Root of the walk

Gaze c.2007

I don't remember why I ventured out on this night time walk by Hollywood and Highland.  I'll assume I was simply restless that night. While looking at this picture, I began to think about when I became aware of my long walks.

Earlier today, I read an article on yahoo that ranked L.A. third among the dirtiest cities in the country.  "AFC voters also put traffic-clogged Los Angeles in last place for being pedestrian friendly..." 

I’ll be the first to agree with this. This city is definitey not pedestrian friendly in comparison to most other major cities that I've visited. But I usually find comfort and freedom in taking crazy long walks. I’ll credit my grandmother for that. 

It started when I was 7yrs old. I had to sell 5 boxes of chocolates for my school’s fundraiser, and if you sold 5 boxes, then you won a free trip to Disneyland. We didn’t have much money so this was the only way for me to earn a ticket in. I guess you can say this was my first job. Many of the students gave their boxes to their parents where they'd sell them at work. Since my grandmother worked in a sweatshop and my mom wasn’t working at that time, that wasn’t an option. Everyday after school my grandma would pick me up and hand me a box of chocolates, much to my horror. Instead of taking our normal route home,  which included 3 buses, she’d made me walk from Brooklyn (Cesar Chavez now) & Boyle all the way home to Whittier & Townsend. It was a little less than 4 miles, but it was an awful lot for a little girl and an old lady.

She made me ask every person that walked by us. Pushed me into every business on the street. Made me stand in front of gas stations until we were kicked out for soliciting. Auto shop mechanics were my best customers. Dentists were not. At the end of it all, she not only tested my stamina, but also taught my first lesson in earning. As if a 7 yr old needed extra appreciation for a trip to Disneyland. I’m glad she made me do it, though. She made walking through this crazy town completely normal as well as altered my definition of a long walk, for life.

Restart

Think of a place where you're completely in your element.

Now think of being away from that place for a year.

That's what being away from the darkroom has been for me.

I'm pretty sure Freestyle misses my business.

It's not polite to stare

Staring c.2011

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On Friday nights, I often go to Hollywood after work just to detox a bit. Whether its to eat a bite, browse through a bookstore, perhaps run a few errands. Riding the subway to Hollywood makes much more sense than to drive there. Everything I need is around the station, and I don't lose 30 minutes stuck in traffic and another 30 minutes looking for parking.

As you can imagine, there are some interesting characters and sights on the train alone...as well as in hollywood alone. Put the two together and who needs a book to stay entertained?

I had already finished my book earlier in the day, "The Castle in Transylvania", so I didn't have anything to look at other than my fellow passengers. When the train approached the next stop, a flood of passengers came in and a woman caught my eye immediately. Ok, I admit I liked her scarf. But then I noticed her sternum was sticking out of her chest. I turned my focus onto her face and sure enough, she was anorexic. I'm sorry to say that my first thought was, "I've never seen one in real life before". Maybe there was another explanation, but that was my assumption. Others looked at her too. She was nothing but skin and bones and didn't look like she would survive this year. She was well dressed and had some make up and it was clear she wasn't homeless. She sat down right in front of me. It was interesting watching standing passengers stare at her as she read her book.

Several stops later, a man with a tattered T-shirt and a guiter along with his two children came into our section of the train. He announced that he and his kids hadn't eaten dinner yet asked if anyone could spare any change after their performance. They sang "Help!" by the Beatles, which was quite fitting and sounded sincere. I found it incredibly ironic that they performed in front of the skeletal woman. I didn't have any change to give which saddened me. I do give spare change to people that ask, so I always feel a little extra sad when I don't have any change to give to those that actually do something other than just beg.

I walked away from that ride feeling badly for both, the hungry woman and for the hungry family, although it was for two very different reasons.

New Year, New Start

Central library c.2011

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New year's resolutions. I know the majority of people have the idea that a new year's resolution is only an attempt at a goal rather than a goal waiting to be accomplised. I know everyone says this, but I really do have every intention of sticking to my resolution. Well, at least the one I have relating to this blog.

After being without home internet service for exactly one year, I decided to do something about it today. I wasn't boycotting any service, but not having the internet at home simply ...just happened. I was using the library's service and the service on my phone, which is why I didn't feel any sense of urgency to have another connection. However, I wasn't able to spend as much time at the library with my new schedule. Blog entries and other personal projects backed up as a result. I like the quiet environment at the library and it made it easier to gather my thoughts there, but I'm going to have to practice self discipline at home and stop making excuses.

