Wake up Writers!

I'm disappointed in the writing community on Twitter. Why aren't writers talking about the illegal abduction of Rumeysa Oztruk? Plenty of writers don't want to get involved in politics. Okay, don't get involved. But really, c'mon. This isn't just about politics. This is about freedom of speech. This is about a PHD student writing an article and getting abducted on the streets of Boston by ICE because the Trump Administration disagreed with what she wrote. I don't know about you, but I feel that this is horrifying for writers. Imagine that you wrote a book or an article that the government disagrees with, and they grab you, and put you in jail. (image by: DG-RA)

Please don't be naïve, and say what does this have to do with me? Yes, this student was on a student visa, but her visa had not expired. And shortly before her arrest, they abducted Mahmoud Khalil from his home for practicing his freedom of speech. He had a Green Card. So, a valid visa holder, a green card holder, and soon they'll come after the citizens. (image by: Nondas Sapidid). 

This administration is not going after criminals on visa or with Green Cards. Oh, no. They're going after PHD, and Graduate Students. They're going after free thinkers, and scholars. They're going after you. Yes, you, writers!

Am I expecting too much from the writers on Twitter to speak up about this? Writing is not just about scene set up, show don't tell, dialogue, editing and will my book sell? It's about much much more than that. It's about having a voice and exercising that voice. I can't imagine living in a world where the government takes away my freedom of speech. Because now, not only I have to swallow all the obvious corruptions, I'm not even allowed to live under the "illusion" of democracy. It's like being in jail, and they give you a piece of old dried up moldy bread, and then they decide that even that's too much, and they take it away from you. You have nothing. Am I supposed to shut up, and not talk about it? As a writer, I might as well not exist. What's the the point when all I'm allowed to do is write nonsense, pretending that all is good when my guts want to explode. I don't know about you, but I cannot stay silent. (image by: rawpixel.com)

And may be no one gives a s--t about what I write, but at least I have practiced my First Amendment rights. And this too goes for writers living in other so called "democratic" western countries. The loss of our freedom of speech is worse than the Bubonic Plague, the Spanish Flu, the Bird Flu, or the Corona Virus, and will eventually effect everyone. Except that there will be no vaccine. Stay silent, and soon you will have lost all your freedoms. It's fine if you don't want to get on the streets with signs and banners. But the least you can do is to write about it, and make some noise. (image by freepik).

 

History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people. 

—Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Artistic Freedom

My cousin and I planned to go see A Complete Unknown at a theater in Santa Monica next to the Elephant restaurant where we ended up having espresso martini afterwards, and discuss the movie. It's on DVD already, but we wanted to support the disappearing movie theaters. If you are a creative, such as a musician. a writer, an actor, an artist, or ..., you should see this movie. It is difficult for artists to thrive unless they succumb to what is expected. This pressure on artists oftentimes kills their creativity. (image by KoolShooters)

Speaking from a writer's perspective, we are squeezed to fit a mold, and any departure from that mold renders us untalented—such as "show, don't tell," or "your book must belong to a genre or it will not succeed," and so on and so forth. Writers who are different are not accepted by the elitists, the literary society, and the mainstream editors. The critics, reviewers, and readers jump all over the writer if their work does not fit in the status quo. And this is no different in the music industry. (image by Mohamed_hassan)

Bob Dylan, portrayed by the actor Timothée Chalamet, is a young hungry musician, who at the beginning of his career, does as he is told to make a name for himself. Even so, he is direct, and has no problem telling people off when they're in the wrong. As he gains fame, he realizes that being famous isn't all that it's cut out to be, and the strain of fans following him everywhere, touching him, and never giving him a moment of peace starts to wear him down. He keeps going back to his ex, Suze Rotolo, portrayed by the actress Elle Fanning, because he feels at home when he is with her. (image by Porapak Apichodilok)

When he cheats on Rotolo with Joan Baez, she leaves him. Dylan is attracted to Joan because of her beauty, talent and fame and because they are both musicians. However, Joan Baez has a different vision for the two of them, a vision that later Dylan realizes they do not share. She wants him to continue in the same path, and he wants to do something different. He wants to write new songs and play his electric guitar which gives off sounds that people living during that time period were not familiar with and did not enjoy. It ends up with the sponsors, the crowd, and Joan hating him for wanting to vary his path. (image by Yabee Eusebio)

The next day, I was talking to someone about this who said, well, he was getting paid for his work, and there were certain expectations from him. And I get this. It is a business, the sponsors want to make money, and the audience wants to get their money's worth. But here is the thing, some people embrace fame and do as they're told. Others, like Bob Dylan, think that they want fame, but once they get it, they realize that it isn't all that it's cut out to be. Bob Dylan wanted to express his creativity and not be defined by other people's desires. What was interesting was that after everything blew over, Dylan went on to do amazing work, and his electric guitar music, and his songs captivated the hearts of audiences everywhere. The sad part was that he lost his girl because she couldn't compete with the likes of Joan Baez, and his fans. Suze knew that she would always take back stage in his life, and left him. (image by Alena Darme)

