last sunday, the people of burton and the program invited our dealers and close friends down to the showroom for some good holiday fun. did i say holiday fun? i meant open bar. dude. (party came complete with a dancing john d santa claus, a pinata of old st. nick, and free facebook photos for all).
heres a splicing of what went down (check out burton colorado’s community page for more photos):
happy holidays from damiano, inc.
This is my first post and I haven’t thought it through, so it’s likely to be self-indulgent nonsense of no interest to anyone else, except perhaps mental health care professionals. Just like most of the other blogs out there.
If you’re still there I’ll take the opportunity to get some things off my chest. Words and that. Sometimes certain words or phrases become overused. Over the last few years it has been impossible to listen to any news report about Afghanistan or Iraq (or in the case of Heather Mills, Strictly Come Dancing) without hearing the phrase hearts and minds - yes I realise it sprung from the U.S. Vietnam campaign and I understand what it means but please stop saying it. Blah blah blah blah hearts and minds. It’s as if all politicians have been briefed to use the phrase and are living in fear of a Malcolm Tucker-style bollocking if they don’t. As a result I’ve stopped listening to the content of news reports. I just hear disconnected words swirling and echoing against a loud tick-tick-ticking until the inevitable we-have-to-win-over-the-hearts-and-minds bit arises. And then I scream.
But the word which is really getting right on my tits at the moment is the word random. It’s fashionable to say random. I know this because everyone says it. All of the time. With various meanings. People often say random when they don’t mean random, they sometimes say random when they sort of mean random, very occasionally they say random when they mean random but most of all they say random when they mean ooh look at me I say random I’m like totally random I just said random random random random. It’s like a virus. I was having a random drink. A random drink. Eh? When I hear it I have competing physical reactions, one to throw up and one to assault the person who says it. I have to fight both and it’s not easy. The other day I was out with some randomers. You what?… must not throw up… must not batter them with a random object… don’t play into their hands. At the weekend I heard a radio presenter hand over to coverage of The London International Horse Show by saying it was being held randomly in London. And this was on the BBfuckingC. One of the reasons 5Live’s Colin Murray said it was to be funny – because where else would a London event be held – but to my ears it was obscured by the other reason which was oooh I just said random I say random I’m so random I just randomly said random don’t you say random random random random.
Anyway I need to er lie down.
To make up for my ramblings, here are some videos from 2009 featuring the Vivian Girls, Camera Obscura, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, God Help The Girl, Atlas Sound, Grizzly Bear, Beck, Crystal Stilts, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Midlake, Animal Collective, Richard Hawley, Super Furry Animals, Wooden Shjips and Broadcast & The Focus Group. None of them were chosen at random, nor with the intention to win over any hearts and minds. I hope they work, as it’s my first go at embedding widgets.
If it doesn’t work, you can watch them here:
http://www.yubby.com/i/twothousandandfine/channel/player/20518
I found this list from Matters of the Heart and decided to apply these lessons to my closest friends, as well as myself.
One may think it’s silly doing this, some may find it offensive or rude, but I feel I should take a new spin on things.*If anyone disagrees with this post, send me a comment and I will happily remove it*
Alex
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. (On many occasions, he does this very well)
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
44. Yield (you stopped, waited, and watched, now it’s your turn 
)
Jessica
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. (I know no other person this best applies to, and I would never change that for the world)
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow. (haha, in terms of her essays)
27. Always choose life.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
Melina
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present. (Working towards this is a long hard road, at least you’ve taken a few steps on this road)
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
27. Always choose life.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
Slava
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young. (My dear friend, I fear your unhealthy habits will harm you more. But hey, you’ve survived so far stay strong Mr!)
44. Yield.
Jennifer
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind..
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. (She seems to do it every day, and just getting better at it)
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
Me
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. (I need a get a move on with this because saving is definitely NOT my forte)
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
27. Always choose life. 30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
These lessons apply to all
Whether it be friends, acquaintances, family members, strangers, everyone:
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ”In five years, will this matter?”.
28. Forgive everyone, everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
33. Believe in miracles.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
Below is the complete list of 45 Lessons You’ll Never Learn in School:
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12.. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind..
