Take me out to the ball game.

I went out for my first Dodger game of the season tonight. Unfortunately, Javy Guerra got hit in the face on a come backer and eventually blew the lead. We lost 4-2. One of my dreams is to one day have the time to attend and afford season tickets. I love going to the Stadium!

Beach House.

One of the albums that I'm eagerly anticipating this year is "Bloom" by the band Beach House. They have been one of my favorite bands during the past four years. Their last two albums, 'Devotion' and 'Teen Dream,' have not changed much in terms of style but I don't mind. It is a simple style with basic guitar riffs,  synthesizers, and simple lyrics that are sang beautifully by lead singer Victoria Legrand. Bloom seems to follow the same recipe and is sure to do well. Here is their latest single, "Myth." I love it! The album will be released on 05/15/12. 

Zurich/Schafhausen.

Schaffhausen is a small town north of Zurich in Switzerland. The town is bordered by Germany to the north, east and west. It was founded during the middle ages and still has a 16th century fortress that I got a chance to visit. The town is beautiful. The Rhine river runs through it. It also creates the largest waterfall in Europe just two miles south of the town at Rheinfall. Here are some pictures of the town, the waterfall, and shots I took during our strolls in Zurich.

Rheinfall, Switzerland.

Rheinfall.

Cathedral towers in Zurich, Switzerland.

View from top of Grossmunster Church tower. Zurich.

View of Schaffhausen from Munot Fortress.

View from top of the stairs at Munot fortress. (Schaffhause, Switzerland)

Munot Fortress. Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

Paris: Space Invader

While in Paris we had a game going to see how many 'Space Invader' mosaics we'd be able to find. The postings are from street artist Invader who, inspired by the video game Space Invader, has posted mosaics on buildings from Paris to Los Angeles. Here are a few pictures of the ones we spotted.

Throughout the city you can find great street art. Whether it be Stencils or even just quotes. One that stood out was "regarde le ciel" or "look at the sky." This quote was written on park benches, subway stops, and on the sides of buildings throughout Paris. As simple as it seems I really enjoyed the style. Click here to see the facebook page they've put together with a compilation of these photos.

Paris: The Food.

Steamed mussels and pomme frites at La Mascotte.

One of the highlights of my trip was the food in Paris. Whether it be a chocolate dipped croissant, a  mushroom and cheese crepe from a street vendor, or steamed clams from La Mascotte in Monmartre, it was all delicious. Across the street from Notre Dame cathedral is a reasonably priced restaurant called Esmeralda's. There I tried escargot for the first time and was blown away. The snails were cooked in butter and pesto and had the texture of steamed clams. I regret not ordering the full dozen. The other place I really enjoyed was a restaurant near Victor Hugo's house called Cafe Hugo's. The French onion soup there was amazing! We also had their cheese platter with some really good red wine. The grand finale was a steak dinner with some scalloped potatoes that were lightly seasoned and baked. The food in Paris was magnificent and did not disappoint one bit. One of the many reasons I hope to return someday.
Another thing I loved about the restaurants in Paris was how kick back they were. There is no such thing as a quick sit down meal there. When people meet up at restaurants for either dinner or drinks, they relax and enjoy each others company. You can sit, chat, eat and drink for hours without the waiter bringing you the check. It was a pretty neat experience. 

Escargot at Esmeralda's.

Cafe Hugo's French Onion Soup!

Steak was good but the highlight was the potatoes!

Crepes in Republique.

Euro Trip.

Breakbot at Le Social Club, 4/1/20

I was lucky enough to spend my spring break in Europe. In particular, I visited Paris (France), Zurich (Switzerland), and Stuttgart (Germany). It was amazing! I had always dreamed of traveling to Europe and now I can't wait to return. Typically vacations tire me out but this time we had plenty of down time to relax, walk around and explore each city. My favorite was by far Paris. The city is beautiful. We would walk for hours throughout the city and just be amazed by the architecture. We even had the chance to catch a local DJ called Breakbot. He played at a spot called Le Social Club and had an awesome set. The club scene there was much the same as here in Los Angeles except most Parisians began to show up at 1am. The headlining DJ didn't go on until 3am! It was surreal to walk to our hotel in the early morning and still see plenty of people exiting bars and strolling down the street. Much like New York, it is the city that never sleeps. I'll post more about my Euro trip in the upcoming days.

The Blake Show.

