"Art is never decoration, embellishment; instead, it is work of enlightenment. Art, in other words, is a technique for acquiring liberty." - bruce lee

in typical LA fashion...
- i got free movie preview tickets to the arclight which usually charges a ghastly $14 per movie ticket. more of that later...
- i got to the gym at 2pm and that is when all the beautiful people go to the gym, with their scripts, their $80 cologne-doused chest hair, silicone and saline parts, and over-plucked eyebrows (both women AND men).
- i coordinate my day by means of email and cell phone, in between appointments while zipping thru traffic ON the side streets.
- i missed the recycling collector because i woke up too late... AT 6:30 IN THE MORNING. why do they come so early??? luckily, the trash collector haven't come yet.
- i am scheduling a photoshoot with a friend who i am going to be making a website for, in downtown la. and i mean, at the rough part of downtown with the dilapitated buildings and bridges. hey, it makes a great background and it has lots of "textures". werd...
- i sit in front of the bagel shop with my coffee and my sundried tomato bagel with lox smear, watching people as they walk in and out, talking on their cell phone with god-knows-who, as i am interupted with my own phone ringing.
- i am feenin' to go shoe shopping, spending $150 on shoes, yet going to jet rag for their $1 dollar vintage clothing sale

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against the ropes
as you have read, i got free movie tickets to preview the movie, against the ropes , starring omar epps and meg ryan. well, i love meg ryan and omar epps is hot, and they were free movie tickets with free popcorn and drinks so i figured, "hey, why not?". so my friend dent and i went.

first of all, i don't know if you ever went to the arclight. its a pretty shnazzy place. the architecture didn't flow as well; most of the remodeled theater is modernist style while the dome still had that 70's feel. they had these wierd plastic shapes in their courtyard that was supposed to resemble melting chunks of ice. they were blue or purple and were lit in the inside. i was confused because i didnt know if they acted as art or as public chairs. needless to say, they were booty.

anyways, back to the movie. jeeeez loooouise. it lacked edge. its about jackie kallen, which is the most successful female boxing manager and her struggles in getting respect in a male dominated sport. ok, if this movie is about boxing, where is the edge? the grit? it was so hallmarky and cheesy, i was giggling thru most of the movie. the soundtrack was wack too. i felt like i was watching an after school special on boys and girls are equal. editting was pretty bad too. kept cutting short on certain scenes. pretty corny. but i liked watching omar boxed.

[listening] morcheeba "fear and love"

We always have a choice
Or at least I think we do
We can always use our voice
I thought this to be true
We can live in fear
Extend our selves to love
We can fall below
Or lift our selves above

Fear can stop you loving
Love can stop your fear
Fear can stop you loving
But it's not always that clear

I always try so hard
To share my self around
But now I'm closing up again
Drilling through the ground

Fear can stop you loving
Love can stop your fear
Fear can stop you loving
But it's not always that clear

I'd love to give my self away
But I find it hard to trust
I've got no map to find my way
Amongst these clouds of dust

Fear can stop you loving
Love can stop your fear
Fear can stop you loving
Love can stop your fear
Fear can stop you loving
Love can stop your fear
Fear can stop you loving
But it's not always that clear X4

my weekend synopsis

the art bazaar
ever since california's govt. drastically cut the arts funds, many of my favorite art organizations have been struggling. there is very little money funding the arts and the multi-cultural art and inner city art orgs are the first to go. they are desperately trying to stay afloat.

filam arts is a strong arts advocate for the filipino american arts. one of their biggest events is FPAC, the festival of filipino arts and culture. they have to raise an extremely large amount of money in order to function for the next couple of months.

one of their fundraising events is an art bazaar. vendors come in and sell their art, crafts, clothing, ceramics, etc. in order to raise funds for fil am arts.

i sold a few pieces. i brought my paintings just to bring attention to my booth. some people inquired about my paintings but i had to tell them that they are not for sale yet. i have to finish the series first, show them, and then consider selling them. it felt good to know that people are interested in buying my art. i have been commissioned to do a couple of paintings. wow... its an honor.

"it takes 21 days to start a habit"
that is what analyn told me tonight. so today is day number one.

my friend dj is getting married. i am a brides maid. which means one thing; get fit for the dress!!!

its been a hot minute since i have worn a dress! dude, its been a hot minute since i even have seen the sun. i have sat on my ass for 3 years from 10am-7pm, five days a week. i am hellaaaaaaa outta shape.

so, after a peptalk from my bf, i have decided that now is the time. i have till april to get fitted and oct for the wedding. if only i can get fit in 30 days just as bally's promised.

so off i go to start my regimine.

wasn't so painful. i was on the ellipticals for 40 mins, abs, and lower back.

good lawd. the lower ab part damn near killed me. it used to be my favorite exercise but years of slouching behind a keyboard have made my trunk a weak pillar. and let me tell you, the secret to being center physically; strengthen your trunk. (no men, not THAT trunk)

can't eat the processed food stuff any more
i realized that after a few weeks of cooking food, i can't bring myself to eat frozen or canned foods any more. there was a time when that is all i had to time to eat. frozen soy chorizo and potato taquitos from trader joe's. a lean pocket here and there. canned minestrone.

but as i walk along the aisles, i realize that all that prepackage shit doesn't sound appetizing to me.

there is something about homecooked meals. energy, your life force, is expended in making a good homecooked meal. not only energy, but love is put in there. the care given to make sure that what you are putting in your mouth is fresh, making sure that you put just enough seasoning, that it is healthy- all that contributes to the food. love. and then sharing it with loved ones. image this exchange of energy.

so i made chili (a particular way a restaurant in hawaii makes it) and malasadas. had friends over- analyn, kat, vanessa, wendell and the puppy, sonny cheeba. watched sex in the city. played soul calibar 2. talked about life, liberty and love.

great way to end a weekend.

here is the recipe: (hey miko, try this!)

i used turkey bacon and ground turkey. i also added creamy tomato soup, more paprika, more sugar, ground sage, and italian sausage and noooo msg. muenster cheese melting on top. yummmmmm

1 lb. ground top round
1 round onion
1/4 lb. bacon
1 large can red kidney beans, drained
2 tsp. red wine
1 tsp. powdered chicken bouillon
1/4 tsp. ginger
1 bay leaf, crushed
Pinch paprika
1 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. oregano leaves
Pinch cumin seed
1 tsp. Ajinomoto (msg)
1/2 C. chopped celery
1/2 C. chopped bell pepper
Dash Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 large can tomato sauce

Brown the ground top round with onion.  Add bacon.  Then add the rest of the ingredients and simmer 30 minutes.

what the heck?