What's your excuse?

My Sunday September 24th

Slept in till around 9am. Got ready to leave my place with Peter around 10am. I had no idea what was in store for me that day. Peter told me to have a couple of outfits ready, and that was it. We started walking around my neighborhood, and ended up going to The Ivy for brunch. For people who don't know The Ivy: it's for rich people and celebrities to dine, and been seen. After I got over the uncomfortableness of feeling a little out of place, I was able to enjoy the Bloody Mary, Crab cakes, and Crab Omelet. Honestly, the food was delicious!

After the brunch we walked to my place again, and had about an hour to digest, walk Sierra and change for the next event. We drove to downtown, and ended up at The Brewery complex of Artsy things and Loft living, for a 3 hours Thai food cooking class with Monica at hipcooks! She is great and we had a great time learning how to make Thai Spring rolls, Pad Thai, Chicken Sate, red and green Curries and a Thai dessert. It was awesome and I highly recommend to take a class with her! After we were done, we were full from eating all the delicious food we made, and we changed into our last outfit for the day on the parking lot. Dressed in our suits, we drove to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for the Opera Don Carlo. We had about an hour for people watching and have some wine out by the fountain. We ran into someone we knew who plays the violin for the Los Angeles Orchestra, and he invited us for drinks after the performance.

The Opera just blew us away! We had seen La Traviata a couple of months ago, and we were not that impressed, but the first 3 Acts of Don Carlo was so amazing, we couldn't wait for Act IV after the intermission. The last Act was a little disappointing, and the ending was an anticlimax after the first 3 terrific first Acts, but still we walked away with an amazing experience at the LA Opera. We met our friend and some other Orchestra members for a drink, and then tired, but very happy after such a great day we drove back to my place.

Why you might think was this such a special day? It was our 2 year anniversary, and Peter planned this special day months in advance without me knowing anything about the events. It was a big, and wonderful surprise, and I know I'm very lucky to have all of this organized for me.

I couldn't have imagined, or wished for a more perfect day to celebrate our 2 year anniversary!

New TV Season

I just watched "The Class" and "Studio 60 on Sunset Strip". I thought they are both good shows. I'm also hooked on "Vanished", even thought though the acting of the 2 main actors (the FBI agent, and Ming-Na) sucks! Both very miscasted and over acting.

Gotta run!

5 years and 1 day ago

I didn't want to post something yesterday, because 9/11 for me is a day to remember the victims, the heroes, and the to make sure I try to be positive in life, be nice to everybody and make sure we will never forget.

I just want to make sure that everyone who reads this and knows me, that I love you. If I learned anything from 9/11/2001, it is that we live in a dangerous would, that only got more unsafe after the attacks. Especially after hearing our government speak these days that we are safer because there has not been a attack on American soil...? I guess the Bush administration does not think that the attacks in Madrid and London had anything to do with the ever growing hatred against America. Over 3,000 American soldiers have died in the war in Iraq. A war that was started without the support of the rest of the world. We had the world on our side after the 9/11 attacks and a year and a half later, instead of continuing the search for the ones that attacked America, Bush and his administration started a war that increased our risk for attacks on the American people. Don't forget all the innocent civilians who died in Iraq because of "Operation Freedom". It makes me mad, sad and so helpless, because we live, go to work, walk our dogs, drink with our friends, and there is nothing I can do to change the situation. President Bush got re-elected two years ago, and we are the biggest target for hatred, attacks and failure because of this.

I watched the 9/11 documentary Sunday night, and I cried, and cried for two hours. And then there was 60 Minutes about people who in their own words went from "heroes to zeros". there is no money for them, but there is for this horrible war we started.

I feel lost and helpless and do what I can do to make myself and the people around me happy. That is from my partner, family, friends, co-workers to strangers on the street or anywhere. Just say good morning and smile. A change starts with yourself.

Love to all.

OFF

For the first time in about 3 1/2 weeks I'm off from work for two days! I was off yesterday, and today. Yesterday I was very privileged to be part of the dedication ceremony of a outside theater at a major museum. This was followed by a perfect dinner, and the opening of a play at the theater. A very beautiful evening! Today started with an audition at NBC Studios in Burbank, and in a few moment I'm going to the beach! It's still extremely hot here in LA, so I'm going to take a dive in the Pacific Ocean, and then go on a bike ride along the coast.

My job as a host is going well. It hasn't been that busy, and I pretty much have things down. I'm replacing the Sunday Brunch Hostess, and that brunch can be a little hectic, so I will be trained on this 2 more times or so. Other shifts I'm doing by myself. It's a high profile restaurant, and plenty of celebrities stop by. Now is LA a huge celebrity spotting place, and I don't really care anymore. Yesterday as I drove out of the Savon's Drugstore on La Cienega and Santa Monica, Keanu Reeves was going in. I was very excited to seat Janet Jackson to her table as well as Josh Groban. Patricia Arquete, Eric Clapton, Mark Wahlberg, Mariska Hagitay, and many more came by to see me in the last 3 weeks...

I pretty much done with the background work. I did take these days off to be off and relax, because I'm been exhausted of working two jobs. Not sure if I will do some background work in the coming weeks. The extra money is nice but the days are long, and I'm almost back on stable ground financially.

Okay, going to the beach!

Great moment in tennis history

Sunday September 3rd 2006 marked the departure of Andre Agassi from professional tennis after 21 years. I've been watching tennis from when I was a little boy, and seen Agassi's career take off, disappear, and bloom again. Last year, on September 11th 2005, I was lucky enough to get tickets to the final of the US Open bewteen Agassi and Federer. Federer won, but I'm proud to say I saw Agassi play a US Open final.

So, yes, I cried many tears when I saw Agassi say good bye in the most appropriate and graceful manner at the 2006 US Open in NYC. Unfortunately he lost, but the standing ovation, the nice words from his opponent, and the beautiful speech from Agassi showed a true, unique and beautiful good bye to a true hero in sports.

I get into tennis matches like no other sport. When I still lived in Europe, I would set my alarm clock at 4am, cause Sabatini was playing at the Australian Open or something. If Sabatini lost, I was upset for days. I had the biggest crush on her. She battled many matches with Steffi Graf, who's now Mrs. Andre Agassi.

I grew up with Wimbledon finals between Edberg and Becker, never liked Lendl much, saw Jimmy Connors beat fellow Dutchmen Kraijchek at the US Open, but the most emotional match I've ever seen was the quarter final at the Australian Open in 1995 between rivals, but friends Pete Sampras and Jim Courier. It was hot, a battle of strenght, and emotions. Pete Sampras his long time coach has died a couple of months before of a brain tumor, and Sampras broke down during this match, crying and collapsing on the court. Courier suggested finishing the match a day later, but Sampras wanted to play on and don't give up in memory of his coach and friend. He ended up winning this match. Pete Sampras was my hero, and I think still one of the best players in history, and everyone knew he would retire after his last US open win. I'm choking up now, just thinking back of that moment. I'm going to watch some US Open tennis right now!