weekend in LA and decades in Rome

This weekend was quite a lovely one. Beginning with the imaginary boyfriend sighting on Friday night. Saturday was Lamika’s and Daniel’s wedding – two friends who are involved with InnerCHANGE. After returning home around 11, the “birthday” party for two 5 year old neighbors (twins) was still going on. (I think it was more an excuse to have a party.) The set-up was similar to New Year’s Eve. With the large stereo brought outside - disco lights, and all. They actually started the music around noon-time, before Kim and I had left for the wedding. So…until about 1:30 am I stayed outside, talked with neighbors, and salsa danced. My neighbors are always amused that I’m a good dancer – being white and all.

Sunday I woke up just in time to go to church – which was great. And on my home I felt like I really wanted a bagel. I ended up stopping by the Hollywood farmer’s market. I knew this went on, as every Sunday I pass people on the street with fresh produce and flowers, but never really saw where it was. Well, it’s just off Sunset – and it was really nice…I even found some Thai eggplants that I love to make curry out of and cut Dahlias, one of my favorite flowers. I still wanted a bagel so decided to try a new cafe, which ended up being terrific…the atmosphere, the coffee, and the everything bagel too!

But…all of this is REALLY leading to the interesting article that I read on a paper I picked up near to me while at the cafe. It’s titled “The empire’s new clothes: Obsessed by architecture, Mussolini strove to turn Rome into a showcase for fascism.”(read whole article here) It talks about all the changes Mussolini made to the city of Rome beginning in 1926 up until WWII got too involved in the 40s.

Using architecture as a political statement isn’t really something that’s in our periphery these days. Who needs it, when we have the all-powerful form of media to communicate such propaganda? Which…if you would’ve asked someone in 1920 whether it would be more obstructive to restructure Rome or to communicate via “moving pictures,” billboards, and newsprint – it’s quite obvious what they would say. On one hand, thankfully leaders don’t feel the need to restructure entire cities to make their statement…on the other hand, media affects our lives in ways we would have never dreamed and will never fully realize.

It makes me wonder…what did people think while this restructuring was going on? What did the people who were employed to build it think? One of the projects included tearing out whole sections of old tenant buildings in the city center and moving all the people to outer suburban like “borgates.” Not only did this wipe out these peoples communities and some of their livelihoods – but it was all done in order to pave a large, straight, street to the center of St. Peter’s basilica. Now, in the 1600’s the area around the basilica was created by sculptor, Bernini with small streets curving around in front of the Vatican to “amaze people approaching the biggest church in the world fro the narrow streets around it.” The art of that plan was bulldozed away.

Another project involved tearing down old tenement buildings to create a straight, wide street between the window of Mussolini’s office to the Colosseum. After bulldozing, the boulevard was lined with statues of great emperors and fascist symbols. This seems so overt to me. I suppose when you have to go to such great measures to get your message across – you better get it across loud and clear. How did people think about this while it was going on?With media, it isn’t so necessary to make the message as clear. You can obstruct it so it’s a little more covert. Because unlike blazing down buildings – it can be done over and over and over again. At once less dangerous but I think in the end much, much more. At least back in the days people could easily comprehend what was being communicated to them and then form their response. Nowadays I think we find difficulty in responding. In order to form a reply to the messages, we first have to pinpoint them out and then decipher them and then figure out what truth is - which isn't always easy because we’ve been so well programmed by media. Our messages have been muddled beyond easy comprehension.

In the end, Mussolini was killed (it’s debated if it was by communists or undercover British), he and other leaders were hung upside on meat-hooks in the square. It sounds barbarian (although the same thing was done BY Mussolini while he was in power), but it definitely got the point across. What happens when it’s the market who has the power of control over us? How do we fight back against that? When there’s no single dictator in power but rather a huge engine of media?

boyfriend sighting!

Some years ago, a friend and I began the "imaginary" boyfriend game. A chance to name anyone we chose as our "imaginary boyfriend." And, of course, there can be multiple imaginary boyfriends - but there is a bit of a hierarchy. Well...as my first real LA celebrity sighting...who is it but one of my top three imaginary boyfriends!!! (come to think of it...I think the top three are the only three...goes to show I'm picky, but once I choose someone for this esteemed position, there's not much they can do to be imaginarily dumped...so call me loyal)

So who was it?!? Vince Vaughn of course! Who, for those of you who can't remember, began his stardom with the movie, Swingers.

So this is what happened...I had gone out to see this band I like, the Lucky Stars. I had never heard of this place they were playing at, but it was near my house. It was very hard to find and I almost didn't go in - but I really like the band - so I did. It ended up being this super cool place inside (albiet on a regular night when my "retro" people weren't around, I fear it would be too trendy.) Before the second set came, the club owner came and cleared up a table up front - and I remember thinking maybe it would be for a celebrity, because why else would he be going to the hassle. So then, in walks Vince Vaughn and a few other guys with him. They sit at the table, and Vince Vaugn is facing right where I'm standing! I thought it was him when I first saw him, but it took a few more looks to really make me assured that it really was him.
To my friends large disappointment...I did not say hi to him, or even really try to catch his eye. (You know...I always have to play things off cool!) I think we did look at each other for a brief second, but I was trying not to stare! He ended up going up on stage and singing a song. Which he spent a minute beforehand talking about this country-swing pioneer, Sid King. Which leads me to believe he's playing him in a movie, because why else would he get up and sing a song (he doesn't have the greatest voice...but it wasn't completely awful...but really, how could it be!)
So...that's the exciting news for the weekend from Kristin's life in LA.