I'm a Laker fan but I've always cheered on the Clippers when they are not playing the Lakers. Had a chance to check out the Blakers, AKA the Clippers, tonight. As we anticipated, Griffith destroyed the Suns. He even had a typical Blake dunk on Channing Frye (postarized!). Nothing beats live sporting events! Even if it's soccer (which I don't know much about), I'd never pass up on tickets for a professional sporting event.

Believe in Magic.

I'm totally stoked about Magic's group taking over as new owners of the Dodgers. It has been a tough past two years having to deal with Frank McCourt's ineptness. I'm glad we'll soon have new ownership and hopefully they can get the team back on the right track. It would have been nice to have had the sale complete over the winter but better late then never. Go blue!!

Clocked out.

Today was my last day at work before going on vacation. I don't typically take two week vacations at work. Instead I like to split my time off into four or five shorter vacations throughout the year. Though, right now I feel pretty burned out and pretty happy to be taking the full two weeks. Starting tomorrow I will focus on only things related to my trip to Europe. First assignment is to figure out the transit system in Paris. We still need to figure out how to get around town. : )

Juxtapoz turns 18.

The Juxtapoz show at Copro Gallery (Bergamot Station) is well worth the visit. They had an eclectic mix of sculptures, drawings, and photography. Here are a few of my favorites.

Class in Sessions.

Lakers are a new team with Ramon Sessions running the point. Kobe is still not getting the rest he needs to be fresh for the playoffs but Sessions has already lessened his work load. Today's win was nice! Sessions is doing a great job of creating for himself and the team. It was tough to see Derek Fischer go but it is obvious now that it was a move that had to be made. We'll see how they close the last month of the regular season. : )

Vacation Mode

Just two more working days (tomorrow and Monday) before I officially start my two week vacation. I'm already getting in the vacation mode. Luckily, I'll be able to organize around my apartment for a few days before heading to Europe. I'm eager to take off but there are a few fun things to do before going. This Saturday there is an art show in Santa Monica and next Wednesday I'll be going to the Clipper game (I'm a Laker fan but I'll take any free ticket to watch live professional sports). Here is a link with info to the art show on saturday.
http://www.juxtapoz.com/Current/preview-4-juxtapoz-turns-18-copro-gallery-santa-monica

Interview.

After working six long years within the same department I've decided it is time for a change. I had an interview today and felt it went well. I don't interview enough so I still tend to get a little nervous during the days that lead up to it. Luckily, it went smooth and now its just waiting for a response. Looking for a change more than anything. We'll see how it goes.

Vegas Trip.

Had a nice trip visiting friends in Vegas (technically Henderson) this weekend. It was relaxing. Checked out some spring training baseball with the Rangers and Cubs being in town. Had the chance to chat it up with a Cub fan that lives in Portland.  He was telling us about the many things to do in his town. Looking forward to checking out Portland sometime soon. Vegas is great one you have the option of avoiding the strip altogether. Henderson is a great town just southeast of Vegas. The casinos there cater more to locals (and old folks) but they are clean and fun to play at.  I used to win almost every time we went to Vegas. Whether it be slots, black jack, or roulette I would often win enough to pay for our trip but I'm now on a pretty bad losing streak. I have not won in the past six visits or so. The good thing is that I know how to limit myself and play just for fun. I never go beyond my gambling budget which is important to set before heading out.  All in all it was a great trip! : )

Coachella.

My Coachella days are over. Not only because the price is ridiculous ($550 on stub hub for the first weekend) but because I can no longer stand the drunken crowds and the heat. I have to admit that the line ups are always enticing. They manage to put together an eclectic list of bands from several different genres. The festival has turned into a big money making machine. I was fortunate to attend the first one in 1999 and it was a blast. If I recall correctly the single day ticket was around $40. The price has now tripled. I haven't returned since 2008. Last year, I went to the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco. Even though it is almost as crowded as Coachella, the scenery and the cool weather make it a great venue. For anyone debating on going to either, I'd definitely recommend Outside Lands.

The Announcement.

I remember arriving home one afternoon to find my older brother huddled along with other friends discussing the day's shocking news. Magic Johnson had announced his retirement because he was infected with the HIV virus. I was heartbroken. It was the first time I had been introduced to the disease and as an eleven year old I was trying to grasp what it all meant. It is great to know that it has now been 21 years since that announcement and Magic is thriving health-wise. He has fought the virus with the same fearless attitude and leadership he displayed on the basketball court. ESPN's 30 for 30 series continued its great franchise last Sunday by airing The Announcement, a film that takes you through Magic's career before and after he announced that he was infected. There was an analogy used during the movie that I felt was right on point. One of the interviewees stated that the announcement was to the sports world what the JFK assassination was to The Nation in 1963, a shocking and sad moment.

