Abandoned

A dog lies waiting for his friend,

and no one comes to his side.

Sad eyes seep sorrow,

but inside she hopes

for her friend to return.

Night turns to day,

although so grey.

Maybe tomorrow? 

I will hear him say:

"I'm home from work"

he'll fill my dish.

Maybe tomorrow,

a puppies wish.

The day did start,

the night did end.

What happened to the mans best friend?

Los Angeles Adventure's (cont) - The Old Man @ The Knickerbocker

Just like the song says, the sun was coming up over Santa Monica Blvd an I was having fun as I made my trek towards the beach to gather my belongings from my storage unit and bring them back to my dingy hotel room.  The air was cool and I decided just to walk awhile roaming the streets of Hollywood.  While walking I walked by The Knickerbocker when an old man called me over and he said hello.  "I'm not much of a technology guy" said the man, "you're a young guy, do you think you could come and help me get my cable working?".  The man offered to give me $100 if I could  assist him and I was eager to see the inside of this big, old Hollywood landmark and I obliged.

The stale smell of dust hit my nose as I walked into the building which has been a part of the Hollywood skyline for decades.  I was expecting glitz and glamour, but felt more like I was in an old folks home as I said hello to the doorman and was ushered into the building.  Riding up the vintage elevator my imagination ran wild thinking of all of the famous people throughout history who may have ridden up that same elevator.

The mans apartment unlocked the two locks on his door, his apartment was small and his furniture aged, there was a black and white picture of a sailor on the wall and he pointed to the TV which was an old box TV set on a stand next to a desk with a rotary phone and a bunch of pill bottles. "Not to many people come up here any more" said the old man. "I'm 85 years old, I used to have a girl who would come and help me, call in my

prescriptions and such, but now I am alone and an old man".   The wrinkled little man pointed over to the TV and walked into the other room and I went to his television to see what was wrong I checked the cables, I check the power before I quickly found out it was on the wrong channel and within minutes Judge Joe Brown was giving his verdict through the speakers.  "Thank you son, the man shouted from the other room, the money is on the table, leave a phone number in case I need help from you again."  I grabbed my money and left, once again feeling as if I had made nothing, into something.

As I mosey'd down the Boulevard I thought to myself how lucky I was, to be young and full of life and experiencing this amazing city in this magical way.  Today I caught a different bus than I had in the past, I rode towards the beach down Hollywood Boulevard through to Malibu and then South towards Santa Monica, the trail of the stars.

I hope you enjoy what you read, I have been writing about this adventure for a while now and you can go back and begin reading from the beginning of the consecutive entries, or you can go through my archives and read what was going through my mind while these stories were being formed, when they happened.

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until next time.

1 Love, 

-tilly

Los Angeles Adventures: Street Kids, Bo Burnham and Mad TV

                                         

Getting to go watch a TV show get filmed and get paid for it with two "street" kids isn't something that every can say that they have done, but I have. My friends were so excited, neither had ever a dream that there day would become like this and it made me feel great to see the glow on both of their faces. We quickly scurried past Capitol Records and down towards The Sunset Bronson Studio, picking up a Fifth of tequila on the way to help take the "edge" off. When we walked out of the store a pack of rough looking dudes walked by us and threatened to take my friends guitar if we didn't leave the area, we hastily moved forward, ignoring the barking laughter of the local street gang. As we neared the studio we realized that we had to get rid of that guitar and their baggage, ESPECIALLY the guitar and we found a house under construction and stashed the things inside and finished our tequila.

We arrived at the Studio as people were lining up for the show, one line was clearly tourists and people with tickets and the other was strictly for “paid” actors. We got in our appropriate line and laughed as we met other random characters who were waiting to get paid to watch a tv show and shared our stories. As we chatted and laughed I knew that my friends were having the time of their lives and I was too! Suddenly the crowd erupted in cheers and an Asian guy zipped on to the sidewalk on his skateboard, HOLY SHIT, it was Bobby Lee from MAD TV. Bobby was carrying a genuinely FUN energy as he shook hands and cracked jokes with a few people before he disappeared into another part of the studio across from where we were to work on “Talkshow with Spike Feresten”.

The crowd settled down and we were ushered into the studio before “the real” audience and were given the rundown of the show. I had no idea, who Spike was at the time and I learned that he was someone who used to write for Saturday Night Live and this was a late night talk show that was a half an hour, the special Guest was Bo Burnham and teen who achieved overnight fame for a YOU TUBE video that he had made for his brother who was in college, which was a song called “My Whole Family Thinks I am Gay”. The stage was set with nothing more than a couple of chairs and a desk and a piano.

Within’ minutes the light came on and we were instructed to cheer as Spike came out and delivered a brief comedy bit with jokes referencing marijuana and current events before introducing a young man he called “a young Steve Martin” and a nervous kid of around seventeen sat down at the piano. Bo was hysterical as he performed his overnight hit and had the crowd in tears with another. It was only a half hour show and we had so much fun that it seemed it was only a few minutes before we were being ushered back out to collect our money. When my turn came in the “money” line I collected my pay from the guy from the casting company when a guy in sunglasses hollered over that they needed 3-5 more people. “It’s your lucky day boys, MAD TV doesn’t have a full audience and they need a few of you guys to fill the seat”.

In Hollywood, when they select people to work on a TV show, especially one as famous as MAD TV, it is part luck and part looks and I was afraid that we wouldn’t all get picked for the show, I pushed my friends in front of me and hoped for the best. Our nerves were running a mile a minute as we waited to see if we would all get selected to watch the taping, “You guys, come with me” said the man. Ecstatic that we were picked and were going to be paid to watch MAD TV filmed we rushed into the already packed set riddled with props and little rooms for the various set that the IMPROV group would do.

We weren’t allowed to sit together for the show, we were filling empty seats, my friends were brought to the back, but I was rewarded with an end seat, to the left where I would literally view the filming as close to the actors as I could possibly be, it was an epic experience, never before have I seen people have so much fun doing their job, as the cast of MAD TV!

When the show commenced my pals thanked me and they went on their way, they had some cash and I imagine they were going to party down a little, maybe rent a room and we parted ways and I walked over to a big old historical days that had seen better days called “The Gilbert Hotel” As I lay in the bed in this musty old hotel in the heart of Hollywood, I dreamed of the actors and musicians throughout history who probably stayed in between these same walls while chasing their dreams, the Gilbert was a dump, but it quickly gained a place in my heart and would become my new residence for a while as I explored L.A.

