Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year Beautiful Peeps!


2009 was not an ordinary year.  Seems like most years that end in 9 have been remarkable.  I keenly remember 1989, 1999, and no doubt will remember 2009.  President Barack Obama won the Presidency.  Making history with an inaugaration event in DC that was bigger than the Million March.  It was cold as ever that day, but hundreds of thousands of people endured the elements with elation.  Me and my family walked from Southeast through Capitol Hill and on to the Mall with so much spirit, hope, optimism, and surprise realizing we were living through the dawn of a new age for our world.

2009 was a very good year, but even more complex.  Steelers won the Superbowl, Yankees won the World Series, SE Titans won the #DMV 65 pound title, and the Penguins hoisted the cup.  My teams truly helped make the year memorable!  2009 also had its lows.  We lost Michael Jackson.  My Godsister Erika Harper and her two young sons were brutally murdered by her deranged husband.  My wife's grandmother got diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.  The recession deepened and turned the optimism of the nation that saw no flaws in our President into amnesiacs that blamed the worsening job losses, Wall Street corruption, failed banks, bankrupt corporations, and economic devastation, and almost every other societal ill on our newly elected royal family.  In spite of all these trials and tribulations, 2009 was phenomenal.

Every year is fleeting.  Every year is complex.  Every year should be cherished.  God has blessed us all with more than we deserve, and we must repay by living each day as if it were our last.  The Gaskins and Glamourlife will remain committed to excellence.  Continuous improvement is how we have lived, and will continue to live every day of our lives.  Happy New Year to everyone.  We wish you nothing but the best in 2010.


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Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Blizzard of 2009, Happy Holidays from the Nation's Capital

I am an eternal optimist; except when it comes to DC area weather reports.  DC is notorious for hyperbole in the Winter forecast.  So much so, that retail stores become bazaars where customers fight over gallons of milk, loaves of bread, and other essentials at the mere mention of snow.  Usually this is played out when we get a Winter storm warning of 2 or more inches, and ultimately end up with a light dusting, or just cold rain.  So imagine the scenes when the weather forecasts for the #DMV area predicted 2 plus feet of snow?!  Chaos & Disorder for real.

I was extremely skeptical, and borderline angry.  It was the height of the Holiday shopping season, and all these frantic people were clogging up roads, cleaning out store shelves, and creating pandemonium.  Having lived in Iowa, Chicago, Detroit, and Minneapolis, snow is something I have become accustomed to.  DC has always managed to wow with exceptional storms though.  I can harken back to the great storms of my youth.  Blizzards of '76, '87, '94' etc.  All seemed like fantastic surprises, and not an annual right of passage like so many hardened Midwest regions that handle snow adroitly.  But even still, DC always gets hit with the strong NorEaster that runs up the coast every 5 or so years, and pummels DC, Baltimore, Philly, NYC, Boston, and the whole corridor. 

Unlike the Midwest though, when that storm hits, it takes days and weeks for the Washington region to recover.  I remember my years at University of Iowa, we would get incredible snowfall.  What was more impressive was that everything continued like business as usual.  Buses ran on time, classes continued, and businesses almost never shut down.  Trucks had roads pre-salted before the first flakes touched the ground, and hours after a storm ended, even sideroads were plowed completely clean. 

The Nation's Capital is notorious for snow storm ineptitude.  Our snow trucks still laughably use sand.  I know its environmentally better, and given the historical nature of our region, more eco-friendly and sustainable preserves the roads, but salt flat out gets the job done when sand cannot.  Not to mention, that DC does not have enough trucks to plow its 1,100 miles of roads, and has a policy to not plow alleys at all.  That means when we do get our big snow storms, you better truly be ready to disconnect from the grid for days on end.  Because the city and all businesses, roads, transit, Metro, etc. will shut down completely leaving you to fend for yourself.  There is actually something quite pure and true about that though.  A sort of pioneer mentality that forces neighbors to help each other.  You see kids shoveling elderly neighbors steps and walkways out of necessity and community.  Those same kids are quick to throw a snowball your way too for great spontaneous snowball fights.  Usually, guns are not involved, but that is another story about the arrogant officer who let his pride get the best of him on the corner of 14th & U Streets in NW, DC.  We will save that for another day, as this is our story of the blizzard.

