Fuck Yeah

My time at the mag has come to a grinding halt.

Man, am I glad to be getting the hell out of here.

One Day Out

One more day to go at the magazine. Bit sad, bit glad. Pat got in from his travels today and it sort of hit me: I 'm gonna miss being around these fuckers. Actually, they will miss me more. Har-har.

Other progressions: Design projects have been delivered. Gears are in motion. Boxes are being filled and transported, stacked and organized for assembly of our Ryder truck gear configuration.

Paperwork: Addresses are being changed, bills fessed up and lumps of credit debt chiseled away. Feels good to be starting things over up there.

Good. Everything is going smooth concerning the big move.

Dental Drama

This one is for my Mom: I'm getting the fangs scrubbed today at 4pm.

I'm a little nervous, as its been awhile since my last visit. I went in for a preliminary checkup a couple weeks back. I have a small list of infractions inlcuding: chipped teeth, lack of underbite, cracked molar and a good helping of plaque. He was concerned about the cracked tooth.

No sweat. Gotta pay the piper.

One Week Out.

We made some headway over the weekend. Boxes haves been assembled and are slowly beginning to get filled with gear. We have a good system in place, hopefully making this nightmare-ish process somewhat efficient and reasonable. A friend is gonna pick up the couches, which is good cuz we were just gonna throw 'em in a dumpster like ev'ryone else in our complex. (You can tell when people move out, as there will be some ratty couch sticking out of the dumpster) A "final edit" has been taking place with each step, weeding out items we won't need in future adventures.

I've come to a sobering realization: I have a lot of stuff. Melissa has little stuff. I can't part with things, a trait passed down through the genetic recipe courtesy of my Dad. The editing process is hard and I'll tell you right now, there are things that I will lug with me from here on out, just based on principle. That's right. I don't want to leave anything down here. The place doesn't deserve the sorts of treasures I cherish.

Loose ends are being tied up all over town. Freelance projects are coming to a grinding halt. Office ephemera is being removed and boxed up. The Goodwill pile is getting fierce.

One week out, real excited, sad to be leaving my friends, more than happy to be leaving California.

So Close

One more week to go. Next Friday is my last day on the job. We'll spend the weekend cleaning up the beach condo and packing up the gear. We load the Ryder on Monday morning and push off that afternoon.

Take that, Southern California!

Real excited to be pushing off to a new land. Portland is gonna be great. I have a good gig lined up, good friends to waste time with, all in a beautiful neck of the city/woods.

I'm wrapping up various mag duties, feeling a bit sad as the end nears. As I keep telling my colleaugues and supervisors in the office: "Come to think about it, this is gonna be harder for you than it is for me." Har-har.

Real glad to be getting the hell out of SoCal. Little sad I'm leaving the a good mag team.

Happy 25th Birthday to Melissa.

Her big day was on Monday, and like the dickhead I am, amidst all the chaos, I forgot to mention it on this weblog. I got her a watch and took her out for some grub. It was a good night. She's having just a smidge of a "mid-twenties crisis," which she will survive with support, discussion and coaxing.

Also: I reserved the Ryder truck. 15 feet of glory, car-carrier and all. Our ticket outta here.

Happiness Is A "Two Week Notice"

My official two week notice:

Without any further ado:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Fellow workers and Marty, specifically:

Let this email announce a new development in my path. I've accepted a position with the good people of the 'Cinco Design Office' based in Portland of the Oregon Territories.

This is my official "two week notice," wrapping up whatever the dudes throw at me up until the 22nd.

With that, please let me express my appreciation for the opportunity to work in the joint, around inspiring people in an amazing, unconventional and refreshing "office" setting. Thank you for the good words, collaborations, tips, tricks, hookups and memories during my time on the beach. The pages have been amazing on all levels.

- - - -

SPECIAL THANKS + HI-FIVES + LIFELONG AWE TO:

The Top Brass:
==================

01. CHIEF: Buuuudddy, thanks for believing in me. You keep the economics going strong. Good work. All this talk about you moving back to Minneapolis or Indiana or whatever is really sad. You should act on it.

02. MARK: Thanks for picking me. I'm proud to have been on yer team. Be it on some snowmobile death mission or in the backwoods of Vermont, I appreciate the opportunity to have "seen it all" in the snowboard microcosm.

03. BRIDGES: The man with the words and vision, you are the words beneath my wings. Thanks for letting me run with you. Talent: You've got it. Put it to good use.

