We recently crossed off #56: Write an Article for a Major Publication with the help of brass MAGAZINE (check out the article HERE.) While we were visiting brass headquarters, their team filmed an episode for their brass SHOW. They just finished editing and they’re letting us give you a sneak peak before they launch it.

Click HERE to see the video. Then enter the username: “brass” and the password: “feedback”.

Thanks brass, you guys are dopefantastic. -TBL

Believe it or not, Jonnie had never ridden a roller coaster until this year’s Tour.  So while in Santa Cruz, we took him for a spin on the famous ‘Giant Dipper’ on the Beach Boardwalk.  Here’s a candid shot - looks like Jonnie enjoyed himself.

Have fun today. -TBL

this is not how you boil water (that’s a pot)

I woke up today to a nasty, nasty stink - something between formaldehyde and sulfur. After stumbling around the house in a daze I found the perpetrator: one of our stove-coils was on full blast and cooking an empty pot. It had been doing so for 3 hours.

Everything around the pot was burned and black. I was breathless. If a KD box, or newspaper, or paper plate or anything even remotely flammable had been left near the stove, our house would have gone up in flames. Needless to say, its been a bit rattling. I suppose you just gotta take everyday for what you can.

What Do You Want To Do Before You Die?

This Saturday Dave got to hang and chat with his idle, Venum, one of breakdancing/B-boy’s biggest names.

Venum has an amazing story. Growing up between two projects in Tampa Bay, Venum and his three siblings were raised by his mother; while his father was in prison.

In grade 9 Venum dropped out of school. He soon got in trouble himself; getting arrested for breaking into a car.

It wasn’t long after this that Benji, a friend of his cousins, arrived in town.

One night Benji invited Venum down to a club, but when they arrived Venum, having only 5 dollars, decided to stay outside and save his money. He waited for a while, but hearing the music finally decided to check it out. When he got in he saw a group of dancers, among them was a “B-boy”, a term he’d learn later, who was using a style he’d never seen before. As it turns out, the B-boy was Benji and the dance was breakdancing.

That was 1997 and Venum hasn’t looked back. He threw himself into the culture and soon excelled at. Before he knew it he was being hired on by Universal Studios, and the jobs kept coming. 10 years later he has risen to the top of the game, competing just about everywhere, doing shows for names like Janet Jackson and Avril Lavigne.

Here’s a clip of Venum doing what he does best.

Check out next week when Venum gives some advice and answers the question: What do you Want to do Before you die?

Venum is currently on the Avril Lavigne tour, check him out and see if he’s headed to your town.

Also check out Venum’s site: www.venument.com

true love = Penelope

Today is the day to share your love with someone special. Whether that someone is a boy, a girl or a 1968 converted purple transit bus with no gas gauge, it’s important to make them feel loved with some flowers, chocolates or maybe a wash. The four of us only have eyes for one girl, and considering we don’t have enough money to buy her flowers, we thought we’d write her a poem.

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

Yes, you’re a bus,

But we hope you can love us too

Penelope enjoys long drives on the I-5 and gas

Jonnie in love.. while inside Penelope (we told him not to take pictures)

damn

Happy Valentines Day everyone, share the love. Penelope, we miss you. -xo TBL

quarter life?

Thank you Red Fence for the great article on TBL. You got the story straight pretty much start to finish which is tough to do. Penelope says she has 3 million miles on her, not 2, but she’s almost in her 50s now so you can’t be too sure she’s not crazy (just kidding mom and dad - 50s not old. or crazy.) No, it’s the life in your years not the years in your life that is most important. The only things that are really “crazy” are this and this. Did I miss anything?

need.. more?

We get emails from people asking why we don’t blog everday. To be frank, its because we don’t always have news worth sharing. We’ll keep you plugged with the good stuff, but you’ll have to turn to CNN for the constant stream. If you’re itching for satisfaction and need a fix, unplug the screen and head out into the world. It worked for us.. (the guys above too)

Also: in response to the other emails we keep getting - the answer is yes, it’s real.