Primitive Shoes and Apparel's Five Year Anniversary

Where the hell were you five years ago? I tell you where I was.

I was always finding myself in the Beverly Hills/West Hollywood area almost every day that summer, running around with an Olympus E-1 DSLR camera trying to capture a famous celebrity or an infamous personality, so that I can not only earn some quick cash, but to also make my friends jealous on MySpace with these images I got of famous people. I was unemployed that time since the recession got to me a few months prior from working at the Apple Store. They actually let me go, despite my explanation to them about why I have been missing a few days of work and my disinterest of the new teal shirts that all the sales associates had to wear from the start of the second retail quarter. I assume they didn't wanna waste anytime, so they just threw me out and got someone else that can dance and enjoy amusement park rides as much as I did.

It really was a start of a long tough rest of the year. Most of my friends from high school at the time had no time of hanging out that summer, by using the excessive excuse "It's cause of the economy." Somehow, without making a decent income aside from the paparazzi gig, I still had a car and I managed to go to a few parties, but just to only take photos of drunk people grinding into Lil Wayne's The Carter III and semi-thick girls caked out in makeup.

However, I was still into sneakers back then. This was a time when the so-called "shoe game" started to turn around and made some, if not, most of the OG collectors either sell their collection due to the recession or they just stopped collecting period. Nike's Jordan Brand did something different that entire year. Once a month through out 2008, they released a pack of two different pairs of retro Air Jordans entitled "The Countdown Pack" because the 23rd edition of the Air Jordan sneaker was released that year. The part that sucks about the pack was that they went for $310 and no other Jordan retros were released separately that year, aside from the affordable Team Jordan sneakers.

Towards the end of the year and around the time of the election, I heard about professional skateboarder Paul Rodriguez opening up a skateshop/sneaker boutique somewhere in Encino called Primitive. I was like "All right, P-Rod owns a sneaker store. Giving back to the community. That's cool.", yet I never had the time to check it out and that was when my earnings were getting smaller and smaller. What interested me about Primitive at the time was that they were one of the few places in the Valley that has a Nike SB account. Previously, I would get my SBs at the Active Ride Shop in Burbank, Val Surf in Valley Village and sometimes Flight Club LA in Fairfax. Before that, I remember getting my first pair of Nike SBs at the Chapter II skateshop in Granada Hills (which was formerly 118 Boardshop) and when the Nike SB line were starting up, that was one of the only places in the Valley were you can get them at the time

Fast forward two years later, and I finally got a chance to check out Primitive after a old friend that I knew told me about it since she worked across from there. I already blogged about my first trip to Primitive a few times in the past, so it's best to read that rather than just re-telling it again. Primitive Two Year anniversary recap . After that, I was hooked into that place and I started going there more frequently. Then my find myself wearing Primitive Apparel like is the only thing I have.

As many of y'all know, I spent my whole entire life in the San Fernando Valley. The place is known for its multiple suburban communities, adult clubs, independent auto dealerships, locations for television and movie scenes, shopping malls, and its extremely hot temperature summers among other things. I'm used to all that for the past 25 years of my life. The guys who run and skate for Primitive have also spent majority of their lives in the Valley as well, and the store represents the lifestyle of the 818, especially the culture of the state of California. They just had their 5th anniversary celebration at the shop last week, and I was there of course.

Actually I was at the shop since 5:30 in the morning to line up for the Air Jordan 3 Retro "Fire Reds" that were dropping that day. I haven't lined up for a pair of Air Jordans since the White/Cement IV retro release last year at the Panorama Mall (which sold out very quickly) and its been forever since I purchased a pair of Jordans in retail price. The campout line experience was actually dope. I talked to several blokes in line, including this one woman who's around my age that's lining up just to get some Nike SB's (Civilist Dunk Hi's were also released that day) for her husband. I asked her why doesn't he get in the line? She then said that he's a doctor with an insane sneaker collection and that he had to be a work since he can't lineup for them. Then I said that's real supportive love and trust right there. Now I thought that I wasn't gonna get a pair, but fortunately I did, and I was like the 10th person in line. Already a week and I still haven't worn them yet, but but these shoes are nice. Those 3's, especially that particular pair, are quite significant to me because Michael wore these at the 1988 Slam Dunk contest, which was less than a month before I was born (birth day is on the fifth of March). Also, the Jumpman logo debuted that year, and it one of the most well know logos in the world.

