Jam on down to the blog where you’ll find everything that rocks and a few things that roll. Everything from 1963 – 1975 fits in the blog that covers any amp that’s ever roared. Other than that we have some sub-pages to cover the kangaroos from down under that kepts rocking for a few years and never left much room for Silver Chair or new wave rock to really fill the enormous school boy shoes. The things that really rock these days are a lot more tame like small business growth and investment opportunities. No longer can you rage from dusk till dusk without a drop of water – you’ve got to look out for local deals in spinal wellness and financial stability. Orange County is a pretty gnarly place if you are comfortable being fiscally responsible and patient waiting for the right real estate agent to show your home. These things are part of growing up in a competitive market, however aging rockers will never let something cover their amp. They’ll turn the new life leaf over and smash a double fat strat on the stupid leaf.
A New Leaf From A Biodynamic Italian Farm
I used to live like there was no tomorrow. Now, I live like there was no yesterday. Let go of past mistakes and do better; “hakuna matata”.
After stepping away from the stage, I spent a few years wishing I had done some things differently…specifically, to my body. But then I realized, what is the point of beating yourself up over things you can’t change? Or remember? As far as I’m aware, apparently, plenty of nights used to involve questionable choices—but hey, I blame it on my youth! Back in those days, my bandmates and I really knew how to party.
I wish I had understood that “health is wealth” in my younger days of rock and roll, but it’s never too late to become the person you want to be. Before you say that I’m full of fertilizer, if a regular old dude like me is choosing kombucha over whiskey, I’m willing to bet that anyone can break old bad habits.
I called up an old bandmate of mine who had patched up a lot of gaps with nutrients from eating plants. “Dude, it’s all in the gut,” he said. I was recommended olive oil for these dishes—real and undiluted. It had to be organic, cold pressed, and extra virgin. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was drinking blueberry kale collagen smoothies in the morning, and eating Mediterranean chicken salads for lunch.
I never knew I could enjoy healthy food until I tried Shayna’s Kitchen Italian olive oil. It was like being teleported to an olive grove in Italy, it was everything I was looking for in a high quality olive oil.
If I had used my keen senses wisely back in the day instead of indulging in my vices, who knows what could have been! Maybe a retired rockstar turned rockstar homecook. Virtues and vices alike, it’s all about the source. If your supplier is mixing stuff together, chances are they’re simply trying to make a bigger buck at your expense. A lot of these so-called olive oils on shelves aren’t exactly what their labels say they are.
I guess you could call me an olive oil connoisseur, but here’s the thing—my days of endlessly searching for the next best thing are long gone. I think I’ve already found the best thing out there from a biodynamic organic olive farm, meaning that all parts of the farm, from livestock to crops, all work together and help each other grow and flourish. Olive trees need fertile soil to become rich in polyphenols with antioxidant powers to help your body fight inflammation, which my doctor says too much of wreaks havoc on the body.
I used to wake up with headaches and stomach aches every morning. What could I expect after years of kidney- and self-destruction? It’s never too late to start taking care of your body. Discover olive oil and biodynamic farming at Shayna’s Kitchen.
Shayna’s Kitchen
Casella postale, 46, 06073 Chiugiana PG, Italy
https://shaynaskitchen.com/
Rocking The Work Life With System 2 Office Cubicles
Hey again Rockers! Some of you may remember my son, who had a lot to say about appeal of working from home. Well, as industries worldwide make great strides in recovering from the health crisis that sort of sounds like “panini”, whether or not workers should return to offices has become a hot-button topic. I am happily retired and I don’t have a horse in this race. That said, after talking with my son, I found the arguments for and against the different work arrangements fascinating. Let’s take a bit of a dive into the pros and cons of each option.
Picture this: rolling out of bed, grabbing a cup of coffee, and settling in at your home office (or falling back into your couch). What once seemed like an absurd way to work has now become the reality for many—and a method that is preferred in magnitudes.
Working from home means no long morning commutes, which is great for you and the environment. It also offers the ultimate freedom and flexibility: no dress code or colleagues—just you and your work. While I never joined the rat race myself, I can definitely understand the appeal of working from home.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The lines between work and personal life can blur, leading to longer hours and burnout. Additionally, working from home isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation: some people may find the lack of social interaction stifling. My friend, for example, thrives in the collaborative atmosphere of a bustling workplace.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this conversation is that different people thrive differently in their work and lives. At the end of the day, it’s about finding the right setup for you, even if that means sticking to traditional office habits despite what’s cool or trendy in the post-panini world. One unique advantage of working remotely is that you can design your office autonomously.
So, how can you get the same distraction-free experience in the office as you would alone at home? The importance of a well-designed workspace cannot be overstated. For those of you in or around Irvine like myself, Creative Office Design offers some of the best Office Furniture in Orange County. Their System 2 office cubicles allow for customizable layouts, with high-quality materials made of over many different fabrics. They are also quick to ship and easy to set up! Creative Office Design’s commitment to quality and innovation gives you the tools to really elevate the way you work at the office.
I hope this post has inspired you to kickstart a relatively easy and low-cost office revamp. It’s important to evolve and upgrade your work environment as the world constantly changes.
For offices of any size, I always turn to Creative Office Designs. I have found the best used and new office furniture in their showroom and warehouse in Orange County. Their office furniture experts will help you find what you need at a price you’ll love.
Creative Office Design
+17143287627
http://creativeofficedesign.net/
How A Well-Needed Message Therapy Session In Irvine Saved My Last Tour
Hello once again, rockers and rockettes! Despite my advancing age and receding hairline, I am feeling VERY high energy today, which inspired me to put pen to paper (so to speak) and harken back to a not-so-distant past.
Why am I feeling so high energy, you may ask? Well, I recently rediscovered the incredible benefits of massage therapy, which means the searing pain I’ve been feeling in my T-band for the last year has FINALLY been taken care of!
One less-than-glamorous aspect of being a touring musician is the aches and pains you get from constantly sitting in a van day after day. As a younger man, I spent nearly 3/4 of the year on tour, so roughly 270 days ‘on the road.’
While you can spring back from this pretty easily as a younger man, the damage eventually wears you down. Once I hit middle age, visits to the physical therapist became a weekly necessity, and they begged me to start making some significant lifestyle changes.
Being a blockhead who refused to accept the reality of my aging body, I doggedly went back out on tour. A few weeks in, however, I was in so much pain I was having difficulty getting out of the hotel bed in the morning, let alone rocking on stage.
Talking the problem over with my bandmates and fellow travelers, I got the usual mixed bag of recommendations: self-medication, yoga, exercise. One older roadie mentioned that his bad back had been almost completely cured through the use of massage therapy, which sounded pretty good compared to the other options.
Wincing in pain as I stumbled through the doors of the nearest massage therapist, the girls at the counters took one look at me and cleared their schedules. This was going to take some work!
That first session was one of the most painful experiences of my life. They pounded me, stretched me out, and gave my muscles and joints a beating I would never forget. Grumbling about quackery, I limped out of the building and sped off to our next hotel, hoping to sleep it off.
Lo and behold, the next morning I felt better than I had in years! It was the first time I could remember getting to a show and not having to knock back a few shots of whiskey to dull the pain. I played better than ever, and I knew then that I had discovered my lifeline.
