been so long

shit, i realize it's been forever since i last wrote and i'm sure no one is even checking this thing anymore, but since i have a few minutes i'll give a couple updates.

first, the good news: i got in on that american airlines deal... where i fly twice from NY before april 15th and i get a free ticket to anywhere in the world! i'm so freaking stoked on that one. so to qualify for the deal i decided to buy a last minute ticket to miami last weekend, where the winter music conference and the m3 summit was happening. m3 happens to be the "cool" version of WMC, where the parties are catered to the jazzier side of music (an alternative to the 4-to-the-floor/techno/trance crowd). my new friend lucy, from london, was going as was my old friend vicki (who was getting a free hotel room).

i wasn't necessarily looking forward to this having preconceived notions of horrible lines outside crowded clubs and bimbos everywhere, but i thought why not (and the whole free ticket was the main incentive). turned out miami was really fun. more good travel karma came my way... met some new NY people who had pull at the door of the big jazzanova/bugz in the attic party. the crowd outside was inside and the cover of $20 was not appealing, but we managed to slip in with these kids. excellent. met up with michael later in the night and ran into a handful of LA club friends. the music was excellent, the crowd pretty cool (minus the lack of crazy dancers) and spirits were high all around. my biggest complaint was the drink prices... fucking $7 for a bud (and that was the only option for beer).

next night same thing happened. lucy just happened to know the guy at the door for the huge BBE/okay player party and we got right in (HA! that line outside the door was absolutely riddick). that party was just plain crazy. so so so many people. but fantastic music and the club was just insane: huge, cool decor, about 5 rooms. again, a good good time.

and during the day it was all chilled out style on the beach. i never think i like tropical settings, but get me in one and i'm happy as a clam.

other than miami, just been plugging away at an on-site freelance design gig for the past couple weeks. not a big thrill. been nice to be out of the house. well, it was at first. i was kind of enjoying being amongst the working stiffs, getting up, getting my coffee, getting on the subway. but the thrill is already gone. i want to be home and emailing and blogging at my own free will. worst part of the job is that art director has direct view of my screen, so i can't get away with much. oh well. the money is good at least.

so i guess that's it. dad stuff is still on the brain, but not taking over. i'm managing to stay pretty balanced and have remained happy, with small bursts of sadness. that part will come next month when i go back to fallbrook to take care of his house. UGH!! gotta do it though. then coachella as my reward. nice.