December is becoming the absolute worst month for me. Every year now for the past five years it's the same old crap. Too many deaths, ill heath and broken hearts. I now hate 'em. So, to keep in the crappy December spirit I won't post any pictures/photos.
I hope the coming year is great for anyone who reads this drivel.... as for me, I'm not holding my breath.

Here's an early morning well spent. One shot taking off on a little wave that ramped up inside and the other shot rolling down the line while running the length of the board. Many thanks to my friend, surfer/artist extraordinaire, Mary Wagstaff for the shots.

Yep, I have siblings. here I am with the two oldest....er....I suppose that they would prefer I not use the term 'old' in any form. Also, hanging out with my nephew Victor.

Time just moves way too fast.

Yep, it's been quite a while since I have posted anything on this here blog. Part of the reason being was that my computer was down for a few weeks (driver=dead) and had to get it all back in order. The good news is that I now have a new drive and new software. The bad news is two-fold; 1) I lost ALL of my data including photos, comic strips, entire graphic novels, etc. 2) My computer is back up and now I can blog again!

Okay, today's photo was taken on a recent trip back East in Gloucester, MA. What a great and beautiful place. The photo, well I think that it is self-explanatory.

Recently bought a little pile of beat, old (1960's) MAD Magazines from my pal, Sam Shiffer at Blue Moon Comics (Novato, CA).

Boy, If I had to pick one source that influenced me as a cartoonist it would easily be MAD Magazine. Just about every artist and writer in this wonderful publication was/is top notch and have influenced generations of artists and just just about everyone else... including me.

I prefer the issues that were first created in the 1950's up to, in-and-around the mid-1970's. I consider this first 20 year period MAD Magazines "prime years." Much beyond that... well.... nothing lasts forever.

A few days ago a mentor and friend passed away. He was a huge influence on cartoonists and writers the world over and I was truly lucky to have known him. So long, Harvey and thanks.

I bought this 1965 Makaha Skateboard from a little junk/thrift/whatever shop (closed not long after I bought the board) in San Anselmo almost 10 years ago for $15. It's almost exactly like my first board I skated on in 1972/73, which was also a used, mid 60's relic.

Of course, by 1974 I had moved on to the oh-so-modern 'plastic boards' of the time with the new urethane wheels. Then it was off to a succession of boards through the 1970's (Logan Earth Ski, Z-Flex 'Jay Adams Model', Sims 'Lonnie Toft Model', Santa Cruz 5-ply, Alva Pig, etc.) and by 1980 I was cruising on a Santa Monica Airlines when I stopped skating for almost 20 years.

Anyway, I'd like to have another deck, oak or maple made to this boards exact measurements, except have it drilled out for modern, small trucks and the smallest 'soft' wheels and then grip tape the top. It would be a cool little board to tool around on for sure.... as well as eliminating the 'hitting-a-pebble-and-meeting-the-ground-in-a-violent-way' element.

I LOVE history, don't you?

I just found the scrap of paper that I roughed out a t-shirt idea I had last year. I really want to make this shirt a reality... though it's not like I don't have enough projects to do already. Hopefully the cleaned-up, final version will see the light of day soon.... I hope...

My high school mascot/logo... at least when I went there it was.... I always wondered who drew it. Sac High (Sacramento High School) Dragons.

More sightings on the 'regular' morning hiking route.

In order, creativeness seems to abound in the community and one of the locals watching me from the hill.

I decided to change up the morning hike recently just for the heck-of-it and have been going up "D-hill" as the local kids call it and back through the neighborhood home. The walk, though about 15 to 20 minutes shorter than my other main route (1 hour, 5 minutes) does have a longer, steeper climb (Tomahawk!) but also pays off with this incredible view of the Ross Valley (see this photo I shot this very morning about 7:45)... my house is down there to the right a bit.... somewhere.

Out at 'The Spot' early Sunday morning... which is VERY RARE for me to surf on a weekend there. Glad I did as it was actually fun surf that day and thanks to the very talented painter/surfer Mary Wagstaff for the photo.

Yet MORE goofy sightings on "the hike!"

It's been a whole month since I've posted anything (not much of a surprise, I know)....

Here's a few shots from my daily hike. If I don't end up surfing, which I do two to three times a week, I hike 4.1 miles every day. Rain or shine. Weekdays and weekends.

I see a lot of wonderful things on this daily hike and on occasion not-so-nice things (my route happens to be on part of the same route that the infamous 'tire slasher' here in Marin County did his vandalism on).

This morning I shot pictures of (in particular order) a beautiful stencil piece sprayed on a post, the 232 steps I climb at the top of the hill I hike and some great flowers.

This is a great hike for body and mind... and heck, I feel fortunate enough to live in such a beautiful place.