In any event, the weatherman FINALLY nailed it.  In SE, DC, we were blessed with 25+ inches of beautiful, powdery snow.  It snowed for 20 straight hours with relentless yet beautiful grace.  My kids were euphoric.  Me and the Mrs. were even caught up in the fun too.  4 days after the great blizzard of '09, DC has yet to completely dig out.  Kids are still sledding, schools are still closed, and the entire #DMV region is on an extended Christmas Holiday break.  Happy Holidays to all.  Enjoy some of our photos from the midst of the most recent storm of the century.  We can't wait for the next one...










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Monday, November 30, 2009

Steelers Battle Baltimore Again


It was Deja Vu all over again, but this year, we came out on wrong side of it. Without Big Ben, Troy, Aaron, Kemoatu, and others, the Steelers looked ordinary. They couldn't close out their fierce rival in Baltimore when it counted the most. The best part of this loss may be that it angered Mike Tomlin so much, that in the post game news conference, he stated "we will unleash the fury of hell in December". Not sure that that will be enough to catch Cincinnati, Indy, New England, and the other high flying AFC teams. Only time will tell...


Enjoy our photos from the game night though...












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Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all our peeps. We had a wonderful Holiday in Davenport, Iowa. Spent time with my wife's family, and had one of the best home cooked meals imaginable. 15 hour drive each way, but totally worth it.

We are glad to be back home in DC, and starting to truly fall into the Holiday Spirit. In this season that is all about Family, Giving, and Christ, let's commit to "day by day, in every way, keep getting better and better". - Gaskins Family Motto

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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Driving a Lamborghini on the Las Vegas Strip

I had to put this video up. What a phenomenal surprise for a car fanatic such as myself to get the opportunity to push a Lamborghini Gallardo on the Las Vegas Strip. After a quick lesson and test run, I was able to get the joint up to 140!!!

Wow. I may have to move the Lambo infront of the Aston Martin Volante on my supercar wish list now.

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Friday, October 9, 2009

President Barack Obama Wins the Nobel Peace Prize

What a momentous day. President Obama has been recognized globally for his efforts to effect real change. Some will argue "It's too early, and he hasn't done enough". Others will hate and contend on the other side that "He has spread himself too thin, and is doing too much too soon". All I say is Whatever. The humility he shows in this video acceptance should affirm what a great man and leader he truly is.

The man is an icon, and I am proud that he is the face of our Nation. May God continue to watch over him, his family, and our great Nation.

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Sunday, October 4, 2009

Suttle Thoughts Cranks a Capitol State of Mind

Went to a Go-Go recently in DC at Takoma Station. Had the pleasure of hearing one of my favorite bands, Suttle Thoughts. Pardon the grainy image, but the iPhone video is not well suited to dark clubs. Got good audio though.

In typical Go-Go fashion, Suttle took a currently popular song, and "enhanced" it. This time was noteworthy to me because Jay-Z lost a civil suit for jacking a Rare Essence's song, Overnight Scenario, and taking creative liberty to make it one of his Hip Hop bangers.

Hip Hop and Go-Go have always had a tenuous relationship. Both are inner city musical styles born in the 70's in major American cities. While Hip-Hop has blown up and gone mainstream, Go-Go has stayed near its home base of DC. Go-Go aficionados will reference Amerie, Wale, UCB, EU, Salt N' Pepa, Jill Scott, and other popular songs that featured Go-Go extensively and went mainstream. While all of this is true, my point is that Go-Go is still largely unknown outside of the DMV. And Chuck Brown's Bustin' Loose was probably the pinnacle that Go-Go would bust loose onto the charts or popular radio.

I still hold out hopes that Go-Go will continue to endure and thrive. It is true musicianship with live intruments. The "pocket" cranks like nothing else in any genre of music. I tell all my friends around the world, there is truly nothing like the sway and swell of a crowd full of dance endorphins at a live Go-Go. Truly special.

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