It seems like every time I visit Los Angeles my feelings about this place grow stronger. It has a lot to do with economic prosperity, attitudes, what you make of places, what you might leave behind, what you might gain. I've decided that one day soon I'm going to shed my skin and migrate west. I haven't been this certain about something in a long time.
Today it hit me that leaving Buffalo is and should be a real prospect for me. I've always said that if I can stay in Buffalo I will, but my perspective is changing. I love Buffalo, even with all of its problems - don't get me wrong. Moving onward and upward is the only thing on my mind lately, and I've grown to adore many places in the USA. California is #1 by a long shot, and it seems like choosing somewhere else to make my next step in would be nothing but a compromise.
I absolutely love this place - maybe I won't end up in LA, maybe somewhere else in this state. I travel enough to know that just getting a new perspective someone else is intoxicating, but I've already been through this before. I haven't wanted something badly enough to fight for it for a long, long time - its a strange feeling. Whatever it takes, I'm coming here for good.
I wish I could share how I feel right now.
Joshua's Journal
My Podcast Link
05/03/2006 21:14 #24635
CaliforniaCategory: travel
05/01/2006 00:16 #24634
JasonCategory: travel
(e:jason) - Do not fret I am sending your charger overnight from California. Check your e-mail and look for details- I didn't put that thing in my bag this time, I swear!! I didn't even realize I had it.
Anyhow, I arrived in Los Angeles late Friday night local time, and had MAJOR drama getting a rental. Finally that stuff got fixed, and it was midnight by the time I was on the freeway heading to my buddy's place.
I had the best weekend I've had in a looong time. My buddy is "sympathetic to the cause" and knows a guy with a prescription card, so we were treated to a sack of the finest medicinal grade shit out there - it was a cross between Wreck and J-27. You just can't find that kind of thing on the east coast - it was amazing. The pot had a very sweet and clean taste - it has a linen cinnamon flavor, completely clean and extremely tastey. My bud had some Sour Diesel this week before I came... which if you are a serious stoner you may recognize that strand as some of the most potent, most popular and most expensive strains of chronic out there. I also smoked out of a vaporizer for the first time, and I have to say that I can't wait until I get one of my own.
We basically drove around L.A. Saturday running errands, which was great because I got to drive around the area and get a feel for how to get around L.A. proper. Traffic here is bad but its not completely unmanageable if you have a little local knowledge and have a reasonable understanding of where you are.
We went to Venice Beach, where I scored some beautiful pics and a new hippie-esque ashtray for my room. Venice Beach is interesting - its basically a gigantic boardwalk filled with restaurants, knick knack shops and about 10 head shops. Theres a large green area where you can sit under a palm tree and just enjoy the sun and the breeze. It was completely relaxing; I could have taken a 3-hour nap out there.
From there we went to Malibu - I have to say that I've never seen such a concentration of over the top wealth in my entire life. If there was a hillside or mountainside with ocean views, you'd see it completely peppered with $15-$25 million homes. The level of wealth was obscene. The views however were amazing - there is a public yet private beach out there that you can access off of PCH by walking down a path, so we went down. I got some of the most jaw droppingly amazing pictures I've ever taken. I got some absolutely gorgeous shots of the Malibu area - beach, water, some super fancy homes - once I have the proper cable for the camera I will share with you all.
Today we went to Amoeba Music - some of the San Fran contingent may have been to the one in Berkeley or San Fran proper. Freaking amazing music store - I picked up a new DJ Shadow mix and a compliation of 60's and 70's soul and jazz from the 60's and 70's era.
Anyhow thats about it! I got to watch the Sabres game live here on the west coast too - which I have to say was amazing to be able to see the Sabres play while I was here. I'll be going to watch the game on Tuesday, enjoy some more friendly company and eventually I'll be heading home Thursday night. I'll update if anything interesting comes up.
Anyhow, I arrived in Los Angeles late Friday night local time, and had MAJOR drama getting a rental. Finally that stuff got fixed, and it was midnight by the time I was on the freeway heading to my buddy's place.
I had the best weekend I've had in a looong time. My buddy is "sympathetic to the cause" and knows a guy with a prescription card, so we were treated to a sack of the finest medicinal grade shit out there - it was a cross between Wreck and J-27. You just can't find that kind of thing on the east coast - it was amazing. The pot had a very sweet and clean taste - it has a linen cinnamon flavor, completely clean and extremely tastey. My bud had some Sour Diesel this week before I came... which if you are a serious stoner you may recognize that strand as some of the most potent, most popular and most expensive strains of chronic out there. I also smoked out of a vaporizer for the first time, and I have to say that I can't wait until I get one of my own.