After I got my pair, I went back home to trim my beard and change into my red Iesha Marie Van Styles/Primitive t-shirt and some Khaki Shorts from American Eagle Outfitters. I could've worn the Fire Red 3's to match, but I rocked the Black Toes Jordan 1's that came out earlier this year, which I purchased at The Holy Grail in downtown Los Angeles earlier this summer. Then I went back to Primitive for the anniversary party. It wasn't as big as the previous anniversary parties cause there weren't too many kids that attended and Paul didn't show up since he was at the X-Games in Downtown that day. But nonetheless, the anniversary was great, probably as great as the other ones. Ran into several people that I haven't seen since the 4 year anniversary party and met some new people as well. Unlike the other anniversary parties, I didn't go crazy with the photography. Hell, I didn't even bring a Nikon SLR with me, yet I did manage to capture some images through my iPhone 5. I think those few pictures I took are just as good as taking 300 pictures of the same event. Here are the photos that I captured on that Saturday.

Taken at 5:30 in the morning, just as the sun was about to set.

Cashier's desk inside the store. 

Ashley in the Air Jordan XIII retro "He Got Game" and Nicky Newcastle in a pair of Vans. 

Tim Middleton throwin' up the dubs in Primitive's dressing room. 

Primitive Apparel co-founder Andy Netkin in the center of attention. 

DJ Butch and 2 Deep 

Irene, Ashley and Nicky.  

Headshot of Tatiana Javosrsky 

Portrait of professional skateboarder Terrell Robinson from the Primitive skate team. 

Primitive Apparel's 5th anniversary t-shirts were given to those who attended. 

Finally got to meet my favorite inspirational photographer, Van Styles. The camera he's using is the Sony Cybershot RX100M2 that he just got that day, and behind him are my favorite models Christine Mendoza, Justene Jaro, Nikki Sotelo, and Dawn Jaro. Here's is his recap of the 5 year anniversary party Visual by Van Styles

Andy Netkin reflecting with his daughter, Bari. 

Elisabetta with her and Andy's daughter, Bari, both wearing the Primitive "Signature Script" shirts. 

Andy with his lady, Elisabetta. 

"First lady of Primitive" Elisabetta conducting the group photo. 

Original Red Cup Crew. 

Closeup of the Primitive 5 year anniversary t-shirts (one in black, the other in navy)

The Air Jordan "Fire Red" IIIs I purchased from there, along with some of the Fall '13 t-shirts and my Primitive 5th Anniversary t-shirts. 

That was one of the greatest days I've had this summer. Looking forward to more anniversary parties at Primitive. Thanks for your time reading this. 

The Sneakers that John Connor is wearing back in 1990...

are gonna be released this Saturday. For those who can't see to closely, here's the big picture. 

The Nike Air Jordan V White/Fire Red colorway, which is what Edward Furlong was rockin' during his pull-up session, was released around the time when Terminator 2: Judgement Day was being filmed a year before the movie was played in theaters and WAY before Arnold looked after my state of California. The Air Jordan V was the first pair of Jordans I ever bought, but in a limited Black/Carolina Blue colorway in the summer of 2006. It came with a card (known as a retro card) that showed a black and white image of Michael Jordan spreading his arms just like in the "Wings" poster and on the back, it detailed the history of the shoe, such as dissecting the moments that Michael had in the NBA that year while wearing these. I also have another pair of these in the White/Emerald Grape colorway that will also be re-released again this year. 

What I like about these Jordan Vs is not what Michael did while wearing these, but the background I learned from it as well. The bottom of the sneaker was one of the first to have a clear sole with the Jumpman logo visible through it. Two other cool features of the Jordan V's was that it came with lacelocks for those too lazy to tie their shoes and the other is the reflective tongue that brightens when exposed to a large amount of light such as a flash from a camera (the other version of the Fire Red Vs had a black tongue that doesn't reflect). Will Smith was know for constantly running and dancing around in Uncle Phil's lavish house while wearing these during the first season of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, which also came out in 1990. 

Speaking of which, the retail price for these back in the day was $125, a shitload of money that year for basketball sneakers. This was at a time when anybody and their moms can go into a Foot Locker or an Athletes Foot and just purchase them anytime of the day, any day of the week. That process is no longer relevant nowadays in the present. Everytime an Air Jordan Retro is released, it sell out in less than 5 minutes online and many athletic footwear stores (Footlocker, Finish Line, Champs, Sheikhs) and boutiques (Undefeated, Blends) received limited shipment of each particular Air Jordan retro, with in some occasions, certain pairs are captured for the store employees as they take advantage on their employee discount on them. So don't expect to see this and other future Air Jordan Retros in the stockroom, otherwise the only other option is to pay beyond retail for these at sneaker reselling consignments like Flight Club LA, eBay, or make some offers through sneaker websites like Sole Collector and/or N-SB.org. 