This movie brought back so many memories. My brother, and our two childhood friends used to play Bob Dylan and Joan Baez songs all the time. And some of the musicians portrayed by the actors in the movie are so familiar that I felt as though I had stepped back in time to when I was thirteen. Dylan and Baez were from a different generation, but we all enjoyed listening to their records. Yes, records and not sound tracks, CDs, and downloads. (image by Elviss Railijs Bitāns)

I highly recommend this movie, especially if you are a creative, or are familiar with their music. And although this movie has been out for quite some time, if you are able to, see it at the movie theater, because sometimes you run into the strangest people, and have a good laugh. My cousin and I were seated towards the back, and this lady seated five rows down yelled at us for speaking too loudly. Mind you, the movie had not started. There were not even commercials on the screen. My cousin and I are generally not loud people. My cousin bickered with the lady, and then turned to me, and said, this isn't a spa, which made me laugh. Later when the movie came on, the same lady was singing along with the musicians on the screen. And I almost went up to her to say, "Hey, be quiet. I want to listen to their singing and not to yours." So, there you have it. The joy of attending public venues. (image by Nadin Sh)

Astra Lumina and caffé Bene 

Having forgotten all about the Oscars, I had plans to celebrate my friend's birthday a week early. On a freezing night with painful winds, we headed out to South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes Estates for a light show called Astra Lumina. Their website describes it as a walk among the cosmic stars. It seems that many exhibits today are focusing on light, music, and their effects on our senses.

Couple of things to note: 

1. You have to either sign your email releasing them of any liability or sign on their tablet once you get there or they will not let you in. 

2. They have one of those annoying airport security thing that you have to pass through. 

3. If you have any type of mobility or vision issues, this venue is not for you. It's pitch dark, and the trail is uneven. 

We were lucky that it was the Oscars, and there weren't too many people there. When they told us to follow the yellow lights, I felt as though I was in Wizard of Oz.

Take a look at the above video and the picture that follows it (a screen shot of the video). When we were there, we did not notice that image until I loaded it on my laptop. Also, when you first watch the video, there are only trees. The image appears later. I'm guessing it's an illusion created by light. But how come the other videos on YouTube, don't have that image? Weird!

Well, the temperature wasn't below zero degrees, obviously. But hey, I'm from L.A, and anything that falls below 60 degrees is freezing.

You see those lights on the ground in the above video, they make you feel dizzy when you're walking, specially in the dark where you can't see the bumps and lumps on the trail. So here, my friend and I were talking about how you need to be there to experience it, because videos are one dimensional and you need all your senses to take in everything.

Again, have a look at the video above, and the photo below it. My friend and I did not see that object and it wasn't until I got home that I noticed it on my laptop.

Almost time to leave. We were complaining about the tablet that they made us sign. It didn't work properly, and they kept saying sign it even though I had made several attempts as the wind blew my hair into my eyes, and I was getting irritated with the whole thing. I mean, if it was so important for them to get our signatures, why not make it a point to sign in, or agree in the email instead of putting it in fine print where no one would pay attention. 

There were a few other things there that I didn't cover here. It was good, overall. Would have been nicer if it was warmer. But this was not the highlight of the evening. You will see it next as we began looking for a place to have tea.

Google gave us Caffé Bene as a nearby place in Torrance. Neither of us had ever been there. We got there an hour before closing time, ordered Chai tea latte which was meh, and went to sit down.

Now, most places don't close at the exact closing time. They stop serving, but they let their customers hang out for a bit. Not this place.

At precisely 10 p.m, a school bell rings and a song comes over the speakers: it's time to go home...thank you for coming by...It's time to say goodbye...goodbye...see you again. In all my life of living here and travelling, this was the first for me as I watched everyone line up in an orderly fashion and leave. 

After getting over the initial shock of the school bell, the song, and everyone doing as they were told, my friend and I had a good laugh. It reminded me of when my niece was four, and her mom would sing, "Clean up, clean up, everybody clean up," as the two would go around the house cleaning up the mess my niece had made. If you're ever in Torrance, you must try this café before closing time. It was quite an interesting experience. 

A Tribute to Gene Hackman

It was disheartening to find out that one of my favorite actors died along with his wife and dog. I'm not into being a "fan." Well, maybe when I was a teenager, but as an adult, I don't chase people down, grab them, or try to photograph them. If I like someone, it would be because I like them for who they are, and their talent as an actor, musician, or artist, and not their status. Gene Hackman was one of my all-time favorite people. I have had run ins with some nasty people and their offspring in Hollywood, and he was not like that.

