A Thousand Words

Beautiful day this was. Nice summer night. Music in the air. A couple with their dogs take a relaxing break here at the Its Grind promenade. Wind is blowing and the car races by.

Today was a good day. Went to church and had taquitos and nachos. Prayed for M, Mom and the family. Thanked the Big Smile and wondered if the priest's hand has healed. He hurt it playing ball. He said, Go Hard or Don't Go At All. Got the Valley Press Sunday paper and a snicker at Acton. Stopped on the 14 South and took a panorama of Vasquez.

Went off track and found myself at the Japanese Gardens. Was only going to be a 15 minute hit and run turned into an hour plus. Visited Tatay and Rochelle at their house. Put some flowers on their place. Rochelle’s birthday soon, this Friday. Ate some alligator and jambalaya at the Farmers Market. Fresh Lemonade ice nice.

Met the Travel Angel. Lost my camera. Found my camera because a nice lady watching a couple of kids was great. (Who says prayers aren’t answered?) Hung out with Jason got a some vids, a couple of new releases and a classic, on the flash drive. Shot the shit. Now have a new game plan when doing a road trip. Watching Man vs Food is now SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) before heading on drive.

Talked with Mikayla on how fast she was at Jalen's party last week. All I said was she was a blur. Asked if she was the fastest in her school. She said, "No." She thought this guy cheated on a jogathon. I believe her. She is a smart one. I am lucky that I am related. Kissed Aunty Ellen and air kissed Mikayla goodbye. She’s too cool for this uncle. Can’t blame her. I was the same way. Still am.

Got some Tilapia, Tucino, and Shrimp Shumai at Seafood City. Took some sunsets and panoramas at Lamont Vista Point. Now I sit here on a nice summer night with my soon empty large passion fruit iced tea while listening some teens and tweeners playing some tunes on their Ipod. Closing in ten minutes here. Still waiting for pictures to download to FB. Would write more but time is short. Plus, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Juices Runs Dry

Monday. Been a busy day. Didn’t go for walk this morning. I gots to pay this week. Just didn’t feel like a walk this morning. Not usually how I’d like to start a week, but it is what is. Decided to stay in bed instead.

Missed morning mass. Stayed awake until two in the morning. Didn’t know what it was I just stayed awake. Eventually fell asleep. Getting up three hours later to walk, wasn’t going to happen. Been feeling nervous and anxious of late. Had a busy day yesterday, but still unsatisfied. Got other posts done, but nothing I put up yet. It’s in the hopper.  Looks like went over my internet usage for this month. Tomorrow my cycle starts again.

Guess, I could go over, or I could do a stint at Barnes and Noble. May be just the thing I need to get the juices flowing. 

In the lab, got to catch a flic. Couples Retreat with Vince Vaughn. Cute movie. Not something I would watch lately, but a nice happy feel. Nice adventure on some island. Beautiful sea. Good company. Mission to save a marriage and enjoy themselves. Good formula for feel good. It worked for me today.

So where will this day lead? Much stuff to do. Just not in the mood to do them. Perhaps, today will just be about picture. They say one is worth is a thousand words. Since I have none now, I will my digital camera do all the talking for this post.

Churches, Temples, and Marathons--Just Another Day At The Beach

Sunday and it’s a quarter til seven. Been a busy and filling day. I’m at Vista Point again. It’s getting dark. Cars are racing past again. Waiting for the sunset to come down. Going to say my prayers and thank the Big smile for letting me enjoy this day as I have. Been all around and it filled my day, but I sense there is something missing. 

Listening to the Corrs on my way up and down today. It’s been good day, but. . .

Events of the day. Went to Sunday Mass. The Father giving the Mass had the shakes. At one time, I thought he fell asleep. It was a bit hard to hear at times. He was soft-spoken or had the mic a little too far from his mouth. Picked the missal and read some of the songs and prayers. Think I figured out the Reiki Guide thing. It was Gabriel. He’s an Angel prominent in both Islam and Christianity. Left after the wine and bread thing. I am not sure what you call it.