Thank you all for bearing with the lapses in my story as I have begun a new job and have been learning a lot. As I had done before, you can click on the words that are links in my blog and view the actually videos and info on the people who I encountered in my journey! Helping the homeless became very fulfilling to me during these times. I hope my stories inspire you to do good thing and to follow your heart, it does not lead astray.

~1 love

Tilly

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Los Angeles Adventures: Taking Friends to Hollywood

I was exhausted the morning after my walk through the Los Angeles streets.  I went over to my storage unit at 7 AM and I gathered some gear for the day.  There would be much in store for the weekend and I had a lot to think about like where I was headed and how I would get there, why I had chosen this road less travelled and what its purpose was in my life.  I gathered up a beach umbrella and my headphones and headed out to the beach with the intentions of getting some daytime shut eye and preparing for the weekend at hand, after all, there was a party called GLOW being thrown on the beach tomorrow night and I was definitely going to investigate that.

Alone I rested under my umbrella until about noon time when I became hungry and I decided to go to the Jack in the Box for some lunch.  When I got there who did I saw my Native American friend Apache who was also with a long haired country boy, guitar strapped to his shoulder.  We sat down for our lunch and I learned that Zach had just caught a bus here from Birmingham, Alabama.  Zach said he was here to get into music or start a band and I took that for what it was, but I had a gut feeling that he was running from something. 

While we were eating lunch I got another call from one of the agencies that I was doing TV work with.  The woman on the phone asked me if I would be interested in working in the studio audience this evening for a taping of The Spike Feresten show which was featuring Bo Burnham.  I had no idea who Spike or Bo was, but I obliged and my friends needed some extra cash so I asked if I could bring them as well.  Needless to say my friends (who were literally living on the streets) were excited to make $120 to watch a TV show to get taped so we decided to head out to Hollywood to find some gear for them to wear for the taping, their current clothing had little to be desired.

I have to say, with little money to spend the task at hand was very difficult for my buddies, I mean Apache had been sleeping under the pier and Zach in a park so I had to dig deep into my repertoire. I’m pretty sure we hit every possible thrift store in Hollywood and I had almost gotten them all that they needed, but I couldn’t find any shoes that Zach could afford, also, they needed showers and I very well could not take them both into the 24 Hour Fitness and let them piggyback on my membership.  As we walked and wondered what to do next so we stopped by the library in Hollywood.  After sitting on the internet for a while I found a center in Hollywood which aided runaway teenage boys so a light bulb went off in my head, if I could convince the people at the center that Zach and Apache were teenage runaways, I bet I could get them some shoes and a shower.

The center was roughly 4 blocks away and when we walked in there were kids playing pool and darts and we were greeted by a large African American woman. Quickly, I did all of the talking and told her that my friends were travelling on the street and they needed some supplies for a job that I had found for them to work with me, the lady said that she could help and that they were in good hands so I told them I would be back in an hour and ran over to my favorite store to grab a nice shirt and then to the gym for a shower and clean up.  I walked back into the clinic an hour later and I looked all over for my friends and I couldn’t find them, kindly I asked the woman at the desk if she had seen them and she her face lit up with a smile “They’re right next to you” she said. I looked next to me and I could hardly recognize the two young men by my side, both had haircuts, were shaven and dressed like they were ready for a Saturday night on the town.  This was going to be interesting!

Los Angeles Adventures: The Belly of the Beast

I just wandered around that evening with no goal but to experience the streets, the cold and dark L.A. streets that the sunshine masks.  I wandered around Santa Monica until the last business closed drinking coffee and observing the people who slept on the streets and also those who stayed awake.  I began talking to folks, if I could and trying to gather the stories of each one and became intrigued with how they got there, or what their mission was.  The streets are an interesting mix of people who are self destruction, insane people and people who are chasing their dreams, survivors.  I became very intrigued with who I met and their story.

The people I met were that night were all different.  I met a boy who had hitchhiked the country and looked and smelled like a dumpster, his daily occupation was diving into dumpsters and collecting cans all day long.  The boy slept on a bench, right on the main street, exposed to the elements every night, with no blanket.  He told me he hiked the country and made money cleaning the rims on big trucks and he really liked the Insane Clown Posse".

I talked to and became friends with Bryce, a really clean cut middle aged guy who sat on a bench on the corner of the Promenade every day, all day in an expensive suit which he never changed and slept on a piece of cardboard behind a pizza place.  He was a real estate guy, he lost it all in one big swoop, the house in Beverly Hills, all of it and he had given up.  He had some things that he had salvaged which were in a storage unit, he carried nothing on his person, just his suit, which he never changed as he sat on the same bench day in and day out doing absolutely nothing.

As the evening turned to morning I passed by the bundled up bodies strewn across the Santa Monica beach towards the ocean, they were like parking cones, lining the sand and waiting for the beach police to drive by them and wake them up and tell them to move on, or take them to jail.  I heard a man screaming into the darkness and looked to my side and a big burly man named "Thor" was staring down on me, he told me he couldn't sleep and asked me for a cigarette and then walked away again, shouting curses at the darkness of the night.  I sat there for a while and watched him disappear into the mist, wondering what kind of bullet I had just dodged, the man was tormented.

Strolling down the beach I thought of how horrible it could be out here and I wondered what I had done to deserve the good fortune that came my way every day and be in the same environment as these folks.  I approached the lifeguard stands where me and m friends had bonded the previous nights and I saw a low rider bicycle parked next to the tower.  My friends were gone and that experience of my life was coming to a conclusion, I walked up to the our spot and a skinny shirtless tattooed man darted out of the darkness with a long shiny knife, he placed it at my neck and looked at me with an empty glare unlike any other I had ever seen.  "Go away motherfucker" said the man and I went.  My nights at the life guard stand between the towers had come to a close.  I brisked away and caught the bus and rode it until it came to its last stop.

The last stop on the bus was in Skid Row, it was almost as if life was showing me the worst of the worst, like I was on a safely guided tour on the brink of danger, watching the belly of the beast rumble from the inside out.  I wandered through the streets as the crackheads whisked by, people in tents, lining the streets, people in garbage and people on bikes.  There were screams and snores and the sounds of painful sex in the air and no one looked at me as I stared at them in both sympathy and disgust.  This was the bottom of the barrel that I was witnessing in real time and marched through it like a warrior off to battle.  There was a reason I was living this nightmare and walking through unscathed.  I rode the bus until daylight and would never return to this part of the city.  I was blessed and I had things to do so I began mapping the plans for what was next.

