"always make your work be personal"-Francis Ford Coppola

Went to Coppola's last night...coolest place ever! They were playing Velvet Underground, and the food was extraordinary! Even though Im mostly tallking about myself and my own experiences, Im vowing to strive to make my blog entries useful to others. Since I havent had many comments since Ive started it, Ill just have to make a guess at things. Cheers to my readers!

Lost in Translation

Just shot with a super hip Japanese guy that played techno music and had lots of Betty boop and lady gaga stuff! We went up on the roof and it was beautiful outside. I introduced him to some latex websites...he really liked it. His English wasn't that great, so I helped him with some mail forms. His girlfriend likes Betsy Johnson and she had lots of bags and shoes around. I shot in my pair that I brought with me! His directions sounded just like the guy from Last in Translation. Hes going back to Japan in January, so hopefully Ill have a contact if I ever end up going there. I remember my ballet teacher from Tokyo used to tell us to go model in japan if we wanted to make some money...they love American girls! She was such a label junkie...everything was Gucci and Prada. Once she even asked me about dancing for money...I would have helped her but she was married and didn't think her husband would approve. It was because of her I think that I got my college scholarship. She wrote me a letter of recommendation that said I could do anything I set my mind to! I loved her, but she never gave me the lead parts in her ballets. Maybe because I was so stubborn about doing things her way. I was still faithful with the teachings of my original Russian teacher from Estonia, who's parents we both killed during the revolution. I was under full scholarship in both places, but in the former I was teaching little girls in the first level. That was a lot of fun but I'm not sure how good I was at it!

Exhale...

Contrary to my franticness in yesterdays entry, I think things are going to work out fine:-) Saw one of the pnb dancers in class yesterday...I think gay boys are super cool but I dont know if they feel the same way about me. Theres a lot of snobery in ballet and hopefully Ive learned something from that too! Going to see the nyc ballet perform next week and Im pretty excited about that. Ive only seen them live one other time and that was the b cast of nutcracker so it wasnt that great. Think I can finally relax a little about the tax stuff now, although theres still some things for me to do at least I know what they are now!

Sometimes you can do nothing but hope, pray, and hope everything works out ok. I talked to my accountant and he never filed my taxes, even though I spent two days preparing everything! Dont you hate it when you have to babysit people youre paying to do something? I guess somewhere or somehow I deserved it, but Im not sure how. If I dont end up getting the new place, Ill end up figuring something out. Even if I have to put things in storage until I can get the taxes figured out...thats my only way of proving income! I just have to concentrate on the good things...like how nice my appartment here in new york is, and how happy I am to be here:-) The rest is history...

So Im pressed today, but isnt that what diamonds are made of? Ive got to get my model release mailed in for my hustler shoot, and get my tax records over to the hopefully new appartment all before packing and leaving for new york! I think Im going to use the force;-) The new place is so nice! If it all goes well Ill come back to seattle to move...if not Ill stay in new york before going to san francisco. I like leaving choices up in the air...that way I know Im making the right ones. Wish me luck!

Going to look at a new appartment today that seems perfect! They just finished remodeling it, plus Ive lived there before and never had any problems. Theres more parking available, air conditioning for the summer, and a fireplace for the winter. Theres also a small pool and a comunal hot tub that im excited about having available. Maybe I can even throw a party this summer! A small housewarming will definately be in order. Ill have a month to move, so Im trying to decide on weather to do it myself or hire movers. If anyone has had a good experience with a moving company id appreciate your comments! Wish me luck...

Do people who are tested more often have a stronger moral character than others? Seems like it to me, although this goes against the laws of influence. There are so many things that can make up a personality!

Yesterday was playing catch up on household chores, and today is looking at appartments. Im leaving my place in pioneer square...too much construction! Itll be kind of sad though, as Ive been in there since 2003. Upward and onward!

Im back in Seattle, and I just had to go out for little bit with my friends last night even though I was jet lagged. It was good to see everyone, and nice to come home to everyone I missed. I guess there were some of the best djs around spinning last night...my girlfriend knows all those guys and of course was making a lot of introductions. I was glad to be able to introduce some others I knew as well. Its not often that I get in a big group environment like that, so its really nice when it happens. Im more in my element with the one on one type thing though, so I was pulling people outside so we could hear ourselves talk! The weather is beautiful here now:-)

Thank you Chicago...

