Semi-Famous

Huey Lewis: The crown jewel of my collection. HUEY LEWIS! The man. The myth. The legend. The hair. My hair. The glasses. The orange shirt. The long haired bounced in the background. The big rig. The state fair. This was probably the best day of my life. Sister and I waited for this champion backstage of the state fair. The bouncer was not all that stoked on us, or impressed by our desire to meet HueLew. Like 15 minutes later this polished black Mercedes pulls up. It’s him. Huey Lewis drives right up to where we are. Takes one look at us and gives this look of frustration. I blackout. When I regain consciences we’re begging him for a picture. He tries to get my sister and I to take a picture with all three of us at the same time. No. No. No Huey. I want an individual picture.  He obliges us, aka: he makes my year. And this is the product. 

  

"Campaign" Carl Cameron: My boss at the time was running for US Senate. Campaign Carl came to interview him. The interview was over and my boss was chatting with his producer, so I ended up talking with Carl. Cool dude. Laid back and probably gets paid well to travel for a living. I was trying to act cool and not ask for a photo. But at the last minute my awesome-former-co-worker talked me into getting the picture with him before he left. Carl Cameron was so impressed by my demeanor that he interviewed me for Fox news about the upcoming elections. The viewers were so impressed that they voted for me for US Senate.  The US Senate was so impressed they demanded that I become President. My rise to the top was so unprecedented that books, movies, tv shows, cartoons were all written about me. Now I’m a rich and famous American figure. I lived to be 125 years old and die in the arms of a Jessica Simpson look-alike.

 

Sacramento Mountain Lions cheerleaders: No explanation needed. Although, funny story: when we lined up for the picture, I got in close to the girls and the blonde one on my left totally used her elbow to push away from me. I guess I got a little too close. But still, awesome.  Apparently, I am a creeper, but the picture was necessary.  Taken at the Christian Brothers Wine, Beer, and Food Extravaganza in 2010.

 

Doug Meredith: Mr. Doug Meredith plays at the annual Saint Patrick’s Day celebration at Brownies Bar in South Land Park. He is a one man band that rocks-the-house! He has perfect hair and a red guitar. What more do you need? His business card says his band name (remember, he is a one-man-band) is “The South C’s”. He let me get on stage get this picture.

 

Danny Trejo: Tre’, as I call him, has had a crazy life story. Los Angeles, boxer, robbery, prison, state boxing champion, acting, Desperado, Machete, Sons of Anarchy.  I walked out of my office, headed toward the elevator, looked down the hallway and saw a glimpse of what I thought was Danny Trejo.  I thought naw, and kept walking.  Then I thought about it, walked back and said, “Danny Trejo?”  He said, “yeah.” (Real in depth conversation, I know.) I asked for a picture, he was totally cool about it. He said, “that’s my job”.  He pinched my neck really hard. But it was worth it. Taken at the capitol in 2010.

Bronco and Danger

William “Bronco Bill” Morrow:  Prize 

winning chili maker. Former Marine JAG lawyer.  Southern Californian. Off-Roader. California Senator.  Growing up in Oceanside, Bronco Bill was kind of a legend. Six years in the Assembly, eight in the Senate, and he was in office when Republicans took the majority, giving him chairmanship of some important committees.  A rare time for Republicans in California.Morrow is a badass dude. While a sitting Assemblyman, he took his 4x4 truck to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and started whipping donuts in the dirt. Apparently, all in the view of a state park ranger who, of course, cited him for the badassness.  What makes this even more awesome is that Morrow had special legislative license plates on his truck (A73). He’s now a retired Senator, living in Oceanside, living the dream. When he walked into my office, I could not resist the opportunity to get this picture.  2011.

Robert Downey Jr.: Creeper alert. Working in the capitol you learn that this place is like a college dorm. Everybody dates everybody. Rumors are

everywhere. There is fast internet. The R.A.’s are jerks.  Anyway, I heard that Sir Robert was in the building that day. I was stoked.  How could I not be? Ever heard of: Weird Science, Back to School, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Iron Man or Tropic Thunder? At the time, my office door was open and then it happened. RDJ walked by. I called a fellow creeper and we followed him to the elevator bay. At this point, he is obviously surrounded by cooler people than me, so I’m getting no attention. I get as close as I can and get this horrible picture taken. I wish I looked cooler, but hey, when it comes to Iron Man, you take what you can get. Taken in 2010.