Thanks to the Air Jordan XI Concords release (I blogged about that shit already http://justforsneaks07.blogspot.com/2011/12/kickin-and-screamin.html), now its getting more tough and challenging just for a pair of Air Jordans. The whole reasoning is because from the logic of Supply and Demand: the lower the Supply, the higher the Demand. People should realize, or have already realized, that Nike, and its shoe distributor accounts like Foot Locker and Finish Line, is a business. And in a business, its all about making money and maintaining that procedure. Buzz generates interest, which makes the hype for these shoes to spike while reselling. That's why those same shoes that sell out will still in shelves of Flight Club LA cause not too many people will pay alot more for a sneaker as opposed to suggested retail price, which the term MSRP comes in, Manufactured Suggested Retail Price. Because of the buzz and the mayhem from the example of the Concord XI release, many Foot Lockers, NikeTowns and several other athletic stores now have the so-called "raffles", which is a way to avoid the campouts and potential wildness during a Air Jordan Retro release. I've never done a raffle for a pair of shoes, but how it goes is that you walk in to the store, obtain a raffle ticket by giving them your phone number or email address and wait until if they notify you that you won the said raffle in exchange for a secure right to purchase that Air Jordan Retro on the day it releases. Here's a screencap I took from Beverly Hills NikeTown's Twitter account as a example. 

They also do a raffle process, but in a different way. You have to have a Twitter account in order to secure your pair at NikeTown through their "Twitter RSVP" method. Here's the link to Nike's website that explains it further. NikeTown Twitter RSVP information

I'm explain all of this for those parents and others who like Michael Jordan (or dislike him) and the design of Air Jordan Retros but aren't into sneakers and have the knowledge of them as I do. If you swim around previous release date threads on NikeTalk and Sole Collector for a particular Air Jordan Retro that dropped, you'll not only read stories about dudes crying for not being to get these off Finish Line's website or the Foot Locker nearby them had 15 pairs and ten of them went to the employees with the remain 5 not available in his size, but you'll also read the posts on these threads from people saying that they either have to know somebody that knows a connect, and that you have just have to do their homework by researching a way to get that Jordan Retro that your favorite rapper or that reality TV star you hate and his girl is wearing. Not only does this happen with Air Jordans, but hype and purchasing process usually happens whenever Kanye West's Nike Air Yezzy drops or if there's a different shoe like the Galaxy Foamposites from last year.

As for me copping the V's this Saturday? I don't want to go through that raffling Twitter RSVP bullshit. Sucks how there are young kids (post 1994 babies with money) who maybe know more about shoes than I do, but has never got to experience walking into a Foot Locker or NikeTown on a Saturday afternoon instead of camping out the night before and purchase the sneakers in his size right then and there. I don't give a fuck about paying more for these when they get re-released at Flight Club LA like I did with the White/Cement IV's last year, but I will be getting them in the future. One of my favorite bits about this retro is that

1.) There's no 23 on the side, and its the first time since the 2000 Fire Reds Vs that these retros will be released without the 23 just like the OGs from 1990 (yes, there was another pair of Fire Red Vs that came out in 1990 as well, but it had the 23 on the side, the midsole had more red than black, and like I said earlier, the tongue was non-reflective black.).

2.) The OG design box that its gonna be packaged in, just like Nike did with the IV's last year and the III's the year before.

I know for sure these will sell quickly now that people got their tax refund at around this time. Now you can see why Nike is bringing back the Black/Royal 1's and coincidentally re-releasing the White/Cement Jordan III's again with the Nike Air on the back this time. For those getting these Vs and those other retros, good luck. For those who didn't, find a Terminator or a T-1000 and have him take you back to 1990 in Los Angeles so that you can pay for these less cheaper than it is in the present. I suggest you use a credit card instead of cash cause the cashier will look at the dollar note and think that the money is counterfeit by looking at the year the cash was made.  

The Devil Wears Air Jordans

As a sneaker enthusiast, I can't believe I actually owned a pair of these.

