happy Summer to all, anyone who reads this anyway. It hasn't been much in the way of Summer weather I'd say, not too many days of temps over 90. This means next year will be like Death Valley. Life is good though, and you've gotta appreciate when you can say that.

The wife and I managed to get away for a few days last month, checked out the Madonna Inn and spent a night in Santa Cruz on the way back. I think Mexico in October will be the next get away. I take about 7 days off per year, so a week in a row will be some sort of record. We just got back from a friend's wedding in Tilden Park over in Berkeley, back to work tomorrow.

I hope all is well, there's my bi-yearly blog thing. -Matt

I've finally finished my flash, between that and work, nothing else is happening in my daily routine. I have a new car coming next week, I guess that counts for something. I ordered a 2008 Mini Cooper S, my 10 year old BMW with 180,000 miles needs to be retired. Car payments are part of the deal. I hope everyone is well.

If anyone is interested in a set of flash, you can email me or call Spider Murphy's at 415-460-6979. Thanks.

abracadbra. Hocus pocus.

I rarely post on here, so good thing I don't have a lot of people looking I guess. Anyway, all is well, my son graduated from high school and is all set for SF State in August. The wife and I need to take some time and go somewhere -without dogs, without anyone. Maybe when she's not taking pictures of naked girls. I bought another motorcycle, see see??

I'll stop saying bad things about Oakland now... I know a lot of people still like it there. I got burned out on the place, have the terrible memory of my friend being shot and almost dying, stuff like that. For those who still like it there, stay safe!

The band's taking forever to work itself out.. I need to get that sorted.

How time flies.. eh? The wife and I moved up to San Rafael two months ago, couldn't be happier up here. It's quiet, lots of trees, lots of good food, good all around. Here's to good friends, especially those with cars. As for the others, BART doesn't run up here, so it's sort of a bitch. I promised my friends in Oakland I'd be back to visit, I haven't been there since the day we moved. I'm not a fan of that fucked up city. Oakland sucks.

Here's a pic from my trip down to Louisiana in November:

I don't post on here so much, as anyone who goes to this page has seen.. Time seems to fly by so much faster as we get older. I've been painting a lot, been working on putting a surf band together, and just keeping on track in general. Spider Murphy's couldn't be better, its the place I aspired to be in since I started tattooing, with everything I'm doing meaning a lot more. Gone are the Saturday nights at Sacred, working til midnight, dealing with drunks, fruit bats and ghetto folk wandering in at 11:30, drunk, cracked out looking for someone to get into it with, trying to get a free tattoo, or otherwise just wanting a handout. I don't miss that. Devon is finally getting out of the hospital, after three+ months of recovery and rehabilitation. The next step is to get him drawing, painting and eventually tattooing again. He's golden.

Since my last post, Devon has come a long way. He woke up 10 days after he was shot, and has been making progress every day since. He's now in a rehabilitation facility, working with three therapists, sometimes twice a day. He's had to relearn how to do a lot of what we all take for granted.. talking, writing, walking, everything. He can't wait to get out of there and start tattooing again, but it'll definitely be a slow process. He still has the right side of his skull sitting in his abdomen, and the doctors will put that back on his head sometime next month(?) depending on his progress with the swelling that's still coming up here and there. Thank you to everyone who contributed money, and those who sent emails wishing Devon the best. There are still plenty of good people in the world.

On the lighter side of my world, things at Spider Murphy's are going along great, I work a lot, and am way stoked to be working with Theo and the crew there.. awesome tattooers, and awesome friends. Here are a few pics of the new shop, it's fuckin' awesome!

an update to my earlier posting:

one of my closest friends, Devon Blood, is in the hospital right now after being shot early Wednesday morning, July 12, during an attempted robbery of his girlfriends' house. He's listed as stable in the ICU, he's unconscious, but has pupil response and recovery looks good if he stays the course he's on right now. Either way, its going to be a long road to being his usual self. The bullet that is lodged in his brain is not going to be removed, as the doctors fear it would do more damage to operate to remove it than to leave it where it is.

For those that know Devon, you know what a gentle, good hearted person he is, as well as the passion he has for tattooing, and the love he has for his family and friends. He didn't deserve this AT ALL, not that anyone really does, but it doesn't sit right knowing what he's going through.

I've finally gotten everything sorted out with setting up an account for Devon, for those of us who want to contribute to helping him on his way to recovery.

It's very important that everyone understands that 100% of every dime that goes into this account will go to Devon and Devon only. There aren't any middlemen, percentage takers or foundations that can get their hands on it. I've set this up on behalf of his family and friends, so any questions, please ask. It's even a free checking account to they won't even take fees for it.

So, you can send in money three ways; mail a check/money order/whatever to:

Devon Get Better
c/o
Sacred Tattoo
707 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94607

or you can deposit money into the account directly at any Washington Mutual branch, the account number is 3063634311.

Make sure checks are made out to "Devon Get Better" which is what I've set up the account under..

I've also set up a Paypal account for those who use Paypal, the address you send money to is devonblood@reliabletattoos.com

The art benefits and shows will be starting this week, and will continue as long as there's drive from all of us. For anyone who wants to contribute art, tattoo time, or anything else that can be contributed towards his recovery, you're more than welcome to. Just contact me for details.

With a constant stream of visitors since last week, Devon knows we're here for him and is able to show signs here and there of being aware people are around him who love him. We met with the neurosurgeon who's overseeing Devon, his prognosis is good for the type of injury he's sustained, but it will be days or weeks before we know how he'll fare with being his old self.

Please pass this on.


Matt


R E L I A B L E
http://www.reliabletattoos.com

One of my closest friends, Devon Blood, was shot two nights ago in Oakland, during an attempted robbery at his girlfriends' house. Devon is one of the straight-up nicest people I have ever known, he's a great tattooer, and loves his friends and family to no end. He's in a coma at an Oakland hospital, and underwent surgery yesterday to relieve pressure in his brain. I couldn't work today, and spent the last two days at the hospital, visiting him every few hours. It looks like he'll recover, but it'll be a slow one for sure. The dirtbags who shot him are still running around free, hopefully making a short end to their lives very soon. We're all pulling for him.

this is Devon and I at the Philly convention a few months ago... He's in the foreground in usual form.