Grand opening of The Vaping Section Valley- June 9, 2013

The Vaping Section Valley

17654 Chatsworth Street

Granada Hills, CA 91344

818-217-4949

Dreaming to Catch Wishes

Weird. I spent most of last night researching on the background of the Cold War just for the fuck of it (to many of you, that seems like a boring-ass waste of time, but I'm a fan of history), then later on I looked into some information about lucid dreaming and out of body experiences and how it gets processed during sleep. I've had several of those in the past, yet many of them are a trip. Some of them seem very real, which caused me to flinch on some occasions. I just had this dream that I'm going to share with y'all. It pretty much involved some occurrences and events that are happening in my life.

So I have a cousin who will become legal next week in real life. In the dream, I found myself in front of her house and it took place on her birthday. Both of us were looking at her new car that she got as a gift. I think its either a third generation Lexus GS 400 or a Mazda 6. The car inside was dressed up in all kinds of accessories: from seat covers to steering wheel covers to some kind of Hawaiian necklace hanging on the rear view mirror. Anyway, we went for a spin in it with me driving and her riding shotgun. I noticed that the car had very low gasoline. I asked her if anybody else was using it earlier and she said that she was given the car like that. I told her that the dealership usually fills up your car after its sold and I said that we have to go there so that they can put gasoline it. She then says that the dealership that the car came from is in Mission Viejo, which is too far to drive and it kinda made sense on why the car is low.

We stopped at a 76 gas station and I filled up with car. The gas station attended gave me two free Dodger tickets based off the promotion that 76 is doing in real life (you have to get 4 fillups to get the Dodger tickets). After that, she then starts driving it and I rode in the passenger seat. I told her if she could take me home to the Valley and she agreed. As we were going home, I then told her if she can drop me off at this small warehouse in Chatsworth since they have alot of warehouses in reality. After she dropped me off, I saw these two guys unloading boxes from a truck and cutting them up. I then realized that I was in front of a Zumiez outlet. I went inside to check it out and to my surprise, this outlet didn't look like any other Zumiez. Now originally, that store sells skateboarding apparel and streetwear and the store looks kinda darker, but this Zumiez outlet was a lot brighter like I was inside an old school Montgomery Ward department store. I asked one of the staff there if they have any Primitive apparel t-shirts and she told me that they don't carry it since Primitive Apparel is one of many Zumiez's brands that they carry. They outlet had a light selection of brands that I never heard of. I saw a small limited collection of Diamond Supply Co. t-shrits that they were selling cause that is one of Zumiez's biggest seller. Afterwards, I left and I still see the two blokes outside with the boxes and there was a third guy sweeping the floor.

I went to the other side of the store only to see an outdoor mall with other stores. Not really a big area and they didn't have that many stores with a few of them having liquidation sales and shit. I kept walking and then I saw a bunch of people who looked like filmmakers walking. I started to follow them to get their attention and then I went into this one building with them which is part of the outlet shopping area. Then I saw a security guard as I entered and I asked her what is this place. The security guard then told me that this is a school for post-production for filmmakers, graphic designers and photographers. I then asked her is this place part of the Art Institute of California campuses and she said that this is separate from it and that this school is one of their competitors. She then asked me what do I do for a living and then I told her that I'm a photographer. Then without hesitation, she then dragged me to one of the post production photography classes there. I thought that you had to sign a bunch of papers and pay tuition and all of that shit, but I didn't say anything.

I went inside the classroom and it had a lot of iMacs in each desk. The class was already going on and I  sat in front of a empty desk without an iMac in front of me. Then there were these two spoiled looking chicks on my right and they were gossiping softly and laughing, with their iPhones in hand. The instructor told them to go sit outside and then he goes to their iMacs, only to see that they were on Facebook and Tumblr instead of Adobe Photoshop like everybody else. Now I can see how I got into that class for free otherwise if I had to pay for it, then those girls wouldn't be wasting their time and money gossiping and being on social networking sites during class.

So that's were the dream ended. Just thought I'd share it since that type of stuff is always interesting. Also a birthday shoutout to my homegirl Emelly Hernandez today. I wish you the best in life and many more. Thanks for your time reading this.

Just Like The Movies

So Kate Middleton gives birth to a boy (overhyped without disrespect) and Dennis Farina dies at the same day (with all due respect).

Just wanted to get that out of the way. Again another busy ass month of July for myself. Today was one of the many rare day offs from work I had after a half-decent weekend which I'll explain later. I really wish that I didn't have to share my day off with my pops today, out of all the other days of the week. Here's a PSA message kids: stay in school, get your degree, land a job and move out of your parents' crib once you start receiving those paychexs.

