gly

  • Media Darling?

    Update: Here’s the link to the Wall Street Journal article I was interviewed for as referenced below. They  got a few facts wrong, but there’s no such thing as bad publicity, right?

    Every three to six months, when his most recent promotional deal expires, Carey Anthony blocks out an hour of his day to negotiate with his cable company. Each time, the president of a software company in Los Angeles says he can knock $20 to $30 off his monthly bill.

    “Negotiating works every time,” says Mr. Anthony,46, who estimates he has saved more than $350 a year over the past decade.”Sometimes you have to threaten to cancel service, or switch to another provider, or sit on hold for an hour, but I’ve never failed to get a discount,” he says. “You just have to be diligent.”

    As prices for cable services have surged over the past 10years and the faltering economy has pressured household incomes, a growing number of cable customers face skyrocketing bills. Read more…

    Also here are some photos from Christmas. I’m leaving today for San Francisco to spend New Year’s Eve with the GLY gang and look forward to more sunsets on the shore like this. Happy New Year everyone!


    Best of the rest!


    Video from Christmas Morning

    December 19, 2011
    Got the following email this morning. I called the reporter at lunch and did the interview. The piece should be in the Wall Street Journal late this week or early next. She said I was an amazing consumer advocate with a LOT to say. LOL, that’s an understatement. This is what I love about the age we live in. Power of the people truly exists. Tweets and blog posts can change policies. Keep up the good fight folks!!

    Gmail Carey Anthony
    Wall Street Journal Interview Request
    Schuker, Lauren  Mon, Dec 19, 2011 at 9:34 AM
    To:Carey Anthony

    Hi Carey,

    I’m a reporter for The Wall Street Journal. I was writing because I’d love to interview you for a story about cable service– I saw your post on Yelp and thought you’d be a great person for the piece.

    I’m at (212) 416-xxxx or on my cell (below) if you see this – please call me as soon as you can.

    Thank you so much, and I look forward to talking further with you.

    Lauren

    Lauren A. E. Schuker

    The Wall Street Journal

    office. (212) xxx-xxxx

    cell. (617) xxx-xxxx
    Here’s the full post she was referring to. Long, but worth the read:

      -  Sep 12, 2011  -  Public
    My Online Chat With Time Warner Customer Service Today:
    User Carey has entered room
    Analyst Serena has entered room

