BYE BYE 2016

IT''S A WRAP

2016 has been a year for the record books.

Personally it has been like watching a runaway train. I have said for years that Americans live in a JERRY SPRINGER WORLD.

The whole world got to witness the absurdity of the election with Donald Trump stealing the election due to a system that does not work. The Electoral

College.  UNBELIEVABLE?

But not surprising.

Just to be very CLEAR.  HILLARY CLINTON won the popular vote by nearly 3 MILLION VOTES.

WHat is INSANE to me is there is proof THE RUSSIANS HACKED THE ELECTION

Still Trump is being sworn in in January. I NEED SOMEONE TO EXPLAIN THIS ONE TO ME.

ABSOLUTE DISASTER.

Embarrassed to be a white man in RACIST AMERICA. THe wreckage will be revealed in time and be massive I am sure.

I WISH US ALL WELL.

NOT MY PRESIDENT EVER!'!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On a personal note my year has been pretty good. I left Los Angeles 8 months ago and said  YES to my new journey of TRAVEL & ADVENTURE.

My first stop was Alaska which was always a bucket list trip for me. I had the great pleasure of road tripping and working in Alaska over the summer and got to meet some amazing and beautiful souls that I was so blessed to have along for my summer journey. I than took an AMAZING road trip through Canada Such beautiful landscape that I was able to photograph.

The ABUNDANCE of beauty that was before my eyes is something that I will never forget.
Thankfully being a photograph much of the landscape I did capture for my portfolio.

I was than given an opportunity to drive this beautiful journey again and drove all the way back to Alaska to work at Chena Hot Springs. By saying yes I allowed myself to be there to shoot the NORTHERN LIGHTS.  TRULY MAGICAL. Also blessed to be reunited with a friend who I had not seen in over 25 years and facilitate their dream to visit Alaska and see the lights.

I AM BLESSED.

Before leaving to begin my journey I had the difficult decision to leave another group of co-workers who welcomed me with open arms.

I thank all that have traveled this journey with me this year. I am a better person fo crossing paths with all of you.

I am finishing my year her in the ROCKY MOUNTAINS of COLORADO.
Beautiful place to be. I am reunited with some of my Denali friends.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ADVENTURES OF 2017.

My wish for all of you,
 JUST SAY YES TO YOUR LIFE.LIVE YOUR DREAMS FOLLOW YOUR PASSIONS.

SITTING STILL

Sitting Still.

I always ask, what is the LESSON????

I think for me the lesson is THE GRASS IS NOT ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE.

We/I  often think things are better elsewhere or we would be happier elsewhere.

NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

I am a traveler with crazy wanderlust. I also get antsy and bored easily.

At 50 years old there is a lot to see and do. I want to SEE & DO as much as I can.

The one thing for me being my age and never really mastering the act of PATIENCE,  is after spending 30 years in Los Angeles I am pretty quick to move if something is not working.

I understand that when a farmer plants his crops he has to tend to the crops and WAIT before he/I/We are able to enjoy the HARVEST.

I am being tested right now.

I have a tendancy of not trusting my instincts and going against what I know is the right thing for me to do.

I am great at SELF SABOTAGE.  I just may have sabotaged myself again.

WHY??????? Because I have not learned to SIT STILL.

SOMETIMES THE BEST SOLUTION IS TO STAY PUT.

It is ok to ride out the STORM. Whatever your storm may be.

After a storm there is usually a RAINBOW, CLEAR SKIES & OPEN ROADS.

My lesson that I hopefully will get at some point.  IT IS OK TO RIDE OUT THE STORM.
 IT WILL PASS.

Wishing all of you RAINBOWS, CLEAR SKIES, OPEN ROADS  & LIGHT as your JOURNEY CONTINUES.

Peace & Blessings.

LEAP 4 LIFE

LEAP 4 LIFE

I am a firm believer that in order to LIVE LIFE rather just move through life you must LEAP.

When you LEAP, you have to do it in FAITH. You need to TRUST that you having the COURAGE to say YES to LIFE. Once you say YES the UNIVERSE will support you.

We were put on this earth to NOT just go through the motions of living.

We all have a FIRE within us, a DREAM for our lives.

I believe that our mission in life is to follow our dreams and passions.
NOT ALWAYS EASY I KNOW.

It is the FIRE we have within ourselves that gives our life PURPOSE.

Some of us BOLDLY decide to live FULLOUT.

But the majority of people have been conditioned by FAMILY,SOCIETY, FEAR to play SAFE.

Playing SAFE to me is EQUAL TO NOT LIVING AT ALL.

My experience with interacting with all kinds of people is those that are living in FEAR or according to Societal  rules are not really feeling fufilled or satisfied with their lives.

They are afraid of EVERYTHING.

What they are afraind of mostly is saying YES to living their lives on their terms.

