I started rehab last week and I hope it works!  For the past 7 or 8 months one ankle has been chronically sore and my back gets a little irritated when I sit for long periods.  Drive for an hour and I can't get out of the car seat cuz my ass is asleep and sore!  I knew that all that non-gay living would catch up with me. 

The ankle, oh the ankle.  I've sprained my ankles two or three times in the past 5 years and it's taken 6 months to a year for the ligaments to finally heal up.  Those were all from basketball.  This last one, I was standing in line at the Oakley Factory Sale...............

............... and that's the story.  I stood in line for 3.5 hours and then my foot was sore and it hasn't gotten better since!  I feel like such a loser when I tell that story. 

The doc x-rayed again and of course it showed nothing (I wanted an MRI not an x-ray dammit!).  Not broken, not arthritic, he sent me packing to physical therapy.   Physical therapy is pretty easy.  Basically I go and do glorified stretches for an hour.  The therapist works on my for 25 minutes, loosening my back muscles and lift my leg up and down, bending the ankle in different ways doing what he calls glides or flossing.  He thinks I have some nerves that are impinged or tied up somewhere that are causing the tightness and slight pain.  We found the exact sore spots in the ankle, it's at a really weird angle and not easy to get to stretchwise. 

I don't know if the back's improved yet, but I guess it takes awhile for the stretching/core strengthening exercises to take effect.  What is really cool is the electro stimulation treatment at the end.  They attach these shocker wires to your body and turn it up.  I lay on my back with the electrodes hooked up and they put an ice pad underneath and it's some trippy stuff.  It's like chunneling electric ice spears into your back.  Ice shock!   

I really miss playing basketball and other sports so I decided to be proactive and get these quirky little things fixed.  Yeah, it's the effects of age.   But seriously... all this ankle pain from standing in a line for me to save a four hundred bucks on snowboarding goggles and messenger bag?  What's the medical deductible before insurance starts covering their 80%?  $500.  Savings?  I don't think so.  I would pay $1000 in a minute for all this to magically go away.

Have you ever done physical therapy or accupuncture?  How were the results for your injury and how long did it take to heal up?  

The air is cold this time of year.  I open emails and it hits me in the face like a crisp February wind to my barely exposed throat.  So numbing that I can't think.

"I should tell you that ********* and I are seperating.  There's so much I want to say to you and all of it I trust you'd understand.  In time, it will all come pouring out of me and straight to you." 

Divorce is the coldest word of them all, well, right after betrayal.  Six best friends that are girls.  Splits with three of them.  My heart aches and stings when they tell me.  One divorcing, one who's considered divorce for the past year, and another in a long term relationship that she's about to end.  Three in one month is too much for anyone to hear about.  New month, new year, new decade, new start. 

These best friends that are girls, I have a kindred bond with.  Some of liked like that, some I haven't.  Kissed?  None.  We are friends, like brother and sister.   I admit I've wondered what could've been, but I never think what can be.  I hope I never do. 

Divorce is one thing I fear so much.  Because love can turn on a dime, even if that dime says, "In God We Trust."  Is that why I haven't found someone to commit to?  Is it because I fear commitment?  No, mostly it's because I haven't found that right mix of girls, combined with me fearing that the other person won't be as committed after I commit.  I also don't want to lead someone down the wrong path and have them think that I'm fully committed when 5% of me might not be.  I think I've built up marriage to more than it is. 

I truthfully do not know what to believe these days.  Church or non-church, half the marrieds I see don't look happy.  Church or God or anything else is not going to guarantee bliss.  Turning to God or your belief system might help, but even I get sick of the honks at church who give blanket statements about "time to get right with God."  It's not an if then.  If it is, then disprove this, "I'm right with God, but I'm wrong with marriage."  You can't.  Because it is possible to be right with God and wrong with marriage. 

We been taught to marry someone that loves us and can provide for us (mentally, monetarily, spiritually, emotionally).  What if that formula is wrong?  Marrying to strengthen the families seemed to work better in the olden days.    Are marriages supposed to be happy?  Are marriages supposed to produce kids?  Is love always supposed to be there?  Is it allowed to fade and comeback?  Maybe we have it right.  Maybe we have it all wrong.  What makes a marriage nowadays?  I don't know, I'm confused. 

Big Ballin' Baby! 

This week the Lakers sent me my 2009 Championship Ring.  It's huge!  (That's what she said!)