04. BAKER: Praise to you, the diplomatic image picker. Job well done, without the "my way or the highway" process. Thanks for letting me in on it all. And hell, how hard is it to stand in snow and shoot some guy overhead?

05. ROSE: I thought you'd never leave. Give 'em hell over there. We could have been so big together.

The Good People:
==================

06. CODY: For all the little things that make the big things work.
07. LAURALYN: Den Mother, whip-cracker and guide. Thanks you.
08. CARYN: Quiet and shy won't get you anywhere. Omigod, just kidding.
09. CAMPO: You take good care of the little guys.
10. NORB: For going to bat for us.
11. MEEHANK: For good conversation, advice and drink tickets.
12. CANHAM: Inspiring graphic arts, fonts and spray paint tomfoolery.
13. PENNARTZ: I need the "Great Lakes" report and "Oregon Coast" too.>
14. RANDY: For holding it all together behind the scenes.
15. RUTH: "Good morning everyone, the truck is here."
16. SMITH: Never make a pong bet with a man in duress.
17. ORLANDELLA: See "RANDY, CODY and NORB."
18. MURRAY: Good conversation and good hats.>
19. ZACH: For pong prowess and slack-jawed pong trash-talkin'.
20. MARTY: See "RANDY and ZACH." Best of luck with everything.
21. YANGSTEIN: Pirate bounty and interesting pong technique.
22. ROSSco: For good conversation.
23. KIM: For bailing out with our word dilemmas... we love you.
24. MICHELLE: For elegant patience. Also see "RANDY and CODY"

25. RICKY: Maybe Chief could hire you? (Anytime, anyplace, bro.)
26. TONY: Same goes for you, surfdog.
27. KOZAI: See you in the water. Salt Creek? Lowers? Lake Superior?

- - - -

Friends forever: factoryfloor@draplindustries.com

Once again, thanks for everything, I appreciate all of it.

Over and out,
Aaron James Draplin, year no.28

Draplindustries Design Co., North America
www.draplindustries.com
factoryfloor@draplindustries.com

- - - -

"Good design for bad people, Bad design for good people."
"Quality Since '73"
"If you ain't right, get right!"
"Don't take shit from no one, never."
"Midwestern by the Grace of God."

- - - -

"There is nothing wrong with Southern California that a little rise in the
ocean wouldn't cure." -ROSS MACDONALD

Official Press Release

Hello to all the concerned family, friends and foes who check in for the news concerning my recent employment developments.

I accepted the postion with the CINCO DESIGN OFFICE today. It felt really good. I'm really excited for the new chapter. My little life has been hectic these last couple weeks. A good sort of "hectic." Everybody has been patient and understanding. Even the landlord lady. Thanks to everyone wrangled into this little fiasco.

Truth is, this has been a surprisingly hard decision. There are just too many factors that pop up along the process. All good things, as I weigh my decision and commitment to Portland and the future. My heart is set on that Minneapolis for some reason, and it pains me. But it'll be there later on. It's been hard weighing my options. I'm gonna miss the dudes in the office...terribly, I think. SoCal? Hell no, not one bit. Not one god damn iota. This place can fall off into the ocean for all I care. The work is just too fun and it's an "office" environment that I've dialed in pretty well.

So we're going. I do sense a small coup of sorts amassing at the office with some secret plans. Hmmm.

BREAKING NEWS

Expect an official press release concerning the "big news" to be posted later this afternoon.

Post-Portland

Had a great weekend up in the Portland, Oregon.

I flew up Thursday, via two flights that briefly touched down in Oakland. Upon arrival I caught the MAX downtown, then a bus up to Floyd's penthouse.

Friday morning I met with the folks at the Cinco Design Office. What started with a phone call a week back quickly turned into a flight north to meet the crew.

The meeting went really well. Cinco's space is beautiful. Meeting rooms, open office areas, a library wall, refreshments and a ping pong table for sport. The office is in a good neighborhood, with close proximity to the epicenter of Portland. By bus, bike or rig, getting to work will be no sweat. Being a fan of their work over the last couple years, seeing the daily operations solidified my interest and excitement. The place looks fun, and challenging and contagious. I met Goo, Dan and Kirk and got a chance to explain what I'm looking for in my next adventure. I found a good place to jump into.

More info will be posted as this development progresses. Really, really excited to get up there and roll the sleeves up.

For now, please spend some time with their clients: Gravis footwear and Nixon watches.

Special thanks to Heather and Jay for the impeccable hospitality. Much appreciated. Also, hi-fives to Goo, Kirk and Dan for making me comfortable and listening.