Happy Birthday Frances!

Westwood and Pico

LACMA at night: Miracle Mile area of LA.

Coming home late one night and I had to snap a picture of this scene. Never really liked the piece but something caught my eye as I drove by.

View from City Terrace

Caught this view while helping some friends move from City Terrace.

Film Makers on a shoot

It's July 4th and these film makers create a short for stupidface.

Paparazzi in Los Angeles

The other night I'm giving a friend of a friend a ride home in WeHo. Upon our arrival to his spot one block south of Santa Monica, a light flashes. Did someone just take a picture of us? Nah, no way!

The flash was subtle. And at that moment, I'd bet a ten spot it was aimed in our direction. I scanned the street in my gangsta 'who da fuck takin' pictures of me?!' stance. No one there but some shirtless guy in the shadows walking in the opposite direction. I followed a faint ting of wine glasses, laughter, and women in mid conversation to an upper apartment window 30 feet away. Ahh, it must be them.

I eavesdropped for a second but couldn't hear what they were saying. It'd be nice to be a fly on that wall. Women, like men, talk some funny stories in all-female space. Men aren't the only pervs on this planet. (I digress ... we'll save that one for another post).

Flash! Another light. This time it doesn't bother me as much but I use the instance to entertain myself until my homeboy returns. Maybe the flashes are coming from CIA operatives following me and these other guys--the ambiguously gay duo who fight off injustice in plain clothes and frequent restaurants in LA. Or maybe my friend's friend has a jealous boyfriend and has hired some technologically inept gumshoe to take pictures of us dropping him off. It seems your partner is doing this other man's laundry -- see the big bag that looks like a stack of dirty clothes.

Fifteen minutes later my friend returns to the truck -- maybe it was a quickie. We pull away from the curb and I tell my friend about the flashes.

Flash! Another damn light!! I look to the left and I can't believe what I see. It's the shirtless paparazzi! The guys been lurking there in the shadows this whole time, snapping pictures of us arriving, me chilling by the truck, and now he's got a picture of us leaving. I slam on my brakes and put the truck in reverse. My friend says, 'Oh God, testosterone in overdrive. What are you doing?' I can't resist the need to get to the bottom of this. In one swift motion I back up and pull my camera from it's case. I tell my friend to take a picture of this guy to see how he likes it.

I scream out. 'Hey man, what's going on!? Why the pictures?!'
He answers, ' Oh, I just like taking pictures. It's a hobby of mine.'

Are you fricken kidding me!? I grab the camera from my friend--whose practically peeing his pants--and snap a few shots in his direction. What's the shirtless paparazzi do? HE POSES!!

We share some brief but extremely awkward niceties. The guys strange--to say the least--but just another LA character. What you gonna do.


This is the first picture taken through my sunroof by my nervous passenger.



This is my first picture taken in a 'how do YOU like it?' manner, which didn't quite produce a response I expected.


This is my final picture, not really understanding what the hell is going on here.

6th Street near Fairfax

This is one of my favorite short drives in LA. When the sun is just right -- around 7pm or near setting. There's amazing glow in the trees. Passing through it, towards the sun is memorable.

Congrats Cuz!

Cousin graduated from UCI, is getting married next year, and just got into a Master's program!

Bodega in Pasadena

Pre-Henry's Birthday party!

Saturday Morning Traffic

... makes me late for work!

Illuminated Sight: Time, Space, and Light

Saw this coming out of my apartment the other day. Had to snap it quick before leaving to work. More to come ... this picture speaks volumes to me.

Hermanos Unidos Retreat

Joined the bros for a retreat at Kenneth Hahn State Park near Ladera Heights. Had to take a picture of the all-encompassing view of nature and our environment.

At work

May Day 2008: View from a flatbed carrying the band.

Los Angeles, Ca. View of the May Day march procession, which began at 7th and Park View near Macarthur Park and finished at Hill and 1st St near City Hall. In the mirror is the CHIRLA banner and thousands of workers celebrating International Workers Day.

Blazing trails: Fire and Soul

I didn't start it but I sure saw it. It first came into view all the way from El Monte as I drove to a friend's pad in Temple City. This pic was taken from the 210.




It didn't stop us from queing it up though. There were more pressing issues at hand. I was visiting a friend whose father recently died of cancer. He'd been battling it for a few months now. Death--and ironically the transition of a person's life--has a weird way of bringing people close. We learn from those who die and sometimes their death and life teaches us more about life, love, and humanity then when their physically being is with us. The beauty is that somehow, in an unexplainable way, they still keep giving us life-altering (life-sustaining) gifts even if it's just their memory that blazes along side of us, which has the potential to clear paths and make room for the new.

An 'Ocean' View at Dusk

Chilled with my homie overlooking PCH and Santa Monica Pier. Here's what else was in the air.

Southwest College: UCLA Worker Survey

Haven't been able to focus on writing. Started two jobs in late March--one with UCLA and the other with a non-profit--and I haven't had the energy to post. Meanwhile life with friends and family and the craziness of everyday events and drama has me tied. Here's a pic of my work site--Los Angeles Southwest Community College!

The Sun still shines

So UCLA lost the other day. I still qued it up with the bros at the twin's place. Good times. Nothing like a hot grill, some bomb-ass cheeseburgers and good people. Even if we did lose, the sun still shines!

You are Light!

This picture reminds me of my bro. Ironically it also sheds light on my aunt's motto: "You are LIGHT."

First Day of Spring

Rode the bikes down to the Queen Mary with some homies.