I took this photo of those Air Jordan 1's at my homeboy Frank's crib just right after I purchased these just three years ago. I was actually in Chatsworth to pay off some fines I owe at the Courthouse there during that summer of 2009. I was doing security in the Antelope Valley then and I just got my first check from them which was $1,600 ($300 from that check went to the bank to clear off some bullshit holds I was too lazy to take care of then). So after that, while I was still in a good ass mood, I decided to drop by the Northridge Fashion Center to cop some stuff since I was within the area. I went to Champs to see what they have, and on the display, they have a pair of the Air Jordan 1 60+ pack that was released that summer, and this was a month after they dropped. Then a sales associate came up to me and asked me what size I wanted (similar to the Fire Red IV retros at the Finish Line I blogged about two months ago). I told him my size (12 and 13) and he went to the back to see if it was available. I first, I though we were wasting out times since I assumed that the pack was sold out and they only had the smallest size available, but apparently to my surprise (again, like the Fire red IV story) he walked out with two packs with the different sizes I asked for. 

I thought them shits was sold out as I asked him. He told that somehow, they still managed to have a full size run of the 60+ pack. Reason I thought they were gonna be sold out because of the Black/Red 1's that came with the pack, but I really wanted it for the Boston Celtics colorway of the Jordan 1's that was also included in the pack. (I don't like the Celtics, but I like how the colorway turned out on the shoe) Again, this was a month after it dropped and typically at that point, most of the original Air Jordan retros with the OG colorways are sold out within minutes after the sneaker stores open. Anyway, I bought the pack which turned up to be $310 plus tax IN RETAIL and then bounced with my new pairs of sneakers. I went to Franks house to take photos of the shoes with his camera, but mostly for the Black/Red 1's cause I was planning on not wearing them so that I can sell them. A month later, I sold those Black/Red 1's for a hundred bucks and still kept the Celtics colorway for another year until I sold those to my cousin on New Years Day 2011. 

To this day, I still imagined of what if I never sold those Black/Red 1's and what if I actually wore them. That shoe was retroed 3 times since it dropped in 1985 and they made another retro two years after that. The history behind this particular shoes was unusual if you think about it. 

Right after he was drafted into the NBA, Michael Jordan was invited by Nike executives to come check out a presentation that they did for him and to also have him sign with the company. Michael refused to go because he really (I mean, REALLY) wanted to sign with either Adidas or Converse cause not only were they the top selling basketball sneakers at in the mid 80's, but also, Michael wore when he was playing at North Carolina. Plus the two companies has athletes who won NBA championships endorsing them: Adidas had Kareem Abdul Jabbar who wears them in the NBA and Converse had Julius "Dr. J" Erving wearing their pair, along with Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson as their spokespersons. At that time, Nike wasn't a big company. It was mostly geared towards running than Basketball (the Air Force 1 that released in 1982 sold decent, but it wasn't as hyped as the Converse Weapons and the Adidas Superstar), so that made the company invest and trust in Michael as the tried to sign him. 

In 1985, his parents forced him to go to Nike's headquaters in Beaverton, Oregon, and they went with him so that he wouldn't miss out on this offer. When they got there, the suits at Nike presented him a video presentation of the shoes that they constructed for him. After that, Michael was disgusted and said that he'll look like a clown wearing the devil's shoes. Eventually after Nike kept persuaded him and giving him a 2 Million dollar contract, Michael reluctantly gave in, signed the paper, and the rest, obviously, was fucking history. If he still refused to sign with them, then I wouldn't have stacks to Nike shoeboxes in my room and and several other sneaker enthusiasts wouldn't have stacks of Nike shoeboxes in their rooms as well. I think I'd be wearing Adidas Superstars or some generic Payless shoes had Michael never signed with Nike. That just shows how much impact that pair of those basketball shoes (which was retailed for $65 in 1985) made throughout the years. 

Well, tomorrow I have to go with the little brother to the Newbury Park Adventist Academy in the Conejo Valley so that he can take the ACT standardized test over there, then for the rest of next week it more meetings, worthless appointments and several kids (and adults) dressing up as one of the Angry Birds consuming too much sugar this upcoming Wednesday.  Thanks for your time reading this. 

Kickin' and Screamin'

Christmas weekend was decent. But the part about getting into a heated argument with my little brother after church and hitting on a semi-attractive woman 22 years older than me in Spanglish wasnt.

