This is the end and ho ho ho

So the end of 2010 is rapidly approaching.

We spent nearly 6 months on the road this year so the last time I looked it was April. That's the main thing that's hardest about touring; your year disappears.

I remember back in the '80's thinking that Jesus would return by now and saying something like, "can you imagine dating a check 2010? He'll be back before then..." 2010... they made a movie about it.

I became a grandfather this year. Wow, you know you're old when the singer for Scaterd Few becomes a grandfather. Julien is his name and he's amazing. I love that little guy.

I think I learned some things about myself this year that concern me. Things that other people think about me. People who's opinions matter. Right or wrong, if that's their perception then I need to change that perception.

I have a lot on my plate this winter. Even though we have plenty of others to lighten the load it still seems like I'll get stuck with the majority of it. Funny how it always works out that way. Funny frustrating...

Blogging. My FB Status Updates get me in enough trouble and since they're usually Twitter posts and limited to 140, this thing could really cause some WASP's to come after me. Maybe I'll get bolder as times goes by and hopefully I won't take years to post the next one...

You know, Christmas was the greatest time of year for me growing up. It was guaranteed that my dad would be in a good mood towards us at least until New Years weekend and it was a blast! We would start at my dad's mom's house, Grandma Domkus, for a traditional Lithuanian Christmas Eve dinner of assorted and various cold fish. There was only one dish that I could stomach so as we grew up and were able to we would duck out to the nearest McDonalds.

After dinner we would have to sit around waiting for the adults to join us in the living room and the stack of presents that awaited us. The house was decorated but not like the way a lot of Texans do here where Christmas throws up in their home. Traditional Christmas music would be playing... we would really rake it in on Christmas Eve at Grandma Domkus' house.

On to the Camacho's! Ralph was my dad's best friend since high school and I think one of the first friends my dad made when his family moved to Los Angeles from Chicago. Through Ralph my dad would be introduced to the Columbian friends that would eventually lead up to meeting my mom at one of their infamous party's. We didn't go to Ralph and Sharon's house every Christmas Eve but when we did it was awesome. This is where we would get the chance to sneak in a little alcohol in the form of some beer in your cola. A big deal when you're a little kid. It was quite the festive atmosphere. A huge contrast to the traditional family approach at Grandma's. There were always gifts for us kids there as well.

Next, it was off to America's house. America was my great aunt on my mother's side. All that side of the family would be there and because my great grandmother lived with America my mom's parents, Nana and Papi, would be there. America's family tradition was ham and potato salad at midnight and we were always on time for that. Very festive (they're Columbian) and my grandfather's famous role of gift distribution was legendary. Well, at least to us it was. This is where we would get to meet or see again many of the family's South American friends and relatives. Not too many gifts for the Domkus kids here. The big treat for me was hanging with my 2 youngest second cousins, Edgar and Billy.

Back home. It was easily 2-3 am by now. We would unload the car of the bounty we had received, turn on some Christmas music or a Christmas special on TV, jump into new pajamas get comfy because now it was dad's turn to play Santa. Yup, more gifts and these were always the best! I remember going to bed by 4-4:30 most Christmas Eve's growing up as a kid. Life was better then good that time of year.

Christmas morning and lo and behold, presents under the tree!!!! Yes, our parents would save the ultimate best for last on Christmas morning. The feeling of being outside in the cool air on Christmas morning with your new toys or whatever is indescribable but one I can still feel and smell. This would be short lived because it was off to Grandma Domkus' house by 1pm for the most amazing traditional turkey feast you could ever have! Oh yeah, did I mention we would get a couple Christmas Day gifts there too?

Now, upon reading this you might think that Christmas was all about presents for me (lolol. of course it was!!). Other then the fact that this was the best time of year because my dad would actually be approachable and in a good mood, it was all about the presents! It's Christmas!

And I think that's my point.
I think, no, I know I would have an easier time with Christmas if we didn't insist on making it all about this Jesus birth thing, something it plainly isn't and just kept it what it should be: a great time of family, food and fun.

Flame mail can be sent to:

Welcome Back!

So I was wondering about how long I've been involved with the online social space and trying to figure out how long I've been on FB (weird that you can't do that without the original confirmation email which I can't find. I did find an email addy change request from 08.2008) when I remembered this blog that I haven't posted to in, well, years.

This blog is nine years old and I should make it a habit to post every once in awhile. Considering the amount of posting I do on Twitter and FB (/AllanAguirre), I'm not sure how much new or relevant info would find it's self on these pages.

I guess we'll find out...

This blog has moved

This blog is now located at http://silverplatedboy.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://silverplatedboy.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Is there anybody out there?

It's been 16 months since my last post. What have I been doing? Working on building my little company, The Riley Agency.

So much has happened; so many projects; so much fun and excitement. Maybe we'll even get a website up one of these days...

This is an excellent read

Business as usual

tags:
Mark Cuban | Google | YouTube | Web 2.0

hello?

tags:
France | freelance | Dallas | Los Angeles | Global War | Israel | Iran | Hezbollah | Middle East oil | Katrina

Andy, where's my 15 minutes?

All our MySpace’s were inundated with friend requests and messages today. I guess we were on TV again...

tags:
ABC's Wifeswap | Andy Warhol | TV | Myspace

I want, I want, I need...

tags:
Canon | photography

083106 and counting

A missile-defense test was cancelled today due to fog... that doesn't make me confident in our national defense capabilities especially when Bush says world faces 'grave threat' from Iran. Hmmmm....

