Team Marie's Fight

There are some people that come into your life and really make an impression that stays with you forever. Marie was one of those people for me. She was the mother of my three good friends, Michelle, Gene, and Steve. Marie was a tough lady with a big heart. Unfortunately in 2005 she lost her fight with AIDS.

In Loving Memory of

Marie Aide Barrionuevo

~RIP~

I cannot begin to imagine what it would be like to lose my mother, but I can see the effect it has had on my friends and I can't help but think that there is something we can do. AIDS is a horrible disease that has taken mothers, fathers, friends, and loved ones away from this world and a solution must be found.

This October I will be participating in the Los Angeles AIDS Walk as part of Team Marie's Fight. The walk will take place in West Hollywood and I will be walking 10 kilometers along with my team and thousands of other people hoping to make a difference.

Since its inception in 1985, AIDS Walk Los Angeles has benefited AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), an AIDS service organization dedicated to: improving the lives of people affected by HIV disease; reducing the incidence of HIV infection; and advocating for fair and effective HIV–related public policy. AIDS Walk Los Angeles makes it possible for APLA to provide urgently needed food, dental care, safe housing, and much more to people with HIV/AIDS who also face poverty, hunger, and homelessness. APLA also runs the county’s largest network of HIV prevention programs to end the epidemic in Los Angeles.

Team Marie's Fight 2010

Last year I was able to help raise $600 for this cause. This year I am setting a personal fundraising goal of $1000. Help me to reach this goal by making a donation using the link below.

Sadly it is too late for Marie, but it is not too late to help make a difference. Join me in continuing Marie's Fight!

I ♥ LA 2

Art In The Streets

Yesterday I finally got a chance to check out the Art In The Streets exhibit at MOCA. It was the perfect day to go because Mister Cartoon was doing an art talk relating to his pieces in the show. He spoke about his life, how he got into art and how he's gotten to the place he is today. I found it to be very inspirational and motivating and I'm glad I had the opportunity to be there.

Mister Cartoon and me

I love his style. The photo doesn't do it justice.

Mister Cartoon's ice cream truck

Had to include some Banksy

I love this piece! Remind me of those pages I used to draw on when I was a kid. It was a black page and you could scratch into it to reveal the colors beneath. So fun!

There was so much more and I didn't even get a chance to see everything. I'm definitely going back. If you're in the LA area I recommend going to check it out.

Last Days With My Bro and Sis

My brother and his girlfriend have become homeowners in the great state of Tennessee and will be moving away very soon. Although I am sad that they will be so far away from me, we are making the most of it by spending time together before their farewell.

Today we went to LACMA to check out the Tim Burton exhibit. I loved it! Unfortunately photos were not allowed so I am unable to show you the awesome drawings and other creations they had. Below are 3 pictures I found online, but if you're in the Los Angeles area I definitely recommend checking it out.

This is what the entrance to the exhibit looks like.

There were tons of awesome sculptures like these.

The drawings were my favorites, but the props from his movies like these Batman masks were pretty rad too!

Reminiscing back to our high school days hanging out on the bleachers ;)

I know you shouldn't feed the giant sloths, but I just couldn't help myself!

Mike and Mel were pretty sad to see the mommy mammoth getting sucked down into the tar pit.

A Visit To The Getty

We decided to visit The Getty today. Although a bit chilly from the wind, it was a beautiful day and we were lucky to show up on a day when there were having Cambodian dancers performing. Their costumes were beautiful as was their dancing.

There was a section in the museum with old French furniture. Some of the rooms were completely decorated like they would have been back in those days. That's where I saw this amazing bed. I totally want this bed for myself :)

From the back of the museum you can see all of Los Angeles. Unfortunately the day was not too clear, but you can still see downtown in the distance.

In the photography area there was an exhibit with photos from Cuba. I wish I could show you some of the photos. It reminded me how much I want to visit Cuba one day.

And finally a trip to this place would not be complete without stopping by the gardens.