south central
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“Doña Tere, Alameda Swap Meet”
A small tribute to Doña Tere at Alameda Swap Meet—her kindness, her hugs, and the warmth she left behind. Continue reading
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“Real Life Graphics”
Stopped at a red light in East L.A. and the city turned gold. For a minute I got out of my head and actually saw the world—people, buses, buildings, and light. Continue reading
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“My Dad Carries an Invisible Ceiling”
A $200 shaver sparked a bigger thought: my dad carries an invisible ceiling—limits disguised as protection. I’m questioning which ones I refuse to inherit. Continue reading
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“Writing Into the Void”
A tired-night entry about writing into the void—small irritations, real love for my mother, and grief for someone I barely knew. Continue reading
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“The Loop Doesn’t Say “I’m Evil.” It Says “I’m Justified.”
After seeing The Shining in IMAX, I realized the real horror isn’t the hotel—it’s the loop: a mindset that hides behind “morality” and turns control into justification. This is what it reminded me of in my own upbringing, and what I’m choosing to break now. Continue reading
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“I Don’t Know What This Is Becoming — I Just Keep Showing Up”
Today started with waking up after a good night’s sleep — something I haven’t experienced consistently in almost ten years. Since my breakup in 2016, insomnia became a constant companion. Not the one I chose, but the one that stayed. Continue reading
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“Boom Goes the Family”
8 a.m. and the house is already revving like a tea kettle—old trauma, small conflicts, and emotional chess moves. Today I choose clarity: no chasing, no proving, stepping out of the arena. Continue reading
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“One Percent Today”
One percent today meant showing up anyway—late, tired, and still non-negotiable. A crowded gym, a quiet lesson from John 13, and a reminder that discipline is a way to see. Continue reading
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“Life on Life’s Terms.”
A quote at the USC gym cracked something open. Later, a cashier’s small kindness at Target reminded me that life is brutal—and quietly generous. Continue reading
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“The Turkey, the Fear, and the Quiet Shift”
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 — 8:13 p.m. I’m sitting outside now in the cold night air — green jacket zipped up, blue-and-white Denver beanie on my head — and I’m thinking about something small and strange: A turkey. Not Thanksgiving. Just a random Wednesday turkey that cooked from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eleven hours… Continue reading