Red Rock Day 1 - Meanwhile, at camp ...

By the time we had return to camp, we were left with ourselves, fresh air, and time. The following photos document what we did with these resources.

Lorenzo's acrobatics
Cooling off
Beats me ...

light writing

chubby bunny contest - Tim is the winner with 10 marshmallows

lion mask, a camping necessity

Red Rock - Day 1

Ugly weather forecasts of 45 mi/hr winds and thunderstorms didn't halt my fearless friends and myself from having the best camping trip ever. Meespace and I woke up Saturday morning to see a peeking thunderhead slowly back away from us and into the hills. From then on, it was perfect weather!



Today we were set to do some hiking/bouldering/climbing in the Red Rock canyon. The rock had a lot of traction which allowed for us to literally run up the rock at times.





With some time we realized, we had to "climb" climb.





At the top, we just really enjoyed the view/views...





After some time, we just made it back with all bones intact and smiles on our faces.

Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players - Eggs

I love this band! They're a family that rummages through garage sales for old photos then writes songs about them.

Music Recommendations from My Friends

Recently I lost an Ipod and my music collection has gone stale. Apparently that Hall & Oates does get boring after a while.

One of the joys of loving music is talking about music. There's so much pleasure in sharing as there is in learning about new songs and albums.

Here are some of what my friends, and therefore I, have been listening to:

Tracy Shao (music video producer)
Gomez - A New Tide
Matt and Kim - Grand
Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim
Various Artists - War Child Compilation

Gavin Castleton (musician)
St Vincent - Marry Me
Maps and Aliases - You and Me and the Mountain
Lex Land - Orange Days on Lemon St.
Broadcast 2000 - Building Blocks

Chris Fudurich (music producer)
"new music sucks ... well except for the new Ghostland Observatory"

Wolf and Pig Stop Motion Fun

Dinner and Coffee with Trinh and Grace

Now well into our 20's, Grace Trinh and I haven't really changed. We still laugh and whine and demand like we did while we were in high school.

We had our coffee at the Veronese Cafe in Fullerton. There, we snaked around the labyrinth-like gallery/cafe to find a perfect spot to catch up with minimal disturbance. The old victorian house and garden managed to have at least 20 different little hiding spots some with pictures, some with a victorian theme, some with a western theme, some with couches some with patio views, etc. Even more amazing, the wait staff was always able to find you.

The nice thing to know was that we were still capable of making eachother laugh to tears. We also learned a few other things: Trinh, now an executive producer, does not wear heels to work anymore but NEEDS massages and facials monthly. Grace's favorite mix at Pinkberry is mochi, strawberries and cocoa pebbles. "That's ma mix! THAT'S MA MIX!" and still has to gesture incessantly while talking to clients over the phone at work.

My lovely friends and I are still so well-connected despite our separate lives.

Gang Signs = Ice Cream

Gang signs remind me of summer picnic photos and thus, summer, and thus, ice cream. Therefore, gang signs remind me of ice cream.

Is it Summer or Spring?

This weekend, we enjoyed the typical sunny warmth as much as possible. With downtown boba and haircuts to Venice Arnold Palmers and sunbathing, we are all very tired and suffering from sunburns. But a good suffering...

Believe it or not, I went to church!

Early Easter Sunday morning, I went on a bike ride along the beaches. Upon my return to Venice (California), I decided to go to church. After all, it's Easter. I believe in God and prayer, so why not?

I took my little fixed gear to the nearest church. Locked it up and walked among the well dressed and religious. In the midst of the pastels and dress shoes, I sat there in jeans and a t-shirt. A little boy stared at me the whole mass. It was obvious that I wasn't a regular and that everyone knew.

Nonetheless, I paid attention to the priest, whose sermon was like that of a stand-up comedian. Cracking jokes about other religions and Catholicism. Not only that, he didn't require us to recite entire prayers but simply to say "I do" after he read them. How unconventional!

It surprised me that even if this church was slightly unconventional in one of the most liberal and "weird" neighborhoods in all of Los Angeles, I was still an odd girl out. I biked away wondering if I should go back. Maybe.

