I’m in lust with Cole Hauser

OPEN IN A NEW TAB TO HAVE PLAYING WHILE ENJOYING PIC OF COLE

Watch him move here with a cowboy hat on!

Stan Winston

Adam should be writing this. That’s all there is to it. My brother has preached the gospel of Stan Winston for longer than I can remember. When I wanted to make movies in order to best Spielberg and Lucas and Cameron, Adam was driven to the dream by one man. The man who rendered animated our finest dreams and made our nightmares beautiful. He built the T-100, sculpted the ultimate interplanetary trophy hunter, machined Tony Stark’s armor, brought dinosaurs into my living room, and revolutionized creature effects before I could cuss:

and again as recent as 1999:

Winston was a hero among heroes who never failed to bring class and humor to the table while showing the world a creative spark the likes of which we have hardly ever seen. His talents brought into being a neo-cryptozoological world that is recognizable around the Earth. A teenager in Taiwan may or may not know what a Golden Retriever looks like, but show the same kid a picture of the Predator and he’ll give you a short list of the creature’s weapons, tell you what color his blood is and clue you in as to his personal favorite kills perpetrated by said creature.

The man gifted us with textures that simply were not possible before him.

I look forward to a long conversation with Adam concerning Stan Winston’s passing. I know how his heart dropped when he heard the news. He’s his John Lennon. I loved the man for what he gave me and the world is a lesser place to be without him. When I first read of his passing moments before beginning this post I started mourning him as a loved one without even realizing it. When friends and close relatives have died, one of my strongest reactions was to hurt because I would never again be able to do a certain thing that we had done together – or something they or I had promised the other. And as much as I know the fourth installments of Terminator and Jurassic Park are going to be horrible and thus (yeah, I just said ‘thus’) enrage me without end – I absolutely knew that Stan Winston would craft for me visual spectacles which would make my brain explode with the purest of geeky joy. He had promised me that… then cancer took him from me.

He was only 62. I wasn’t done with him yet. My heart’s a little emptier now. He deserves something far more poetic than what I’ve got here or even what I’ve read other places.

Stan, we loved you as a friend because you were in it for all the right reasons. Thank you for showing us magic again.

Wow

According to my wordpress stats for today, someone apparently happened upon my blog by Googling the phrase:

“fucking ass of friend’s wife”

I’m so proud right now I’m speechless…………….

D-Day thru D+2

My spirit (above) was stolen at a sweet little bar called Mohawk on Red River 6/6/08.

It was the end of the first day of a pretty fuckin’ awesome weekend.

6/6:

I got the day of thanks to cool, new bosses and a long week at mein job.

Nate’s 18-yr-old friend bud, Josh, was visitig and needed to be shown the wonders of Austin. Unfortunately most of the ones I know require you having at least 21 years under your belt. So, the 3 of us woke up and went to Austin Books (brother store to the greatest comic shop in the world: Bankston’s). There I got a “Spirit Best of…” collection and 2 of my regulars, The Boys and Local.

Then us 3 fellas went and had an et at Ruby’s motherfuckin’ BBQ! That was damn tasty. Definitely rival’s my fave Art’z Rib House.

Then we went back to the house cuz Nathanael Natelington had to sling JesusChicken. So Josh had to suffer the rest of the day at my hands. I had decided the boy needed to have him some Texas Country forced upon his person so I eye-raped the Austin Chronicle for way too long until I found a place that might let children in, Mohawk, who had a band that I thought was decent enough thanks to their online samplings. jessica and Eric were lovely enough to find out for me whether or not they allowed jailbait in… they did.

The show started crazy late and Nate was able to meet us before they went up. Also, Josh was fortunate enough to see the lovely Leslie on 6th Street wearing a cute lil cheerleaders outfit — precious.

Then we 3 watched the band. They were pretty good. I was happy. The lead guitarist/Banjo player/accordion dude — fuckin’ Wow. He was awesome.

Then another band came on and the Lead Singer of it was the dude who checks me out at the greatest video store on Earth!

I had me a few Shiner’s then I left a very drunk Nate to be driven home by our designated baby and I went and met a “college” friend and a bunch her friends she was in town visiting. Her friend Ste(v/ph?)en talked to me about audio and I hope he contacts me when he gets him some equipness. Or before, hell I don’t care. I can always talk movie.