I spent those two days of it at two of my friend's house. I didn't receive alot of stuff this year other than a $75 Macy's gift card and a $50 check from my pops, but I liked watching my friends, their kids and nephews and nieces getting excited and watching their reaction as they unwrapped the presents they got. I also watched two films on TV during that weekend at their place: Horrible Bosses on DVD and A Game of Honor on my homie's Showtime On Demand. When Horrible Bosses came out during the summer, I thought that it was gonna be a piece of shit film with forced played out jokes and light bland acting. Plus I didn't like the concept of it as it came out during a time when people didn't have a job with bosses to bitch about, and those fortunate with jobs can't bitch about their bosses on their Facebook status. That was all before I watched this movie. After it finished playing, my opinion was different cause that entire film was funny as hell.

They should've made Jennifer Aniston a cameo in this flick and her acting in the movie is different as a minor cast member instead of taking lead roles as in other film. The plot of Horrible Bosses is slightly similar to Office Space, another earlier film that Aniston was also in, which relates to those fed up with their everyday jobs and the managers that signs their checks.

A Game of Honor is a documentary about the behind the scenes leading up to the annual traditional Navy-Army college football game that was played earlier this month (the same game that my homegirl Tina and I watched at Yardhouse in Newport Beach which I last blogged about). Its amazing and mind-thumping to see the new students at the US Naval Academy having to go through the intense disciplinary lifestyle and saying goodbye to their parents during the orientation. I got re-fueled alot more about responsibilities and respect from watching that documentary, from having to go defend and represent your country after finishing the requirements at the academy, as well as doing what it all takes to win a football game with your team members and showing your respect to those who gave you what you have from having to pull a lot of work and sacrifice just to put you were you're at in a fortunate position, just like the troops and soldiers have done for the past 225 years . If you're into the Armed Forces or know anyone who's served in the military and likes football, then this is a excellent film to check out. Major super props to the those in the Air Force, Marines, Army, Navy and the Coast Guard for doing so much work. I've been to military bases at Port Hueneme in Oxnard, El Segundo, Las Vegas, Sacramento and San Diego and just watching those in uniform had me thinking all the time, in a way similar to being in the same room with a traditional elder who's been alive for over so many years (at least 85) and still has perfect health. That's something you can't argue or debate about. Its untouchable. Forget money or politics in this, those are people just making lives better, and they're set for life for doing that. Again, thanks to those using their time in the military bases and the De La Torre's and Galvez's for the hospitality not just during the holiday weekend, but this entire year as well.

Another thing that was been happening throughout the holiday weekend was the release of the Air Jordan XI Concords colorway. In the last post I said that the release for this sneaker was gonna be wild with fights breaking out, AND I WAS TOTALLY RIGHT. Many people who've never collected expensive Nikes as a passion were surprised to see this occuring just for a basketball show, yet they fail to realize the whole meaning behind this shoe, not just because Michael Jordan wore it to win his fourth ring. It was the first (well second after the rare Nike Sky Force thanks to legendary east coast sneaker connoisseur DJ Bobbito Garcia from Its The Shoes) to have Patent Leather on a basketball shoe as well as carbon fiber on the bottom which has never been done before. Also, this was the first Jordan sneaker that Michael wore for his first full season in 1995 back from his first retirement. Ahmad Rashad debuted the XI's by wearing them during the Bulls playoff game against the Orlando Magic that summer before the Bulls 72-10 season on National television, which started the longevity buzz for the shoes, and in the finals during the 1995-96 season, the Chicago Bulls won their fourth title on Fathers Day that June, and it was significant for Michael cause this was the first championship that he won without his pops James Jordan to witness it, and there's a photo of him on the floor in the locker room that displays that moment. The XI's are Michael's personal favorite shoes, which makes it the most sought out Jordans of all time. That release from last Friday was nothing new. Everytime the XI's have been released (such as the Cool Grey XI from last year and 2001 when Jordan was in the Washington Wizards, the Space Jams XI re-release in 2009), there is always reports of chaos and fights in the shopping malls, but the Concords XI was another backlash.