 

80’s Germany lady at Sacramento Turn Verein: First, some background, I am a product of the 80’s, so big blonde hair is attractive to me. I like beer, so a life sized picture of a blonde German lady wearing no clothes and holding a towel is somewhat alluring to me. I took German in high school and college. So when all the circumstances are just right, the result is a picture like this one.  Taken at the Turn Verin Oktoberfest in 2010.

Lee Diamond:   Lee Diamond is certainly a reincarnation of a suave, hip, 60’s lounge singer.  He belts out some of the hottest hits of the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and if you are lucky, the 80’s. A few of my personal favorites are when he does his rendition of Frank Sintra’s “My Way”, and when he is in a particularly feisty mood, he’ll do a little Neil Diamond (who I am sure he is related to).  Last week I heard him sing “Forever in Blue Jeans”. Not my favorite Neil Diamond tune, but hey, a little Diamond is better than no Diamond at all. When the stars align and all the settings are right, he’ll belt out the world’s second best rendition of “Sweet Caroline”.  It most certainly ignites the bar with jumping, fist pumping, and loads of “ba-ba-bahhhs”.  Lee Diamond is “so good”. I took this rare Diamond sighting and got my picture taken with him. Two thumbs up.   2011.

I can bearly handle it

California Golden Bear: California, home to bears, state fairs, and SMEBs. This rare picture has all three. The state fair is always in the summer, which means it’s at least 100 degrees, which is apparent based on my glistening skin. I’m aware of the pants tent. It’s an awkward fold of the shorts. Or was I just happy to be on bear? No. it’s the shorts. This picture actually makes me so excited for summer.

 World Series Trophy and Bill Neukom: It's not like ever other person in the

Go Padres

world doesn’t have a similar photo. But this one is special because I’m in it. Haha, no, seriously, it’s special because I’m in it.  Bill Neukom is kind of awesome. Rich. Owns a baseball team. Wears bowties. Silver fox. Wears pocket squares. Takes pictures with me. Billionaire. The Assembly Speaker had a reception with the World Series Trophy and Neukom, I snuck in and got this picture. I don’t like the Giants, but I couldn’t resist. Yes, I’m aware that I look like I weigh 400 pounds in this picture.  Also, I think all the Giants fans in Sacramento need to re-adjust their loyalty. You cant have the Giants as your home team when the Oakland Athletics are actually closer. Bandwagon. 

Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile: I won some tickets to some Ed Harris movie premier at The Crest Theater from a contest I entered on Yelp.  I called my brother and we jammed out to go see the film.  Already feeling lucky from my big win, we drive past the local 7/11.  They are celebrating a 10 year anniversary, and (what better way to celebrate) they had the Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile on hand, available to take pictures with.  My brother slams the breaks and we flip his truck right into that parking lot. We couldn’t pass this up. Amazingly, there was no line. The workers were awesome and funny. They let us take like 50 pictures (and this was the best one?).  Taken at the 7/11 in 2010.

Poppy the State Bear: Another picture where I look like I weigh 400 pounds. But as a good journalist I am obligated to report the news, good or bad. This picture was taken right outside the capitol on “California Agricultural Day” (note the John Deere tractor in the background). I saw Poppy and couldn’t pass this up. I’m also aware that it looks like Poppy is possibly giving me a HJ, but that didn’t happen. Also, Poppy got my blue blazer covered in orange hair.

 

Jacob Lusk: I was at the Back to Session Bash and prior to some introductions of the hosts, Jacob Lusk sang a few songs.  I hadn’t heard of him before, but they sounded pretty good. I never really watched American Idol but once I heard he was a contestant, I immediately wanted a picture with him. Please never mind the Pomegranate Martini. (They’re good!)

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's bear

The Governor's bear. Enough said?