted to know more. Any little green guy was Yoda. I promised to show him more, and as his ability to sit still strengthened like the Force, I sat him down to watch the most kid friendly/fan frustrating installment in the Star Wars movies - the Phantom Menace. Though he only made it through half and not even to Yoda (a great accomplishment!), he was blown away. He talks about "Robots" all day (silly kid, they're DROIDS!), makes pitch perfect lazer sounds, and can say "Darth Vader" . Really. Darth Vader.

Before having a kid, I often spoke of what I looked forward to in regards to being a Dad - well, this is it.

the face (and dropped jaw) says it all ...

STAR WARS, FUCK YEAH!
FATHERHOOD, FUCK YEAH.

2010-07-01T16:01:00.000-07:00

"The Bohemian Club"

An idea on a crumpled piece of paper. All the best ones are...

I finished a painting today. I don't paint as often as I should or would like, and this being my first large format creation, the stars seemed aligned. For months I have been toiling away at this big monster of a canvas - full of owls, dark nights, big moons and all the lovely creepiness my little hand could paint.

Kids, always remember, don't paint drunk.

In the end, i cherish it for many reasons. My son loved watching me paint it, my wife guided my hand when I didn't know where to put the brush next, and for as hard as it was during the stumbling stages, I sang when it was done. The sweet brushes and canvas good vibes from great friends didn't hurt.

Finished! "The Bohemian Club" Acrylic on very large canvas, 2010
Thanks to Ed and Bambi Schwartz for the title

2010-06-26T16:18:00.000-07:00

Morning T.V. - Maximo and Me

tele-vision Quest

I love T.V. Always have, always will. I was raised on T.V. and enjoy it as a visual valium, a after-day mint. We haven't let Maximo watch much tele in his first 2 years, but lately there is more in his life, here and there. Sesame Street for his Elmo fix, various cartoons which i love as well, and my favorite, if not his, the Super Hero Squad - a kiddies version of my fave Marvel Comics heroes. Here we are, one recent morning, sharing in the ancient tradition of zoning out in front of the box.

2010-06-20T20:24:00.001-07:00

Gabbi and Nick - Dads most awesome, Fathers day 2010

Fathers and Children

Today was Father's day, and I had the honor of spending it with another great Pop, my pal Nick Sherman. He is a good friend, husband, father and all around often-do-well. I feel lucky to have the people like him in my life. It was truly such a great day - I slept in till 9:30am, while Andrea entertained the boy, then when i woke, I was fed a lovely breakfast and told to run off to a 1.5 hour acupuncture and massage session with our good pal Micheal
Abramson. So relaxing. From there, i went home, opened so many awesome gifts with my family, drank, smoked and off to La Lancha we went. We spent a great day with our lovely friends, surfing, sunning and enjoying the most mellow, perfect Sunday. I am spoiled, and am the luckiest Dad ever.

Maximo and Astrid, the 2 best kids a couple of awesome Dad's could dream of!

2010-06-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to Me!

...and to all the other Fathers I share this awesome job with... My Dad Marcelo and his Father before him, My Mom's Dad Pascual, my "Brothers in Arms"- all my friends who are the best dads a modern man can be, and My "other" Dad, Billy Stoops whom I want to be more like every day - every one of you have paved the way and remind me every day how to be a better Dad to my son.

Ya can't be a Father without a kid, and I am so thankful for Maximo. My boy. My light, love and compass...and it points right to Andrea, my wife, partner, and Maxxi's Mom. To be the "Daddy" to her "Mami" is amazing, a song sang from our Son's mouth, and I'll end on that.

2010-06-18T15:35:00.000-07:00

THE FIRST RAINS OF A SAYULITA SUMMER...

June 18, 2010... for those of us that live in a town that cares when the first rains come...well, today we care. The rains came last night, and to make sure we all know they meant it, they came again today. Rains. 2 hours. 3 hours and counting. Real rains. In Mexico, you take the rains seriously. They can feed your plants, wash the dust away, or bring rain right into your living room (that kinda sucks!). Mostly, they are just awesome. I welcome them home. Certain songs I always throw on during these first rains. Chet Baker, Rickie Lee Jones...and in this case, Van Morrison. Truly, because this first rain stoned me...

Half a mile from the county fair
And the rain keep pourin down
Me and billy standin there
With a silver half a crown
Hands are full of a fishin rod
And the tackle on our backs
We just stood there gettin wet
With our backs against the fence...