We basically drove around L.A. Saturday running errands, which was great because I got to drive around the area and get a feel for how to get around L.A. proper. Traffic here is bad but its not completely unmanageable if you have a little local knowledge and have a reasonable understanding of where you are.
We went to Venice Beach, where I scored some beautiful pics and a new hippie-esque ashtray for my room. Venice Beach is interesting - its basically a gigantic boardwalk filled with restaurants, knick knack shops and about 10 head shops. Theres a large green area where you can sit under a palm tree and just enjoy the sun and the breeze. It was completely relaxing; I could have taken a 3-hour nap out there.
From there we went to Malibu - I have to say that I've never seen such a concentration of over the top wealth in my entire life. If there was a hillside or mountainside with ocean views, you'd see it completely peppered with $15-$25 million homes. The level of wealth was obscene. The views however were amazing - there is a public yet private beach out there that you can access off of PCH by walking down a path, so we went down. I got some of the most jaw droppingly amazing pictures I've ever taken. I got some absolutely gorgeous shots of the Malibu area - beach, water, some super fancy homes - once I have the proper cable for the camera I will share with you all.
Today we went to Amoeba Music - some of the San Fran contingent may have been to the one in Berkeley or San Fran proper. Freaking amazing music store - I picked up a new DJ Shadow mix and a compliation of 60's and 70's soul and jazz from the 60's and 70's era.
Anyhow thats about it! I got to watch the Sabres game live here on the west coast too - which I have to say was amazing to be able to see the Sabres play while I was here. I'll be going to watch the game on Tuesday, enjoy some more friendly company and eventually I'll be heading home Thursday night. I'll update if anything interesting comes up.
jason - 05/01/06 15:06
Thankee for the charger. It sucks when the only human voice you hear for 5 days is over Ventrilo. I'll call when I get the charger.
PS - 3 raids, zero loots. Domo didn't drop Finkle's. =(
Thankee for the charger. It sucks when the only human voice you hear for 5 days is over Ventrilo. I'll call when I get the charger.
PS - 3 raids, zero loots. Domo didn't drop Finkle's. =(
jenks - 05/01/06 00:52
looking forward to pix. Are you actually travelling for pleasure this time?! If you're back in time I hope the (e:larsonbros) will come out on fri. haven't seen you in a long time. :)
looking forward to pix. Are you actually travelling for pleasure this time?! If you're back in time I hope the (e:larsonbros) will come out on fri. haven't seen you in a long time. :)
mrdt - 05/01/06 00:45
I dont' know what your talking about. I never touch the stuff. But you better bring some home (think chapstick). :::link:::
Venice Beach is the shit. I usuaslly rollerblade or rent a bike and take it to the Santa Monica Pier. The sunset there is the ultimate...get some good pictures???
I dont' know what your talking about. I never touch the stuff. But you better bring some home (think chapstick). :::link:::
Venice Beach is the shit. I usuaslly rollerblade or rent a bike and take it to the Santa Monica Pier. The sunset there is the ultimate...get some good pictures???
04/26/2006 23:18 #24633
Another roadie!Category: travel
6AM flight to JFK, $48 cab ride that took 1.5 hours, and finally arrived to work. Flight out of LaGuardia to Midway in Chicago and here I am. Friday night I'll be in Los Angeles.
Tony Snow is now the White House Press Secretary, which I think is an interesting transition. Of course, there are swarms of pleibes out there frothing at the mouth saying "of course, he worked for Fox News" but, as said pleibes naturally don't know a damn thing about the subject matter, they wouldn't realize that he's been a sharp critic of the president.
If you've been paying attention at all to local politics lately you'd know that Joel Giambra has been advocating the legalization of *some* narcotics. Anybody that knows me knows how I feel about it - we should be doing this shit like Amsterdam does. I'm not talking about cocaine or its derivatives... marijuana only. I believe that if marijuana should be illegal than so should alcohol, as alcohol has been the cause of more social ills than marijuana ever, ever has. I have no idea why Giambra broke this one out - its completely out of left field. He is teaming up with a group called LEAP - former and current law enforcement and judges who believe that controlled legalization of certain drugs will actually help law enforcement by lowering crime. In all honesty I'm split on whether or not we'll see legalization in my lifetime.