***

2010 wasn't my favorite year of the decade. Actually, it ranked pretty close to being the worst of my 20s. But here I am, still standing in 2011 and completely open to optimism instead of absolute realism.

Speaking of optimism, something happened two days ago that made me smile. Let me back track a bit. Two weeks ago, I sent in a volunteer application to Habitat for Humanity's Global Village program. They ask applicants to list their top three location choices. I relunctantly filled out the other two choices even though I had my heart set on El Salvador, my mother's country. After a few of days, I only heard back from the team leaders of my other two choices, Romania & New Zealand. I wasn't thrilled about these places but their program dates are the most convenient.

After reading the responses from both team leaders, I was beginning to like the idea of volunteering in Romania. I'm ashamed to say I don't know too much about the country other than their strong Olympic gymnastics history, and Transylvania, but the email was very enthusiastic and detailed. I wrote back to the Romanian team leader expressing further interest. After few email exchanges, it was settled that I would be contacted for a phone interview very soon. As the idea of going to Romania continued to brew in my head, a "sign" came my way two days ago.

I went to Borders in Hollywood for no apparent reason. As I was browsing through the travel section, I talked myself out of buying any guide related to Eastern Europe. I didn't want to get too ahead of myself. What if I'm not contacted or it simply doesn't work out? I'll be disappointed and I'll be out $25 on a useless guidebook. So I wandered over to the fiction section, specifically to the "V's". It's no secret that I'm a fan of Jules Verne. I looked and I hoped I'd find a copy of one of hard to find books that I've only read online. I found something better. Off at the end of the shelf I saw a small purple book with a title I had never heard of. "The Castle in Transylvania"

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Um, what?? A "new" Jules Verne book set in Romania? It may be a freaky coincidence but I am choosing to see this as a happy omen. I bought it without any hesitation. On the way home, I read that this was published in the middle of 2010 and it was the first english translation since the 1890's. The story was also written 4 years before Dracula (which is next on my reading list). I think it's pretty obvious the publishers are trying to capitalize on a certain teen vampire series, but that's ok since it worked to my benefit. Heh.

Not only am I choosing to view this discovery as a sign of a new opportunity abroad, but also as a sign that other things may fall into place in 2011. It may sound too "Pollyanna" but I'm ok with that.

Walking through the rain

Aids walk L.A. c.2010

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The Aids Walk is something that has been on my long "I've always wanted to" list. This year, the time and the opportunity finally coincided.

It was a rainy day but that didn't stop me or the friend who told me about the event. There were all sorts of participants and no one was bothered by the nonstop drizzle. In fact, it was welcomed. There was one exceptionally hilarious sight during the entire route. A woman participated in her high heels. Now that is dedication. I'm not sure if she just stayed up from the night before, or if she woke up and put on her walking shoes but either way, I was impressed. I'm not a huge user of high heels, but I can walk in them with confidence...for a limited amount of time. I can't dance in them all night and I most certainly cannot walk a 10K in them. Only in L.A. I suppose...

A very quiet walk in Hollywood

It's always nice to "discover" a new pocket of solitude in the city. I'm not too familiar with the ins and outs of Hollywood but this was a pleasant surprise. I came across this small park on my way to the Hollywood Bowl box office to try and buy some tickets for an event. The walk up Highland was very hot, and I simply needed a place to recharge my batteries. A bus stop bench would've done the trick, but this was much better. I even caught up on a little writing.

A walk around the world...

Hollywood, Ca c.2009

Outside of the Kodak Theatre, near Hollywood and Highland, the Oscar winners of the best picture award are chronologically listed on lit pillars. Looking at some of the film titles reminded me of the time when I went through a classic film phase in my late teens and made a silly little goal that I’d watch every “Best picture”. Well, that still hasn’t been accomplished but I would like to pick up where I left off. A film on that exclusive list is Jules Verne’s adaptation of Around the World in 80 days. Although I’ve never seen the film (either versions) I must say it is my favorite book of all time.