As always, thanks for reading.  I haven't been as consistent of late, but the story moves on.  Please share if you see fit and "like" me on Facebook Tilly's

Las Angeles Adventures: Giving and Being Grateful

My mission was clear as I walked up to the McDonald's to meet my friends for our morning cup of coffee, I was going to GIVE whenever I could and backlash at all negativity with good deeds, no matter how much I had.  After breakfast Sam and Carlos let me to the Drop-In center where Sam would be obtaining his ticket home via a program called "The Road Home".  We arrived at the center and my heart suddenly felt heavy as I watched the array of broken people wait in line for various services.  The center provided haircuts, mail, bag lunches,clothing and medical for the people of the streets of L.A.  I watched as drug addicts and families and veterans stood in lines to gather the r survival necessities. More and more I realized how much I had, even in having nothing and was grateful for my outlook on life, I was not broken.

Feeling the weight of the suffering of others on my shoulders I left and strolled off to the beach for some silent meditation. Seeing others who had nothing really made me see the blessings which were bestowed upon me.  I had my health, my charisma and looks and my mind was strong.  I saw how so many people had given up and I wondered the reason why and while I was in a similar circumstance I was not stuck, my perspective was one that was unlimited, yet I saw so many people who's situation was like my own who were stuck and had given up and it became my mission that day to spread the joy that I had found in any way that I could.

I spent the day on the beach that day, just me and the ocean and I thanked God for giving me this experience.  Never before in life had I felt so strong in a situation which was potentially so dangerous.  As the sun set on the Pacific I headed to Hollywood to see Sam off and I decided that my stay on the beach would be ending soon, there was a rave this weekend and after the party I would seek out an apartment and begin the next stage of my adventure.  As Sam said his goodbyes, I thought back at our time on the beach and the many stories he had to tell about the goodness of people across the land.  I made up my mind that from here on out, I, was going to be one of those good people.

Short and sweet today, the message is shared

and the turning point of my story was

this moment and it's theme implemented.

Thank You for reading

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L.A. Adventures: Breakin' Through

Stumbling across the stars I wobbled towards Highland and over to catch my bus to the beach.  As I sat on the bench and waited I was entertained by the transvestite’s turning tricks, every few moments there was an outburst and fancy cars with tinted windows would stop and pick up like they were New York taxicabs.   When the bus hit the corner, I popped in my headphones and kicked back for the 45 minute ride back to the beach with JimMorrison.

I felt like I was in another world when I arrived on the streets of Santa Monica after midnight.   I wandered down the empty Boulevard passing benches cluttered with blankets and bodies and the foul stench of unclean bodies.  When I reached the beach, I navigated my way through the sand towards the 2 towers which marked the life guard stand where I knew I would find my friends.  Fires are not allowed on the beach in L.A., but when I arrived my friends were sitting by the fire, Sam strumming his guitar.  “Genius” I thought when I saw the fireplace that they had constructed, they had dug a hole and on two sides built sandcastles as obstructions from the Police view and to kick onto the fire pending the sight of headlights creeping through the sand.

We sat and we laughed under the moonlight.  Sam had decided to that his journey was ending and he and Carlos told me about a place that they found a few blocks up which provided supplies for the people of the street.  Sam’s journey was coming to a close, he had crossed this great land with his guitar and it was time to go home and the people at this center were providing him with a ticket home in the morning.  As we drank and we talked my friend Carlos became a bit angry and began acting a fool.  Angry with him for ruining this perfect day with aggression I told him to stop and this large tattooed man got in my face.  Being the crazy little man that I am I stood my ground and told him he was acting a fool.  Moments later I hit the sand as he came across my head with a right hook.  This was the first sign of danger on these L.A. streets and for a moment, I awoke from my dream.

I had no backpack tonight and no supplies so angry and a bit drunk I walked away shouting and headed towards Malibu.  For the first time since I had arrived, I felt angry and scared and vulnerable.  As I trolled down the beach in my stupor I spied a Mexican family jumping out of a Van with plastic bags, Grandparent to Grandchild about six of them scurried across my beach to collect bottles and cans.  It was at this precise moment that I decided I would take my negatives and turn them into positives. “I will not be bound by fear and anger” I thought to myself, It was at this time that I decided that no matter what happened from now on, no matter how bad things were, I would do something good and find joy and I began collecting cans with the family.

We barely spoke into the morning as I filled bag after bag with my new friends.   Each bag I filled, I politely brought over to the stout woman by the van and a young child who sorted them and loaded them in.  As the time neared daylight I brought my last bag over with a smile and I thanked them in Spanish and walked away, I had gained nothing for the work that I had done with that family, but I HAD GAINED so much.  This deed on the beach brought me a peace which I cannot explain and provided fuel to my fire. I had broken through to the other side. 

I walked the streets until daylight passed lumps of flesh skewed about listening to a haunted man stomp the block screaming that the End was imminent.  I put in my earplugs to block out the tormented shouts of the disturbed man and drifted off in “TIME” by my dear friends Carlos and Patience – The Omega Project and drifted off.  I walked until the sun filled the sky. Content.

Thanks for coming back.  I hope that you find my stories interesting and that you might see things through my eyes as I experienced L.A.  Please click my links throughout the story which lead to the people and place's with me on my journey.  

"Like" me on Facebook  Tilly's

L.A. Adventures: Bingo America

If you didn’t already know, “The Valley” is where most of the pornography in the United States is filmed.   I was the laughing stock of my little crew when I told them I had to hurry and catch a bus to work on a “Bingo” show, no one believed me.  I packed my pack and headed over to the gym to grab a shower then headed to the Public Library in Hollywood to map out how I would get there.   Once I had plotted my course, I began what would be a 2 hour trek over to the TV studio to film the show.  I got off the bus in front of a car dealership in a weird area and searched for my location, as sweat beaded on my face I realized that “The Valley” was much hotter than the beach, like a 20 degree difference.

Finally I found the location of the studio, there was a Diner nearby so I grabbed a quick bite and then walked over to get into the already forming line of characters for the show.  I was surprised when I recognized a few people from the last show and a couple from the beach, one dude in particular was looking over at me and grinning.   I walked up and introduced myself as “Tilly” as I always did and he told me his name was Bill.  Bill was a clean cut looking guy around 30ish and he was with a girl name Jen.  We chatted for a while and I learned that Bill was also crashing on the beach, he claimed to have quit his job and dropped everything to put all of his money in foreign currency, he  was convinced that God came to him in a vision and the American Dollar was going to crash and riches were coming his way.

