I love this

You know your school is awesome when you receive an email with this heading:

Dear Student,



There will be a Scholarship Workshop on Tuesday, March 4 at the Orientation Room 106 (behind the catering truck) at 1pm.



...I personally prefer the term "Taco truck".

The Man in Black

Today is Johnny Cash's birthday. If you ever have spent a night drinking Whiskey and smoking cigarettes with me then you know how important his music and his life is to me.

This one is for you J.R. you have gotten me through some tough times.

God bless you, and rest in peace.

Here ya go

I took some pictures today...

Making soup

Today's weather has just been awesome. Granted it prevented me from yard work and running at the park, but I will gladly trade natures beauty for my own selfish requests.

If anything, the weather gave me even more time to study for my English and Poly Sci classes. I am confident these next two days should be a breeze. Plus, the weather also brings out the creative side in me so that is always a plus. I recently got a hold of a camera so now I am able to take pictures of things that catch my eye. Be prepared for alot of skyline and homeless people pics.

Just kidding on the homeless pics. Didn't mean to rile you up. but stay tuned I should have some up soon. Well my soup is done.

C'est la vie

Watching Scrubs

So I showed my madre and the old man my tribute to their musical tastes. They liked it. My nina came over and visited. It went well I think. I had a chance to brag to her about the acquisition of tickets to the Dodger game at the coliseum. (Side note: Lewis Black has his own show? I'll have to keep up on that one.) Scrubs is on. I am going to miss this show. Way too much. Bonus point: Heather Graham is on this episode.

So I was throwing around the baseball today at the park. I can't wait for the season to start. The Dodgers should win the west. Anything less I think would be a failure. Depending on our draw in the playoffs will really determine how far we go. I am particularly nervous about running into the Phillies or the Mets. But I think we will lose to whoever comes out of the AL. (Especially if it is Boston. I am a realist people...)

Rotation should be: B.Penny, D.Lowe, C.Billingsley, H.Kuroda, E.Loaiza. Lineup should be: C-R.Martin, 1B-J.Loney, 2B-J.Kent, SS-R.Furcal, 3B-N.Garciaparra, LF-J.Pierre, CF-A.Jones, RF-M.Kemp.

Laundry time...

What I learned today

*The Dodgers will make it to the World Series.

*KROQ's Block Party blocks only work with some bands.

*I bite my nails way too much.

*People drive insane near the Mulholland Dr. part of the 101.

*They better not build near the Hollywood sign.

*Hoodies are the greatest.

*Baseball shirts are so damn comfortable.

*People near Los Feliz think too highly of themselves.

*Guitars are expensive.

*They did a Reggae remix of Alicia Keyes's "No One".

*A lot of people in Long Beach smoke weed.

*SC' looks horrible in black basketball jerseys.

*Blackout my ass.

*I am addicted to hot sauce.

*"The Honeymooners" rule.

Can't sleep 2

I need to find the off switch to my brain.

My Top Ten Social Distortion Songs

1). Lost Child
2). When She Begins
3). When The Angels Sing
4). Story Of My Life
5). Telling Them
6). Making Believe
7). Mommy's Little Monster
8). The Creeps
9). Sick boy
10).Angels Wings


So I start off the day with the delightful news that a paper (which was due on Friday btw !) has been given an extension till Monday. Then after a morning full of relaxation and some leisurely reading (Rain Of Gold) I was on my way to class. Not only was it comfortably cold, it was a bit overcast. Hints of sunlight crept through the downtown skyline. It was truly a breathtaking sight. (Then again when isn't it?) As I shifted my eyes towards Chavez Ravine, my second favorite Social D. song came on. (Hence the list above you.) Long story short:

Life is beautiful.
(If you allow it to be..)

After dinner thoughts

It's been a real interesting couple of days. I have seen the Hollywood sunrise, Forrest Lawn at sunset, and Long Beach @ 3am. Through all this I am amazed at some of the music that was being played at the time. I know I have touched on this topic numerous times, but I must reiterate: I LOVE MUSIC.

Rockabilly. Punk. Jazz. Swing. Psychobilly. Classic Rock. Indie. Hip Hop. Everything. Johnny Cash. Social Distortion. Billie Holiday. Glenn Miller. The Amazing Royal Crowns. The Who. The Shins. A Tribe Called Quest. Everything.

It has all been played. I think I overloaded. Too much good music over a short period of time combined with beautiful landscapes? It is too much to bear. Too many emotions can be conjured up and lead to realizations or disaster. Stay tuned I suppose...

- I decided to change topics. Flogging Molly is almost a month away. SAINT PATRICK'S DAY IN VEGAS!!! (One of many awesome traditions) Flogging Molly was brought up because of the mix option on my music files.