Once long ago, he stood behind me in line with his friend when I was picking up my car from the service department. I turned discreetly to glance over because my brother had asked me if it was him. Hackman realized that he had been spotted, and gave me a big old smile. The vibes that I got from him, and my intuition told me that this guy was humble, kind, and friendly. I'll always remember that day, and it makes me so sad to hear about what happened to him, and his family.

The two awful things here are that according to the papers, his and his wife's death may not have been natural deaths, and two, no one knew about it for two whole weeks! If my family doesn't hear from me for a day, They'll call the police, the fire department, the county sheriff, and who knows who else. Not a single person tried to get in touch with them for two weeks?

When I lived abroad, a student didn't show up to class for a few days, and our teacher was asking the entire class if anybody knew what happened to him, and where he lived, because she was worried. She asked us to go check-in on him, and see if he needs help.

I had a French neighbor at the time who spoke incessantly, and I dreaded running into her everyday. Then one day, I realized that I hadn't heard from her for two days. I knocked on her door, to see if she was alright.  She was so happy, because apparently, no one else cared about her, not even her parents. She said that she had been sick. I offered to get her soup and medicine. She wasn't even my friend, and I got worried all the same.

I call or text my friends and family regularly. I want to make sure that they're doing okay. I think that it's important to look out for people we care about.

Rest in peace Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa, and dog. You will be missed. 

A Dublin Stroll

So many things went wrong, and strange things happened in the past week that I cannot even explain it. It felt as though I was enveloped in negative energy. Life is beginning to fall into place. I hope that nothing else will go wrong. Here are some pictures and videos of the areas I visited while in Dublin.

I stayed at Mespil hotel, and do recommend. It's situated in a local area, a 30-minute walk to the city center, and a 12-minute stroll to the museum of literature, and St. Stephens Green. As you can see, I love to walk. That's how I learn about a city, and where everything is located. The views above are of banks of Grand Canal across the street from where I lodged (sorry about the quality of the videos. I had to change the resolution in order to post it on Blogger.) It was under construction at the time. I imagine that it would look much nicer when the fences are removed. 

I bought a sandwich from a nearby market, and went to sit on one of the benches along the canal. Well, I shouldn't say "eat," because the birds got to eat most of it. As soon as I unwrapped my food, they all joined me. I ate the vegetables inside, and they ate all the bread. But that was fine by me. I don't mind sharing with my fellow nonhumans. 

Dublin has a deep past, and every corner you turn, you recognize various figures who marked their name in history. During one of my walks, I ran into Pembroke Road lined with beautiful trees, and Georgian style buildings, steps away from my hotel. I discovered something that I never expected. Who knew that I was staying so close to the home of one of my favorite people, an activist, and a musician. At the entrance of Lansdowne hotel, I noticed a tribute to Sinéad O'Conner, indicating her place of birth at 13 Pembroke Road.

I walked up and down the street, and asked around to find the address. The above is a photo of where she was born. I spent a good amount of time there, trying to figure out which one was the place where she was born. But no luck. Still, I was happy to be there. I like her because she was different, not because she tried to be different, but because she just was. She didn't follow the herd, and had a voice.

This picture was taken when I was going through the residential part of Grafton Street. After a British Royal died, the Irish were told to paint their doors black in mourning. Given the friction between Ireland and Britain, the Irish painted their doors in bright colors in defiance.

I was to meet up with my friend Dominika, but I had arrived too early. Of course, there was a gelato shop, 💙 Cloud Nine, right there at the Bachelor's Walk along the Liffey River, and I just had to try it out. It was yum. Cloud Nine has several locations. In fact, when it comes to gelato, Dublin puts us to shame where texture, taste, and creativity is concerned.   

La Jolla

Saturday. After all that rain, I needed fresh air, sunshine and some fun. So, I headed out to San Diego. If you live in L.A, it's best to leave early. I didn't, and hit a ton of traffic. I used to visit La Jolla all the time. My friend lived there before she moved to Palos Verdes, and I spent many relaxing weekends with her and her husband at her house. Of course, La Jolla has changed a lot since then. It went from being a sleepy neighborhood to a happening one. It's packed with unique boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and whatnot. It even has a Haageen-Daz ice-cream shop! I didn't even know that they were still around. The best part about La Jolla is the sea views. Nature is more beautiful than anything manmade.