Once I retired, I picked up yoga and a healthier lifestyle, so I figured the need for massage therapy was now behind me. After a few years of enjoying the quiet life, the old pains began to catch up with me – but this time I was prepared.
After a cursory Google search for ‘messages near me‘, I drove up to Irvine for a place that had pretty solid reviews – Massage Matters. The masseuses used a wide variety of tools in addition to the typical massage techniques, which once again gave me a savage beating.
The effects, however, were just as startling as they were the first time I went. The aches and pains were gone, replaced by a pleasant tingling sensation.
If you are getting consistent aches and pains in your muscles and tendons, I’d heartily recommend giving massage therapy at Massage Matters a try. The team is top notch, and the work they do makes you feel like a million bucks. Call today:
Massage Matters
+17142423390
16525 Von Karman Ave E, Irvine, CA 92606
Organic Orange County Pest Control Removes Kitchen Termites
The other day I walked into my kitchen with a pep in my step, humming a nice riff, and then suddenly, the sight of my old wooden table gave me a flashback to a rather scary incident. I thought I’d reminisce and jog down memory lane.
I remember the incident as clear as day. I’m embarrassed to admit that I jumped out of my skin when I first saw them—the critters. I’ve never been great with bugs. They give me the heebie-jeebies! But once my shock subsided, I had a little chuckle at myself, and that’s when the real horror of the situation dawned on me: where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Those little buggers were signs of real termite damage somewhere in mi casa.
You may wonder why I was so scared of just a few bugs, but as it turns out, termites are a nightmare. There are a few different types including subterranean, which usually dwells beneath the house, and dry wood, which, you guessed it, thrives in dry wood.
These relentless invaders feast on cellulose found in wood and plants, essentially eating away at your home. The consequences include structural damage, which renders your living space unsafe and in need of costly repairs. If that’s not bad enough, termites can also encourage mold growth as they produce moisture when devouring wood. They multiply in the blink of an eye and are notoriously hard to detect, often causing significant damage before you even realize they were ever there.
Now if you’re hearing this and you’ve also seen termites squatting in your house like they own the place, you may be tempted to grab a trusty can of bug spray. But before you do, call a professional exterminator for an inspection of the infestation and a recommendation on the best solution.
Organic extermination can be just as effective as fumigation for lighter termite infestations. A solution of orange oil is one of the most popular environmentally friendly and organic treatments that kill termites without the invasive effects of tent fumigation. While chemical fumigation may be necessary for a severe termite infestation, I highly suggest looking into an organic termite specialist first and exploring the possibility of spot treating.
With the knowledge and experience that professional exterminators have, you can safely bet that your unwanted guests will get lost and stay out for good. My pals at Natural Science Exterminating employ organic treatments to deal with termites, using orange oil to give them the boot and a borate salt solution to keep them out. They’re even licensed to install TAP insulation, which is infused with borate that not only exterminates termites but also serves as an effective thermal and acoustic insulator.
When I made the call to Natural Science Exterminating, they arrived within 24 hours and conducted an inspection free of charge! Over a few days, they successfully exterminated the termites and even offered semi-annual or annual maintenance to keep them out for good.
As lucky as I am to have had natural exterminators put an end to my termite hell week, these memories serve as a warning to all property owners that termites are not to be underestimated. They’re sneaky, stubborn, and destructive, making them extremely hazardous and costly if left unaddressed. My advice is to get ahead of the damage they can cause—call an exterminator as soon as you realize you have an infestation, and consider if organic extermination may be something you’re interested in. For me, not only did it work pretty well as I haven’t had any unexpected guests since, but I ended up getting some new insulation out of the ordeal as well.
May your homes be termite-free. Rock on!
If you’re dealing with a termite infestation or suspect that you have a termite infestation, contact Natural Science Exterminating for a free inspection.
Natural Science Exterminating
11642 Knott Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92841
Getting Good With Gut Health Using A Zeolite Detox!
Welcome back, rockers and rockettes! Today, we’re going to discuss the topic of aging. I know it’s a subject I, in particular, don’t enjoy bringing up, but sometimes we just need to stare reality in the face.
In my rockin’ youth, I grew up in a working-class family in the 70’s and 80’s, which meant lots of TV dinners mixed with the occasional fast food. As I grew older and started my music career in earnest, the lack of money meant this diet didn’t change until well into my 20’s, when suddenly champagne and caviar were added to the mix.
Despite the wealth, my eating habits remained pretty terrible until I hit my 30’s and noticed a new and unwelcome spare tire growing around my midsection. Not only was I quickly becoming unable to fit into my old leather pants, I found myself nursing an upset stomach most days of the week.
Ever since, I’ve tried every diet and health kick in the books to try and get my digestive system back into gear with mixed results. Keto and an all-meat diet were terrible for my system, while pescatarian and vegetarianism seemed to have an opposite (but equally unwelcome) effect.
My diet coaches were finally able to create a complicated and bland diet that seemed to quiet things down a few years ago. Unfortunately, this wasn’t exactly an enjoyable way to live life – I felt like a Spartan living in the barracks with nary the occasional treat!
After the umpteenth breakfast of bland toast and eggs, I was fed up with it all and began to look for a solution that would fix the underlying problem: my gut health. The years of eating garbage had done a number on my intestinal health, and it was time I made amends with my digestive tract.
During my frantic research, I discovered a number of gut health supplements designed to assist those in desperate need like myself. The most powerful of which – Zeolite – seemed to be the miracle cure I had been searching for.
Zeolite is a naturally occurring mineral made from the mixing of volcanic ash and seawater. This mixture creates a unique structure that can help scrape away the toxins built up in the intestines and soothe the inflammation caused by a lifetime of poor choices.
High-quality zeolite can be tough to find, but I was lucky to come across a company that had just started distributing it: Shayna’s Kitchen. Shayna’s Kitchen offers a variety of different health-boosting foods and compounds, including ceremonial matcha, a long-time favorite of mine I discovered when touring Japan.
The zeolite was able to rectify some of the worst symptoms of my intestinal problems, greatly expanding the diet my coaches prescribed. I was once again able to eat tomatoes – an experience so sweet I nearly cried!
If you are looking for some A-grade health foods and compounds, there’s no business I would recommend higher than Shayna’s Kitchen. Give the website a look, and do yourself a favor and order some of the matcha. It’s seriously delicious.
Shayna’s Kitchen
Cannabis Security At A Distance
I recently spent some time relaxing in the best way possible: in the backyard with the warm weather and a wonderfully crafted joint. While doing so I started to reminisce about the days when a joint wasn’t something you’d smoke out in the full view of neighbors, even if some were doing the same. Once upon a time (and still the case outside of California) weed was smoked away from prying eyes, out of some cheap bong, and grown by a mystery man. It’s crazy to think about how we got to this point, and even crazier to think about what it takes to stay in the legal pot business. So with that, let’s zoom out and look into the rich history of cannabis in California from the distance of hindsight.
Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that for as long as anyone can remember, the culture of the Golden State and cannabis is a relationship that goes way back. The vegetable of good vibes has been here forever, but cannabis use and the push for its legalization saw its peak in the 1960s. Enjoyed for therapeutic uses, spiritual journeys, or pure relaxation, cannabis was the soundtrack to the laid-back Californian lifestyle. But, as the 20th century unfurled its uncertainties, concerns about cannabis use grew. Yet still, enthusiasts of cannabis bonded and became their counterculture of non-conformity, freedom, and creative expression. Despite the odds, recreational cannabis was eventually legalized in California, a trailblazer of the industry we know today, where legal pot is a reality.
