Why Wait?

Why wait for 2018? Do it Now.

Recently I listened to a video snippet, and the author told me, why wait until 2018 to make the changes you’d like to make?

And shorty, is right! Why am I going to wait until 2018 to start fresh, when everyday I wake up translates to a new beginning? With the rise of the sun, I am able to decide who I want to be and who I want in my World. Everyone’s manual for living looks different, so I have to find the instructions that work best for me. Find the people who work best, with my vibe, who brings out the best in me. Letting go is extremely hard for me, especially since my mother died. I hold on to folks tight, I look past their wrongdoings at my own detriment and I allow them to stay in my World. I find them sucking the life from me, and once I’ve hit rock bottom only then do I let them go.

This situation, this friendship, this love is NO longer serving me. Its no Longer allowing me to grow, no longer allowing me to be the best version of myself, no longer making me happy. I wish you the best, take care, thank you. I’ve found that speaking this outloud makes the transition easier. Can people change, sure they can, but for my own peace, they have to change elsewhere. Protecting my own energy is my top priority, everyone can and will be second my own self. Eff how they feel.

I’ve had a few light stealers, and I’ve let each and everyone of them go. God Bless ‘Em

Jonez.

Chinatown (SanFran)

Why y’all didn’t tell me Chinatown in San Francisco was so amazingly filled with street art? I was literally blown away with the art that was displayed on each and every street! I loved that all the pieces had some sort of dedication to asian culture. I was able to chop it up with Tupac and Bruce Lee at the same time. (Laugh) However I don’t feel as if I saw very traditional art pieces only, there was always some sort of popular culture element. Although, I don’t feel as If I truly look like a tourist while traveling, I definitely felt like one during my time in Chinatown but I didn’t let that stop me from being the touristy tourist! I tend to stay away from Boba Tea in NYC, as I’d rather not chew my tea, call it lazy, but whatever. But when in Rome, you normally do as the romans, so I had my first official boba tea, and let me tell you, it was so good! Sweet, but the mango flavored green tea was an incredible balance. I had to have something to drink while fighting to walk up all the hills!

I am a bit upset, I went all the way to Chinatown in San Francisco and I did not experience the joy that is The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. If we are what we eat, then I should be a fortune cookie! I find that I throughly enjoy that taste of a fortune cookie, its just so damn good! Whenever I order from the Chinese restaurant, before I can even get my order out, I am asking for fortune cookies! It is a must that my next visit includes a stop at the Fortune Cookie Factory!

Jonez

OscarGrant

There are life changing moments that most time happens without us really understanding the impact. Oscar Grant III was that life changing moment for me. I remember everything I was doing prior to hearing the news of his murder. I was sitting at my desk, preparing to get started on the orders I needed to enter for the day, I remember hearing the news and feeling such an extreme sense of loss, it was as if my best friend had died. Keep in mind, prior to that day, I didn’t know anything about Oscar, had never even heard of him until that moment, but I was incredibly sad at the loss of his being. I made the mistake of watching the released footage of his death on whatever site had it available, and I cried so much I had to excuse myself to the restroom. With that one shot, his life gone. His dreams and goals would never come to fruition, he would never have the opportunity to see his daughter grow, he would never be able to right his wrongs. Hands down, one of the most significant memories in my life, and I still felt the pang of what he could have grown into.

I recently visit San Francisco for the first time, and while on the BART, I sat across from the Map, and my eyes landed on Fruitvale station. I once again felt sadden by the events that occurred in 2009. On a day where we all celebrate whats to come, how we were going to do better than the previous year, Oscar wouldn’t get the opportunity to fulfill his resolutions. I know life isn’t fair, and we aren’t supposed to question the moves of the Creator, but what good has come from Oscar being gone? Besides feelings of anger and sadness? I will be going back to California and as much as I would like to visit Oakland, I don’t think I am strong enough to do so.

