PRECOCIOUS

I am certainly feeling this way today. I don't know if its because of my Halloween costume that I daringly wore to work today, the fact that I ran 3 miles at the gym this morning, or just the mere fact that it's finaly Friday and I am feeling a little rambunctious!

What ever it is, I like it. I'm feeling fresh, flippant, "out there", cocky, smart, and a very brassy.

A little precociousness never did any harm.. right? ;)

Have a Happy Halloween people of the earth.....

Hungry Hungry Hypocrite

It never ceases to amaze me how many of them there are out there in the world today. Come on... if you re going to stand up for one thing one hour, and turn around and function/present actions that are the opposite of the goal in another hour - what is your real goal? Is it to make a political statement? Is it to just be creative or is it something deeper within that person that leads them down the muddy hypocritical road?

I've never seen so much before than I have in recent years, maybe due to the down turn of economy, political strife, or just plane people are getting more and more odd. Maybe its the chemicals in Vernon CA that drift through the air and into Los Angelenos' noses. Whatever it is... its disgusting.

It's great that we have free speech in the US, and pretty much freedom of all our actions. However, that doesn't mean we should speak out of BOTH sides of the mouth. Be real, be honest, and above all - stick with something and complete your case with actions to back it up; and if you cant - then maybe reevaluate your agenda and persona. It might need a little work.

Miss Green Thumb

The 101 freeway...... 8:36 AM, pst - OCT 29th 20008:

There she was. Not too sure if she is homeless or just likes to weed the 101 freeways very small patch of "designer landscape". She is doing her part though, more than I can say I have done - to keep this city clean from people who throw their trash and cigarette butts out the window (PS: that's VERY rude and disgusting smokers! - not to mention a huge fire risk). I've named her Miss Green Thumb. She is short in stature, but I would bet has a lot to say. She is Asian I think, as I can never fully see her face as my car passes her by at 6 miles per hour.

I will say this; I've seen her twice now, so I know she is not an allusion. She makes me smile on my crappy commute down the pot-hole ridden 101 freeway. And, she makes me think... if she can get out there and offer her green thumb to beautify this city the best she knows how.... then why cant I or we for that matter? Maybe we are to proud to get out there, maybe we are scared that our boss or employee would see us as they put down the 101. Or maybe we all like to say we are "Green" or "want a prettier city" - but don't put action behind it. Well, for me - its a matter of time and the fear of getting ran over by a bad driver who learned how to drive on a dirt road in the backfields of Iowa.

I digress; its not those at all. It's because we are all so "busy" to stop and think about what we could all do to help out Miss Green Thumb's efforts. I have an idea Los Angelenos - STOP THROWING YOUR TRASH OUT THE WINDOW !

"The Sweetest Thing..."

This morning i was tantalized by the local Starbucks near my office. They were more than happy to see me, as I am sure that business has been slow due to the economy. As I pulled out of the drive with my Chai-Tea-Latte (Grande of course), and rolled up to the red light. I looked to my right to the corner of the street and caught a glimpse of what I thought was a child, holding a small grey pot with a half dying red flowering plant of some sort. I turned to the light and something made me take another look at this creature. It wasn't a child at all, it was a woman, about 80 or so. As my eyes adjusted to take the image in, my satellite station started to play U2's - Sweetest Thing... a song redone and re-released many times over, I believe most recently in 2004; based on my Google search. The song was perfect for my image of this woman. She had short white hair, a blue and yellow argyle sweater on with khaki pants and white Keds. She also seems to be suffering from osteoporosis, as she was tilted to the right and hunched over a bit. As I continued to survey her outfit (which was quite classically put together), she must have felt me looking at her because she turned and made eye contact. Our eyes met, and I smiled - both dimples and all... hoping to brighten her day. I held my smile for at least 3 seconds, wondering if she could see it through her older eyes, the 300 foot distance, and my car windshield. It finally registered in her brain, and she smiled back with the most amazing small, and crooked smile. Her dying flower in her grey pot shook slightly with her smile... as if it was absorbing her radiating excitement. I then thought... where is she going with that dying flower? Why does she have it? Is it for someone? Maybe an elderly friend, or a grandchild down the street? With U2's Sweetest Thing still in the background; she turned away and at that moment the light changed, allowing her and I to move forward across the newly paved street. I waited for a moment.. as I watched her step into the walking lane to cross.... hobbling to the right where her delicate shoulder drops, all while still holding the delicate flower and pot with all of the strength in her left hand and arm. She seemed so content, and determined. I pulled into the street, passing her slowly as my eyes started to water only due to the whole feeling and sweetness of the scene mirrored with U2's amazing song.