    Serena> Hello! Thank you for choosing Road Runner Internet Technical Chat Support. My name is Serena, How may I assist you?
    Carey> Fix my internet & phone service
    Serena> Hi Carey! May I know what is the issue with the service?
    Carey> We don’t have much time…it will probably go down again in the next 5 minutes
    Carey> It’s been going up and down for a week. Internet and phone
    Serena> I see, okay.
    Carey> If it goes down again you’ll have to call me on my cell which I entered in the chat intro.
    Serena> I apologize for the inconvenience.
    Serena> Let me run line test on your device.
    Carey> I have had no phone or internet already today at least 12 times…this is unacceptable
    Serena> I see, I understand your frustration.
    Serena> For all services down issue, we need to escalate the problem to our Cable Services Specialist.
    Serena> To fix the problem right away.
    Serena> Let me create a case id number for you here, okay?
    Carey> ok
    Serena> Please give me a minute.
    Serena> I just want to check, have you reset your modem recently?
    Carey> many many times
    Serena> I see, okay. 
    Carey> this has been going up and down for a week. Sometimes it stays down 20 minutes sometimes it’s back in 5
    Carey> crap, there it goes again
    Carey> call me on my cell…my phone just cut off
    Carey> internet will be next
    Carey> it’s back….are you still there?
    Serena> Do not worry everything we’ve discussed is documented.
    Carey> did you see that it just went down?
    Carey> crap, it’s doing it again
    Carey> Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
    rrrrrggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
    Carey> I can’t live like this
    User Carey has entered room
    Serena> Yes, I am still here, I am waiting for you to enter the session again.
    Carey> I’m back
    Carey> but it will likely go down again soon. What do I do?
    Serena> Great!
    Carey> I can’t live like this
    Carey> I rely on my phone and internet
    Serena> I am now completing all the line test and I will create a case number for you.
    Carey> what’s the problem??
    Carey> now it’s down again
    Serena> I understand Carey, this will be fixed as soon as we can,
    Serena> Yes, I can see it.
    Carey> now it’s up
    Carey> so what is the problem?
    Serena> We are currently checking what is causing of the disconnection.
    Serena> Please make sure all cables hooked up to your modem is securely connected.
    Carey> they are
    Serena> Okay.
    Serena> Thank you!
    Serena> I am now creating the case number for you.
    Serena> Here is your case number is: 7221706. 
    Carey> what do I do with that?
    Carey> I see a Time Warner truck outside. Should I give him that case #?
    Serena> That is for your reference.
    Serena> I just want to check, is your cable service goes down as well, correct?
    Carey> not my tv…just my phone and internet
    Serena> I see.
    Serena> Thank you mentioning the Time Warner Cable Truck, let me check our maintenance dashboard if there are on going outages,
    Serena> I see.
    Carey> This has been going on for a week though. I called last week and was put on hold for 40 minutes then cut off
    Serena> There is an outage in the area.
    Serena> I understand.
    Serena>The description of the outage is Multiple node outages affecting phone and Internet services.
    Carey> When will it be fixed? I’m this close to calling Verizon. I can’t live like this.
    Serena> Our Top Technical Engineers are currently fixing the problem.
    Carey> What are there names and emails? I’d like to write them.
    Carey> now it’s down again
    Carey> I’m back
    Serena> Good.
    Serena> I apologize Carey, I am not authorized to disclose the information you’re requesting.
    Carey> I assume this whole week will be taken off my bill.
    Serena> I understand you.
    Serena> For that you may contact our customer care to raise your concern.
    Carey> I CAN’T EVEN CALL OUT ON MY PHONE HALF THE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Carey> and I was on hold for 40 minutes last week before getting cut off!
    Carey> I am NOT calling customer care to raise my concern.
    Carey> I’ve just spent the last 40 minutes raising my concern with you
    Carey> and in that time, my service has gone down 6 times
    Serena> I understand your frustration, we need to wait until our field technicians fix the problem outside.
    Carey> If you can’t have somebody fix my bill, then just cancel the whole service3
    Carey> I’ve wasted enough time.
    Carey> 10 years as a customer and this is how I get treated??
    Carey> I am going on Twitter now to tell everyone to cancel Time Warner if this is the way I’m going to be treated after 10 years of loyalty
    Serena> To fix your bill, I’m glad to get you a billing specialist right now, for your service, we really need to wait until the technicians done with the maintenance.
    Carey> It’s been doing this for a week….just fix the bill! I shouldn’t have to waste any more time with your company
    Carey> Who’s the chairman of Time Warner?
    Serena> I’m afraid I am not authorized to disclose that information Carey.
    Carey> You’re not authorized to tell me who your boss is???????????????
    Carey> http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2011/03/TIME_WARNER_CHAIRMAN_38_CEO_JEFF_BEWKES_TO_PARTICIPATE_03-03-2011.php
    Serena> Yes I am not in the position. I apologize.
    Carey> there, I saved you the trouble…I’m getting his email address too
    Carey> that’s absurd
    Carey> when will this be fixed?
    Serena> I understand Ma’am.
    Carey> It’s SIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Carey> 10 years as a customer and you don’t even know my gender?
    Serena> I am sorry.
    Carey> This whole transcript will be posted on my blog and on facebook, to show how absurd this is. Watch for it.
    Carey> What’s the number for Verizon?
    Serena> We do not have the number for Verizon Carey.
    Serena> Let me hand you over to Billing people to take care of your possible credits caused by this trouble on your end,
    Carey> it would save your ex customers time if you just transferred us to them…it’s the least you can do
    Carey> Fine, but when will this be fixed and how will I know? I’d like Jeff Bewkes to call me when it’s resolved.
    Serena> I understand, I will do it for you now.
    Serena> Please hold on to your case id number.
    Serena> I apologize again for all the inconvenience Carey.
    Serena> That is noted Carey.
    Carey> apologies mean nothing…you don’t even know my gender. I’m a human being you know. You work for giant conglomerate who is bent on making my life miserable apparently. If you’re really sorry, you should get another job.
    Serena> For now, since our engineers still fixing it, they haven’t posted estimated time of restoral but I assure you it will be fixed as soon as possible,
    Carey> What website do I enter the case # into to see if it’s fixed?
    Serena> The case number will serve as your reference for this conversation, everything is documented.
    Carey> What website do I enter the case # into to see if it’s fixed?
    Serena> The case number cannot be viewed on our web site, it will serve as your reference for this conversation where everything is documented.
    Carey> What good does that do me?
    Serena> It will server as your reference number for this issue and when I transfer you to billing.
    Serena> Please stay while I transfer you to our billing analyst.
    Carey>Please stay? What am I, a dog?
    Carey> This is gonna look good on facebook!
    Serena> I’m sorry. What I mean please wait and stay in this chat session while I get you a billing specialist.
    Carey> It’s a new world you know? You can’t treat customers like garbage any more and not be held accountable. You will lose customers if you can’t fix these problems. Don’t you realize that???
    Carey> Oh and tell the “billing specialist” to read the entire chat. I’m not repeating myself.
    Serena> I will.
    Serena> I will now transfer you.
    Serena> Thank you for contacting Road Runner Technical Chat Support, again my name is Serena, we value you as a customer. Have a nice day!
    Carey> You sure don’t show it!
    Serena> Please wait, while the problem is escalated to another analyst