But the legalization of marijuana in certain states doesn’t mean it’s all smooth sailing and clear skies. To keep the cannabis business grooving means that we have to play things by the book. From cultivation to distribution, the state has laid down the law to ensure that industry players have safety as their number one priority. In this era of strict regulations and high product demand, companies like Cannabis Security Solutions have become indispensable, with solutions like remote guarding to ensure the safety of your people, product, and business. Remote guarding combines security personnel with artificial intelligence cameras to enhance safety and significantly lower the costs of monitoring. Prevent theft, trespassing, break-ins, and access control issues with features like digital line barriers, intrusion alerts, voice-down live communication, and 24/7 recording.
Now, some of you may be wondering if the long road to marijuana legalization has been worth it, at least in the sunny state. Take it from someone who’s lived it. It’s a night and day experience when you not only feel safe to smoke within the eyesight of strangers and even police, but it’s also a huge relief to know that the herb you’re about to consume into your body is something grown, harvested, and packaged by a competent and regulated dealer instead of something that was illicitly grown (and potentially laced!). The quality control, safety standards, and transparency enforced by legal requirements allow for the peace of mind every cannabis enthusiast deserves.
So, here we are. Smoking, chilling, and vibing with legal pot! California has come a long way, and it’s been a wild story that’s still being written. From a secretive movement of counterculture to a well-regulated industry, the evolution of marijuana has been nothing short of awe-inspiring.
If you run a cannabis business, whether in growing or retailing, then I can wholeheartedly recommend Cannabis Security Solutions to help you navigate cannabis laws and safety compliance standards, securing your business and organization with custom security management plans.
Cannabis Compliant Security Solutions
https://ccsecuritysolutions.com/
Landscape Company Builds Ultimate Kitchen in Mission Hills
Hey there, rockers! Normally you’d start the New Year with some New Year’s resolutions, but I thought I’d change it up. Instead of New Year’s resolutions, let’s talk about New Year’s renovations! Over the holidays I felt like my backyard was missing a bit of spice. The backyard is where I spend time with my family and pals to relax in the incredible South California weather.
With my music blasting and a few cold ones, I decided that my new project would be an incredible outdoor kitchen with pizzazz, perfect for family get-togethers or band reunions.
It’s great having company around, but too often, this means my wife or I have to pause a conversation to grab food or drinks from the kitchen. So, picture this: a kitchen where you can unleash your inner grill master, right in the middle of the party. Or, channel your inner bartender and shake up a perfectly mixed drink for your guests. It’s no wonder outdoor kitchens are becoming so popular. I could never pass up the opportunity to entertain guests while grooving under the sun.
Before I dove headfirst into the shenanigans, I drew my ideal layout. A grill is a no-brainer—there would be no point in having a separate one since we’re going all-in with this. An oven is also a staple, but I stepped it up and decided to add a wood-fired oven pizza because you never know when you will crave that perfect slice (a great hangover cure!).
A drink cooler is perfect to keep the alcohol flowing, and a sink to help with any unexpected messes. Last but not least, for rain or shine, I knew I had to revamp the patio to make it fit for the best of wining and dining with some shade from the sun and some shielding from any rain.
While I would love to have you believe I did this whole project by myself, and without breaking a sweat, the heavy lifting was done by my trusted friends at Torrey Pines San Diego Landscape Company. The folks at Torrey Pines are an incredible group of hardworking and detail-oriented landscapers. They’ve helped me before with similar projects, and with their expertise, this project was completed quickly, and with quality.
Did the outdoor kitchen live up to my expectations? Honestly, no—it surpassed them. Everything turned out exactly as I had envisioned it in my head. I can’t sing praises about these guys enough! If you decide to do any landscaping this year, don’t hesitate to call the professionals to design and build your dream outdoor space. The architects and contractors clearly understood my preferences and needs and completed a backyard landscape remodel with excellent communication and attention to detail, from beginning to end.
My experience with my new outdoor kitchen has been filled with joy. I didn’t have to hop in and out of conversations just to get hotdogs and hamburgers off the grill. The pizza oven was the talk of the night. The only problem with this of my new, fully-equipped outdoor kitchen is that I’ve started cooking a lot more than usual. Woe is me!
Building My Office & Studio With Fast Ship Cubicle Solutions
Some of the best recording artists of all time produced their greatest works right at home.
And I have as well—scrawling lyrical ideas on the back of a napkin at the kitchen table and belting out my lungs in the shower.
In all seriousness, I have toyed with the idea of getting back on the horse. The thing is that I’m no spring chicken. The kids these days would much rather listen to Taylor Swift or Billie Eilish. But hey, I also know that I have nothing to prove, nothing to lose. My love for music transcends any desire or need for external validation through fame, money, or status.
As passionate as I am about music, any time I sat down to write or practice, I struggled to focus on getting into the zone. I realized that I needed to integrate music into my home office somehow. The songwriting process is like a flowing meditation—you need a space where your mind can wander, where you can let loose and express your innermost, deepest thoughts without losing momentum.
I have always had a dedicated room in my house that serves as a casual office. But I could never really get into a flow state there. I guess it just never inspired me.
To get inspired, I decided to convert the space into a recording studio. But what was I going to do with the rest of the office? There needed to be some separation between the musical space and office space, but how would that all fit together? I did some digging on the web apparently the open office is out and cubicles are in! I even discovered that businesses in my area are installing cubicles to redesign and maximize their office space to improve worker productivity.
It turns out that one of the fastest cubicle suppliers is located right here in Orange County. My cubicles were delivered soon after I ordered them. Awesome and sturdy, they were surprisingly easy to install! Without these cubicles, I would have had to spend loads of time and money on remodeling to get the musical space and office space configured the way I envisioned. If I ever do want to change the layout, I can easily reconfigure the cubicles by moving them around.
I can’t believe I didn’t think of this solution sooner, but I sure am glad that I eventually stumbled upon it. I am happy that I now have a space that inspires me to spend more time on what I love. And the whole project was a breeze from start to finish. Cubicles have helped to elevate the space so much that my creativity and productivity are heightened. I find it easy to focus without being interrupted or distracted.
I also look forward to having friends and family join me in jam sessions or as a multi-use, multi-functional hybrid co-working space. I am thrilled with my new office and studio. Why didn’t anyone tell me about cubicles sooner? Well, I guess it’s better that I learned about the solution sooner rather than later. And I lived to tell the tale!
Retirement Diary: Lake Forest Fake Grass Greens
Welcome back, rockers! Today we’ll discuss one of the few consistent hobbies I’ve had since making it big in the biz: golf!
I don’t usually like talking about this because I get the impression that most people think golf is for rich old guys with too much time on their hands – all of which is true. That being said, I like being outdoors, I enjoy day drinking, and I enjoy yacking people’s ears off, and golf lets me check all those boxes. Win-win!
Since the pandemic started, I’ve been dead set on trying out all the courses within driving distance of my sunny southern California residence. Doing what you do at home in some exotic locale is pretty lame anyway, and I get to meet and make some good contacts with local bigwigs that can help grease wheels when needed. Yet another win!
