Friday 6-Pack...

This week's playlist is a bit all over the place, but feels right. We have some new tracks from Free Throw, PUP, Knocked Loose and more! Check it out now!

Music saves.

Listen, enjoy, and share!

-YourFriendMatt

Let's go to Disney...

"So, did you have a good birthday?." - Me.

Recently my future in-laws were in town. Jamie and I love having familiar faces in town and love it, even more, when we get to play "host" at Disneyland. We have been on-and-off pass holders at the happiest place on Earth for the last few years. Whenever our families come to stay with us, we put them through the gauntlet of ducking and diving through crowds to get to Space Mountain on time or get the best spot for whatever the seasonal parades are.

This time around we had the additional excitement of celebrating Jamie's mother's birthday as well. Obviously, we got her the ceremonial birthday button, surprise desserts with meals and birthday wishes from cast members throughout the park all day to help bring in her new year. Disney just knows how to help you celebrate. We spent the day hearing, "Happy Birthday, April" being shouted with excitement from every direction all day. This constant excitement powers a typical day and is exemplified when it's your birthday.

But, it is not only the atmosphere that helps make any moment, dare I say, magical, but it is also the people you choose to spend time with. I consider myself a fortunate man. I am continually surrounded by people that make me more intelligent, more positive and challenge me to be a better person. I have so many incredible people in my life and appreciate it every day. Life should be incredible; it's too short not to be. 

I made a very silly, and very amateur, project attached above - all shot and edited on my iPhone X while in the park. Technology is incredible. Check it out and critique! 

Nothing but the best to you and your family!

-YourFriendMatt

Hello, World!

Five Years...

Five years. This is a huge moment and milestone in my career. I am proud to work for a company that continues to innovate the way Apple does. I have grown more than I thought possible over the last half decade both personally and professionally. I am humbled, honored and lucky to have found a place where I feel challenged and appreciated daily. A collaboration like this is hard to find.

When I walked through the doors for the first time I was looking for a steady paycheck. Since then I have moved to across the country and back again. I have been encouraged to take on numerous roles throughout the years and coached along the way. Through these opportunities, I have sharpened life-long skills that make me a better person. I have made life long friends along the way that have no idea how much they mean to me. Thank you all.

This journey is just beginning. I am a true believer in you get what you give. The second I started treating my employment like I gave a damn, I got more. The more I gave, the more satisfaction and opportunity I got. I am also a believer in mentorship along the way. Thanks to anyone who poured into me over the last few years and I hope that one day I can pay you back for all you have done for me.

This accomplishment an awesome moment in my life, and I look forward to what the future brings.

-YourFriendMatt

Zombie Wenches From Hell V...

The fifth installment is here. 

Over the last 5 years Chris and I, including any friends and family we could convince, have been putting together these short, campy zombie films. Although we were 3,000 miles away from each other this year we kept the story going. Watch. Enjoy. And thank you!

-YourFriendMatt

Playlist Friday...

After last weeks blast-from-the-past line up at Taste of Chaos I thought I would share this playlist of a few bands that played. I don't know why all these bands are getting back together to play shows but I love it. Throw it on and travel back to simpler times of high-tube socks, sideways trucker hats and girl jeans! Enjoy!

Stopped by my buddy Steve's house...

"Do those signs say no trespassing?" I whispered. "Well, I mean, it can't be trespassing if I am just walking down the street right?"

A few years ago I hated technology, couldn't stand it. (Honestly, still not the biggest fan). The thought of typing on a keyboard and the frustration that comes when your computer isn't doing exactly what you want it to do in 10 seconds was enough for me to stay completely away from them. I had a dumb phone and I thought the internet was an evil place, mainly because I didn't understand it. And I was right...the internet can be an evil, dark, weird, scary place if you look in the wrong spots, you weirdo's. That all sort of changed when I got my first iPhone a few years back. The ease of use and craftsmanship that came went into every feature, button and app hooked me. I guess I drank the Kool-Aid and became a part of the worldwide cult.

Last weekend Jamie and I went up to San Francisco to visit with some friends and venture around a new city we haven't explored. We took he scenic route up the Pacific Coast Highway along the golden pacific coast on our way. It added about 3 hours to our trip so on our way back we decided to take the direct route back to Los Angeles. One scenic drive, and 8 hours in a car accompanied by our small dog, is enough for any road trip. Typically when we are driving around America, especially in a new city, we will do some research to see if there are any off-the-beaten-track attractions for us to check out. When we were driving through Cupertino on our way home, we used the RoadTrippers app to see if there was anything around that we could check out quickly for fun and get back on the road. "Steve Jobs Childhood Home" was the first thing that populated and it was .05 miles from us on the highway. So, we pulled over to check it out. 

I guess they had just wrapped up filming for the latest Jobs' movie because the small town was still in a buzz, but there were not cameras or film crews to be seen. As we pulled onto the neighborhood street I couldn't help but think "This is just a regular neighborhood." I guess when things seem bigger than life you expect them to be this grand experience. But, all the world's most famous people, leaders or your role models...are just that, people. They all came from some neighborhood somewhere.

We did a quick drive-by of the house and there we signs all over the street and front yard stating the house is under "surveillance" and "no photo please." Pfft. I can't help it if I take a photo from the street and your house happens to be in the background. We quickly jumped out of the car, ran down the street, got into position, snapped the photo and ran away like we had just played ding-dong-ditch (that game you play as a kid ringing someones doorbell, running away as fast as possible and then hiding behind something to see if they answer the door, such fun). Jamie took a bunch of great pictures and obviously in this day and age where instant gratification is a must we reviewed them while sitting in the car before we took off from this quiet neighborhood.

I love traveling and I love my phone. I use this technology to stay in touch with my family across the country. It's friggin' awesome.

Remember, when there is a sign that says don't take photos, pretend like you didn't see it.