The High and Low

More Garden Gooooodness

2008-10-13T15:53:00.001-07:00

YES!

2008-10-11T19:49:00.000-07:00

Heaven.

2008-10-11T19:29:00.001-07:00

Yes Prease...

2008-10-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

Japanese Gardens

2008-10-09T16:42:00.000-07:00

Okay people, bear with me here. I'm gonna post a bunch of similar pics so I can give myself an online reference guide until MY OWN Japanese Garden is complete!!!!!

My Top 10 Favorite South Park Episodes (thus far):

2008-08-13T13:03:00.001-07:00

10. Cartoon Wars (Part One)
9. Fat Butt and Pancake Head
8. Cartman Sucks
7. Tsst
6. Make Love, Not Warcraft
5. Canada On Strike
4. Ginger Kids
3. Up the Down Steroid
2. Night of the Living Homeless
1. Awesome-O

A Day Off...

2008-07-25T18:33:00.000-07:00

Again, I'm perched on my porch swing with a beer and my laptop. No Comic Con for me this year (again) as I need to show some restraint in the buying of toys, collectibles, art or books. So before I start some garden work, I thought I'd share some pics.

Parker will save the day:

The Ice Cream Truck that trolls my neighborhood:

What I did to my office door (during one boring half an hour) at work yesterday:

THIS is in my kitchen right now....

2008-07-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

(please pardon the hazy iPhone photos)

It's perfect! Plays like a dream!

and Oslo too!

Housey is a Home.

2008-06-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd post on the old blog as I sit here on the porch swing this fine evening (with my laptop, a burning citronella candle and a beer).

Here are a few more snaps of Casa Crist:

Here's the new 2nd bathroom (which used to be a tiny powder room-- now it's got a shower!):

D&D throughout the ages....

2008-06-19T09:53:00.001-07:00

CLICK HERE

Happy Father's Day to me!

2008-06-17T09:33:00.000-07:00

My dad took off for Phoenix yesterday afternoon from Burbank Airport to help my other sister Caitlin pack and make the drive back to Pennsylvania. Her and her husband, Corey finally sold their house and are opting for a nice change of scenery and a brand new house built by good ol' dad in the hills of north eastern PA.

Prior to his departure, my dad was able to finish up the fireplace at my house and my my my--- it is absolutely gorgeous and better than the original picture of what I was going for. Gaze!

After the last finishing nail was shot into the oak, we headed downtown to my dad's favorite restaurant on the planet, Roy's Hawaiian Fusion for a rad Father's Day dinner. Erin came up from San Diego for the event.

Dad's totally stoked at Roy's...

Dad and Erin...

And a night shot for posterity...

She is mine!

2008-06-02T18:50:00.001-07:00

I got the keys last Friday and my dad is already in town and tweaking things around the house! SOOOO busy but absolutely stoked out of my gourde. I own a California Craftsman Bungalow. It's insane.

First thing was first this weekend though--- had to assemble the porch swing and get it hung. Perfect. Thanks to my parents for getting it for me!!

Today was insane as I had to drive my dad all around as I dropped a ton of cash at Lowe's and Home Depot on everything from a tankless hot water heater to the wood for the fireplace mantel. Did i mention that i also had to work today? Eeeesh.

More updates with pictures to come. I officially move on Wednesday so most of my stuff is packed up.

House Numbers!

2008-05-16T21:55:00.000-07:00

I got my "Arts and Crafts" type-set house numbers today! They're absolutely gorgeous 5 inch high, 1/4" thick solid handmade copper pieces that will patina darker over time. This marks the very first purchase for the house! Here's the example pic:

I got the 6317!! The numeral 3 looks amazing up close. Coming next is the Craftsman green tile to restore the fireplace with:

and here's the wood model I'm going to use for the mantle (the tile will all be the smaller green tiles:

How fucking nerdy is this post???? Eeeesh.

I will, however be posting photos of the house in progress after I move in!

house and da fuuchaaa

2008-05-15T16:46:00.000-07:00

In the mele that is buying a house in Los Angeles, I've been thinking about (yet again) dropping the whole myspace thing. It doesn't seem like it will feel relevant after I get settled in my new home-- and after I buy that gun, of course. Hehe. Now, it only seems to suck time away from my day, not to mention the fact that I'm beyond exhausted with social hipsterisms and parties, etc. However, I definitely plan on keeping this blog as I've had it a long time before I ever signed up for any social networking site in the first place. What kills me are the people who meticulously maintain MORE THAN ONE social networking profile. Eh, whatever. I don't have anyone to impress. I figure that the people who need to reach me already have other (and better) means to do so. Still, I'm undecided on this whole thing and might just be a pussy about it and keep on keepin' on in myspace town. Moot? Maybe.

Pretty...

2008-05-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

Jeez, do I love me some Chris Ware. Never really got too into "This American Life" but I think I am now...

Also found similar rugs to the ones I saw at Wacko a few years ago. Much to my delight, they're an actual TYPE of rug that exists in many forms-- the Afgan War Rug!! These depict guns, tanks, helicopters, grenades and every other bit and piece that encompasses the wars that plague their regions. These are SO going in the new house!