    Analyst Serena has left room
    Analyst Gustavo has entered room

    Gustavo> Thank you for contacting Time Warner Cable. At the end of our chat you will be given the option of taking a brief survey. My name is Gustavo. Please give me a moment while I access your account.
    Carey> You can either refund the charges for my horrible service the past week, or cancel it completely and I’ll go to Verizon. Your choice.
    Gustavo> Good Afternoon. How are you today?
    Carey> Horrible
    Carey> I feel as if I’ve been raped by corporate America.
    Gustavo> I am sorry to hear that. 
    Gustavo> I understand that your services are down. 
    Gustavo> Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
    Gustavo> I will be more than happy to assist you. 
    Carey> Everyone there is sorry, but no one is doing anything.
    Gustavo> Unfortunately, I cannot apply credits unless the problem is fixed. And as the last analyst mentioned, the outage is ongoing. 
    Carey> It’s been ongoing for a week. When will the credit be applied. I’m not calling in again or sitting on a chat for an hour. This is YOUR problem, not mine.
    Gustavo> As a courtesy, I am applying a $10 credit. You can contact us back once the problem is fixed to receive the rest of the credit. 
    Carey> And when will that be?
    Gustavo> Our technicians are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible. At this time, there is no known estimated time of repair. 
    Carey> As soon as possible? It’s been like this for a week! I need a better answer than that. I have to decide today whether to cancel this service I’ve had for 10 years. You obviously don’t care about my business or my loyalty.
    Gustavo> I am sorry but I am just giving you the information we have. 
    Carey> If you were really sorry, you’d try to find out what the problem was and when it will be fixed.
    Gustavo> As mentioned before, our technicians are already working, there is nothing else to do from our end. We need you to understand that this is something that cannot be handled online. 
    Carey> Then you should have told me that an hour ago before I started this chat!
    Gustavo> I gave you all the information I have in the system and applied the credit I could. 
    Carey> I CALLED last week and was on hold for 40 minutes before being cut off. If I can’t call or chat online, how is it supposed to be handled???
    Gustavo> We started the chat 15 minutes ago Sir. 
    Carey> I started the chat with Serena an hour ago!
    Carey> Don’t play semantics with me, because you will lose.
    Gustavo> That is a different department sir.
    Carey> So?
    Gustavo> It is being handle by the technicians who are already aware of the situation. 
    Carey> I’m still the customer. I’m still a human being. You cut me, I bleed. Have you no regard for your customers?
    Carey> So how will I know it’s been fixed? Will they call me? Send me flowers? Sky write? How?
    Gustavo> The services will start working fine. 
    Gustavo> And no, we will not contact you. 
    Carey> So basically you’re telling me I’m out of luck. Just wait, like I have been waiting for a week…for something I pay you $160/month for that should work and doesn’t!
    Carey> This is going to look great when it’s posted on facebook, twitter, tumblr and my blog. I’ll make sure to tag it with #timewarner #customerservicenightmare!
    Gustavo> Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
    Gustavo> It would be a pleasure if there is something else I can assist you with.
    Carey> OK, I’m going to call Verizon now to see if they care any more about me.
    Gustavo> Again, my name is Gustavo. Thank you for chatting with Time Warner Cable. We value you as a customer and are here to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you would like to take a brief survey, please click on “End Session” and the survey will load.
    Carey> LOL, that’s going to be a doozy of a survey.