Never thought that I would land myself in a heated dispute with the man of the house yesterday morning for some small unnecessary petty reason. That shit got me riled up, and I haven't event drank my Iced Coffee yet. In the 25 years I endured Sunday mornings without the NFL season, that one had to be the lowest of the lowest. Eventually, it took me a while to get over it through out the day thanks to some group of Russians that I picked up from Universal Citywalk and took them all the way to a hotel in Torrance. That long drive started to ease off the mood. The Del Amo Fashoin Center was right across from the hotel, and so I went there to check it out since I've never been there, as well as to get something to eat.

That place is large and it looks outdated, although they are doing some renovation near the Macy's wing. Hell, even the food court looks boring. Maybe is cause I'm already used to the nicer, remodeled ones at The Topanga Mall and the Fox Hills Mall. They had a lot of stores and an AMC movie theater. The only thing I did there was I just ate a late lunch at the Sbarro pizza. I almost copped a Kelly Kapowski T-shirt at this big ass Urban Outfitters there next to the AMC Theater before I left, but I'll keep that in mind next time.

I didn't really want to bring up about that dispute from that Sunday Morning on here. I remember talking about that type of shit four years ago when my pops got re-married and the constant arguments between us around late 2008 - early 2009. Remember, I was unemployed for a brief time until I got that security gig later that summer and the recession was at its peak with very high unemployment rates plus constant layoffs and hiring freezes. I lived away from home to a place in Sylmar from late 2010 until just last May, and I moved out because of the taxicab gig I was doing and also there were alot of shady politics between the housemates at my old place in Sylmar. Once I makeup some decent cash, I'll try to find a place of my home without any assistance and shit. Again, I really didn't want to express all of that stuff. Its normal in several families and it shows that while you're at your best in your life, you can expect the worse scenarios from out of nowhere.

Alright, now that I got that shit out of the way, let's get into some tight stuff. First off, I got me a new taxicab. Now, originally, I was driving a Ford Crown Victoria when I first started this job back in February. I liked it at first since it was the same whip that the LAPD drives (mines isn't the Police Interceptor version) but I got really bored and tired of it. That car had so many fucking problems while I was driving it: from getting one of the rear tires blown off in the 405 southbound freeway to the car stopping all of a sudden while in motion every so often and the endless trips to the mechanic's shop every week for it. It was alot of hell with the Crown Victoria, until I finally was able to get it exchanged last week for a Toyota Prius as my new taxicab.

This car right here... just fucking, damn. Its smooth, very chill and it REALLY does save on gas as everyone has been saying. Now before this, I was in a Toyota Prius twice (both the second and third generation) The last time I was in one was when I was test driving the third generation versions in Valencia back in 2010 (one of the worst test drive events that I've ever been to) and I got a fucking free movie ticket for driving that shit. I can't complain, it a really good car. So many people in Los Angeles is driving a Prius every now and then. Here's a photo of the Crown Victoria manual from my old cab.

and here a photo of the Toyota Prius manual for the new taxicab, along with the key.

Already a week since I first got it and I'm used to it so far. I had to take it to Keyes Toyota in Van Nuys Boulevard last Wednesday for them to change the water pumps in the Prius. While they were doing that, they asked if I can stay in the waiting room for three hours or that I can have a shuttle take me somewhere and bring me back. I didn't want to wait with a bunch of strangers for three hours and the farthest I can go with a shuttle express is at the most 7 miles and I don't like riding in shuttles anymore. So I asked if its possible if they have a loaner car I could use for a while and they told me that only Keyes Lexus does that next door, but I have an option to rent from Enterprise. The sales manager then called a representative from Enterprise to come pick me up and take them to their offices not to far from the Toyota dealership.

I thought that I was gonna be declined or rejected or unqualified to rent a car since I've never rented one before, but fortunately, after they ran my credit card, I was approved. Then the rep and I went to the lot to see which car I would like to choose. I then saw a 2012 Nissan Altima Coupe in front of the office and I asked if it was available to rent or if it belongs to one of their employers. She then told me that the Altima Coupe is available to rent and without hesitation, I WENT FOR IT. That was the only good car that was in their inventory since the rest were all Fords, Kias, and Chryslers. After they gave me the keys, I went nuts with it for the next three hours. 

The last time I drove a Nissan Altima Coupe was back in 2009 when I was doing security at a Walgreens in Newbury Park. On my way home I stopped by the Nissan dealership in Thousand Oaks just for the hell of it and they let me test drive a top of the line, full package Nissan Altima Coupe, with the Navigation, BOSE speakers, leather seats and a V6 engine among other things (the one I was renting had an inline-4 cylinder engine). Since that day, I always wanted to experience that car without a dealer in the passenger seat trying to sell this to me, and I was 21 at the time with no fucking credit and shit. I had a lot of fun with the Altima Coupe that I rented. I drove it to the bank first near Universal City, then I dipped all the way to Amoeba Music in Hollywood to buy some CDs to play in this whip and then the climax of being in this ride was cruising it on Mulholland Drive, which was just awesome. Finally, with more time remaining, I went to this Starbucks in Beverly Glen and Mulholland and that my first time going there. This hidden lowkey Starbucks was the same place where Britney Spears used to go to every morning during her bi-polar conceited days in 2007 and the paparazzi would be on her ass constantly from there all the way to her then residence at The Summit gated community just east on Muholland Drive. Probably one of the quieter Starbucks that I've gone to so far. A few minutes later, the dealership called me and told me that the taxicab is ready to be picked up. So I went back to Enterprise to return the Altima Coupe and then the Enterprise representative who helped me earlier took me back to Keyes Toyota with her driving the Altima Coupe. Here's a quick startup video of the Altima coupe I took at Mulholland Drive, with some Ultraista playing in the background.  