My latest trip took me to a small Orange County community called Lake Forest, a little piece of suburbia I would usually pass right by. The course was fairly standard, though well maintained, and it was a great day for golf. I even met an old acquaintance of mine who had driven up from a ritzy little community called Coto de Caza, and we got to drinking like we were in our 20’s again.
After the 9th hole, we determined we were a little too sloshed to continue the game once we both got a bogey with half the course left to play. My acquaintance mentioned he had recently gotten a putting green with a couple of holes installed on his property, and we decided to take a taxi back to his place to continue the party.
We putted (and drank) until about 10 in the evening, studiously ignoring his wife’s hints about him needing to stop and help with the kids’ homework. Even in my revelry, I was seriously impressed with the little course he had installed in the yard. Well-placed obstacles, perfectly manicured grass, and tasteful elevation changes-it was like a classy miniature golf course.
After sleeping it off in the pool house, I sauntered into the kitchen at around 11 in the morning and treated myself to some waffles that my acquaintance’s scowling wife said she had planned to only make for herself and the kids. He stumbled in shortly afterward, and we went to the backyard so he could get some air.
As it turned out, he had worked with a Lake Forest local company-NoMow Turf-to design and install the fake grass putting green. He and I marveled at the craftsmanship of the installation a little more as I waited for the taxi to get me away from the cold, unwelcoming stare of his wife.
Safe to say, I’m now considering getting my own putting green installed, if only because I’d like to invite my acquaintance to hang out and get a break from his henpecked existence. If you’re considering something similar in the Orange County area, I can’t recommend NoMow Turf more than I do. Seriously, their turf installations have to be seen to be believed. Call today:
NoMow Turf
+18559688873
26774 Vista Terrace, Lake Forest, CA 92630
Commercial Pest Control For The Modern Business
As a guy who has been a sponsor of every environmentalist organization you can imagine over the last four decades, it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to say I’ve never been a fan of exterminators. The chemicals they spray, the way the poisons work themselves up the food chain…for an old tree hugger like myself, it represented pretty much what I hate.
Then I became a business owner whose establishment was raided by a particularly nasty colony of termites. My objection to using exterminators quickly began melting away as evidence of their spread throughout my building started mounting. I needed a solid exterminator and fast.
Luckily, in this day and age there’s no reason to have to choose between being an environmentalist and a pragmatic business owner in need of pest control, thanks to companies like Natural Science Exterminating. The company uses naturally occurring substances to eliminate ongoing infestations and prevent the critters from coming back later on.
The company doesn’t just have an advantage in methodology – they also have impeccable customer service. Check out what their clients are saying:
Read Corinne L.‘s review of Natural Science Exterminating on YelpI could not be happier with this company. We have pets and I did not want to have to move out during termite treatment. I was hesitant try this method but it works. The areas that I could see now have no termite evidence. Fast forward to August we had flying ants coming in through our bedroom window sash in the evening. Brian identified them and treated them. He said they’d be gone by a week. They haven’t appeared since he sprayed. I highly recommend this company. They are reachable, friendly and professional. Their prices good also. Win-win
I really appreciated the honesty and upfront nature of this company. We had a bad ant problem all throughout our home that we need to bring professionals in for. We wanted something that would work but that was nontoxic or eco friendly as we have 2 little people living with us that can help but put everything in there mouths (children ). From first contact I felt taken care of. I explained our situation and was given options that would best suit us. They let us know that the product they’d be using inside may not be as effective but would still work.
Wild K., Yelp Review
They even came back out at no cost to spot treat a few areas for us (within 30 days).
All and all it’s been a little over a month and we haven’t seen a single ant. It’s such a relief since ants were in the little ones cribs upstairs.
I’d highly recommend them.
If you’re like me and are a big fan of the environment but still need some pesky bugs or rodents removed from your property, get in contact with Natural Science Exterminating. They’ll ensure the problem is taken care of without the need to release industrial poisons into the local food chain. Win-Win!
Natural Science Exterminating
+18002467378
11642 Knott St, Garden Grove, CA 92841
Marijuana Security Solutions On The Brain
The summer of love of the sixties was all about self-expression, experimentation, non-conformity, and, of course, love.
Despite the age of my old bones, I am still a wild child and a flower child at heart. I do not trust the government or corporate America and I never have. I do not support bigotry or violence and the like. I support peace and unity, and I hope that our collective will one day awaken to realize and end the harm that humans have inflicted upon each other and our planet.
I have many fond memories of exploring and experiencing the expansion of my consciousness. That said, I could style myself as a cool dude and tell you that drugs are amazing, awesome, and exciting, or I can be honest with you about the dangers and consequences of consuming potent, mind-altering substances.
I consider myself extremely lucky to have enjoyed the life that I have lived. If you ask me, I would certainly do it again. But that is not to say that my life has been without suffering.
All of my most profound transformations and chapters of growth were brought on by quite painful experiences of heartbreak, loss, tragedy, or failure. Life is a rollercoaster. You go up. You go down. You never stop screaming.
But what if that rollercoaster ride is scarier than it is fun, time and time again? And what if it is so frightening and troubling that we’re left with scars—physical and emotional?
I know of many, myself included, who have struggled with post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression.
Medical cannabis and CBD have quite literally saved my mind and body from mental and physical pain. I learned about these solutions from a few friends I practice yoga with.
Unlike in my younger days, my curiosity led me to obtain these products legally, following medical guidance and my own research. My own personal experiences with the bud lit a spark within me. I thought about starting a grow facility and dispensary to offer safe and legal access to cannabis products. What seemed like a crazy idea led me down a research rabbit hole on marijuana security.
The unregulated illicit market is not safe for consumers or legal businesses. Cannabis facilities are often targeted for their stores of cash and product, which can be easily resold on the black market.
My new knowledge of security risks was quite a tough pill to swallow. I kept digging until I discovered a cannabis grower and dispensary security expert here. Cannabis Compliant Security Solutions specializes in security plans, security staff training, and security auditing and optimization. Guidance from security experts who understand compliance is crucial when considering and implementing risk management for cannabis growing or retail.
Cannabis can be consumed through smoke, edibles, topical application, and more. I do not miss the days in which marijuana was such a taboo and feared substance that neither the government nor mainstream society clearly understood. I expect more questions to arise across the industry as it evolves and adapts to the laws.
If you have questions about cannabis security management, you can give Cannabis Compliant Security Solutions a call today.
Cannabis Compliant Security Solutions
https://ccsecuritysolutions.com/
San Diego Homeowner Diaries: Getting My Landscaping Redone With The Premier La Jolla Landscape Company
Hello and welcome back to the rockin’ retirement blog! Well, that’s a bit of a lame name – I’m still workshopping it. Anywho, it’s been a while!
Since the last update, I’ve gone on yet another home renovation spree, this time targeting the backyard of my little La Jolla rental property. The home doesn’t have a ton of room, which means it’s perfect for a little tropical-themed getaway where the cityscape can disappear after entering the yard.
I know from experience it’s really easy to go too far with a jungle theme, so I enlisted the help of a landscaping company with some experience in creating similar arrangements. Here in La Jolla, the best company around for this kind of work by a fair mile is Torrey Pines Landscape Company.
