Welcome back, rockers and rockettes! Today, we’re going to feature a story about a near-run catastrophe featuring: my grandkids!
I love my grandkids. Really, I do. These days, there’s nothing I enjoy more than spending a few afternoons a week watching them run wild in the backyard, introducing them to the ukulele, and hearing their half-formed stories about space aliens and superhero dogs.
They bring a kind of energy to the house that I didn’t even know I was missing. It’s chaos, sure, but the good kind—the kind that makes an old man feel young again, even if only for an afternoon. Of course, it’s not all sunshine and joyful racket. Every now and then, chaos gets a little too chaotic.
Case in point: just last week, I found myself playing the role of temporary daycare while their parents were out for the day. Things started off well.
We built a fort out of couch cushions, had a musical performance in the living room, and finished it all off with a snack of cereal and juice. That, in hindsight, was where things started to go south.
The Juice Gets Loose
I’m not sure exactly how it happened. One moment, we were laughing at a particularly silly knock-knock joke, and the next, my granddaughter’s elbow caught the juice cup just right. In a split second, the entire contents splattered across the living room—and right onto my most prized possession: a handwoven oriental rug I brought back from Beirut during our international tours in the ’70s.
I did my best to stay calm for the kids, who were already looking at me with guilty eyes and trembling lips. Trying to reassure them, I grabbed what towels I could find and began blotting at the mess, all while trying not to panic. I rolled up the rug and stored it away, hoping—maybe foolishly—that I’d managed to catch it in time.
Spoiler: I hadn’t. The combination of juice, cereal milk, and a handful of crushed crackers had worked its way deep into the fabric. I knew I couldn’t handle it on my own. That rug was older than my youngest and probably more valuable than most of the furniture in the house.
Disaster Relief
After a few calls and some frantic Googling, I landed on Sunny Hills Cleans, a local company that specializes in oriental and fine rug cleaning in Orange County. I explained the situation, and they immediately reassured me that they had handled far worse. A team came out within the week and gave the rug a careful, thorough cleaning that brought it back to its former glory.
You’d never know that rug had been through what it had. The colors were vibrant, the texture restored, and best of all—no lingering smells or stains. The team at Sunny Hills was professional, efficient, and clearly experienced in handling delicate and valuable items. They not only saved my rug, they saved me from weeks of regret and second-guessing.
If you’re ever in a similar situation, feel free to skip the “professional cleaners near me” search, because I can’t recommend Sunny Hills Cleans highly enough. Whether it’s a fine Persian rug, antique upholstery, or just the result of a little too much fun in the house, they’ve got the tools and know-how to handle it.
And take it from me: when you’ve turned your house into a daycare for the day, move the priceless décor out of the warzone. If you forget, like I did, at least you know who to call.
Back in the day, I was more likely to be found backstage with a guitar in hand than behind a desk. But times change, and after a couple of decades of distorted power chords and sold-out shows, I’ve swapped out the tour bus for a boardroom. These days, I’m investing in a few businesses around Los Angeles and doing my best to stay sharp, stay healthy, and keep my team feeling the same.
One thing I’ve picked up on my latest health kick is the importance of ergonomics in the workplace. If you’re going to spend eight hours or more in an office, you’d better be doing it in a way that doesn’t wreck your body. That’s why I’ve made standing desks a fixture in every office I’ve invested in. And let me tell you, it’s been a game-changer.
Why Sitting All Day Just Doesn’t Cut It Anymore
Let’s face it—sitting all day isn’t doing anybody any favors. Extended periods in a chair can lead to back pain, poor posture, and an increased risk of everything from heart disease to diabetes. Even when you think you’re being mindful of your posture, the human body just wasn’t made to be in a seated position for hours on end.
Standing desks give people the ability to stretch their legs, stay alert, and shift positions throughout the day. When your body is more active, your mind tends to follow. Energy levels go up, productivity gets a boost, and employees feel more engaged with their work. For me, it’s just common sense—and good business.
Why The Friant Standing Desk Is a Personal Favorite
After trying out a number of different standing desks, I kept coming back to one brand: Friant. The Friant standing desk is a rare combination of function and style, which is something even an old rocker like me can appreciate. It’s highly customizable, which means you can tweak the size, shape, and finish to match whatever look you’re going for in your office.