From Lorenzo's Brilliant Mind - Sky Larkin

Sky Larkin :: Antibodies; Director :: Lorenzo de Guia from Lorenzo de Guia on Vimeo.

Lorenzo's good eye for emotion and his love of color come out in his latest music video for the UK indie band, Sky Larkin.

Sin Nombre Trailer

Time's Top 10 Jesus Movies

There really isn't a more appropriate way to celebrate Easter in Hollywood than to talk about Jesus flicks. While I'm still confused as to why Jesus Christ Superstar didn't make the cut, I'll go ahead and celebrate Life of Brian.

Check out the the holiest of Hollywood here: Time Magazine's Top Ten Jesus Movies

Somehow this child expresses what I feel

My new bike shoes

From Mike's disapproving nod and embarrassment, I learned that talking into my new bike shoe as if it was a telephone is not what you're supposed to do.

Solvang Weekend - Day 3 - Ostrichland & Santa Barbara

It was a sad day checking out of the Circle Bar B. We had a hearty breakfast, packed up and then enjoyed a little picnic lunch under a tree.

So what next? On the half-century, I rode along the highway and noticed a group of ostriches grazing in a field. I knew where I wanted to go: OSTRICH LAND!

We drove back to Buellton to Ostrich Land. There, we were able to pay $5 for admission and $1 to let us feed the emus and ostriches.

The birds aggresively ate the food from our doggiedish/dustpan contraptions. We enjoyed watching the food slither down their long necks and pondered as they ran off.



Back in the giftshop, they sold fresh ostrich eggs, ostrich patties, and even ostrich jerky. None of which was purchased by us. We also managed to overhear a women discuss taxidermist recommendations.

We drive down the coast on a pleasant clear day down to State Street in Santa Barbara for some ice cream and window shopping. All in all a nice easy day to finish our weekend.

Grace's Fantasy World

Solvang Weekend - Day 2 - Solvang Century and Half Century

Jason and Mike started their 100 mile ride around 6am. Meanwhile, Meespace and I grabbed a couple more hours of sleep for our ride at 9:30a.

At about 53 degrees, the bike ride was pretty cold. We biked 50 miles through the very scenic hillsides of the Santa Ynez Valley.

Meespace and I eventually break off due to our different paces. While riding, I manage to probably feel every emotion I can feel as you're left with only your thoughts for hours. At our rest stop 25 miles in, I probably enjoyed the best pb&j of my life. (Later, I found out that Meespace actually trucked on through without stopping. wow!)

2 flat tires and a fallen chain later, I'm back on track and go on to finish.

My stats: 50 miles, 1800 ft of climbing, avg speed: 16.1 mph, completed in 3 hrs 20 mins.
Mike's stats: 100 miles, 5000 ft of climbing, avg speed: 19.1 mph, completed in 5 hrs 15 mins

After the ride, I happily and guilt-free purchased a butter cookie tub from the Solvang Bakery

Solvang Weekend - Day 1 - Circle Bar B

A narrow single-lane road winding through the Refugio State park brought us to our accommodations for the weekend, the Circle Bar B Ranch in Goleta, CA, aka the middle of nowhere. A perfect way to get away.

We got there just in time to prep bikes for our ride the next day and eat at the family style dinner. At dinner, we ate all of the surprisingly good food with the other guests staying at the ranch who were a mix of horseback riders and weekend excursionists. None of whom knew about the bike ride we were going to do, but were all very excited for us. We wandered around the ranch and noticed all of the taxidermy animals decorating the lobby.

Afterwards, Mike and I played hours of ping pong. There's no tv, radio or cell service here, so we were left with the game room and some books for entertainment, but we liked it that way.

Jason and Meespace arrived later at night. We laid out all of our lycra bikewear, our water, and our snacks for the ride, so we could ride out in the morning.

Who Is You? #16

Wow you really messed up this time.


