Sunny day on Abbot Kinney, Venice Beach, California
The rain hit Los Angeles and the snow has, once again, blanketed the surrounding mountains. It’s quite the experience to drive around the city with views of the snow-filled mountains in the distance. When my friends from the East Coast cry for summer, I’m so glad that I’ve been able to live in the moment without having to wake up hoping for warmer weather (January-May 2009 was enough for me…) We’ve had torrential downpours followed by 70-degree sunny days. Completely unpredictable, yet surprising pleasant.
Just as unpredictable as the weather in Southern California, it seems that I only begin to catch up with myself when I get an unexpected day off. I usually get a couple of hours to recharge and then force myself to clock back into the tight-knit schedule. Somehow, I’ve already found myself entering the sixth week of the semester, the third month of 2010 and only three months from my 21st birthday. I’m not really sure where time has went. Fortunately (thanks to President’s Day!), I’ll have tomorrow to play catch up as well.
The new year has been fantastic so far. I’m inching closer to the launch of my new online retail store, The Motley, which will be debuting online at the beginning of March. For those that don’t know, I’ve spent the last eight months looking for an eclectic collection of mens grooming products. I’ve found killer shaving creams, shampoos, hair styling products, candles (for setting that mood) and a variety of other products that I purchase on a monthly basis. The Motley will cater to that purpose exactly – as the upscale online alternative for men to purchase necessary grooming products – for the ambitious, not-so-ordinary man. We’ve got a blog that is up and running at http://blog.themotley.com. Please take some time to check it out. Add us on Twitter and all, as well.
I also took a remotely spontaneous road trip up to Santa Barbara. I found my way to the top of Gibraltar Road – the highest point in Santa Barbara/Montecito area. The torrential downpours left an unbelievable spectacle for us. Photographs of this will come soon! We (Josiah and I) continued our journey up the coast with several stops at beaches and a concluding trip to the local casino (Josiah insisted…) My first gambling experience consisted of an hour between the penny and nickel machines where we turned five dollars into twenty-five dollars (pennies at a time, mind you.) As our machines made noises as if we were winning the lottery (pennies, pennies…), the older woman next to us screamed, “I told you guys to bet more! You would have won a lot more…” We agreed with her, but then continued to bet the pennies. The tension between older couples that surrounded us was a bit overwhelming, so we called the quits early.
We’ve also spent hours working on new videos and photo shoots that he has been rolling out to lead up to his album release. I’ve, obviously, been posting the work as he posts it. It has been really exciting for the both of us and we’ve had a blast working on the material.
I’ve also spent a bit of time looking into new homes to move into. I’ve been back in the city for more than half a year now and living in the deepest of suburbia is getting a bit difficult (especially since USC in downtown and work usually leads me to Hollywood or the Westside.) Launching myself into becoming a property owner is a bit much to grasp – but it is very possible. (Side note: my couch will be open to couch-surfing vagabonds if there are any takers…)
I never thought that it’d take much energy to actually find time to take five, look at myself in the mirror and go for a walk outside, but it has seemed almost impossible over the last couple of months. So, I did it today and I’ll do it tomorrow. I hope that everyone reading this is doing that well. This busy city is never going to slow down… Take time for yourself and have a good long weekend.
Must listen to:
Miike Snow “Black & Blue”
The xx “Heart Skipped a Beat”