TIME IS PRECIOUS.

I learned this very young. Especially being an artist/creative being through years of struggle.
MONEY CAN ALWAYS BE MADE.

ONCE TIME IS GONE, IT IS GONE FOREVER.

ALSO TIME MOVES VERY QUICKLY.

We are given ONE LIFE TO LIVE. We might as well live it the way we want. I mean after all it is our LIFE.

Why would you allow someone else to tell you how to live your life.

I hope those of you who may come across my writings and my photography be inspired to take that LEAP FOR LIFE.

Peace and Joy Always........IT IS YOUR BIRTH RIGHT TO LIVE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE.

GET OUT OF YOUR WAY. GO LIVE LIFE.

LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE.......THE ROAD IS OPEN......THE MOUNTAIN CAN BE CLIMBED.

WE GET TO CHOOSE/DESIGN THE LIFE WE WANT. DESIGN/CHOOSE/LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE NOW. 

WALKING THROUGH DARKNESS. YET AGAIN.

ORLANDO 2016

PULSE NIGHT CLUB.

This week the United States has suffered the largest loss of life since  9/11 at the hands of a terrorist.

103 PEOPLE SHOT
49  PEOPLE KILLED by the hands of ONE sick individual with hate in his heart.

As more and more news is being revealed we are finding out that the KILLER himself was a mentally ill individual who was conflicted by his own sexuality.

This attack hits close to home. The LGBT Community was specifically targeted by this crazed lunatic who set in motion and carried out this attack because he was bothered by two men kissing.

REALLY?  GO FUCK YOURSELF.

HOMOPHOBIA KILLS.

EVERYONE has the right to live their lives without the fear of being MURDERED for who they love.

103 people TERRORIZED by this lunatic who was filled with self-hate and not being able to accept his own struggles.

The details are still being investigated.  Possibly seeing those two men kissing hew was seeing a life he desired but could never have.

Him going to PULSE he was witness to people LIVING THEIR LIVES FREELY without the pressure of not being accepted by family or religion.

SO SO SAD.

I have cried many of tears at the fact that hundreds of peoples lives have been DIRECTLY & INDIRECTLY  been affected yet again by HATRED.

LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE.

SELF ACCEPTANCE IS THE KEY TO SELF LOVE.

JUST BE YOU.

WE WILL RISE.

My HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES to the families of the 49 SOULS who have embarked on a brand new journey.  GOD SPEED.

To those injured and suffering. My wish for you all is a SPEEDY & FULL RECOVERY both physically and emotionally.

I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS & PAIN.

WE OUR ORLANDO.

I PULSE.......THE PULSE OF LOVE. WE ARE ONE.

Seeing the LOVE AND SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD IS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO WITNESS.   Sorry it has taken such a horrible event like this to pull people together yet again.

CHANGE WILL HAPPEN IN YOUR MEMORY.


I POST THESE IMAGES AS MY WISH FOR YOUR NEW JOURNEY AND THE BEAUTY YOU WILL ALL BE SURROUNDED BY.

FRESH AIR.

FRESH AIR.

On May 6, 2016 I arrived in ALASKA after deciding to leave Los Angeles for a second time after doing a 3 year stint this time.

My departure took me on a roadtrip from Los Angeles to Denali State Park in Trapper Creek Alaska.

3500 MILES & 13 DAYS on the road was exaclty what I needed and very SOUL SATISFYING.

I was able to catch up with some friends and able to meet new friends.  Some of the old friends I had not seen in 12 plus years. It was great to catch up. Really seemed like no time had gone by. Funny how that happens.

Thank you all for giving me a place to sleep and a meal to eat on the journey. But most of all for sharing your TIME.

I understand the IMPORTANCE & VALUE of one time. I appreciate yours.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

For the past 7-8 years, I HAVE MADE A POINT OF SPENDING MY BIRTHDAY IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE WORLD.

This birthday was a BIG ONE.

I turned 50.

 I am thankful for the gift of LIFE.

I have grown up in a time where many man and woman were not afforded that LUXURY.

I am so happy that I was able to give myself the time for the drive and I was able to give myself the GIFT of once again being out in the WORLD on a new ADVENTURE.

Alaska has been on the BUCKETLIST for quite sometime.

ALASKA you have been even more SPECTACULAR than even I imagined.

I am truly BLESSED.

The landscape and the CLEAN FRESH AIR has allowed me to RECHARGE & BREATHE again.

We all have CHOICES to make in life.

Mine has been to live a life of ADVENTURE  & GROWTH..

I have not always lived this way, even though I have wanted to.

For me life is about LIVING.
I don't want to and have no interest in just EXISTING.

So with that I am able to BREATHE.

I encourage you all to listen to the SONG IN YOUR HEART.

What makes you HAPPY & JOYFUL??????????