You = Bernie Madoff

Movie Review: I'm A Cyborg But That's OK

I'm A Cyborg But That's OK, 2006
dir. Chan-wook Park
Romantic Comedy, 105 min
South Korea

This movie was oddly intriguing. After all, we all find some pleasure in crazy people finding love. It's a love story between a woman, Young-goon, who believes she is a Terminator-like cyborg set to destroy and a hyper-paranoid mental patient, Il-sun, who believes he will shrink into a dot if he doesn't brush his teeth constantly. We watch their love grow as Il-sun becomes determined to help Young-goon eat again. (She believes that the food will destroy her cyborg insides)

The colorful color palette and very dramatic performances serve the "live-action-cartooniness" lovingly. They are playful and complement the cast of characters very well. The pacing needs some work and somehow doesn't share the same energy as the sets and clever cinematography. Overall, worth checking out, but I would hold off on watching a second time.

Grace and her Meat Lover's 27th Birthday dinner at Mastro's, Bev Hills

Grace loves steak so it was fitting that she choose a steakhouse for her 27th birthday celebration. This was quite a step up from her last birthday celebration which was not much more than Grace in pajamas and a bucket of chicken. I was surprised that Grace even wore a dress for this beef party.

We wined and dined over gigantic pieces of beef, lobster mashed potatoes, gorgonzola mac and cheese. Grace and Ryan shared a 48 oz porterhouse while the rest of us enjoyed more modest cuts. Nevertheless, Mike's recent transition from vegan back to meateater put him in a biggest food coma of his life.

For dessert, Ryan arranged to have a candle put into a very inviting slice of triple chocolate cake. We were all ready to sing "Happy Birthday" when Grace decided to just blow out the candle and say "Oh too bad. No singing." Our slight disappointment disappeared quickly as we realized how good our desserts were. Oinky oinky.

As Grace puts it, "Good times"

My Perpetual Struggle With Wanting

OK. While I admire those who can live with a single pair of multipurpose shoes (usually men), everyday I enjoy the privilege of choosing which pair of shoes to wear. More often than not, I choose my Toms or a vintage pair. Those are the practical and I don't feel so materialistic when I wear them. Here's the struggle: Despite the comfort, I still wish I could wear a pair of sky high Christian Louboutin's, or YSL's or whatever!

I love fashion. I like the glamour of it despite full knowledge that true glamour doesn't exist. The illusion of glamour, really. I appreciate the energy put into it, I suppose. How much thought is placed into every accessory and how much grace and swagger comes as a result really intrigues me. Something about the dazzle of it all. I wish I was graceful! Then I wish I had that Alexander McQueen dress, the Balenciaga whatever, and the Goyard luggage. Now, the dangerous temptation...

It really is hard to resist, but so delightful to imagine that so much imaginary glamour and good feelings could come from that one LAMB purse, the Chloe glasses and DVF dress or any other overpriced luxury item. Me wantee!

But this is my understanding. I fully know that these things won't bring me glamour or gracefulness for that matter. I'm no Victoria Beckham. Not to mention that my wallet is nowhere near as capable as Posh or the Olsens. I am aware that fashion is a fleeting artform that changes all the time. It is the art of wanting. And best when you can't have it, otherwise they're just clothes.

Ely Kim's Boombox

BOOMBOX from Ely Kim on Vimeo.

Boombox is a video collage of 100 songs, 100 places over the course of 100 days.
Ely is a friend of a friend. He is currently working on his MFA at Yale. This is what you make with an MFA at Yale. Enjoy.

Breakfast Song

Wow.

Bikes and Art

On Saturday, Nathan, Pat, Mike and I trekked to the East Hollywood Art Cycle from Venice. A good 30 mile ride roundtrip.

We managed to take advantage of the great weather to ride. We took a pit stop at the Kaws exhibit (that I didn't get to see a couple weeks ago). There we looked entirely out of place among the sea of fashionable hip hop aficionados wearing sweaty clothes and bike wear.

Afterwards, we trekked through the glorious areas of the Crenshaw and South Central LA up to Koreatown.

At the artfest, we admired all the bikes fixed and roadie alike. Our first stop was Scoops, my favorite ice cream shop in LA. So many exotic and interesting flavors to choose from! I settled with chocolate almond and strawberry poppy seed.