It was a free gift to season ticketholders.  It's a golden. metal paperweight with real leaded Czechoslovakian cancer causing crystals.  Damn it's cocky.  But damn it's rad.   It would be awesome for the desk at work, but I wouldn't want to lose it. 

Courtside - Clippers vs. Lakers - January 6, 2010

Let's just say I could get used to this.  If you are a big basketball fan, I recommend that you do this once in your in life.  Everyone asked and I said, "Once in a lifetime experience, but I think I'll do it again someday." 

Here's my take.  If... IF you are a huge fan, it's worth paying your own money, but if you're paying that kind of big city money, you need to see a superstar.   Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan... you have to be watching a transcendental legend.   If you live in Milwaukee and say courtside only runs $500 a seat (I have no idea how much courtside in Milwaukee costs), then yeah, maybe you can splurge for the experience just to sit courtside and watch a crappy team in a small city.  Otherwise, only go if the company is paying.  I went because I get to see my favorite team and one of the best players ever to play the game while he's still in his prime.  Did I mention that sitting courtside at a Lakers game was on my bucket list? 

The game I went to happened to be broadcast on three TV stations in the area.  The Clippers station, the Lakers station, and ESPN.   Triple coverage!!! 

The photos (taken by a Getty Images photographer) show me in the background... 

And then my other friend found me on MSN pictures of the week with LL Cool J.  Well... sort of.  You know that's my gold shirt right?

Here are some of the pictures that I took.  Let me know what you think of them! 

This is the door to the room where all the courtside people and celebs go.  It's just a bar with woodsy walls and a few TVs, nothing really photo worthy inside.  I was ordering my drink and Clippers' owner Donald Sterling was next to me talking to his friends.

The Lakers frickin' lost!  They had beat the Clips nine straight times and couldn't make it ten. 

What I Learned Being Courtside:

1. Getting great pictures at sporting events requires some basic photography skills, but mainly it comes down to access.  If you're close, you can get some great shots. 
2. If you had to sit close, which sport is most worth it?  Basketball!   Football, Baseball, Hockey, Soccer... in those sports sometimes you want to sit just a little bit back so you can get a better view of the whole field. 
3. Sit back.  Yes, lean back in your padded chair.  Leaning forward is the equivalent to standing up in other sections.  If I lean forward in my seat to look down the court, the person next to me has to lean to see, then the person next to them, then the person next to them... domino effect.  So sit back, you'll see the game fine.  That's why everyone sitting courtside on TV looks so seated and relaxed. 
4. You can talk smack to the players and they hear you. Sometimes they talk back to you.
5. I thought sitting close I would hear the players talk more smack.  They didn't talk that much.  I heard a "F**k!" out of Kobe. Baron Davis told the ref during a timeout , "C'mon, you know that call was bullsh*t!" 
6. Sometimes you get to throw the out of bounds ball back to the ref.  I did.  Twice!
7. It is fun sitting courtside and texting or messaging your friends during timeouts.  Most common message received, "I see you on TV!"  The most common message I sent to friends, "Haven't seen me in awhile?  Turn on the TV!"
8. Last and most importantly... don't eat when the game is going.  This is Hollywood, you don't want to be caught trying to stuff a hot dog down your throat when the camera pans.  Only Tera Patrick can pull that off.   

I know... the camera adds 10 lbs., but still, I need to lose weight this year! 

As you know, January and July are my favorite months for shopping... because everything is 50-75% off!  If you want deals, shop now... this week and next are the lowest that prices will go.  

I have too much clothes as it is, but still I couldn't resist, here are my purchases from the last week...

$6.00.  Gitman Bros for Nordstrom.  I'm not a fan of the button collar, but for this $6 shirt in great condition, whateves.  Yes, I shop vintage sometimes.  This one was found at Buffalo Exchange at the Lab.  The colors are brighter in person, in my books, this shirt is so in.  It's indie, country club, and surfer prep cool.  Miami Vice baby!  Better yet, now I have something to wear with Contra, the new Vampire Weekend album. 

$65 (down from $135).  I'm not going to tell you this was the biggest bargain pricewise, but shirtwise, I have seen no other.  Rainbows!  No, it's not my sexuality.  Shirts like this just brighten the room and make everyone happy.   The clincher?  Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to find a shirt to match this tie (Brioni, which I bought a few years ago).  It was also my first Brooks Brothers purchase in ten years.  Long sleeve, button cuffs, spread collar.  I'm trying to figure this out... Zegna suits are made in Mexico, Giorgio Armani shirts are made in Hong Kong and Brooks Brothers' shirts are woven in Italy and made in the US?  You would think the other designers clothes would be made in Italy. 