 

As for the rest of the week, I managed to the best use of it aside from working. I'm still enjoying the photography off the iPhone 5. There are some recent photos I took using that camera. 

Some roses in the Knollwood Country Club

Patiently waiting for some pizza at Pizza Antica in the Santa Monica Place

The 2012 Nissan Altima Coupe that I rented with Universal CIty and the east San Fernando Valley in the background.

Full moon over the Pacific Ocean on midnight at Hermosa Beach 

A little makeshift memorial for journalist Michael Hastings.

A 100 Miles and still a lot of gasoline running (that was an NWA reference)

My friends from Aftergloam putting on a hell of a performance in North Hollywood on Saturday Night. 

I even got some video of their performance. Super great, especially that instrumental piece that they did. I'm glad that I went that night. 

There's alot more stuff that I wanted to blog on here, but I'll save it for the next post. Thanks for your time reading this. 

Photographs of Loyola Marymount University

About two weeks ago, I decided to make a visit to my cousin's University in Playa Vista next to LAX Airport. He attends Loyola Marymount University and he just completed his second year there. I was working at LAX that day and since I was in the area, I figured I paid him a visit since I've never been inside there before.

It took me a while to find a parking spot there. Then later I met up with him and he showed me around the campus. This place is very nice. Its just as big as UCLA and it all the way on top of a hill over looking Mairna Del Rey and Playa Del Rey, in the same sense as Dodger Stadium is at the top of Chavez Ravine. Also, the university is high tech. My cousin told me that you have to enter your phone number at the parking lot ticket machine so that you'll be sent a text message telling you about the remaining time left at the parking lot that you paid for. I've never seen that before.

I spent only about a hour there and he was showing me majority of the campus. I checked out his dorm room and his roomates in there, and then he showed me the library which was MASSIVE. It had like four or five floors. The place is really up to date with its buildings and its landscaping. Here are some of the photos I took at LMU:

Here's also a panoramic photo I took from the iPhone which shows most of Playa Del Rey and Marina Del Rey further upwards. 

Just wanted to make this quick post to keep this site relevant. I'm glad Fourth Of July weekend is already in the past. Went to my homegirl Amber's place and just chilled there with her family on that day, which was the only part I liked on Independence Day. I didn't see any fucking fireworks show, and not to sound cynical, but every year there's always a mishap or something gone wrong in every fireworks show. There was an awful one that just happened in Simi Valley last Thursday, and then there was a major fireworks show that went bad in San Diego last year. Hell, the last fireworks show I was at during Independence Day was 7 years ago in Nevada, and that shit ended early cause there explosives were malfunctioning. The part that sucked was that all the family who came to have a good time didn't get to see the fireworks on that day. Like I always say, I fucking hate holidays. Next one is Labor Day which is one of the only few holidays that makes sense to certain people that bust their ass every day making some sort of income. Thanks for your time reading this.

ALSO, HERE ARE SOME SHAMLESS PLUGS TO STAY ON TOP OF MY PHOTOGRAPHY WORK. I got several photos I'm still currently working on and they'll be uploaded on here and my Facebook later this summer.

instagram: @justforsneaks07
Twitter: @justforsneaks
Vine: N/F'n/A (not fucking available)
website: JUSTFORSNEAKS ENT. PHOTGRAPHY AND SERVICES

Also, while viewing photos, please: less likes, more comments. Thanks again.

Just As For Reals As It Gets

Photos taken by Ezekiel Cho at The Vaping Section in Granada Hills. 

Also, this is the new sixth version of the blogsite. I always like to redesign it every First of July cause that when I launched this back on July 1, 2009. I decided to make this layout and template of this more liberal-arts stylish and a bit diverse, so now you can view the posts in different styles by clicking on one of the viewing modes below the Title on the top. Coincidentally, as I always bring up every year, I joined Facebook back on July 1, 2007 and this was back when it was only for university students. Way before high school students and their teachers and their parents were granted access to join the social network scene. It was honestly a much better environment on Facebook back then and alot cleaner than MySpace which was very major at the time. 

They'll be alot of great interesting photographs I'm currently working on that I'll be posting on here and many more in the future. To those who constantly read and view this, thanks as always. Already in the mid-point of 2013 so far and we have another half to go in the year. Thanks again or reading this and a nice summer.