Met up with Lorenzo and took a peek at the local artists' products and listened to some bands. We refueled at LA's coolest vegan spot, Pure Luck, where we didn't miss the meat.

Last stop was Orange 20, the LA capital for the fixed gear bicycle lover in you. They have everything! While the guys admired some pricey track frames, I managed to take a liking in a little sparkly red number with a banana seat like the one above.

The ride home was so nice. Peaceful streets dark enough to mask any filth and ugliness. The temperature was perfect. Ended up in Venice just in time to catch the Kogi BBQ truck for some late night tacos.

Filipino Noses?

Only 2 noses did not belong to Filipinos- #4 and #7.

What makes me Filipino? -- Noses

Here is a collection of noses from Lorenzo's portraits (www.knivesandpillows.com). I've been told before that Filipino people have distinct noses-- usually flat. The folklore goes that when the boat with all the noses arrived, the Filipinos were last to choose because of their short legs. Hmm. Can you tell which noses are Filipino?

Solvang Century Bike Ride 2009

Due to my undying love of aebleskiver, cuckoo clocks, and near torturous recreational activities, I've signed up to ride the Solvang half century (50 miles) on my trusty road bike. Along with fellow bike geeks, Mike, Jason and Meespace, we shall all re-visit the quiet wine country and steep hill to cookie mountain all for what is considered "fun."

Related -- the Lowbrow Art Movement

Image by Jeff Soto

My illustrative pursuits might not be just my soul searching, but my soul becoming current. Apparently, Juxtapoz magazine founder, Robert Williams, has coined the term "Lowbrow Art" for the recent flow of street art and illustration that has come to cover gallery walls in most art meccas. This is our movement here in Los Angeles.

I like to think of this movement as more of an acceptance than a retreat. It's our culmination of pop culture and our subjective awareness that makes it art. Rothko, who's paintings are far more expensive than say Murakami's (a Lowbrow artist)paintings, would argue that this is not fine art. But I am constantly at odds with Mark Rothko because I don't feel that art should be defined, but rather embraced. This art is relative and speaks of the times we live in. It boldly attacks expecation and convention in one swoop.

The artwork that stems from graffiti, cartoons, comic books, and even logos are now being appreciated. Mostly inspired by music and beloved imagery from our youth, we begin to accept cute as an art. So much that people buy it and love it for the accessibility. This is what I'm contributing to now, but who knows what it will be in 5 years.

Dear Kaws (Brian Donnelly)

I stood outside the Honor Fraser Gallery on Saturday to see your work. But you know what? You forgot us. That's so disappointing because nearly a hundred of us stood there in the cold (under raindrops) just to see your work but no one told us we wouldn't get it. What gives, jerk!? I spent 30 minutes to park tucked away on a dark street near shady characters on their lawn just to get in that ridiculous line. It's OK, I'll have to go see your stuff when it's less convenient for your friends.

I really like the stuff you did with Kanye and Kate Moss. I especially love your poop on a stick (which I was anxiously awaiting to purchase). Plus I heard you seemed somewhat annoyed by fans who were asking you to sign their sketchbooks. Look, we're buying your art and are entirely inspired by you, you ingrate. Show an ounce of gratitude. Please.

Friday night with the Midnight Ridazz

After work I rushed over to downtown. I was so disappointed that I had to miss LA's Korean "taco" the town (that's right I went there!), the Kogi BBQ truck but was just in time to meet up with the gang for the "No Name" ride. We were handed spoke cards and a piece of paper with a list of turns. Then off we went pedaling through the streets of East LA. Dogs barking through chainlink fences, but nothing more really. The streets were calm with exception of our group of 60 or so riders shouting and laughing.

We came across some hills and anxiously watched as the brakeless bikes skidded down hills just precisely enough to near miss a run-in with oncoming cars. Our happy group (Eva, Lorenzo, Meespace and Jason) had such a fun time that we had unknowingly gone all the way to Commerce Casino, which is about 10 miles south of Los Angeles.

Upon our return to Los Angeles, Jason and Lorenzo and I craved some lower items in the food chain- Del Taco. At 3:30am, we went to USC where sat at ate surrounded by numerous drunken frat kids on their way home from Mardi Gras night. We had never felt so proud to be from UC Santa Cruz.