After taking some pics, headed down to LA. Wanted to see part of the LA Marathon. It was kind of cool walking on Highland. All the streets were blocked off so I had free roam. Walking in the middle of the streets taking pictures here and there. Would never be able to do this at any other time of the day or any time of the year. Reminded me when my Integra stalled on the 170 and I had to get pushed by police car. They stopped the freeway for me during prime time rush hour. It sounded like the ocean stopped. It was so quiet. The silence was deafening.

Took pictures of the Church on Highland. Got the Lucky Strike. Also, took a few up and down Hollywood Blvd. Finally got some pictures of the Ripley’s Believe Or Not Dinosaur. Also took a few in the Egyptian and Mann’s Chines. Watched the water dance and took some pics of Elephants in the sky.

Called Jay to see if he was up for a bite, but he had a study date with a femme. Asked if Bri, Mike and the kids were at the house. They were. However, that voice that listen at times said the Beach and that where I went.

Got on Highland after picking up a sub. Almost got rear-ended by a guy in a truck. Didn’t speed up because he was honking his horn at me. Well, when you do that you are inviting me to be an asshole. I did not speed up as I was going to so, I just kept it at the other cars pace. Truck driver got pissed. Didn’t care. So he got in front of me and decided to slow down. I just smiled and let it go.

Well, off the  170 and got on the Ventura West. Thought of the many times of the Warner Center and LA Fitness. Thought about stopping by Fryes and taking some pics on the way back. Anyways, Got off Malibu Canyon and I was stopping off at most of the viewing stops and took the obligatory pictures. 

All of sudden I found myself at the Hindu temple. Made a quick left and went in. You had to take of your shoes and which I was much obliged. So I wandered around took some pictures of the temple. Beautiful artwork. There was saint or some religious figure in all corners of the temple. At times, people would go to each corner and I assume say a prayer. I wondered if they prayed on Sundays like Christians. Guess, I will have to look that up. There was a service and I walked in. No chairs. The holy man was chanting and people were sitting barefooted and socked. Incense was burning. 

There was a sign saying, “No Photos or Videos.” Thought this was strange. I’m curious to visit other temples. Synagogue and Muslim temple are next on the list.

I finally got to the Beach. Zuma that is. Its been some time. Thought about Brad and Shelly. Brad and I would take a trip here and there. I wondered how he was doing. I remember that Valentines when Shelly locked the key in the car. I was freezing because I had shorts. She got dressed before locking the keys in the car. My luck. Took more pictures of surfers and families enjoying the day. I download my Marathon and Hollywood walk pictures. Sorted out some postcards. I was going to write Shazam and Laines, but it started getting cold and I wanted to head back.

Stopped here at the 15 minutes park stops and took more photos of the Malibu Canyons. Driving through the Canyons I passed the Calabasas sign. Prece’s coach is moving here in a couple of years. Offered to move down here so Prece can train with her coach here. Another time. Another story. Eventually got on Ventura East. Driving past Topanga, Tarzana and Encino. I saw a sign for historical site at Encino. Never found it. Got on Ventura Blvd and said, its time to get back.

Drove by Sepulveda Park and I found myself at the Japanese Gardens. Didn’t have the chance to go, because it was blocked off. That was something I definitely would like to see. Some other adventure. At any rate, I found myself at the Archery Park wanting to string up and shoot a quiver. Saw couple of Filipinos there shooting. An older man and father with his son. I could tell by the speak. The older Filipino man was eyeing the Armenians or were they Russian?

Probably Armenians. They had the nice bows. Compound, camouflage. I could tell they were from the old school. Just the air about them. One of them let loose one by accident and took off. The older one scolded they younger. All I could hear was “. . .Safety. . .” Every so often, they would say, “Clear” and retrieve their arrows. Reminded me of pool. It’s good form not to Shark a shooter.

Well, I left after taking some pictures of the Archer shooting at the haystack. Passed the Cricket match and took a photo of the Sepulveda rock sign. Kids were all around. Kind of nice. Used to work in the area and I never took the time to drive by. Got on the freeway by getting on Roscoes. Passed my Tommies and the Budweiser Brewery. Got 405 and headed north. Took the Soledad Canyon offramp and pledged that I would go see the CatHouse.

