drueco.com Blog

in portland for a client meeting and the meeting was a success.  sitting @ airport waiting to board my plane to burbank.  lots to do in la: rona’s mom’s funeral, meeting baby kyle, visiting my family, and hanging with my friends – all in 2.5 days, phew!

see you all soon, can’t wait to be back home (at least for a couple of days).

Lots of big news coming outa Cali – Frank the Tank is gettin’ hitched!  All he’s missing is the white picket fence.  Been quite busy at work: couple of cool pitches, XM, HBO and coming soon : Columbia.  Also been working on getting my book updated, haven’t touched it in a couple years.  Summer has been a bunch of funky humid weather.  Politic, politics.  Waiting for the NBA season to start, tick tick.  No time for blogging.  Been reading a few poker books for next year .  Parents were in town!  Sophie started school.  I walk her in the mornings.  Tired, very tired.
Below is what I seem to write/think about.

One of the perks of living in FoHi is having an LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) stop for two reasons.

1. Options and convenience. We have the E, the F, some local services AND the LIRR. So we decided to jump on it and head down to Brooklyn and check out the Murakami exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum with Jennifer. Grubbed at Chavella’s , checked out the exhibition, met up with Mr Softie, and grubbed Columbian style in Queens.
2. I just think that it’s designed well from a graphical standpoint

Forest Hills LIRR @ Station Square.

Watching the LIRR pull up to the platform.

Transferring to platform 3 to Flatbush.

Eating at Chavella’s – my dish: bistic & onions, over easy egg, fresh fried tortilla chips, beans, cheese.

Exterior of Brooklyn Museum.

Look at ‘dem lips. Muah.

Now THIS is a transformer I’d like to see. (Anime girl > Jetplane)

Shrooms.

How to make Murakami shrooms.

“Queen & Princess in Flowers” Real life, Digital Ink on Canvas.

Tierras Colombianas

Pan-chan & Baba.

the kids and i went swimming today in our inflatable pool in the backyard. busted out the water guns and other water toys, got a tan, and relaxed in the pool. beautiful weather today.

Sophie packing dynamite and Baba packing heat.

We are safely back in NYC. Our trip to Cali was great — friends, family, food, weather (sort of), places, etc. Some quick shout outs to:

Jerel, Ollie, and Paul — for making it out to Coronado for a wonderful yet wet round of golf. Damn those haters behind us.

Joe & Rona — for having us over at your new apt, and for the nice presents for the kids! Sophie and Baba miss jumping on your back and head, Joe! (also for the great laker gear! go lakers!)

Ron, Janelle, and Jaron — for meeting us at Gib’s to watch the Lakers beat the Spurs, having cupcakes and thai food, and for the thoughtful gifts for the kids as well. Keep us posted with Jaron’s progress!

Francis & Irwin — for the dope homecoming party at Casa Dulay. You know I would have never planned something like that, and definitely not as good as you guys. taco truck, drinks, more drinks, laker game, dj, poker, and for gathering all our friends, even people I haven’t seen in years. I can’t thank you enough for your hospitality and generosity.

Mom & Dad — for having us over for 3 days of fun. The kids miss your house and your company already! Thanks for the 2 rounds of golf, dinner in Chinatown, Filipino food, and your hospitality. I wish we could have stayed longer! I can’t thank you enough for taking care of us! (Mom, thanks for peeling 30+ loquats for the kids!)

Gibbie — for spending tons of quality time with my family and for letting us hang at your pad. The kids will definitely miss you.

Jun — for the generous gift for the kids. I’ll make sure to get them something nice from you.

And to everyone else — our trip wouldn’t have been as fun without your company. The one thing I miss most about LA/SD is the people: Family. I have my real family and my ‘friend’ family. Before this gets sappy, lets see some pix! (My first pass at pictures, I’ll add more later, enjoy!)

For the entire album click here.

Golf at Coronado Golf Course, San Diego

Oliver letting it rip!

Jerel, eying his next victim.

“This can’t be mine, I should be on the green!”

Me: Doing it lefty style, cranking it!

Ivy / Marvin Wedding, Chula Vista, San Diego


Group shot at the ugliest church I’ve been to

Posing

The family in front of Grandma Abby’s House

Natalia, Nori, and Joanne

The kids, after a bath at Pechanga Hotel, Temecula

Homecoming Party at Casa Dulay, Chino Hills, Los Angeles

Uncle Irwin holding Sophie (yes, she’s finally smiling with him!)

The kids giving Uncle Joe a deep tissue massage.



Sophie wondering what the hell Ninong Jerel is up to


Partyboy Jon is back with the 5 second Jack swig (Francis, what’s that on your shirt?)

Poker with the guys

Golfing with the family at Roosevelt Golf Course, Los Feliz & Eaton Canyon, Pasadena

The Americana at Brand, Glendale, California

Papa, Baba, Sam and Sophie at the water fountain




The remains of ice cream, mmmmmm


Sophie making a wish

The Drueco Residence, La Crescenta, California & Full House Restaurant, Chinatown

Thanks Ninong Joe and Ninang Rona!

Thanks Nana!

Baba with his new Speed Racer toy, from Joe/Rona.

Grubbing at Full House

The Drueco Clan is coming to Cali.  It’s been over a year since leaving California for NYC and I’m so anxious to visit.
Here’s what’s in store:
Thursday: Fly to San Diego, Get some mexican food, Visit Joanne’s Mom.
Friday: Golf at Coronado Golf Course with Jerel, Ollie & Paul, Drive to Pechanga and get my hold’em on, drink/chill with the guys.
Sat: Attend Ivy’s wedding and stay at the Marriot in Mission Valley.
Sun: Chill a lil more in SD before driving up to Chino for the homecoming partay at Casa Dulay: more poker, taco truck, drinks, friends, etc.
Monday: Golf at Roosevelt in Los Feliz, Hit up the beach (Zuma?), Dinner at Full House in Chinatown, Meet up with Joe/Rona.
Tuesday: Golf in Pasadena, Check out local stuff in Glendale/Burbank, Meet up with Janelle/Ron/Jaron.

Still have to squeeze in the following: more mexican food (sorry nyc peeps – ain’t got nothing on la mexican food), In-n-out, Tommy’s, Season Thai, Leo’s Taco Truck.

Westside!

My favorite piece at the Elastic Mind exhibit at MOMA deserved it’s own post.  If you can see it – see it.  If you can’t, check out the site.