The week in review

goin for a little ride.

you wouldn't know what to do with this.

good for something.

yes.

smells nice...why not.

Exploring my world.

French classical piano music plays from the old phonograph record player in the corner of the studio. The dancers, large and small, twirl in their tutus and flip their legs and hands to the commands of their much older, heavily accent-clad French teacher. I'm sipping my unsweetened ice-brewed coffee on the oxblood stained benches in the chambers of the cooled coffee shop looking through the door that opens into the dance studio. Brief entertainment. I retreat to the familiarity of my PDA to record this experience.
See, I was driving along Pico boulevard. It was a hot day. I had a sweltering headache from the jug of sangria I had drunken the night before, thus I was thirsty and needed energy. And so it was that I stopped at the first sign of quaint atmosphere and promising refreshment. This is a new neighborhood to me, but it has so much potential. And guess what, I found it. Among the rows of "for lease" signs dangling in empty store fronts, and automotive repair shops, there it was. I walked in, and a lovely experience it has been. See what magical things you can find today.

Yesterday, I also happened to find myself in a new neighborhood, surrounded by Cajun and Jamaican eateries, a hip hop recording studio, and plethora of barbershops. With a subtly growing hunger, I decided to check out the Jamaican restaurant. After awhile of asking the registrar about what the various things on the menu were, and generating small talk about the neighborhood, I decided to try a fried spinach patty. I ate it there and took in the atmosphere. The registrar was the kinda guy that didn't smile or talk much, but his eyes and other nonverbal cues were so efficiently utilized, that our communication was complete as minimal as it seemed. I must say I admired his ability to do so. On my way out, I said "I'm coming back to try the beef patties" to which he looked up from a conversation he was holding with someone else, he smiled (finally) and said "ok! See you soon!" and I left feeling accomplished.

Live to smile about it.

Cause you will someday.

weather the weather.

Last night I went out. I was tired of driving my truck because of the damn weather, so being as it was a dry evening I took off on the bike. But you know what? It's still F'ing cold as hell.

Before I left the house I put on an extra pair of longjohns, my flannel, and leather jacket, although I had been eyeballing the P-coat. I wasn't feeling too fancy, so I decided to keep my converse on instead of changing into my riding boots, even though my riding boots do double as suitable accoutrement for any social encounter, but whatever, I wore my sneakers. And then I'm reminded of how I always forget the magnanimity of suckiness that converse rate in the insulation department when it's cold out. Oh, well. That's what I get from the irony of comfort (slash) laziness.

Anyway, I took the bike out on the town. Sharing brief moments of frozen biker camaraderie with other riders that I saw. Sharing the freeze can always make one relate to the other. And thus was my brisk refreshing little spin, dodgily through and around the dingy, pot-holed doom, which comprise the dimly lit streets of LA.

It's all around us...

...awesome pen drawn tattoos

...blazing fires

...numerical insignificance

...goats trying to lay eggs in chicken coops

... and love.

Someone to call...

There comes a time when I just want that special someone to call. Like when I get off work, I'm just dying to call one person that puts a smile on my face and a flutter in my heart when I'm dialing their number. And that when they see that phone ring, they are getting that same special feeling. When the phone company isn't just sending current and signals, but communicating our feelings. I wonder where they are. When it'll be my turn. I realize I'm packed to the brim right now with career exploration, and unwavering occupation, but I want mine. I want it soon. And I will be patient, because I am getting settled, and things take time, but "I hate time" unless it's being spent getting lost in someone else's arms, lips, gaze.

It's a holiday tailored around love.

So some of us plan on doing nice things for those we're closest to...lovers...friends...but what about you. What if you're single on a love holiday and you don't have a bestie to share in the expression of singledom with? Well, this just happens to be a holiday that I'm very familiarly single almost every time. And well, if I'm not single, the relationship that is sinking is usually right around this time, and I always give em a week more to completely submerge. So now you have yourself a submarine, but instead of ride it around for a while, you've ejected yourself, and you're hanging onto a life raft or some tight bed of kelp that is keeping you afloat. At least it's edible, and somewhat nutritious...you may live to see land.
Anyway, as I always say "throw yourself to the cosmos, and the cosmos will receive you." Thus so I have found myself spiraled into a most busy work schedule and abnormal social constrictedness on this love holiday, until...I realize that the one place that I needed to be was not in the throes of a random, or the lackluster attentiveness of a flailing relationship, but among my peers/cohorts/roommates, inspired by the heat of a blazing bonfire, and fueled by the presence of new faces...and beer...yet consumed by even better conversations. Meanwhile, I'm texting friends and formers about the day, and the events to come, recreating and envisioning our being from exploding synapses and dreaming up the amassing possibilities. And I'm now cozy, and happy the day draws to an end, my eyes are lullabying, and I'm doing just fine. :)