The engine is finally rebuilt.

Our Pilates instructor canceled on us today, so Sonia and I took it upon ourselves (first time ever) to work out on our own. We biked Burbank and ended up at a Mexican restaurant in horse country. This used to be the singing cowboy, Gene Autry’s local restaurant. People still ride right up to the place, tie down their horses and grab a bite to eat. Burbank has some interesting quirks, but we’re still leaving once Brittany graduates.

One fine day.

Sorry, Matt, you’ve been overruled by the majority. Food porn from here on out.

Enjoyed Rivabella very much. Witnessed another odd celebrity pairing… Gene Simmons from Kiss and Dog the Bounty Hunter. I have some great food pics, but my buddy, Matt, shamed me into not posting pictures of food anymore.

The French TV Chef, Ludo Lefebvre’s take on fried chicken. Pretty good.

Transmission, transfer case and front axel are now rebuilt.

Hemingway is a believer.

This one had been on the list for the three years now. Finally knocked it out.

Hemingway’s six toed cats.

Our client’s boutique in Key West. See, it was a business trip all along.

Enjoyed a drink at Hemingway’s favorite Key West bars, Captain Tony’s and Sloppy Joes. Happy to see the Marquette Flag hanging in Sloppy Joes.

More of the same.

A great neighborhood fish shack for dinner.

For my sister, Michelle. You don’t even have to ask, they just give you Key Lime Pie wherever you go.

Sunset at Mallory Square in Key West.

Poolside at the Casa Marina, Key West.

Recovering from the Red Eye.

This is 9 or 10.

This is today. This is 40.

I’m starting to age a bit more significantly. I haven’t been carded in a bar for the last couple of years. I guess time is speeding up, so I can’t afford to get stuck again. There was a time not too long ago that I believed that this birthday would be as significant as some make it out to be. But now I see it as just another marker in what is a very short and fragile life. A little over five years ago I was at my personal rock bottom. I had just finished up year ten of a screenwriting career that resulted in zero productions, $52,000 in school loans, and approximately $50,000 in pay, or $1.92 an hour. I love to write, but I chose screenwriting because that’s where the money was. It would be a means to an end. I was always a dreamer. Big dreams cost big money. Needless to say, I failed. And failed dreams are heavy. So I went bankrupt, wrote less and less, broke up with Sonia, moved in with Dad, and spent the next miserable month at Barnes and Noble reading and drinking coffee. I thought a lot about my Grandpa during this time. He was a kindred spirit. He had the heart and mind of a poet. As a young man, he had big dreams. Instead, as so often is the case, he lived the life given to him instead of the one he wanted. I wondered if that was just life. I idolized Ernest Hemingway, not so much for his writing, but for the way he lived. He was reckless, spontaneous and a world traveler. Everything I wanted to be. But expectations to conform is a difficult barrier to overcome. But there I was at Barnes and Noble when I came across this passage written by Jack London:

And that was it. I moved back home with Sonia and together we decided to live a different life. We had two options. We could lower the bar or start living the dream. We chose the latter. With one month’s rent in the bank, she quit her paying job and I quit my nonpaying job, and together we started our company. Unlike screenwriting, luck wasn’t needed. Just hard work. The more we put in, the more we got out. I’m proud of what we have created, but in the end it’s just a means to live a more spontaneous and reckless life. There will no doubt be consequences. Hardships are certain to come and we won’t be as prepared as we could’ve been. But no matter how bad it may get… We had Paris. We had oysters. And we had fun.

I don’t care how Liberace it appears to be, I like nice shoes. And much to my surprise, my Dad not only accepted this, but decided to brave the fabulous currents of West Hollywood and visited the Men’s Christian Louboutin store in search of a birthday present for his oldest son. It turns out my Dad is much more progressive than me, so I risked hurting his feelings and exchanged the above shoes for the black ones below.

Splurged on a casual pair as well.

The perfect post hike meal at The Ivy.

The Bat Cave Hike.

An early birthday celebration. Nice to be joined by so much family.

Tried The Village in Studio City. A nice gastropub.

That boy’s gotta lotta balls.

A good lunch.

Pre-wedding flashback of my brother and Sister-In-Law. Glad I’m not 40 yet.

Always a good day.

They’re dying of hunger.

In Riverside for a UC camp. Good to know we can get a decent meal in Riverside.

Accident be damned. Marquette wins! ‘Tis a good day.

I forgot to put no accidents on the list this year. Don’t worry, I’m sure the unlicensed illegal immigrant with no insurance will make it right. I did find out that my car has a nice anti whiplash feature which definitely did its job. Despite the fender bender, today can go down as a great one if Marquette wins.

Some powerful images.

Enjoyed brunch at Restaurant at Sunset Marquis. A hidden gem off the Sunset Strip.

Good times.

Marquette plays the Butler Bulldogs tomorrow for a shot at advancing to their third straight Sweet 16. Not sure if this is a good sign.

Sushi and Catch Me if You Can at the Pantages with Dad and Georgeanne.

This last second layup went in and Marquette pulled off the miracle comeback. It was the only second of the game I enjoyed. My heart hurts.

Time lapse video of our commute to work.

Met up with Devin to celebrate St. Paddys Day.

While I have demanded that my 40th is not to be celebrated with any festivities, I have not made any similar demands in regards to presents. Sonia outdid herself. It’s pretty on the outside, but still needs some work before it can be fully enjoyed.

Marquette crapped the bed and lost to Notre Dame in the Big East Tournament. I took the loss poorly. My nephew Kaden has adopted the Warriors as his team and took the loss similarly.

Seven Psychopaths: Thumbs Up (Director’s first movie, In Bruges, is far superior)
In Sessions: Thumbs up
Skyfall: Thumbs sideways
Flight: Thumbs sideways with an upward pitch