Born to Run.

It has gotten pretty hard to get my usual runs in with my current hectic schedule. Today I went for a late night run after class let out early. It was great weather for a run but it was getting late so I only ran three and a half miles.  I typically run five miles. My friends and I post our runs on facebook via our Nike Plus run tracker. Although it would be nice to run with a partner, distance and different work schedules force us to keep track of each others progress via the web. Two of my friends ran five miles each today so I fell a little short. I was just happy to get out there. : )  On the subject of running, a friend of mine recommended a book called Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It points out the ability of humans to run long distance. Our physiology is built to do so. The author studied the great distance runners of the world, Kenyans and the Tarahumara indigenous people of Mexico. He points out that they excel by running with a barefoot technique that is natural to humans. The barefoot trend has really caught on as of late. If you are interested in the subject, I highly recommend the book.

Click here for Chistopher McDougall's website.   

Save the Bees.

   I googled the topic of bees dying and read two interesting articles with theories as to the cause. The articles gave several theories and possible explanations as to why the bees are dying. They gave examples on how Genetically Modified (GM) seeds can affect the health and production and deterioration of bee colonies, known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). In particular, the GM seeds can affect the bees ability to fight off parasites. Another factor mentioned was the radiation waves being emitted by cell phones which affect the bees internal navigation and prevents them from finding their hives. Both articles suggested that there are also other factors involved and the specific reason has not yet been agreed upon by scientist.
   Bees are a crucial part of agriculture here in California and help in pollinating over 130 crops such as almond trees. Unfortunately, many scientists did not take note of the bee population until they realized our dependency on them. It is scary to think that such a small insect can have a huge impact on our Eco-system but I'm glad that humans have taken notice and are working to find a solution. It goes to show that despite modern technology and genius design, we still need to allow nature to flourish on its own. Eliminating an insect, like a bee, from the eco-system can have a upward effect on other species including humans.

Here are some of the article links I read from:
http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/07/01/why-are-bees-dying-your-cell-phone-may-hold-a-clue/

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_5356.cfm

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/07/disappearing-bees-progress-or-frustration-1.html

Song of the day.

One of my favorite songs of 2011 was John Maus' Believer, the last song on his album titled 'We must become the pitiless censors of ourselves.' I thought the whole album was great and this is one of the songs that stands out. : )

Perris? No, Paris!

My girlfriends family lived in Perris, California for several years and we would often visit on the weekend. On Mondays, when co-workers would ask what I did for the weekend I'd tell them I went to Perris. "Wait, Paris?," they would ask. "No," I would clarify,"Perris, California," disappointing them. : (
During spring break I will be traveling to Europe with a three day stop in Paris, France! With less then a month to go I am pretty excited about it. Now when I return I can tell my co-workers I went to Paris! Not Perris....Paris! Haha : )

Certain things make me feel old.

There are a bunch of things in my day to day life that remind me that I'm aging. Though, what always works in making me feel old is when I'm watching a game and the announcer points out that one of the players on the court is the son of a former player. Often it is a former player that I grew up watching. Stephen Curry of the Warriors, Damien Wilkins of the Pistons, and Austin Rivers of Duke are a few examples. Even worse is reading the obituaries on the Sports Illustrated and seeing a name that could have been found in my deck of football cards circa 1993. It certainly makes you think about your own mortality and allows you to be thankful for the time you spend with loved ones. : )

Movie: Undefeated.

I got a chance to check out 'Undefeated' and I'd recommended for football and non-football fans alike. It's truly an inspirational story. It follows a high school football team from a poor town in North Memphis and shows how tough kids in Memphis have it. The majority of the boys came from single parents or were being raised by a grandparent. It focuses on a coach that helps the kids mature and believe in themselves.  Along the way the movie captures some sad moments in the kids lives and how they work hard to bounce back. It is not so much a football movie as it is a social commentary on the disparity between kids in America.  People in the theater were cheering and I couldn't help but be moved by some of the scenes.  It was the best sports documentary I have seen in recent years. Go watch it!  

Weekend.

Looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Plan on checking out the new documentary 'Undefeated.' Sports Illustrated gave it a good review and it also drew an Oscar nomination. Other than that I'll be catching up on homework. These first four weeks of school have gone smooth. It's my forty hour work week that make it tiring. I appreciate my weekends much more now. : ) Stay in school kids!

