First Things First

Merry Christmas!  I hope this season finds you well, and with the ones you love.

I made some changes to Vista Drive this past month.  Vista Drive is completely revamped.  I went and added new pictures, and deleted some pictures I, frankly, felt weren't that good.  I also went back and created better images from the original full sized images.  I've been able to make the images clearer, and sharper.  So enjoy the new and improved Vista Drive.

Don't forget a new issue of American Bliss Magazine coming the 22nd of December.

Afterthoughts : Horrible Dinner

There used to be this diner on the corner of Fairfax and Wilshire called Johnie's.  Years ago I ate my one and only meal at Johnie's.  It happened one Sunday after a trip to the Los Angeles county museum of art.  After viewing an exhibit of Art Deco items from the 20s, me and my family were ready for a substantial dinner.  We didn't know the neighborhood around the museum very well, so we thought to eat at the museum cafe.  But, it had closed early, and we found ourselves stuck with no place to eat.  Being a Sunday it seemed that everything on Wilshire was closed.  Even the hot dog vendor outside went home early.  We decided to wait until we got home to eat dinner.  We thought the trip to the Valley would be take no more than an hour.  We waited, and waited, for the bus that didn't come.  Sitting there at the bus stop we grew more hungry.  To the point that we looked for a place to eat that was close by.  Right on the opposite corner was Johnie's.  A rundown diner in blue and white.  We asked someone to tell us when the bus was going to arrive.  He told us that it since it was Sunday it wouldn't be there for nearly an hour.  We figured that it would be better to get something to eat at Johnie's, than to wait until we got home.  So we entered the dark diner, and were seated by the waitress.  The menu was a standard fair of hamburgers, and hot entrees you find at any greasy spoon.  Just looking at that greasy menu I felt that I would rather wait until we got home.  But, my mother insisted that I pick something.  I picked the fish and chips.  When our food came I really regretted having picked that.  My fish sticks looked like those little ones that schools used to serve.  More breading than actual fish.  And, somehow they were able to cook the outside, while keeping the inside nearly frozen.  It was an amazing accomplishment, if you ask me.  All of our meals were bad.  I ended up only eating the fries, and leaving the fish sticks drowned in a pile of ketchup.  When we walked out every one of us commented how that was one of the worst meals we had ever had.  To this day it still ranks among the worst.  The bus came shortly after, and we made the long trip to the Valley.  When we got home we found some things in the fridge, and made ourselves some dinner.  Today Johnie's is closed.  No doubt every person that ever ate there never came back.  I know I didn't.

Editorial : Be Nice

This Christmas, let us resolve ourselves to act civil.  To practice something that is supposed to be done all year round, charity.  Don't go out to your favorite mall and push people in order to get that thing that's on sale.  Don't cut someone off in order to get to that parking spot that someone else has been waiting the last hour for.  Don't act like you've been acting.  Remember that this time of year is a special one.  You should resolve to treat others better than you have.  If everyone approached life that way, won't this world be a better place for all of us?

Remember that what we celebrate is a birth.  The birth of a man who wanted to teach us that we are more similar than different.  That despite our different appearance, we all all the same species.  We all share a common thread.  I'm far from religious, but there are some things that are universal.  Like goodwill.  Goodwill towards each other.

Christmas has been usurped by commercialism.  We run ourselves ragged searching for a gift, just so that person can go and return it the day after Christmas.  Why not simply give the gift of love?  Take a few minutes to write something special in a letter, or a card.  Something from the heart.  Donate the money you would have spent on some sweater in a bond, or to a charity.  There are millions of people around the world that need help.  Instead of buying that video game, buy your children a book.  Instead of all these things, remember what we're celebrating.  Remember that we celebrate compassion, and humanity on Christmas day.

Etcetera : Jessica Andrews: Now

In the span of less than five years Jessica Andrews has released three albums.  Each of them a showcase for her wonderful voice.  Each one of them a step in a career that promises a multitude of catchy, fulfilling, and great songs.  Many of you might not have even heard of her, but you probably have heard her #1 single, Who I am.  This past month Jessica Andrews released her third album, entitled Now.  Now finds Ms. Andrews growing up in musical style, and content.  It is refreshing to hear a singer from a person who can actually sing.  Jessica has been blessed with an expressive, and powerful voice.  I find myself listening to several favorites from this album.  "Second Sunday" is a particular favorite of mine.  It's a real upbeat song about wishing the weekend would last just one more day.  Good time is another fun song, in an album of fun songs.  Catchy, but with substance.  The lyrics in Now are fun when they have to be, and expressive when needed.  All in all the album is a real treasure in an era of so much bubble gum pop fluff.