It's times like these...

That a car would come in handy...but then again...
I'd be fightin traffic right now....RIGHT NOW...I could be on the 10,
swallowing huge amounts of car fumes and smog. I could be stressed that
the cars aren't moving....and why doesn't this guy get closer to the car
in front of him damnit!

But none of this is happening....I just stepped onto the bus and my
chariot will take me aaaawwwwaaaayyyyyy to the Yoga Kingdom!!! Woo
hoo!!!

Temple

Just leaving the Nithyananda Vedic Temple. I went with my mom. She'll
always be a Catholic. Lol. I enjoy attending and assisting. Swamiji is
coming in July!!!! I can't wait to meet him!!!!

I've also confirmed my schedule @ Dancing Shiva. Pretty stoked about
that too!!! I was just saying to Amy that I don't even know how that
happened, even though it was all her. Life is a blessing!
Love and light!

Me and my Mom

We sit here and we begin a discussion about forgetting.
Me: Mom we should forget everything...we should not remember a thing.

Mom: That's not good...

Me: Why not?

Mom: Well, what happens if you forget to wear underwear??!!

Me: Rofl!!!!!!!

I love my mudder!!! God bless her!

The Truck of Life

I discovered Karma Tube one day randomly and receive the emails. Today's email was about the People's Grocery. They are non-profit organization that is bringing sustainability to West Oakland...and that's only the beginning! I can't imagine what it must be like to have to go to a liquor store for groceries. Would they even be fresh? Would they be healthy?

We had something similar here in Los Angeles. They are the South Central Farmers who had a 14 acre urban garden in one of the lower economic areas in Los Angeles. A private developer, along with the city who is backing them, is trying to get rid of the property. This farm was used to stimulate and bring money into that area, as well as healthy and nutritious food. Not only did they farm there, but they also provided entertainment portraying the various cultures that surround the area. It was a venue that dedicated itself to the people and inhabitants of the hood.

You know what I would do if I had the cash flow........
I would drive around in one these


and only sell good, nutritious food. Fruits, veggies, salads, whole grain meals, and tofu!! And it would NOT be called a Roach Coach, as they are called now, but rather The Truck of Life....get it, like the tree of life. Ha ha.

You are what you eat.....and food IS medicine!!!! Stick that in your pipe!!!!

We must come together to save ourselves...united we stand - divided we fall.

The Road

Love is the road less travelled,
it is often misleading,
having many routes, roads, and highways,
some of us go fast,
others go slow,
but the love never changes,
that road is always there and always going,
going forever in todays crazy times,
the road becomes cracked and debris falls in,
to fill in any gaps and potholes,
there's only one way on this road of love,
and that is forward,
onward and upward.

Sadness

Sadness washes over me like a tsunami,
It tries to take me down,
It tries to smother me with it's hateful thoughts,
But I shall not be fooled by this self pity and doubt,
Tears well up and play along the edge,
Threating to go over and take the plunge,
But I will not allow it!
Go back, run and hide for the light in my heart will win!
Now and always so run lil tear,
Go and well some place else,
For you and your sadness are not welcome here!!

Thingzzzz

Things are not valuable by themselves,
It is I who gives it value,
I try and hold these things of value,
When in essence,
the value is captured in my heart,
And will be remebered and treasured,


Holding it signifies the moment was not enjoyed to the fullest,
For the memory shall outlast the lifetime,
And travel on and up and away,
Buried deep, deep and full o love.

My rise and fall

The night falls and with it my hope,
Oblivion and more,
Darkness envelops me and I try to cope,
This shell, suffocate me it does,
Useless and tired,
Statuesque is what I was,
Narrowed down to be nothing,
Cold and foreign,
Without knowing what destiny may bring,
Elusive it is to me,
Why it is, I just can't see;
Open your eyes and smell the dope,
Don't waste your time, there is no hope!

Unknown Land

Questions become apparent and arise,
From deep below and with a surprise,
Sun peeking through the sand,
Only to discover an unknown land,
Within the living soul, there is much the devils hand,
Wishing for a better way to breathe,
Always on the edge ready to pop and leave,
Up to the sky where only angels go,
To be within the mask of the flow,
Flesh will always override,
The wave of feelings like the tide,
Unsecure of what tomorrow has to bring.

It's finally close to the weekend!!

Thursday's are great aren't they?! It's kind of the beginning of the
weekend, for most party go-ers.

I got home last night @ 6pm and went right to sleep! I then woke up @
10pm and watched tv for an hr. Then went back to sleep. Hahahahahaa.
And now, I'm sleepy again!