Film versions of classic literature are almost always different than their written counterparts and rarely get it right…if your definition of “right” means keeping the original story the same. Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The curious case of Benjamin Button and The Count of Monte Cristo are a few of my exceptions in which I enjoyed the movie just as much as the book even if the original stories underwent some serious “Hollywood editing”. So why haven’t I seen Around the world in 80 days? I just don’t want to. I picked up the book at Borders one day and read it cover to cover in a very short time. I can’t remember the exact time but I do remember loving the charm of the story, and the way the contemporary technologies were written in. I even caught myself laughing out loud which is something I don’t do often while reading. I loved this book so much that I decided to take a train trip that follows a similar route through the western states as described in the book. The Amtrak California Zephyr definitely left me with a memorable experience. I would love to see more of this country by rail.

I can’t recommend a film I haven’t seen but I can definitely recommend this book for any lover of travel and history. As a matter of fact I’m going to dust off my copy and read it again…

Directions C.2009 Hollywood, CA

I was hesitant to post this picture. I was trying to reserve this little outlet of mine strictly to 35mm prints. After some thought, I’ve realized if these entries are about my findings while walking through this city, then I have to be ready to share what I’ve captured with whatever I have on me at that moment.

There’s no denying the advantages modern day technology. While there may be a fine line between technological usefulness and uselessness for certain things, I can appreciate the capabilities of our “essential” items, such as cameras and the Internet on mobile phones. Just yesterday one of these features helped me find the one public library in the entire city that had the book I wanted to check out; Istanbul to Cairo on a shoestring.

One of these features also allowed me to capture something that would break my three-month absence from this site.

Upon entrance into the Los Feliz Public library I noticed a piece of paper practically laminated over the center of a payphone.

“Not In Service
Please use the telephone at 2000 Hillhurst Av.
On the northeast corner of Finley Av.
2 blocks north of the library.”

Gutted payphones are becoming commonplace. That’s been my own observation since I started my mad hunt (or obsession) particularly in the last two years. However, this was the first time that I had seen a notice of any kind on a debunked phone. This was also the first time I had seen posted directions to the nearest working phone. I’ve seen notices on newspaper stands and mailboxes but never on a phone.

Why was this odd to me? Of the payphones that are out there in the streets of L.A., its usually quite obvious if they’re working or not… the phones are physically there or physically gone. In my fairly recent encounters with payphones, there hasn’t been a “middle ground”. The payphone at the Los Feliz library is an example of the middle ground.

In my quest to collect the city’s dying communication portal, I suppose its time to acknowledge my preexisting archived digital images…

A penny for your thoughts C. 2008 Hollywood, CA

I rarely load color film into 35mm canon but I wasn’t in school and this was the easiest way to obtain processed negatives. I don’t normally like color film because I am not in control during the processing or development…or even the printer for that matter.

I was walking along Hollywood blvd one Sunday afternoon last fall when something caught my eye. As I waited at the corner of Hollywood and Highland, a homeless man came and stood right in front of me. Lost in thought, he seemed to be debating which corner he would be crossing. As he looked to his left, I noticed a penny hanging from his headband. Quietly, I lifted my camera, focused and snapped a shot. From the looks of it, he was definitely thinking about something completely different.

A walk through street corner churches

Growing up in a strict Christian family, I learned various parts of the scriptures. Parts of the new testament made me wonder if modern "megaphone" preachers were purposefully not practicing what they preached. Their methods are very forceful, intimidating and the complete opposite of the speech methods of Jesus Christ. After all to be Christian is to be Christ like, yes?

Christlike? C.2008 Los Angeles, CA

Later that day I drove down to Hollywood and Highland and decided to walk around for awhile. That intersection is the tourist capital of the city. The highlands on one corner, ‘Ripley’s believe it or not’ museum adjacent to it and a huge store of Hollywood souvenirs across from that. That day I witnessed something very unusual. There were 4 people, one on each corner holding signs that warned people about the end of the world and to turn to Christ. Big yellow signs spoke for them selves so there wasn’t a need for megaphones and intimidation. I saw an independent news crew interview one of the men as I crossed the street. After they were through I spoke to him as well. He was from a small church in Arcadia and were there for about 6 hours. He said they stood there silently with their signs ready to answer any questions people may have for them.

I didn’t stick around to find out but I would assume this was a more effective way than yelling in a condescending manner. Either way, both men were able practice what they believe to be true. It’s a freedom most take for granted.

Competition Juxtapose series C. 2008 Hollywood, CA

Believe it or not Juxtapose series C.2008 Hollywood, CA