Well, overall I would have to say this summer was a B+. Hey, it's not easy being the semi ex record promotions guy and the present-day Realtor! The current situation in the U.S. is our new normal. Gotta get used to it!

So were there a few highlights? Of course. The ASW party in St. Tropez: Hot. Gregory Brown's health scare/stroke in L.A.: Not. Kerry Gordy's new artist Leah Jones: Hot. My fight with the IRS: Not. You get the idea.

As you can see it's been months since my last....blog entry? When I started this online column 12 years ago it was called a promotions page. Now, blogging. My guy @ Twitter coined this term. I'm not sure if I like the description. It's beginning to mean some ugly things like Journalist Vs. Blogger, Legit reporting vs. Bloggeratti. We'll see how it all plays out.

Ok, let's continue. Sarah Palin: Not. Russell Brand: Hot. Buenos Aires real estate: Hot. Townhome market in Seattle: Not.

Now that my father passed away on August 14th in Thailand, I can say with absolutely zero guilt to the rest of my eight hundred relatives in Bangkok and Chaing Mai: I saw right through you people from the beginning. Trying to get me to rush over there during low / monsoon season to absolve him of his responsibility to his young wife and son in L.A., on my dime no less, was never, ever going to happen. Yes, it was great meeting John Nitayangkul twice in Seattle, when convenient for him to do so after he caught up with his "real" family. Yes, that famous lunch I hosted with Devin The Dude in attendance honoring dad was cool, as was the one dinner at my cousin's in her lovely home in the U district / Frat Row....but don't get it twisted...As his eldest son I was held at arms length for over 40 years and have never been entitled to any of the legacy this vast side of my history COULD have offered but never did. You all were SO obvious about keeping me in my lane and away from a place I might have maintained and even expanded your interests with, but no, that never happened, did it!? Instead, all that is left is this paragraph for the ages, a cyber footnote that will linger when it comes to the Nitayangkul dynasty.

So you know what? Calling me four times a day during his ordeal followed by absolutely no word once he died confirmed everything for me. Chapter closed. Goodbye.

The new Jaguar XF: Hot. The VMA Awards 2008: Not.

BUZZ FOR SEPTEMBER: Presidential debates, Fannie Mae, Leah Jones, Hydra Networks, Twitter, Steve Jobs, XIV (L.A.), El Gaucho opening (Bellevue, Wa), Four Seasons Residences (Seattle), Facebook applications, Lehman Brothers, and Kim Osorio's new tell-all / book about tenure @ Source Magazine.

WANKSTER FOR SEPTEMBER: Million Dollar Listing (Bravo Channel). With exception of Madison Hildebrand, this show is a thorn in the side of qualified and hard working Realtors/Brokers everywhere. A trainwreck of epic proportion. A dismal example of what privilege, vanity and being out of touch with the profession can do to an otherwise fantastic Industry.

"Right Intention Simply Means That Your Mind Isn't Leaning"
-- Steve Hagen

Gene Dexter, Music Industry Orphan
Crazy Pinoy Promotions