More importantly, it’s affordable without cutting corners on quality. The mechanisms are smooth, the construction is solid, and it’s versatile enough to work in both creative and corporate environments. In a city like Los Angeles, where style matters just as much as substance, Friant hits the sweet spot.
And when it comes to getting your hands on one? Creative Office Design is the best source around. They’ve helped outfit a couple of my spaces already, and they know what they’re doing. Their team gets what business owners are looking for, and they make the whole process easy from start to finish.
Call Creative Office Design Today
If you’re trying to create a workplace that keeps your team healthy and productive—or you just want to look like you know what you’re doing—you can’t go wrong with a Friant standing desk. And if you’re in the Los Angeles area, the best office furniture supplier is is Creative Office Design. Give them a call, and get your office up to speed. Your back (and your employees) will thank you.
Hello again, rockers and rockettes! Today, we’re going to do something a little different and tell someone ELSE’S story for a change. My old high school buddy Tommy wrote me some time back, relating his story about his troubles keeping himself and his home high and dry down in old Miami.
Miami weather is nothing if not dramatic. One moment, the skies are clear and the sun is shining, and the next, rain is coming down in sheets so thick you can barely see a few feet in front of you.
In this part of Florida, it’s not unusual for torrential downpours to flood streets, batter homes, and disappear within the span of 20 minutes, leaving everything soaked and steaming under the returning sun.
For homeowners, this cycle of extreme weather is more than just an inconvenience—it’s a direct threat to the integrity of their homes. No part of a building takes a beating quite like the roof.
The constant exposure to intense sun, sudden storms, and heavy winds means that even the best roofs can develop weak spots over time. When that happens, the next storm rolling through could be the one that sends water pouring into your home.
A Leak Today, A Disaster Tomorrow
Water damage is no joke. A small, seemingly harmless leak can quickly turn into a homeowner’s nightmare. Dripping water stains ceilings, weakens support beams, and creates the perfect environment for mold to thrive. Worse still, what starts as a minor issue can spiral into major structural damage, costing homeowners thousands in unexpected repairs.
That’s why regular roof maintenance and timely repairs are so crucial. But as any Miami resident will tell you, finding a roofer who actually does the job right is easier said than done. The industry is filled with unreliable contractors who show up late, overcharge for simple repairs, and leave homeowners with shoddy work that barely lasts through the next storm.
The Search for Reliable Roofing Ends Here
If you’ve gone through the usual hunt through “roof repair near me” results, you probably already know how difficult it is to find a roof contractor you can trust. Most are either unresponsive, overpriced, or just plain bad at what they do. That’s what makes A&E Bros Roofing such a rare find.
Unlike other contractors who overpromise and underdeliver, A&E Bros Roofing has built a reputation for reliability, professionalism, and quality craftsmanship. Miami residents who have worked with them consistently praise their attention to detail, punctuality, and commitment to getting the job done right the first time.
One satisfied customer shared their experience online, saying:
Miami’s storms aren’t going anywhere, and neither is the wear and tear they bring to your home. If you’ve noticed missing shingles, water stains, or even the faintest signs of a leak, now is the time to take action before the next storm rolls through.
A&E Bros Roofing is the go-to choice for homeowners who want dependable, high-quality repairs from a team they can trust. With years of experience and a track record of satisfied customers, they have the expertise needed to keep your home safe, dry, and protected from Florida’s unpredictable weather.
If your roof has seen better days, don’t wait for the next downpour to remind you why repairs are essential. Call A&E Bros Roofing today and get your home storm-ready before it’s too late.
Welcome back, rockers and rockettes! As you can tell from the title, today’s subject is going to be a little off the beaten path for this old-timer.
It might surprise readers to hear that I have a couple of kids – I know, I don’t really give off the “dad” vibe. Well, it might surprise them even more to learn that some of those kids are already adults themselves.
As guys who have been on tour are no doubt aware, the lifestyle isn’t exactly good for a stable relationship. You spend nearly 2/3 of the year on the road, often making barely enough money for gas to get you to your next gig.
Obviously this isn’t going to make for a very happy wife. As many people did back then, I tried to fix the problems with a baby. As also usually happened, it didn’t work very well!
That being said, I love all of my children and I’m happy to report that I enjoy a very good relationship with all of them. And, as of recently, I will also get to enjoy a good relationship with my first grandchild!
Yes, my oldest daughter just had her first baby and we could not be happier. I was the third person to ever hold her in her life – something I’ll treasure for the rest of my days.
