Mo-vember.

I'm not participating this year. I regret it every time. So... To remind you and to remind myself why it's never a good idea for me to try and grow a mustache. I give you this...



Dig!!!..

Location:E Ben White Blvd,Austin,United States

Henry Paul Spurrier

He's here!!!....

Born October 13th just after 9pm and weighing in at over 9 pounds my little monkey man, Mr. Henry Paul Spurrier has made his entrance into the world.

The labor and delivery was rough. The wife was in labor for roughly 20 hours and then it was determined that an infection had developed and an emergency c-section was needed to pull him out safely. He was then put in the NICU for a few days to run tests and make sure everything was ok ... And it was. He's as healthy as an ox and Alisha us healing up as well.

It's been scary, tiring and wonderful I have a new reason to live a new love of my life and the most handsome little man in the world.

I can't wait to see what happens next.




Dig!!!..

Location:E Ben White Blvd,Austin,United States

Hard days work

Dig!!!..

Location:Judson Rd,Austin,United States

Too Hot...

Buddies at the old job all shaved their head in solidarity for out buddy Nick, whom has just gone through chemo. Miss you idiots




New cat MISO.. we red used her from a tiny Che at the local Petsmart. Welcome to the family!!




I miss thrashing around on this old beast.


Dig!!!..

Location:W Annie St,Austin,United States

All seeing

Dig!!!..

Location:Judson Rd,Austin,United States

Smartass

cat mustaches are so cool


Found this statue. Think it's caesar. Painted the eyes to creep out the co workers.


Dig!!!..

Location:Trade Center Dr,Austin,United States

Tryin'

New skull and roses piece I've been workin' on, still needs work. Enjoy.

Dig!!!..

Location:Burleson Rd,Austin,United States

IT'S A BOY.... and other updates.

So, as the title says..  we had our most important doctors visit to date last Monday, and we were able to determine that the little being growing in my beautliful wife's belly is infact,... sporting a penis.... I'm stoked. This means Daddy gets a chance to try to bring up a little gentleman, and hope that he turns out the way I wish I had.

 

It really does Make things clearer, and more 'real' or maybe even 'surreal' knowing the sex of the child. It wasnt until last Monday that I started thinking about actually having to do all of the not so fun stuff involved in child rearing. Before knowing the sex all I could think about was how cool it was going to be to have a tiny version of myself to carry around, and be my sidekick. Now I am constantly thinking about vomit, and poop, and mush food, and nipples, and baby proofing, and soft spots, and MONEY, geez.... I can't wait.

 

I can't wait to see what this little thing is gonna look like. I can't wait to hear the little cooing laughter, I can't wait to blow fart sounds on his little bloated baby belly. I CAN wait to clean dookie.... I hate cleaning the litter box, let alone a tiny stinky butt..

 

Wish me luck..

 

In other news, I have made some decisions in what I think I'm going to do for the rest of my life, I have finally realized my goal in regards to making the bread, bringing home the bacon, and being able to spend as much time as possible with my now growing family.

 

When the time is right I will share, I have to determine the liklihood of this actually coming to fruition, I have faith right now.....

 

Lastly. I just finished reading "An American Demon, A Memoir, by Jack Grisham".. For those of you not in the know, Jack Grisham is the singer of bands such as T.S.O.L., Cathedral of Tears, Tender Fury, The Joykiller, and a few more that may or may not be worth mentioning.. He is also known as being a total piece of shit in his younger days.. This book chronicles all of the misbehavior that made Jack who he is, from kidnappings, robberies, stabbings, drugs, and alcoholism to becoming a highly sought after public speaker, hypno-therapist, and master of N.L.P. This book is disturbing, and scary as shit, and I could not put it down. If I could have read it in 1 sitting I would have. Highly recommended but not for the faint of heart for sure.

 

Please remember to buckle up, and always... ALWAYS, question authority. but mainly just buckle up, dont text, and drive, and stay away from Mcdonalds..

05/04/11

The weather is beautiful today here in Austin TX. It's one of those days where everything seems to be perfect, aesthetically anyway. I opened my (vintage) cd case, instead of plugging in my iPod on the way to work, pulled out an old cd I probably havent heard in 10 yrs, the artist doesnt matter, the fact is it probably wouldn't have mattered what I chose because anything in that case would have sounded great this morning.

So I get to work where I do my already pretty well established morning routine.

I plug my phone in, I turn on and set up all applicable programs that I use on a a daily basis on my computer, including pandora, and then I head to the breakroom to get some water and coffee. When I get back to my office the song coming from my computer made me nostalgiac, almost teary eyed. I miss home today. I miss my friends at my old job today. The difference is that its not a depressing and trapped feeling like it was 6 or 7 months ago. It's almost like a comforting fondness of some of what might be the best days of my life. I love the life I have, and I love the life I left behind. Sometimes I wonder if I get those feelings at certain times when others are feeling the same things about me, and my absence. wishful thinkging i guess..

