LA Eastside

Standard issued street soldiers. That’s how I refer to cops after I heard Henry Rollings use those very words to describe them and at times that’s what they are. My first post on here was about a check point and me talking trash and putting the cops in bad light. Fellow bloggers and readers have also expressed their dislike of authority figures whether it’s from personal experience of just hearing about they’re oppression from other’s who have gone through it. However recent events have changed my view of officers. It only takes one bad apple to ruin the rest and leave a bad taste in your mouth. Over the weekend I was threatened with a knife over my stupid phone. You can read the whole story on my personal blog. During the whole incident I was dumb founded by the help that came my way. A person actually took a stand and did something about what happened to me. A random stranger became my Random Hero and went out of his way to make sure that the mocoso who threatened me with a knife was caught by the MTA sheriffs. That’s another thing, the sheriffs actually showed up on time and caught the mocoso as he tried to make a run for it. To me, it feels like too much of a big deal was made for a stupid phone. None the less, what happened to me that Friday night at the railway station will stay with me. I myself have helped other’s in need when no one else would help them. Maybe it was karma returning the favor, La Virgen looking out for me like she always does or something completely different. What ever it was, I’m grateful and appreciative for those who helped me, even though I may have lost my faith in them and talked trash about them. It’s easy to condemn other’s and just go about living your life not caring about anyone else. that’s why it does my heart good to know that THERE ARE people out there who actually give a rat ass about their fellow human beings. That being said, that’s the last time I bad mouth the jura. And remember, there will come a day when we will be in need of a Random Hero, because even a Hero needs saving sometimes.

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Not long ago, I was waiting for my order of tacos to come out of one of my favorite trucks parked near Chavez and Evergreen. The wait was long, (as usual-but worth it!) and as I stared off into space, trying to find my taco-waiting “Zen” zone, I began observing the Evergreen Jogging Path across the street. (more…)

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In Quantum Physics, there is a Law of Attraction in which similar objects are attracted to each other. Since we humans are also part of the physical world, that theory would also apply to each of us.
I am fortunate to meet many great men and women during my usual week. They work quietly and diligently in the background, always steady, always faithful—adding more than their share towards the whole. It is not then surprising that two such similar beings should succumb to the Laws of Attraction even on the eastside.
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Photo Credit: Cynthia Goldsmith

I don’t believe in flu shots. I’ve never had one and I don’t plan on getting one any time soon either. Specially since I just finished getting over it this weekend. My thing about the flu shot is that eventually the virus will mutate into an extremely viral form that can have the potential to kill anyone regardless of age or health status. Except last year I got the “Super Flu” and I was down for a month. I found this really cool interactive description of how a super flu is born and how we get it. Still, I prefer to get over it the old fashion way, building up my immune system and kicking it’s ass. This practice works for me because I only get sick once a year. My body takes about three days to get rid of la gripa and it happens in 4 stages:

1. Body/head aches, congested and generally feeling caca

2. The water works start and a handkerchief becomes my best friend

3. My throat feels as if I was the lead signer of a death metal band and every time I cough my body aches

4. I’m back to normal, but still expelling what’s left over  

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Sarah Palin is quoted as saying that “…Dinosaurs and Humans walked the Earth at the same time…”

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-palinreligion28-2008sep28,0,1440865.story

It looks to me like the Governor has learned her Earth History from watching a certain TV family from Bedrock.

We can only assume then, that this may be Governor Palin’s vision for our country’s future in Science and Space Exploration…..

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I remember way back when the hoods of Lincoln Heights, Highland Park, Happy Valley, Cypress Park, El Sereno, and Glassel Park really didn’t have a moniker to say: this is ____! But in the past year or so I’ve heard many an utterance of the acronym “NELA.” Now, I had in the past said “NorthEast L.A.” or even write it that way. Hell I even thought I made it up, but assuming their is a collective unconsiousness we folks in our part of the Eastside have come up with the same acronym. NOW people say NELA as in Neh-Luh. That my friend is pretty chido in my book.

Before I had to say oh, “I live north of East L.A., across the tracks.”  Now I can assuredly say I live in NELA.

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Just when I was feeling really pissed off at all the Babósos who keep insisting on appropriating the Eastside name (recent examples: edenexibition.com, theeastsiderla.com.) I came across this little gem today, posted on a Silver Lake street sign. Thank you God, for slapping down that sticker for me! Hallelujah!

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For those of us that ride the bus, there are times when it becomes the only place where we can catch up on certain things, like sleeping. Whether we’re coming from work…

or going…

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You’d be surprised at some of the ideas non-Mexican people have about Mexican-Americans. (more…)

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