Zuma Dogg Squeezes out "One More Council Meeting" And Someone Gives Him Airline Ticket Out of Town

First of all, although yesterday was the biggest set of crisis ever for ZD (and I wanted to take the day off and wake up in Malibu even if I DID have gas money to Van Nuys) -- I DID wake up at 5 am in Santa Monica -- and instead of driving to Malibu, as planned -- by 7a, instead of driving West down the 10, I was driving South to the 405 (like an idiot) to Van Nuys for the Council meeting.

I liked the thought of being at the meeting today, cause they haven't had too many lately there, and on a nice summer day, I had a feeling a lot of people would be there -- and ZD did get to speak and catch up with a lot of people. AND, at Van Nuys you have a much better opportunity to really spend time speaking with the Councilmembers in the smaller chambers and even on the way out to the parking lot.

So I'm glad I went, even though I REALLY AM SO BURNT OUT AFTER ABOUT FOUR MONTHS OF CONSECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETINGS...and I've slept in the seat of my car every single night since I returned nearly four months ago. AND, I haven't had enough nutrition...So by the time the meetings come around, after I've been up since 5am, hungry and tired...I'M PRETTY MUSH BRAINED AT THAT POINT. The meetings take a lot out of me and I am not recovering and it's really compounding. But the spirit of the community keeps me in very up spirits, so I'm not complaining -- but I AM basically a talking zombie that doesn't even know what year it is. (What year is it?)

Yabba Dabba Doo Friday!: Some folks go to Palm Springs or Santa Barbara -- ZD likes Agoura Hills -- and after Friday's meeting, I always head here for Friday Night, then Malibu on Saturday. And I like the Sagebrush Cantina on Sunday. (Partly in LA City, partly in Calabasas. So maybe you will see me there if you can make it.) If you are in the Agoura vicinity tonight, and want to join me for a wild karaoke party where Zuma Dogg is bigger than Hasslehoff in Germany, call me at 213-785-7272 and I'll give you the location. (EASY ACCESS, FREE PARKING, Starts at 9:30pm)

RON KAYE'S EVENT TOMORROW (Saturday): The location info is all over Mayor Sam and Ron Kaye's blog (MayorSam, Ron Kaye). I HOPE YOU GO (AND TRY AND TAKE SOMEONE WITH YOU.) I would LOVE to be there, and maybe I will, but if I am not there it is only because we all know the price of gas and my financial situation. I wasn't planning on attending Ron's last event or today's Van Nuys meeting -- and I squeezed out gas money for both events, so we'll see. But I'm already in Agoura/Malibu and that's it for gas, for now. But everyone else will be there and perhaps some news cameras will be there, so although I would like to be there, if I don't make it, it's cause I've been focusing and concentrating my efforts on hitting all the council meetings which are broadcast to quite a large audience I am finding out. So while I'm doing that, I'm glad a whole bunch of other people will be getting some momentum going at Ron's event.

ZD & Walter Moore Dominate Talk Radio Last Night: And what a triumphant moment for the grass roots people like Zuma Dogg and Walter Moore, last night, on Kevin James' KRLA 870 Radio Show (9p-11p). Kevin teased that he was going to be talking about some issues Walter Moore brought to his attention. So as I was tuned in for that, Kevin opened the hour giving props to Zuma Dogg for, "coming to the rescue" on a Council issue. So in one half hour segment last night, it was Zuma Dogg and Walter Moore being discussed instead of shady council-losers that no one cares about.

AND FINALLY, yeah, I made it out to Van Nuys today even though I wanted to take off -- and I haven't missed a meeting in about four months -- and when I give the public comment, everything seems hunky-dory...but I AM burnt out as hell. AND SOMEONE HANDED ME AN OPEN ROUND TRIP AIRLINE TICKET TODAY AT VAN NUYS!

So ZD could bug out at any moment and it could be another several months again, like last time. And if it is...it isn't about the time I am not here, but about the past four months that I crammed in as much as I could; plus all the blogging and committee meetings and planning meetings. And in the meantime, I wasn't going home and relaxing on my couch and eating a big meal. I was stuck in my car the whole time.

I probably won't be out of here by Tuesday anyway, but I hope you don't see me at Council meetings next week, cause I need the break. But, I'll probably say to myself on Tuesday, "Ah what the hell, just finish up one more week of meetings until they go on break in August."

I WANNA STOP GOING TO THE MEETINGS...BUT DAAAAAAAAAMN, WHEN PEOPLE STOP YOU ALL DAY LONG AND TELL YOU HOW MUCH THEY ENJOY WATCHING, AND HOW THEY TUNE IN SPECIFICALLY TO SEE WHAT ZD IS GOING TO SAY, AND ALL THE DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE COMMENTS...It's tough to walk away. So yeah, no one really asks me to go to every meeting...but people are glad that I am there (cause many of them cannot be there at that time) and I feel it's worth it -- and I say there is an energy force I am having a tough time breaking, and I end up in chambers. But I'm here to say, although it has been the best four months of my life in many ways, MAN AM I BURNT OUT AND ALTHOUGH I WOULD LIKE TO STAY AND KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING...I DON'T THINK I CAN BREAK OUT OF THIS AND DO WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR ME TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO STAY OUT HERE. We'll see. It's been a ROCKIN' four months. I'm shocked and overwhelmed by it all.

But tonight, it's karaoke in Agoura Hills for the one time a week I can take my mind off Douchetonio for a second. And tomorrow, have fun at Ron Kaye's event if I don't see you.