Anyway... I want to take advantage of this gorgeous day. I need to get in the gym, or just go walk around outside endlessly.

 

On another note.

I have not been drawing much lately, and I always promise myself that I will. I did however draw this rose recently, in the never-ending quest to create the ultimate "traditional" style rose.

 

Lastly....

I have been so out of loop on things lately in regards to all of the things that used to occupy my time. I know longer get angry at politics, because I don't really follow them, I dont get angry about meat-eaters ruining the planet, and I never even know what bands are coming to town, because I have stopped following music lately as well. I guess I have new things to be passionate about being that I have a child on the way, but I feel like I need to make some time for the things that make me feel alive, the anger that fuels me.. So, keep an eye out for the return of an angsty grown-up with to much time on his hands, and a short fuse.

 

I want to do these mega-sized blogs more often. I have a pad and a pen sitting here next to me where I jot down ideas about things that I need to write about so, to all of the blog-followers I have lost... come back...

 

DIG!!

Breathing

I have began wondering about the importance of being here. Not just in the metaphorical sense, but truly what am I HERE for? Do I really trust anyone? Do I trust myself? Are all of these things to be taken seriously or do I live an existence of taking all things for granted? Have I become more in control of my life or am I losing more and more control every day? Am I selfish? Am I humble? Do people like me? Do give a shit? Do I like myself? Does my breath smell good? Do I make any sense. Are people's morals all that really matters? Are morals just unspoken rules that have been instilled in us? Will I have made a difference when I'm gone? I think that's what I'm really talking about here. Have I done anything to make sure that I leave a mark when I'm gone, and does that really even matter.......?



Dig!!!..

Location:Burleson Rd,Austin,United States

I refuse to climb this wall

Alisha an I found this great spot where the lake looks over downtown Austin. It's beautiful and serene. I didn't get any pictures of it but behind us there is a circular sitting area and stairs that lead to another sitting area roughly 20 feet higher up where there sits a highly graffitied yet surprisingly tuned piano. It makes me wish I knew how to play the piano a little better so I could sit and play the piano and watch the 2 opposing sides of this city. The absolute antithesis of each other in one view. The dirty gritty city in the distance and the beautiful and silent wilderness in the foreground.






Dig!!!..

Location:Burleson Rd,Austin,United States

Spring

Things are different. Looking up I suppose. New job, baby on the way, new apartment.
I have started to come to grips with what's most important to me.

I really want to start blogging more often. My life has become less eventful to the untrained eye.

Here's some pics for now. Some things I see around me.









Dig!!!..

Location:Tamil St,Austin,United States

Better Days...

After several days of worry and stress. All of which was becoming too much to handle I was able to let it all go, if only for a short while. The wife and I escaped the city for the day. Far from any cell phone reception or Super Bowl hoopla. This may be the most beautiful place I have ever been.
Pedernales falls....












Dig!!!..

Location:Shoal Creek Blvd,Austin,United States

Playing God

I have decided to start creating again. It may not be there like it was before. It's not like riding a bike like "they" say.

Every time I pick up a pencil I naturally start drawing an eye. I wonder if there is a reason. I don't know. I just know that I am fascinated by them. I can't stop looking at other peoples renditions of the human eye. It's a beautiful thing. This one I drew night:

.:0202649:.



Dig!!!..

Location:Stillwood Ln,Austin,United States

Live on the rail.

Oooooh man. Things are getting totally intense. There's all this metal music playing all the time and I'm losing my job along with my grip on reality I'm afraid.

I've decided that I don't really care this time. I would really like to start getting back in the mindset that I have a job to fight for what I really wanna do. Which is to create music and art and... Well... Just exist. Just feel what's going on around me.

I don't think my senses are intact. I don't know if I have felt anything in some time.

O V E R D R I V E



Dig!!!..

Location:Cana Cove,Austin,United States

Top 5 albums(no order)

RAMONES: Brain Drain



Most Ramones fans generally dismiss a lot of their later albums leaving behind an entire library of songs that are, to me just as classic as "Beat on the Brat".

With songs like "Pet Cemetary" I Believe in Miracles", and a cover song " Palisades Park" this album is simply awesome if your any kind of Ramones fan.

BISON BC: Quiet Earth



I have been listening to a lot of metal lately, and though I have always been a general metal "fan" I am also very picky about my metal from guitar tones to blast beats and most importantly... Vocals. It has been hard for me to pin down exactly what kind of metal I like. Turns out I'm a big fan of "doom" "thrash" and, "progressive/conceptual".

I happened across these guys a few weeks back on the metal station on my XM radio an had to get the album immediately. Very old school sounding metal (though recorded in 2008)obviously grounded in punk roots. This shit is brutal.. Whoever said Canadians couldn't rip?