Then I drunk-drove home.

6/7:

Saturday I rolled out of bed and went over to the abode of my beautiful friends Espen and Espen’s Wife, and we went our happy asses JetSkiing. I hadn’t never been before that. It was fucking AWEsome. I love when I go ouch due to my sore triceps because it reminds me of time spent making myself wet.

Then, they were way nicer than they had to be and invited me out to a party where there happened to be a lovely girl I been having the hots for and her cool-as-hell daughter. I got to hang with them for a bit and asked a gal out that I’d been wanting to ask our for a little while.

Then I went and met 2 of my best fellers, Rusty-Belle and Shano at Fado for to watch Blaggards. I shoulda chosen a better parkin’ spot but that’ll come in later.

At Fado, I got somewhat intoxicated. My liver was envious of Ted Kennedy’s. I danced with 4 or 5 people, one of them a guy, and I don’t even dance! I got to hang out with some cool people and bullshit with the band and a cute lil blond girl kept popping my pearl snaps and running her fingers through my chest hair. This one gal beckoned Shane out for the dancing – she knew not what she was asked. You can never out-energy my Shane. And Blaggards happened to be near the top of a long set of particularly fast songs.

Her arms/legs/soul must still be aching. That rug was cut, Muthafucker!

Then this nice, blond Cougar pounces on Rusty right on top of Last Call and mugged down on his ass hardcore.

Us three country boys had had us a time — but it weren’t quite over…

Rusty was kind enough to drive me back to my truck, which I had parked next to the Governor’s Mansion…

Yeah – - -

THAT governor’s mansion.

We come up to 11th and turn the corner into a gulf of light. I didn’t know there were that many firetrucks in Travis County! I got out and Rusty and Shane were nice enough to wait in case I couldn’t get my truck out in order to drunk-drive home amidst all the Sheriff’s department folk. I’m walking to the truck and after a while it I realize there are char marks all over the front of the mansion. This wasn’t just a threat or whatever. Then, the heat hit my face. then the smoke. I fuckin’ froze. I was seeing my state’s Governor’s Mansion burn. I’m still kinda fucked up over that…

6/7:

Nate took Josh to the airport very early (10 a.m. I think). Then he and I and Rusty and Shano went our asses to Dave and Buster’s to play video games and win tickets and get our daily allotment of Vitamin G. We won us some tickets and all got mini-flasks and shot glasses.

Then we went and got my Truck where we got to see the damage in person. I’ve decided Al Quaeda was gunning for my ass (as usual) and the retards missed and hit the innocently by-standing Stately Mansion. A news photog told me to be expecting a call from the 5.0 which, I must say, is oddly cool. I mean, I’ll be on official record as having witnessed fucking history! TEXAS history!!!

But then the sadness hit, for my two loving mens had to return Northward. It always hurts a little to see them leave. But I know they will be back. They’re my boys. It’s how we do.

And the weekend came to a close with Nate and eye screening the most fucked up/right on revenge movie ever. Has to be the most visceral thing I’ve ever seen. I keep debating between it and Private Ryan but… I can’t decide. Not something I say often.

So, that was my fuckin’ weekend. How was yours!?

The Border Twirl

The Vaquero sits the horizon

Rides the red like a tired mare

His minds eye swims the Rio

His heart spins like a lost compass.

————————–

The scars on his fingertips

Are Gods letters

An alphabet for infinity

a narrative meant for the languageless dirt.

————————————

The River spelt liberty

So he swam it.

That River kept his brother,

So he damns it.

The Border Twirl.

———————–

Dos hermanos on the world

Shoulder to shoulder cowboy born.

To the Rio Grande they ran

Hellbent for Texas land…

—————————-

The Border Twirled.

Motherfuckin’ river swirled.

Divided by water

Each grabbing land.

My friend had found Texas,

but his brother had Mexico in his hand.

———————————-

The River promised future

so they swam it.

Same River wrecked their family,

So they damn it.

The Border Twirl.

————————–

They toil the days and sweat truth

A bloody alley his brother swims.

They’ll open America’s Arms

And be as brothers once again.

The Border Twirl.