|
What's Up is where I spout off opinions, random stories, buckets of funny things, and just generally advise as to "what's up." This blog has existed continuously for over 15 years (hey, we all have our hobbies) and posts has ranged from the thought-provoking to the boring. You've been warned.
D-mo's Book Club: Gretzky's Tears
June 6, 2021
When you talk about hockey with your Canadian friend, he might just send you a book about hockey. Honestly, it went places I wasn't expecting, and I learned more than I bargained for.
Read more...
|

|

|
Drinks with D-mo: Blue Hawaii
May 31, 2021
We wrap up May Mixers with the Blue Hawaii. Earlier, we said that blue curaçao is a versatile liqueur, so we decided to make the quintessential blue curaçao cocktail... the Blue Hawaii. Aloha!
See more...
|

|
Drinks with D-mo: The Crotchie
May 19, 2021
Our May Mixers series rolls on with another suggestion, this time from the Space Cowboy's own mother. It's called the "crotchie" or "crotchy." We're not sure which way to spell it, so we're officially giving it the "-ie" treatment. But is it any good? Don't let us down, mom!
See more...
|

|
Drinks with D-mo: Lake Erie Iced Tea
May 14, 2021
May Mixers continues with another cocktail request. It's called the Lake Erie Iced Tea and described thusly: "It turns brown and ugly, just like Lake Erie. Pretty yummy." Way to sell it. We'll try it anyway.
See more...
|

|
Drinks with D-mo: Tonawanda Fire
May 6, 2021
In our new May Mixers mini-series, we have a request from my good friend, JM, to try a new cocktail called the Tonawanda Fire. Hear the story behind the name, and our review of it on today's show.
See more...
|
To Tanjiro, With Love
April 29, 2021
After re-watching Neon Genesis Evangelion, I figured I would try and watch an anime that is a little more... recent. A lot of good choices were to be had, but I settled on Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. After watching it, I knew I had to write about it.
Read more...
|

|
Melissa Photo Project: January/February/March
March 31, 2021
Time for Round 3 of the Melissa Photo Project where each week, my #1 friend, Melissa, receives an photography assignment from yours truly. With the simple theme I give, what photographic gems will she answer with?
Read more...
|

|
Shirt Sponsor Shenanigans
March 15, 2021
The LA Galaxy unveiled a new jersey, and it's a beauty... except for one thing. And am I going to talk about it and include some needless rankings? Have we met?
Read more...
|

|

|
Drinks with D-mo: Miller High Life
January 21, 2021
Today's episode is a request. We often reference Miller High Life on other beer reviews, but have never done a "proper" review for the High Life. In the ol' mailbag, we got a request to do one. Request granted.
See more...
|
The Fix-It Files: Los Angeles Chargers
January 18, 2021
A new series here on What's Up called The Fix-It Files, where I offer some key solutions to a problem faced by someone or something.
For this first edition, I look to fix the Los Angeles Chargers, and their biggest problem... relevance.
Read more...
|

|
Melissa Photo Project: October/November
January 5, 2021
Time for Round 3 of the Melissa Photo Project where each week, my #1 friend, Melissa, receives an photography assignment from yours truly. With the simple theme I give, what photographic gems will she answer with?
Read more...
|

|

|
Drinks with D-mo: Stella Rosa Blueberry
December 25, 2020
Stella Rosa is quickly turning into our favorite wine label, and today we try their Blueberry wine. For the holidays, we figured a fruit wine is waaaay better than a fruit cake, so let's drink up and be somebody. Merry Christmas everyone!
See more...
|
Zoe's Wake-Up Mix 2020
December 21, 2020
The task of waking up my daughter has fallen to me. I figured music should do the job. I posted this weekly on social media, but compiled the full year of tunes here, with links to these hits so you can enjoy them as well.
Read more...
|

|

|
Drinks with D-mo: Sapporo Premium Beer
November 10, 2020
We delve into a Japanese beer, that was brewed and canned in Vietnam, imported into Wisconsin, and finally acquired at a Korean supermarket in Los Angeles. Oh, and there is a very brief breakdown of Guys & Dolls that is in no way related to the beer. It just happened. It's what we do.
See more...
|

|
Drinks with D-mo: Pulpy Tangerine Sake
October 28, 2020
Did we pick up this sake up simply because it was in a festive bottle? Yes. Pulpy isn't only the brand name; it's an apt description of the bottle's contents, which is weird, because... you know... it's sake.
See more...
|

|
Drinks with D-mo: Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier
October 14, 2020
Oktoberfest has come to Drinks with D-mo, as today, we are "Getränken mit D-mo!" (Don't worry, the show is still in English) We looked for a good beer for Oktoberfest, and landed on one that's simply called Oktoberfestbier. Ok... wir werden es versuchen (we'll give it a go).
See more...
|

|
Drinks with D-mo: Shipyard Pumpkinhead
October 7, 2020
Today's drink is a request. Is this brew a "basic bitch" beer? Does it taste like pumpkins? Did we finally find something requested by friend-of-the-show Victoria? All these questions are answered inside!
See more...
|
Melissa Photo Project: August/September
October 5, 2020
In case you missed the first installment, each week, my #1 friend, Melissa, receives an photography assignment from me. I provide a simple theme, and her imagination does the rest. The only requirement is that she had to take the pictures herself.
Read more...
|

|
New NEW Chinatown
August 20, 2020
Did you hear the one about when I gave my east coast instructor an education on a west coast Chinatown... for a marketing class?
Read more...
|