Let me see if I can find something light to talk about...

tags:
missile defense | Bush | Iran

You're fired!

You know it's closer to the end of the world when this happens!

I thought Carolyn made the show. This girl is tough!

tags:
Donald Trump | Carolyn Kepcher | The Apprentice | You're fired

Monday, Monday

Monday it is.

The dungeon girl defends her captor
No charges will be filed against John Mark Karr after his DNA did'nt match JonBenet Ramsey evidence
and, the world's oldest person dies at 116

I must be bored...

tags:
dungeon girl | John Mark Karr | Maria Esther de Capovilla

Last Days

Movie: Last Days

Review: A movie about losers, by losers, for losers.

the last 90

Another 3 months has gone by... man...

In June, Xaundelle turned 20 while in France and Corin turned 18 in July. Yes, I really am that old.

Freelance has been steady and I really enjoy the variation of skill sets used and the various projects. It's not just the same thing day in and day out. It's been too hot to go out and take photos and I'm chomping at the bit to do so...

If all these URL's are confusing you, here's a basic site map:
allanaguirre.com: My professional portfolio and blog. I use this to convince people to pay me the big bucks!

rileyagency.com: I haven’t really done any work under this business entity in over 1.5 years. I keep it alive for obvious reasons but it’s not really being used. When we started RA, we worked this thing like mad for about 15-18 months but like every other venture of mine, the lack of team loyalty/commitment kept it from really becoming what it could have become.

What’s up with this town and the lack of loyalty/commitment? I can site the lack of loyalty/commitment for every failed venture I’ve been involved with here in DFW. It wasn’t like that in Los Angeles and I’m a much nicer guy now…

I’m smart and I’ve come up with some brilliant ideas - interactive business models, etc. but my inability to put together a stellar team has kept everyone of these ideas from taking off. Have you ever heard of YouTube? YouTube provides a platform for possible virile video. Hell, even VH1 has a show about virile videos! I came up with an amazing virile video business model back in ’99. It was so good that we had meetings with VC’s in SF. Was I able to get it off the ground and to the bank? No. Why? I couldn’t put a strong team together. Ever hear of advertising for podcasting? Again, a great biz model way back in Feb. of ’05… dead… and now with Web 2.0 I’m eager to try it again. Build a model, slap BETA on it and work it for 15 months. But once again it’ll take a loyal and committed team to see it through. I can only do so much alone…

So after working the hell out of RA we launched Podcast Media and after that failed, in 12/05 I said screw it and went freelance. Anyone know how to add freelance freedom and dollars with a great team and build an amazing Web 2.0 money maker? Email me.

photos.rileyagency.com: This is my professional photography portfolio.

photos.rileyagency.com/misc: This is my photoblog.

allanaguirre.com/spb: My personal blog for the last 5+ years

The words Global War, WWlll and die Israel are news fodder at the moment. Iran wants the freedom to carry a nuke and would like to see the USA and Israel off the face of the earth…now…

Don’t be fooled. With our dependence (read: financial support of Iran/Hezbollah) on Middle East Oil and the surge of illegal, not undocumented, immigration going unchecked by all, it’s easier to see why we’re (the USA) not really mentioned in the Rev of John. Why would we be?

It’s taking more then a year for us to fix New Orleans (I’m not even going to go there) even with all the billions that were raised after Katrina. Within 10 days of the cease fire, Hezbollah is handing out tens of thousands of brand new crisp dollar bills to citizens with damaged property. Yes, crisp dollar bills.

By the way, these brand new bills aren’t from the 230 Million Bush promised Lebanon. These bills are from Iran’s oil profits. Go USA!!!

So much for the last 90…

tags:
France | freelance | Dallas | Los Angeles | Global War | Israel | Iran | Hezbollah | Middle East oil | Katrina

The return of the Silver Plated Boy

My personal blog, Silver Plated Boy, is back online.

If you use the nav item "HOME" above, it'll take you to allan aguirre dot com where the nav item "BLOG" from that page will take you to my professional blog, not back to this one. When I find the energy I'll do something about that...

Thanks for reading!

10 1/2 weeks

January and February found me over at Reset Media working on various projects for them and their clients Landmark Theatres, HDNet Films and Magnolia Pictures.

January 21st was another Chuck Norris World Combat League event where we were photographing and podcasting ringside.

March finds me honing my "Web 2.0" skills...

80 with a slight breeze

It's So Cal weather in Dallas in the middle of Feb.

I walked outside and got broadsided with that So Cal feeling I can't describe. All I know is that I'll be doing absolutely nothing to accomodate that feeling today.

I wish I was fly fishing the Kern right now...

Is there anybody out there?

I'm frustrated with the lack of time I have to dedicate to blogging, podcasting and photoblogging. I am so wrapped up with work and family (not that that's a bad thing... it isn't) that I can't find the time to create for myself.

I've been following Chromasia for over a year now and I'm still amazed by his talent, eye, PS skills and committment. I also peek at the others that have Blackpool for a resource every now and then.

I think what I'll do is force a series on myself:
what: the youth that hang out at my house
where: the garage primarily
how: 50mm lens only - b&w only - flash optional

that would be a start...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a great holiday. Be sure to check out our podcast while you're celebrating: The Zany Aguirres Show!

A Scaterd Few Podcast

Scaterd Few has a new podcast. Go check it out.

Spy Glass Blue
Friday, July 29th - White Rock Coffee Shop - 7:30pm (Acoustic)