Again, a pro-LA post. For one week now I’ve been hiking Runyon Canyon every day with Sierra. In the morning’s I get there so early, it’s pretty cold, cloudy, quite, and very beautiful. In one week I saw a Woodpecker doing his thing, and a scary snake pass the trail about two foot in front of me. It’s great living in LA, a city with many place to enjoy nature, mountains, and of course the beach.
One negative thing though: this week I paid almost $50 for gas to fill up my car!

I’m so confused, taken aback, feeling conflicted, hurt, sad. And there is nothing I can do, excpet to just going through this, experiencing it, and hopefully learn from it. Hopefully the pain will go away. Time heals all wounds they say, right?

Nicholas Ashbaugh Photography

I know, I posted these pictures of me before, very vain! It’s been 4 years ago, and it was the best shape I’ve been in ever. I hope to get there again soon with all the hiking I’ve been doing. Two reasons I’m posting them again: today at work a piece, Giovanni Baglione’s “Saint Sebastian Healed by an Angel” came in with the following on the cover, which reminded me of that shoot:

…and last week I received a nostalgic present, the actual arrow used on my chest that film shoot:)!

Today, 3rd day in a row! I almost didn’t go, cause rain was expected. It was a beautiful morning, the trail a little wet from the rain, but had another great hike! Not tomorrow morning…Happy Hour tonight:)!

By Sarah Bettens, “Don’t Stop”. I think I posted them before, but hey, who cares…or remembers.

Don’t stop trying, there’s always reason to go on living
as long as long as you can breathe
stay clear of extremes
just say what you mean
but try not to be mean

you should say thank you often, like your hair
wave to strangers everywhere
do what your supposed to do
don’t look at what the others do

think before you buy a car,
don’t marry someone you met at a bar
there’s no such thing as going too far
love who you are

don’t be scared of what’s ahead
but wear a helmet to protect your head
be aware, say you care , don’t say fair…

Stay close to the hand that raised you
watch for signs
never waste expensive wine
spoil your body, spoil yourself
never cheat and share your wealth

sing when you’re glad
close the door if you sound bad
don’t believe a man who knows he’s right
don’t skip ahead, enjoy your flight

be nice to your dog,
drive slow in the fog
convince yourself to write a song
change clothes everyday
call ahead when you’re late
be safe when you’re planning to get laid

read what you like
be on your brother’s side
it’s okay to wonder why
but don’t expect to understand your life

don’t expect to understand your life …

I did it! This morning I was able to drag my ass out of bed at 6:30am…ok, 6:40am, and get over to Runyon Canyon with Sierra for a hike. Damn, it was cold…and damn it was early! I used to get up at 6;15am every day till 2 months ago, so I’ll just have to get used to that again, because I’m planning on taking lots of morning hikes.

But it feels so good to be outside, work out before going to work. I had some extra time when I got back home, so next time I will take the difficult way up, which is a longer hike.

Oh, yesterday’s random post: my boss left for a business trip today, so the day before is always hectic. It was also a Monday after a 3 day weekend, so not the best day. And Sunday evening I watched “The Talented Mr. Ripley” which made me wanna move to Italy. There you have it!

I wanna move to Italy

A couple of days ago I went to the bathroom at work, and when washing my hands I noticed a piece of tissue paper stuck on my upperlip…I remembered blowing my nose, like…HOURS AGO! So nobody told me about haivng something stuck to my face! Just say something!
Now yesterday I went back to the Villa in Malibu for a retirement party. For some reason the tip of my nose has been peeling since Sunday, but I spend very little time in the sun. When i got to the Villa, several people told me to wipe the tip of my nose, because there was something on it. I had to explain every time that I couldn’t just pull the skin off, but at least they made me aware of looking like a fool.

As most of you know, I’m all about honesty, and isn’t it a good thing when people make you aware of possibly making a fool out of yourself? It’s not rude to say something, right?
So, say something!

Never could have hoped for a better friendship between Sierra and Pancho, the doggie of my roommate.
I refer to Pancho as mini Sierra. So cute, aren’t they?

I’ve been at my new place for two weeks now, and I’m slowly starting to get adjusted to my new surroundings, and living space. My roommate went out of town this weekend, so I was taking care of her doggie that btw gets along with Sierra extremely well. Sierra seems to love the new place, and her anxiety is less. I think having another dog around is a huge difference.

Being alone in the apartment the weekend made me feel more at home, and made it more like a home. I could walk around in my underwear; have the bedroom door open at night and all these small things you have to pay attention to when you have a roommate. The weather over the weekend was amazing! Sunny and very hot. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to be outside much and enjoy the beginning of Spring. Friday and Saturday I had to go to Home Depot, first to buy paint, and on Saturday to buy a snake, cause the toilet was clogged up. Not a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Didn’t get started painting my room till Sunday. Saturday evening a party at a house on Mulholland Dr where a friend of mine rents a studio. The sky was so clear, you could see so many stars, and the moon was almost full. In LA seeing stars is pretty rare, and that’s why this is the most beautiful time in LA, before the smog arrives.

Sunday I spend most of the day painting, but around 5pm I went outside to walk the dogs, and I decided to check out the Pan Pacific Park which is located just at the end of my street. The park was PACKED with large families BBQ, playing sport, running around and celebrating a beautiful Easter weekend! It was really so packed, there was not a spot not taken. The park is kinda located in a sort of lower level then the street and you can hardly see the park from the streets. Walking in the park, the smell of food, only hearing Spanish around me (most of the people were Latino families), I looked up at the Hills, which are so green from the green not so long ago, for a minute, a real surreal feeling came over me: the moment took me back to Cusco, Peru. It felt completely like I was there, feeling it, smelling it, experiencing it. I was snapped out of it when my eyes reached the Hollywood sign. I had a real happy moment, a moment which brought back memories to a place where I used to live, and then realizing how beautiful LA can be. It was Easter Sunday, many people outside having fun, I was wearing shorts and a tank top, and it isn’t even April yet. It is such a great place to live, and my new apartment is located close to many cool places, and I think the park is going to be my next favorite hang out spot!