    Here are the rest of the highlights of the past couple of weeks:


    Birthday dinner with Dreamer David Cho.


    A visit with Arielle and Baby Hazel.


    Roscoe at Runyon Canyon. More here.


    Office Christmas Party.


    Movie night with Claudio & Ryan and Chazz & Rio. More here.


    Orange County thunderheads, followed by a rare California snow storm!


    Late fall in Southern California. More here.


    Thursday family dinner.


    It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. More here.


    My brother, sister in law and niece visit The Hotel Careyfornia.


    Merry Christmas from Chazz & Rio.

  • The Xanga Conundrum

    Update:  Just got back from Chicago and I hope to be back on Xanga this winter. In the meantime, friend/follow me on facebook, Twitter, Google + or  tumblr. Latest photos can always be found here. I’ve applied to be on the Xanga Product Council, so if that happens maybe some of my ideas will be implemented. Thanks! –Carey

    June 13, 2011 6:37 PM
    I’m sorry I’ve been so neglectful of my humble Xanga. Each time I would think of updating, it just seemed to be too much to fit in one post; but of course the less I update, the more things kept happening. For the past month, every time I wanted to blog about Sarah Palin or Armageddon (or the lack thereof) or the Dream Act or Xangan visits or road trips or reconnecting with old friends or birthday parties or frat parties or Rio or Chazz or celebrity sightings or customer service or red carpet events or holidays or fill in the ______; it seemed that it was easier and faster to just upload photos to Facebook with brief captions or write a short Tumblr (I know…traitor!) post or tweet a photo or two. That’s the thing about Xanga that I’m conflicted about. I don’t want it to ever be Tumblr or Facebook, but I wish it was a little more adaptive to the times…so my blog here could evolve and not just languish. (Xanga’s new sign in options for comments should help!)  Oh well, I’m still a proud Xangan…even if lately I’ve only had time for proper updates once a month. In the meantime, here’s what’s been happening the past few weeks:


    Eva received her Ph.D. yesterday and many of our far flung GLY friends from all over the world were in Santa Barbara to help her celebrate!


    Here’s a video of the 12 x 12 photo book I made for Eva, that contains the photos of celebrations we’ve had all over the world the past 14 years. (This can’t be viewed in Germany, so if you’re German, you can view it here).


    After the graduation ceremony last night we went to the beach for a sunset picnic while the Germans played a game of slow motion volleyball!


    We celebrated Tommy’s 10th birthday last week at Farrell’s where I used to work when I was 16!


    Chazz & Rio had a great month in the urban jungle of Los Angeles!


    Reconnecting with old friends is always fun…seeing pictures of yourself from 20 years ago, not so much!


    The unofficial start of summer was spent again in Santa Barbara on Bassam’s oceanfront villa, Unfortunately my dogs got skunked!


    Xangan David (Fongster8) paid a week long visit to The Hotel Careyfornia and enjoyed himself!


    Dinner with dreamy dreamer David Cho who I previously wrote about, is always a treat. He’s such a bright light in this world. I can’t say enough about this guy!

    That’s it for now. For more frequent updates, friend me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter or Tumblr. Have a great summer everyone!

  • Snowy California – A New Year Detour

    “Southern California began 2011 with a traffic jam for the record books, as a powerful snowstorm stranded and stymied thousands trying to get between Northern and Southern California at the end of a long holiday weekend.  Some motorists said drives that normally took four hours lasted 12 hours or longer as they inched through blinding snow, gridlocked roads and slippery black ice as well as a succession of accidents and stalled cars…“  So said the LA Times today, and they were right.  After a wonderful week in Madera ringing in the New Year with GLY’er Eva and her wonderful family, my trip home was anything but uneventful, due to that snow storm in the mountains.  In the 11 hours it took me to get home, I saw rain, hail, snow, black ice, freezing fog, a rainbow and a most beautiful sunset.  Take a look:


    The first rainbow, hailstorm and snowstorm of 2011…all taken while driving on I-5

     
    It’s 2011.  Shouldn’t we have teleportation by now?

