A touch of fire

El Compadre = my favorite little mexican restaurant.

This little restaurant = love. The atmosphere, the live mariachi band, the unbelievable chips and salsa, the amazing food, and the out-of-this-world margaritas served with...wait for it...a flame on top. This place has won over my heart and is one of those places that I go to with good friends. From the outside, you'd probably bypass the building, but the exquisite and unique personality that bursts from within is a true testament that you cannot judge a book by its cover.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Sometimes you need to let go of all of your petty issues and problems and take a deep breath of fresh air. One of my favorite things about living in Los Angeles is that you can do just that...in just five minutes time. I went on a hike today with a friend to clear my mind and bring myself back to a centered and grounded place after a not so good day. It worked. Sometimes that's all you need: a view of nature and a breath of fresh air to clear your mind and bring you back to what is really important in life. This picture is taken from Runyon Canyon, ten minutes away from the traffic congested (and people congested) Hollywood Blvd. Gorgeous. Beautiful. Breathtaking. Mind Freeing.

Beauty is all around.

I didn't know what to take a picture of today...and then I looked up for inspiration. Little did I know that my inspiration would be found right there above me. These trees are found all over, and they're beautiful. Most of the time they're located on opposite sides of the street so as to make a canopy or entrance of sorts into a different time and place. There is one that a friend and I sit by in a park where we have conversations about life, career, friends, and pretty much anything and everything. It's funny how one simple thing can bring forth so many memories and awaken all of the different senses.

Appreciating Life

I have a lot to say because of events that occurred this morning...but I'm just going to say: Appreciate Life. Live every moment to its fullest. Tell those you love that you love them. Never take anything or anyone for granted because you never know when they can be taken away from you. Live and Love.

My picture today is of the LA Times. The show that I am currently in, "Hamlet: Prince of Darkness," is featured under the Critics' Choices section in the Entertainment section. I am so excited and thrilled to be a part of this production, and to get such a positive response from audience members is amazing.

My First Picture

Picture Number One:

A Cup of Coffee

This is the way I start almost every day. A cup of coffee is what gathers friends, family, deep conversation, reunions, first dates, love. A cup of coffee is a simplistic thing, yet can hold so much meaning. This cup of coffee was made by some of my closest friends, and just happens to be located at my first job in LA.

A New Adventure...

So...I have come up with my next adventure; it directly correlates with the way I think about life, about taking it all in. My friend, Patrick, introduced me to a man named Jonathan Harris. Well, not a personal introduction, but an introduction to his ideas. He began a quest to take a picture every day starting with the day he turned 30. "A simple ritual of taking one photo each day and posting it online, along with a short story, beginning the day I turned 30." I think this is a brilliant and amazing idea, and I am truly excited to accept this challenge. I will begin this endeavor tomorrow and continue for one year. 365 days of not letting the moments slip by, of taking in all of the beauty around me, and 365 days of love captured on film...er...memory card, in whatever form. I will also include a little caption with each photo. I choose tomorrow because tomorrow marks my 7 month anniversary in LA, and also the same weekend I moved out of NYC last year. (Wow! It's been a whole year already?!?!) It's a big day/weekend, and what better way to commemorate exploring life than to continue to capture the moments.

To view my inspiration for this project, please check out Jonathan's website at: http://number27.org/today.php. If interested (and I recommend), click on the "short video" link after the quote to watch a really sweet slideshow of all of his pictures.

I will continue to write in my blog as I have been, but I will be making it a point to post a picture every day, even if no thoughts are needed to be written out. I hope you are as excited for this project as I am, and I cannot wait to see what is in store.

Breathe in the life. Capture the moments.

The Road...

Have you ever wondered why some people are given obstacles in life. Some are given small hurdles. Some are given amazing attitudes. Some are given pessimistic viewpoints. Some are given everything with no effort. Some have to work their butt off to get where they would like to be...why does any one person get the specific road that they are destined to travel upon, and why do some have a smooth paved road, whereas others have the gravely and rocky back road; potholes and all? One of many of life's unanswerable, and yet, intriguing questions.

Throughout the past few weeks I have learned the real value of a true friend; I have felt what it is like to be that true friend, as well. I know the feeling already because I have many true friends. However, lately I have been so caught up in every other materialistic and unimportant (to an extant) event in my life, that I have been forgetting to take in those around me; to truly appreciate them. I have been wrapped up in my own selfishness of "I'm tired" or "I'm busy" to even take a deep breath and realize the weather had changed and the sun was beaming and lighting up the sky. Who is this person? Well, it's definitely not the me I know. It took a friend crying on my shoulder for me to wake up and realize that I was living in a blur. I talk so much of stopping and taking everything in, yet I have fallen weakness to my own advice. I suppose that is normal when one has a ridiculous amount of stress...but it's just an excuse. Stress is just matter that we build up; negative matter at that. It's unnecessary, and all it really does is get us sick or unnerved. Once I woke up from this foggy haze, things began to click a little better. Productivity was at a high again. Optimism and positivity were at a mezzo forte. And I was beginning to take in the breeze, the sun, the sounds, the world. Poetic/Dramatic? Maybe. True? Absolutely. I allowed my life to spiral down, but I have regained control and am now climbing back up the stairs to s

uccess. Life brings with it obstacles. With these obstacles come lessons. With these lessons come hurdles. Instead of backing away, I will run full force and leap over the hurdles...I can't wait to see what's waiting near the finish line. Wait. I take that back...I can't wait to see what lies along the path to get to the finish line. Isn't that what life's about anyway? Not reaching the end, but taking in everything throughout the journey that you travel upon to get there.

On the road to LA; another part of my journey...