I teach tonight. It has been brought to my attention that I am not
allowed to bring my mom to class with me. Which I understand, she
doesn't pay for a membership and attends my classes for free. This
little bump in the road has made me make some decisions.

One, I am a volunteer there and have been for almost 2 yrs. As a
volunteer, which I love to do, I thought we were allowed to bring a
guest - so I was bringing my mom. The classes I teach are Tue/Thur. @
730 pm, and Sat. @ 9 am. Now I don't know abt anyone else but those are
not the best hours in the world. But I love to teach! I love my
students! They are my family!

And two, my mom is my ride there. I don't own a car. She attends
because she drives me there. Since the classes are a little late in the
evening, I don't like to walk. It may not be dangerous but why tempt
the darkenss. Anywho, I hope to have that matter resolved, and I pray
that they allow my mom to continue to attend with me. It also benefits
her to be working out. I'm sure they will work something out.

We shall see........

Have a splendorificly glorious day!!!!!

In n out

Now this is customer service...


They come to your window!!! Forget about screaming into the intercom...they come to you!

For those of you who don't live in Los Angeles, and surrounding areas...let me introduce you to
In n Out.



This is the menu.

Here's the secret about In n Out...they have soooo many things that are NOT on the menu.
It's like a secret society. They have 4 X 4's (which is 4 patties and 4 slices of cheese), they have a grilled cheese ( which is great for vegetarians like myself), and they have Animal Style!!!! I still come across people who don't even know some of the different options they offer. They even do a protein burger! What is that you may ask?? Take a look here to find out.


I would like to take this moment and thank the originator of In n Out. Thank you. Fresh fast food. Total yummerzzzz!!!!

Visions of beauty

Last but not least...some simple shots of nature...














Take a moment to smell the flowers....

Sun or Moon, or Moon or Sun...guess which one?

These are a little late but you now what they say......
better late than never...duh!







It was cloudy last week and it looked like the Moon. I told ya I went crazy shooting everything!!

Easter 2.0/Evening

My sis and I agreed to attend evening mass at our local Catholic chuch (yes, this is how i spell it and say it - so there). We arrived like an hour early!!! So I took the opportunity to shoot some stuff....enjoy.


Welcome!!

Circle of Life


This goes on and on and on...


I like lanterns.


She is beautiful!!!!

The mass was typical, and ritualistic. I felt lost inside and it was cold. Very, very different than the morning service we attended @ Agape. After chuch, we went to Mimi's and had a light dinner. We ended up seeing the Pastor from the chuch. He sat right next to us, so we didn't really discuss the service. I can now confirm catholicism is not for me.

Lunchtime...

After the service on Sunday we had lunch at Camacho's.  It's a Cantina homezzz.  We had Arnold Palmer's (which mom loves).



We then proceeded to order a platter of stuff to munch on. As you can see, I was having a beautiful day!!!



Our waiter was very funny and charismatic. We then felt obligated to leave a very generous tip. He was very helpful.

Lunch was great. I love my mom! Also - I rather enjoy the little water spouts they have there! They are fun, especially in the summer!!!



If you ever get a chance - run through it, in it, around it, and finally jump right in!!!

1st Easter Service @ Gibson Ampitheater

Easter was awesome!!! I was invited to the service being offered by the Agape International Spiritual Center at the Gibson Ampitheater, which is at the City Walk/Universal Studios. It was an awesome, awesome, awesome experience!!! We arrived a little late (due to parking misfortune), but arrived on time for the service. We missed the meditation but caught the most important part.

The Ampitheater was packed!! We sat on the balcony. Had a great view! There was so much color on stage, as the Agape International Choir sat on stage and were the background. They were dressed in white, fuschia, turquoise, and orange. It was lovely!!!

I was inspired by a quote the Pastor said. "Jesus' art was his life." His life was his artwork. We are all artist here. We all have some sort of talent. Some people show it through painting, drawing, music, films...but Jesus did it with his life. His life was his art. How powerful is that??? I was so inspired!!

I had a convo with my uncle last week, and to tell you the truth, I don't know much about Jesus. I know he did great work! He was a master. I think we all can be that way. We can all give up our "life" and dedicate it to doing God's will (I say God but please use whatever term with which you are comfortable). He used his life as an example. But the essence is the same no matter what religion, or beliefs. Be good to one another, love each other. Be kind, compassionate and don't judge. Everyone is on a different journey.