     


    The last sunset of 2010 and a joyous reunion with Eva’s family and Meghan’s new baby


    The first sunrise of 2011 complete with frosty oranges!


    Daniela still needs a little help staying up on her rocking horse from Mom and Aunt Eva

     
    All bundled up, enjoying a walk in the Madera sunshine


    Mugging for the camera!


    New Year’s Breakfast


    I love the way Mom & Grandma are looking at her!


    A hearty breakfast before what I thought would be a four hour drive.  Little did I know!


    Best of the rest…Click for slideshow
    Happy New Year!

  • They Had a Dream

    I have mixed emotions about the events of this past weekend.  As most people know by now, the draconian ban on homosexuality in the United States military has been repealed.  Tomorrow President Obama will sign the repeal, paving the way for the inevitable Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8 and gay marriage finally becoming the law of the land.  That’s all great news.  But on Saturday, as my friends and I stood in line at a movie theater and heard the buzz of cell phones and twitter feeds announcing the DADT repeal, I actually felt guilty about another far reaching piece of legislation that didn’t pass.  The DREAM Act “would have created a path to citizenship for certain young illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children, completed two years of college or military service and met other requirements, including passing a criminal background check.”  “Two Dreams, One Dead“, as Time magazine opined.  That dream is dead, at least for now.  But I for one am glad to know people like David Cho, whose tireless efforts on behalf of the DREAM Act have raised awareness worldwide, and caused him to be named one of the Top Ten Game Changers in education today (along with heavyweights like Michelle Rhee and Jill Biden)!  People like David Cho are the leaders of tomorrow.  Just watch:

    He is American in every way, but on paper.  The arguments against the DREAM Act are nothing but shameful propaganda spread by ignorant neophytes like Sarah Palin.  I urge every American to educate themselves about this important legislation.  David can take solace in Dan Choi’s struggle to repeal DADT.  Don’t be disillusioned by this temporary setback. 

    The DREAM Act is the right thing to do!  I’m glad there are people like David Cho and Dan Choi who fight tirelessly for what’s right, to make this country a better place for all of us.  Keep up the good fight gentlemen!


    David Cho and others speak eloquently on Talk of the Nation, despite the host’s rudeness at times and the ignorance of some of the callers.


    Lt. Dan Choi, an American hero and an eloquent voice in this struggle, and I at at Prop 8 rally

    Dinner with David is always a treat. He’s such a bright light in this world. I can’t say enough about this guy!

    Hanging out in MacArthur Park and having Korean food with David

    In other news, my friend Sabine made her 5th trip to The Hotel Careyfornia in the past year.  Eva joined us and we had a pre New Year’s GLY reunion.  Luci & Mateus are also here from Brazil and Tim flew in from Switzerland.  I’ve lost track of how many trips to the airport I’ve taken in the past 72 hours.  Lots of fun and very little sleep.  Ho Ho Ho!  Here are the week’s photos:


    Bine’s welcoming party and the first of many trips to the airport this weekend!


    Sushi on a rainy night in LA


    Platinum Guests of The Hotel Careyfornia


    Breakfast at The Griddle


    Claudio, Eva & Bine.  More photos here…


    Claudio sneering at LAX before heading to Brazil


    Bine and Eva proclaiming “The King’s Speech” the best movie of the year so far!


    Even Spiderman tried to get out of the rain on Hollywood Blvd.


    Christmas ice skating at the Spectrum.  More photos here…

  • From Germany to Africa to West Hollywood

    Four years ago, I traveled to Germany for the World Cup.  Americans aren’t exactly known for their love of football (soccer), but being of Italian ancestry and watching Italy win the Cup with all of my European friends was something I will never forget.  I would like to be in South Africa this month, as it is one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever visited.  Cape Town especially is one of my favorite cities in the world.  Here are some of my photos from a trip to Africa I took in 1998-99:

    For those of you who are going this year, enjoy!  Take lots of pictures.  And make sure you get your shots.  You don’t want to end up like poor little Misery Bear:

    Here are some of my favorite snapshots from when Germany hosted the World Cup four years ago:


    Billboard going to the airport….the back was pretty cool too!