NEIL YOUNG: Harvest



I can't really say anything about this album that hasn't already been said. It's amazing Neil Young is a genius etc....

It really goes well with the cold grey weather we have been having lately.

WHAT?!? you don't own it?! It's ok. We will make this all better.

SLEEP: Sleep's Holy Mountain



Epic stoner doom metal from the mid-nineties that could easily be mistaken as being recorded in 1970. For fans of: Black Sabbath, St. Vitus, Kyuss, Melvins and smokin' weed. This delivers on riffs.

MASTODON: Blood Mountain



Well, I'm kind of a late-comer on Mastodon, I think I used to like the idea if them, more than I actually enjoyed the music. Boy, I sure am glad I gave this another shot. This is probably the best metal album you've never heard. Guest appearances by Scott Kelly of Neurosis, Josh Homme of QOTSA, and Cedric Bixler Zavala of Mars Volta, really add to the charm of this amazing shredding pounding and relentless album. I'm totally zoning out at lunch and blasting this in my car. Can't wait.

Dig!!!..

Mega

Skipped a lot of time.... So much has been going on and so little at the same time. Been feelin' the pinch lately like most of the rest of my peers. It's rough comin across a dollar these days.

I am planning on doin this more often. I know I say that a lot but I truly do.

So I guess this is just a quick update on the latest adventures of the ol' Spurrier's.

It's been just under 4 months in Austin and we are still settling in. The apartments we lived in changed from, modern urban downtown loft, to: rich kid party times once school started back up. So over the last couple months things have gotten rather noisy and bothersome. Now, I know I sound old and that's okay but I just dig my peace and quiet now. So the wife and myself are moving again... We are moving to the south side of Austin. Known for the beautiful trees and hills. There is also quite an abundance of hippies. Fine.

The apartment we are moving into is bigger less expensive and had a beautiful view of endless forest.

I guess the biggest lesson learned is: I'm old.

Other than that Alisha is pluggin away at work. I'm pluggin away at work and we are just tryin our best to stay afloat and hope for the best but expect the worst.

I miss my friends back home. I miss my family and I do truly still miss my work family. Love you all. And I will be doing this more often and hopefully.. Daily?


Dig!!!..

Location:W Anderson Ln,Austin,United States

Epicurus-- Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?



Dig!!!..

Ahhhhhhh...

Yesterday the wife and I went to the annual Pecan St. Festival on 6th in downtown. Swarms of people, boat loads of crappy art and soap stands, homemade pig-skins, but luckily peppered with a few great artists offering overpriced textiles.

Walking through the crowds during the day on a Sunday afternoon, I felt hot. I felt a little stifled, wondering if the cool air would ever come.

After a few hours, a few drinks, and a few bucks later we left to get a bite. By the time we were done eating the air had in fact cooled down... We were beat, and took a nap before going to have a drink with a friend at a bar called the Red House which honestly felt like a comfortable home. It was during this hour or so that the air actually began to have a chill.

I have always loved the cool weather. Fall is a weakness for me. It becomes very nostalgic. It makes me happy, and in this new place it makes me miss my family and my friends again.

I listen to music that reminds me of this time of year and want to spend my time wisely.

It makes me want to get healthier. It makes me motivated, but lazy at the same time, it makes me want to create. It makes me wonder what's happening back home; what the people at my old job are up to. My mom. My dad.

Happy autumn folks.


Dig!!!..

Location:United Dr,Austin,United States

Top 5

5: Coming Home:



Friday evening, roughly 6pm (that's 8 in Alisha time), we are leaving our new home here in beautiful Austin Texas to cone visit the moronic Losers in our hometown of Dallas/Arlington.

Just kiddin. I'm super excited to see all my buds. My family. And most importantly of course eat at spiral diner. Mmmmmm I can't taste it.

See you guys there. Much love.


4: New Home:



So, we are still settling in but we are here, and I think I'm finally embracing all this newness. I'm still having some issues adjusting to the new job, but I think that's comin along.

I've been exploring as much as possible, finding all the new places that might become my new favorite passion.

Alisha is really fitting in well at her new mall, and we are as happy as 2 squirrels after a rainstorm.

It's a lot to get used to. But I am.
I am still homesick but happy.

3: 90210:



I know, I know, I know....

This is a beautiful nightmare... A perfect disaster, and it reminds me of being at my old apartment.

Season 3 started last night and I can't believe it lasted this long.

So dramatic. So funny. So rad...

2: Boardin'


Really got the bug to start skating again. It's not as watered down here I can see that energy in these kids that just doesn't seem real anymore. Maybe a long board I'm getting old. :-/ or maybe a reissue Powell Peralta.