Tony Snow is now the White House Press Secretary, which I think is an interesting transition. Of course, there are swarms of pleibes out there frothing at the mouth saying "of course, he worked for Fox News" but, as said pleibes naturally don't know a damn thing about the subject matter, they wouldn't realize that he's been a sharp critic of the president.
If you've been paying attention at all to local politics lately you'd know that Joel Giambra has been advocating the legalization of *some* narcotics. Anybody that knows me knows how I feel about it - we should be doing this shit like Amsterdam does. I'm not talking about cocaine or its derivatives... marijuana only. I believe that if marijuana should be illegal than so should alcohol, as alcohol has been the cause of more social ills than marijuana ever, ever has. I have no idea why Giambra broke this one out - its completely out of left field. He is teaming up with a group called LEAP - former and current law enforcement and judges who believe that controlled legalization of certain drugs will actually help law enforcement by lowering crime. In all honesty I'm split on whether or not we'll see legalization in my lifetime.
twisted - 04/27/06 19:41
At one point I was quite desperate for a pudding recipe using leftover sushi rice, since there’s no way to successfully cook a single-serving. I usually make the smallest batch I can, then warm up the leftover rice before making sushi the following day. But I’d rather make it fresh daily and use the leftover for pudding or some other snack I can refrigerate.
p.s. - every day is 420 in SF.
At one point I was quite desperate for a pudding recipe using leftover sushi rice, since there’s no way to successfully cook a single-serving. I usually make the smallest batch I can, then warm up the leftover rice before making sushi the following day. But I’d rather make it fresh daily and use the leftover for pudding or some other snack I can refrigerate.
p.s. - every day is 420 in SF.
metalpeter - 04/27/06 19:26
I concur with ladycroft.
I concur with ladycroft.
ladycroft - 04/27/06 16:21
i'm for the amsterdam method
i'm for the amsterdam method
leetee - 04/27/06 10:32
Dad? Is that you? Yes, dear ole dad, i know, and have known all of my adult life and then some, that you think all forms of THC should be decriminalized.
Ah, just think of the the line at the Duty Free shop. Then, crossing the border. Yes, customs officer, i have one bottle of vodka, one carton of cigarettes and 3 doobies to declare!
Maybe Giambra is trudging this out because he has nothing to loose... couldn't before because he was concerned about re-election...?
Dad? Is that you? Yes, dear ole dad, i know, and have known all of my adult life and then some, that you think all forms of THC should be decriminalized.
Ah, just think of the the line at the Duty Free shop. Then, crossing the border. Yes, customs officer, i have one bottle of vodka, one carton of cigarettes and 3 doobies to declare!
Maybe Giambra is trudging this out because he has nothing to loose... couldn't before because he was concerned about re-election...?
scott - 04/27/06 10:14
Legalize it. Tax it. Use all that extra tax $ to pay for patronage. Sounds like a plan!
I haven't heard a rational argument against legalizing THC yet. I don't smoke much weed... haven't smoked up in a year
(maybe longer), so I have no vested interest in it, and I still think we should legalize.
Legalize it. Tax it. Use all that extra tax $ to pay for patronage. Sounds like a plan!
I haven't heard a rational argument against legalizing THC yet. I don't smoke much weed... haven't smoked up in a year
(maybe longer), so I have no vested interest in it, and I still think we should legalize.
jenks - 04/27/06 09:57
HUH??? Where did rice pudding come from?
But anyway... yeah josh I posted a similar thing a while ago. Pot should be way more legal than tobacco. But so the other day at work, somehow our mormon chairman brought that up in conference... I wanted to hide. I thought "he did NOT just bring up legalizing drugs" since I thought everyone would totally freak. But someone made the dumbest argument ever.... that if we make it legal it will be a problem b/c children will do drugs. WTF. Apparently the concept of a "legal age" (as exists for tobacco and alcohol) didn't cross his mind. Stupid!
HUH??? Where did rice pudding come from?
But anyway... yeah josh I posted a similar thing a while ago. Pot should be way more legal than tobacco. But so the other day at work, somehow our mormon chairman brought that up in conference... I wanted to hide. I thought "he did NOT just bring up legalizing drugs" since I thought everyone would totally freak. But someone made the dumbest argument ever.... that if we make it legal it will be a problem b/c children will do drugs. WTF. Apparently the concept of a "legal age" (as exists for tobacco and alcohol) didn't cross his mind. Stupid!
kara - 04/27/06 08:25
I don't ever remember having rice pudding. I've tried to make bread pudding, but that didn't turn out well. I see (e:mrdt) has some techniques for making it, and I think I'd go with one of those.