    Lovers quarrel


    Downtown Munich


    Watching the finals


    Perennial favorite, Brazil


    The World Cup!


    Viva Italia!


    A swan we saw on a picnic to Lake Starnberg


    Produce Market


    Surfing on the Isar River!  It’s cold…I know

    If you didn’t see the opening concert the other night, this is definitely worth watching!

    In other news, it was a busy week at The Hotel Careyfornia.  I had Chazz all week and we had a good time.  Tuesday, he voted in his first primary.  Friday, he enjoyed the sights of Beverly Hills.  He also made a new friend this week…a crazy bird in my front yard that kept attacking him.  I think Chazz thought it was playing with him!  LOL…take a look:


    Chazz posed with Simon Cowell’s 1.7 million dollar Bugatti Veyron on Rodeo Drive.  More here…

    Last night Claudio & Ryan came home and we had a Pre-Pride Pasta dinner.  This morning, once again the movers, shakers and fringe of gay society gathered at the bottom of my street for the annual, over-commercialized Pride Parade. This year featured Sharon & Kelly Osborne, lots of politicians, stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race and the usual …protesters from Fred Phelp’s loving “GodHatesFags.com” organization. You’ve gotta love the haters!  Happy Pride!

  • Look Ma, No Photoshop!

    We had a great weekend in the San Francisco Bay area.  Bassam, Bine and I drove up Friday, and arrived at Tom & Cathy’s oceanfront home just as the party was getting started.  Youenn flew in from Boston and Mariana graced us with her presence all weekend.  Risa & Luis invited us to a most amazing brunch in the Castro on Sunday; and with our stomachs full and our hearts happy, Bassam and I drove back to Santa Barbara.  Bine flew back to Germany last night, but she’ll be back in LA in May.  It was a whirlwind 9 days with little sleep, but our GLY Gang had a great reunion, as the photos will attest.  Speaking of photos, have you seen the new “Content Aware” feature of the new Photoshop?  Watch the video on the left first, and prepare to be amazed.  The video on the right takes it to a whole other level.  I actually don’t use or know how to use Photoshop.  If I did, I would probably never leave the computer.  I use Picasa to edit my photos.  I typically crop them and remove the red eyes.  Sometimes I’ll saturate them, but lately since I got my new camera, I haven’t had to.  I do sometimes use the graduated tint filter if the sky is too bright, and I will occasionally warmify flesh tones.  That’s about the extent of my editing capabilities.  Nothing like this:

        
    Photoshop’s new “Content Aware” and “Clean my room and make me a sandwich” features

    Saturday morning, Patrick and I had a treasure hunt.  Take a look at the video:

    Click play to watch Patrick find oceanside treasures

    Here are a few of the weekend photos.  I’ll be in New York later this week and may have some exciting news on Thursday.  Keep your fingers crossed  for me and stay tuned!


    Another beautiful sunset from Tom & Cathy’s back yard


    Playing a new form of tag with Patrick


    Body by Patrick


    Self portrait at 2 AM in the back yard


    4 hours later, we were up


    And breakfast was served


    Mariana playing with the kids


    Seaside rock collecting


    Buddies


    Sun roof photo while heading to brunch in San Francisco, approaching Dolores Park


    The brunch menu included:  Jalapeno Avocado Soup, Torta Rustica, Shrimp Etouffe, Arroz con Pollo, Pan Perdue & Strawberry Rhubarb Tart!


    The Mission in Santa Barbara


    Photo fun with Patrick.  Click for more…


    Best of the rest…

  • This is What Change Looks Like

    “Tonight, we answered the call of history as so many generations of Americans have before us. When faced with crisis, we did not shrink from our challenge — we overcame it. We did not avoid our responsibility — we embraced it. We did not fear our future — we shaped it.” President Barack Obama

    We got home from Santa Barbara last night just as the President was finishing his remarks.  Though the debate rages on via my Facebook page (thanks to both the Davids); real reform is on its way.  After this vile display last week, it’s pretty clear that the Republicans and the racist teabaggers really thought this was all about welfare:

    Sunset in Santa Barbara last night

    Anyway, we had a great weekend with very little sleep.  Bine and Lindsay arrived Friday night along with Carolina, Eva, Vonda, Nate, Bianca and Julia.   We had 9 people sleeping in my little condo, so it was similar to this.  Saturday we went to Claudio & Ryan’s for a Brazilian barbecue.  Sunday we spent a hazy day at the beach in Santa Barbara before dropping Marcelo off at the airport.  Two hours later, I got a text that there had been a small plane crash in Santa Barbara, and Marcelo was being shuttled to LAX.  So off to the airport again I went, and we had him for another night!  Everyone woke up at 5 this morning, and we were on our way back to the airport at 5:30 AM.  Next weekend, Bassam, Bine and I will head up to Tom & Cathy’s in San Francisco to see little Patrick and Youenn (who I haven’t seen since we traversed the Alps last summer!) and Mariana.  Should be another great weekend!  Here are this past weekend’s photos:


    Who knew Chazz was part giraffe and part Scooby Doo?

     
    The gang at LAX and The Hotel Careyfornia


    No caption needed!


    Lindsay & Chazz


    Ryan & Chazz


    Good food, good friends


    Bassam finally showed up!


    Up on the roof


    Eva’s neighbor’s front yard in Santa Barbara


    Chazz & Riley the herbivore


    The haze cleared when we went to campus


    One last supper


    Before heading back to Los Angeles


    Best of the rest…

  • Tonight the Streets are Ours

     
    I had a great time at the Sundance Film Festival thanks to Drew, Christine and baby Lance.  Thanks also to Christine’s parents for watching the baby while we played on Saturday.  My 2nd Annual trip to Park City also coincided with a ski trip that Marcelo and Emily planned with Vonda and Nate.  So the entire weekend turned out to be a mini GLY reunion.  We laughed, shared stories and ate good food.  The best movie we saw at the Film Festival was called “Exit Through the Gift Shop“.  There was a lot of mystery surrounding the film.  We initially thought it was going to be a documentary on the infamous (and anonymous) graffiti artist Banksy.  His amazing street art has been popping up all over the world in recent years, especially in Los Angeles, and now in Utah, just in time for the premiere of his film.  It’s described as:

    In the late 1990s, a hybrid form of graffiti began appearing in cities around the world. Enlisting stickers, stencils, posters, and sculpture and spread by the burgeoning Internet, it would be labeled “street art” and establish itself as the most significant counterculture movement of a generation. Los Angeles–based filmmaker Thierry Guetta set out to record this secretive world in all its thrilling detail. For more than eight years, he traveled with the pack, roaming the streets of America and Europe, the stealthy witness of the world’s most infamous vandals. But after meeting the British stencil artist known only as “Banksy,” things took a bizarre turn.

    Sundance has shown films by unknown artists but never an anonymous one. Banksy turns the tables on the only man who has ever filmed him, creating a remarkable documentary that is part personal journey and part an exposé of the art world with its mind-altering mix of hot air and hype. In the end, Exit Through the Gift Shop is an amazing ride, a cautionary modern fairy tale . . . with bolt cutters.

    Take a look:

    The worst film we saw was called “Double Take“.  It was about 2 hours too long (and it only lasted 90 minutes)!  It was a documentary about Khrushchev, Alfred Hitchcock and Folger’s Coffee.  Very weird.  Maybe I’m just not intellectual enough to get it, as Christine pointed out on Facebook, LOL:

    Yesterday morning the snow fell lightly and we went to Dim Sum with Marcelo & Emily.  I flew home to warm L.A. late last night, but I’m still reliving the snowy weekend, and already looking forward to next year!  Here are some photos:


    Flying into Salt Lake City, Utah


    Lance was glad to see me!


    So was Betsy!


    Brrrrr!


    Typical Sundance fashion…guess where they’re from?


    Adrian Grenier of Entourage fame signing an autograph on Main St.


    Main Street, Park City


    An original Banksy!!


    Drew and Christine, before they knew how bad “Double Take” was!


    An Olympic tribute


    Skiing in downtown Park City


    Drew and I on the red carpet


    Vonda, Nate, Betsy and I


    Marcelo playing Puff the Magic Dragon for Lance


    The dim sum tradition continues!