Oh, the water
Hope it don't rain all day

And it stoned me to my soul
Stoned me just like jelly roll
And it stoned me...
And it stoned me to my soul
Stoned me just like goin home
And it stoned me...

Then the rain let up and the sun came up
And we were gettin dry
Almost let a pick-up truck nearly pass us by
So we jumped right in and the driver grinned
And he dropped us up the road
We looked at the swim and we jumped right in
Not to mention fishing poles

Oh, the water
Let it run all over me

On the way back home we sang a song
But our throats were getting dry
Then we saw the man from across the road
With the sunshine in his eyes
Well he lived all alone in his own little home
With a great big gallon jar
There were bottles too, one for me and you
And he said hey! there you are...

Oh, the water...

2010-03-17T15:42:00.000-07:00

MY FAMILY

My family was reunited this past Holiday season for the first time in many many years. I had not seen my brother Marcelo in 20 odd years, and it had been about the same amount of time since my parents, my brother and I had spent a Christmas together. This was a special time for us all, and the fact that Maximo is now part of our lives, not to mention Andrea - they both got to meet Marcelo for the first time. Maximo fell in love with his Uncle from the first minute they met, and that kicked off a great 2 weeks. Our great friend and photographer supreme, Evrim Icoz joined us and took these awesome photos in Old Town Vallarta.

The amazing boy Maximo - an iconic image to forever represent these days...

The Villarrubia Family - el Malecon, Puerto Vallarta

One of my fave pics of the bunch, Maxxi ruling the park

Proud parents tossing their pride in the sky

Reunited for the first time - the Villarrubia men!

Mother and Son in a loving embrace - too sweet for words

The end of the day in front of the famous church of the Virgen of Guadalupe

2010-03-13T14:25:00.000-08:00

I, Teacher

Sr. Gabbi, CVIS 5th/6th grade art class, day 1
Character design, and the freedom of art

A life long dream came true this week, when I got my first chance to teach a class-room of children. I have always thought teaching was one of the coolest professions ever, and dreamt of getting the chance to teach. In the states, that would be virtually impossible, being a college drop-out and a proud ne'er-do-well. In Mexico, anything is possible. My awesome friend Treva, an inspiration as a Parent, Wife and all around free-spirit, also happens to be the art teacher at Costa Verde International School - Mexico's first sustainable green school. She had to take a few weeks off to revel in the birth of her sister's baby, and asked me to Sub. Me, not just a regular teacher, but a substitute teacher!! Subs are the best, totally better than regular teachers, and I was going to be one!! Awesome.

I shadowed Treva before she split town, but as my first solo day approached, I felt nerves I haven't felt since I first went surfing. Plus, these kids are like little magic creatures - they can see right through you. You can't fool 'em! Damn, their eyes. THEIR EYES!!!!

Anyhoo, after I slowed down the speed of my "presentation" and really got their groove, they dug the idea that they could draw whatever they wanted, and there were no boundaries in character creation, things really caught it's stride - the first class, 5th and 6th went awesome. 3rd followed, and next week I have them plus 1st, 2nd (the worst i hear...) and 4th. Pretty amazing to even be writing about this. As my dearest friend KT would say, its our "pretend life" - pretend to be a teacher, and be careful, you may just end up one. Fucking Awesome.

2010-03-13T06:25:00.000-08:00

First day of my Life

My new tattoo celebrating the day I met my wife!
I sure do love her, am so glad to have met her, and just cannot imagine my life without her - it would be no life at all.

2010-02-28T20:19:00.000-08:00

I love my live gay Son!!*

Got to spend a bunch of extra time with my boy lately. Andrea was swamped with the biggest wedding of her awesome career, pulled away from home, and Daddy got alot of undivided time with the boy. I love Mom being around, we all do, but I still found some new and fun moments alone with my son this week. He is awesome.

We took these pics tonight, and they are Maximo at his most awesome and insane.

Don't go changin' my boy.

* gay as in happy and as in "Heathers"

2010-02-26T13:49:00.000-08:00

Back to Black(berry)

When we left the states 4 years ago as of March 27th, one of the main things we broke free of was the constant communication with our offices, via the hand-held-cuffs that were our Blackberrys, Trios, or whatever your palm-poison is. At our last place of business in the old world, they happily bought us top of the line "smart" phones, so that we were on email 24-7....and we were. Our bosses knew that we were always checking emails at all hours. With the business we were in - Video Game production of all things - there was no sleeping, it was constant, and there were always artists at the studio, 24 hours a day. Seriously. Sounds like a joke in hindsight, but its true, and they are still there working all night. Makes making games not seem fun, and it wasn't really.

