Stuff I Like

I’ve been meaning to write a blog like this for awhile. Of course I don’t have a good track record for blogging consistently but hopefully that will change.  Plus one of my favorite podcast, Smodcast, inspired me with a recent episode to finally write about this.

I don’t want to be the person that constantly pimps out other people’s products, and by no means to I want to be considered a brand whore but I am a person and I do like certain products above others. Plus if there is certain items I use or like of course I want to talk about them.  Two products I want to talk about specifically are Moleskine  and Pentel.  Both of these are products I can get behind and brag about how much I love. 

Most people who know me, know that I like to dabble in the arts. Moleskine makes a variety of sized books but I carry a Moleskine sketchbook or watercolor book with me at all times.  The size depends on my mood, but basically they are small sketchbooks that are hard leather bound that have an elastic band to hold the book closed.  The sketchbook is made from a smooth cream color paper that works well with any medium form graphite, to watercolor to acrylic paint. The things are durable as hell and easily portable. They are literally the perfect sketchbook for me to carry around. Plus if the things are good enough for Van Gogh, Picasso, and Hemingway then I think I can support them also.

A good companion to accompany my Moleskine is any one of my Pentel pens, or pencils. Pentel is a company that makes many different pens, pencils, erasers, watercolors, and other writing/ art products. A personal favorite of mine is the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, it’s basically what looks like a pen but the tip is a fine point brush.  It’s good for sketching, paint brush style, plus it being a brush gives a great variety in line weight. If I’m not drawing or sketching I usually use a Pentel RSVP pen which give a smooth comfortable writing experience. On top of me being a huge fan, Pentel recently asked me to review some products for them. I was over ecstatic at this news. In future posts I’ll talk about Pentel’s products and what I think about them. Importantly, I want to let it be known that I am not getting paid by Pentel. I am just being asked to review the products so any opinion that I have will be an unbiased and will be an opinion that’ll be true to my integrity. The Pentel reviewing thing is something that I’m totally looking forward to.

Now that I’ve said my piece about those two, there are some other things I that I support and can get behind. One is another favorite podcast. Podcast Stockton. If you don’t live in the Central Valley in California this podcast will probably mean nothing but in our local area these guys are awesome. They are very upbeat and positive about the “miserable” city we supposedly live in. Another is Closetgoodies.com. Started to give people an alternative to craigslist so you don’t have to deal with the junk that has clogged up that popular site and it’s a safer environment free of all the “adult” themes. Lastly, for now, is my local comic shop, The Launchpad in Lodi, Ca. I’ve never been a fan of comic shops and until I “discovered” this one I never found one that I actually liked. At Launchpad however  I feel completely comfortable and at ease. Plus its been the easiest thing to just email the guys there and give them  a weekly pull list, go in and shoot the breeze with them.  Awesome set of guys.

So there it is. I’m not trying to market and sell people on anything just to inform on what I like and use. I’m not a brand whore I just know what I like. Take my opinions however.  

TSM vs Gabriel? part II

After some major dilemma and going through a whole ordeal....I'm back!! TSM united once again. Damn that sounds like a cheesy movie title that Craig would like. 

The Singlemalt Vs Gabriel?!

The Singlemalt Podcast has been around for a few years now and has produced quite a few episodes; some good, some bad, but most of which have been entertaining.  I wasn't a founding member, but came aboard over a year ago to join Craig and Devin.  The show has evolved quite a bit, some of which has been due to Craig leaving to fullfill other obligations, as well as a complete overhaul for the show. 

Well, Craig is back and people have told us that three is our magic number as far as hosts, but Craig has bragged that its him that makes the show. lol. Well, here's a chance for him to prove himself.  As of this moment on I'm afraid to say I will no longer be able to be a co-host of The Single Malt Versus. 

It has come to a point that I must refocus on certain aspects of my life and to begin to focus on others. I wish not to discuss any further what that means, but just wish to express how much fun I had recording. Hopefully in the future I might be able to come back to the show, but for now I must depart.

I wish lots of luck to my two close friends, the remaining hosts of Singlemalt. I leave with words that made an impression on me from the former Tonight Show host, Conan O' Brien:

"Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get.  
But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen."

-gabriel

Is Blogging just not my thing?

Ok so last monday i wrote up a blog stating how I was on a mission to start blogging twice a week, well fail on that. However I am blogging a week later and the end of last week was Christmas, so i think i can forgive myself. 

So both of us The Single Malt Versus hosts are on vacation yet 1/2 of us are in Hawaii. Devin is one lucky bastard and I hope a sea turtle eats him. 

I, despite not being in a tropical paradise, have enjoyed my vacation thus far. Ive read Something Missing  

and am torn about which book to conquer next.

I've been playing Zelda: Spirit Tracks, FF8, and various boardgames. 

The main thing that I've loved this Christmas though is being with family and friends. Not to get all mushy but being around with family and friends is what its all about. No amount of presents can take away the joy of letting your parents cheat at a game of Sorry. Baking pumpkin bread with your wife. Going with your family to go eat at a great restaurant. I think that sometimes in the consumerism of the Holidays we forget that. So for the people that have a few days vacation left, stop going to the mall and buying crap, turn off the stupid sports game on your fancy LCD TV, stop twittering and actually talk to the family member that you least talk to. You'll be surprised what new things you'll learn and the fun times that can be had. 

A (Pre) New Years Resolution

Ok, so we've had the Single Malt site up for awhile now and its pretty obvious that I'm not much of a blogger. Many reasons had to do with the fact that I work 40 hours a week, go to school, I produce art, and I podcast.

Well I'm out of school for a month for winter break and I'm going to be on a 2 week vacation from work. So one thing that I wanted to do was get a jump for the New Year on being more frequent posting on this site. Being a creature of habit I figured I would make myself take time out of my day and post every Monday and Friday night. I'm much sometimes will be more interesting than other times, at times I may review, rant, use this as a journal or post up artwork, or just ponder life in general, but for what its worth it'll be on here. 

If anyone has any thing they would like me to post about or chat with let me know via this site, calling in to our podcast, or get ahold of me on twitter, @abraxas579. 

May this hopefully be the 1st blog of many.