I was moved by Dr. Michael's message. My mom was as well!!! We were both sitting there happy and crying. My mom has been a practicing Catholic since she was born, and to see her embrace the moment and enjoy and love from this new place was quite a sight. Mom's is always open to new things, but she was moved by what we felt, saw, and heard. I had big crocodile tears streaming down my face. My journey is proving to be quite emotional. And I've just got on the road!!

I love. I love. I love.

Blessings.

I'm sleepy...

It's only 9:20 pm and I'm sleepy! I taught class...all 3 people...and
that includes my mom. I picked up my sis from work and we're headed
home. It's Tuesday. Only Tuesday. The ego in me thinks I had a crappy
day. But my spirit is happy, I am grateful for all the blessings I have
and continue to receive! I could say it was bad but it wasn't. I
didn't lose anything, break anything, or get arrested...lol. Just
kidding. About the arrest, I mean.
I love this new mobile blogging!!!!!!
Elizabeth

3 days...

I finally got a few days off from work! A total of 3 days!!! It was pretty spectacular in and of itself that I was able to get 3 days of during a holiday weekend, none the less. Woo hoo! Damn Wamu for taking my slogan, and closing my account. Now I am a degenerate in the eyes of the government. No bank account, no cc's, none of that. I'm glad, actually. Except for the fact that I can't purchase anything online...even Paypal is messing with me. It's funny but I know if this had happened to me a few years ago, I would have been very upset. Now, I am detached and don't care one way or the other.

Ok...so Saturday was my first day off. I had an 8 am appt. at Dancing Shiva Yoga and Ayurveda Studio. It is a beautiful space! It was an interview, which was very relaxed and informative. I began this week, and will be there 2 times a week, at least. Everything happens for a reason and I don't question, I just do. The studio is a ways from my home but I love the westside so I have no qualms about riding the bus out there and back. I hope to gain more days, but for this is great for now!

So after the appointment, I stopped downtown to pick up a new skirt for Temple. Since it was a holiday, I wanted to get all purdy for it. LOL! Oh, it was like in the 80's on Saturday. It was HOT!!!! Ugh, so hot. I got home, went to eat lunch w/Diana, my sis, and then went home for a nap. Well my nap lasted 6 hrs!!! I didn't get up in time for Temple and missed it. (Visualize my sad face). And that was my Saturday. Oh and I was shooting pix like crazy!!! I have to develop them tonight....yes, I am a 35mm Film girl....so what!!!????

I'm Lazy

I have not posted due a mixture of laziness, and inability to access the internet. I have solved the latter problem...I'm gonna start mobile blogging. The laziness I must work on and master. All in due time, my dear. I'm a nut ball folx!!!

Moblie blogging

Mobile blogging is going to be awesome!!! There are times when I have
so much to say @ that moment and cannot capture it all. I try and
remember but it's hard. So I'm grateful for mobile blogging.
Namaste.

Elizabeth

Cracked and Connected

Sometimes I feel like this. Cracked, brittle, ignored. Not knowing which direction to go in so I travel and explore many. Reaching out and connecting to others. Reaching out and being one with the others out there. See, I don't see what you see. I don't see a cracked piece of concrete. My eyes see...the world. Showing me we are all connected, even if we don't know, see, smell, taste, hear this very powerful thought. WE ARE ALL CONNECTED.


How, you may ask? Good question...one which I cannot answer at this time. I have my own interpretation...but that is all it is. My opinion, my thoughts, my voice. Just like you have yours, and often times we do not know how strong and beautiful it can be. We get caught up in this b.s. world of what do I have, what's the latest trend, car, restaurant, club...blah, blah, blah.


I'm guilty of it...don't get me wrong. I've paid my share. But in the space that I am currently in, it makes no sense to me to continue to do so, be so, think so. I'm in the flow. I'm in the river and I'm going with the flow, and as I go...my eyes are being opened! I am seeing things like never before and it's beautiful!!! To have this growing sense of love and hope and knowing is a awesome thing!



So, yes, sometimes I feel like this. When I saw it I knew I had to have this shot. It stood out to me. But it's a feeling of being connected...going, moving and being everywhere and everyone.

Mujeres De Maiz

My friend Erika invited me out to and Art Show and Performance by Mujeres de Maiz. Las Mujeres de Maiz claim "Good Art is Good Medicine." Somos Medicina (We are Medicine) speaks to the indigenous tradition of art as medicine. It is the offering of ancestral teaching and the medicine of memory in visual form, to a community in dire need.