So, we left the states and our link to the modern world. About 4 months after getting here, we got our first cell phone. A simple, semi-archaic piece of plastic, no bells, no whistles...shit, not even a color screen! But, it had a Mexican number, and that was good enough for us! As time passed, about a year later, we got a second phone, so Andrea and I each had one. Fun. Good times. This next one had a color screen, and a few more whistles. Yay. Phones. As the years passed, new businesses were started, times got busy, and we settled into our new lives. Slowly, we had to update our service plans, were making way more calls, and we were creeping back towards being on the phone all the time. Weird how slowly, it's all relative, and even paradise can bear the weight of one's old life.

My story leads us to last week, when my simple but functional Ericcson phone took a dive down my 2 story stairs. My need for a new phone lined up with the fact that lately I have so many arrivals in a day at my rental homes that I am out of the office for 6 hours, then come home to 3 hours of email work. Ugg. So, I upgraded to a Blackberry Curve. The circle is complete. I have returned to the fold, and am now well on my way to having sore thumbs from texting all day, and getting "Blackberry eyes" from staring at a tiny screen all day. On the bright side, I have cut in 1 week my email work at home in half, and that rocks.

Welcome back to the dark-side, little Jedi.

2010-02-21T19:22:00.001-08:00

RANDOM PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Sayulita beach, Saturday night, Me with a HoolaHoop and obviously a buzz and a hearty chip on my shoulder.

2010-02-18T11:20:00.000-08:00

Best. Valentines. EVER.

It's funny, because pretty much any holiday, special event, day, night, morning, noon, drink, dinner, movie, burger.... etc, is the best ever, due to all that is around me - my wonderful wife and partner Andrea, my dynamic and ever changing son Maximo, and the blessed life we built here in our paradise of Sayulita. With that said, this was such a great Valentines day, even for people who actually love a day that celebrates love. The memory of it made my Monday tough, my Tuesday Sad, and my Wednesday just too far away from that magical Sunday. Ah, Sunday. My first "day off" without arrivals at my rental homes, a full day with my family, surfing, eating, drinking, and lots of loving. It fucking rocked. Here is what it looked like, and felt like.

A morning walk with my boy, on the way to our fave Rollie's breakfast, and general good times.

Hottest wife ever. Andrea looking all fit and hot in her new suit (from yours truly!)

"Petting the pussy" - me touching the water while riding a nice little long-board wave - my first time doing this, I was pretty stoked. I was riding Andrea's new board, which i loved!

My surfer girl, looking awesome as she exited the water. A pink and blue daydream....

2010-02-08T21:52:00.001-08:00

Cool Rider 仮面ライダークール

Today I started learning to ride my new motorcycle. Not the easiest, for a number of reasons. There are no parking lots in Sayulita. All we have are narrow, bumpy, gravel-lined dirt roads. Not the easiest to go back and forth on and learn to turn a totally heavy motorcycle. My new stallion is quite large (for me - pussy!), heavy and semi-unwieldy. Lastly, I seem to have to do something with each appendage- i.e. clutch with left hand, front brake with right hand, brake with right foot, shift with left foot - where does my fucking drink go? Wacky.

Truly, I can't wait to get better on this new machine. Though Its kinda / really scary, I'm still stoked to take her out again - just like when I started surfing, same fear, and surely the same satisfaction. The best part is that I have this image of how cool I'll look when I eventually get awesome on the bike, and it reminds me of one of my favorite scenes in one of my favorite pop-corn musicals - Grease 2. If only there was this much singing around me when I drove around town, and the Japanese subtitles wouldn't hurt either.

誰が男のmotherfuckerよ！

2010-02-01T19:16:00.000-08:00

The Newest Year of all

Team Awesome

The new year started with a delicious variety of ups and downs - the Ups being as always stuck in a gravity field around my world, my life, my wife, my son. Things are awesome in my house, and in my life. I am in love with my family, Son and Wife. The New Year came and went, and after an amazing Holiday with all our family, guest-starring a gaggle of Grandparents, we settled into the new year with our ATV being stolen from in front of our house. Boo! On our secluded, safe, secure little street with no name. So lame, you stupid street with no name. Extra sad that my work vehicle was gone, wary of all locals, life went on - now with me riding a my bicycle through town and getting more exercise by default. I guess that is...well, lame.

