September 2005 Archives
Surfers in Newport Beach
Normally I am in bed by 12 or 12:30. Not this week though. This week the earliest I have been to bed is around 2:30. It reminds me of when I was in college. We used to stay up until 3 or 4 and then go to class in the morning and take a nap in the afternoon and do it all over again. I had thought that I couldn't do that anymore- but now it seems I have figured out how to do it all over again. The secret is to fight the urge to go to bed early and then stay up three nights in a row. By the fourth night you will be hyper at 1 am. Good to know- yeah?
I saw Blackalicious on Tuesday and they were so good. Gift of Gab is amazing as he kicks out his speedy rhymes faster and better than anyone. I love him. Thats right, Gift- I love you. But what really struck me about the concert was the keyboard player. I have never seen anyone rock out so hard all while playing the keyboard. Ask me- I'll do an impression for you...
Newport Beach, CA
I was perusing some websites yesterday and I came upon this artist's website. In her artist statement, she says "I create art because any other life would be a lie." And I was just like damn. She summed up my entire being in one sentence.
Before the thunder and lightning show- Orange, CA
My house smells like guavas. As a result of this my clothes, towels, everything smells like guava. Now don't get me wrong, I love guavas- but apparently this is a crazy pungent fruit. See my grandma goes on walks around the neighborhood really early in the morning. Along the way she takes cuttings and picks fruit, not from the fallen ones on the ground like she says, but from the highest she can reach. She thinks she is sneaky. But I think our neighborhood knows. How else can you explain one large bag of guavas, two bags of zucchini and a bag of oranges on our step?
Jazz
I admit that I am the type of person to get really excited by lightning and thunder. I admit that when I saw a bright white vein of lightning stretch across the sky, I ran towards the door to get a better look. And I admit that when my dog kind of cowered at the massive boom that signaled that the storm was overhead- I carried her unwillingly outside to see the pouring rain. Sorry, Jazz. I fear that I am a bad mother/dog owner. She forgave me- cause right now she is trying to get me to throw her ball...
Our Lady of Guadalupe in Fullerton
I saw Lord of War yesterday and have been thinking about it ever since. Its a great but very disturbing movie about private gun sellers of the world. I really encourage everyone to see this movie- I even think that Nicholas Cage deserves something for it. He was so good because you wanted to like him and maybe even did but his way of thinking and rationalizing was shocking... I don't want to give too much away, but seriously way more powerful than a Michael Moore spliced mockumentary. Don't be surprised if you laugh and cry a little...
San Fran
The week is going fast. Gone are the days that I am not doing anything besides work. It used to be that I would get home from work relax a little and then do stuff that I wanted to do. Now it seems that I get home from work and rush off to a meeting and then work on Voz Clothing until 11:30 or so (and then I watch Miami Ink- cause dammit I love it). Then I start the next day at work at 8 again. And its only going to get more hectic. But who am I to complain?
As a result of working hard, I will have a website in a week and a half and a t-shirt line that will look mostly professional. I can hardly wait for things to up and running, cause thats the fun part. But then again there will probably be something to do then too... Work is never done. Thank God that I like the work that I am doing. I think that is the key. If you enjoy what you are doing then you will work extra hard at it. For my sake, lets hope that is true...
No Running- Fullerton CA
Song: Yelling Away- Common, Talib Kweli, Zap Mama
Book: Lexicon Devil- The Fast and Short Life of Darby Crash (of The Germs)
Food: Salmon burger (its good)
Drink: Strawberry lemonade (only if you have chunks of strawberry)
Movie: Crash (makes you cry out of frustration)
Quote: "Deserve your dream"- Octavio Paz
April and Jazz
My Top Fifteen 80's movies:
1. Some Kind of Wonderful- he's a painter, she's a popular girl and his best friend is a female drummer- what's not to like? Besides he makes friends in detention that are funny.
2. Streets of Fire- Aha a young Diane Lane gets kidnapped by a motorcycle gang. Her ex-boyfriend gets her back all while smashing things up- nice...
3. Pretty in Pink- come on now- I shouldn't even have to explain this one.
4. Crossroads- No not the Britney Spears one. The one with Ralph Macchio who is trying to find Robert Johnson's lost song- and travels to the crossroads where he made his deal with the devil. Not scary- good... he wins...
5. Ferris Bueller's Day Off- Another one I am not going to explain. This movie has some of the best one-liners ever.
6. Karate Kid- Ralph Macchio again- not the best actor. But who doesn't like Pat Morita?
7. Lean on Me- Morgan Freeman starts his legacy as being a strong actor. He moes the movie expeditiously... (nod if you got that)
8. Legend of Billie Jean- Honestly, I think I like this movie because Pat Benetar sings the title track- but it's worth checking out...
9. The Goonies- Who doesn't love the Goonies- and Chunk with the truffle shuffle
10. The Outsiders- Many, many young actors got their start in this movie. Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Raplh Macchio, Matt Dillon etc.
11. The Princess Bride- One of the silliest movies ever- with great lines... just watch it
12. Purple Rain- Ok so its not a cinematic masterpiece- but you can't forget about all the music that came out of this move. Whatever happened to Appollonia?
13. Roxanne- Steve Martin is the modern day Cyrano De Bergerac
14. Say Anything- I love John Cusak- even if this movie does have a creepy dad and daughter relationship- it just seems weird too me.
15. Willow- I was thinking that this could be one of the weirdest movies ever. Ah well its still funny as hell and who doesn't like little people taking care of babies that could save the future...
So cheesy man. But what can i say- everytime they are on, I watch them. These are not by any means the best of the 80s- these just happen to be the movies that I could watch over and over again- which I have. Wait til I get to the 90s, yo...
Mural in Fullerton
Small stories filled with hope are finally coming through and soothing people's spirits if only for a moment. I was reading an article and trying not to cry earlier this week about a boy who wasn't allowed to bring his dog Snowball. The boy cried so hard that he made himself throw up. Yesterday, I read a story that Snowball would be reunited with the little boy and I felt a little weight lift. No trememdous thing I know. People are still suffering- but in tragic situations- the only way to get through is to count the small blessings.
Another story that really affected me was this one. A group of small children were air lifted out of their apartment building. The oldest was six and he was instructed to take care of the baby and all the smaller ones. And he did and they were finally reunited with his family this week...
Andrew
My brother Andrew is crazy strong- just take a look at that picture. Big Ups to him.
We had a photo shoot (i.e me with my digital camre, my mio, and my bigger polaroid) and the pictures came out beautifully. Its very exciting. Now I can see my vision coming along... Who knew it would really happen man?
dragon in the mural across from Homeboys
Voz T-shirts are here! I picked them up from Homeboy's yesterday and in my opinion (of course) I think they look nice. I hope you all want some. In a couple of weeks I should have the website up, the stickers, the mailers etc...
driving through the desert near Needles...
I have watched the news until I have made my self sick. I have donated money but I wonder if there is more that I can do. There has to be something. I will say prayers until I figure it out.
In other news- I am glad that Kanye West said what he did. He only said what most people are thinking. Where is the aid? Why are people starving? Why is there no water? At least the aid is coming now and people are opening their homes and hearts to those that are in need. I hope our governement can get it together.