Of course, there was one person even happier than us. The woman of the hour, my daughter, cried tears of joy, but not just because of the safe birth of her daughter. She was ecstatic that she would no longer have to be pregnant.
She had spent the last four months cycling between deep discomfort and outright pain from the pregnancy. This had left her in a state of near constant fear and stress – no matter how many times doctors reassured her, the pain and discomfort made her worry about complications.
Thankfully, in the last month or two of her pregnancy, she was able to find one source of relief: prenatal massage. When performed by a highly trained professional, it can work wonders for mothers-to-be.
How Prenatal Massage Can Help
In the premodern world, pregnancy was a very risky proposition for women. Any number of complications can arise that may impact both the baby and the mother’s health.
Luckily, modern medicine has reduced the fatality rate of complications quite a bit. Unluckily, pregnancy is still a very uncomfortable and often painful process for women, and it doesn’t look like that will change any time soon.
Prenatal massage works by targeting the areas that are most impacted by the added strain of pregnancy. The masseuse works on the muscles, which reduces inflammation, improves bloodflow, and releases a flood of endorphins.
All of this makes for a far more comfortable mommy and even better health outcomes for the developing baby. Lowering stress levels provides enormous benefits for both mom and baby, as mom can go back to living her life and baby will not be swimming in cortisol.
Of course, the impact of the massage is determined by the skill of the provider. Before Orange County moms-to-be rush off to search for “prenatal massage near me“, they should do themselves a favor and look up Massage Matters.
Massage Matters has been providing high quality professional massage services to OC residents for the last decade. They’ve provided hundreds of expectant mothers with the relief they need to finish out their terms in relative comfort.
The firm’s expertise extends beyond just prenatal massage, however. MM has helped everyone from athletes to victims of chronic pain heal quicker or manage their conditions to drastically improve their quality of life.
In short, Massage Matters was one of the best things that happened to my daughter during her pregnancy (outside of giving birth, that is!). If you are in need of therapeutic massage services, there’s nowhere I’d recommend higher. Check ’em out!
Welcome back to my blog, rockers and rockettes! I apologize for the rather on-the-nose title, but I cycled through about 15 different rock-related puns before I decided to just keep things simple.
Those who know me know that I’ve come to find a new love for nature in my advancing age. On any given day, you’re likely to find me surfing, hiking, skiing, or…bird watching. That last one may come as a surprise but it’s difficult to explain how exciting it is to capture a new bird species on film.
Even my spare time at home is often spent enjoying the gorgeous southern California weather in my yard. As a lifelong cityslicker, a yard is a novel thing. Nothing beats watching the sun slowly disappear over the western horizon with a warm mug of tea in your hand.
Recently, however, I’ve once again found myself wanting *more*. Rather than more money or the usual avenues for avarice, however, I found myself wanting a better outdoor space to spend my time.
My evening soujorns in my yard saw me imagining an expansive backyard retreat rather than a scraggly patch of grass. Running water, a nice fireplace, and maybe a game area to host my buddies all sounded rad.
If my career taught me anything, it was that dreams shouldn’t stay dreams. You have to put in the work to make them reality! With that in mind, I started asking around for a solid landscape contractor that could put my scattershot ideas together into a cohesive design.
Soon enough, all signals began pointing to the same answer: Torrey Pines Landscape Company. I took a look at some of their project pages and something immediately shouted “yes” inside me.
The company has designed dozens of custom fire and landscape water features that could transform our semi arid environs to a near-tropical oasis. The Torrey Pines team also seemed uncannily talented at matching their floral plantings with any architectural design.
Reading on about the company’s design process, it also became apparent that they genuinely cared about conservation as well as aesthetics. The team prides themselves on creating waterwise landscapes to preserve our parched resources. Even for seemingly water-intensive landscapes, the team is able to use irrigation methods that significantly reduce waste.
With my mind racing about the dozens of bird species I may be able to attract to my private nature reserve, I called and set up an appointment immediately. The person on the phone was barely able to keep up with my stream of consciousness ideas. They assured me that their team of landscape architects would be able to handle it, however.
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast looking to spruce up your outdoor spaces, you owe it to yourself to give Torrey Pines Landscape Company a call. Their intricate designs can turn your yard into anything from an extended entertaining space to your own little botanical garden. Call today!
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