The man in the gray flannel suit

Lately I have been reading an eclectic mix of books on business, religion, politics, sports and the Hell's Angeles. I have drifted away from reading the "serious" literature that I have studied and taught in school for so many years. So, it was with great pleasure that I started reading The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit. This novel was so good that it made me nostalgic for my days as an English major at UCSB. I had a palpable desire to discuss and debate this book with any willing participant. During this mornings surf session with John I was actively encouraging him to read this novel and see it as an extension of his own interior monologue. So many of our talks in the water focus on the unspoken fears we all have. Sloan Wilson is a gifted writer how put those fears on paper.

What makes this novel so interesting is that the main character, Tom Rath, is a decent and likable man. His motto is, "go along to get along." He simultaneously finds comfort in conformity and loathes what his life has become. He is married with three children, but finds himself stuck on the treadmill of consumerism. He has spent his life "making love without passion" and going through life "without any real emotion except worry." He is the embodiment of what Thoreau said when he stated, "most men lead lives of quiet desperation."

But Tom Rath is not written as a stock character. He is not presented to the audience as a bland symbol of conformity or a vision of meek existence. No, Sloan Wilson has written something far more sinister. He has held a mirror up to society to reveal that we are all the man in the gray flannel suit: hurrying to make a buck, trying not to offend anyone, eager to please and blend in and praying that we do not loose our jobs, our home, or our life.

One More Season in the Sun

There is joy today in Dodgerland, as the mighty Manny did not strike out. The score was tied at one to one when a dreadlocked slugger began his duel in the sun. For Dodger stadium stood hushed and still as the mighty Manny stared down the pitcher with intent to kill. Oh, somewhere in chavez ravine the sun is shining bright, somewhere in Echo Park a band is playing till the morning light.

Manny dug in and took his practice at bats, while men clutched their hearts and kept a firm grip upon their Dodger blue hats.

A lumbering swing was meant with strike one, could the great Manny really be done?

Despair filled the crowd as the umpire shouted out, strike two! But the faithful remained and the small grin revealed what they knew.

For Manny is at his best when his back is to the wall, one only has to remember how he preformed at Fenway in the Fall.

As the count drew full and the crowd rose to it's feet, the crisp white uniform bearing 99 shimmered in the heat

With one giant swing the mighty Manny did go deep, creating memories for me and my father to keep.

The crowd rose in unison to chant and cheer and Manny tipped his hat and raised an ovation for all to hear.

As children danced and strangers slapped fives, I took a moment to be thankful for this blessing in our lives.

To be a season ticket holder and share a season in the sun with my brother, a truly sublime dream has come true that is unlike any other.

For there is joy tonight in Dodgertown for those of us who bleed Dodger blue, we could of told you all along that the great Manny is not through.

So tonight say your prayers to the great Dodger in the sky, for the season is just beginning and Manny will make that ball fly.

The Legions of the Unjazzed

"And every day we surf, good or bad, there is the magic time. We sit on the beach, still warm from the day's sun and lean our backs against Wayne's sea wall, and look at the ocean. We dig our bare feet into the sand and we look into the Pacific and the Pacific looks into us.

We are stoked. Six, eight, nine, ten people lined up against a wall, all jazzed by the water we have just conquered. There is a feeling of vast accomplishment.

There is nothing mystical about this. There is a need in all of us for controlled danger; that is, a need for an activity that puts us however briefly on the edge of life. Civilization is breeding it out of us, or breeding it down in us, this go-to-hell trait. Gradually, the day-to-day people, the hackers, are taking over. There are, as you read this, uncounted millions of people who now go through life without any sort of real, vibrant kick. The legions of the unjazzed.

But surfers have found one way. God knows, there are other ways. Each to his special danger. Skiing is not enough. Sailing is near. Ski jumping is almost. Bullfighting makes you dead. The answer is surfing."

-Phil Edwards

Matt talks live music

Last week I went to see Paul McCartney play at the Hollywood bowl and it was an incredible concert. I have really got back into seeing live music due to Saint Rocke (a music club by my house), I tunes (the best thing on the internet) and having enough dough to buy tickets for all the bands that play in L.A. So, today I was thinking about all the concerts that I have seen over the years and I came up with a few new categories and some great memories. I would be curious to hear about your experiences:

1) 1st concert ever:

The Beach Boys after the USC game when I was in 6th grade. This was a classic concert as Kokomo had just been released and the Beach Boys were enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Extra bonus: John Stamos was on drums! :)

2) 1st concert where someone offered me weed

The smell of marijuana is a staple at just about every concert that I have ever been too. (except the Grateful Dead--ironically) The first time I was offered the hippie lettuce was by an oldster at Tom Petty when I was in the 8th grade. (This oldster was a 17 year-old hottie)

3) 1st concert I was at where someone I came with puked during the show from drinking

This would be Keith Black at the U2 concert my sophomore year of high school. He tried to blame it on the Carls Jr burger but we knew better.