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ”In five years, will this matter?”.
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
Ever had moments of self-pity?
The moments where you wished things just went your way for a bit.
I suppose this is what dreams are for.
However.. you know you’re suppose to slap yourself and shake it off when even in your dreams you cannot find that self pity, and that even in your dreams you’re going against it all.. everything.
Even in your dreams, it’s not right.
Good sign and wake-up call though.
Christmas is almost completely over and today was a pretty great day. There was an absolute ton of food and everyone seemed to have a good time. Unfortunately Ryan’s dad and his step mom were not able to make it because the highways and interstates in Oklahoma were shut down due to the weather. Of course they couldn’t completely shut them down but they insisted that unless you had a four wheel drive vehicle you should not be on the road. Jamie was not able to leave town so she joined us for our Christmas lunch and everything was great. Last night we opened our Christmas presents from one another so we would have a few less things to open and because we’re just a tiny bit impatient.
Ryan attacking his present
Ryan’s present was Rock Band 2, which he was extremely excited about. I received a pair of knee high chuck taylors as well as some knee high socks. I also received Weezer’s Raditude on both cd and vinyl. It was definitely a nice surprise. After we opened presents we put together our table for Christmas which was constructed out of MDF and two by fours. It was also 6 inches too tall when we got done putting it together and so we ended up having to cut the legs off. It was definitely eventful and when we had everything all put together it was definitely worth it.
Out Christmas table (please disregard the mismatched chairs)
I did use the original candle holders from one of my previous posts, but I decided that it wasn’t quite enough for the table and decided to make two more candle holders. Since everything was closed I just what I had around and so there are two tall glasses that were layered with cranberries in the bottom and then blue glass beads in the middle and then the berries from our Nandina bushes in the front yard surrounded the candles. They ended up looking very pretty especially when they were added to everything else. Since we didn’t have eight matching plates or eight matching napkins we alternated them and put the patterned napkins with the solid plates and the patterned plates with the solid napkins. It turned out very pretty in the end. Everyone seemed to enjoy the meal and their presents. From the rest of Ryan’s family I got congratulations, and welcome to the family, as well as baking utensils and the set of hexagonal Wilton cake pan sets that I’ve had my eye on for some time now. I’m very excited to be able to use them eventually.
In addition to all of the wonderful Christmas fun and presents the
Once the snow stopped falling this was my front yard
weather decided to dump somewhere around a foot of snow on us. It has definitely made a white Christmas, but the cat hasn’t taken to kindly to it and neither have the people who actually needed to go somewhere. Walgreen’s actually closed today because only two people had been able to make it into work. I have never seen Walgreen’s close for anything. So before I go I decided that I would leave you with a picture of how our front yard looked by this morning. I do hope that everyone’s holiday went well and if it didn’t then it probably will get better by the time new years rolls around or at least we could hope so.
My kids all in one place! It’s been about…oh, 8 years or so since they were all together. I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better Christmas. We left on our 18 hour (you read right) trip at 4 am and after a grueling drive, we got here. Soooo worth it.
Doug’s parents are taking care of all of us so graciously, and I’m pleased to show you some photos and this with wishes of LOVE and PEACE and your own “MERRY” this Christmas.
To me, it aint so much about presents. It’s the love of Christ and family surrounding you. When you get to be a middle age mom or dad, and you have grown up children, your kids getting to come and see you all together at once is worth more than a present.
*Morning breaks somewhere over Missouri, the day of our trip. I can thank Big A for pointing out this photo op. I think I would have slept through it.
*Doug concentrates on the road and yes, it was 31 degrees.
*there was a lot of this going on in the car! I loved having 25 year old Joe, my oldest on the trip. He’s so laid back, he didn’t even mind riding in the back with the girlz, who weren’t the best passengers the whole time!
Number sixty-two: Reminds me of college.
[VORTEX COMICS occur once per day Monday through Friday. VORTEX COMICS do not occur on weekends. VORTEX COMICS is made by selecting five images (photos I've taken, made grayscale, and inked after printing) and five phrases (taken from things I've written in the past), pairing it down to three phrases, and leaving the connection up to the reader. VORTEX COMICS have no defined story...for now.]