As the line grew longer the crew began selecting us and pairing us into groups outside of the studio, suddenly a red Maserati pulled up and out jumped Richard Karn.  A young African American guy called me and the Jen over and asked us to put on T-Shirts which had numbers on them, mine was G52.  We were ushered to our seats and the lights went on and a girl came out and explained to us the premise of the show.  The idea was, 2 contestants competed and were asked questions, they drew a “Bingo” number and if they got it right they would gain that spot.  I was “G52”.  Nervousness crept in and I felt a bit stupid when I realized that I would be standing up, A BINGO NUMBER, on Television.   We were told that we must celebrate for the camera with funny fake moves like slam dunks, or reeling a fish, when the answer was correct.  If the player got Bingo, we would get an extra fifty bucks.

All of a sudden I was shitting myself.  When the day began I thought I was going to have an easy day watching a game show get filmed and making an easy hundred bucks, now I realized that I was going to act like an ass for eight episodes on a film.  Jen, my “tv date” was also nervous as hell, she also didn’t know what was going on she handed me a Valuim and said “Fuck it, embrace it” and that’s what we did.

The lights went out and then came back and the stage was set, suddenly Fook Mi, (Diane Mizota) from Austin Powers was next to us in the crowd of Bingo Numbers cracking jokes, the situation was so weird I just started laughing and maybe even peed a little.  The excitement grew as between questions Richard cracked dirty jokes and cursed, obviously stoned out of his gourd. No sooner did I stop laughing when G52 was called I stood up and waited as the question was asked, the lady got her answer correct and now I had to respond with my goofy action, like The Sultan of Swat I pointed to the stands and gave my best home run swing!

The day went on and I was called on a few more times.  My new friend and I laughed our way all the way to the bank when we made a combined $425 for our day filming the show.  We chuckled as we left the show and got into a car with a new friend and headed to Hollywood for drinks and stories and more debauchery.  Fuck it, it was only GSN.

Thanks AGAIN for coming back.  If you watch re-runs of Bingo America on GSN there is a good chance

that you will spot me acting like a fool!  The whole thing

felt kind of like "Fear and Loathing" but it was really fun!

Please come back and read and "like" my page on face book. Tilly's

Los Angeles (cont) : City of the Night

The excitement of the day had my heart racing like an Indy car.  I quickly hit the pavement of the Boulevard and headed toward the café lined streets of the Santa Monica Promenade for a bite to eat.  I found a little pizza place about two blocks up and bought a slice of pizza.  I thought back to other times in my life when things were bad and when I was angry at the world, due to circumstance and I became grateful.  No sooner did I finish my pizza did the phone ring once again it was “Standing Room Only”, the girl on the phone asked is I was available to be an audience member again tomorrow.  I said “Sure” and asked her for details.  She told me that it was for a TV game show called “Bingo America” starring Richard Karn, from HOME IMPROVEMENT, as the host.  Ecstatic I said “Yes” and I was to report by 9 AM in The San Fernando Valley.  Feeling like I had just hit the game winning homerun I gathered my things and wandered towards the Pier to meet the boys and watch the Music On The Pier.

 As I walked away I noticed a man on the side of the road in nothing but shorts and chains.  His body was black with a grime which resembled soot and he was bound from head to toe with giant chains.  He reached his bound hands to the sky and shook his chains, looking up and cursing God.  I watched for a while as chills went down my spine as this man cried out to the Heavens in what appeared to be utter turmoil.  A couple walked by and handed him his doggy bag left over from their dinner, without even acknowledging them he stopped and disappeared into a doorway with his supper.  I wondered to myself what made this man so angry?  Why did he stand there in filth moaning and shaking his hands and cursing God?  He was so busy being miserable that he did not even notice, that it was the Earth which was feeding him. I scurried away and couldn’t help but remember a time, when that man in chains was I.

They call them “Twilight Concerts” and once a week in the summer all of the beach residents ride their bikes and their skateboards and bring their picnic baskets and dogs and set out on the Beach on the South side of the Pier to enjoy some free music and enjoy each other’s company.   As the sun sets the beach is littered with paper lunch bags with candles in their belly’s and music fills the air.  I instantly found my spot when I saw Apache and his orange BMX gathered around a small crowd. As the night went on some of the friends I had made so far arrived and we laughed made friends with tourists and partied down on the beach.

After a time, the music stopped and off on the little boardwalk I could see some people gathering, someone was setting up a microphone and speakers.  Instantly I realized who it was setting up on the beach, it was the crew I had seen playing by the volleyball courts the other night, it was John Rushton and his friends, “ContentLife”.  Within minutes Maricio began pounding the bongo and Cowboy the tambourine as John spit out the lyrics of what would later become my L.A. anthem “City of the Night”.  The music lasted into the wee hours of the night with people dancing like they were at  the Grateful Dead in '72.  A 15 ft man danced around the crowd (he was on stilts) and the night aged under the full moon.  As the evening progressed into morning the crowd dispersed and only a few of us were left and a few ones arrived.   A beautiful young girl began playing a giant accordion looking thing and chanting. 

There were spirits in the air that night.  I sat down on the beach mesmerized at the young lady making music.  I looked around me and there was fire, there were muses and mimes basking under the moons headlight shining through the fog.  A woman tapped on my shoulder, she had no face or not one that I could see, she opened up her bag and pointed inside “These are my cards she said” as she selected a deck from many.   “These are yours” and she began to shuffle a deck of playing cards with pictures of Marilyn Monroe on them.  She asked me to select some cards without looking and she flipped my cards out onto the sand.  “Never before has someone drawn all face cards in this particular order” she said and she delivered me my fortune.  Moments later the chants faded away and I was on the beach alone, “charisma” was the last thing I heard the wind whisper as I strolled to my hotel on the sand, my lifeguard tower.  Off in the distance I saw Sam and Carlos, Sam was playing his guitar while 3 girls sat on and admired.   In the words of Ice Cube “Today was a good day.”

Thanks for reading about my Adventures!  Please enjoy the links scattered throughout the story which lead to actual events, music and history.  I hope you come back often and that you are enjoying my saga.

ADD me on FACEBOOK TILLYS

`1 love

LA Adventures: Father Abraham and Some Red Bull

I introduced Sam and Carlos to my friends on Venice Boardwalk and went on my way alone, back towards Santa Monica.  Carlos and Sam did not have cell phones, so I was not sure how we would get in touch, but we agreed to meet back at the Pier around dusk.  I was only a few steps towards Santa Monica when I met Abraham.  Strolling through Venice is an adventure in itself and there are various artist types lining the street.  While admire some art I noticed a hippy van of sorts with a bunch of very strange and offensive art when I was approached by an older black man, maybe late fifties with dreadlocks.  “Yah hungry?” the man asked.  I looked up at this smiling man and replied that I wasn’t, but I knew some people who were.  He took me over to a giant tarp placed by his van and he lifted the massive piece of plastic, underneath was a variety of fresh produce.  Abraham told me to come back whenever I wished and to bring my friends “Ya never know what I got under there” he shouted “just tell ‘em to put the tarp back and don’t be greedy!”  I changed my mind and grabbed a cup of chopped pineapple from the dredheaded artist, thanked him and went on my way.

