http://vimeo.com/8113101

Note: The resolution is horrible. 

I thought this was sweet.

I'm actually hesitant to even write about Jack Kerouac, let alone write out his name.  I feel as though words in any relation to his own simply won't measure up to the genius of his voice.  Unfortunately, or fortuantely, I've been "lost" in his rhythmic lines of winding prose, so I can't help but provide my two cents on the light-headed rush I feel when I can finally peel my eyes away from these pages.

In "Retracing Kerouac's Rocky Road", Lynell George describes why people, like me, enjoyo getting lost in Kerouac. "There are those who return to Jack Kerouac just to get lost in the ride. Not across lonesome America but in the serpentine locomotion of his prose."  On the Road  is eccentric with obvious attempts of experimentation to devise an unconventional tone in writing.  The characters are not unlike people most of us know on a daily basis (especially those of us living in Los Angeles).  Characters are pathologically given to aimless travel, women, car stealing, reefers, bop jazz, liquor and pseudo-intellectual talk, as though life were just one long joy-ride that can't be stopped, and probably shouldn't be.  Although Sal Paradise knows to perceive that kind of life as stark-crazy mad, he for a while submisses to it and later becomes quite sympathetic toward those to frenetic to realize it's stark-crazy mad.


If you can't afford to get "on the road" in pursuit of kicks, purchase this Kerouac device and join the ride.



I'll admit, with a good amount of hesitancy, that yes, I am a complete and total nerd.  I think my bibliophilia gives that away, if not my love for classical music and on/off again relationship with Call of Duty.  I've read so many books that I simply cannot name just a single favorite, nor can I list off the top of my head, more than 10 great books that I've already read.  There must be something a bit old fashioned with me--I see no attraction in the kindle of the iPad.  If you want to read book, guess what!  There's a book for that. I'm a Generation Y specimen living in a time of relentless technological creative inventions created to offer us efficiency and instant gratification.   Realizing that I must read a book means I instantly head over to Skylight, the neighborhood Indie bookstore, and nab whatever copy I can get, even if in horrible condition.  I briskly read and then admire the collection of books collecting dust in my quaint Los Feliz studio apartment.  Every weekend I add "Buy new bookshelf" to my To Do list (I also love To Do lists besides my inability to actually complete them).

I've heard of virtual bookshelf apps for Facebook and recently added a virtual bookshelf widget to my blog (see right).  I've always been one eager to share my excitement about even the littlest things.  And I'm never shy to share my thoughts on a book I've read.  Check out my collection of what I can actually recall reading off the top of my head without looking at what's sprawled between my bed, dining room table and kitchen.  You can only see three novels here, but visit Shelfari for a more extended list of great (and one horrible) reads.  Let me know your thoughts, and based on what you see, I welcome recommendations and review.

WORK HARD, PLAY HARD is my motto.  After working 12 hours days every day this week, I'm excited to enjoy this weekend (and the beautiful weather) to the absolute fullest!

Friday: Play date with the lovely Ervina.  She's dragging me out to a swanky Hollywood spot where we can dance the night away with close friends.

Saturday: 4.5 HOUR hike.  Bridge to Nowhere.  I've never been, but heard the trek is beautiful and quite challenging as the trailheads aren't always apparent and getting lost is an expectation bound to be met.  After that, E and I will ehad over to the Los Angeles Art Show to satisfy our artistic appetites.  I plan on completly immersing myself into the creativesphere.  Hopefully I'll get more shots on film.

Sunday: Time to hit the waters baby!  Lobster hunting/spearfishing/sailing.  Point Dume in Malibu.

Will I be in trouble if I don't show up to work on Monday?

Los Angeles has been blessed with more than 7 days worth of beautiful summer weather...in the middle of January.  So beautiful that when I logged onto Facebook before hopping into the truck to head out to Malibu with the boards, bikes and dog, every post showing up on my feed was of my friends statusing about their status being stuck in traffic heading out to Malibu with their boards, bikes and dogs.  Sitting in an hour traffic on a blessedly warm, sunny day defeats the purpose of enjoying warm, sunny days.  Thus, this Angeleno explored more of the lovely neighborhoods within Los Feliz and Silver Lake. 

Some lovely things I re-discovered about Los Feliz and Silver lake:

1) The architecture is so unique, and no other neighborhood in LA will compare; I don't care what anyone else says.  You don't see too much of the modern, "Hollywood" style in Los Feliz.  LF is about Spanish flare, the 1960s neighborhood feel and a splash of modern functionality.  HIgh vaulted ceilings, archways, wooden floors and exposed (real) brick.  Some houses look like cottages from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  Some shadow Mediterranean facades or Asian, linear simplicity.  A few look like malibu modernization. 

If you consider Santa Monica or Beverly Hills, the neighborhoods all look the same.  Every street has similar looking (or same looking) apartment buildings and the same palm trees.  Los Felizis all about ecletic styles.  Ecletic culture.

2) The carpaccio at Figaro has a delciously clean taste.  It's got an old school, NY style bistrot feel.  It's a well known Not in Hollywood, Hollywood hot spot with appearances in the State Farm Insurance commercial and Madonna's Louis Vuitton Making of 2009 Spring Collection video.  The Happy Hours there are worth racing out of the office promptly at 6PM.   Both the escargot and the carpaccio are $5 a pop. 

3) Vintage shopping never gets old.  Remember, if you bring cash, you'll get a better deal.  I found an amazing dress at Squaresville.  It's a long lavender gown with a deep, low cut V in the back.  It's simple. Elegant. $10.  Yes, $10.  It reminds me of the old Donna Karan gowns.  I have nothing to wear it to but really could not pass up the sweet deal.

4) Coffee can get snooty, but it's even more enjoyable at intelligentsia coffee in Silver Lake.  If you are a man, and you'd like to grab a good cup o' Jo, skinny jeans will be a must.  There's a comfortable outdoor patio with heating lamps and several long wooden bars to set up camp.  It's a perfect casual reading place.  If you intend to get some serious work done, I do not recommend coming here.  People watching is too tempting.  Take a picture of your coffee cup before taking a sip out of it.

5) Longboarding is addicting.  And the Los Feliz streets are perfect for it!  I had friends who literally had to drag me away from neighborhood this past weekend.  I would spend hours riding around on my new longboard (her name is Mo) without saying a word to anybody.  When my lovely Ervina called to invite me to a house party, I realized I had not spoken to, let alone socialized, with another human soul since early the previous day.  Katie and I have a day date for next Sunday: Farmer's Market, Longboarding, Acro Yoga, Beer, Sunset.

I honestly thought I'd be sick of Los Feliz by now.  I'm 100% California girl and love being outdoors.  Could've sworn the itch to live by the beach would've kicked in by now, but fortunately, it hasn't.  The personality of this lovely neighborhood has led me to become less narrow-minded, and maybe even, more eclectic.

Peace,

LV.

I heard love is blind so I write all my poems in braille...

2011 Showcasing Acts | SXSW.com

I shall fulfill my musical appetite this year at South by Southwest. And other appetites just by being in Austin. Most excited about seeing The Head and The Heart on the set list! It's only going to get better!