so it's a new year finally. i can truly say that things have changed greatly for me and that i can commit to taking the time to write... perhaps the next chapter of my life. what to write then? about all the changes that have taken place for me? i finally bid farewell to all the things that have kept me in the city of angels, so now i am ready to move on. yes, it took me many years.. but i finally see that the time is now.

love is a complicated thing. depending on how you look at it, love can be so many things. it can be about how you feel, about your hopes and desires. your expectations and obligations. you know, responsibilities and what not. your reasons for loyalty and being true to that feeling of love.

for me, i lean more heavily towards believing that love is about that indescribable feeling of how and what you feel... not about how someone else feels about you. so many people believe that it's love only when it's reciprocated... how trite and selfish can you get? love is what kept me in los angeles for so many years. or perhaps the search for love... the flashes i felt in the silence of the city. the karaoke rooms. in the whiskey that i fell in love with one of my best friends. in all the shared beliefs and values that i fell in love with diva in japan. i fell for this lush post modern jaded scandalous city, who has kept me a dreamer... who has jailed me for my addictions... who broke me down to welcome me. who is breaking me down to bid me farewell. and i'm thankful for it all... you know, for whatever it's all supposed to mean. life's a cinch. just do it!

july 4th is an occasion to behold in the great land of the united states. as a canadian, i never experienced the whole notion of super patriotism that is the norm here. it's come to blows when i criticize america to americans, but i'm sure it's taken a bit personally. i'm sure my communication style ensures this, and it certainly shows. anyway, 4th of july was amazing tho in terms of my favorite pastime: bbq! good american bbq is difficult to top, especially with the scrumptious goodies that are readily available from the diversity that is los angeles.

so i cruise to felix's bbq that is the yearly bash that everyone speaks about. i know, because i spoke about it all year last year, saying how amazing it was... how the double chamber smoker made the best dry rub beer-up-its-ass chicken i've ever had in my entire life. so expectations were high this year, with my mouth on the line (which i offer up far too often). so off we went, with the mermaid, the next gen, next gen's "friend" (and ours), lady pun, why jane and the almighty divine styler - to the great american tradition in eagle rock.

alcohol, of course became involved. as evidenced by the evidence submitted below.

battle of the patterned dresses
lady pun and why why jane?

brotherly love.
iwei, remember this picture when next we see umar.
oh yes, like public enemy, we're going back to arizona.

eastside connection.
bow down bitches.

bonita applebaum...
you gotta put me on.

4th is always cause to celebrate. not america mind you, but certainly the people i've met here...