I don't ever remember having rice pudding. I've tried to make bread pudding, but that didn't turn out well. I see (e:mrdt) has some techniques for making it, and I think I'd go with one of those.
mrdt - 04/26/06 23:29
wow, I'm really surprised that giabra is advocating smoking anything with that bout with cancer a few years ago, which he attributes to smoking.
You need a recipe for rice pudding?? how complicated do you wanna make it. I have recipes that use left over rice from chinese food. I have recipes that build you an actual custard while the rice is cooking. I also have recipes that reduce heavy cream as the rice ccoks and gives off starch. I've always wanted to try to make rice pudding with a technique similiar to risotto, but instead of using chicken stock, use wine (acidity to balance) to start then continue with scalded vanilla bean - infused milk. Lastly do you like fruit or nuts, I think rice pudding needs a crunchy element now a days. hahaha, it's good to be the chef!
wow, I'm really surprised that giabra is advocating smoking anything with that bout with cancer a few years ago, which he attributes to smoking.
You need a recipe for rice pudding?? how complicated do you wanna make it. I have recipes that use left over rice from chinese food. I have recipes that build you an actual custard while the rice is cooking. I also have recipes that reduce heavy cream as the rice ccoks and gives off starch. I've always wanted to try to make rice pudding with a technique similiar to risotto, but instead of using chicken stock, use wine (acidity to balance) to start then continue with scalded vanilla bean - infused milk. Lastly do you like fruit or nuts, I think rice pudding needs a crunchy element now a days. hahaha, it's good to be the chef!
04/20/2006 14:17 #24632
Awesome!While sifting through the days news I ran across this story - a lady in CA wants to build a home out of spare parts from a 747 jumbo jet! Check out the article and the artist's rendition of the home. 
jenks - 04/21/06 09:47
Wow. To my surprise, it actually looks pretty cool. Ahh to be crazy and rich...
Wow. To my surprise, it actually looks pretty cool. Ahh to be crazy and rich...
04/20/2006 11:27 #24631
Why we do what we doA few months ago, a company (thankfully we weren't the one to visit this company) in Bangladesh had a fire. Because they locked all the doors and never did any evacuation training, 250 people died in the fire.
Fast forward to this week - we did visit a company in Haiti with the same problems. We aren't recommending them and I hope that they either change their ways or go out of business.
Fast forward to this week - we did visit a company in Haiti with the same problems. We aren't recommending them and I hope that they either change their ways or go out of business.
scott - 04/20/06 13:45
I'm pretty sure those businesses operate that way becuase they can. They're not moral entities, they're businesses and they exist to turn a profit. they have no interest in developing the country, developing the workforce, or anything except making a quick buck.
That used to be the USA a hundred years ago.
I bet their main buyer for their goods is a US company... like Walmart or Target, too.
I'm pretty sure those businesses operate that way becuase they can. They're not moral entities, they're businesses and they exist to turn a profit. they have no interest in developing the country, developing the workforce, or anything except making a quick buck.
That used to be the USA a hundred years ago.
I bet their main buyer for their goods is a US company... like Walmart or Target, too.
I understand how you feel, and while i had moved east for better opportunities, i still do love buffalo. it is my home. but now when i do visit my parents and friends still up in b-lo, i get a sense of longing to return down to new york/long island. i think alot of it has to do with the ocean, the beaches, and a strange sense of limitless possibility that comes along with it. the seasons feel different (they are slightly, spring actually arrives almost like clockwork on april 1) well good luck whenever you do decide to move. i have a few friends who have moved out there, and love it. but they also moved to santa monica, san diego.
Hey Josh - A word of advice - forget Smell A, man. San Diego's the place to be, or even somewhat north of there. I'd skip LA and Orange counties entirely, but that's just me. Even Ventura county would be better. SD is absolutely beautiful, much less smog, more small neighborhoods all around town (like a thousand Elmwood Strips) and just as many job opportunities, I would think. Plus, it's a bit cheaper. What's the point in being in So Cal if you can't even see the sun? I mean, there are great things about LA, but to live? It's real easy to visit, just a couple hours drive. That another thing. San Diego's bad enough with traffic, but LA? Forget it. You'll spend half you life in your car. Sara
need a roommate? actually I'm gonna spend sometime in Vegas makin a ton of money then to Cali when I can afford to live comfortably.
I was smitten on my first visit. When I graduate I'll be applying for jobs at uni's out there.