I hadn't eaten all day. So, my first stop was Shiku Sushi I had heard so much about. I have to say that the food is fresh and tasty. They are super busy. It's best to go there at an off hour. I tried the Miso, the Veggie Yakisoba (Whoops, forgot to take a photo 😏), Agedashi Tofu, green tea, and green tea mochi. My favorite was the Agedashi Tofu. So yum. I wanted to try everything, and ended up taking a bunch of stuff home minus the mochi, because, well, I live too far away. I also got a take away order of Tofu Geisha. It's better to go there with a couple of people and share so that you don't end up with leftovers. If I lived in the area, I would probably eat there quite often.

I decided to get a palm reading for the fun of it. I honestly didn't think there would be several people waiting. I guess this is a popular place. It's on Prospect Avenue. I can't recall the psychic's name. She forgot to give me her card, but I think she is the owner. Now, I'm a difficult person to figure out. So, Psychics either guess and get most of it wrong or they have to ask me a bunch of questions about my family and past relationships in order to guess better. To my surprise though, she got a few things right such as telling me that about ten years ago or so I lost someone which had a great impact on me, and changed me into a different person. I have no idea how she knew that. The person I lost was my mom, and I did become a different person. 

I went into this art gallery. The local artist, Ian Ely, has a lot of incredible pieces of nature. They were out of my budget, but Kristina, the sales rep, also offered prints of the work, and explained how the different versions of the same photograph were set up. She took me into a tiny room, and showed me the effect of different light settings as it dimmed slowly and changed the look of the photograph.

This is a nice hotel. I went in to explore. There was an event going on with people dressed up, drinking, and socializing. There is a restaurant/bar area. The views are spectacular, and the staff are friendly. Whether you're visiting L.A or live in the area, I highly recommend coming down to La Jolla. At first glance, parking seems to be difficult to find, but if you are patient, you will find a space. There are also a bunch of parking lots. And when you finally get there, do take your time to take in all that it has to offer, and spend an entire day there. I wish I had.

Sunday update: I'm eating the leftover Tofu Geisha from Shiku Sushi for Brunch. It's really good even as a leftover.

Valentines Day 2025

It's a day devoted to love, not that love needs a day. We are all complicated creatures, and oftentimes, it is difficult to understand each other. But all things come from love. We just have to open our hearts, so that we can appreciate what's around us. If you're in a relationship, enjoy your time with the person you're with. For those of you who are single, treat yourself to something you love. As for me, I love to travel, and I don't have to always go far. It can just be a day trip. Today, I had a busy day, running errands after all the rain, but tomorrow is full of possibilities. I may indeed drive down to San Diego. I haven't been there in quite sometime. (image by sakshamsy)

For now, I will leave you with a sonnet. I'm not good with poetry, but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate a good sonnet. (background image by asrulaqroni)

  

Customer Service

Customer service can make or break you. One of my favorite places in L.A is Little Tokyo. I've written about it in this blog, but I haven't been there in a longtime. I wanted to buy someone some candy, and the internet recommended a shop which I will not name here, because it's a mom-and-pop store, and I want to vent about the way I was treated without hurting their business. I put in their address in my phone, and followed the GPS to get there. I had no idea what was good, and I usually don't like to get sweets or food for someone without trying it first.

The customer waiting in line in front of me raved about one of their candies, and I thought I buy a sample before getting other things. The guy behind the register said that they don't accept anything in cards below $15. After I paid him in cash, I decided to try it. The guy said: Sorry, you can't eat in here. I said: I want to buy a bunch of other things, but first, I want to see how I like this. He said: This isn't a restaurant. The owner, an older lady, passed me a dirty look. So, I walked out, and tried the candy outside of the store. It was awful, I threw it out, and walked away. (Image by Wolf Art)

I have travelled to Japan. I know all about their strict rules, and their refusal to bend. But here's the thing. This business is not in Japan. It is in the U.S. There will be American customers going into that store, and getting treated rudely. I thought that the cashier's response was disrespectful, and the owner was rude as she stared at me with tight lips as though I had committed a crime by asking a question. (image by Satoshi Hirayama)

I get it. I once owned a high-end clothing store. Customers and their toddlers would come in with food, and touch the clothes with sticky fingers. One lady knocked over a large size soda all over my silk shirts and damaged them, forcing me to put up a sign, asking customers to please not eat in the store while shopping. But that was different. My business sold clothes. Here, I was in a candy store. Many places that sell sweets even go as far as allowing you to sample things. I wasn't even asking for that. I had already paid for my item. Anyway, I will never return to that store. (image by topntp26)

I ended up going to one of my favorite markets, Nijiya Market, and asked an employee if it was okay if I sampled stuff, and pay for them at the register. She had no problem with it, neither did the cashier. I got two boxes of chocolate, and cookies, one to try to see if it was good, and one to give away, and a bunch of other things. I should have come to this store in the first place. It's just that I wanted to get the sweets from a candy artisan. A mistake. Poor customer service is a pet peeve of mine. I simply walk out, and never return.