1: Food:






There's so much good vegan food here. Restaurants, carts, everything the hungry vegan craves. Alisha and I are truly contemplating opening our own vegan food trailer. Mmmmm I'm hungry. (pictures above: jackfruit bar b que sandwich, and a garbonzo bean tuna sandwich, both from Counter Culture).


Dig!!!..

Counter Culture. Vegan Trailer

Out of all of the many many reasons to move to Austin TX. The one that affects me on a daily basis is the food, and more importantly... The vegan food.

I will be writing reviews of some of the vegan eats around town, as the information I have found on the web is rather insufficient.

So, we start with Counter Culture. This is one of the hundreds of "food carts" popping up around town, several of which are vegan "carts".






Located in the parking lot of a gas station on the 100th block of North Loop, this trailer is in a pretty hip part of town and has a great location. The menu is mainly diner style foods. Barbecue sandwiches, and the like. I had the seitan Philly sandwich, and though it didn't really taste anything like a Philly sandwich it was awesome.





The dining area is a couple of picnic tables under a few shade trees, and though comfortable and breezy, I was eaten alive by ants.






Overall, I was impressed. Iwill be returning and being that this particular food cart is less than 5 minutes from home, I can order to go and not worry about the ants. Next time I'm gonna try the jackfruit barbecue sandwich. Mmmmmmm.

Dig!!!..

Beautiful pics

2 nights ago, there was a
hurricane upon us. Last night Alisha and I went to lake Austin and took some of the most amazing pictures of the beauty and darkness left By the storm..

TOP 5: This one's for real..

5: Going away party:

Saturday; we had our going away party, and it was a blast. Filled with all my friends that make me happy, and none of the ones who don't. I am so thankful to have true friends here, and want you all to know that no matter how long I'm gone, and no matter where I am, that you guys are my true friends, the ones that will last a life-time. [side note]: Bar friends, really never turn out to be real friends..

 

4:Matt Riggle/ Good Show

The elusive Matt Riggle emerged briefly at my party, and I figured that merited its own spot on this top 5.

Matt was a year ahead of me in school. When  we were in highschool, we were in what I like to call buddy, bands.

My band Fidos Revenge, and Matt's band Ed Banky's Car, were usually on the same bill. At Fido's highest point Matt was our drummer. Hes a great guy, a good friend, and a hell of a pop-punk stalwart. Cheers buddy, I hope to see you in my new village, and soooon,.

 

3: Peace:

I have come to somewhat of an inner-peace about this move. I'm still terrified, and I still worry about becoming homesick, missing my friends etc... But, I have to say that I think it's all gonna work out.  Financially, this may be a gigantic mistake for me, as I have been lucky to be with a job that has been very good to me. both financially, and in regards to the culture involved, and the people I work with. I can say right now that I am pretty comfortable taking a step back, and starting over, and possibly starting a family.. oops.. did I say that out loud? "look kids, Daddy's a big fat drunk"

 

2: 2 in 1:

I'm gonna jam a couple things into this one, because for whateer reason, they seem to go hand in hand to me. I bought a new car. I got this little Hyundai Elantra. its brand new, and its rad. I had to trade the Saturn, as I just couldnt bare the Texas heat anymore, that and I wanted to make sure that once I move to Austin, that I'd be able to come back and visit whenever I please.

With all that in mind, I am also able to enjoy music again, being that I can drive with my windows.. up../PART 2: this has in turn become the summer of Fat Wreck Chords: I have been ballas to the wall jamming all the music that made me a happy/ angry/ apethetic teenager. Face to Face. Strung Out. Bad Religion. NOFX. Good Riddance. Pulley.... I could go on and on... feels good.. feels real good...

 

1: The rubber meets the road.

Well.. this is it.. I'm leaving behind everything that I have ever know. My every comfort. Every home I have ever lived in, every friend I have ever loved, every job I have ever hated, and every road I have ever grown sick of. I will miss you.. I will never forget you, and YOU will always be a piece of me.

 

Your friend...

Chris M. Spurrier.

HERE WE GO......

Two weeks from tomorrow, August 13th 2010, I will be making probably the biggest change of my life. My wife, Alisha, and myself are moving to Austin Texas.

I know it's only 200 miles away, but thats 200 miles from everything I have ever known.

 

My emotions are very mixed about this. I love my friends,my family, and my job. I will miss this all terribly, but on the other hand, I would hate to wake up 50 years old, and have never lived outside of the same 30 mile radius of where I was born.

 

The job hunt is probably the worst feeling of all time. I am leaving a job that I absolutely love, and the people here have truly become friends, not just work drone idiots.

 

The good news is, we have signed a lease on an amazing apartment in midtown Austin. It's in a great spot, and is just spectacular. Also, being that we are both Vegan, we are moving to the only place in Texas that caters to our lifestlyle.

 

We will be having a going away party on August 7th at the Doublewide in Dallas. so try to make it out. say your goodbyes.

 

I love you.

 

 

Long time comin.