Bargain of the Day Alert! 

$2.71.  The sweater color looks boring but it's not, trust me, it's the lighting.  It's the exact blue as the blue on your bottom screen Windows tool bar, that super thick sky blue.  The deal was... my Banana Republic Visa had 5% back in the months of November and December for any purchase... gas, food, whatever.  So I racked up a grip.  The Banana Republic thin merino wool clearance sweater was $13.99, down from $60.  The purple and black argyle socks were $8.50 a pair, I needed something to bring my value up.  I thought I had $30 in coupons, but ended up only $20, so I asked the clerk to remove one pair of socks.  He takes it off the bill.  $22.71 - $20 coupon = $2.71.  I get home and find out that he accidentally put both pairs of socks in.  $.91 sweater and two pairs of $.90 socks.  Not bad, huh?  Another $100 left in coupons to spend.

My friend was in a business meeting today with Maggie Q.  Then she sent me a picture of the two of them together after.  DANG IT!  Why can't we all have work like that?   

Renee & Henry Segerstrom Hall

Thanks to Annie, I finally got to check out Orange County Performing Arts Center's new building, Renee and Henry Segerstrom Hall.  The old building (called plain old Segerstrom Hall) is still up and they use it for musicals and plays.  I guess when you're that rich and you own the best mall in the Southland that's across the street (South Coast Plaza), you can name two adjacent buildings after yourself. 

The view from the top tier. I love the curves and the red seats.  Think red velvet cupcakes, but more white than red.

The night's performance was Tchaikovsky: A Portrait.  They covered a few works, including a piece from Swan Lake and Symphony #6, "Pathetique."  I thought it was done fairly well.  For those who don't know a lick about classical music, you could still follow along as there was a narration, singers, and background history provided by the conductor between the four pieces that were played. 

Annie's season seats are the best in the house.  Center Orchestra, 9th Row.  She was offered a box, but why?  Center Orchestra is where you get the best sound and view.  She's right between the concertmaster and the conductor.  At a rock concert you want to be front row, watching orchestras and ballets, you want to be a few rows back. 

What did I learn that night about Tchaikovsky?   That he was married but was gay and had sex with his nephew Bob (lovers since he Bob was 13).  Tchaikovsky died nine days after he premiered his Symphony Pathetique and Bob inherited all his money. 

If only we could all be gay nephews... we'd be rich! 

She read my Christmas card over and over and it made her happy.  Her friend was over, saw the card, and loved it.  Her and her husband tried to describe me to their friend, but they couldn't, because "but oh, how to describe you..." 

Strangely, that's how I feel about myself.  I don't really know how to describe me.  I can tell people about this me, or that me, but I can't sum it up.  There's the surface stuff that some people never see past.  Others, know I'm way past that, but are afraid of getting that deep.  I enjoy fun friends, but I only really care about the deep ones.  It sounds shallow, but I'm not sure it is.  Maybe it's elitist. 

I don't remember exactly what I wrote, but I know I summed up the year in under 200 words.  Some cards I wrote very standard, others I rambled, but I do remember going stream-of-consciousness on hers and I remember thinking, "That came out just how I wanted it to." 

I used to photocopy some of the letters and cards I wrote so that I could remember what I wrote.  Then I wondered if I was taking away from the purity of it all.  Maybe we're not supposed to remember everything in our letters and notes, because they were meant for someone else, something for them to remember us by.  

DJCaptainZowie's On TV Tomorrow! 

There's a sporting chance you can catch me on TV tomorrow, so turn on the tube at 7:30 p.m. PST (10:30 p.m. EST).  I'll be living out one of my bucketlist dreams...

I'M SITTING COURTSIDE!!!  And they're really good seats.  Not under the basket.  I'll be on one of the center sections, free throw line extended (which means, follow the free throw line to the end of the court, that should be my seat, if I calculated correctly), facing the Lakers bench.  Since most of the game time TV cameras and press box is behind me, you'll probably be seeing my back more than my front.  But if they ever show close ups on the court, look for me! 

I'll be about 10 seats from Midcourt, where the announcers sit.  If anyone has a TV DVD burner, wanna burn me a copy of the game?  I'll definitely reimburse you. 

ESPN, NBA Game of the week... 7:30 p.m., PST (10:30 p.m. EST) on Wednesday! 

