A day at the Hostel...

So...I decided I needed a part-time job and coincidentally the boutique hostel/hotel next door was hiring for front desk agents. Perfect! Some mindless easy front-desking around my already flexible schedule. Frankly, working from home tends to mean that you're home alot. I wake up with plans to go work outside somewhere or at a coffee shop or cafe, but once I get online its over and then before I know it half the day is over. In an attempt to redeem some social interaction in my life, outside of the people in PE building, I joined the hostel boutique next door. I thought it would be interesting and so far its been interesting and full of foreigners, a lot more than I expected in Downtown LA.

Ok so I started working in this boutique hostel place which is really more like a hotel, but I never imagined all the different kinds of people that walk in. Its really quite interesting. I'm kind of perfect here because I live downtown and know where things are and can help some people. Unfortunately, Los Angeles...brace yourself...is not tourist friendly. I realized that I don't know nearly enough about downtown, in addition, I'm starting to get over living here in the middle of the city. I think I'm ready to go back to the suburbs when I used to be able to see grass outside of the window, sigh.

For the time being though, I'm going to enjoy all these different people coming in and out and when I get sick of customer service again, I will retire. For now, Stay has deemed an interesting pasttime for me and will be paying for my mani/pedi and eyebrow threading this week.

See ya'll real soon!

The day Technology took over!

How do you make a readable interesting blog that isn't generic? I'm starting feel like the Internet is the bane of my exisitence here. I want so much to go back to traditional communicating methods, because they were simple, had etiquette and followed a set of social rules that could be followed. All this advancement in technology has just allowed everyone to become disconnected with each other and the important things in life.



I left home the other day to go workout and forgot my phone at home. For a second there I panicked and then realized, 'who cares?'. Am I really going to get a life and death phone call in the span of the three hours I will be away from the phone, can't I call people back? There was a time that we went home and checked our messages because we had been away all day. I like those days and miss them. People freak out when you say 'sorry I was available earlier, I left my phone at home". I think I'm gonna start doing that on purpose next time.



Although, I love the convenience and the 'cool' factor of technology, I feel like its starting to lose that 'lovin feelin' in my eyes. So if I don't answer my phone or take a few hours to email you back, just relax! I'll get to it eventually.

A Love Lost!

I just gave up the love of my life. Never have I been around anything that is sooo much like me. In the morning all you can see is that he was happy to be alive, wears his heart on his sleeve, loves unconditionally and needed to 'go potty', very much like his momma. Granted this lil' pup has not much else to do with his life, but he reminded me that every morning is a great morning to give it everything you have.

Barkley, like myself, enjoyed the simple things in life; rolling in grass, cheese, I mean really how can it get much better than that. I knew it was going to be hard to give him back, but I didn't realize how hard. Every inch of me tells me to call his foster mom and tell her that I change my mind, but there's just too much on it. I wish I could ignore all the reasons that I can't have Barkley in my life, ten minutes of his cuddling and Eskimo kisses is worth it.

I guess this is just my declaration of love for my little pup Barkley. I don't know that I will be able to let go completely or if I will be able to ever have another that makes me as happy. The truth of the matter is he was the right pup for me at the wrong time. This couldn't feel worse inside. Barkley stole a piece of my heart that will always stay with him, even if he forgets about me and gets a new mom.
Bye, bye Barkley. I miss you already.

Fan pages and FB

At first I must admit, I was trying to resist the Facebook evolution. I finally gave in when my company forced everyone to participate in social media. This is also the time when I first began my blog. I know...its all coming together now.

I have grown to find a new love and many uses for Facebook, the one that creeps me out the most is reuniting. My 10 year reunion is a month away and somehow all these people I haven't spoken to in 10 years are rising from the crypt. While a few of them, I do actually wonder about and am interested in finding out what's going on in their life, most of them...well...I could really care less. Its freaks me out when they add me and then most of the time they don't even say anything to me. I hate that. I hate just being a number on someones friend's list. It shouldn't bother me, its cyber space but if we're not friends I'm not the one to pretend about it.