And then I got an email from my dad this morning. Yesterday, Easter Sunday, was the coldest month in 40 years and it snowed! Yes, I really enjoy living in LA

Freedom of sexual expression! But in a Park? Well, it actually has been known for this to happen all the time, just like in Central Park. I used to bike through this park every night to get home after going out, and don’t really like the idea of slipping and falling on used condoms. But… stepping into dog poop isn’t nice either… In The Netherlands it’s not a law to pick up after your dog poops, which is nice, but on the other hand, having dog shit under your shoes doesn’t smell good.
Let’s see if more people, straight or gay, will get out into the park and start having sex!

Ik hoop dat je begrijpt wat ik bedoel
En huilend op een stoel
Vertel ik dat ik niets meer voel
‘t Is niet dat ik niet van je hou

Oh oh oooh het is over
De liefde tussen jou en mij
Oh oh oooh het is over
Je hoort niet meer bij mij

Ik pak m’n jas, ‘t is net of ik stik
En met een zacht gesnik
Geef ik je mijn een laatste blik

Je hebt me nooit bedrogen
Ik keek altijd recht in jouw ogen
Kon altijd zeggen wat ik wou
Het ligt dus zeker niet aan jou

Oh oh oooh het is over
De liefde tussen jou en mij
Oh oh oooh het is over

Je hoort niet meer bij mij

de allerlaatste weken, de dagen gingen snel
dichtbij komt het afscheid, moeilijk wordt het wel

De koffers staan al buiten, de achterklep slaat dicht
een laatste lange blik in het vroege ochtendlicht
je kijkt me liefjes aan en pakt me stevig beet
ik fluister in je oor, dat ik je niet vergeet

kom ik ga nu maar, en onthou heel goed, dat ik van je hou

I’m getting so sick and tired of the media, so called “political specialist, analysts, or whatever”, and the Obama camp of all the talk over the last few weeks about Hillary end of the race. The media has been so on Obama’s side, it’s not even funny! These channels, and commentators should be independent, but they are obvious not. Last night, Clinton remained the leader in Ohio by 16% or so, with over 50% of the votes in. What did Wolf Blitzer keep on saying? “Such an incredible close race in Ohio and Texas”. Obama never got within 12% of Clinton! Blitzer and King kept on looking on the map and predicting that Obama would close in soon, and most likely pull in more votes, and Cleveland would be the big win for Obama. Not long after, not mentioning anything about their previous predictions, they had to call Ohio to Clinton.
And look at the results now: Rhode Island, OHIO and TEXAS won by Hillary Clinton!
EAT THAT OBAMA AND ALL YOU CLINTON PESSIMSISTS!

And still this HUGE win for Clinton is seen as a momentum, instead for what it is…a HUGE win for Clinton and a HUGE blow to Obama! Yes, Obama has won many states, but who took the big ones? Who took the states where we need the voters to beat McCain? Obama can’t even beat Hillary in the most important states, so how does he intend on winning them form McCain?
And when is the media going to focus in on the fact that most of Obama’s wins came from Caucasus in states where men are still embarrassed to stand up for a woman? Who’s winning the primaries? Clinton! Are there going to be any Caucasus in the November election? NO!
It’s about time the media will focus on these points instead of focusing on Obama’s charisma, momentum, movement.

Oh, one more thing…. Weh, weh, boe, boohoo! The Obama is whining and crying over Hillary’s negative attack over the last week to win votes. “Boohoo, she is so mean”! Holy shit! Be a man! If you call these points that Hillary’s campaign is pointing out negative attacks, well, you haven’t seen nothing yet! How will you survive the attacks the Republicans are already planning? Hillary has always been attacked by Obama, Edwards, all other candidates, the Republicans, and the media.
What did Hillary do the last couple of weeks? She called Obama out on a clear and obvious mistake on the NAFTA matter by one of Obama’s top campaign adviser! Oh, and then there is the mean, and so negative “3am” spot! Have you seen that? My God, if you can’t handle an innocent, even a little corky TV spot where Obama’s name is not even mentioned, the spot not even being a direct attack! Just admit it people: Hillary’s campaign is on the right track, and nowhere close on throwing in the towel or ever has been!

Dans nog een keertje met mij
Voor je varen gaat
Voor je mij verlaat
Laten we dansen

Dans nog een keertje met mij
Tot het morgen licht
Doe je ogen dicht
Dan zien we wel verder
Zelfs de maan houd vol dat jij nog weg bent van mij

Dans nog een keertje met mij
Tot de laatste snik
Samen jij en ik
Laten we drinken
Drink nog een laatste met mij

Drink tot morgen vroeg
Is het weer genoeg
Dan gaat het verder
Zelfs de maan houd vol dat jij nog weg bent van mij

Dans nog een keertje met mij, alsjeblieft
Laat me niet sterven van liefdes verdriet
De laatste dans, de laatste kans
Laten we dansen

Drink nog een laatste met mij, lieve schat
Want als we drinken dan heft het nog wat
Kom hef het glas
Op wat het was
Laten we drinken

Dans nog een keertje met mij
Even net als toen
Die allereerste zoen
Laten we dansen

Drink nog een laatste met mij
Maak die laatste leeg
Die je van me kreeg
Tot hier en niet verder
Zelfs de maan houdt vol dat jij nog weg bent van mij

Zelfs de maan houdt vol dat jij al weg bent…

They stand out, because the sing with true emotions! Give it up for Jordin and David!