The Oscars from 2 blocks away

For Tinseltown, the Academy Awards are a huge event. We're the ones that keep tabs on which movies will win and have pretty on-the-mark predictions for the Oscars' outcomes, yet we STILL sit and watch and get so emotionally involved. (I mean, really, everyone KNEW Slumdog was going to win even if you didn't think it was worthy)

I live within 2 blocks of all this hoopla. My street was congested with locals who have lost their way among the newly posted detours. Helicopters all night! But while watching the broadcast, I couldn't believe how glamorous they made the Kodak theater seem. They hid the Sanrio store and unknown clothing shops so well that no one could tell that it was the most hideous building in Los Angeles .

But all in all I think it's great that our entire Hollywood community gets together annually to celebrate the year's achievements. It's an amazing event and collection of workers/artists whose purpose in life is to make something larger than life. Forget about their clothing and their gossip (like how awkward was it for Jennifer Aniston to present while Brangelina sat in the front row with their Best Actor/Actress nominations?), because all that dazzle will all be returned to normal anyway.

Congrats to everyone who won!

Puppy Screen Cleaner

http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf

Happy Belated Birthday Kristen

Oh my cousin, Kristen, and I truly are related. The same nerf dart dilemma happened for her ... except she used 2 automatic tommy dart guns and has a fondness for bat wings.


For Uncle Les and Auntie Risa

Exciting news: Woolly Mammoth Bones Found at La Brea Tarpits

Right next door to my office building, a complete woolly mammoth skeleton was found along with a large collection of well preserved fossils. The impact on the paleontology world is huge, but the immediate impact is that a lot of people will be crowding my regular lunch place at the museum. Will have to scout for other food. Darn. Anyway, I think it's great that some good came out of the La Brea Tar Pits...

Colbert Report :: Who has the rights to that Obama picture?

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Obama Poster Debate - David Ross and Ed Colbert

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Funny Political News

Christian Bale Parody
Joke of the Day

An interesting debate over the ownership of an art piece between the Whitney and a Lawyer.

My Friends, the Modern Young Urban Professionals?

Now that my friends have taken the step from 25 to now, from student lifestyle to something more lasting, I have to admit we've become somewhat yuppy-ish. Now that we have our jobs and a modest amount of responsibility, we're considered makers and definitely consumers. We still manage to spread awareness and control dependency via the internet, but are we the new young urban professionals? Because the term has its stigma, and for the most part we pride ourselves in being artists and bohemian...

For instance, the closest guy buddies in my life all commute by bicycle. Historically, a bicycle was deemed somewhat a poor man's mode of transportation. After all it requires minimal maintenance and no fuel costs, which also lend to its hippy stereotypes. But the bikes that my friends have are not cheap bikes. They range in the $1000's in addition to all the equipment and fancy bike wear that is far from wallet-friendly.

My girlfriends (they know who they are) identify with overall hobo-dom with a dash of love from their creature comforts like designer labels. From designer denim to designer shoes, we embrace it all. The men buy their share of designer labels as well. Yes, we know what Mary Kate Olsen wears but also where to buy it.

Oh did I mention to you the kinds of health conscious mumbo jumbo we put consume? Mike and my frequent trips to Whole Foods to find other concoctions to promote a healthy living. Mike, a vegan, and I managed to purchase all the gluten-free, dairy free, organic goodness we could. So much to consider in order to make dinner!

So it's not so much that we are actually yuppies, but that we are a new breed of baby boho yuppies that like to look like hobos and care about the environment and enjoy recreational sports. We still enjoy the fruits of our labor like G-Star, Balenciaga, Iphones over cans of Tecate (a cheap beer). We have a certain consciousness and resourcefulness that the hippies and Reagan-era yupsters just didn't exercise but built a solid platform for us to build upwards.

Happy Valentines Day

with Jason and Lorenzo. Love makes you strong!

