30 Blog Challenge Day #12: A Photograph of the town I live in

My home town is Los Angeles.

Home of almost 4 million residents, a number of larger corporate headquarters, Lakers, Angels, Clippers, Dodgers, Kings, Galaxy etc., Sunset Strip, beaches & palm trees, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Getty Museum, Hollywood Bowl,  Staple Center, Rose Bowl, Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles, Home of the 1984 Summer Olympics, Captial Records, Nokia and Kodak Theatres and so much more...

Check my Ode to the Hood: Respiration

So much on my mind I just can't recline

Breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine
Breathe out, weed smoke retrace the skyline

no place like home

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME

I know that I have been MIA but I am trying to deal with this transition. It has been good thus far. The flight was rather long but I wouldn’t really know as I slept most of the way (thank goodness for Tylenol PM). I had such a headache after dealing with the heffa at the Delta counter. She was just ugh for no apparent reason at 630am.

SIDEBAR: WHY THE HELL DO YOUR BAGS NOT FLY WITH YOU FOR FREE! I mean seriously. It is just hella irritating to me. I had 3 bags all under 50 pounds but only 2 of my bags flew with me for a fee of $60 and the third was going to cost $125 – WTF!!! I was so pissed and the lady at the counter was like lady you are holding the others up. Which do you want to fly with you? You can mail the other. So needless to say I was immediately put into a bad mood but thankfully roommate wasn’t too far away so she came back to the airport to pick up the bag and promised to mail it to me. Thanks Roomie!!!

ANYWAY – I had a window seat, my neck pillow and my bestfriend blankie (thanks KB). I slept just about the entire flight. Again, thank you Tylenol PM. I was anxious but comfortable once I arrived in LA. It was rather bittersweet once I arrived at LAX and of course I was all the way at the end of the terminal. I walked all the way down to baggage claim and wait, wait and wait for my bags to come around the carousel. Then once that was all done and I made my way outside, I was pleasantly surprised at the warmth that hit me immediately as I walked out the doors. It was 1030am PST and already 60 degrees. I hadn’t felt heat in months. Especially since when I left Atlanta it was 20 degrees. WONDERFUL!

"Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”

Then my old bestie picked me up from the airport and I hadn’t seen him in maybe 5 years (thanks goodness for Facebook). He seemed happy to see me and we chatted on the way to my mom’s house. When we got there she was already out the door before we could get into the driveway good. She was already tearing and extending her arms. As we embraced she repeated I am so happy to have you home. It was one of the best hugs that I have ever had in the world. I love her and so thankful for her. I was as happy as she was to see me to see her (hope that made sense). After all she is all the parent that I have left in this world. It felt good to just be able to hug her – my mother. PHENOMENAL.

"A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.”

Then we went to my grandmother’s house for my sister’s baby shower. It was good to see her too however her prego waddle was painful to watch. She looks terribly uncomfortable but the glow is envious. My grandmother hugged me tight and smiled hard. LOVE HER TOO. She is the matriarch of our family. She is 76 and just says whatever whenever and cracks herself up in the process.

“Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to”

All of this to say that FAMILY is essential and worth living for and at this point for me living with. I Love these people and truly grateful that love me enough to embrace me. This will be change and change is sometimes good. I am still optimistic of what life has to offer and as Dorothy once said, “There is no place like home”. We shall see.

thus far home is good but I need tofind a gig.  Thanks to all of those who have been concerned.  Your care and concern was appreciated. thank you and keep reading.

so hella california: nostalgic

I really like Atlanta but I love Los Angeles. After all they say home is where the heart is right?  Well let me take you on a ride and share my heart (home) with you. You see in CALIFORNIA - we got a differnt swag. A couple of months ago, I had the opportunity to go to the Goodie Mob Reunion Concert and it was hot.  I listedn to all the people be inlove with their city and all that it had once had to offer.  It was one of those nostalgic moments of yesteryear.  You could feel the love for Atlanta and the energy. It was like the first time I heard Cruisin Down the Street in my 64... or when Chronic came out or anytime I hear California Love or I Got Five On It - yes...  I look forward to the California set at the club or outing.  So here is remembering when.  sit back. relax and read.

I am so California...

Los Angeles, Compton, The Valley, Carson, San Francisco, Culver City, Santa Monica, Long Beach,  Fresno, San Diego, Oakland, Santa Barbara, Alcatraz Island, Riverside, Long Beach, Palm Springs, Richmond, Palmdale, Temecula, Orange County, San Mateo, Laguna Nigel, Napa even Bakersfield

I am so California from 213, 323, 310, 626, 510, 415, 818, 619 along the 405, 105, 605, 805, 710, 101, 110, 580 , 91, 5, 15, 80

I am so California from Liemert Park, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall, Magic Johnson Theatre, Fatburger and The Jungle.  Like Randy's Donuts, Exposition Park, King Drew, Kenneth Hahn Park, Coliseum, Hollywood Park Race Track and Casino.  Hella California like Ashby Flea Market, Fentons on Piedmont, Blondie's Pizza or Fat Slice, The Burrito Truck on E 14th & High Street, Eastmont when it was the mall.

I am so California like Fox Hills, Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles on Pico, Cruisin down the Shaw on Sunday after Venice Beach, Inlgewood Bowl, Market Street, Slauson Swap Meet (Super Mall), and World on Wheels, Knotts Berry Farm, Magic Mountain, Univeral City Walk, SeaWorld, I am so California while waiting in line at Louisiana Chicken on Normandie and Manchester, Lucy's and Ramona's Burritos on Western.

I am so California from the Lakers playing in the forum, Raiders being in LA at the Coliseum now back in Oakland, Dodgers, Giants, A's, Angels, Clippers from San Diego to LA, Warriors, before the Sparks, 49ers, Chargers in the Qualcomm Stadium, Padres, Before the Staples Center and the Kodak Theatre.

I am so California from Washington, Crenshaw, Dorsey, Gardena, Banning, Carson, Hawthorne, Sierra, Westchester, UCLA, USC, Loyola Marymount, El Camino, Southwest College, Santa Monica College, CAL, Stanford, San Jose State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Morningside, St. Marys and Verbum Dei - Holy Names, Skyline, St. Mary's, Monte Vista...

I am so California like World Class Wreckin' Cru, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Warren G, Nate Dogg, Tupac, Eazy E, N.W.A., Ice Cube, Mac 10, Ice T, Yo-Yo, Xzibit, The Game, Mac Dre, E-40, Keak da Sneak, Too Short, Federation, Pharcyde, B-Legit, MC Hammer, Oaktown 357, Souls of Mischief, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Cypress Hill, Coolio, Montell Jordan, Tyrese, Omarian, Marques Houston, Goapale, TonyToniTone, Barry White, Paul Pierce, Baron Davis, Wierd Al, Kevin Costner, Tyra Banks, Venus and Serena Williams, John Singleton directing Boyz in the Hood to another Friday in the hood between Normandie and Western.

 

I am the roughest, roughest, roughest...

I am the toughest, toughest, toughest...

I am sure that I left a few things out or tell me about where you are from.