Haven't decided what I'm gonna wear yet.  Even normally cool guys stress out about what to wear for the big day. 

There's no time again today, but at least there's a photo...

125 Indie Albums

My friend, Melisa Van Buskirk is quite insane.  She managed to rank her indie albums of the decade, picking a favorite every year is tough enough, I can't fathom how I'd even integrate rankings between the #8 album from 2008 with the #8 album from 2003. 

Anyhow, thought I'd share it with you (hopefully she doesn't mind).  Melisa owns lots of music and has probably seen live nearly every band that she's listed, so her opinions aren't based strictly on the recordings. Here's a disclaimer from her... 

"The most entries being from 2003 and the fewest from 2000, 2001 and 2009 (I think...).  Many of these albums didn't make it on a lot of critics list, most aren't even considered the best of that artist or band, but they're the ones I listened to the most during the past decade."  

Here's to hoping that you find some bands or albums you overlooked or have never heard of. 

1. The National, Boxer, 2007
2. The Libertines, Up The Bracket, 2002
3. Nada Surf, Let Go, 2003
4. Idlewild, 100 Broken Windows, 2000
5. Spoon, Kill The Moonlight, 2002
6. Snow Patrol, Final Straw, 2003
7. The Strokes , Is This It?, 2001
8. Elbow, Cast of Thousands, 2003
9. The Libertines, The Libertines, 2004
10. Bright Eyes , Lifted… Or the Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground, 2002
11. Longwave, The Strangest Things, 2003
12. Embrace, Out of Nothing, 2004
13. Interpol, Turn On The Bright Lights, 2002
14. Arcade Fire, Funeral, 2004
15. Editors, The Back Room, 2005
16. The Killers, Hot Fuss, 2004
17. The Wrens, The Meadowlands, 2003
18. The Shins, Oh, Inverted World, 2001
19. Bishop Allen, The Broken String, 2007
20. Travis, The Invisible Band, 2001
21. Idlewild, The Remote Part, 2002
22. Doves, The Last Broadcast, 2002
23. The Rakes, Capture/Release, 2005
24. The Stills, Logic Will Break Your Heart, 2003
25. The Twilight Singers, Blackberry Belle, 2003
26. Starsailor, Silence is Easy, 2004
27. The White Stripes, White Blood Cells, 2001
28. Razorlight, Up All Night, 2004
29. Athlete, Tourist, 2004
30. Mason Jennings, In The Ever, 2008
31. Nada Surf, Lucky, 2008
32. Mobius Band , The Loving Sounds of Static, 2005
33. Elbow, Leaders of the Free World, 2005
34. 22-20s, 22-20s, 2004
35. The Veils, The Runaway Found, 2003
36. Ash, Free All Angels, 2001
37. Bloc Party, Silent Alarm, 2005
38. Andrew Bird, Armchair Aprocrypha, 2007
39. Nada Surf, The Weight is a Gift, 2005
40. Okkervil River, Black Sheep Boy, 2005
41. Sea Wolf, Leaves in the River, 2007
42. Ryan Adams, Gold, 2001
43. My Morning Jacket, It Still Moves, 2003
44. Stellastarr*, Stellastarr*, 2003
45. Pela, Anytown Graffiti, 2007
46. Bon Savants, Post-Rock Defends The Nation, 2006
47. Hot Hot Heat, Make Up The Breakdown, 2002
48. The Sunshine Underground, Raise The Alarm, 2006
49. Secret Machines, Now Here is Nowhere, 2004
50. Supergrass, Life on Other Planets, 2002
51. The Kooks, Inside In/Inside Out, 2006
52. South, With the Tides, 2003
53. Spoon, Girls Can Tell, 2001
54. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, B.R.M.C., 2001
55. Rilo Kiley, More Adventurous, 2004
56. Oasis, Don't Believe The Truth, 2005
57. Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head, 2002
58. Broken Social Scene, You Forgot It In People, 2002
59. The Cribs, Men's Needs Woman's Needs Whatever, 2007
60. The Shins, Chutes Too Narrow, 2003
61. Editors, An End Has A Start, 2007
62. Athlete, Beyond the Neighbourhood, 2007
63. Razorlight, Razorlight, 2006
64. The Streets, Original Pirate Material, 2002
65. Snow Patrol , Eyes Open, 2006
66. Stars, Set Yourself on Fire, 2004
67. Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, 2002
68. Starsailor, Love Is Here, 2001
69. The White Stripes, Elephant, 2003
70. The Twilight Sad, Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters, 2007
71. The Postal Service, Give Up, 2002
72. Keane, Hopes and Fears, 2004
73. Maximo Park, A Certain Trigger, 2005
74. The Walkmen, Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me is Gone, 2002
75. Death Cab For Cutie, Transatlanticism, 2003
76. Hard-Fi, Stars Of CCTV, 2004
77. Singapore Sling, The Curse of Singapore Sling, 2002
78. Bright Eyes , I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, 2005
79. Bishop Allen, Grrr…, 2009
80. Turin Brakes, Ether Song, 2003
81. Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand, 2004
82. Kings Of Leon, Youth & Young Manhood, 2003
83. The Thermals , Fuckin' A, 2004
84. Dirty Pretty Things, Waterloo to Anywhere, 2006
85. Searay, Stars at Noon, 2003
86. The New Pornographers, Electric Version, 2003
87. Thirteen Senses , The Invitation, 2004
88. Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?, 2006
89. The Coral, The Coral, 2002
90. Travis, The Boy With No Name, 2007
91. Peter Bjorn & John, Writer's Block, 2006
92. Midlake, The Trials of Van Occupanther, 2006
93. South, Adventures in the Underground Journey to the Stars, 2005
94. Muse, Absolution, 2003
95. Margot and the Nuclear So & Sos, The Dust of Retreat, 2006
96. Augie March, Moo You Bloody Choir, 2007
97. Earlimart, Treble & Tremble, 2004
98. Elbow, The Seldom Seen Kid, 2008
99. Frightened Rabbit, The Midnight Organ Fight, 2008
100. Kaiser Chiefs, Employment, 2005
101. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Howl, 2005
102. Jarvis Cocker, Jarvis, 2007
103. The Magic Numbers, The Magic Numbers , 2005
104. Brendan Benson, Alternative to Love, 2005
105. Cold War Kids , Robbers & Cowards, 2006
106. Oasis, Heathen Chemistry, 2002
107. Band of Horses, Everything All the Time, 2006
108. Badly Drawn Boy, Born in the U.K., 2006
109. Beulah, Yoko, 2003
110. The Fire Theft, Fire Theft, 2003
111. The Dears, No Cities Left, 2004
112. White Lies, To Lose My Life, 2009
113. The Vines, Highly Evolved, 2002
114. Super Furry Animals, Phantom Power, 2003
115. Ambulance Ltd, Ambulance Ltd, 2004
116. David Gray, White Ladder, 2000
117. Stereophonics, Language Violence Sex Other?, 2005
118. Wolf Parade, Apologies to the Queen Mary, 2005
119. Unwritten Law, Elva, 2001
120. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah , Clap Your Hands Say Yeah , 2005
121. The Thrills, So Much for the City, 2003
122. Coldplay, Parachutes, 2000
123. Jimmy Eat World, Bleed American, 2001
124. La Rocca, The Truth, 2006
125. Beck , Sea Change, 2002