At this point, TPLC should need no introduction – I’ve mentioned them on the blog before, and they have won many awards for their work here in San Diego. Their designs aren’t all that’s top-notch – the team has some insane customer service skills as well, as evidenced by their customer reviews. Here, check out a couple:
We had Torrey Pines Landscape completely renovate our “tired” little backyard into an “outdoor paradise” for us, with outdoor built-in grill area, fire pit, new sprinkler system complete with French drains, outdoor lighting, bushes, plants, etc. A few years later we had them put in a succulent garden in the front area of our home. Recently, we were working on our own backyard project and hit/broke a sprinkler line and called TPL for help with it.
Regarding the backyard project: We had a specific deadline as we were planning to use it for a wedding reception. Harry and his landscape professionals assisted GREATLY with plant selection and design. TPL went above and beyond by completing this major project on time, and were friendly, professional, and respectful at all times. Regarding the succulent garden: It turned out beautiful and we have been very happy with it. Regarding the sprinkle line repair: We called TPL for a reference or to see if they would be able to schedule a repair. They sent Ian out within 3 days, who repaired it within an hour and they did not charge us for the repair. WOW. We were not expecting that, but this is the kind of company TPL is. They truly care about their customers. We would highly recommend them to anyone wanting a quality landscape project managed by a very professional crew.
M. M., Yelp Review
I can’t wait to see what they can do with the limited space available in my rental property – no doubt they’re going to blow my mind yet again. If your La Jolla property needs a landscape redesign, do yourself a favor and get in touch with Torrey Pines Landscape Company:
Torrey Pines Landscape Company
+18584541433
5560 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, CA 92121
The Boring Life of a Former Wild Child
I saw a tweet from Elon Musk the other day; it was a drawing by artist Dadara (Daniel Rozenberg). The drawing was an encapsulation of the life of an artist. In the eighties, artists would spend most of their time on s*x, drugs, and rock and roll…and a little bit of time on making art. Today, artists spend the majority of their time on social media…and a little bit of time on making art.
Having lived the life myself, I will attest to the accuracy of the drawing.
I do wonder what young people are up to these days. I guess things haven’t changed much. We’re always trying to escape our obligations. Making art is rewarding, especially at the end, but the process itself isn’t always a thrilling ride through and through.
Being hit by a stroke of inspiration is fleeting. Inspiration is unpredictable, and it gives you a feeling you want to constantly experience, even though it is impossible to constantly live in a creative high. I think this is why so many artists are prone to falling into substance abuse as well as other distractions and coping mechanisms.
I wouldn’t say I’m an avid user of social media. But I have heard that social media gives you that rush, elation, and “high” that everyone these days seems to be chasing after.
Euphoria.
It’s something we experience in moments of transcendence.
But life isn’t always euphoric. And even if we are to live in a state of pure bliss, that state must be found within us, not through external factors.
Since dopamine is so pleasurable, we can become addicted to the objects and behaviors that increase our dopamine.
Life will always have its ups and downs, and many of us have trauma from the past. If you refuse to heal your wounds, those wounds will keep festering until they rot your insides.
I had to finally take a real look at how much was rotting in my home when I realized that it was in serious danger of collapsing. I had previously seen but ignored all the signs: wings, mud tubes, and hollowing wood. I would ignore everything and pray that it would go away on its own. On the surface, my house looked like a 5-star hotel, but behind the walls and underneath the floors, everything was being eaten away.
Any issue in your mind or in your home needs to be addressed immediately. I now have annual inspections and organic termite treatments in Orange County in order to save my home from long-term termite damage. If you don’t remove them, these termites will relentlessly chew at anything made of wood, and they’ll even start new colonies in your home.
As a former wild child, I’ve retired to the hippie lifestyle. I like that my termite exterminator offers what I call “extermination for hippies”—an environmentally-friendly plant-based solution that removes termites using orange oil. Regular inspections and natural spot treatments have done wonders to help me avoid a situation where tent fumigation is necessary. PEACE AND LOVE!
Odd Jobs
Hello again, world! It’s been quite a while since my last report, and I don’t have much of an excuse. Old age hasn’t slowed down my mind much at all, which means I always have to keep busy or else I start getting a little crazy.
The recent supply crunches have been causing a lot of unplanned downtime, and it got me thinking about what I could do to fill up time and what I did before my career took off and my band got big. While I was still just a young stud playing nightly gigs at clubs and venues all over town, I took a ton of different jobs to help pay for my cruddy apartment and party-filled lifestyle.
As it happens, one of those jobs was working as a local, last-mile truck driver for a local logistics company delivering anything from food to grocery stores to furniture for big retailers. This was in ancient history when laws and expectations for truck drivers were a little more…lax, let’s call it.
I had worked at a moving company for a little while and had some experience driving medium-sized trucks around town, which was really all the trucking company needed to hire me on the spot. This was despite the fact that my work history was a little questionable, to say the least, but they were glad for the extra help and I was glad for the money.
As it turned out, it was a really well-paying gig. I made nearly $30 an hour, which back in the day was the equivalent of making well over six figures for a full-time driver. I’m fairly certain my eyes turned into giant, cartoon dollar signs after receiving my first paycheck.
I started driving longer and longer hours, even missing band practice a few times to get in just an extra run for the extra cash. With the paychecks rolling in, I seriously considered giving up the career in music that had barely begun but didn’t seem to be going anywhere – after all, I could easily get out of my roach-filled apartment and start seriously considering buying a nice McMansion in the suburbs with the kind of money I was making.
Luckily for me and my many fans, that line of thinking came to an end one fateful day when one of my driver compatriots was involved in a crash while drunk as a skunk. The rules were laxer in those days, but the injuries caused by that dummy were severe enough to create one bonanza of a lawsuit.
Unfortunately for the little family-owned trucking company I worked for, they had been seriously skimping on the insurance policies for their fleet. The lawsuit completely cleaned them out, and before long the company was forced to shut its doors and my career as a trucker came to a premature end.
When I retired from touring and was looking for new enterprises to start, logistics actually was one of the first ideas that came to mind. When I looked into what went into creating and maintaining a fleet of trucks, however, I quickly backed down from the intense wall of insurance policies required and went looking for greener pastures.
The interest remained, however, and I recently was talking to a friend in the industry who chided me for running scared rather than turning to the experts to help me through it. They talked up their insurance company – S.W.A.N. Insurance – and how they walked them through the various insurance policies they’d need and gave them some of the best rates around.
If you’re in the market for last mile insurance in San Diego, or any other policy needed to protect your logistics company, take my friend’s advice and get in contact with S.W.A.N. Insurance. They’ll walk you through the process and hook you up with all the protection you need to keep your business safe from the same fate that befell my previous employers.
S.W.A.N. Insurance
+18583813108
2148 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
I Got A Fitness Makeover—And So Did My Lawn
The sunny state of California is well-known for beaches, surfing, and stunning natural landmarks.
And it’s no secret that California is home to something else:
Hot bodies and Hollywood.
You’ve seen them on the internet—ripped, muscular, and tanned people training on Muscle Beach at the Santa Monica Pier. California is so synonymous with celebrity fitness that our governor is Hollywood superstar and former Mr. Olympia Bodybuilding Champion, Arnold Schwarzenegger. You can’t make this stuff up!