-I think Obama might surprise some people. (Green Day) I miss the bay. Nob Hill. Chinatown. North Beach. Berkeley as well. Good times.

Abba just came on. I think that is my time to go before things get worse.

Perfect quote

"Oh yeah, I'm not respectable, never been sensible,
maybe incredible, so damn irascible,
I like the things I do so hooray for me and

fuck you!"



Thank god for Bad Religion.

So yeah

That ( the Dodger piece below you) was taken from a creative writing class I took last year. So let's start off with an explanation of the tittle: "The Passion Bucket". Passion as defined by Webster's Online dictionary: (http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org)

Passion

Noun

1. Strong feeling or emotion.

2. Intense passion or emotion.

3. Something that is desired intensely; "his rage for fame destroyed him".

4. An irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action.

5. A feeling of strong sexual desire.

1) Things I have strong feelings for: Life, whiskey, God, Johnny Cash, and Social Distortion.

2) Things that stir up intense emotion: Good books, great food, rainy days, sunsets with the LA skyline, awesome music, family, UCLA athletics, and Dodger baseball.

3) Things I desire: knowledge, piece of mind, love, and a '59 Impala.

4) Things I am irrational about: Immigration, Abortion, Homosexuality, and Mathematics.

5) Things I have a strong sexual desire for: women who wear glasses, think for themselves, can handle their liquor, and watch cartoons.

Now that we have established what I am passionate about, the next question is why bucket? As a kid I was nuts about getting happy meals. During the '84 Olympics, McDonalds used to give their meals in a play bucket decorated with some eagle who was the mascot for the games, and while I was eating my mom used to dump all my toys in there. After awhile it became customary for me to be seen walking around with a bucket full of G.I. Joes and He-Man toys. But I really didn't think about it until head football coach of UCLA Rick Neuheisel put the two together. He said "ones passion bucket must be full when playing your bitter rival". Of course he was talking about giving it to those jerks down near the Coliseum, but I took it as being passionate for everything you strive for in life. Put your all into everything you do.. Carpe Diem if you will. Seeing this coming from the leader of the Bruin nation left no doubt in my mind that this was a sign. Since then I have adopted this phrase for everyday life.

Well it's dinner time.

Until next time...

First Time..go easy

So you think you’ve been To a Dodger Game

Let me explain something first: everyone has their own experience and rituals when it comes to sporting events. Some even have traditions that go back generations. Thankfully I live in the greatest city in the world, which is also home to the best baseball franchise ever to occupy a dugout. Names like Koufax, Drysdale, Hershiser, and Lasorda have provided countless memories for our fair city. I personally fell in love with the Dodgers when I was young. I actually remember getting my Steve Sax poster from the Unocal 76 station on the corner of Beverly and Rosemead. I treated that poster as if it was gold. I was five years old. Then came the ‘88 series and I was hooked for life. From that moment on no matter where I am I always “think blue”. Now I have seen my fair share of wins and losses in Chavez Ravine but I didn’t have my first “experience” until my buddy Carlos suggested we get season tickets. After I said yes, I would never look at it is just a game but more like a beautiful journey built around cheap beer, overpriced parking, and concession lines that never move. It’s life. It’s Dodger baseball.

To assure that you have the best possible experience a Friday night game in the left field pavilion is the only way to go. Dodger games have the privilege of starting at 7:40 PM on Friday nights. No other Major League team has games that start later. (Not even those bastards off the 57 freeway in Anaheim start later than us.) The late start is perfect for people trying to get to the stadium after work. Carlos and I usually take off from my house in Montebello and we jump on the 60 freeway around 6:00 PM. Pre game Dodger talk provides a perfect soundtrack as you come up to the Caesar Chavez (it should still be Brooklyn Ave.) exit. Some people get off on Vignes blvd. some even go as far as getting off on Sunset or Stadium Way. Not only are those exits some of the most crowded in L.A., they are even worse on game days. Caesar Chavez provides an opportunity to bypass the traffic and best of all provides a chance to stop at the CVS (it will always be Sav-On to me) and purchase a 12 pack of Miller High life before the game. As you make your way past the dilapidated apartments and run down car washes up the street from the stadium, the timeless voice of the Dodgers Vin Scully, utters that all too familiar phrase from not just mine but everybody’s childhood: “It’s time for Dodger baseball..”

As he utters those sweet soothing words you climb the hill and there it is the west coast cathedral of baseball. Walter O’Malley’s vision brought to life. As you pay the $15 parking fee, try to stay to the right and follow the road to park near the pavilion. It is a bit of a drive and hassle but as you will see later on it is a big part of the experience. As the sun sets you park your car there and begin to drink. While you drink you discuss the days pitching matchups and various other baseball topics and then all of a sudden, it sneaks in ever so gracefully right in front of your eyes, a scenic view that can rival any urban landscape, in any part of the world. Nothing tops a pink-and blue sky with Dodger stadium and the Los Angles skyline in the background. That sight over many spring and summer nights has stirred up every emotion in me that I can think of. I am also fairly certain it has the power to cause emotion and reflection in even the blackest of hearts. For me it has acted like a band aid when I am blue and an exclamation point when I am excited. For the most part it reminds me of my place in the world and that L.A. is my home and the Dodgers are in my blood. I guess you can say I bleed Dodger blue. (But my heart mind you is UCLA.)

