Went Back To Get My Gal

Back For The Attack.

Back in the office, readying myself for the next issue. We kicked issue 14.5's ass. It came together amazingly well, and will be a frontrunner for the "issue of the year" title. Thanks to the dudes on the team for the good work building this one.

I'm proud to be a part of this team. We can take a punch. Collectively speaking, we are turning into one well-oiled mag-building organism. Here's to the next one.

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The mission back to get my gal went very well.

Smooth sailing east. Barstow >> Vegas >> Southern Utah >> Grand Junction >> Summit County >> Kearney >> Omaha >> Des Moines… rolling to a stop in Minneapolis after a good two days of driving. "Big S" performed like no other. Fast as the wind, he ran like a 6-cylinder motherfucker should. 28 miles per gallon! Good numbers for such a long haul.
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I made my way right to Melissa's. It was good to see the girl. I missed her. Glad glad glad to have her back on the Factory Floor.

Minneapolis in October is possibly my favorite place/time combo. Cool breezes, rustling leaves, crisp skies. Good living. We spent two says in the city hitting all of our haunts. We geared her up with some new dry goods for the California winter. Meals at the Ideal diner, walks through Uptown and drives in the old neighborhoods were some of the finer points. I miss the place so much, and realize that when I'm ready to hit the road back there, it'll still be there for me.

The trip back went smooth also. After a quick overnighter in Windom at the Okins family compound, we pushed off south towards California. Sioux City >> Topeka >> Oklahoma City where we paid our respects to Wayne Coyne's house (Flaming Lips frontman) >> Amarillo (pronounced Amma-rill-oh) >> Albuquerque, Flagstaff, Barstow and into beautiful southern Orange County. The traffic we experienced in Riverside was just about enuff to make me turn right around to go home. All those fuckers on that freeway. haulin' ass, slammin' into eachother's SUV...this place can kiss my ass.

So I'm back and diggin' being with my gal. She is a positive force in my little life. I'm extremely happy to have her back down here. She digs the weather and the living. Maybe it'll rub off on me.

Hope For No. 28

Year 28 is gonna be a good one.

Got myself a good gal to hang with, the finances are steady and the work is good.

The pages are being set out at a fevered pace. We are kicking ass. Today is gonna be a scorcher. This issue will rock.

28 Years On The Factory Floor.

Today is my birthday. 28 big ones down. Another 100 or so to go. Gonna keep kickin' ass from here on out..

Thanks go out to my parents for making me. Way to go.

Only 2 years to 30. Yikes. That is amazing. Still feel like I'm 15.

A New Positivity In These Words (And In My Life)

Been a good weekend. Caught up on some sleep, went treasure shopping with Rose-n-Bridges, completed some freelance projects, ironed out the wrinkles at work (thanks to the dudes at ther grind who care for me) and readied myself for an amazing week in the trenches.

We have 20 pages of 110 finished and out of our hands. That means we have 90 to complete by Friday. It is possible. We will prevail. Go team.

"The Green Mile" is climbing my "DDC Favorite Flick List" quickly. Right along with "The Shawshank Redemption," I love the subtle, innocent cues and wit. Certain values comes through: tolerance, respect, humanity, wonder, compassion. I'm amazed by Stephen King. I grew up reading his work. Taught me how to dig reading. So go rent The Green Mile...wonder about John K-O-F-F-E-Y + get good and pissed at Pearcy.

TGM us right up there with Raising Arizona, Roger & Me, American Movie, Casino, Good Fellas, Easy Rider, Fargo, Hudsucker Proxy, My Bodyguard and Shawshank. Oh yeah, for some reason I have been particularly savvy to John Hughes films like Uncle Buck and Planes, Trains and Automobiles lately. I laugh right out loud during the finer moments.

BREAKING NEWS: (Draplindustries Factory Floor AP)

High level negotiations are taking place between the Draplindustries Factory Floor and prominent members of "The Oki" (pronounced "oh-kye") concerning future relations. These talks have reached amicable, positive solutions concerning co-habitation, fecund rodent management, logistics, the future and other rudimentary wonders resulting in corporate mergers of the heart.

We will keep you posted on all up-to-the-minute developments.

In the meantime, spend that meaningless time of yers at www.pjchmiel.com. Dig around a bit. Many items of beauty to be found.

Minneapolis Was Good. Sad Too.

Get off yer asses and get over to www.pjchmiel.com. Jesus H. Christ, this kid is brilliant.

Got in tonight from Minneapolis, a smooth flight ending a muted mission. Those wheels touching down on California soil are never a glorious moment, I'll have you know. The trip was wonderful at times and sad at times too. Too much stuff goin' on in the thinker concerning career decisions, family and girls. Made for some low points. But don't let my blues mislead you, the trip was a success on many levels too. The most amazing weather a kid can ask for...55 degrees, blue skies, brisk winds. Absolutely breathtaking. My kind of living. I miss the place.

Met with former instructors, heroes and colleagues to get a feel for the current job situations in the cities. Muted response, rolled eyes...but good for the most part. Seems everyone is feeling the pinch all over the nation.

Saw Wille Nelson and Waylon Jennings up in Hinckley. Waylon was lookin' rough. Willie kicked ass. Little dynamo. National treasure.

My time in the city was good. I walked around, diggin' my old haunts and exploring new streets. Took a ton of pictures on the digi-Elph. I love that city skyline. Felt at home as soon as I got off the plane.

Thanks go out to Ryno and Mike for hospitality and hangin', Kris Okins, Dimmel, the good people of CSA, Jan Jancourt and the amazing Jon Baugh family for taking time out of busy schedules for me.

I'm ready to hit the open road back home, but have to weigh my options concerning the mag and the good people I work with. I'd be one happy motherfucker if the mag was based out of downtown Minneapolis, good lord willin'. Oh well. Many thanks to the cats who I work with for the opportunity, support and friendship down here. You know who you are.

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Many congrats to Natalie and Jeff on their new bond. They were hitched on Saturday the 6th. I tried to organize a surprise mission back to Traverse City, but sort of bottomed out in the big city and couldn't swing the operation. Broke my heart. Good kids, good plans, good luck to the newlyweds. Brings a tear to my cold, hard eyes.

Rhajer Cameron tied the knot with his gal on Saturday too. Man, that is one lucky girl. Top notch dude.

All this marriage stuff makes me smile.