Gold’s Gym in Venice, Los Angeles, California is one of the most popular destinations in the world for fitness and bodybuilding enthusiasts. Unfortunately, Gold’s Gym had to close down many of its locations. These past few years haven’t been easy for the businesses in our country.
In my youth, I preferred physical activity in the form of crazy concerts and parties. Just thinking about those days gets my heart pumping and blood flowing through my veins.
I’m not a huge gym goer and I’ve never been into fitness and lifting weights. In fact, I’d rather not lock myself in a room surrounded by heavy metal equipment—the only heavy metal I like is the type that musically caresses your eardrums!
That said, these last few years have really made me focus on taking care of my health. I mean seriously, I have realized how lucky I am that my family and I are healthy and happy.
I’m not too worried about how my body looks—in fact, I think I look great for my age and all the experimentative stuff I used to do—but I do care about my health and longevity.
So instead of getting a gym membership, I decided to start working out at home with a combination of high-intensity interval training and yoga. With high-intensity interval training, you can train without equipment or use a handful of kettlebells or dumbbells. Yoga doesn’t require much equipment either—just a mat and maybe some foam blocks.
I did procrastinate just a little when I started my fitness journey. I wasn’t motivated to go outside to exercise when I saw that the grass wasn’t looking so green. I had just given up at some point with all the lawn maintenance. Pushing around a lawnmower, pulling out weeds, and carrying around a water hose was both a chore and a workout—and not a fun one at that.
One of my friends told me about artificial grass and how easy the installation was. I booked my appointment with NoMow Turf after seeing the transformations on their site. I was highly impressed by the quality and durability of the synthetic grass that they offered. Had I known about synthetic turf sooner, I wouldn’t have had to spend so much time tending to my lawn all these years!
Thanks to my fitness journey, both my lawn and I have experienced a makeover—and my wife couldn’t be happier!
As for me, I can’t stress enough how much I love exercising in the privacy of my own backyard, breathing in the fresh outdoor air, and bathing under the sunlight. I used to be sore from all the lawn care I had to do with natural grass, but now the back pain is gone and the only soreness I get is from doing exercises I actually enjoy.
I wonder if I’ll ever look good enough to become super fit and famous.
Just kidding.
If your lawn needs a makeover, you can give NoMow Turf, Inc. a call today.
NoMow Turf, Inc. – Synthetic Lawns & Putting Greens
26774 Vista Terrace, Lake Forest, CA 92630
So Long, And Thanks For The Memories
It’s a sad day today, my friends. The first recording studio I ever used with my band has shuttered its doors and the building is set for demolition in the coming weeks.
I have a lot of fond memories of the place, despite how grody and dingy it always was. The first track we ever managed to get picked up and played on the radio was recorded there, as well as every demo tape we made before we got picked up by a record label.
Ever since I heard the news, I’ve been looking back fondly on the things I used to find disgusting about the place. How the faulty air conditioning vents would drip all over the place, making the carpet always kind of damp and everything smell of mildew. The drops on your skin would even leave a track of black dirt picked up along the filthy metal.
The strongest memory is of the thing they got closed down over: the bug problem. When I say you could not sit down for more than a couple of minutes without some fresh new horror climbing up your pant leg, I am not exaggerating.
I remember falling asleep during a late night recording session and waking up to a slight tickle on my nose. I sneezed, and what would I feel as I covered my mouth but the squirming of a huge, fat roach now desperately trying to escape.
Needless to say, I freaked. I got in a screaming match with the guy who owned the place, called it a dump straight to his face and said I’d never be back. Ah, memories!
Well, apparently I wasn’t the only one who had an uncomfortable run-in with the resident insect population. A local official came in with his son who complained about the conditions of the studio and slapped the owner with a health code violation, a fine, and a mandatory inspection for any other creepy crawlies.
Unfortunately for the owner (and my nostalgia), the inspection turned up a massive termite infestation that was bad enough that the building needed to be condemned. For the life of me I can’t think of why he didn’t have a Pasadena termite exterminator come out sooner, but he was a real skinflint in my youth and I suppose old habits die hard.
Something I was surprised to find out is that the old recording studio is situated pretty close to the HQ of the company I usually use for my own pest control issues, Grand Oaks Termite Control. They’re some of the best in the biz, and if he had just listened to some of the Yelp reviews, he’d have saved himself one heck of a headache:
This is the third time we’ve used Justin and Gary and they always continue to exceed our expectations. From thoroughly and thoughtfully answering all of the questions we bombarded them with, to leaving the worksite better than when they arrived, they are always so polite, courteous, and professionally. Definitely one of the few businesses we’ve grown to trust even though we don’t have the need to use them very often. Would recommend them without any hesitation. – Amy P.
I highly recommended Grand Oaks Termite Control. I had an unusual situation where there were many areas of my wood paneling and roof that were affected by termites and wood rot. I have a decorative tree growing through the front part of my home which makes it very difficult to treat without damaging the tree. When Jason came for the preliminary inspection, he knew exactly how to effectively treat my home without harming my favorite tree. His estimate was very reasonable and his communication was top notch. He kept me appraised of all the curve balls and never stuck me with any unexpected cost. I was very impressed with the workmanship of his teammate Gary who took care of all the woodwork, a true craftsman.
I can wholeheartedly recommend Grand Oaks without any hesitation. – John B.
Don’t let yourself become like the hardheaded owner of my favorite old, dingy recording studio. If you’re having pest problems, get the best professional help in the area.
Grand Oaks Termite Control
+16265384156
110 S Worthy Dr, Glendora, CA 91741
Flashes of Inspiration
Hey, everyone! Just wanted to give y’all a quick update on what I’ve been up to as of late. I know it’s been a while since I posted here, but I’m retired and enjoying myself, OK? You get this stuff for free, so stop complaining!
Anyway, you all know how I get sudden flashes of inspiration when I find new things to throw myself into headlong. Not so long ago it was sailing, and while I still enjoy going out on the boat, the lady muse is a fickle creature and has turned my attention to something else.
That something else is…a little strange, admittedly. I was recently walking through the local botanical gardens and it just so happened to coincide with the opening of their newest exhibit: the Japanese stone garden, or karesansui.
When I happened upon the garden, I was utterly captivated. I watched the caretaker make flowing paths in the rock, creating a perfectly level design that seemed to emulate the ebb and flow of life.
I had to have it.
Problem was, my yard was already filled with stuff! Hardscapes and landscaping would need to be removed or altered completely in order to accommodate the new zen garden I would be adding, and I simply did not have the tools to do it myself.
Luckily, my friends over at Torrey Pines Landscaping are world famous for their wide-ranging portfolio for landscape construction in San Diego, so I gave them a quick call and explained the situation to them. Bemused but accommodating, they agreed to help me clear the yard in preparation for the new and unusual addition.
Torrey Pines Landscaping, one of the finest local firms I have the pleasure of working with, is well known for their thoroughness, professionalism, and quality of work. If you don’t believe me, just scope out a couple of their reviews:
Torrey Pines Landscape Company Was highly recommended to us.
If you want the best this is the company to use.
When we met the owner Harry, we immediately felt very comfortable working with him and his team.
He is extremely knowledgeable, many years of experience, passionate and has a great personality. We had a lot of fun working with him. His team is top-notch. Lei, his Architectural designer and John, his Supervisor were excellent.
Always available, very professional, and dedicated.
