Nostalgia 2010 - Volume 2: When Music Was Fun

When music was fun...CDs were bought at the store...not downloaded.


When music was fun...A rockband was something that sent you home with your ears ringing after a blistering set...not 5 buttons and a whammy bar.


When music was fun...

It was all about the "One" solo


When music was fun...

Alice In Chains' "Would?" made you stop doing your math homework to bang your head


When music was fun...

The first three chords of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" raised the Angst-Meter to the max


When music was fun...

Tool's 46 & 2 kept you awake at night, kept you digging for the meaning.


When music was fun...

Pantera's "Cowboys From Hell" made you turn the volume to 11 (R.I.P Dime)


When music was fun...
There was nothing in your head behind the starting blocks but the opening to "Motorbreath"



When music was fun...
"Machinehead" made you drive fast and "Comedown" slowed the speed

When music was fun...

Janine Lindemulder graced the cover of albums.


When music was fun...
You had the time to listen to Billie Joe whine


When music was fun...

"Chinese Democracy" was a fantasy...NOT a reality


When music was fun...

"Ride The Lightning" helped you fade to black every night.


When music was fun...
You wished you understood what Jeremy said in class today
(and then you watched the video, and wished you never new)



When music was fun...
Music was your aeroplane



When music was fun...
"Nothing Else Matters" was how you got together

When music was fun...
"Interstate Love Song" was how it fell apart.



When music was fun...
"Spoonman", "Outshined", and "Black Hole Sun". 'nuff said.



When music was fun...
One stage. Four guys. 2 hours...non-stop. July 14, 2000. Summer Sanitarium. Candlestick Park...The last time music was fun.

Nostalgia 2010 - Volume 1

Nostalgia has crept silently into Your Humble Observer's mind recently. A wave of realization washes over me: not ten years ago high school was a time gone by. The fantasy of flying away from the nest toward new horizons rapidly evolved into reality. The years to come would bring new, exciting, daunting, and humbling experiences. All on the path to making me the person that I am today, and the person I will become in the future. Let's examine some of those warm fuzzy feelings from the past over the next few posts. Let us begin with the soundtrack of my life...

A Tribute

Some things never change.

A tribute, this Father's Day, to my hero and role model.

This year I achieved my dream thanks to your love, support, and unwavering faith in me.

And a Happy Father's Day to all the other fathers out there.

In Texto Veritas - Rules Are Rules

Rules Are Rules
Between: YHO and V.K.
Date: 05/24/10
Time: 15:41

A recent exchange between Your Humble Observer and his brother:

YHO: "V., I think as your older brother and mentor it is my duty to tell you... The hotel room has two beds and a couch. A. and I have already called beds. Standard shotgun rules."

V.K.: "YHO, I think as your younger brother and source of comedy it is my duty to tell you... The hotel room has two beds and a couch. I have already called the couch. Standard little brother rules.

UAE Healthy Kidney 10 K

Results from the race last weekend:

In Texto Veritas - What's In A Line?

What's In A Line?


From: A.K.Date: 04/14/10Time: 12:42

"So I'm SITTING in a CHAIR at Starbucks and some very intelligent creature walks up to me and asks me if I'm in line and I say no so she goes and stands in the line...

Interaction Rating: Fantastic"

Hangin' Up The Speedo

I was lucky enough to participate in an alumni water polo game at my old high school yesterday. It was a wave of nostalgia as I walked onto the campus of the old Alma Mater. Warm greetings from old teammates and coaches complimented the sunny and warm California day (I have the sunburn to prove it). Meeting the next generation of water polo players was a comforting thought that the hodgepodge, motley crew team that we put together back in 1997 had progressed to a legitimate program.

Of course, I had to make myself feel like an old man with stories like, "When I played here, we only had PVC pipe goals that were held down with sandbags and broke by the second game of the season" and "We played the game with only seven guys, not twelve like you spoiled brats!" Then I realized that if I continued trying to play this game, I might break a hip.

As for how I felt after the game...well, I'll let Iago show you.

So, it is with much emotion and a humble heart that I announce my official retirement from the game of water polo. A game that has given so much to me. A game that I hope I have given back to.

And as a special retirement bonus, here is a shot of the sexiness that was Your Humble Observer circa 2000 back in the true water polo days.



Eench eyeenk, eench yeghank.

Emm...Dee!

Two letters have driven me all my life. Two letters are now mine.

Mind Boggling Phenomena - Wishing Well

Apparently New Yorkers need more outlets for their wishing needs!