The whole damn news media was in this all over the world. I knew that there was gonna be some shit that was gonna happen, but NOT LIKE THIS! Damn, there were fools who hid inside the malls just to get this shoe, with lines formed with over a THOUSAND PEOPLE, and I'm surprised many of them have the cash to get those sneakers, yet they complain and whine about fuel prices and not obtaining a job? Shut the fuck up man. And I'm saying to those who buy the shoes just cause its hot and everybody else will wear them with no knowledge of the origins of the shoe, or Air Jordans in general. What made this shit go to another universe was that some kid lost his life for those Concords and that's where the negativity come in. Yes, they were being sold for $180 which is a lot. As a sneaker enthusiast, I'm not surprised about the price. Its all about supply and demand. The hottest shoe plus greater interest in them from the consumer generates unimaginable profits for Nike, Brand Jordan and the resellers. Now because of this mess, Jordan Brand is being viewed by non-sneaker enthusiasts as "a company that creates expensive basketball shoes that people will die for", literally. There were lines EVERYWHERE, which shows just how serious the Air Jordan XI Concords. I didn't intend on getting a pair since I paid majority of my emergency savings to help pay for my little brother's rental car but, shoutout to the people who got them and have been planning on copping those XI's for the past year. To those who've never worn or owned a pair of Air Jordans such as those not earning income or the newsmedia, talk about something else and quit expanding the negativity for the Concords. They're just shoes, and don't be surprised if the same shit happens when the Columbia XI's get released next year, the shoes that Jordan wore at the 1996 All Star Game in San Antonio that year.

Well, all this talk about the Jordan XI's bring me back to my days of smelling a brand new pair of fresh Nikes. That's pretty much the main reason why my photography business name is JustForSneaks Ent. I created it during the summer of 2006 when I was creating a screen name for my account on NikeTalk, an underground sneaker forum. The JustForSneaks Ent. name (originally JustForSneaks07) came from a DVD that came out around the time of my high school graduation called Just For Kicks, which is a documentary about the sneaker culture and the history behind it and how popular it became over the years. I took that name and switch the word "Kicks" with "Sneaks" as a synonym. The 07 was for the following year 2007 and the Ent. part of the name is short for either Entertainment or Enterprises, or both, two of my core focuses. During that time was when it was fun and awesome to buy shoes and to get reactions from them by other people. I once got a remark from my 12th grade Goverment teacher when I wore my Zoom Kobe 1's to class, and he said this during class. Great feeling. Now I hardly buy sneakers, and I haven't got a pair in two years. But then again, the recession and the price hike of Air Jordans overshadow the reason.

I've always been into shoes for a long time. Started out with a new pair of Payless shoes twice a year in elementary, then Adidas and Converse from 8th grade to the middle of 11th grade. I never liked Nikes during the 90's until I saw Michael J. Fox rock the OG 1985 Nike Bruins with the red swoosh and of course the Air Mags in the Back to the Future trilogy. I though I was shit out of luck when I realize that Nike stopped making those since they came out of in the 80's but I saw that the Nike Dunk and Air Force 1's has been brought back for people to wear again during high school, and they were similar to the Bruins since they were also from the 80's and have a big ass swoosh on it. When I saw the price for them at Foot Connection next to the Red Robin at Northridge Fashion Center in 2002, I was upset and of course my parents wouldn't copped them for me since my allowance game was weak as hell. I got my very first pair of Nikes in March 2005 for my 17th birthday, which were the Nike Franchise Low. This is what it looks like...

Unfortunately, this was the only photo I have wearing them when I was in 11th Grade. I was shooting a short film at the Kennedy High school track field with the Canon ZR80 DV camera during my filmmaking days back in June 2005 during the last week of school. My friends and I spent the entire last day of school editing it. By the way, the blue Fruit of The Loom Shirt and Puritan Khakis were both less than $15 from Wal-Mart, plus the shoes which were $35 from the JCPenney at the Fox Hills Mall my aunt got for me totals to $50. I bought a pair of Air Jordan basketball shorts for $50 in 2007 once.

I'll probably make a separate blog about all the shoes that I've gotten and give you a history about them. I don't know when that will happen but probably after I buy my next pair of shoes, which is either the Zoom Kobe VII's or the Air Jordan White/Cement IV's that they're bringing back, which ever is first. The next post will give my final thoughts of 2011 and a recap of this past year, which I'll have up by the end of by tomorrow or on New Years Day this Sunday. Thanks alot for reading alot of this.

You can't Judge the Present by the Design of its Wrapping Paper: A Christmas Weekend recap

If you read the last post, which I'm sure many of you have, then you've noticed that I was saying a some short harsh things about the overhype marketing on Christmas Day and how the holiday shopping season overshadows the true meaning of December 25. Understand that this was what I thought of it. Half of it is facts while its mostly opinion in its entirety.

But after surviving the Christmas weekend, I had second thoughts about what I wrote on that day. To me, what I wrote on the last post was just an outside view of that day. I'm gonna write the inside view of it, which was as better as I thought is was. Shit, it was way better, despite all the bullshit situations that I dealt with throughout last week. From the transmission on my compact sedan giving up to my T-Mobile contract expiring, which means I'm without a cell phone for the time being, and somehow last Saturday made me set those (no pun intended) uncalled for problems aside, or pretty much away from my distance.