Jury Duty part 2

So I did not get selected as a juror to the case. For the most part, It was nice driving downtown and I appreciated the change to my typical work week. The case was pretty bizarre and super gross. It involved a man being accused of trafficking "obscene material" using the U.S. mail. The obscene material were scat films (gross!). If you do not know what scat films are you should NOT google it at work. The judge, of course, did a great job of describing the grotesque films with a straight, unbiased demeanor but nearly all of the jurors reacted like they were about to lose their breakfast. I've been summoned to jury duty in the past, some pretty bad cases too, but I've never seen a panel of jurors react quite like that. None the less I was glad I didn't get selected. So back to work tomorrow and no jury summons to worry about for the next six months.

Jury Duty.

I went in for jury duty on Monday and was told to return tomorrow, Wednesday. Its a federal case and I noticed that the jurors are treated slightly different then the jurors who are summoned to the cases at the state level. For one, the Federal court juror waiting area is spacious with wifi while the waiting area in the state criminal courthouse is stuffy and has the jurors packed like sardines. Another shocker was that the waiting room in the federal building welcomed us with complimentary coffee, donuts, fruits, and water. I thought, maybe there is a correlation between the fact that federal cases tend to mostly deal with white collar crimes where as the criminal cases deal with violent or felony crimes. My guess is that there are less jurors in federal cases because. white collar crimes are less likely to be prosecuted then the more obvious violent or felony crimes. Just a thought.

Pau to the Celtics?

How wild would it be if the Lakers trade Pau Gasol to the Celtics for Rajon Rondo? That is one of the rumored trades being discussed on sports radio today. I would feel horrible for Pau if he had to go to the Celtics. I think it was the embarrassment he felt when the Lakers lost to the Celtics in 2008 that inspired Pau to work hard and become the elite player he is today. He was able to redeem himself with the 2010 finals win. The Lakers need a true point guard but Rondo's inability to consistently make perimeter shots would destroy the Lakers offense. The way Pau is playing right now he is proving that he is not the problem. The Lakers should look to find an average point guard that can facilitate for Kobe, Pau, and Andrew Bynum. It might not be a guaranteed championship but it gives them a better chance then a lineup that includes Rondo.

Busy weekend.

Had a great weekend over all but it was spent driving around the city. Tried to crash a sold out show at the echo (Grimes) with friends on Friday night but had no luck. We ended up having drinks in Atwater Village instead. On Saturday I had an afternoon family reunion fundraiser in Sylmar followed by a birthday party in Inglewood. Today, I had breakfast with my parents in Sylmar and, along with my fiancé, hosted friends over for dinner at our place. A group of friends, ten of us total, have committed to getting together on the last Sunday of each month. We make it a potluck style dinner where everybody contributes. January's theme was Italian food and todays theme was French cuisine. These guys bring their "A" game as far is cooking goes. We had french onion soup, beef bourguignon, steamed clams in wine sauce, and apple tart for dessert. It was all delicious! I'm already looking forward to next months meeting. We agreed on a Mediterranean food theme (except Italian). Should be great!

Lester Young, the Pres!

When I began listening to jazz I started with classic albums that were often mentioned among the greatest albums made. Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue' and John Coltrane's 'Giants Steps' were two of the first jazz albums I bought and learned to love. I became interested in jazz history and started reading about these great musicians as well as the men who influenced them. One name that would often come up in books and magazines is Lester "The Pres" Young (1909-1959). So after purchasing my first Lester Young record I was convinced he was my favorite saxophonist of all time. He inspired the work of bassist Charles Mingus, who is also one of my favorites! What I find great about Lester Young is that he had a simple style that was melodic and easy to listen to. Another interesting thing about Young's playing style is the constant hiss that can be heard throughout his music.  Young is said to have been Billie Holiday's favorite soloist (and rumored to have been her lover too!). Their work together on 'Lady Day & the Pres' is amazing!

Check out the 1952 album 'Lester Young and Oscar Peterson Trio' for some of his best work. Here is one of my favorite songs on that album called "On the sunny side of the street." Enjoy!

Nice Uni Coach!!

Have you ever wondered why baseball managers wear uniforms? Think about it. With the exception of Joe Girardi of the Yankees, who looks like he can still play catcher if called upon, many big league managers are over sixty five and resemble a California Raisin. There is absolutely no reason why they should be wearing a uniform. Baseball is one of the only sports where this tradition has continued. Can you imagine if Phil Jackson had to wear a basketball jersey and gold Laker shorts when he was coaching? How about picturing Vince Lombardi shouting plays at his offense while wearing shoulder pads and a helmet? I know baseball is a game full of 100 year old traditions but I think managers should consider throwing on some wind breakers every now and then. Soccer and Basketball coaches wear three piece suits most of the time. It might be too weird for us at first to see Mattingly in a suit but managers should consider at least khakis and a sweater vest. : )

Anyhow, with Spring Training under way, I'll now start focusing on more pressing issues like who will own the Dodgers next and will we pick up a decent third starter for our pitching rotation? It should be interesting. Play ball!!