SEEK IT OUT IT IS YOUR BIRTH RIGHT.

PEACE & BLESSINGS

PASSING BY

PASSING BY.

WHAT IS PASSING BY?  LIFE.

We only have the NOW.  As I MOVING QUICKLY towards 50.

I am making CHANGES, REFLECTING & Setting INTENTIONS to move into the next PHASE.

Call it the SECOND HALF/CHAPTER or the FINAL CHAPTER. WHO KNOWS.


I don't know what it all means. What I do know is that I am so HAPPY  that I am WILLING & have the COURAGE to step outside the box and GO ON THE RIDE.

Throughout my life I have made alot of MISTAKES. I have made MANY, MANY WRONG CHOICES.

But I am not sure they were mistakes and wrong choices. MY BELIEF is that we are exactly where we are suppose to be in life when we are there.

Lessons to be learned either for ourselves or for others.

I am looking forward to getting out on the road and getting back intouch with my CREATIVE & SPIRITUAL SELF.

I am excited by the mystery of it all and of the NOT KNOWING.

By not knowing I am left to TRUST.

I DO.

I trust that EVERYTHING IS REVEALED IN ITS PERFECT TIME.

The key that I have discovered that works for me is to LIVE to the best of my ability.

I want to take the time to thank my mom for teaching me to have COMPASSION and to be a KIND &CARING Human being.  Especially living today in this world where so many are OBLIVIOUS to there surroundings and are only SELF INVOVED.

I encourage us all to be a little KINDER as we move through our day and our LIVES.

There is so much craziness in the World today.

My heart goes out to all those involved and those who lost their lives in yet another act of HATE in BELGIUM. PRAYERS FOR BELGIUM.

I also wanted to send love and light to childhood friends whose son went missing on Christmas Day and was found almost ten weeks later when his body was returned to the family.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO GO OUT ON A LIMB.

We only live once. LETS MAKE IT COUNT.

This painting was done by the very talented Thom Bierdz

TIME FOR CHANGE

TIME FOR CHANGE.

THE WORD ARRIVED TODAY.

I can begin to wind down my life here in Los Angeles.

Last year before I got the job at the Westin Bonaventure I was ready to trade in mylife in LA for life back on the road.

Once I got the JOB. That is what it is and has been.

 I would see how things would work out.  Of course as soon as I got the job, I also got an opportunity to go and work in Alaska for the season which I pursued and was offered the job. Unfortunately they would not let me sublease my place so I passed on the job.

I knew it was something I was interested in doing so I kept the lines of communication open and stayed in contact and this year they have offered me the job.

So here I haved received what I have asked for which is GREAT.
So why am  I now beginning to have doubts. WHY? I am not really having doubts. I know this is a great opportunity for me.

FEAR. FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL.

This will allow me to take a 4200 mile roadtrip through the Pacific Northwest and Alaska which is a part of the country I have not yet visited but have always wanted to.

ALASKA has always been a BUCKETLIST TRIP I have wanted to take.

It allows me to take a few weeks off and than have a job for 4.5 months.

What does all of this mean?   I get to finally leave LA and the hotel which has been a steady gig, my first since leaving LA IN 09 The one bad thing leaving the job is that I honestly really sincerely like and enjoy everyone that I work with.

So it removes the safety net which has given me reason after reason to not focus my energies on my passion and dreams. I have allowed my self to SELLOUT for the SECURITY of a PAYCHECK.

Actually I need to cut myself some slack. I did what I neeeded to do.  THAT IS OK.

That is NOT WHO I AM.

Getting out on the road I am TRUSTING will get me back in touch with my SOUL.

I am going IN SEARCH OF FOOD FOR THE SOUL.

I am trying to do a plus and minus for taking the job and leaving LA.  I need to keep telling myself CHANGE IS GOOD. CHANGE IS WHAT FEEDS MY SOUL. I NEED TO TRUST.

I KNOW I AM A SURVIVOR.

I am 8 weeks from turning 50. THE BIG 50.
I am full of GRATITUDE FOR THIS GIFT. So many were not given the opportunity.

It is time for an ADVENTURE. This is a good thing.
LIFE IS ABOUT MOVEMENT. I NEED TO GO WITH THE FLOW.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ANSWER THE CALL.

TIME TO GO OUT ON A LIMB. TRUSTING MY DECISION.

Art work by Thom Bierdz.

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

The middle of chapter two we get to celebrate the HOLIDAY OF LOVE.

VALENTINES DAY.

THE DAY OF LOVE.

This is the day where everyone gets to SHOW & SHARE your LOVE with whoever you may LOVE.

PARENTS
LOVERS
SIBLINGS
CO-WORKERS
HUSBAND AND WIVES
FRIENDS
PETS
NATURE

All of these loves are important and for those who are  able to share this love with one, a few or all we are truly blessed.