|

|
Drinks with D-mo: Blackstone Merlot
July 15, 2020
The label says it has notes of toasted French bread. I love toasted French bread, so I got a bottle. Truly, a scientific method of wine selection here at Drinks with D-mo.
See more...
|
Locked... Dowwwwn in a Blaaaze of Glory!
July 14, 2020
I've maintained a relatively quiet stance on political commentary (because people hate it when I call them out on their errors and they start to feel like fools). But apparently, I reached my limit, and the muse to write came upon me. So I proceeded to drop this gem on social media.
Read more...
|

|

|
Drinks with D-mo: Kirkland Signature Malbec
May 12, 2020
The wine that started a whole new creative enterprise... but is it any good? The bottle says it features notes of plums, cherries, oak, and cocoa, so take a look as D-mo and the Space Cowboy uncork a spirited review.
See more...
|
Canyons of Epiphanies
September 6, 2019
In a single week, I hit both Grand Canyon National Park and Zion National Park. Acting as a source of inspiration is constantly referenced when these parks are discussed. They are gorgeous, but did I find any inspiration?
Read more...
|

|
Movie Mumblings: Ghost in the Shell
September 10, 2018
I am a huge Ghost in the Shell fanboy. I enjoyed the original animated movie, and really loved the animated television series. Even had the opportunity to interview the English voice actor for the Major, Mary McGlynn. This may or may not skew the opinions within.
Read more...
|

|
World Cup - Who You Got?
June 7, 2018
For the first time in forever, I don't have a horse in this race. I'm asking who you got, because at this moment, I got no one... or maybe I do.
Read more...
|

|
The Egg Came First
March 29, 2018
I was recently asked by a friend the legendary philosophical question... Which came first: the chicken or the egg? Naturally, I have the definitive answer.
Read more...
|

|
The #gratiTuesdays of 2017
March 6, 2018
Hey friends, I'm back talking about #gratiTuesday. I'm still trying to make this a thing that catches on, because I really believe that we should all take a moment or two to thank those around us that have had such a meaningful impact on our lives. Who was worthy of thanks in 2017?
Read more...
|

|
The Rams... Revisited
December 11, 2017
A little over a year ago, I wrote a What's Up article about the new (again) Los Angeles Rams. What a difference 12 months have made. Let's revisit, shall we?
Read more...
|

|
D-mo's Book Club: Onward
November 20, 2017
Here's a book about Starbucks, that you can read at Starbucks, while enjoying a Starbucks (the Egg Nog Frappuccino is sublime)
Onward by Howard Schultz Read more...
|

|
What is #gratiTuesday?
November 14, 2017
What if I combine "gratitude" with "Tuesday" to create the portmanteau hashtag... #gratiTuesday. A day that we can show our thanks and gratitude. Thus, I trying to make #gratiTuesday a thing.
Read more...
|

|
Agent of Shields
November 4, 2017
As you know, I'm a designer. That also means I examine things with a designer's eye. The other day, I stumbled across a fun graphic. It shows the highway shields that each state uses for their individual state routes. Some are meh. Some are big time boffo.
Read more...
|

|
No More Original Ideas
October 18, 2017
The most common refrain regarding Hollywood is that it has run out of ideas. They are recycling and recycling and recycling because there isn't anything new out there. But rarely, if ever, have I seen two different entertainment offerings with the EXACT same story.
Read more...
|

|
Smells Like Silver
October 2, 2017
With the new hockey season starting in the next couple of days, and my TWO-TIME defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins looking to go for three in a row, I figured this would be a good time to reprint a blog post from 10 years ago when I got to see the Holy Grail of Hockey.
Read more...
|

|
When a #tbt Needs a Backstory
September 28, 2017
Even though it's been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, sometimes, actual words are needed. I can not think of a Throwback Thursday post that required a supplemental story, but this one... it definitely requires some context. If for nothing else than pure comedy.
Read more...
|

|
D-mo's Book Club: Where the Water Goes
September 25, 2017
For our second installment of D-mo's Book Club, we jump from fiction to non, with a very interesting read...
Where the Water Goes: Life and Death Along the Colorado River by David Owen Read more...
|

|
Musings from a Wandering Monk: Turn! Turn! Turn!
September 18, 2017
if you're over the age of 40, you're probably heard the text of Ecclesiastes 3 somewhere else. You would be correct. It was directly lifted for the song Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) made famous by American rock band The Byrds.
Maybe these guys were on to something. Read more...
|

|
D-mo's Book Club: Ready Player One
September 11, 2017
I've done a lot of reading lately, and I figured I would share some choice gems that might tickle your fancy in your own reading adventure. Thus, D-mo's Book Club was born. Lot of choices to start with, but since the movie version is coming out soon, I decided to start with...
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline Read more...
|

|
One Year Later
August 23, 2017
People experience grief in a multitude of ways. Some cry, spontaneously. Others run from it, trying to ignore it. Still others will mask the pain by turning to humor, to distract from the reality of life and death.
That brings us to now. August 23rd. One year after my father has passed away. Read more...
|

|
Top 10 Minor League Team Names 2017 Edition
June 8, 2017
In 2014, I listed the Top 10 Minor League Team Names. Since then, some teams have moved, old ones disappeared, new ones were born, and some changed their identity. I felt it time to power rank minor league baseball teams again... simply based on who they are. Read more...
|

|
Movie Mumblings: Assassin's Creed
May 7, 2017
I love me some Assassin's Creed. And then the movie came out. Unfortunately, I don't make it to the theaters as much as I used to, so I didn't get a chance to see it during it's original theatrical run. But hello Netflix.
As the resident Assassin's Creed Guy, what did I think of the movie? Read more...
|

|
If you want more What's Up, delve into the archives of of Volumes 1 & 2 here and enjoy the gems I've previously written.
|
|