As I scrambled through the bikes and skateboards whisking through the packed streets, I thanked God for the people that were being placed into my life at this moment.  I was glad to be here NOW and grateful for how easy the cosmos were making things in this peculiar escapade.  I quietly kept to myself as I walked the bustling beach towards the town.   I walked up to a little beach side bodega and purchased a pack of smokes and  a $1 scratch off ticket.  As I prepared to depart from the store, out of the corner of my eye I spotted my Native American friend reading a comic book.  “Apache” I exclaimed! Wildly, my red skinned friend turned around and gave me a big smile, “C’mon bro” he said and then he hopped on a BMX big and raced towards the pier.

I could barely keep up as I watched my pal swerve in and out  of people ahead of me on his bike. I inched closer towards the pier and saw a crowd gathered all the way around it, out to the streets.  Suddenly, a loud blast of an air horn blew off and I looked towards the end of the pier and noticed that there was a giant ramp on the beach supplied by Red Bull, I looked up, and 3 parachuted figures dropped from the sky and onto the beach in front of me.  “What took you so long?” asked Apache.  My friend was quick like lightning and again vanished.  Within’ moments he was back, riding circles around me and laughing hysterically. “There’s a lot going on right now bro” he said.  Apache told me that a dude was getting ready to jump on a motorcycle over the entire pier and all of the rides.  We found a spot of and the corner and smoked a joint as a little man made his first approach to the ramp.

We sat on a giant rock and watched as the man made several attempts at the ramp when finally he sped up and hit the end.  Amazed, I looked up as two tires jetted into the sky and flew over the roller coaster on the Pier.  “Cool, stuffs about to happen” whispered my friend “I’m on a spirit walk, living off the land.” I learned that this evening there would be music on the pier and there was a some French guy who was designing a “Pop-Up” style “RAVE” on the beach for the weekend.  Things were about to get nuts.  After sitting for a while, my friend whizzed off once again, “I’ll see you again” and then he was gone.  I reached into the pocket of my cutoff Dickies and I grabbed my ticked and scratched, the ticket was called “Crazy 8’s” and I got 3, my paycheck today was $88.

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Los Angeles Adventures: Meet Sam, Meets Venice.

A tractor engine and the scraping of metal brushing the sand was becoming a familiar sound.  As the sun rose I was looked out on the Pacific Ocean and marveled at the idea that I had an ocean view.  I looked over and 'Los was writing in a spiral bound notebook and I barrelled over with laughter.  "Can you believe this is what the first thing you saw when you woke up?" I chuckled.  Carlos smiled and nodded.  It was pretty cool.  We packed up our camp and headed towards the pier laughing all the way.  We passed under the tunnel to the north side and out of the corner of my eye I spied a skinny kid in cowboy boots, a hat and a guitar passed out against the pier with a small guitar, a harmonica slung from his neck and a bottle of Jim Beam in hand.  I looked at Carlos and he looked at me and we laughed and approached the guy to see if he was OK.  

We were within 3 feet or so when this character popped to his feet like someone injected him with espresso and reached his hand out and introduced himself as Sam.  "Sammy Boy" was instantly likable, he awoke with a smile on his face and said he had wandered out from Michigan, originally not alone, but somewhere in the middle he lost his travel buddy so he kept going.  He spoke of how kind the people across the United States where and claimed to have an amazing ride, now he was here next to the pier.  Sam didn't have any luggage other than his guitar so he picked it up and walked along with us to the McDonald's on the corner.  We had some breakfast and got acquainted, grateful that we had all met at this point in our journeys.  Like little children, we were all free and anxious at the idea of endless possibilities, this moment in L.A.

Throughout the wandered around the Boardwalk a bit and eventually headed down to Venice Beach, Sam had not been there yet and I had not explored the neighboring beach nearly enough yet.  It wasn't long that we were in Venice before Sat down on the Boardwalk and decided to play.  I am not a hundred percent that I recall the song he played, but I remember it being "Baby Please Don't Go" by Muddy Waters in an energy unlike I had ever seen by a performer, within  minutes there were camera crews filming Sam play on the Venice Boardwalk on his second Day in town.. Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere we go.......

Thank you for coming back,  I can't explain the positive energy that was buzzing around myself and the people around me during my time in L.A. everything seemed scripted, like destiny and it was, we were living in the moment and unattached from all that's material and we were grateful for living it.  Come back often as I continue my story daily and please visit me on facebook  @ Tilly's

Los Angeles Adventures: Carlos and Content Life

Leaving Hollywood was pretty easy, I really preferred to be on the beach right now so when I awoke from my sleep with a throbbing headache I hightailed over to Santa Monica and Highland, grabbed some "Del Taco" and caught the express bus back towards Santa Monica.  I was ready for some beach time with my book "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle.  The beach would be packed and I decided to stay closer to the pier and see how my day would unfold.  I hit the bell at the end of the Boulevard and walked by the famous Pier entrance and headed along the side of the Pier towards the Volleyball courts.  I found my spot about 2 lifeguard towers south and relaxed with my book.

I sat on the beach for the whole day reading my book, I had nothing that I had to do, no calls, no meetings nothing.  Just me, the ocean and Echart.   I was learning a lot from my experience, I realized that as soon as I let go of worry I was the happiest I had ever been and that no matter what the circumstance, something good would come out of it.  I became content.  

Sometime towards dusk I heard a shout " Hey " a big Mexican guy was waving at me from a few spaces over. "I've seen you over there all day bro, what are you doing?".   I introduced myself as Tilly and informed him that I was "drifting" around and writing and planned on doing some odd jobs acting and see what happens. "Right now" I said "I'm sleeping on this beach, or I was before you hailed me."  Carlos told me that he had been in some trouble a while back and he was coming to L.A. from San Diego and he had no plan, other than he wanted to write music.  Carlos had arrived earlier that day by bus and just dropped himself on the beach like me.

Now I have to be frank, Carlos was quite an intimidating dude, he had a friendly warm smile but he was huge and he also had 51-50 tattooed on his eyelids which is California Police Code for "crazy".  Carlos and I hit is up right off of the bat and I trusted him, I decided to make him the first member of my "entourage" in L.A.  What better person to have on your side than a kind-hearted, amicable gangster Mexican guy with "CRAZY" tattooed on his EYE"S, as a roll dog.