VALENTINES DAY as well as EVERYDAY is a great time to look in the mirror and to SHOW & SHOWER ourselves with the same kind of LOVE that we are so willing to share with others.

We need to put OURSELVES at the top of of lists and make us a PRIORITY.

It is only when we are able to MASTER the LOVE of SELF, that we will be fortunate enough to attract the love that we all so desire.

We must realize that we are ENOUGH & WORTHY of those other kinds of LOVE.

We need to OPEN OURSELVES UP TO THE ABUNDANCE OF LOVE FLOWING IN THE WORLD. WE DO THAT BY BEING A VESSEL OF LOVE OURSELVES.

We are here to make a differnece in the lives of others by being of SERVICE.

THAT IS LOVE.

LOVE IS LOVE.

LOVE SHOWS UP IN MANY FORMS.

BE OPEN TO LOVE.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WE MUST BE LOVING AND KIND TO OURSELVES.

2/21/95 MY GRANDMOTHER MADELINE CORINA TRANSITIONED.
I MISS HER EVERDAY BUT KNOW SHE IS WITH ME ALWAYS. THE BUTTERFLY IS MY SIGN FROM HER THAT SHE IS FINE AND I AM FINE.

CHAPTER 1.

CHAPTER 1.

As I  get ready to finish out my  first chapter in my book titled Life in 2016.

So far it has not been a book that grabs you from the get go. I am TRUSTING that all will change.
It has begun with some OBSTACLES that I need to overcome in order for the year to really take off.

There will be many changes taking place and adventures in 2016.

I have decided that I want to wrap up life in Los Angeles. I have spent almost the last 30 years of my life here.

I am ready to see what else life has to offer.

This is a big year for me.

I AM TURNING 50. OUCH. NO REALLY. OUCH.

Actually if I am being completely HONEST.
I am slightly bothered by this number. The reason I am bothered by turning 50 is because according to others and me comparing myself to others I feel like I should be much more accomplished and have more in my life.

That is my own INSECURITIES.

The one thing that I am around turning 50 is GRATEFUL.  I have worked on and off in the AIDS INDUSTRY SINCE practically the BEGINNING of the AIDS EPIDEMIC seeing so many promising men and women who never were afforded the opportunity to reach their FULL POTENTIAL and to LIVE a long HEALTHY LIFE.

So because of all of this,  I have decided that it was time to explore and see what else is out there. I have spent 30 years in a place that I feel has offered so little.

I came here for the DREAM.

IT DID NOT HAPPEN. I had so small successes but does not really sustain a life.

I have decided that I THINK I will be much HAPPIER in a smaller market able to do what I do.

It is also much easier to just work if that is what must be done. It is very DIFFICULT working a SURVIVAL JOB here in Los Angeles when you come here for the DREAM.

It has really messed with my HEAD & LIFE.

So the WHEELS ARE IN MOTION for a mid-APRIL DEPARTURE.

First thing on the AGENDA is a ROADTRIP to Alaska and Hopefully WORK.

Stay tuned.

Time to answer the call. Want to make sure 2016 is a book worth READING.

REACH FOR THE STARS....THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.

THE FREEDOM TOWER. I AM SETTING MYSELF FREE TO SEEK OUT A BETTER LIFE FOR MYSELF. WE ALL DESERVE TO BE FREE. 

CLEAN SLATE

CLEAN SLATE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016.

Here we are at the beginning of a NEW YEAR. which gives us the opportunity to ........

BEGIN AGAIN. START OVER. MAKE CHANGES.

We get to DESIGN the LIFE we WANT to LIVE.
We have the POWER.

It is actually not as difficult as we make it out to be.

We decide by the CHOICES that we make the way the year will play itself out.

If we WORK HARD,STAY FOCUSED on our GOALS, we really do have the POWER to MANIFEST the LIFE we WANT to LIVE.

Today is the beginning of a 365 day brand new JOURNEY OF 2016.

HOW WILL YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY?

What will the journey look like DAY 1, WEEK 1, MONTH 1?

As the DESIGNERS of this BEAUTIFUL GIFT we are so BLESSED to be granted called LIFE.

WE GET TO DECIDE. THE CHOICE IS OURS.

Remove the FEAR of the unknown. Trust in your abilities.

WE are more POWERFUL than we realize.
As we move forward into 2016, Let's move in knowing we are able to CREATE the changes in our LIVES as well as the CHANGES needed in the WORLD.

WE CAN DELIVER. JUS DO THE RIGHT THING.

I wish all of you a BLESSED JOURNEY as we move forward.

THANK YOU.
2 OF THE MOST POWEFUL WORDS WE COULD EVER SPEAK.
It is all about GRATITUDE.

I APPRECIATE all of you for being a part of my life, and I THANK YOU fo all of the LESSONS LEARNED and those that I am still learning.