It was impressive to watch how hard and efficient his crews worked. They were always accommodating and helpful.
Harry and his team have high standards and want the customer to be happy.
We at all times were welcome to share in choices and decisions. So ultimately, we now love our new courtyard, hardscape, landscape and driveway.
We enjoyed the journey and are thrilled with the results. It filled our expectations and more. – Melane L.
We had a fantastic experience working with Torrey Pines Landscaping. Harry and his entire crew were wonderful to work with. They designed a beautiful and functional front yard for our family that fit our lifestyle and compliments our home. They really went above and beyond with every detail and the quality of their work. Our yard stands out now and truly beautifies our home. – Christine B.
In preparation for the work to be done, I have already begun practicing my stone gardening by buying a bonsai tree featuring a mini stone landscape. While I’m not especially good at it yet, hours fly by without me even noticing.
If you’re like me and need to make some major changes in your yard, don’t hesitate getting in contact with Torrey Pines Landscaping – they’ll transform your yard into something unrecognizably beautiful.
Growth of the Cannabis Industry in the United States
As a former wild child, I can attest to the amazing benefits of cannabis and I am glad that the industry is booming! The following is a report from my friend, who is a business analyst.
The cannabis industry is booming at an all-time high, even though many other sectors are strugglingly considerable with current economic conditions.
Marijuana cultivation facilities and dispensaries were rated as essential service platforms by several states in the first phase of the coronavirus pandemic. It became apparent to many restaurant businesses that cannabis would be the best pivot to make use of their facilities. With steady support from the government, this industry has grown consistently during the pandemic. Tens of thousands of jobs were added to this industry in 2020, nearly double that of the previous year.
Approximately 321,000 Americans work in the cannabis industry right now, and reports show a 32% rise within one year. With these rates, legal marijuana has become the fastest-growing business sector in the nation. The country even has more legal workers in the cannabis sector than those in the engineering and medical fields.
Many retail workers were also laid off during lockdown. There is no doubt that many were triggered to reassess their jobs during the pandemic and proceed to make efforts to reshape their work lives. There was a record-high number of people switching away from the retail industry to look for other more stable work opportunities during the crisis. Many found themselves switching to the cannabis industry.
The lucrative opportunities in the cannabis industry are attracting more entry-level workers, as they are receiving great opportunities for promotions as well.
Governments in different states are working towards the legalization of marijuana. California allowed the use of medical marijuana 25 years ago. And now, almost 37 US states now allow medical use of cannabis, with many others working in this direction. This is the main driver behind the rising popularity of marijuana, further contributing to the incredible rise in business.
Legal cannabis sales have grown by almost 60% in the previous year with an estimated amount of $19 billion. Sales are expected to grow up to $41 billion by the end of 2025.
The cannabis industry is now experiencing tremendous pressure with its retail chain. The limited 10-hour shifts are now being extended to 12 to 13 hours. The dispensaries and retail stores have even started hiring more people to serve the rising number of customers via online and offline platforms. Industry experts are making consistent efforts to develop favorable working conditions so that they can attract high-performing employees, which can potentially help them to sell marijuana products to different parts of the world.
In order to ensure adequate working conditions in the marijuana industry, Cannabis Security Plans are more important than ever in order to safeguard the employees and products from harm or theft. Employers are also making efforts to train new workers to handle workloads and specific roles in the company. Furthermore, the high-performing employees are also being promoted to higher profiles with better salary offers.
With all the positive market conditions and favorable returns, the marijuana industry in the United States is expected to become a global leader within very little time.
Cannabis Compliant Security Solutions
Why Some Employees Still Prefer Working At The Office
I know nothing about corporate office life, so here’s a guest post from my son, who works at a technology company in Orange County!
Did you know that employee burnout is a vital issue among American employers, with at least fifty percent of workers suggesting they experience symptoms like being dissatisfied with their jobs and feeling overwhelmed? Workplace burnout causes many health concerns in organizations, including unsatisfactory customer experiences and high turnover rates.
One of the most typical causes of workplace burnout is having too much work on your plate. A 2017 research found that thirty-two percent of employee burnout was associated with an unreasonable workload. Another thirty-two percent was due to too much overtime or after-work hours.
Taking in an ambitious workload may seem productive at first, mainly when dealing with tight deadlines. However, there may soon come a time that forces you to evaluate how the intensity is impacting your wellbeing.
Another cause of workplace burnout is the sense of a lack of control. For most, control feels like the capability to affect workplace decisions or access needed job-related resources. Unsurprisingly, employees with more perceived control are more likely to be engaged in their work.
It can be demoralizing to work in a place where you don’t have control over your tasks or feel like you cannot make changes that align with your values. If that’s the case, you need to communicate your needs to supervisors.
The Benefits of Working from Home
The most significant advantage of working from home is the possibility to lower your stress levels. There is no daily commute, family commitments are simpler to handle, you can sleep a bit longer, and you will likely accomplish a better level of focus without the interruption of telephones and office chatter. You could also save money on work attire, food, and travel.
Indeed, it’s not possible to prevent all work-related stress. Nonetheless, it makes sense to avoid environments and situations that trigger feelings of emotional stress. Further, the sheer pressure of going to work regularly can be debilitating and overwhelming for others, especially those with pre-existing mental health concerns.
The Benefits of Working At The Office
Work has become more and more location independent. The driving force behind this shift can be largely attributed to cloud-based technology; the most recent and major catalyst being the global pandemic which forced businesses to operate remotely as per social-distancing protocols.
Depending on who you ask, working from home could be productive and relaxing or ineffective and loathsome. It’s undoubtedly not for everybody. Not everyone agrees that working from home alleviates the stresses and pressure of working altogether. For some, isolation can be debilitating, even causing some to further bury themselves into work in order to distract themselves from the feeling of inescapable loneliness. Many people would happily bear the inconveniences of commuting every day to the office than miss out on human interaction. Of course, we can all interact through video conferencing and email, but this can feel robotic and unnatural for some people who prefer in-person dialogue.
It is for these reasons that many companies are rebooting their on-site operations and redesigning their office spaces to ease their workers back into the building. However, safety precautions must be taken. Orange County Office Cubicles help to ensure productivity and social distancing in the office.
The modern office is still adapting to the changing times. While remote work was once seen as a taboo form of working that was inferior to on-site operations, remote work has been rebranded through the cultural mindset of millennial and Gen Z workers. But who knows? Despite its current popularity, perhaps we’ll soon see a resurgence of the office as being the preferred space of work.
You can give Creative Office Design a call today to inquire about their furniture and design services.
Creative Office Design
5230 Pacific Concourse Dr #105, Los Angeles, CA 90045, United States
A Friend In Need
What’s up, cool cats. Today I have a bit of a bummer story, but I figure I could make a bit of difference in some lives if I relate some of it to my adoring fans.
I have a very dear friend who I’ve known for an embarrassing number of years and decades. She has been with me through thick and thin, and has been a great help to me as I’ve gone through my admittedly extreme ups and downs in life. She’s the person who has picked me up out of a gutter in front of a dive bar at four A.M. after I was stomped by some bikers, and bailed me out of jail on more than one occasion.
This gracious and beautiful woman has a strength of personality borne from a very difficult and tumultuous life. She was an army brat, never staying in one place for more than a year or two, so she never had any close friends growing up. All she had was a few brothers and sisters, all much older than her, who never really paid her any attention; a mother who her father had married while stationed in Japan and taken back to the states, where she never really knew up from down; and finally, a drunk and abusive father.
