It's been a long time but I am back!

I have been working pretty hard the last several months to try and get my Diversity company up and running. Also been working on helping my better half’s projects by updating and trying to keep up with all that needs to be done.

They way the economy has been, I am blessed that the few clients I have been able to keep my head above the water. I am 51 years old and well, at this stage of the game I am hoping all those years of doing what I do will pay off and I won’t have to get a job a K-Mart or Taco Bell when I am 60!

I am writing to basically get my steam off today. I find in strange in a time when people are trying to get work and trying to find jobs that there are some that seem to take advantage of the fact that they have a roof over their head and that times have been good for them (for the most part) but yet they are complaining about the lack of money coming in but when you give them work they slack off or just do care. There I got that off my chest.

I wish all my friends and family that are going through tuff times right now the best and hope that things pick up. Ronn and I are truly blessed to have great friends and great family. We do what we can to help and if other do the same, we all can get through this.

Facebook has kept me pretty busy with catching up with old friends. It (for the most part) has been a great journey. I have truly enjoyed reconnecting with most and connecting with new. Boy it’s scary to see how some of us look after not seeing each other for over 30 years! When I wake up I feel 17… when I look in the mirror I look 45, when I lay down to go to bed I feel 100! : )~ I guess my life after high school was pretty much an adventure. I haven’t talk to most of my childhood friends for those 30 plus more years of not seeing them. So catching up on one’s life is great reading and conversation. All those crazy times I had in the late 70’s and early 80’s. I often stop and take a deep breath and thank the powers that be that I am still on this earth. So many of things I did or situations I was in… It’s a wonder that I am still standing. I guess I was supposed to so I could blog/write about it.

Going to be working at the GLAD annual "Taste of Eagle Rock" this Saturday, August 22nd at GLAD. The Great Los Angeles Agency on Deafness is a wonderful non profit that is helping our Deaf and Hard of Hearing community members. Rachel Braver once again is doing a fantastic job (as well as hard working) preparing for this event. both Ronn Savala and I are very proud of our little Braver!

So that leads me into what all that stuff above I am yapping about. I will use this blog more often to express myself and to tell a story or two. If your listening enjoy.

mandog

Geeze Louise!!! It's been 8 months!!!!

Dia de los Muertos 2007. I usually plan for this festive event months in advance. But this year in particular I was sooooooo slow in getting started with the Calaveras y Diablo. I actually started these two guys 10 days before November 1st!!!!! I was VERY proud that they turned out nicely. Possibly my best ones EVER. That’s our little friend Antonia in the middle. Doesn’t’ she look nice and dead? Pretty but a bit cold.
Ronn, Manuella, Antonio and myself got our booties over to Self Help Graphics for an evening of fun and more dead people. This years seemed a little to have more turista’s but it made for more fun. There were soooooo many cameras this nite my eyes were still blind the next day from all the flashes. All in all it was good times.


PUNK PIONEERS….



Jenny Lens the world’s BEST punk photographer has been hard at work, pounding away, fine tuning… getting the facts jack for her upcoming book “Punk Pioneers”. This book will hit the selves in April 2008. It’s a HISTORICAL look at the beginning of Los Angeles Punk 1976 – 1980. What is most exciting about her book is the many pictures of not only the bands and performers on stage but Jenny’s ability to capture many moments when they were not on stage thus giving the audience a moment captured that are personal and a lot more intimate then the other books now coming forward about Punk.
Jenny was there, she was there with her camera in hand clicking away and making history. She was not paid; she did this as art. Spending countless hours in her dark room developing film, making prints turning the shadows and blurs into fabulous photos, photos that told a story and many would be published and MANY of the bands/personalities would become international rock icons!
So now the whole world will know Alice Bag, Trudi, Helen Killer, Mary the Rat!!!! I would mention Pleasant but SHE IS publicity. My friends from days of craziness can thank Jenny as they will be forever immortalized in B/W and a few in color! So treat yourself to some amazing photos and read some good history on a part of music that changed sound and look of Rock N Roll forever get your asses out and purchase this book. You can pre-order it on Amazon.com and save some mula. If you want purchase a great holiday/x-mas present please visit www.jennylens.com and purchase one of Jenny's photographs which she will sign!!! What a great present for the Punk in U!

Check on some friends

Our good friends at Buena Vista Furniture are having a holiday sale and the prices are out of this world! Ruthie and Joseph have such an amazing selection of beautiful furniture and items that will add to anyone’s home or office décor. Not only will your eyes feast on the many pieces from all parts of the world, but your pocket book will seem endless with great deals and specials. There truly is no other store like this in all of Los Angeles as testament to the many studios and celebrities that shop there. No Betty La Fiea’s here! Just rooms of beautiful furniture and all the fixings that go with it!

Oxxofilms…. Oh my, what can I say about my friend Adam Valdez and his collection of steamy hot, sexy and sometimes humorous selection of Spanish language DVD’s? Check out his web site OxxoFilms and you will see what I am talking about. There are many titles to choose from to make your hot tamale even hotter! Sr. Valdez has the nitch on películas muy, muy, muy caliente! For pochos like me check out Charly Valentino’s collection of sexy comedies. These had me rolling on the floor!

For the beauty minded… Visit ronnsavala.com and check out the Keune® and SoPure® line of shampoos and hair care products along with the Repechage® body products, call Ronn at 626.281.4133 and about his Holiday Specials!!! Don’t miss out!



Saharan Sirens!!! Check out these belly shaking ladies as they make their debut in the next several weeks. Featuring the debut performance of Jamilla, DeVilla and Celeste!! For more info and bookings please contact Jamilla at 323.314.0239 or visit jamillasoul guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a wiggle in your jiggle!

Well that’s it for now.

These are some non-profit’s that I have worked with, if you wish to make a donation please do so…. It is for those less fortunate that we need to open not just our hearts but give what we can so the future of mankind becomes a better world to walk amongst.

Proyecto Pastoral at Dolores Mission
Plaza Community Services
Mexican American Opportunity Foundation
Great Los Angeles Agency on Deafness

I wish EVERYONE a Happy Holiday and prosperous 2008 especially my little sister Rosa and her husband Beto.... their new venture and new home will be a happy and joyous one, may laughter and happiness always be present for you both.

Lastly, to my beautiful friend Celina... Your an Angel... I love you with all my heart. Happy belated 40th. I look forward to our annual X-mas lunch. Your sister and yourself are blessed.

Peace
The Mandog