4) Hottest Chicks

This is an easy one, Jack Johnson at the Santa Barbarra Bowl in 2002. Good Lord in Heaven!

5) Best Concert

This is a tough one: I am going to go with Pink Floyd at the Rose Bowl in 1994. It was the end of my senior year, I was with all my friends, we had a limo, and the entire world was in front of us!

6) Honorable Mention for Best Concert

U2 at the Rose Bowl, The Police at Dodger Stadium, The Rolling Stones at the Coliseum, The Grateful Dead with Dave Matthews opening in Las Vegas, Jack Johnson in SB, Eric Clapton at the Fourm, Sting at the Greek, too many to name........

7) Best Upgrade at a concert

My last year of college Amina and I went to see Tom Petty at the Hollywood Bowl (we had crappy seats) and they put us in the front row because they were filming that night.

8) Best Festival

The Horde Tour at CSUDH:

I saw the Black Crowes, Blues Traveler and Ziggy Marley

9) Best concert on Foreign Soil

Red Hot Chili Peppers in Sydney, Australia

10) Biggest Surprise

I went to go see Steely Dan at the Nokia and I was blown away at how great Donald Fagen was. I called up Big Goot to tell him I was now a Steely Fan.

11) Best Reggae Show:

Reggae is another vibe and "live" music is more like lets just play a little beat and see what happens here. You don't get fireworks and gizmos but Pato Banton at St. Rocke blew doors.

12) Coolest Music Club on Earth

Mattys Lounge in SB

It was one brief shining moment of pure soul

13) Concert I wish I could see by a dead group/man

This is a really hard one, but I would have to go with Frank at the Sands in Vegas. I think you know why.

14) Concert I wish I could see by a living man/ group

Bob Dylan

I say Dylan play for a few songs with Petty a long time ago and I can't wait to see him.

This was fun and feel free to contribute with new categories!

"The easy life, eh boys?"

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"See, when you get to be my age, you are lucky if you have one thing you really love."

-Hurt Locker

Today Stilts and I went down to the P.V. Cove after work to enjoy a little bit of the evening glass. It was a perfect evening, no wind, chest-high swell coming out of the west, a few surf-babes on the beach and a mellow crowd. We surfed for a few hours and seemed to be paddling and riding waves the entire time. I surfed with an old friend from Torrance High and had to smile to myself as I listened to the current horror stories of teaching high school. Life is indeed good in the city of Angels. The past four days have been really beautiful and I am so thankful to live by the ocean. After a few hours Stilts and I got out to chill and watch the sunset. As we were sitting on the rocks enjoying the view a real old-timer passed us and said, "the easy life, eh boys."

El Salvador Bound!

A wise man once said, "life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get." Last week I was in my old office at Terraden when Adam, a friend of mine, stopped in to say hello before a business appointment he had in Torrance. We went over to Coffee Bean to talk for a bit and he told me about an El Salvador surf trip he was going to go on in August. The trip sounded like another mythical dream of perfect waves, warm water and a solid crew of guys getting barreled out of their head for a week straight. I asked him the one true question, "do you guys have spots open on this trip?" Without missing a beat, Adam said yes and he was able to e-mail me the itinerary from his Iphone. I told him instantly that I was in and just like that the seeds of another adventure had taken root in my brain. As I looked over the itinerary I noticed that we had to pay for our airfare but we could fly direct from L.A. to El Salvador via American Airlines. I have been banking my air miles with the passion of a tea party activist looking for a new home in Sandpoint, Idaho. So today I was able to book my flight using my Alaska Airlines miles (which partners with A.A.) and I will be going to El Salvador on a surf trip in August! I am so excited to travel to central America and to surf in the warm, tropical water. I will be staying at the Las Flores surf resort that sits directly in front of a peeling right point. They have boats to take you at fishing or to take you out to the different breaks along the coast. So here is where it gets nuts: I met Adam through my friend Brett Dedeaux (whom I met in Fiji) when we were surfing in Malibu. Adam is working in the real estate industry so we have stayed in touch and surfed together a few times. Last Friday I went to work with no plans for a trip and by Thursday my flight is booked for El Salvador! I cashed in my miles for my free flight and I got the upgrade to first class! All of those trips with Erin have paid off in more ways than one, or they just heard that I am the President of a major company. I love American Airlines! (now if I could just get into the VIP lounge......)

E-media fast

I am currently reading a book called, Amusing ourselves to Death, by Neil Postman. His central thesis is that all forms of public discourse (politics, religion, education) have become a form of show business. At the start of the book he has his students go on a 24 hour electronic fast and write about their experience. So, for a 24 hour period I will take no calls, no computer, no car, no radio or television, no movies, no Internet etc. I will not use anything that has an electronic outlet and I will walk or ride my skateboard. The great news is that I can still surf and read! Isn't it ironic that I am blogging about an e-fast? So the fast will start this Saturday morning, February 12 and I will let you know how it goes.