Carlos and I spent the night smoking weed and hanging out by my lifeguard stand, he was so outgoing and everyone who walked by got to meet us as we sat on the beach drinking 40's and listening to The Stones.   Pen and pad in hand we both were grateful for where we were, no matter how we got there and we were convinced that this summer was going to be one of the best of our lives.  I told him about the music on the Pier and that tomorrow night the beach would be flooded with groups of people sitting in circles and listening to music.  It wasn't long before my new roll dog fell asleep on the beach and I wandered off for a late night walk of my own down to the bike path.

As I looked up at the sky and the beach and the tranquility of night in this overpopulated place I once again knew that magic was in the air.  I needed a cigarette and there was no store open in the area at this time so I headed past "Muscle Beach" and towards the Pier entrance hoping to find one, as I turned the corner I heard the sound of a bongo and the rapid firing voice of John David Rushton, covering Johnny Cash, Ring of Fire with machine gun blasting speed, in a sort of punk kind of way.

 There were only a few people standing around as John rapidly strummed his little guitar and a young Latin boy played the bongo.  I sat for a while until they were finished and introduced myself.  I told them my name was Tilly and John introduced his friend on the bongo and a guy in cowboy hat with a New Orleans accent.  They told me that they were here for the summer, to play their music on the beach and were staying down the way.  I told them I was here to act and experience life without rules, live in the moment and I was greeted with bright smiles. We are "Content Life" John said. We parted ways and went to our summer homes to retire for the evening.

Los Angeles Adventures: Hollyweird

I was erratically navigating my way down through a maze of tourists and old washed up Super Hero’s as I passed the ChineseTheatre at 10 pm.  My day was one for the photo albums but I had no pictures, just my pen.  I swiftly scurried to the Gym to pick up my back pack with the intentions of renting a room at a dive somewhere on Sunset.  When I got to the gym I was pleased with how the day had went and whether I had $250 or $2500000 I felt like the world was mine.  I walked through the 2 story labyrinth of sweaty, plastic, beefy folks and went straight to the hot tub, to relax and shut off my head.

 Shutting off my head seemed like a perfect idea when I peered across at the vacant hot tub surrounded by glass so I showered and then I hopped right in to soak in the day.  I wasn’t in the tub long before a (or what looked like a) 18 or 19 year old girl in a bikini sat beside me.  Reflecting on my day was not going to occur in this situation.  The girl introduced herself as Joy we began talking to me about normal stuff, where she was from and where I had been, when she looked over to me and asked me to touch her breast.  I was in shock and sort of thrown off at what was going on during this small talk and shyly asked if she was serious.  “Touch it” said Joy, tell me if it’s real.

As I evaluated the situation rapidly in my mind I was confused a bit, Joy did not have a big pair, maybe a “B” cup and she had a very petite frame, I wondered why she was asking me if they felt real.  I am a very analytic person and Joy thought is was funny and very laughed and told me her real name was Carlos.  Carlos informed me that he was only 15 years old and from El Salvador and had been living in L.A. as a 21 year old prostitute to the stars.  Carlos, had been in bed with lots of FAMOUS straight men and actually respected my keeping it real and we chatted a while and became friends. Hollyweird.

Regardless of the interesting conversation, I had no desire to sit in a hot tub with a man alone, ESPECIALLY not a man who was a boy, who was living as a 21 year old female model in Hollywood.  I said goodbye and headed up towards the Boulevard once again where I found a 24 hour Internet Café across from a liquor store and a dive motel.  The man at the front window was speaking broken English as he handed me my form and told me by NO mean was anyone to visit my room without checking with him first.  I snatched up my key and hit the liquor store for a scratch off ticket and a fifth of Jim Beam.  When I arrived at my room it was musty, with some mismatched dingy furniture.   I popped my laptop up on the desk and set my music to Corey Smiths “I’m in the Mood” wrote in my journal and drank that bottle to sleep.  Tomorrow I would head back to the beach, but tonight I was in Hollywood and I was Beat.

~Thanks again for reading my ongoing memories of my Los Angeles adventure.  I hope my story brings your day jot and inspires to keep going, no matter which way

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~Tilly

Los Angeles: Don't Forget the Lyrics

Hastily I showered and hit the pavement.   I had a few blocks before I arrived at the studio, not worth a taxi but I did not see much of Hollywood.  I was on a mission.  I hit the security card and quickly showed him my identification and was directed to the other side of a large concrete building to a door where there would be a line of people waiting to enter the show.   This is how it works; a lot of people come to L.A. on vacations and obtain tickets to these shows various ways; however there are a lot of pretty average Americans and also A LOT of shows being filmed.  The TV companies need to fill their audience and put good looking/interesting people in front of the cameras for screen shots when the show is aired, they pay people to do this.  I was selected to be one of those people and was paid $100 to clap and make crazy noise and look like I was having fun.  I was having fun.

I walked up towards the door and I noticed that there were 2 lines.  It was very clear to me that one line was for ticket holders and the other line was for “paid” help.  The line I was to go in was very diverse, there were hipsters and rock star types, some middle age, well dressed couples and various “pretty” types.  I am really not sure what category that I fit into, but I felt good so I was on center stage in my own world.  A MTV types with mouthpieces ushered us into the building and told us to wait as they selected and paired us into various pairs and selected our seats in various views of the cameraman. I got a spot directly in front of the stage.

It was not long before a “cheerleader” type guy came out and shouted a bunch of rules and stuff and instructed us in ways in which we should react in certain situations throughout the show.  Within an announcer came on and introduced “MR. WAYNE BRADY”.  In an instant the Improv specialist was running out onto the stage and the audience erupted with cheers, the show wasn't starting Wayne was just coming to work and we were told we would be filming 2 episodes, on featuring En Vogue, the 90’s Diva’s and another Famous 80’s singer who was kind of washed up and his daughter, who ended up singing a duet with her father later and made him look like a fuck-up.  Anyhow, I am rambling on here, we were told what to do and Wayne came around and said hello to us individually before the first show and thanked us for coming.

Once again the lights went out and Wayne emerged again with the contestant of the show and the show began.  We all erupted in cheers.  It was hysterical watching the various people who I “knew” were actors being overly dramatic fools stirring energy in the audience.  I immediately became one of those crazy actors and just went insane making noise and hooting and hollering throughout the whole act.  I was on camera and this was ridiculously fun and I was going to get paid at the end. 