April 1 would of been D. Boon's 52nd birthday and I was thinking about him that day. I was fortunate enough to see the Minutemen play in San Francisco (I can't remember what club it was) and the very next year being in the opening band (not sure which band it was but it really doesn't matter) on a 4 band bill with them headlining at the Mabuhay Gardens.

By about 1983-84 punk rock began to become a sort of 'rule-oriented-lock-step' movement (pretty much what it is today). By this time most bands were 'hardcore' sounding like an endless army of Black Flag tribute bands. On the other hand, the Minutemen stood out splendidly. They definitely had a sound and style all there own and did what they felt was right. They seemed to approach music without any rules attached, sort of like an experimental jazz musician might have and they made it okay to actually be able to play your instrument well. Hey, I kid you not, I was no Van Halen but I got dogged constantly by other punks for playing a little too proficiently (again, see 'rule-oriented-lock-step' movement).

If you get a chance, see the wonderful documentary, We Jam Econo; Story of the Minutemen.

Great guys. Mike, George and Boon.

Been back in the water as of late 2 to 3 times a week. Starting to get the hang of being 'there' again as well.

This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago with my phone. I rode that little right there (which is actually about 3' and the clean-up waves were 4') for two hours all by myself. Ah, Dawn Patrol.

On February 25Th I drove 100 miles up to my home town of Sacramento, CA to see the legendary improvisational jazz saxophone master, Roscoe Mitchell (one of the original founders of the famed, Art Ensemble of Chicago) perform at the 24Th Street Theater.

The opening group was lead by one of my early "musical teachers," if you will, Mr. Tony Passarell and his Thin Air Orchestra. I met Tony over 30 years ago when I was a skinny, little high school musician and Tony was a music major at Sac State. He, along with (the late) Erik Kleven, Henry Robinette, Mike Curtis and Rick DaPrato were my musical "uncles" as we all hung out at the original Esoteric Records (Alhambra @ J Streets... then owned by Rick DaPrato, across from the McKinley Park 'Duck Pond') in the 1970's and I was to be schooled on all things musically cool, informative and groovalicious!

The show was great! After The Thin Air Orchestra performed a flawless set, Mr. Mitchell came out and floored us ALL with solo Saxophone compositions. I was very impressed that at his age he still can play and command his instrument like a man AT LEAST half his age.

Then the Thin Air Orchestra came back on stage to play about three more pieces with Mr. Mitchell. Egad! It was truly AMAZING!

I was also fortunate enough after the gig to meet Mr. Mitchell and get him to sign an LP of his I own (see photos).

Big up's to Tony Passarell, old pal and bad-ass bassist Gerry Pineda and guitarist Ross Hammond (it was great to meet you, Ross) and a BIG gracias to Brian Gorman (Northern California Improvisational Arts Foundation) for throwing the whole shebang together so well!

What a night!

Not only am I hiking daily around the immediate area I live in but I'm also stretching it out to encompass the entire county that I have been living in for 18 years (this coming June). Here is what it looked like from the 6.6 mile Pantoll hike on Mt. Tam Saturday.

pic one... me looking at SF (your point of view is looking South down the coast).

pic two... View of the bay.

pic three.... my personal favorite, view of Stinson, the Callas, Sea Drift, the Groin/Bolinas Lagoon, Bolinas (aka the home break) and Duxbury Reef . Way Cool!

This little sign is stapled on a telephone pole down my street a little ways. There are no other signs like this anywhere else on the street or immediate neighborhood (I've checked). It is so innocent and so perfect I took a picture of it this morning on "the hike" and post it here for your edification.

Another sight on my daily hike. This little, blue (cobalt?) face painted on a tree down the street from my place. I pass it every morning at the beginning of the hike. Could this be a new trend, Suburban graffiti?

During my daily treks I get a chance to see all sorts of fun stuff. Here is a picture of a place I call The Poetry House, which is about 2/3 through my morning hike. The words on the fence are removable so you could (and people do) write a poem. I wish that headboard with the ‘free’ sign wasn’t there to obscure the whole effect of the shot I took this morning.
If anyone is interested where this place is located feel free to email me.

I really don't want to sound like a dick here but is it me, or is our government responding to the terrible crisis in Haiti a HELL OF A LOT faster (and better with a lot more gusto) than they did with the hurricane Katrina crisis in Louisiana/Mississippi?

It took me a little while but here's my first post of the year. Some of you already know that I had a bit of a health issue at the end of last year which landed me in the hospital. Well, it's all better now and as part of my "doctors orders" rehab I've taken up walking (about an hour every morning) to help build me up so I can get back out in the ocean surfing, on my bike, etc.
I've even taken up yoga (!) as part of the new regime.

On my long walks which wind through the hills of Fairfax I've noticed that here in Marin County we are heavily into green velvet (see picture). I took my little camera with me this morning to document this.
Dig it.