The Big News: Settled It

The Draplindustries Factory Floor is proud to announce the heightened arrival of much-needed equipment. After years of pinching pennies, hours of standardized research, aloof beta testing and one big flash of the plastic, we're more than proud to celebrate some new hardware.

1. Apple 867MHz G4 rig.
2. 22" Cinema Display.

Phew, it was time for such a transaction. The Power Computing Power Tower 180 put his time in well. Brought him on board back in November of 1996 after an ugly summer of washing dishes on that damn train in Alaska. We'd guess he's up in the 400 thousands or so as far as mileage is concerned. He was good to us, and we appreciate his bytes. After equipment failures, RAM limitations and general instances of "damn, that's broke too?", we stepped up to a more contemporary piece of equipment.

So here's to OS 9.2 for the time being. The whole OS X thing is exciting and all concerning performance, but not practical for a man of my discipline just yet. Programs are being loaded, peripherals ordered, RAM slam-dunked into hungry slots...in no time we'll have him well-oiled and ready for any project.

'Bout damn time.

Thanks to everyone out there for the help in this new operational phase. Thankful nods go out to Damien, Cam, Campbell, Floyd, Michaylira, Tevas, Rose and Melissa for techical prowess, prodding and soothing affirmations.

Oh yeah, that cinema display will kick any Triniton whale's ass…anytime, anyday.

T'Giving Day

Hope everyone had a good turkey day. We didn't do too much. Bunch of sleeping, bunch of chowing and a bunch of tube. Sort of lonely of course, y'know, being away from our respective family functions and all. Last year sucked too. Wish I was loaded so we could fly back at a whim. So Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

I have a list a mile long of things I'm thankful for. Here's an abbreviated list:

1. Health.
2. Opportunity.
3. My gal.
4. My family.
5. My gig at the mag.
6. The good fuckers at the mag who tolerate me.
7. The meanest Passat Wagon this side of the Mississippi River, "Big S."

Things are good on the DDC Factory Floor.

We'll Miss Her

We lost [P]Earl. [P]Earl was Melissa's guinea pig. First, let me explain this notation: "[P]Earl." When Melissa first rescued [P]Earl, she was told the cute critter was a boy guinea pig. As head of the household, I took some freedom in naming him a good, American name. We settled on "Earl." It fit him perfectly and he seemed to be pretty happy with it. Then after some delicate research Melissa discovered that Earl was a girl! A girl named Earl? So she changed her name to Pearl. Things were in order concerning rodent gender naming conventions.

Weeks turned into months. Many happy nights were spent with [P]Earl cruising around the confines. She liked to hide. She liked to scamper. She liked to eat. She liked to squeek. Melissa started to call her "little bird" due to her crooning, high-pitched frequencies. [P]Earl enjoyed two all-expense paid roadtrips across the nation too. She was a good little traveler.

About a week back [P]Earl fell sick. She went downhill fast. We think the complications were due to her eating her bedding, a common infraction for tenacious guinea pigs. Well, it jammed her plumming up real bad.

[P]Earl passed on early Friday morning. She will be missed.

We like to think she moved onto a better place; a place where the cage is even bigger, the water drip is always full and their are multiple places to run and hide with carrots and Vitamin-C drops a-plenty.

We buried [P]Earl last night on a bluff in Mission Viejo. The ceremony, though small and of small attendance was nevertheless dignified and beautiful. Thank you to Caroline for her generous heart.

[P]Earl is survived by Melissa Okins, Aaron James Draplin, Minh cat, Moon cat and whatever guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits or rats in her genealogical roadmap, related or other wise, she may have come across in her time on this earth.

Another Good Weekend

Had a good weekend. Watched some videos, Cribs/Carlsbad: E-Tree: www. chrisengelsman.com
, party hoppin', treasure hunting at the Rose Bowl Flea market (where the "stars" shop) and some general r-n-r with the gal.

Things are going well on all fronts. Little tight on the scratch, but comfortable nevertheless. The Photo Annual is completed and off to the pre-press wizards for tuning. We should be seeing copies of issue 14.5 soon too! We have a bit of a jump on things now. I'm gonna start tearing into our last mag of the year. The dudes have been working diligently on the material for the final issue of the cycle. They are itchin' to get on the road this winter.

Get yer hands on the latest CSA stocks images book: "CSA Snapstock." What can I say? Try this one on for size: Amazing. Order one right now at www.csaimages.com. Hell, order the whole damn stock book set while you are at it. C-S-Amazing.

(Also, check the credits section inside the book. You'll see my name listed, as well as P.J.'s, proud validation of our contributions.)

Good To Have Her Back

Hammering away on that Photo Annual. Going real good too. Almost finished.

Spoke with Arlie up in Seattle. Always good to get up to speed with him. Inspirational cat.

Not too much else going on. Settling in with Melissa just fine. Simple things like cooking dinner, grocery shopping and housecleaning. Real good to have her back in my little life.

Mellowing.

Good, mellow week in the office. No big honkin' pressure to get pages out. Takin' our sweet time on our photo annual layouts. Jeff picked an amazing pile. Quite proud of the fucker.

Melissa and I are settling in. Dig the gal. Glad to have her back here. The apartment is slowly taking shape. Key word is "slowly." We have been looking here and there for a new pad to rent. Get something closer to the office in Dana Point. She works on the edge of San Clemente. We're checking out a pad there tonight. Beach living, dig it.

Had a good chat with the Harry Brumer yesterday. Good cat. Econo like Watt. Smart like Ian. Miss the guy.

Hope ev'ryone had a good week. Enjoy the next couple days.