Me and My Boy, between kisses and punches

The morning that Andrea noticed the ATV was stolen, she looked so shocked as she approached me...all I could think was that something happened to our son. Luckily, that was not the case. Just one in a million moments that all that matters is my Son, My Maxxi, el Maximo Lobo. I love that kid. He grows and changes every day - example: The day after my folks left, he started hitting. Me. Hard. My previously sweet, perfectly behaved baby, hitting his daddy = Sad Daddy. I had a few tough days working through this, and more to come for sure, but know this, you without children, it was not easy. A glimpse of the challenges that await me. It's pretty simple: I love him SOOOO much. He MUST love me the same. I am sure once we can actually talk things will be easier, but there has been much settling lately, and we have been doing what I feel is great first-time-parenting through this little new challenge. He is a great kid, we are pretty much working at getting "best new parents" ribbons at the award ceremony, and we couldn't be in a better place to work this all out.

Easy Rider indeed....

More new things - the silver lining of my ATV being stolen is that by hook or crook of finding the next vehicle to get me around town for work, i stubled upon a Mexican-built, Russian-made 2003 Boxkoa 2 Stroke Motorcycle. Now, mind you, I am just repeating things told to me. I know little-to-nothing about Motorcycles, am quite intimidated by them, and know the risks - but that is all over-powered by the reality of how fucking cool I am going to look riding one. I just got it today, and immediately stripped it of all its garish stickers, goo and gunk - and prepped it for the awesome Jet Black paint-job I am going to give it this week. Of note is that I do not know yet how to ride a moto, but It's gonna look rad when I do. Just like I start bands...look good first, figure out the math later. Wish me luck!

He's got the whole world in his hands...

My Son loves Music. He dances when we put music on (that plays in our house all day long - all types, all volumes, all day baby!), he bangs on a drum the second you pull it out, and lovesthe guitar (or 'Tar), thanks to Grandpa Billy. This kid is going to rock. It's in his blood - His Grandpa is music in human form, his Daddy has lived and breathed Rock n' Roll since he knew what it was, and we live in a country where music is played loud and proud daily.

Oh yeah. Happy New year!

2010-01-20T20:29:00.000-08:00

MY NEW BAND

"We're not very good, but we're pretty fucking Awesome"

It may sound silly, but this is my new band. I have no doubt that some time in the next few years, this motley crue and maybe a Diablo or 2 will make music in the form of a "band". I believe in the old school way of forming a band - get a great name (check, thought of it myself, bitches), get some good lookin' band members (check), get some big-motherfucking-mariachi hats (check), take a picture. Check ese'. Next = music.

I play drums. I am also what is often referred to as the "heart and soul" of a band. I don't write many lyrics, but the ones I do write will make you cry. hard.

Want to know more about the band and it's super awesome members? Stay tuned. Awesomeness to ensue.

2010-01-19T19:38:00.001-08:00

FAMILY

making blue-room music! (photo Donna Day)

My father in law, the honorable Billy Stoops, has been chillin' out with us in la Casa Sayulita for the last 2 weeks. He is one of the coolest cats I have ever known, and God-damn, I feel lucky to call him family. He not only had a major hand in making my favorite girl in the world, my wifey Andrea - he also has all the love and affection my son, his grandson, has to offer. Billy is a musician, guitarist and singer, but what he really plays are your heart-strings with all the love and affection he gives to all he knows. We are over-flowing with his kindness, support and wonderful guidance that we all learn from. He is leaving in a few days, and though we are sad, we are already planning his next visit, and the bright future we all have together as the most important unit - a family.

Father and Daughter, a beautiful sight (photo by Donna Day)

Mi Familia mas guapa! (photo by Donna Day)

My main man, mi padre postiso, the Pancho, to my Villa(rrubia).... (photo by Donna Day)

Generations of love (and good looks!) (photo by Donna Day)

2010-01-18T18:58:00.001-08:00

wifey

As I sit here at Command Central watching and listening to my wife deal with some of our wedding clients, I find myself amazed. Though I'm well-known to be quite fascinated by the magic cave penguin that is my Andrea, some moments... I dazzle even deeper. I slide.