Sidenote #1: Speaking of my life in LA...I now have a facebook page and I spent mindless time Saturday morning joining groups and such on facebook. After joining a group entitled "i irrationaly love san francisco" I decided to make a photoalbum on facebook of my favorite SF pictures. After I was done with that, I decided to make another album on "reasons why I'm growing to love LA." As deep as the love I have for SF runs, it was good to contrast that with all the great people, events, places that have been in my life this past year (it's just a few days from my 1 year anniversiary!)

Sidenote #2: Speaking of the retro scene...I think everyone reading this blog knows how into vintage I am...and that all came about because of music and swing dancing. Well...I was just exploring a couple of western-swing/rockabilly websites - and it just amuses me to know that there's people kinda like me all over the world! People who are into this very-early rock and roll music and obsessesed with vintage fashion, cars, etc.!! That's so amusing to me! Not that this is new information or anything - it just makes me laugh when I really think of it. There are clubs all over this world where greaser-types gather together to listen to music and dance!! ha!
Leads me to remember....the time in SF when this Japanese rockabilly chick was visiting and the band had her come up and sing. She sang an Elvis song in perfect English, no accent....but she couldn't actually speak a word of English otherwise. Then of course there was the time in Thailand when I saw the "parade" of about 20 classic American cars rolling down the road in Bangkok. Somehow I think that our world is much smaller then it used to be!

picture of the day

"Leaving aside the mysteries and the inequities of human talent, brains, taste, and reputations, the matter of art in photography may come down to this: it is the capture and projection of the delights of seeing; it is the defining of observation full and felt." -- Walker Evans

Girl in Fulton St.
American, 1929
Walker Evans

I have an idea for a new painting series contrasting the simple happiness amidst trials of the depression era in contrast with the sorrowful overabundance of today's youth (think Paris Hilton, etc.) So I'm looking for some good picture protraits that show a simple yet complex joy...if you know of any such pictures - send their references my way. The closest I've found thus far is the "Migrant Mother" by Dorthea Lange. This is no such picture, but I like it alot and thought I would share it - plus I really like the photographer's quote.

Looking at these photographers pictures imbues in me a desire to travel the deep south in search of a more agrarian society. I know it's by no mean what I make it out to be in my romantic notions of it. I think one thing that draws me to such a culture is the slowed-down-ness of life. For example...it's like when I went to Thailand the first time and was out in the rural areas. People had time to sit and chat. They yearned to learn about me and share their stories. They praised me for the couple Thai words I could speak. Then when I returned last time and was only in Bangkok, the large city, I found that people didn't have time to try and decipher my Thai - me trying to practice it only seemed to irritate them. They were too busy to try and share their lives with me or look past my American tourist exterior.

Living in the big city - that's what I miss. The context and safety to connect with strangers on a deeper level. Anywho...

...finally...

...a week that I feel like I'm getting stuff done at work! This summer has been so unstructured in terms of my job - that's it been very difficult to stay motivated. But finally this week, I finally feel like I'm getting some things accomplished! Some research I've been doing is culminating in some projects around the clinic and in networking with area some churches to get programs going.

I even ran into some students at the local Starbucks. It was really exciting to see them and that they were excited to see me, and even had some questions to ask. I have to admit...I had a slight pang of uneasyness in my stomach wondering what all the strangers in Starbucks may have felt in overhearing some random women talking to these 4 teens about sex! I got to tell them about my new MySpace page - and they had added me onto their 'friend' list by that night...pretty cool!

This morning I took an oral test for my certificate for a family planning counselor. I did very well! The guy who was scoring had tons of praise for all my techniques! ....not to brag or anything :)

Yesterday I had a very interesting evening - as I spent a few hours riding my bicycle, canvassing the area surrounding my church. I'll be heading a project:eat out at church and I'm very excited about it. As this group that I'm involved with has been going out weekly in order to get a vision of what human trafficking looks like in Los Angeles - to recognize it here so we can start to help eradicate it. Well...a common place where trafficked people may be working is in ethnic restaurants. As it would take alot of time (and money) for me or our group to individually go to all these restaurants - I thought it would be a great project for people at church. So, we'll be sending everyone out after church one Sunday to different restaurants in the area with information about trafficking, what to look for, etc. And they will report back as to what they've seen! Should be pretty cool - I'm excited to see how it comes off.

For info on trafficking or some things that are going on to work against it (for example, a campaign against slave conditions in chocolate-producing fields) click on the banner below!

here mousey, mousey, mousey...

I was just settling down at my spot on the couch Friday afternoon to get some reading done for work - when what did my eyes see?...a mouse! Yes folks, that's right. The little grey rodent scampered between Kim's desk and the closet ever so quickly.

This put me ill at ease and abandoned all pursuits of work for a thorough revamping of my itty-bitty house. I repositioned the white sheet/curtain to let more light in, I hung bedroom curtains after making my ever-so-thrifty ghettoized curtain rod out of metal wire and 2 nails, I cleaned, I vacuumed, I spotted the carpet, but most importantly...I organized and packed the entire pantry up into neat little mouse-free plastic boxes! As you will see in the picture - get a good look, because I've never seen a purtier pantry!

Me and Mr. Mouse apparently have been housemates for quite some time - as is evidenced by the large amount of poop I found in my household pantry. But...I'm afraid to say, he shant be around too much longer. I will have none of these little shenanigans...so I set out traps and poison. The traps are still clear (thank goodness actually...I didn't really want to "catch" one) but the poison has been eaten like there's no other food around (which, of course, there isn't).

I did manage to fit some time in at the beach on Sunday :) And...I applied for a job at the nearby hospital this morning (to be in addition to the one I already have)...so pray and keep your fingers crossed. And today...I got a young whippersnapper to help me set up a myspace page for work! So much fun!