I’m thankful to have been exposed to Oscar Grant III’s story, I do believe I am a better person. I want to believe I love harder, am more compassionate, a tad bit more of a risk taker, because I know Life isn’t to be lived forever but to be cherished!

And for that, I thank you Oscar. You’ll always be held within the depths of my heart.

Tristan Jonez.

MarketStreet Sale

Can we talk about San Francisco?

Every time I visit, I am always in awe of Market Street. Its as if, gentrification has gone terrible wrong. All in the downtown area is filled with not only the homeless population, but the mentally ill, plus addicts and drug dealers. Although Its an environment I’m familiar with, it still unnerves me. I’d like to believe I could navigate through it without being tested, its still upsetting to see. In the middle of whats going on, you then have luxury businesses, and shops, tourists and children on field trips. As a city, this has to be a concern for the admin, right?

Then we have gentrification, which is concerning alone. However I get the feeling, this is not something new. This is just the new normal. I wouldn’t want to walk thru market str all willy nilly at night, my damn self, if I’m being honest. There’s just so much that can go wrong, especially because it doesn’t look as if the police presence is a strong as it was in Harlem when gentrification was at its peak. For what it is worth, there seems to be a sort of harmony, between what Market Street used to be and what it is currently. I don’t see much change in sight until the city has properly dealt with the homeless/mentally ill population.

Your thoughts?

Tristan Jonez.

SideNote: I’m very curious to research the crime rate in that area of the city compared to the rest of the city.

SuperDuperMuper

I love a good burger joint even though I usually opt for the chicken sandwich. I honestly can’t remember the last time I had a burger. Well today, while searching for food, I came across Super Duper Burgers and baybeeeeeeee I’m in love! As routine, I ordered a chicken sandwich, I added pepper jack cheese and their super duper sauce (Laughing) with an order of garlic fries, that comes topped with mozzarella cheese. Boy ole boy! The fries were delicious, even without the garlic/cheese, next time I will try out their trio of dippin’ sauces. I caught myself staring at the burgers as they were being cooked on the grill, and they looked so juicy, so well done (I Love my burgers burnt) I was itching to order a burger in addition to my chicken sandwich, but I knew my eyes was being bigger than my stomach!

The first time I passed by this spot on my way to the San Francisco Museum of Art, I remembered because they have a happy hour. I know there are plenty of burger places that caters to the after work crowd, but something about the signage was memorable. Because the fries were so filing I wasn’t able to finish my meal, but a few hours later, I smashed it! Even cold, my chicken sandwich was really tasty. I am interested in trying everything on the menu, but first I have to find where the bread they use comes in the Bay Area. It was slightly sweet, extremely soft, and it melted in my mouth. Damn!

When was the last time you fell in love with a sandwich?

Tristan J

Art De Modern.

No matter what city I visit, I am drawn to the art museum in that city. Its almost as if my soul is being called by the artist who have painted such masterpieces. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a must see, must experience museum that I throughly enjoyed. Im not sure if museums can be feel good places, but SFMOMA surely was. I found myself falling in love again with Pop, Minimal and Figurative art, and Andy Warhol has captured the essence of my being. Roy Lichtenstein is another absolute favorite of mine! Can I tell you how I’m so not a comic book imaging fan but there’s something about HIS work that just captures my whole entire heart? His work just gives me all the feels I can handle, makes me so warm and fuzzy!

When I tell you I was on the brink of tears, tears y’all, Gerhard Richter had me feeling like I NEEDED his painting with me, in my home. Lord know its priceless, but If I could afford it, I would have placed my bet, then and there. I spent at minimum twenty minutes in a serious trans. I forgot where I was, and if it wasn’t for the scores of people visiting the museum, I would’ve taken off my shoes, and laid out as If I was watching television. Just incredible. I urge you all to visit the museum when you have a chance and just be. Clear out all the noise, and just sit with it. Sit with it as if you’re visiting with an old friend.

Tristan Jonez.

SideNote: Anything Oil on Canvas, Abstract or German artists I just fall in love.