She is juggling about a million facts and figures, minutia to some, the dazzling details to some lucky bride blessed to be working with my in-house wedding planner. She has just finished an hour phone call with one Bride-2-be, and is right back into it with this next ear-full of wants and wants-not, and ... she keeps it together, does not show any disdain, nor pain for what she is being put through - instead she generates calm and confidence in her Brides, and truly has it all together and in control. So cool. She looks real pretty too while she does it, I'm staring at her right now, she can't tell, but boy. She is beautiful.
To see her son look at her is a whole 'nother bag of awesomeness. He just loves to love her and all her glory, He lives his every little moment for the next time he will see her, and shows that love when she enters his space. He is just like his Dad, 'cept Dad should remember more often to cheer every-single-time his lovely wife walks into the room like his Boy does - God knows Andrea deserves it... Old guys forget sometimes, and shouldn't.

What was I saying? Oh yeah. Andrea is awesome.
just one moment, in a million moments she does something that makes me love her even more.

My wife most awesome, and her love cult

2009-12-30T22:29:00.001-08:00

the Sayulita Surf Journal
"La Sirena"

Andrea Villarrubia, mi Sirena y la Sirena No. 23

I had a Surfboard made for Andrea this Christmas, and she is called La Sirena No. 23. Andrea, like myself, had a board we brought down from the states when we only dreamt of being surfers in Sayulita. Alas, we did not surf for years, but the bug has bit us, and we are actually now getting in the water and hitting the waves with our novice skills, full of will to surf. Her board was just too short for the sort of waves we want to surf (traditional long board waves), so this was keeping her off the waves. I took it upon myself to work with this great company called ATL Surfboards in Guadalajara, and design a board for her to fly on. Aimee and Marco from ATL were awesome, worked with me on every detail, and even delivered it right around Christmas - they rule! I designed the board to look like a big Mexican Loteria Card, with our lucky number 23 on the top, and the "Sirena" motif, Andrea's familiar, like the devil is mine... it came out fucking amazing, and looks sooo good on her!

Husband and Wife, Devil and Siren, Enclote beach, pre-first surf together!

Andrea and I do everything together, are not only husband and wife, but best friends and much like coke, everything goes better with Andrea. I have been doing some awesome surfing with my pals, but I really wanted to surf with Andrea. Having a baby keeps you from doing lots of things together, but with the Grandparents and Uncle in town, we were able to break in Andrea's board and our shared rides at Enclote beach in Punta Mita. Awesomeness ensued.

Satan and Sirena, riding in for another beer....

Not only did we both catch 3-4 waves, on the last one, we rode it in together! For us newbies, this is totally cool, and what I call an "endless summer" moment. Too cool! We were high all-night on this moment...

I had a dedication put on the bottom of the board for the love of my life...

"To Andrea,
my Siren, who called me to the shores and saved my life,
Gabriel"

Truer words have never been written,
spoken, or screamed from the tree-tops.

I love my surfer girl.

2009-12-27T11:14:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS FAMILY REUNION 2009

(L to R) Nona Cristina Villarrubia, Marcelo Jr., Andrea, Me, Maximo and Nono Marcelo Villarrubia

The Villarrubia Family, together again for the first time in 20 years!

It's been 20 years since I had seen my brother, and as a family, we have not spent a Christmas together in even more time than that. This year Andrea and I hosted X-mas in Sayulita, and here is a photo we took less than an hour after picking up my bro from the airport. It's been a special week to say the least.

2009-12-16T19:57:00.000-08:00

I have built a Treehouse

"Treehouse" by I'm from Barcelona
I've been climbing rocks and stones, been collecting broken bones
I've been swimming across the lakes, just to find this perfect place
I got lost into the woods, I've been covered up in mud
I've been going through a lot just to find this perfect spot
I have built a treehouse
Nobody can see us
it's a you and me house

What lies behind the Red Wall? Casa Loteria as seen from the street - new front wall free of vines, purple new level peeking over.

In November of 2006, just 8 months after moving full time to Mexico, we began construction on our little house in the jungle, the magically dubbed "Casa Loteria", named after our love of the Mexican art/card game, and that Andrea and I feel we won the lottery when we found each other and this life we live. Over the years since, we have added a bit of yard here, some grass there, steps, walls, vines, more roof, washrooms, tiles, blocks, paint, paint and more paint, and then...some more paint (it peels quick in these here parts!). Life was grand, we loved our house, and here we were ...happy. Then along came Maximo, and our dream of building a second floor became a mission. With some saving and good-karma-kreation, in April 2009 we began construction on our second floor, that would include our new bedroom, Maximo's room, and leave the bottom floor for visitors, eating, and watching the viddy.