The shows were both a blast, throughout the entire filming Wayne Brady was very interactive and personable with us all as individuals and that really made me have a lot more respect for this guy who I already held in wide regards for his talents in improv. It was at this moment that I decided I was going to experience L.A. in a way that not many people do.    A feeling that I had felt in the past and as a child had arisen once again in me when the lights and the camera’s turned on.  I was going to live like there was not tomorrow and this would be some of the most positive moments of my life.  The lights went down and we were ushered out and lined up one by one, I was handed my hundred dollar bill and I headed towards the sunset, to my temporary home under the stars.  It was at this moment that I realize that no matter how bizarre life was right now, I was grateful.

Thanks for reading on with me and I hope you continue to read.   Like and Share on Facebook  TILLY'S

~tilly

Los Angeles Adventure's (Cont): First Time in Hollywood

Standing in a trench coat a tall man with a beard was shaking a jar of change panhandling as I walked out of the coffee shop, I busted a left into the Promenade and decided to check out the local surroundings before I went up to Hollywood. When I turned the corner I noticed that there was a street show going on, a young boy of roughly 8 years old was showing of his strength and acrobatic skills by lifting his father all over his head.  The crowd erupted with oohs and ah's as the young boy said “Thank You” in a Slavic accent, bowed, then passed around a tip jar.  I took a stroll up the courtyard which spans about 4 blocks checking out the sights and the street shows before heading back up to the Boulevard in search of a bus stop, the bus drops off at on the Boulevard but does not pick up and head back towards downtown for several blocks east of the beach. I found a stop and in 15 minutes I was boarding a bus towards Hollywood.

My research had shown me that there were two “24 Hour” gyms in Hollywood so my logic told me that I should go to the one closest which was in West Hollywood.   I got off the bus at the nearest stop and found it quite easily.  When I walked into the gym it looked very nice, much nicer than the 24 Hour Fitness in Santa Cruz.  I approached the desk and the gentleman very cordially invited me and offered me a tour around the facility.   “What a great facility” I thought, as we walked throughout I soon realized that everyone was being extremely friendly as I passed, smiling and winking and such. It wasn’t long until I also realized that all of the patrons of this Gym were men and I put 2 and 2 together and realized that this was WEST HOLLYWOOD and I had selected the “GAY” 24 Hour Fitness.  I finished the tour and sat down at the desk with the gentleman and signed my contract knowing that I could use ANY “24 Hour Fitness” and I probably wouldn’t return to this one.  I think Gay people are great and I have lived in some predominately Homosexual neighborhoods in some cities, but this particular one is not where I would feel most comfortable taking my showers. This was my first experience in West Hollywood, life is funny.

When I left the gym as if on cue, my telephone rang it was a woman from “Standing Room Only”, she asked me if I was available to attend a taping of “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” and I quickly obliged.  She told me I needed to be at the studio at 2pm and it was around 11:30 and to come wearing solid colors, no black and no white, I was wearing some cut off “Dickie's” and a white T-Shirt so I figured I better find some clothes, I had to think of a plan and FAST!.  Quickly I boarded the express big red express bus to Hollywood and I hopped out at the big “Target” store, I had a little time so I knew that worst case scenario I could find something to wear there, money was tight and I had to explore my options.

I walked towards the address of the studio with the clock ticking away when on my left I noticed a thrift store called “Out of the Closet”, when I walked in the door I quickly noticed that it was full of flashy designer clothing and  found a rack that was a clearance rack.  Amazingly, I was able to find a pair of designer jeans and a stylish shirt for a total of $12.  I went to the counter and paid and I learned that this was a chain of thrift stores which all of the proceeds went to fund AIDS research. I had what I needed and I also had done a good deed, now I needed to get changed, lose my backpack and get to the television studio.  I had no plan, I was flying by the seat of my pants and things were working out in fine fashion, right across the street was the 24 Hour Fitness of Hollywood, perfect timing.

It’s funny how life has a way of giving you everything you need. If you just go with the flow of life and don’t worry, things always seem to work out.  I was learning that you can do what you want and have fun and things will unfold and they were unfolding in perfect order.    As I showered and shaved and I pondered what was next, the excitement was  fueling my positive energy and I was beginning the ride of my life, in just an hour I would be walking into the famous Paramount Studios to be on the set of a TV show staring  Wayne Brady and I was getting paid for it!!!  Last night I was sleeping on the beach.

Thanks again for reading the continuation of adventures in L.A. Please follow on and share with friends.  Hopefully you enjoy these snippets of my life, I know I did.

~tilly

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Los Angeles Adventures (Continued) Apache

The evening came and went as quickly as a dream.  When I woke up in the morning there were people sleeping all over the beach, it was quite amusing.  I looked down the coast and chuckled as I saw 3 queen sized mattresses in a row with pairs of lovers in them inches away from the foamy waters of the Pacific Ocean.  “What a strange trip, I thought” and I was anxious for the day ahead.  I made my way towards the pier as I had done the days prior and I could see that just as I had assumed, the beach was riddled with lost items that people who were over intoxicated had lost in the dark.  There were shoes and bottles and on my walk I found a few items for the keeping, a five dollar bill, a rolled joint and a pill bottle with 3 Percocet in it.  What a crazy place!

When I arrived at the shower room there was quite a line today, I decided I didn’t like this place too much but while I waited a younger guy of Native American decent wearing headphones rolled up to the line that I was waiting in on a BMX bike and introduced himself as “Apache”.  Apparently Apache knew of all of the spots and all the people in the area, he had been here for a while, he was from Albuquerque, New Mexico and claimed to be on some sort of “walk alone” in the world that Native Americans do, I liked him right away. Rather than wait in line with all of these smelly people I decided to break bread with this guy and share my beach treasures and I am glad that I did.  Apache became one of my best allies on the streets of L.A.

We walked back up to the Palisades and he took me to his camp in the bluffs where he had carefully camouflaged and entire site steps away from the beach.  Apache told me all of the ins-and outs of the area and that’s when I learned about “The Canyon” between Malibu and the Hollywood Hills.  “It’s a protected area” he told me, “It’s an hour hike every day, but it’s a piece of nature smack dab in the middle of this populated metropolis”. “If you ever need any weed” he said “I buy a little every week and peddle it around to the street people that is how I keep from eating at the charities.”  After our little talk, we walked back past the little neighborhood on the beach and he told me he had to go and rode off, I would later find that he did that thing often, vanished in a moment.  I headed to my “office” on Santa Monica Boulevard.