First, I just wanna let out that I didn't get any presents, gifts or anything under the tree with my name on it. I could care MUCH LESS about getting "free stuff" from people on that day. As a matter a fact, I looked back this past year, and I've noticed I've BEEN getting free stuff every month at the least, and I'm very thankful and privileged for that. I'd be more delighted to get a card with some girl's handwriting on it over a nice wristwatch or a Xbox 360 (by the way, shoutout to the lucky fuckers (pun intended) who's girls spoiled them with that Microsoft console and then some. SHIT!) Bottom line, its all about being with family and close ones, which I've said many times because that shit is true.

Now onto the recap.

I was given orders by my moms to take her and my sister to LAX on Christmas morning at around 4AM. They came at 5AM instead so when I asked them what time their flight is, they told me that its at 6AM. I told them that they should've left their house at 3AM instead but my sister told me that they over slept. We managed to get to the Los Angeles International Airport on time. I helped them unload their luggage at the terminal and then my moms told me to take good care of her Ford Explorer for a week since they're traveling to the midwest of the United States until New Years Day. I think they picked the wrong time to go over there, and I told my sisters to wear a shitload of jackets. After that, I bounced out of LAX in my mom's SUV and headed back to my pop's house by driving on the Pacific Coast Highway and through the mountains on the Topanga Canyon Boulevard pass.

After I got home, my pops talked to my little brother and I about what this day is all about from his point of view in the living room. I'm not gonna front but that got me really touched up for a moment. I sat in my room for about an hour just sitting there, not doing anything. I was thinking and pondering about how we went from my entire family, before the parents split, singing some songs from the Church hymnal and opening our multitude of presents that we got to just my brother taking his new cellular phone and a drum machine from under the tree and going about his business in his room, like it just a regular day. It was a frequent thing that happens every year and I thought that shit wasn't gonna end, but apparently it didn't happen.

After I collected my thoughts, I went to make a surprise visit to my friend Nicole Stetter's place, which is about 5 minutes from my pop's house. Her entire family was there, which is what I liked to see. I gave her a children's book I got back in September that Tori Spelling published, and inside of it was her autograph with Nicole and her kids names written in her handwriting. I held it for three months so that I can give it to her at the right time. I spent some time there eating peppermint brownies that Nicole made, which were very delicious, and started talking about how I didn't like and approve Nick Cannon dating Mariah Carey with Nicole's family since they were watching the Disneyland Christmas Parade on TV hosted by him. Later on, I then drove to my church in Sylmar (I'm an Adventist by the way, not Jewish) to see the annual Christmas program, which to my dismay, they did a regular church service instead. I was only there for a portion of the service, and then I left to go to Downtown Los Angeles to catch the vibe and action of the self-called "Lakers/Heat Christmas Day ratings game". Yeah, I admit, I wasn't supposed to do that on Christmas Day, but sometime, you have to take the necessary risks, and plus, I'm already a legal adult.

I wanted to drive down to park at LA Live but I too the Metro Subway there instead. I wasn't going to the actual game inside Staples Center, but I hung around the VIP entrance to take photos of the celebrities go inside the arena. Hey, if you don't approve what I did, then deal with it, cause that's what I'm really great at in terms of photography. Speaking of which, I ran into some paparazzi that I used to see alot on Robertson Blvd and Beverly Hills everyday back in late 2008, and I knew that they wouldn't rest on Christmas Day cause from having experience in this business, it never shuts down. The reason why I say that cause they're always a "money shot" opportunity waiting to happen within the 24 hours of the day, regardless if there's a serious tropical storm or God forbid, a national tragedy or anything that gets in the way to civilians.

This will probably be the last time I might be taking photos of famous people in general. I'm not too sure yet cause I might be there when the Boston Celtics come to town again on January 30th since that is the other big marquee game on the Lakers 2010-11 season schedule, which draws the majority of A-list stars and plus the game will be nationally televised. You know what, fuck it, I'm done doing that shit. I'll probably go over there, but I'll take someone with me who has a greater interest of taking photos of someone famous, probably someone who's out of state for that matter. If I was 15 years old doing this, I'd be the top of the student body in my class in terms of publicity and recognition throughout the whole school. Hell, even the hot girls would show much interest. But I will never get that experience again, cause as an adult, some people around my age have better things to do instead of hearing what actor you saw the other day.