SIMPLICITY

"Without"... not a word most of us like to hear. How did it become such a negative word in today's Western culture? Is it because we are bombarded with advertisements telling us that we "need" this and "need" that? DO we really need it? I am the first one to say to others that we can "have it all" if we want it, but at the end of the day - does it mean that we need to have it all, or can we be just as happy with the simple things in life - whatever each of us has decided those things are. In today's economy we are reminded that we can certainly live a life without things; and sometimes our lives are richer for it. For most people in Western culture, "things" define us, they mold us and the people around us. But why? Why can't people, warmth, a little food here and there with some cold water.. be enough? I ponder - is it because we grew up in a society of "things"? I've resigned to the thought that we can live without certain things, but what we cannot live without - no matter how simple life can get - is each other. Ever heard the story of the man who died alone on an island with all the fresh water and food he needed? That guy went crazy and he self destructed like an atomic bomb. The human being is built for interaction, emotion, and connection to another of its kind. So... no matter how simple we can make our lives to be; one thing remains true... its simple to delete "things", but when we delete people, we are just deleting ourselves.

VIRTUES

Driving to work this morning, listening to the BBC1 on satellite, there was a song on by the 70s band, "Looking Glass", I didn't catch the title. I felt that the tone was purely simplistic in nature, and what did the band mean really when they named themselves? I was provoked into a conscious thought that we are all made of glass in a way. Glass, derived from sand usually several thousands of years old... is a staple in today's world. Just as glass, people are panes to which we (if we so choose) can look through, or reflect ourselves with. Were made of small grains of sand known as characteristics. Sometimes our glass is dirty, and needs a good washing - sometimes its clean and clear; so much so that you could walk right through it. But however dirty or clean our pane is, when someone looks at it they can inevitably see their own reflection. I then thought about a old pane of glass my in my grandmothers house, so old in fact that at the top of the pane the glass was thinner. You see... as a glass pane ages in a window frame, the sand settles toward the bottom - weakening the top of the pane - its becomes vulnerable and week. That window still held up due to the strength at the bottom it had built over the years. Although showing its weaknesses in one way, it shows its strength as well. You can still see through it - and it still can cast a reflection. We as a pane also age, and id like to think that we become more comfortable with showing our strengths, and our weaknesses. I think about what a beautiful photo it would have been to have my 80 year old grandmother sitting in front of that old window... both showing strength and both showing weakness... and both being completely content. I believe that one amazing virtue is the virtue of knowing one's weaknesses.

EVOLUTION

SITTING , READING POLITICAL UPDATES, LISTEN TO DEPECHE MODE, AND WONDERING..... HOW MANY AMERICANS BELIEVE IN EVOLUTION? NOT ONLY EVOLUTION OF SPECIES, BUT OF OURSELVES? TODAY I SIT, IN THOUGHT OF WHAT WILL COME AND HOW I CONTINUE TO EVOLVE WITH THE CHANGE (MOSTLY FOR THE BETTER) OF MY ENVIRONMENT. I REALIZED THAT SOMETIMES IN EVOLUTION THERE IS DELAY... LIMBO. AND IN THAT LIMBO COMES SILENCE, RESOLUTIONS, AND DELIVERANCE..... ALL IN PREPARATION FOR THE RIGHT CONDITIONS FOR EVOLUTION TO PICK BACK UP AGAIN, ON ITS WAY TO FORMING A BETTER, STRONGER FORM OF A SPECIES I ONCE THOUGHT WAS THE BEST AND ONLY.

whats in a name?

I woke up this morning after a very rest-less sleep and thought... my name, what does it stand for, what does it mean to others, and more importantly - what does it mean to me? I then thought about all the children born in the world who are given names of others that parents loved, family, friends, ancients. If it wasn't for those ties - would the name mean as much? My name is actually David - most of those who are close to me know that Jackson is my last, but to which I choose to go by for reasons non other than it exemplifies my character, it has meaning from my past and well - I'd like to think I set a trend in the name business. You know when you hear a name called in a crowded mall, and your ear recognizes it and your brain registers it as a good or bad emotion depending on who you knew with the name? I'd like to think that when a soccer mom with a 4 year old boy calls my name that the passers-by perk up with a smile. I resolved this morning that my name does mark me in the world, with family, friends, lovers, co-workers - its my brand.... and I've concluded that my brand - me, tagged by my name - is recession proof, lively, it's warm, caring, beautiful, and above all - it's real.