how fucking romantic

This Valentine's Day, I decided not to firebomb the Hallmark Store (just kidding guys, I'm a firm believer in non-violence), and go out on a date with 3 of my besties. Here's what me and these hotties were up to. All photos courtesy of Dylan McDermott. My photos will come later, courtesy of CVS One Hour Photo* on Reseda/Chase. 

*Long side note about why my photos are always late: Over the past couple of weeks I have been using CVS' One Hour Photo services regularly. Every single time I've been in the store,I've gotten into some minor, or most recently - major argument with them about their poor customer service,  their One Hour Photo machine being broken, and always waiting in line 30 minutes before I can drop off or pick up my film. But yesterday, after I gave one of the managers a 30 minutes lecture about how they've tested my patience over and over, and caused me to lose day light on many ocassions, they gave me a phone number with a special extension (its not on their call menu!) to call and see how long my photos will take and when they are ready. So basically, because I'm kinda crazy and love to tell it to CVS like it is, they've given me a secret menu with a special extension, where Dylan thinks they'll have a hostage negotiator present on the line at all times in case I blow my fuse again over the poor customer service hoopla they put me through. 

I have to add, in my defense, I thank profusely every employee that goes out of their way to be nice to me, and I am appreciative of their good customer service when it happens. I'm not a total pill for no reason, so...that's that. Anyway, pictures from me tomorrow or tonight, depends when CVS will grace me with my copies of 24 4" by 5"s  mattes of the past couple of weeks.

But back to V-day. 

Kami, Jesse, Dylan and I doing what most Los Angelians have never done in their entire lives: taking the Metro somewhere. It was such fun, and we even got a little V-day performance by Mr. Starving Musician. I obviously donated - that guy and I share the same lack of steady income.

Notice in the photos my hair is going through various stages of teenage-boyness and cleanliness. 

We got off at Hollywood/Western where we headed to our dear friend Brett Salinas' apartment. 

The Kami-Jesus

Oh what better and more fun Jesus she would be!

can't wait to see the photos...

Hollywood/Western Station. Stop driving your car and just take the metro!!!

I think we were all supposed to take a nice hike in the hills to a special destination (I'm not going to say what it is until I have photos of it), but something happened...Oh yeah, we all got too drunk. Because Brett had dinner plans, my dates and I trekked over to the neighborhood Thai Restaurant, where we romanced each other with the flowers in the center pieces.

I almost fell out of my chair laughing, Kami broke a glass of water, we procedeed to put the flowers in our hair, and then we ordered more sake! This was the best V-Day I've ever had by far, including those I've spent with bfs. All that lovey-dovey shit is for dildos anyway. When Saint Valentine/other Christians were getting bludgeoned and murdered in the streets on past February 14th's they probs had no idea that this day would bring me polyamorous love (at least hypothetically), intoxication and a mean fucking hang over the next day. Joke's on them!

Speaking of Christianity, I need to become more ascetic in my choices of entertainment and distractions. Meaning, I need to lay off the sauce again. So next time you see me, please remind me to toast to asceticism and to CVS One Hour Photo!

My new project/challenge/crazy endeavor for the next few days is to take the bus as much as I can, and hopefully live to tell about it. I've been looking at this particular blog a lot. 

http://www.thebusbench.com/

It gives me the strength I need to take public transportation in Los Angeles, because let's face it, it's a fucking joke in this city. A sad, cruel, and annoying joke. But maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Anyway, dwell on this for a while until my next post. There's a lot more stories to tell about last week and I have a very busy month next month (lots of shows, movies, fun to be had), so call me if you wanna go to a museum, or anything like that before the end of the month. Just make sure I can meet you there via public transportation/my own two feet cuz I'll be damned if I get in my car this week! This is what convinced me. 

Absolutely embarrassing Los Angeles. 

So now I'm going to take the DASH to the local public library to check out V. by Pynchon. Later fools!

Claudia

today is the greatest

First, I want to acknowledge the official day of Mardi Gras, and to wish an exceptionally festive and happy Mardi Gras to Maddie and Florentina who hosted a party this weekend in Westwood. Thanks for letting my friends crash at your place regularly, we all really appreciate it. Everyone who was there I hope had a lot of fun, and those of you that were not....you better show up next time. I have some very good pictures of the night (our dear friend Henry Kissinger made yet another cameo), but those will come later. Right now I must catch up with First Friday at the Natural History Museum, and some more photos of Los Angeles. 

Natural History Museum hosts a show with KCRW the first Friday of every month for spring/summer. Last Friday was Yeasayer (pronounced /ˈjeɪseɪ.ər// = yaysayer, or look it up) . Apparently they want you to buy tickets for things like this early, but being the natural slacker I am, I didnt. However, things worked out so that my lovely friend Cate from UCSC happened to know Chris (whom I also know from UCSC, and is also lovely!) had an extra ticket. Thus I met up with Cate, Chris and later Kami, Dylan, Jordan and Tim got there too. There's not very many digital pictures so far, due to the early demise of my small digital point and shoot. I know, Im an idiot, but I'll make due until I replace it. Film looks way better anyway.

Chris in traditional checking-my-iphone pose, Cate bringing some Santa Cruz to Noho and the Nat(ural history museum). 

girlfriend is better

this is why we make a good team. 