There weren't that many female stars that showed up to the Staples Center than the males stars to my surprise. Despite the cops and the weak security making sure that shit doesn't go off, it was great seeing Sinbad and Kevin Hart (dude was short as fuck) in person and to see Dr. Dre actually ripped up. I wanted to ask him about the Detox album, I didn't for two reasons.

1. I wanted to respect him since he was a legend in the hip hop industry and one of the founders of Gangsta Rap

2. I was at a far distance and there was a shit load of people surrounding him, yet I can scope him out from a good view.

A few minutes after the game started, I went inside the Nike Vault next to the Staples Center and the AEG offices. They had the whole placed decorated and dedicated to Kobe Bryant's new signature basketball show, the Zoom Kobe VI. To me honestly, that sneaker is ugly and weird looking. It very similar to the Zoom Kobe IVs that came out two years ago, which I regret not buying. They had the live feed of the game showing inside the Nike Vault, but I went to the ESPN Zone to watch some portions of it. It was full inside there, and unfortunately, the Lakers were way behind Miami. by the end of the first half, I left and took the subway back to Universal City, where I parked my moms Ford Explorer at.

I drove down to my cousin's house, who lives not too far from the Staples Center, which is one of the reasons why I wanted to park at LA Live. There wasn't a lot of people there, just mostly family there talking and eating some Christmas dinner. I watched the rest of the game in my cousin's room, where it turned out that the Lakers lost for the second Christmas Day game in a row. Phil Jackson said before the game that he doesn't approve the idea of the NBA playing basketball on Christmas Day and that the players should spend time with their families instead. I won't be surprised if he gets fined for that statement, but yet, I totally support the coach's statement. I think its Kobe's new sneakers since the whole team was wearing them during the game throughout. After that, I went and played some UNO with my cousins to forget about the loss which sucked. I haven't played UNO in at least 7 years and that is the ONLY card game I'll ever fuck with. Forget Poker, Blackjack, 21 (which I used to play against my sister back in the day), Texas Hold 'em and any other card game that I don't know the rules to. They are not as entertaining as UNO is and I had a fun time playing that card game with the family.

I then bounced out early because I had to go deliever another gift to one of my friends' buddies, which is a DVD containing a photoshoot I did for her back in September. As I was driving on the 10 freeway west merging onto the 405 north, it started to pour rain like fucking crazy! I was being very cautious while I was driving in that unpredictable weather condition.

So when I got to to her house, the lights were out. I figured nobody is home so I went to go ring the doorbell to double check. I was about to go to my car until I saw my buddy Arlene and her family opening the door. I thought that Arlene's friend lived there cause I would always see her friend everytime I drove to that house, but then Arlene told me that she also stayed there. I went inside and ate some Carne Asada that Arlene's mother made, which I really liked and enjoyed, and then chilled with them by watching some television and having some discussions about photoshoots. Then I took off home since it started getting late.

I didn't really do much on Sunday, which happened to be my mom's 46th birthday and my little sister's 16th birthday on that day. Yep, they're 30 years apart. They were probably celebrating it in the mid-west over there. I spent the day just working on photos, my website, driving to the Wal-Mart in Porter Ranch to print out an 8 X 10 enlargement for a friend of mine and watched a double feature at my friend Natasha's house. The movies were the original Wall Street and Defending Your Life through her Netflix. I thought that they had the second Wall Street uploaded on there cause I saw the Blu-Ray on sale at Wal-Mart, which had a lot of people there returning gifts that they got under the tree, but the site didn't have it so we watched the first one instead.

Like I said, the weekend turned out as well as a thought it would be, with the exception of 80's singer Teena Marie passing away on Sunday. I'm not gonna front, but I first found out about the news from Birdman's Twitter account before CNN and all the other news media outlets confirmed it a few hours later. Looks like Twitter is going to replace The Huffington Post as the main source for internet journalism sometime in the future. I wanted to mention about my upcoming website and the important information about it, which also involves this Blogspot page, but I'll bring it up tomorrow since I threw in too much on the Christmas weekend recap. Major thanks to the Stetter family and the Arias family for letting me spend time inside their homes. I take back what I said on how everything is off limits on Christmas day. What I meant to say that everything that is not close to you and that's a distraction to your everyday lives should be off limits on Christmas Day.

One last thing, y'all should watch the Top Gear Holiday Special, the UK version. That shit is a MUST SEE, whether you like automobiles or not. It more like a movie as you watch it, so make sure you got you computer connected to a screen that is at least 46 inches, which some of you must've got with your Holiday bonus.