Giving up Lentils for lent.

I grew up in a catholic household but I stopped attending church nearly 15 years ago. At first there was a backlash from my parents but they too have seemed to give up on inviting me or pushing me to attend service. I don't have strong opinions about religion. I respect other peoples beliefs. In fact, I think a lot of my fundamental beliefs stem from what I learned in church. I don't lie or cheat or hurt others because of what I learned in church as a child. However, I'm convinced religion is not for me. My "religious" experience is felt at a Radiohead show or during a nice picnic with the family on a sunny day. So when I'm asked tomorrow what I will be giving up for lent, I'll respond with my same old joke, "I'm giving up lentils for lent!" : )

Skip the Fish Tacos, Visit the winery!

My fiance grew up in San Diego and for years she has been schooling my Los Angeles based friends (and I) on the wonderful spots that can be found south of the border in Tijuana and Baja California.  So we decided to take advantage of the three day weekend and head south past San Diego and down the toll road running along side the Pacific that connects Tijuana to Ensenada.  The weather was great! Our destination was the L.A. Cetto winery located 20 minutes east of Ensenada on a newly paved road called "Ruta del Vino" or "Wine Route." After arriving, we settled in for some pizza and wine. I'm no wine connoisseur but their Cabernet and the Petit Syrah tasted great. All-in-all I'd highly recommend the trip.  The wine is inexpensive ranging from $5 to $25 USD a bottle. The crowd was a good mix of locals and tourists (some that came from as far as Berkeley). The service was great and the view of the rolling hills was wonderful. I definitely plan on returning soon.


On a separate note, the Chef/Food critic Anthony Bourdain recently spoke at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita. He championed the food and culture coming out of Tijuana, even going as far as comparing it to Tuscany. Here is an article published by the LA Weekly about it.

http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/2012/02/anthony_bourdain_grandma_rule.php

After years of turmoil, it's nice to see the city being shown in a positive light.  

    

Nine to Five.

"The only thing worse than being unemployed is having a job." - Bumper Sticker (or unknown)

I've had a pretty bad two weeks at work. There seemed to be one issue after another and no time to enjoy the beautiful weather or even chat it up with the co-workers. Despite the week dragging, the thought of a three day weekend re-energized me and got me through the day. Tomorrow, my fiancé and I will be having lobster tacos overlooking the Pacific in Ensenada and I'll be reminded why I work hard week after week. : )

Imagination.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein

Linsanity.

Jeremy Lin continued his amazing run tonight by leading the Knicks to yet another win. Lin sank the game winning three pointer with half a second left in regulation. How do you explain how such a terrific player went under the radar of all of the NBA scouts? Boxer Floyd Mayweather, JR was recently quoted as saying that Lin was receiving the attention not because of his success but because he is of Asian descent. Mayweather is way off the mark. Although you cannot deny that an Asian basketball player dominating in the NBA is enough to turn heads, Lin's popularity is due to many other reasons. He was an undrafted Harvard graduate that was sleeping on his brothers couch just a few weeks ago and is now leading the Knicks to six consecutive wins. He's popular because he works hard and preaches teamwork. In all, Lin is popular because, unlike Mayweather, he is humble.

Poking around.

One of my new years resolutions is to make the Facebook Poke feature relevant. Instead of asking people to call me or text, I'm going to start asking that they poke me. For example, if a buddy and I decide to meet up for basketball, I might say to him, "Oh yeah, just poke me if you're down to play on Thursday!" I'm hoping it'll catch on. If it does, next I'll try to bring back the fax. : )

Last year, a friend of mine introduced me to the work of Ray and Charles Eames, a husband and wife duo that transformed mid-century art and architecture in America.  To this day their influence can be seen in everything from furniture (see the Eames Lounge Chair) to architecture and even film.  Here I've posted one of my favorite of their short films, The Powers of Ten.  A documentary called 'EAMES: The Architect and Painter' recently began streaming on Netflix and I recommend it to anyone interested in learning about these incredible artists.

Greetings earthling.

Welcome to my blog.  I'm looking forward to posting slices of life as I juggle between a full time job and a return to higher learning.  I'll also be sharing my thoughts on the things I love... music, film, food, arts, and sports.  Cheers!