Her home life was never good, and so as soon as she was legally able, she left for her mother’s home country of Japan to live with her grandparents. She grew up to be exceptionally beautiful, winning quite a few beauty pageants in her day. Unfortunately, her incredible looks and her poor upbringing made for a terrible mix, and the relationships she developed with men over time did not stray far from the ones she was familiar with in childhood.
She moved back to the states with her first husband, left him, and found a second one only a couple short years later. That one wouldn’t last either – and so it went, with her floating from one disaster in love to another.
There were only two really stable relationships in her life – me (which is really saying something), and her dog, Mako. I couldn’t tell you what breed or mix of breeds this little runt is – jet black fur that tufts around the neck, with a splatter of white on the chest, and the most annoying yapping bark that you could ever imagine.
Still though, that dog has been her constant companion for going on fifteen years now. She never had children, despite her many marriages, and so Mako is the sole object of her maternal love and devotion.
That’s what makes this story so sad – she recently noticed the dog had been barking a little less, coming to greet her a little less enthusiastically, and seemed a bit less excited to go on walks than usual. She took her to the vet and received the worst possible news: cardiomyopathy.
In other words, a death sentence.
She called me up in tears, and she brought the dog over to me and cried in my arms all night. I’d never seen her like that before – the woman always seemed impenetrable, always upbeat and positive about life no matter what new tragedy she was walking into.
One thing she had always neglected was healthcare – not only for herself, but for the dog. She simply had not grown up in an environment that put much stock in taking care of yourself and making healthy choices.
If she had given the dog regular checkups, the problem might have been found a little earlier – prognosis usually improves if found in the early stages of the disease. If they had caught it a little earlier, a cardiac veterinarian may have been able to give her the tools needed to extend Mako’s life comfortably and given her a little more time to say goodbye.
I, of course, didn’t tell her any of this – don’t need to rub that in her face. For those of you reading out there, however, consider this some advice borne from experience: get your dogs regular checkups, and make sure if they find a potential heart issue, get them to Dr. Carly Saelinger of Cardiac Vet. She will give you an accurate prognosis and treatment plan that will get your pet back on track, or at least give you a little more time.
Cardiac Vet
The Shortcut
As a city boy growing up, I never had a lot of opportunities to learn how to grow much of anything. My mother enjoyed her little window planter boxes and filling the apartment up with low-sunlight plants, but for the most part my experience with gardening was looking at the landscapers work at the park as I walked past on my way to or from school.
This trend continued well into adulthood – when we first started touring, I basically lived out of our van or, occasionally when we could afford to splurge a little, a hotel. At that point, my experience with gardening was limited to watching rows upon rows of corn flying past the widow as we drove yet again through the Midwest.
It wasn’t until I was well into my 30’s that I was actually able to afford property. With the usual gusto I put into things, I bought a nice ride-mower so I could get the full experience of weekly lawn care as a productive member of society and my community.
Safe to say, that energy lasted about three months until I was absolutely sick of it. It started off with the random patches of grass that died off and just absolutely refused to come back to life no matter what I or my nice neighbors did to coax it back to the land of the living. After that came the gophers and the little rodent massacre I perpetrated on my own property, which still gives me nightmares.
Problems kept on popping up, and soon my mind became consumed with how to get my lawn back into perfect working order. My (now) ex-wife became concerned as I didn’t pick up an instrument for weeks at a time, instead working outside with a little planter’s shovel plucking out weeds.
Within 3 months, I was burnt out. I couldn’t look at the grass without feeling sick, sickened at my own failure and sickened at the grass for conspiring against me. We began paying for a landscaper to come, but by then it was too late to save my appreciation for a well-manicured lawn.
As the years wore on, I must have spent tens of thousands of dollars on keeping that damn grass alive, with the various treatments and number of landscapers I’ve had working on my various properties. If someone had told me sooner that there were viable alternatives to natural turf, I would have switched in a second.
Luckily for me and all my future endeavors, I discovered that the artificial stuff has been getting some very major upgrades since my childhood getting rubber burns on the football field. Synthetic turf gives you the beautiful vibrant green of a natural grass yard, but takes only a fraction of the time, effort, and money you’d use keeping that stupid living carpet alive.
If you’re in southern California and looking to get rid of the lawn like I was, give NoMow Turf a call. They hooked me up with some very excellent turf installations, and they can do the same for you.
NoMow Turf
+18559688873
26674 Vista Terrace, Lake Forest, CA 92630
Life Changer
A quick note for today, feeling very contemplative. Tonight my daughter went to her first high school prom, having just turned 16 a few short months ago.
She looked beautiful, in a big flowy dress with sequins and ruffles, hair up in a messy bun that perfectly matched her personality. I had to hide the tears in my eyes as she got into the limo with the other kids, waving to me one last time and promising to be home before 11.
I am intensely proud of my children, both of whom are growing into fine and upstanding people, and the thought of losing either of them sends chills up my spine and a great pain in my heart. The fact that I almost did thanks to the guile of my ex-wife’s attorney eats away at me when I look back on it.
I am beyond thankful that I had access to some incredible legal help of my own, even back then when I was younger and much, much dumber. I was one of the lucky ones, but there are many who have been in my shoes who either couldn’t find or didn’t know where to look for a solid divorce attorney.
I know most of my readership is in southern California, so for those of you who are either in the process of getting a divorce or will be in the near future, I recommend you take a look at Shuff Law Firm and their excellent team of family law attorneys. They come heavily recommended by both my own law team and the excellent testimonials their clients have left them over the years:
“He was so understanding. He helped me get my daughter back into my life after years of estrangement. I had changed my life and became responsible for my actions. He helped me plead my case and get me a step-up plan would prove my new direction to all parties involved. My daughter is still in my life and i am forever grateful.”
Travis Kratsch, Google Review
“Shuff Law Firm was recommended to me by a dear friend and I highly recommend them to you!
Joe, Tamara and their entire team work with the utmost professionalism coupled with a genuine care for their clients needs. This Father- Daughter team brings many many years of experience to the table! They’ll represent you with integrity, honesty, and a great energy, yet will not be steamrollered by opposing counsel.
Most recently, Tamara held my hand during an incredibly tough situation while believing in me and the justice to prevail. Her kind heart keeps her honest and her experience keeps her strong!
I can’t recommend Shuff Law Firm enough!”
Laura K., Yelp Review
“After 6 years of having one disappointment after another with a different attorney I decided to find someone else that would hopefully do a better job. From the very first phone call Shuff Law Firm handled my unique case with respect and care. Tamara was simply amazing. I was kept apprised of everything that was happening as it happened. The job she did was so well done that the ex actually backed down and reversed her decision to go to court for more support. I can finally take the last step in moving forward with my life thanks to the hard work of Tamara and the team at Shuff Law Firm.
If you have to go through a divorce, then you have to use them.”
Michael G., Yelp Review
A good team of custody attorneys can mean the difference between seeing your children grow up and not seeing them until they are already grown up. Do yourself a favor and give Shuff Law Firm a call –
Shuff Law Firm
+17148340175
2634, 2107 N Broadway STE 301, Santa Ana, CA 92706