Now the game has begun. If you are like me, then you should be well on your way to having a pretty good buzz going. As soon as you approach the gate you begin to hear Nancy Bea on the stadium organ while smells of Dodger dogs and freshly cut grass fill the air. Not even the sight of ridiculously long concession stand lines will bring you down. While you make your way to your seat you will see people laughing, joking and even throwing around inflatable beach balls. Now you are ready to relax and enjoy a good game of baseball. Sounds pretty good so far right? Well there is an additional part that is optional and should only be tried if you have been in the pavilion before and you have a pretty record of controlling your alcohol when you drink.

The tradition states you sneak in a pint of any Whiskey into the stadium. The reason you bring in Whiskey is because any whiskey goes well with the $7 coke or sprite that they serve in the stadium. The reason behind the sneak in is because they do not serve any type of alcohol in the pavilion area. Not many people know the reason why but I’ll let you in on the secret, left field pavilion Dodger fans have a notorious reputation. Ask any Giant, Padre, or Angel fan or player who has entered or played left field before. The visiting fan is immediately harassed upon their entry and as soon as they are in plain view of trying to find their seat they are immediately bombarded with peanuts, popcorn and verbal insults. Sad to say not even the younger fans are safe. Even sadder the usher usually ends up ejecting the visiting fan for their own safety. Visiting players have had to hear insults about their wives, mothers, and manhood throughout the whole game being yelled at them. They have tried to curb the problem by not selling alcohol, but like I stated earlier you go around that by drinking before and sneaking a bottle in. Regular pavilion fans will notice you throughout the whole season and the cool thing is that they get used to it, or if you are lucky, they will join you for a drink and next thing you know you have made a new friend. Isn’t funny how alcohol and sports brings people together?

As Vin would say: “Let’s get back to the game.” (He always says the phrase after the requisite “This day in baseball history” segment.) So now you have your bottle and at this point you can buy a soda, mix it with your forbidden bottle and sip your drink throughout the whole game or take shots (swigs). Rules for the shots dictate that you start off taking a shot every time the Dodgers score. If the game is slow, and no one scores after a few, you swig after every Dodger hit. If you are attending during a pitcher’s duel or lucky enough to be attending a no hitter you take a drink after every Dodger strikeout. By the seventh inning stretch you will be singing along to “Take Me out to the Ball Game” like a little kid. (I personally yell Bruins when the crowd yells Dodgers but that’s just me.)The positive environment combined with some more alcohol added to your system should be more than enough to get you to the end of the game.

The unfortunate reality is that the Dodgers don’t win all the time. To be honest they haven’t really won that much at all during the past couple seasons. But hopefully you attend a game in which they pull out a victory. Nothing caps off a good game and a good buzz than singing “I love L.A.” walking down from your seat to your car. (They only play Randy Newman’s classic after a victory, if not the equally satisfying sounds of the stadium organ fills the air.) During the walk back down to the car, people sometimes hoot and holler with fellow fans. It gets especially heated after games with our hated rivals the aforementioned San Francisco Giants. If that doesn’t suit you there are always topics of discussion that can range from either the game or the rest of the night’s events. (If you have any that is.) I usually take an extra shirt with me so I can go out and have a couple drinks and discuss the game further. (Win or lose.)

Again this is my way of going to a Dodger game. Some have tried it and liked it and others have not. But one thing you will see and hopefully agree with is that this is more than just a regular trip to a baseball game, it is an experience. A truly unique experience that combines and celebrates the game of baseball and the tradition, people and history of the city of Los Angeles. We should all take a time out and come together as a community and cheer on a team that goes on to represent our city and our beloved team. Remember how the city went wild during Fernandomania? Or how everyone remembers where they where during Gibson’s home run in game one in ’88? Future generations will be soon be talking about how Martin threw out that runner trying to steal second, how far Kemp hit that home run, or how Billingsley is on pace to win a Cy Young award this year. No matter what one fact remains, the Dodgers will always continue to create new memories (some better than others) and most importantly bring together fans of any age, race, or economic background. Instead of arguing over politics, race, and various issues that plague our city we should all just go to a Dodger game. Maybe then our problems and differences won’t seem so bad. It’s not a sure fire solution to our problems but it’s at least a starting point. You know what I’ll even buy the High Life and the first round of Dodger dogs….