GO HERE FOR MORE

i think this pretty much sums it up...

2008-04-25T22:56:00.000-07:00

So as per usual, last night's LOST episode was nothing short of amazing. I should have posted this sooner but
http://mirrormattermoon.blogspot.com/

Thanks to everyone who came out to "Lost-Luck" last night. It was a packed house. Soooo much food. I don't think I'm going to be hungry for days!!

So I finally figured out how to fix my dog's death breath... an unnecessarily expensive vet dental procedure where they put him under and scrape the shit out of his teeth! Yay? His appointment draws near. Sorry little buddy (he's looking all worried at me from the couch).

The house stuff is moving along as planned and it's starting to hit me that I will finally be living in a home that I own. My dad keeps telling me that despite my impending huge mortgage payments, there's a certain peace you make with yourself when you own your home. He's right about things 99.999% of the time so I think I'm safe going with that. Have I ever mentioned how rad my parents are?

Tomorrow morning is my super-awesome-phun-time Burke Williams Spa appointment. Maybe my stresses will melt away with micro-dermabrasion and a deep tissue massage? I really hope so. Must go to bed now so Spa time can get here faster.

A Springtime Update

2008-04-22T20:26:00.000-07:00

Hello!! It's been a while and for that I apologize. Just been getting back into working the 2 jobs again as well as getting through escrow on the house here in LA. Things on that front have actually been going very well and I hope to hear about a final loan approval any day now. Looks like I get to move in right after my birthday at the end of May!!!

My dad and I have been talking non-stop about the minor improvements we're planning throughout the house. In addition to finishing off the garage as my home office/music studio, we plan on doing a more historical restoration to the living room/dining room area of the house as well. Here's some EXAMPLES I have found in some Bungalow books (all of which show the re-introduction of the absolute original details and woodwork to the space):

I cannot wait to bring it back to it's jaw dropping awesomeness!!!

On a random note, I found the absolute BEST recipe for a veggie fish chowder in the new Better Homes and Gardens and have made it twice since last Friday. It's got flippin' mashed potatoes in it!! CLICK HERE for the recipe

Wow. Holy self-aware! This post was very atypical of thehighandlow. Well, especially if you go back to about 2 years ago when all I used to do was go out and take pictures of hipsters getting wasted. Things are soooooooooo different now. Polaroid stopped making instant film and I have achieved quite a few goals and set a few more. Makes me think of a previous post I wrote a few months ago about finally having my shit together but not being able to equally share it with anyone. Bummer, sure, but the house will certainly keep me busy while (hopefully) other elements fall into place.

By the way, I have a new comic book character I might try out on thehighandlow. Let's see if I get a little time to put it together....

Whew!

2008-04-03T20:13:00.000-07:00

Okay... so I'm officially in escrow and I can't be happier about it. The house on Elgin Street is one of those little gems in LA that I have the very fortunate opportunity to purchase. I've been working my tail off for this moment and soon I'll have a place I can truly call HOME. And hey, the timing couldn't be better-- BBQ season is nearly upon us! This will be my backyard:

That's all for now. No more Holga Polaroids because, A) All I ever do is work on freelance, and B) there's um, no more Polaroid film being made. Let's give a great big BOOOOOO to part B, eh?

My younger sister Caitlin got married last weekend at Mandalay Bay in Vegas and we had an amazing time. The water in that desert town is effin' awful though. Felt all sorts of bizarre whilst getting faded.
It's rare to get every single member of my immediate family together so I took copious digital pics. CLICK HERE.

GUHHHH

2008-03-19T20:28:00.000-07:00

I never thought that waiting for an offer response would be THIS excruciating!!!!!
Still waiting! Will update with what happens....

for the love of a bungalow...

2008-03-16T21:10:00.001-07:00

There's something big in the works for tomorrow. I'm so nervous I just may develop another ulcer! Overnight! Let's just say that it involves this:

LOST

2008-03-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

...is so damn good right now. I'm soooo glad there's a TV show that gets me stoked every week again!

I'm also bracing for some sweet sweet new South Park episodes. That's it-- tonight I'm going to hug my TV and make it feel appreciated.

next on list....

2008-02-13T09:27:00.000-08:00

I keep trying to remember what happened to my Mega Man games for the NES. No more excuses. This makes me want to eBay me some new (old) ones.

Guh! Finally!

2008-02-12T10:55:00.000-08:00

I won't need my KFC Lunchbowl anymore! America's fast food inventions just got pwned.

the best text message i have ever received...

2008-02-09T22:35:00.000-08:00

"Lauren it just hit me the ive
been watching tv for over 50
years and this is the first time i
personally know a name on
the credits. even better shes
my daughter!"

-- from my mom

oh yeah, and...

2008-02-08T17:31:00.000-08:00

Life's starting to get weird. I really don't care about Pitchforkmedia.com and/or any of the bands touted by the popluar indie music web-rag. That stuff used to consume my life. Going to shows, finding new bands, downloading rare tracks, etc etc etc. Now all I want to listen to is the Kinks on the way home from work. Tired. So tired.