Deck Us All with Bows of Jolly
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Hell of a year, people. Since I do this annually, here it comes again - despite my continuing hiatus from MOG. Be advised: It's not one of those holiday-season family newsletters. Think of it as a message in a bottle - a really long message in a bottle. You're not gonna learn that wee Sally lost a tooth, Princess had puppies, and I was promoted to senior vice president in charge of the Midwest sector. My world is more about avoiding the need for a periodontist than playing host to the Tooth Fairy.
As usual, there have been ups and downs. On the up side, I walk without a limp. On the down side, modern medical miracles can cost you an arm and a leg. (Happy to report that they let me keep the arm AND the leg, and both work fine.)
Without going into details (owing to the various non-disclosure documents that I sign in blood on a weekly basis), I can say that the work continues - such as it is. Business is business. The only constant is change. These are perilous times, but there is promise on the horizon. And so forth.
I'm still splitting time between San Francisco and Los Angeles. I identify as a San Franciscan. I believe it's the most beautiful city in North America, and one of the best places to live on the planet. And I couldn't be happier about my mighty Giants who, this autumn, brought a World Series championship to the City by the Bay for the first time since moving here from New York over 50 years ago. But, these days, I actually prefer my time in L.A. - wearing my Giants T-shirt, of course.
There's something about being in the crucible of the entertainment business, striding through the studio lots and locations where all of that pop-culture history is embedded, driving down the hill from a ridge below the HOLLYWOOD sign and seeing the Capitol Records Tower (currently adorned with a towering Christmas tree of light) on my way to meet the guys at Musso & Frank - the legendary Hollywood Boulevard restaurant, bar, and show-biz watering hole where the prodigious Orson Welles, among others, once held court and where actors, writers and directors still convene to chew the fat (figuratively and literally) and sip a perfectly-made martini. (I'll have an Arnold Palmer, please. Or maybe a craft-brewed oat soda.)
On the art tip, I've been dazzled by a handful of films, including the animated masterpiece "The Illusionist," adapted by Sylvan Chomet ("The Triplets of Belleville") from a lost script by the great French comedian and filmmaker Jacques Tati; and the more expected awards-season suspects "Black Swan," "Winter's Bone," "127 Hours," and "Blue Valentine. On the video front, it's been a diet of HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" and the addictive "Bored to Death," AMC's "Rubicon" and "The Walking Dead," NBC's "30 Rock," and the BBC's outrageously good run of "Doctor Who" with Matt Smith owning as the eleventh incarnation of the Doctor. (The "Doctor Who" Christmas Day special can't get here too soon.)
As for the most welcome new additions to my music playlist (besides the inevitable stream of mash-ups), Deerhunter's Halcyon Digest, Bryan Ferry's Olympia, Best Coast's Crazy for You, Mark Ronson & The Business Intl's Record Collection, Yeasayer's Odd Blood, Surfer Blood's Astro Coast, The Like's Release Me, Admiral Radley's I Heart California, Arcade Fire's The Suburbs, and The National's High Violet have been in regular rotation. And, yes, I've been listening to and enjoying The Black Keys' Brothers. But hasn't everyone?
We've all endured losses this past year. In my case, the most heart-breaking was the demise of my good buddy and confidante Brian who never got a chance to see his beloved Giants finally at the top of the baseball world. The biggest lesson to be learned from his life and passing is a simple, time-worn one: If you have friends, you have hope.
And though our time is finite on this plane, there will be renewal. So it is that the year is ending on a wondrous note with the birth of Ryder Jacobson, fittingly enough on a day smack between Hanukah and Christmas. The son of two bright, loving parents, this most handsome fellow showed up six weeks early, the best possible present for all involved, and is proving to be a healthy, feisty, happy, and doted-upon member of my extended family.
Sweet/sour. Light/dark. Up/down. One informs the other. I'm okay with both. And I can't imagine me without my friends and Trusted MOGgers, former and current.
No matter how good or bad things have been for you of late, I wish you all better times to come. And, in the words of what, to my mild distaste, became a theme song for the Giants' championship season: Don't stop believin'!
Locating MOG account...
Comments (17)
The Happiest Of Holidays to you, Mike and many blessings in the coming year!
Its good to hear from you Mike. I echo Madeline's wishes for you & yours. Continued health & static free clothing. I hope the new year brings you all you would wish...
Same to you, M.B. See you at the MOG Orphanage!
And cheers to you as well, dmdm!
Good to hear what's been going on, though bittersweet. Tasty lists of sounds and symbols to take in. Thank you as always.
Happy Holidays, monsieur. Here's to the new year!
You know it, wass! Have a wassail on me! ;-)
Arg. Your Giants beat my Rangers quite convincingly. Y'all deserved it, though.
Damn right, Todd. Thanks for dropping by though - and good luck next season.
heard you'll be back in LA in Jan, man and that's good news for me. miss your Mog.......i mean mug. fuck it, i miss both and it's good to seeya here.
be back west around 1/4 and ready for a hookup. have an amazing rest of the season!
rd
Yin and yang. Light and dark. Truly impossible to have the one without the other, as you say. At least you've had a good soundtrack for it all. Happy holidays, good sir!
Robin: Thought it was appropriate for a drive-by. By the way, I'm in L.A. now, heading to S.F. on Jan. 3 for a couple of weeks, then likely back in L.A. in mid-January. Expect to be alerted. You and CC have a safe journey west.
Dale: Thanks so much. Same 2 u.
A Christmas tip o' the floppy red hat to you my good sir. Was a pleasure to see you this year as we eyed damsels and purveyed bad art.
A Christmas gift for you if you can find it (I concede defeat): Matt Smith and Karen Gillan interviewd on the breakfast news on BBC 1, wed 22 dec. Both of them like to laugh a lot. They obviously like each other a lot. It's 5 mntes of pop culture bliss.
I'm there, John - and in front of my laptop on Chrissy Day for you-know-what. (BTW, you'll note the addition of cultural ramblings when compared to the earlier friends-and-family e-mail. Had to do it.)
BTW, you did get my forward from Scott S., yes? I think we must proceed soon.
Good to see another post from MTK! And good to read you have mended well (though apparently not easily).
As somebody once reminisced, around this season, on a calendar some time ago in a galaxy far far away, "Well, it's been a year."
May 2011 be a better one- and all best wishes it is.
Merry Happy Mike
;-)
A merry holiday time to you, Mike. Glad to hear the healing went as well a you hoped for. I'll see you here or there in 2011.
Fasted: It was easy enough to assure that I got back on my feet (both of them). Although the docs say that I have great recuperative powers, a few physical therapy exercises are now a regular part of my routine. Don't wanna take anything for granted. A fine 2011 to you too, mon!
Dave: Bien sur!
MusicRX: On the case, doc! I'm not aiming for too much fun - just enough.