    Lance, rubbing for good luck


    Best of the rest…starring Paris Hilton and Kevin Bacon

  • Dolphins, Home Depot and Condoleezza Rice

    After ringing in the New Year in grand style, we took the weekend to relax a bit.  Home Depot has this great kid’s workshop the first Saturday of every month, so Cathy & I took Patrick.  I wasn’t much help building, but as always I took the photos.  The sunset was spectacular on Saturday and on Sunday I drove the six hours home to get here in time for Ryan’s birthday party.  Lorenzo & Adam flew in from DC, and we all celebrated at Palms Thai.  I’m currently curled up on the couch with Chazz, eating popcorn and relaxing for the first time since before Christmas.  Here are some of my favorite photos and two videos from the past few days.  Have a great week everyone!  Happy New Year.


    Patrick in his living room


    The first sunset of 2010


    He didn’t get his nailing ability from Uncle Carey


    The Home Depot Kid’s Workshop is a great program, and it’s free!


    Such a good builder!


    No caption necessary!


    4 against 1!  No fair!


    Joaquin feeding me kiwi


    We celebrated New Year’s first with the kids at 8:23, because we forgot to at 8:00.  They didn’t know the difference!


    Except the dog and my weight!


    A rare quiet moment


    I like this photo


    Playing football in the back yard.  He’s getting better as this old video attests!


    Yesterday during breakfast, a pod of dolphins swam by to say goodbye!


    Wes & Owen


    Near Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco


    See more from today with the boys, by clicking here.


    Best of the rest…


    What I woke up to on New Year’s Day


    The first sunset of 2010…starring Patrick & Carey

  • 10 Years After Y2K – Flawless

    1/1/10 3:42 AM – Another Update:  The party’s over…I’m the last one up (as I don’t drink)!  All is quiet on New Year’s Day.  The photos are all in the slideshow below, or click the collage.  Oh, and I thought this whole exchange on Facebook was pretty funny:


    12/31/09 2:10 PM – Update:  Here’s the slideshow of photos so far.  Our guests will start arriving at 5 and I’ll be adding pictures as time permits.  Happy New Year!!

    12/31/09 1:47 AM – I’m finally over the Great Christmas Flu Massacre (the count is up to 10 and still climbing!) and today I drove the 390 miles to Tom & Cathy’s house in paradise.  The drive was actually quite pleasant.  No one lit their underwear on fire and I listened to “Fresh Air” and “This American Life” podcasts the whole way.  I took these photos with my cell phone while driving (sorry for the quality) and posted them to Facebook and Twitter along the way (yes, I can do all that and still drive safely.  But when you text me to tell me to pay attention to the road, it’s more distracting!  LOL).  I only stopped once for gas and the trip took just over 6 hours. 


    The last photo is driving over the Bay Bridge in San Francisco

    Little Patrick was waiting for me at the door.  I hadn’t seen him since July in Germany, and he’s growing like a weed.  We ate meatballs and read books before putting him to bed!


    Best buddies!

    This is our 13th annual New Year’s gathering of the GLY Gang.  It’s hard to believe our far flung group of friends started this tradition in Brazil in 1997, and we have celebrated New Year’s together all over the world ever since.  As our GLY family continues to grow with marriages and babies, I’m thankful for such wonderful friends.  We’re especially thinking of Bine this year and sending her all of our love!

    10 years ago, we were all in Mexico.  It was 1999 and the world was waiting to see what would happen at the strike of midnight in the Year 2000.  Many of you are probably too young to remember the dread surrounding Y2K, but 10 years ago, none of us knew if the world would continue to function.  Here’s a (non digital) photo of our group from that year:

    So much has changed since then.  In 1999 I didn’t even own a digital camera.  I had just gotten my first cell phone the year before.  The word “blog” was only 6 months old!  Bill Clinton was president, and George W Bush was still a whole year away from stealing the presidency of the United States.  I wonder how different the world would be today had he never become president?  I doubt we would be worried about underwear bombs!  (By the way, if Rush Limbaugh dies today, I hope someone demands to see the death certificate!  What a tool.)

    In the next few days I’ll be posting photos of our celebration here.  Until then, here’s a slideshow and video to give you an idea of where I’m writing from.  The waves are crashing up into the back yard 20 feet from where I sit right now.  This is the view I will wake up to in the morning!  Happy New Year!