Although the weather couldnt quite make up its mind, I will definately cherish the memories I made here! Dont think I mentioned RIA in the Waldorf hotel, which is a definate dazzler! The menu was very creative with a molecular gastronomy flare, and the service was second to none. In fact, our waiter was a classically trained singer and his melodic explainations were just beautiful! Perfectly spoken french to rival any native, I wanted to try everything he told us about. Im pretty sure we did too;-) Its my last day here, and Im going to make the most of it!

This post is a recount of the magical teachers in my life that believed in me past the point I actually believed in myself at the time. Its now a source of strength I can call on...a gift that will keep on giving for the rest of my life. Somehow they had an ability to reach into my future and transcend time. With this supreme inspiration, I have it in my heart to give back to the ones I really believe in and to tell them how special they really are. I thought that this mentoring would stop as I got older, but as long as I remain teachable I know theyll find me somehow. My goal is to make them proud, and to give back as much as I can!

Sitting at Frontera grill yesterday, I explained,"Mesa Grill is one of my favorite restaurants in new york thats close to my appartment. Well, I look up not two seconds later and see Bobby Flay sitting at the table next to me! I think I may finally be getting good at controling my "fanning out" response. Its been particularly hard for me because Im also so fond of expressing my emotions. Anyways, the food at Frontera Grill was way more traditional and accessable than its sister restaurant Topolobampo(the fine dining version). Although both were outstandingly done, I would probably choose the former again because im so sophmoric with mexican food. In fact, yesterday was my first time eating a tamale! Its probably also time for me to get back to my rosetta stone too...

Meat you at 8...

My girlfriend never made it, but I finally went to Gibsons! The food was awesome, but from what I hear from the locals its not the best steak house in Chicago. I guess Ill just have to try all of them:-) I also found out why they call it the Viagra triangle...lots of older distinguished gentlemen! I slipped out of there and found lots of great clothing stores I didnt know were in the area: Scoop NYC, Intermix, Agent Provocateur! I hope I have time to do some shopping while Im here.  Normally I plan my stays long enough to do everything, but it doesnt look like it this time. Once I got home, my friend said her agent got her a club appearance last night and wanted me to join her, but I had special things going on this morning and needed my beauty rest. More on that to come!

Ahh...

Making my own coffee in the morning...what a cherished pleasure! Im still reeling from my trip to austin, but now here i am in my own appartment in Chicago where I can do my own laundry and make my own meals if i want. Im happy to be back on a more normal schedule again, but I do have some fun things planned! Ive been avoiding the cold winters here, but this year ive heard there really hasnt been one. It just goes to show the more i try to plan things the more i find that go with the flow is the best policy. My girlfriend from seattle is here, and i think were going out to dinner tonight!

My new favorite place: Austin!

On my second day in Austin, I took a nice drive out in the hill country and saw all the beautiful wildflowers. The terrain was different than anyplace Ive seen, and its true what they say: Everythings bigger in Texas! Some of the houses out on the hills were some of the most massive and exquisite Ive seen. Finally I got to the oasis plaza on lake Travis, which was built by Beau Theriot. Hes originally from new orleans, and is clearly a master of the retail business. One of the stores had very unique furniture and knick knacks made of cowhide, moose antlers, and other exotic things. I had some great mexican appetizers and drinks at the gorgeous restaurant overlooking lake travis! After that I headed to hudsons on the Bend for an exquisite fine dining experience. They had herb and vegitable gardens on the premises, and the menu had such items as elk, alligator, and frogs legs! I opted for the trout, which was fantastic! I also had the 2009 Fanciscan Estate chardonnay which Ill have to remember for future reference as my wine knowledge is not quite as up to par as I would like. After getting back to Austin, I found a great outdoor concert in a little venue with a homemade wooden stage. People werent really dancing much here so I went on to the Elephant Room which had some amazing jazz! Henry Brun and the Latin Players are truly on point! I can hardly wait to revisit this beautiful charming city...rich with live music and the arts. I will leave a little piece of my heart there...

Dreams are coming true!

Ive finally created a blog, which ive been wanting for quite some time now. Twitter is fun, but I wanted a place where i can really write! Its going to take some practice, but Im up for the challenge.

So here I am in Austin. Its my first time ever in Texas, and this place has a real charm that makes me think I want to come back and explore it further. A dear friend gave me the heads up, and its definately true they want to shake hands all the time...I bought a lifewater at the gas station and I got a handshake for that:-) Woot! Anyways, Ive got a few more days here and I heard theres a nude beach!