Movember Reminds Men to See Doctors for Annual Check Up and Cancer Screening

Another Movember has come and gone. Another month of manly mustaches were grown by many a men to encourage men worldwide to see their doctors for their annual check up and cancer screening. This year I was proud to be a member of the team Fantastico Mustachios, who raised over $8,000 in our combined fund raising efforts. All proceeds go to support issues around men's cancer, including the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

My 16-year-old son supported my Movember campaign this year by growing an impressive 'stache in his own right. In the photo, Ayrton and I ponder the ever increasing importance of Movember to men's health. We encourage everyone to get a check up with your doctor and help the fight against men's cancer.

You can still contribute to the cause @ http://mobro.co/Korye

G. Love & Eric Hutchinson @ Stubbs in Austin, TX

Christine and I enjoyed a great concert Friday night at Stubbs in downtown Austin. G. Love & Special Sauce headlined and Eric Hutchinson was the opening act.

G. Love & Eric Hutchinson jammed together for a few songs.

Shawn Colvin @ One World Theater in Austin

Great performance by Shawn Colvin tonight at One World Theater in Austin, Texas. I enjoyed the concert with my wife Christine and her mother Arlene. I hope you enjoy this little video clip of "I'm Gone."

My Musical Wanderings & DJ Loggy's Playlist

I love music and I play a little guitar. Ever since I was a kid, I've played in a variety of garage bands ranging from my first "real gig" as bassist / driver for my brother Robert Omlit's band to some exciting live performances in My Size with Foosh. Other important adventures along my musical journey have included Half Joe, Menagerie, Lomo Gato and Buster Grubbs.

My good friend Pete West was the leader and producer for Buster Grubbs. I wrote a lot of the lyrics and a few songs. While Pete is a professional musician and I'm just a hobbyist, I think we'd both agree that we created something unique and special when we collaborated. I do indeed miss those days jamming with Pete and all my other former bandmates. You can check out a few of the songs these bands created on my new online playlist at the social music sharing site called Blip. I hope you enjoy the tunes:

http://blip.fm/profile/DJLoggy/playlist

A love of music starts with your family and my family shared loads of music with me. My mom used to take the Logan kids to see American Bandstand at Malibu Beach. That's where I had the chance to give Marie Osmond a Paper Rose. 

Today my musical journey involves showing my 13 year old son Ayrton a few chords on guitar every now and then. I also enjoy observing my son's interaction with music. He loves a lot of classic tunes. His favorites include Louie Louie, Surfing Bird, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and just about everything by Creedence. Pretty good taste IMO.

Family Fun Camping at San Clemente, California

Ayrton and I had a great adventure camping out at San Clemente State Beach in Southern California. We flew out non stop from Austin to Long Beach on JetBlue. I just love the roomy leather seats and direct tv. Next we picked up a rental RV from 1st Choice RV in Irvine (ask for Doug).  Our last stop for preparation was Trader Joes for all our supplies. Man I miss this store. I sure hope they open one up in Austin someday soon.

Ayrton and I got to our camp site and settled in to our little home on the road. Our 24 RV was quite spacious - and the pop out made it even moreso. We went on a nice little hike down to the the beach. There were lots of neat caves in the cliffs and the Amtrack Surfliner train passed by frequently.  It's neat to watch the train along the beach. It brought back many memories of camping here as a child with my family each summer.

We had the pleasure of spending time with lots of family and friends during our visit. My sister Tammy, brother-in-law Rick and nephew Korye made the trip down from Tehachapi. They stayed the night with us at our camp site. My uncle Jesse and aunt Juanda came down the next morning and shared some great stories about my father while we snacked on fruits and cheeses.

Later that day, Ayrton's uncle Ricky came down with his boys. Their timing was perfect as the sun came out from the coastal eddie behind which it had been hiding all weekend. We all had a blast playing in the sun and surf for hours. We even had a chance to bury Ayrton in the sand.

We all thoroughly enjoyed the amazing sunset. That night after dinner, we capped of a great little vacation with smores around the camp fire. Life is good.

A few days in Portland with Ponzi & Friends

As I entered the Willamette Valley outside of Portland - I felt the stress of the city, the job and past obligations leaving my body and mind. The sky was clear, the air was clean and the trees were lush and green. This was just what the doctor ordered: a refreshing change from the hot August heat of my Austin home.

Ponzi Vineyards sits nestled in a calm and beautiful valley in Beaverton, Oregon about 15 miles southwest of Portland. The family vineyard is well kept, well respected and has a great story. While Ponzi's pinot noirs are world reknown, the real reason I was there was to visit a dear old friend whom I had not seen in many years.

Jeff and I had both escaped the chaotic, stressful, overpriced and overhyped world of Southern California in recent years. His journey took him north to Portland, while I ventured to Austin in the great state of Texas. Both cities carry a similar creative class vibe, which I found comforting. Music, art, food, hippies, technology, trees and wine thrive alike in Austin and Portland.

Jeff and I shared a great evening at his home preparing a wonderful meal of cheeses, vegetables, steak, shrimp, and a delicious grilled pineapple desert. We caught up on each other's lives, reminisced about college and laughed about things everyone took so seriously back in the day. Tonight was just the way life should be: good food, good friends and good wine.

Speaking of wine, I want to thank Jeff for sharing a few great bottles from his cellar including a delightful 2007 Ponzi Arneis and the oustandingly epic 2005 Archery Summit Red Hills Estate Pinot Noir. This was definately the best pinot noir I have ever tasted.

The Adventures of Ayrton & Korye in NYC

Ayrton started his first day of summer bright and early. As I woke him at 4 am, I said "welcome to the real world kid." We had to be on a flight to Hartford at 6:30 am. I was taking my son with me on the week's sales trip to Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. This was going to be a great father and son adventure!

Our first stop was Hartford, Connecticut with a hotel right across the street from the picturesque state capitol. We toured the capitol and surrounding park that featured many historic statues and monuments, including a tribute to the gallant Frenchman Marquis de LaFayette. 

Day two included a journey south through Stamford across the Tappan Zee Bridge and on to Morris Plains, New Jersey. We had dinner with my friend Andy and his daughter Katie at Arthur's Tavern, famous for their 20 ounce steak. This was just an appetizer for the big event: New York City. I had a full day planned for my son's first trip to The City.

The Adventures of Ayrton & Korye in NYC:

10 am - NJ to Manhattan via Lincoln Tunnel

10:30 - Parking at 42nd and 9th

11:00 - Cab down to lower Manhattan

11:30 - Ferry at South Shore Docks

12 noon - Tour of Downtown, Ellis Isle & Lady Liberty

12:30 - Wall Street and pics with the Bull

1 pm - Ground Zero  

1:30 - Lunch in Chinatown

2:30 - Desert in Little Italy 

3:30 - Subway to 59th 

4:00 - FAO Schwartz

5:00 - Central Park

6:30 - Brick oven slices

7:00 - Put on rocker attire

8:00 - Concert: The Morning Benders & Kooks

10:00 - Empire State

12 Midnight - To Queens

Ayrton & Joe from The Morning Benders