The event was held at the Self Help Graphics & Art in East L.A. It was cracking when we got there! It gave me much joy in seeing the community out in full force to support our local women artist. The evening began in the gallery with works of art by Nayeli Guzman, Poli Marichal, Linda Vallejo, Timoi, and Emilia Garcia to name a few. Definitely check them out! These are some very talented women! The energy was inspirational!!!


There was also a performace which featured different women artist through different mediums. The first performers were Yei Tecpati. As they state on their MySpace, together they form Yei Tecpatl two mujeres guerreras. Practicing and living our traditional ways from Mexico. Through the education and preservation of not only things like Danza & Music, but also, artistry, history, philosophy, spirituality, language, Medicine, Ceremony,and above all Canos del Corazon! Together as Indigenous People of this land, we can regain what is rightfully ours, Our Pride, strength, knowledge, dances, philosophies, language, music, customs and beleifs. All in the education, understanding and acceptance of our Native Culture. Mexica Cihuatl style!


The next group of women that captured my joy were In Lak Ech. They are performance poetry and song collective of Xicana multi-media artist, writers, students uniting to tell Her-story through poetry. They used a huge drum and had my spirit dancing on the ceiling!!! They also had their babies on stage (not really babies) and the little girls were singing the songs!! It was so beautiful! They sang of empowering and awakening the goddess within, or rather, that's what I got from them.


The next performer was a poet who used spoken word as her medium. She is Gabriela Garcia Medina All I can say is she was awesome!!



The next performers were a group of 3 women who go by the name Butchlalis de Panochtitlan.BdP, for short, is a sketch-driven performace/installation/video ensemble that maps Los Angeles on racialized female masculine bodies. They are funny and funny to watch!!! They had me cracking up!!! Do check them out!!



Las 'Manas performance style is a mix of theater, spoken word, and movement. They did an awesome performance about MySpace and how we need to connect in person, eye to eye, face to face.




Closing the show was Lynnix. She ended the show with a prayer. A prayer which required us to anounce out loud and proud, "Universe, I reclaim what was mine since the beginning." Such a strong and powerful statement! I was inspired and grateful to be in the midst of such inspirational women!



Please check out all the above artist! Each and every one will inspire you in a different way! We can all use inspiration and above all, love. I felt so much love at the event last night, it is indescribable. Check out the calendar for Mujeres de Maiz. There is some awesome upcoming events!!!

Love one, love all.

Largest Beef Recall in History...listen up!!!

As many of you know I am a vegetarian. It a personal choice which I don't impose upon anyone, unless you ask me. Below is an article that was sent to me and I am passing it on. There has been a recall on beef unlike any other in history.





Click here
to read about the Largest US Beef Recall
Click here for a list of restaurants in SoCal that are affected by this recall. There are many so find your city and be aware!


I am not trying to persuade you to change your eating habits, I am only informing you of what is out there. Don't be mad at the messenger. ;)


That is all. You are dismissed.

Shivaratri

I'm sooo jazzed today!! I had a phenomenal weekend!!! Well technically, it wasn't during the weekend...I had Monday off and spent the day with my soul sister, Amy.

I love her spirit! We crossed paths while working for LA Yoga Magazine last summer and created a bond that is unbreakable!! I feel like I've known her my entire existence!! She is the one soul I can tell everything, which is what we usually do. I love her like I love books, unconditionally!!!

Amy is a devotee to the Life Bliss Foundation. The founder is Paramahamsa Nithyananda



I remember the first time I ever really sat and meditated was with Amy. It was an easy, simple meditation from the Life Bliss Foundation. Afterwards, I felt like I was walking on air, so new and refreshed and invigorated. I believed. And she helped.

We spent the day gathering beautiful flowers for Shivaratri. It is one of the highest honors to fetch flowers for the Deities. I was very honored and humbled to have been of service for such a powerful festival. It is a beautiful thing to do as a human to let go and let god. It is always a treat to visit temple. The energy when you walk in can be overwhelming if you are not used to being around it. The first time I stepped into Temple I was dizzy and felt like I was floating. I prayed, chanted and meditated. It must have been 2 to 3 hrs but it felt like mere seconds.


I wanted to share this special day in case anyone would like to dedicate one day, 24 hours, to aid in manifesting all the dreams you ever could possibly imagine. 24 hours is a mere blink in this place we call life. 24 hours to dedicate to our source. 24 hours to sing to the heavens and have only positive thoughts. Chant, pray and meditate.
24 hours...