Red has been living in Skid Row or “The Nickel” as it’s called down here, for the better part of five years. He is an alcoholic but regrets little as to how his life has turned out.

Red sat there wondering to himself, ‘Why the fuck are they interested in my life after five years? Those pompous fucks are just looking to capitalize on the story that that hot reporter did on me last summer’. What was her name? Shit! That was four months ago and I’ve already forgotten her name.
“Billy! wake up. Billy Goat, wake up!”
“Oh hey Red, what’s up?”
“Do you remember that hot reporter that came down here slumming for a story a few months back?”
“Hells yeah I do! She had the prettiest eyes and those titties, oh yea I remember her.” Billy said with a far away look of desire in his eyes.
“What was her name?”
“Red, you drunk son of a bitch!”, Billy said with a chuckle.
“Her name, please?”
“Let me see. Started with an E….Eliza Pittori, yeah that’s it, Beautiful Eliza Pittori”. Billy said with a twinkle in his old tired eyes.
“Thanks Goat. Need a drink? I’m on my way to Peeps for a bottle.”
“That would be great Red. Thanks buddy.”

Red stepped into the door of Peeps and got a quick nod from Tom the day security guard. Red hustled over to the wine and began searching his pockets to see how much money he had and what would be the drink of choice for the afternoon.
“Shit…. 10 dollars and some change looks like it’s two 1.5′s of some no name cab.” he said to himself.
This was the only time of day that Red gave any hint of regret about his past life. He can clearly remember drinking a bottle of Romanée-Conti 1975 and how it changed his life from the first sip till the bottle was drained dry.
His past life came back in a flash. Fuck me, he thought to himself, that was a great bottle of wine! The tannins held that fucker together with some spices from the far east. A hint of earth that made me long for one more sip. Ah.. those were heady days. Full of great times and living a grand life on the other side of this life.
Red grabbed two bottles and made his way to the register. “Hi ya Sally. How’s it going with that piece of shit boyfriend of yours?” Red half joked with the clerk. He secretly thought that she deserved better. “Fuck you Red!” Sally shot back. “He’s in rehab and doing great! How’s it going with your faggot friend, Billy Goat?” She teased him back. “Ha ha, Sally you know he only likes little girls, not a grown manly man like myself.” He proudly said with a raise of his chest showing his masculinity.
“See you tomorrow Sally.” with a wave of his hand Red was out the door.
Piss off you crusty drunk.
Sally and Red have been having the same banter for the last three years since she made it off the streets with the help of Red and one of the local shelters.
Sally had a soft spot for Red as he was the one who encouraged her to sober up and get herself and her boyfriend off the mean streets of the Nickel.
Sally wondered why someone with Reds education and demeanor would enjoy living in the Nickel when he could work in the finest restaurant in all of North America, She never pressed the issue but had heard stories of where he had come from and who he once was and she was mystified by this lovable but insufferable prick.

There has been triumph and tragedy,relationships have dissolved and new friendships have been forged; to put it mildly 2010 was shithouse crazy. I started a blog along with the rest of the self-absorbed aspiring media whores out there. I tweet and check my stats to see who has looked at my posts all the while pretending I could give two shits about what people think. Guess what? I do care. I want to put quality posts and stories out there while retaining my own voice and character.

Yesterday was the last day of 2010 and the day I met a celebrity! Josh Brolin came into 15 Degrees C wine shop and bar, and he was a really legit person! The day started out pretty good. Custies were buying bubbles to ring in the New Year that was approaching and it was mellow until around Two o’clock then all hell broke loose! If you are from these parts and have been in 15C when every seat in the house is filled, the wall is packed with retail folks, then you know what the hell I’m talking about!

It was retarded busy! Ali was on food, I was on drinks and retail. Adrienne, our accountant, was yanked out of the office to run the cash register. It was nuts! After a few hours of this Josh Brolin comes in looking for some Pinot Gris to bring back to the ranch he owns outside of town. I came up offered my help and we struck up a conversation about different wines and living here in the CC. I made a suggestion that maybe a Pinot Gris wasn’t the wine he really wanted, tonight the Mura Pinot Noir by M.S Emmanuel Kimigi with grapes from the Pisoni vineyards would be more appropriate for the nights festivities. He fully agreed with me and it was kind of surreal but so natural.

Minutes into our conversation he asked my name. I responded and he came back with his name. I said I know who you are and I extended my hand. He reciprocated and I could tell that he was a very genuine person. I’m not gonna lie people. I’m serious about that last line. I was stoked to meet Josh and realized he really is part of this place and cares about the Central Coast as much as I do. You can hear it in his voice when he is talking about how he is treated by folks from here because they keep him accountable to being true to himself.

That was a little gay but fuck it, I met Josh Brolin and we are besties now! Loshie…

We have had a wonderful time getting to know each other and exploring some of our favorite spots on the Central Coast. We have dined at some of the finest eateries here in San Luis Obispo County. There is Artisan in Paso Robles, one of the top spots in our county. The Range, ahhh home on The Range, in Santa Margarita, I love that place! So simple yet some of the best damn food in the area. There was the Sea Chest in Cambria, straight out of the 1980 Popeye movie that was crusty yet so appealing even the most ardent hater of oysters would wet themselves over the “Devil On Horseback”!

We toured Rabbit Ridge and had the best time seeing their facility, and the production is off the hook! Thanks Joanne.

Lets not forget to mention 15DegreesC Wineshop and Bar where we met and have spent numerous evenings chatting with local personalities, laughing, living and loving this life that we have sought out. I could give a shit ton of stories about 15C alone but I won’t as some are not suitable for younger readers.

I am super excited to see what 2011 has in store for us here on the Central Coast! We are going to start the New Year with a big bang and run full steam till 2012. Thanks for checking out my blog this year and one of my resolutions is to be on top of posting on a regular basis for the up coming year. Happy New Years and Cheers. Loshie