7 months later, here we are. Our dream house. Just about done, barring some exterior walls without painting. My family arrives on Saturday, and we are so proud and happy to be welcoming them to our home, our hide-away, our Tree-house.

As you enter through the front door, you can head down left to the garden, down the stairs right to our kitchen, den and workspace, or straight to the new living room, roof and bedrooms.

The view from the Garden area

Our new living room at night - so big, so perfect for a 15 month old baby to run around without breaking too much (except the X-mas tree!)

Our new upstairs bathroom - the SF room, as it reminds us of San Francisco bathrooms of yore. We love it!

What was once side yard, is now a lovely stairway up and down through the house. Its amazing to think what the house used to be like, and what it has become. Too cool.

Maximo's room! We built him a little loft/bed that when he is old enough, will be his perfect hide-away. For now, he has a crib, his big boy bed on the ground where we read books, and then his loft for the future! he loves it.

Mom and Dad's room. Dark Dark Dark green is the groove, no crib is the upgrade.

Come visit.

2009-12-12T06:10:00.000-08:00

Look what I can do!

Me and my buddy John Cawrse catching a wave at Enclote, a local surf spot near Sayulita. I am the guy on the left with the shitty form, but the huge smile on his face. Notice John telling me kindly not to run into him. I am happy I followed direction for once. There was a huge swell yesterday, and the morning started with a visit to our fave site La Lancha with my good pal Nick. The waves were too big, so we stayed out and got bummed. Glad later in the day we found another site and some waves to ride. Good times!

2009-12-07T20:58:00.001-08:00

camping with the family

Recently we devised a plan to go camping with some friends. We had not camped in a while, we love camping, and were excited to share this with our son and new friends. All was in order - we had widdled through a few locations, and had decided to head south, beach bound. Lists were made, magic cookies were bought, packs were packed, all rocketing toward escape...but it seemed this plan was born under a bad sign.

Bad sign 1: Our super awesome friend Treva got sick days before our trip, and it was she and her awesome family we were heading out with. So bummed, as this was our first camping trip together, and fun was pretty much a sure thing. Andrea and I decided to move forward with the plan, as always excited to spend time together with our boy. The wind was slightly out of our sails not having our friends coming with us, but still stoked. We had an awesome road trip down towards Playa Tenacatita, a mellow joint of a beach we had camped at before, but at the last minute, went 15km farther to Boca de la Iguana, and their cool little camping park. We got an awesome spot facing the ocean, spent a few fun hours setting up camp. Moments after our first margaritas were downed, the wind picked up.

Bad sign 2: The wind really picked up - and from there within minutes there was rain and sandstorm chaos all around. We barely had time to transition from laughing out-loud at the weather, to running into the van fearing our baby would blow away! Too nutty. In short time, our camp was soaked, our sweet firewood dripping through, and our plans of sitting around a fire, playing games and enjoying the night were dashed. Andrea's most valiant act of heading int the rain to get us some basics left her "a wet rat" - her words. The rains gave up for long enough to survey the damage, and move toward the tent, and the it rained...all night. The baby, never in this environment, did the best he could. My boy is a fucking trooper! I love that kid. But, we all didn't sleep too awesome that night. The next day we got up to a soaked camp, gray skies, and low hopes for hanging the beach all day. We went to a local town Manzanilla for breakfast, and the rains came again. This was the sign of things to come, so we headed back to the camp, and packed up our wet dog of a camp. Sad and slow, starting our drinking at 10:30am if I remember correctly - which i do. We hit the road at 11:40am, and the first song on our road trip return soundtrack was "...and it stoned me" by Van Morrison. It set the tone, said the right things, and for me, was the groove of the day, and it stoned me all the way home.

I Love camping, can't wait to go again.

2009-11-15T08:56:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning

Maximo Lobo, magic baby

Submissive wiener

Town Cryer of Sayulita

2 peas in a pod (of love)

2009-11-01T22:00:00.000-08:00

the Sayulita Surf Journal
November 1, 2009

"La Lancha" Halloween Hangover

2009-10-31T22:06:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-10-23T19:55:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-10-22T22:18:00.000-07:00

A day on the ocean

photo: Donna Day

2009-10-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-10-16T21:22:00.001-07:00

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)

2009-10-11T09:58:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-26T20:04:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-09-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

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!