Any idea what your top 5 CDs of the decade were?  All genres are welcome (Hip-hop, Indie, R&B, Country, Pop...)

Lakers vs. Cavaliers @ Staples Center (Christmas Day, 2009)

My Christmas present to myself was a to go to the Lakers vs. Cavs game.  I sold my season seats for some good stash, went solo, and had a great seat 12 rows up. 

Every game the Lakers have a few auction items.  Today's were a Kobe signed photo, a Lebron signed NBA Game Ball, and then a limited Lakers team signed holiday snowflake ball (I was told only 10 or 12 of these exist).  The suggested auction value was $1097.50 (you can claim up to that much for charitable donation on your tax return).  The ball sold for $3000.00. 

Daaaaang, the Lakers got spanked!  But it was a fun game, thanks to the dunk highlights from the Cavs.  The Lakers whined too much about the foul calls.  Instead of upping their game, they neglected to make half time adjustments.  In a rare act of unclassiness, some Lakers fans threw their foam fingers (free giveaway) onto the court.  I was amused, but found it tacky.  At that point, I was ashamed to be associated with those Lakers fans.   

It wasn't all bad.  My boy Snoop gave me a pound on the way out.  My knuckles still smell like the chronic.  This is how we do Christmas, LA style! 

Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas! 

2009 LA Auto Show

Here are some pictures I took from this year's Los Angeles Auto Show.  For names of the cars and makers, please click on the picture and then you'll be able to see the detailed description.  Which of these concept cars look the hottest?