The fan pages are getting a little out of hand, although one day I did become a fan of bacon (before the swine flu). I suppose that's a little nutz, but when friends suggest that you become a friend of 'sarcasm'???? What's that about? huh? My Twittering days have subsided a bit, but I feel that when I have a more socially intense client list then I will probably be back on Twitter as well.

Although computer technology has taken up a lot of jobs in the past ten years, I feel that it has more than exponentially provided opportunity for anyone who is willing to learn and adapt to the universe's changing social nature. Sometimes I hate cell phones, sometimes I love texts, most of the time I hate excel, but it also keeps me organized. What a strange world it is.

Last but not least. Despite of technology's wide reach in our lives, don't forget the little things like the California Sun (of which I am a fan on FB) and walking around outside. :)

Cheers!

Love at first site!

Yes, that's him, my new love. Its Barkley (named after Charles Barkley). He's 11 weeks old and he's a chihuahua mix. He is adorable and cute and I loved him as soon as I saw that little tail wagging. I brought him home and he was set, found his spot and knows what to do.

I'm a puppy/dog virgin and have never had a pet before, so this is a very new experience for me. What better day to bring him home though, than on Mother's day. I'm nervous and feel like this will change my carefree life, but really. I'm getting older and I don't really do that many carefree things. Puppy loves to sleep and loves to snuggle, just like me. Ha! What a great dog.

Well I'm sure I'll give you updates as he get older and gets into more and more michief. I thought that this would be an appropriate time to update my blog and give you a bit of good news from the dark side.

Talk to you soon. If anyone has puppy tips than they are more than welcome to give in put, thanks.

Hip-hop: Tryin' to make it or just playing 'the role'?

Sorry, I've been MIA, I've been out and about. I know, I know that's no excuse to neglect my three fans :). So last week, my good friend had his first solo performance at Blue Cafe in Long Beach. Let me start by saying it was interesting to say the least. I was pretty disappointed in the turnout but it was a small club in Long Beach on a Tuesday, so its unlikely that unless you know a performer that you're gonna show up. Sucky I know.

So I took some pictures, I figured I can make this like a quick picture diary to outline my experience at the show.

1) Phebian - OK I'm sad I don't have a pic of this girl, but I didn't realize I had the camera until later. WHAT THE HELL was going on here? This woman was a hot mess. Not only did her voice make me want to take shots, but her outfit made me want to buy her some new clothes. Her shirt wasn't so bad, a sheer animal print shirt, but she was wearing cut off shorts. Why are you wearing cut off shorts? Her dress code was not reminiscent of her singing style which is supposedly Rock/Electro/Neo-Soul, at least that's what she says. What it was, was a off-key crow singing on top of her song and not matchin' up the timing, walking around the stage like she wanted to be America's Next Top Model. I think she has the potential to maybe be good, but she needs direction and FAST, not to mention her lyrics were kind of like the poems that little girls write when they have young crushes at the age of 10. So many mixed messages with this performance, not to mention that there was no-one there for her, except one dude; who I suppose is either her boyfriend or someone who wants to get in her short shorts. Clean up your act lady....in the words of MTV...NEXT!

2) EazyBukks - Unfortunately his Myspace has been cancelled so I can't show you what he's all about, but I do have pics of this dude. Lyrics were that of a wannabe thug. The beats weren't that bad and eventually he had three guys on stage that was somewhat entertaining. I mean I wouldn't sign him but I wasn't running for the hills exactly. I mean I only needed to drink a cocktail to digest this, not shots.


3) Ego Tripp - First I think his name is stupid and while I can't really dogg his performance all that much, it wasn't something to write home about. To be perfectly honest, I don't really remember it all that much. I wasn't drinking so its not that, it just didn't stick out. I never heard myself saying damn he's good or the beats are tight. Everything was just mediocre. I mean did any of these people come here to put on a good show? DAMN!