Here I be now on Vista Point. Its dark and the sun has set. Got 30 minutes to do a couple of miles of cardio.  Have to get home soon to tape Life on Discovery. Maybe I can catch the Laker game too. Be well and Have Faith. No moral. No thought exercise. No meaning, except what you give it. It’s just a day in this journey.

March 10: Pictures are worth a 1000 words

Today's Events
5:59 Shit, Showered Shaved.

6:10 Heading to morning mass at 6:30
7:10 G-Time at His House. Leaving St. Marys
7:50 Went off trail. Got Winded. Looked at Junipers and Horse poop
9:30 Waiting for Corinna at Jen's place. Car Garage broken. Hangovers, hahahaha. Beautiful tree
10 Gassed at Ampam. Ha Chew is gum. Called Camille's missing Artist Way. Lost Black Book. Taking Back Roads. Hi to Cat House. Talks of Las Vegas reunion

10:45 Take Truck Route instead. Corinna Cringes in the tunnel. I'm driving fast in a tunnel I can't see. With Big Rigs all around. Go Bold or Get Old.

11:14 Off Highland. In Hollywood. Thinks of Shazams and Tamara at Lodge

11:35 Passed the Golden Apple. Take a picture of another comic shop on Melrose. Talk about 7 min of standup

11:40 Good parking space. Go pee and get dinosaur donuts. Think about buying academy award

12: Pretty girl. Not really listening to Corinna, instead looking at Pretty Girl works at CBS or restaurant at the Grove. Eat Mexican because Colorado Mexicans aren't nice to Corinna. Learn of Haanes and the kids.

12:15 Make eye contact and small talk at Scent shop with pretty girl. No digits. Corinna gets tea. Doggy Bakery. Where I spent my youth reading comics and porn, I was lucky. $10 validation card, No we wont pay. Haans knows Hindi.

1 Fairfax. Writers Guild. Who shot Notorious BIG. Little Ethopita and Jewish Council for Woman. Looking for Pollo. Get feeling will find in 10 minutes

1:15 Mgt messed up order for one customer. 8 pieces. Name tag for Lisa. She got a Jones for them bones. Kids cone dipped. Server has Big kids

1:30 Sad Memories of LAX. Blue Man Billboard, "WTF" Look as plane passes overhead

1:45 Corinna go bye bye. Sad. 1 Month see her again. My first strip club I went to closed. Chess at Embassy. Aerobics cert across the street. Was I angry? Yes.

145 got to be in Lancaster by 2:30. Big Donut. Think 2012 movie

2 Pass Howard Hughes. Traffic great. Time to look at overpass and grafitti

205 Passed the VA.Trivia Pursuit question. How many bathrooms does this hotel have?

2:13 Sherman Oaks Galleria. Glitter, Dave, LA Fitness Van Nuys. Missed Budlight Brewery and Tommies Runs with Shazam.

2:20 I like waters at night. Lights come on during Christmas

2:25: Always wondered what the hell is that for?

2:30 Late. Vasques Rock. I love guana. Vista Point and 3 Crosses.

2:45 Stopped by LCH and picked up some Flip Food. Stores is not closed

3:30 Dropped of broken bracelet. Store near Forever 21

3:45 Passed Airport, Joe Davies, and Gold Course. Man sells Flowers. Much respect.

4 Nap time

6:30 Headed to Supersport and then Pick up Prece at gym. On Sierra now

745 3 miles for Nike+ done. No lifting tonight

8 Going to ask parent about visiting AV Akido

8:15 Am/PM on Ave M and Sierra. Talk to Prece about George Foreman and Muhammad Ali "Ali Boma Ye"

9 Talk to Angelo about Star Wars. Hear about backpacks and eat hot wings and bread sticks
10:30 Watch some UFC, Fast Furious 3. Get Keys to head to lift at old 24 hrs. Get Laptop instead. Fall asleep after finishing post.