There were two tables sitting outside at this Internet Café so I sat there and smoked and researched on the internet quite a bit that day, occasionally chatting with the locals about the area.  I saw that a company called “Standing Room Only” was looking for people to be paid audience members on the TV show “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” so I send them my picture and contact information.   I also decided that I didn’t like showering at the Pier, it was a Godsend that first day, but the people there were strange and it wasn’t very clean, plus there was a line.  I remembered seeing a 24 hour fitness in Hollywood. Hollywood is about 30 minutes away by bus and I thought it would be a great idea to get a membership there and I would have a clean place to relax, shower and have another locker on the other side of town.  Next mission; HOLLYWOOD BABY!

Many thanks for reading my blog and finding interest in my life.  It’s my goal to continue the stories of my life in detail for one year and hopefully I have something to offer that might be a bright spot in your daily routine. Please share this blog if you wish and like me on Facebook Tilly's

~Tilly

Los Angeles Adventures: INDEPENDENCE DAY

Rose Street intersects with the Boardwalk in Venice at the very beginning on the Santa Monica side.  I was intrigued by the new friends with whom I had made, they were street people and I was not, so I found them very interesting.  The culture on the west coast is very different from what I am used to on the East Coast, it is far less aggressive and very live and let live.  While walking I thought about the differences between Northern California and Southern California as well, while I prefer the laid back less pretentious side of the North I seem to have found a little bohemian nook in Venice Beach.

A few blocks up was the Self Storage place, it was just before noon time and they were beginning to shut down.  I addressed the gentleman at the counter and alerted him that I had only a few things, I could tell he was used to people like me strolling in and very quickly signed me up, collected my dollar for my first month and an additional five for the key deposit and pointed to an elevator.  He told me of a rule which I must abide by, the building locks at 7 pm and does not reopen until 7 am, they have this rule to prevent people from living in the units, Los Angeles is an expensive place.

I rode the elevator up to the 3^rd floor and walked down the hall and found my unit.  The building was nothing more than a giant warehouse with closet doors every 3 feet. I found my unit and opened the door.  My locker was roughly 6 x 6 enough for a table, some chairs. I dropped my belongings and unpacked my clothing and hung it up as it was my closet at home, I also set out my books.   I was only in my little closet for a few minutes, but all the while I could hear someone, somewhere in the building shouting out creepy things. “God Hates You” I heard.  “ I know you are listening to me and you are going to die!” shouted the voice.  Over and over this demon shouted insults at me, or it seemed like they were at me and I hurriedly left.

Quickly I hurried down Rose Street, back to the Boardwalk and towards Santa Monica.  While Venice was intriguing to me, it had a grimy element that I was not ready to investigate right now and I was feeling the vibe in Santa Monica, after all this is where I laid my head last night so this was home right now.  

The evening was quickly approaching and families and couples were riding towards the Santa Monica Pier on their beach cruisers and skateboarding to enjoy the holiday festivities.  When I approached the Pier, I could hear music playing and people had congregated on the sand all around the Pier.  There must have been thousands of people setting their little camps with paper bags with candles in them, smoking and drinking and enjoying each other’s company, it was pretty cool.  I laid out my blanket onto the beach, I didn’t purposely buy this blanket for any reason other than comfort, but as I lay there I realized the blanket was the American Flag, more irony I thought, this adventure was full of irony and the action was yet to come.

Looking up at the fireworks and listening to the laughter and cheers of the crowds on the beach  I reflected on my life, I had been through so much, some my fault and some others, but here I was NOW and I decided I was going to embrace it and live like there was no tomorrow.  As the crowds began to pack up and the night grew darker I knew I would have to get some rest, tomorrow would be a new day and the I wanted to get up before the beach comber and see what kind of goodies people left on the beach.  Once again, I gathered my pack and strolled down to the life guard stand in front of the two towers, put on some music and went to sleep.  Day 3 in Los Angeles had come to a close.

My deepest gratitude goes out to all who stick by me and are continuing to follow my L.A. saga, I promise there is a lot more excitement and some very interesting characters to come.  Please share this blog if you like it, it is time to tell my stories to the world and this one is the one that I have chosen first.  Come back every day and I promise to inspire.  Live in the moment no matter the circumstance.

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~tilly

Los Angeles Adventures : Meeting VENICE

Independence Day was looming  in the air the day and the irony of it was fresh.  It was still morning as I began my voyage past the crowds on Santa Monica beach.  The wind blew lightly at my back as I was mesmerized by the clash of Upper Class folks and Drifters mingling in the same area, but not the same groups.  Bikes blew by me at a rapid pace, a man on roller skates with a guitar who resembled Jimmy Hendricks was playing music.  Free I was in the land of the rich and famous.

The moment that I reached Venice, I knew I had arrived.  It was like an imaginary line was drawn separating the borders of the two towns.  Very quickly the scene changed from posh to punk, people were tattooed and walking bulldogs.   There was a girl to my right selling her art, this was the beginning of the Venice strip where you see a little of everything and there were vendors as far as I could see.   On the left in Venice Beach there are your shops, you have T-shirt shops and pizza places, tattoo shops and rock and roll stores.  I looked over to the right and saw street vendors selling their wares. 

  On he first part of the boardwalk it is not your traditional merchants selling t-shirts and hats, in the beginning of the strip it is the “free” zone where on a first come first serve basis anyone can set up a spot and sell things.  This would later become my favorite area to hang out and experience the madness of Venice.  This is also where I met Alexis and my first crew of street kids.

I was walking along soaking in all that was Venice when I looked over and saw this little red headed guy holding a sign which said “Need money for weed”.  I looked down in front of him and he had an entire hat full of cash.  I looked at him and laughed and gave him a buck. “You gotta burn with me when I get back though” I demanded.  “Let me introduce me to my friends” the dude said and we walked a few feet and sitting on the ground on a blanket surrounded by mystical books and religious artifacts where was a girl and a boy.  The girl was reading the boys palm as we approached. They invited me to sit down and the redhead reached into his pocket and pulled out a pipe. Apparently he already had some weed.  I introduced myself and we smoked a little.  They were a little rough around the edges, but these were the first friends that I made in L.A. 

After a bit of talking and some laughing, I told my new friends that I had to go, I only had until noon time before the storage company closed, after all it was the Fourth of July.  As I got up to leave Alexis looked up at me, her face dirty from sleeping in the beach sand and told me to come back. She said she liked my energy and she handed me a book entitled “Be Here NOW” by Ram Dass.  I thanked them and told them that I would be back and then I headed up ROSE Street towards the storage unit.  Here I was and the time was NOW.

Follow me daily as I continue the story of my Los Angeles adventures…I hope my life, can help you live yours.

~tilly