Now for the main event!
Ok its the main event for me anyway. I came to support my long-time friend Proverb. I have heard him rap for years and can see his potential, but I can't lie when I say I don't know if it was a well-rounded performance. He didn't disappoint and he was by far the best of the night, but what does that say if everyone else isn't that good? Verb - if you're reading this: you're only as good as the company you keep and I know you know what I'm talking about. Its fine for a starter, but I expect to see bigger and better things from a man with your talent and potential.



4) Proverb - This was the most lively show by far. Almost everyone who was at the venue was there for this. A huge asset is having support, existing support tends to foster more support because other people find comfort in knowing that they are not alone in liking something new. The great thing about this performance is that he chose a variety of tracks to work from. While he started with a true hip-hop track, he mixed in a little comedy in there with 'sexy ladies, where your ugly girls at'. I think the crowd went through more than one emotion, showing that there was some depth in his performance. Being as unbiased as a can though, he needed a little something more. Proverb has a great presence, but you really have to put on a show to get people engaged. As many rap artists do, Verb brought a few of his 'homies' up on the stage to join him, however, they didn't add to the show. If ya'll are not gonna ad lib in the back and do nothing but sit there and bob to the music, you're not adding to my overall experience and that's just they way it is. Clearly, this wasn't the venue to pull out all the stops, but every performance should be a performance that counts!!!

5) Icky Green - Ok, so its hard to follow an act that gets the whole place rowdy and involved. Not to mention, this guy was from SD.

Sticky got on the stage with a drink in his hand very nonchalantly; after hearing the others I wasn't in positive mind. Then...Sticky begins...shit, he's pretty freakin' good. Its sad that he's from SD and doesn't really have any 'crew' with him, but he actually was a very good compliment to Proverb's show. Its too bad that everyone else made this place unbearable. I was surprised that I actually found myself enjoying this interesting dude named Sticky. He was also solo and went up on stage with a shirt and khakis like this was something he does when he gets out of bed in the morning, no pretense, just himself. He had his own unique way of performing. I would be interested to see him on stage with some acoustic instruments or something.

The final word...
One thing lacking in all the hip-hop performances was a hype man. Haven't ya'll learned from watching shows, watching a solo artist with nothing in the background in not a fun show. You need a DJ, hype man, band, dancers, whatever....I would say 1/2 the show is the performer and his/her skills and the other 1/2 is the performance...Put on a damn show, I want to smile, dance, laugh, bob my head!

Well I'll report from the next show I go to, but if all 'up and coming' artist shows are like this one, I understand why the music industry is not doing so great right about now. Yikes!

You'll never be bored in downtown LALA!

I've seen some strange things since I've moved back out here to LA in October. Today was strange, so I thought I would share some of these moments with you. Unforuntately, I don't have photos to show you exactly what I mean, but I can show you the locations.

1)Death in downtown; I think it was an overdose. The first week I was back, some homeless guy was dying on this corner of downtown LA. Freaked me out a bit.


2)The pirate guy. I love him, I must say. He is probably one of the most interesting homeless men I have met in Downtown LA and he is ALWAYS very nice and polite and goes about his own way.


3)Dead body outline near Coffee Bean. Early in the morning, I drove by and saw tons of cops at this location and a sticker outline of a man and a dead man being rolled into an ambulance, Yipes!

4)Slip and slide on the Sidewalk right in front of Hotel Cecil. Today I was driving back to my place from a day of apartment hunting and saw three little girls slip and sliding on the sidewalk. This is a rough block of main, where you can probably score some recreational drugs, or at least it seems that way. I realize that it was over 90 degrees today, but this is not a residential area, this is downtown, NUTZ!


5) This sign in Little Tokyo, which I STILL am having trouble interpreting. Please HELP

If you can't read it, it says; The Japanese Pollo Loco, \the chicken tastes like Lexus! Surprisingly enough, the Yelp reviews are pretty good for this place.

This place is crazy, but its never a dull moment!!! :)