What? More stuff for Friday the 13th? :: Lauren Barcelon Solo Show @ Maniac Gallery

My old buddy, Lauren Barcelon, is opening her solo show "For Catatonic Eternity" at the Maniac Gallery in Oakland tonight. I've always enjoyed her artwork and can only expect great things from her in the future. For more info: Maniac Gallery

Here's a great write up on the show:

FOR CATATONIC ETERNITY: New Work by Lauren Barcelon

OPENING FRIDAY 2.13.09, 7-10 PM

MANIAC proudly presents the first solo exhibition of Los Angeles-based artist Lauren Barcelon, For Catatonic Eternity, a site-specific installation filling the gallery with soft-sculptures of over one-hundred diamond cut replicas. Working with geometrics, the sequencing of mental distortions and compulsions, Barcelon's decadently fantastical interpretation of material, modes and ideas behind the model of the multiple make For Catatonic Eternity a full-scale installation where details are repeated so meticulously, all suddenly become one, or conversely, each become imperfected by nature when viewed as a whole.

Crossing the threshold of performance and immersive sculptural installation, Barcelon's work is locked in with her performance (or act of creation), which has included hot-ironing plastic bags, hiding reality T.V. stars in ink-blot nature drawings, and researching diamond geometries for material replication. Barcelon, who has not exhibited in the Bay Area since leaving for Los Angeles in 2006, has typically worked with inorganic, human-made materials dualising formations found in nature to both a social and utilitarian suggestive.

In For Catatonic Eternity Barcelon creates a survey of still documentation and the aftermath of her own private expression pertaining to ideas of replication, multiplication and obsession, this time professing ever-specific patterns of crystal formations, and the geometrics of diamonds through bulk fabric found in Los Angeles' Fashion District. Along side Barcelon's new sculptures on view are C-Print documentation of her distinct process as captured in diorama model stills.

Barcelon has exhibited through out California including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland since receiving her BFA in Sculpture from University of California at Davis in 2003.

Other Friday the 13th News: Gavin Castleton's HOME

That's right ladies and gents. Gavin Castleton's long awaited HOME is now available on Itunes. Enjoy the zombie love!

For more info: Gavin Castleton Home Page

Happy Friday the 13th!

Well in case you're as superstitious as I am, and might have run across some bad luck, check out this website, F My Life, and comiserate with strangers over the internet.

By the way this is unfortunately very funny.

I believe it's a hoax.

Parents and Children

Guess what, parents? According to NPR, it's the first time in 50 years that our generation, "the kids" aren't doing as well as you when you were our age. Financially anyway. So, really it doesn't matter if they're doctors or artists, we're all poor. ALL POOR! (Re-thinking those arguments about career choices now...)

But here's the good news! We're going to be visiting more often now! It will probably be wise to stock up on paper goods and assorted groceries in bulk because it would be helpful to get a few rolls of papertowels and some laundry detergent. We'll happily eat anything you make! Really! Food is good because what we have in our kitchen's is not food. It used to be food. Now, it is just moldy or a box of cereal. Oh boy a laundry machine! That'll be helpful! No need to keeping that box of quarters.

Thank you parents. It'll be over soon.

I Love Keith Haring!

Keith Haring Documentary from ovicone on Vimeo.

Who Is You? #15

Because of you, it's been very difficult to maintain productivity.





You = Rainbow and Headache. Tie.

Quicksilver Movie Trailer

This movie was entertaining.

Quotes from some of the men in the office...

On that magician, Chris Angel

"I don't know but he's definitely gay. He's definitely putting from the driving range."

"Bobbing for baby arms."


After an alcohol-related hospitalization,

"When I start drinking ... more frequently ... I would like to go have drinks with you and your lady friends."

PJ and the gun show

PJ encouraged me to draw and gave me a pencil. He is also the tallest animator I know (at 6'7") You can see some of his work on his website and on the cartoon, Invader Zim.

Neutra's Sten-Frenke Residence

For only $5.9 mil, you can have this as your wonderful home. More info here: 126 Maybery Road

Happy Groundhog Day!

So Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow again (the 98th out of 113 times in history) We're looking forward to more winter and more of this really strange American tradition. I don't think that groundhog sees much of anything.