Well, my buddy Kenny is packing up his family and moving to Kansas. So today me and a couple friends are taking him out to breakfast down by the water and then cruising the harbor. I'm bringing some cigars, Rich is bringing a 21 year old scotch, and it'll be a good time. Then tonight, we're having a HUGE goodbye party for them. While it's sad to see him go, I understand his desire to want something better for his wife and kids.

There's one thing about special friends ... they never really leave you ... they just move to a different location.

DG 

In case you missed them, here's the link to all the Super Bowl TV spots. My personal favorites are the AOL ones with the guys from American Chopper.

Thanks for all the suggestions on where to go to relax. I'm going to take some of the gift certificates I got from my birthday and go to the day spa for a day of DG pampering.

I'm all about being pampered. Well, in the sense of being taken care of ... not being pampered like as in those diapers ...

DG

I need some time off.

Since before Thanksgiving, I feel like I've been going non-stop, and it's really taking it's toll. I'm tired all the time, I have no energy and I look horrible. I think it's time for some rest and relaxation. A little down time, if you will to recharge the batteries.

The question is: where shall I go? I have to go somewhere, because if I stay home, there'll be too many distractions. Here's what I'm looking to accomplish:

1. Sleep; lots of it.

2. Relaxation .... no stress or worry.

3. Rejuvination ... I want to feel like a million bucks when I leave.

So I'll pose the question to you, dear Xangans. Where am I to go?

DG

Zoe went in to be spayed today. I gotta tell you, it was pretty nerve wracking. I kept jumping every time the phone rang thinking it was the vet calling to say she didn't make it through the surgery. Man, I guess the death of the three pugs is still pretty fresh in my mind.

We've almost got the stuff we're keeping moved into storage ... I think we've got two loads left. Good thing the guy who's remodeling the garage is running behind. I'm thinking he'll start next week. It'll be nice to have a place for everything and everything in it's place.

Friday we leave for Santa Rosa to go to a Sponsor conference for ACCD. I'm thinking we'll sponsor an event toward the end of the year, or the beginning of the next. It'll be a fun weekend, and nice to see all of my old pals... not to mention make some new friends.

That's all there is to report on the home front. I'll jot some more when I get back.

DG

Man, am I beat! My wife and I spent the whole day on Saturday cleaning out the garage. It wasn't a want thing, it was a had-to thing. We're getting the whole garage re-done with flooring, insulation, finished ceiling and cabinets, so we needed to clear everything out and get it ready for demolition this coming week. What a nightmare! As you can see from the photo, it was a huge mess, so we moved everything out into the driveway and started throwing crap away. In the end, we had to hire a truck to come and take away all of the garbage. $150, but man was it worth it. Anyway, here's how it looked:

 It was funny, as the neighbors all came over thinking we were moving. I don't know if they were sad or hoping. Anyway, I digress.

I'll post some of the images as they re-do the whole thing ... It's going to be awesome!

I'm beat, and I need a drink.

DG

Man, am I beat! My wife and I spent the whole day on Saturday cleaning out the garage. It wasn't a want thing, it was a had-to thing. We're getting the whole garage re-done with flooring, insulation, finished ceiling and cabinets, so we needed to clear everything out and get it ready for demolition this coming week. What a nightmare! As you can see from the photo, it was a huge mess, so we moved everything out into the driveway and started throwing crap away. In the end, we had to hire a truck to come and take away all of the garbage. $150, but man was it worth it. Anyway, here's how it looked:

 It was funny, as the neighbors all came over thinking we were moving. I don't know if they were sad or hoping. Anyway, I digress.

I'll post some of the images as they re-do the whole thing ... It's going to be awesome!

I'm beat, and I need a drink.

DG

I'm back. You know ... I think I understand why Vegas is so appealing. You can really only take it for short periods of time, and you pack so much in, that it gives a distorted view of what actually transpired.

I got there on Weds. of last week,  got all of my credentials for the show, and got checked into the hotel. Met up with my old pal Thomas and had a couple glasses of absinthe before going to a car stereo press conference on the 104th floor of the Stratosphere. It was WAY too high up for my taste.

The show opened Thursday morning and was really great. Got to see all of my old friends in the industry and see all of the cool new stuff coming out for '04. What were my favs? Why the 76" HD plasma screen, of course. I REALLY need one of those ... it's not about want .... it's about need.

Friday,  things started going downhill .... wound up with huge blisters on both feet, so going back to the room to take care of it, I drop my camera and destroy the 35-135 lens and flash. Now this is a 15 year old Canon EOS 620 ... an antique by today's standards. Sadly, it was the only lens and flash I brought. So I'm going through the phone book calling pawn shops and camera store for a lens and a flash. No luck. I give up at 11:00pm, and hit the sack. After starting again first thing in the AM, I finally found one store that has used equipment ... and they have both the lens and the flash I need! Got them both for $230! I'm back in business.

Finished doing the show on Sat, and go out to dinner with my buddy Rich. Had an awesome time ... played craps most of the night. Turned $40 into $120, then lost it all. Hey ... it's not about winning, it's about playing, right? Yeah, I didn't buy that either.

Sunday morning I go to get my car from the valet and as I'm driving off, I find out I only have 3rd and 4th gear.... no 1st, 2nd or 5th! So I'm driving home in 4th gear doing about 60 on the freeway. I make it home in 5 hours. At this point, I am so tired from not sleeping well in the hotel, my feet and legs are killing me and now my car is having issues. I hit the sack at 7:30 and don't get back up till 11 hours later.

I drop the car off at the dealer, and he tells me he thinks one of the syncros went out .... about a $2,000 fix. Great ... just great. I get the call around 11:00 AM that it's just a shift linkage, and it's only going to be $200 to fix it. Much better than the first number.

Bottom line? The show was great .... all the other stuff was bad, but in all I had a great time. Sorry for the bitchy post, but I'm heading to bed and try to get some rest. I'll post more soon.   

DG

Well folks, I'm going to be out of the loop until next week, as I'll be in Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics show (CES). Yep, I'll be in the thick of it ... surrounded by all the electronic gadgets and scantily clad booth babes ... but hey, someone has to do this gig, right? And really, it's all about the work ... i mean, who really wants to go to Las Vegas for 5 days on the company dime and enjoy all the perks of being a magazine-type guy? Yeah, it's going to be awesome!

If I can get some computer time in the press room, I'll try and do some updates, but I'm not sure just how much time I'll have in between gambling and going out to dinner.

They also have the porn convention going on at the same time ... I'll be avoiding that one. I went once about 6 years ago, but after riding the escalator with an 80-year old woman in leather hot pants and halter top, I decided I didn't that kind of visual in my life anymore.    

Take care of the place while I'm gone, and I'll post some pics when I get back.

Be good to each other!

DG

I have to tell you what my brother in law, Joe told me. First, a little background.

Joe is 58 years old and is autistic ... he's got the mental capacity of an 11 year old, but he lives on his own in this thing called "Project Independance." He's awesome ... no bullshit with this guy, he's set in his ways and he's really funny ... not on purpose, mind you, but just hilarious.

So he calls me on the phone New Year's day to tell me that as he was walking to the store, some blonde lady pulls up in her car and says "hey, can I give you a ride?"

I say, "Hey Joe, this gal might have thought you were a quite the good looking guy, maybe she was hitting on you."

Joe says, "Dan .... Dan .... this is the age of Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussain, I was trying to be careful, and I was. I told her "NO!!! BACK OFF!!"

Joe's awesome. I love that guy. He makes me laugh.

DG

Happy New Year, everyone!

Let's make 2004 the best year ever!

DG