So far I really like all the people from Brooklyn I've met, and most of the music they make. 

Band was awesome. And very nice to meet after the show. Totally made my week. Oh yeah, and now for the thing that made my previous week, the Biltmore! Here's the promised vintage postcard. 

It's a postcard I got at the Santa Cruz Antique Fair. It was never sent, and the imagine does not have a date on it so I'm not sure what year it's from. That's kind of a bummer, because I was really interested in when Pershing Square looked as inviting as it does above. It actually looks like a cool green space across the street from the Biltmore, former site of the Oscars. What the hell happened in the meantime? I think I need a lesson or two in Los Angeles history. Ill let everyone know as soon as I get on that. Here's one more postcard I bought the same day. 

Im going to take a very similar photo for comparison purposes. 

Speaking of Santa Cruz though, the second Sunday of every month has been much less exciting because I no longer have to walk through the Antique Fair on my way to work. It was a good place to run into people, and to find some really cool things. However, if anyone wants to find out about and then take me to a good flea market or swap meet in L.A., I'm down to go whenever. I've also been digging public transportation recently, so I'm willing to bus/metro/spaceship it to the flea market location. 

So that's all from me for now. I promise an update as early as tomorrow, but who knows if I'll make it to Westwood or not. I want to end this post by giving a shout-out to Santa Clarita, and all the awesome people I've hung out with there. Who knew the valley of the The SFV could be just as much fun...This is what I'm talking about.

More about this guy later. 

Claudia

Needles to say, the previous weekend and this week have gone by way too fast. I just finished working on a student film (UCLA students have endangered my life on multiple occasions at this point), and now I'm finally catching up with my laundry, ironing my clothes, sending out mail, and talking on the phone with my friends. Blogging fits somewhere in this list, right in between getting my favorite pair of red pumps re-soled and taking the recycling out. On Wednesday, after a few days of getting my normal sleeping schedule back, I went on a nice drive with Dylan and we found a flying pig. A twin of the flying pig in Topanga Canyon. If you drive through Topanga Canyon you will know what I am talking about. Turns out there is one on Box Canyon Road too. Box Canyon is located off of Plummer (follow Plummer all the way north until it turns into Valley Circle Blvd., which splits into Box Canyon on the right. If one goes left, there's a very nice view of the Chatsworth Reservoir I believe.). Here's what Dylan and I found.

11:30 am. Bottle of wine still almost full. This bottle of wine did not end so well for me.
New Youth Correctional Center on Parthenia and Wilbur, right by the Metro Link/Dash Station. This is how I want Los Angeles County to rehabilitate its youth.

Box Canyon Road. Above is the Flying Pig.
Said Pig. A recent addition to this are the reflector eyes, and apparently this thing can also blow smoke out of its ass and snout.

Dome. Sat in it for a while.
Views from inside.

Surroundings

Artists responsible for the installations on Box Canyon Rd.
Chris, who came up with the ideas and sculpted the pieces.

Victor, who helped with the installations.

Chris and Victor told us a little bit about the objects in the area, and how they came to put up the pig in Topanga Canyon (I need to photograph it soon). We all hoped to meet again. I'm sure I'll go back during a Holiday or special event or something where Chris will make the pig breath fire. Either way, this is a valley spot definitely worth visiting again. Yay for flying pigs!

I have a few more posts to catch up with for the past week, including my time at the Natural History Museum on First Friday, and the rest of my valley adventures. Hopefully this week will give me more time to post. Until then, everyone be well and check back frequently!

Claudia

work and play

This weekend will be amazing. I promise two different updates about Friday night and Saturday night adventures. In the meantime, I've been digging through the bowels of the Universal Studios prop room for vases and glasses in shades of pastel pink and gold, mending  pieces of flying bookcases, and going to parties in the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita and Silver Lake. This week I am shooting in Studio City, which always inspires me to post more about places unique to the Valley. There's been too many things to mention, but I selected some of my favorite things in the last couple of weeks. Here's a very abbreviated run through. 

I love the Valley when it rains. We are supposed to get more rain this weekend, so I can't wait. The only downer is all the terrible drivers (myself included). 

Shortcut from Reseda Blvd. to Wilbur post brief rain shower. Coming back from set where I had some time to play with my make up. 

I got out of my car for a walk. Everything looks grey here after the rain.

This rainbow (as viewed from my backyard) looked like it ended in Panorama City or something. There's probably some crack at the end of that rainbow. 

One of many late nights in Hollywood. 

jordan & tim

nick & rachel

jesse & dylan

norcal & socal.

notes on the night. totally necessary trust me!

My favorite part of the night was going to Nick's new apartment and listening to his records while talking about our mutual love for Heath ceramics. Thanks for hosting us Nick, and I'm sorry for making a tobacco mess on your brand new table.

A+

A good night ending in too little sleep and a lot of work the next day. I need some rest, but I'd rather blog instead. And make fake bulletin board signs for the film I'm currently working on. Check this out. 

I guess my degree in philosophy has paid off, at least fictionally. Clever, right?

Anyway, I can't wait to share this upcoming weekend's adventures! Until next time,

Claudia