Blog — THE JONES

may be a bit polarizing. I'm okay with that. I think it's absurd that it would be, though, because I think human kindness is instinctual and any type of prejudice or hatred is unnatural, but I digress.

Yes. All lives matter. Duh. That goes without saying. But being born as a straight white American female, I will never know the battles, large and small, that minorities have to fight every day. And for that, I'm sorry. For that reason, I want to use my otherwise misplaced privilege to do good. To evoke change. To start a conversation.

Here's what I know: we're all human beings. The universe is wildly vast. In our teeny galaxy, we have nine planets (never 4get Pluto), and there is only human life that we know of on one. So how can anyone sit there and hate each other for our inconsequential differences when we are the most similar things to each other in the entire known universe?

That kind of hate is taught and passed down, we were not born that way.

We have gotten to a point in our society where we're scared to be in a movie theatre, on a train, at a concert, by ourselves, at a bar, at church, at school. The places where we're supposed to feel safest. Trust me, if I were a police officer, I'd be terrified for my life every single day. That being said, what is happening to our brothers and sisters because of that fear should not be tolerated. We need to change the way we let our society be run because we are all operating through fear. All of us, including the police force, are fueled by fear. Why do wars start? Fear. Where does hate come from? Fear. It is the root of all evil and our nation lives in a perpetual state of it.

There is NOT "nothing you can do." We are all responsible. Every day that we wake up to another hashtag and immediately put our phones down, we are actively choosing to do nothing. We are choosing to let this go on. We are a government run by the people (at least that's what we used to be) and it's on us. Every voice is a valid and powerful one, and I cannot NOT use mine anymore.

It's also completely unjust to fight fire with fire. Violence and more hate solves nothing. We should be showering each other with love. Quite literally killing them with kindness. All lives do matter. I realize that's not the fight being fought right now, but they do. Of course black lives matter, anyone who disagrees is on the wrong side of history, but the same goes for every life on this planet.

What kind of example are we setting for our children and future leaders if we spew out the same hate to the oppressors that they've spewed out first? Then it just becomes a giant pissing contest. While it is true that we are fighting for the equality of all, especially for the entire black population, it is no one's right to decide whose life is more important than another's. We cannot fight this epidemic with more hate, it needs to be smothered with love. We need to be the difference, the opposition, the light.

No argument ever finds resolution when two parties scream nonsense at each other. An argument only reaches its end when one person shows compassion, forgiveness, and compromise. Why is this any different? It's just on a larger scale.

Love one another. It's the easiest thing in the world to do. I mean I can't even believe conversations like this one need to be had, but I cannot be afraid for my life anymore if I want to go see a new Pixar movie, and that is just an inkling of the kind of every day life so many of our black brothers and sisters have to live, and I can't stand one more day of it.

Ugh. Monday again. Back to the grind. Unless you're like me and have zero obligations, you probably dislike the first day of the work week. So I thought I'd do you a favor and give you a blog to read for the second half of your work day. I'm doing my part for the community. Call me Mother Theresa. Just make sure you have another tab open so that when your boss walks by you can pretend you're actually being productive. I'm not just a hat rack, people. Anyway, welcome to this edition of The Jones!

After Olena left for her trip to Ukraine, I figured the two weeks left in LA until I boarded a plane myself would be spent in a monotonous and quite boring fashion. Wake up. Eat. Do some work. Yoga. Eat. Do some work. Guitar. Eat. Maybe see a friend? Sleep. Repeat. However, I only have three days left here until my Jersey vacation, and I've had the most unexpected, lovely time. I've had job offers/interviews, which have given me hope that when I return from vacation my life will start to settle. I've been spending quality time with friends new and old that I've surrounded myself with in this crazy town. Sure, I've also had to spend some of that time in the ER and the dentist's office due to an impacted wisdom tooth because my life wouldn't be mine if there wasn't some unfortunate circumstance sprinkled into it. It's all about balance, people. Anywho, I've learned a few songs start to finish on the guitar and I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT! And one of my favorite people on the planet pulled the surprise visit of the year on me. All that and more.

I kicked off the week by hanging with my dearest friend, Rachel, and our friend Aaron. We all met in Hermosa Beach, where we sat in the sand and talked for hours. We tried to throw around a football, but that's when I learned that I actually am, in fact, traumatized by the time in middle school when some girl threw a football at me and the sun was in my eyes so I broke my pinky finger trying to catch it. I mean, if you want some entertainment, throw me a football. You'd think you were throwing me a bomb. So after we were all done collectively laughing at my ridiculousness, we sat down in the sand I started taking photos of them cause DAMN. I have good looking friends.

This is Aaron. ->

We didn't work together for too long before I got canned, but every time we had a shift together, we'd get into real ass conversations, so I knew off the bat he'd be a homie. Also. LOOK at him.

<- This is Rachel.

She has become my family. She inspires me to work harder every day, but she's also always down to split a pitcher of margaritas between just the two of us. She's the most genuine and loyal person I've met here.

Fun was had by all. I think I needed a reminder that these people can still be in my life if I try harder. Just because our lives don't overlap in that rotten bar anymore, doesn't mean our friendships are cut off. The people who I've met and formed solid connections with are important enough for me to try harder to maintain a friendship with. I need to be better at that.

I think it may have been the next day that disaster struck. Okay, not disaster. But my face ballooned up, my mouth shut, and I spent the next few days of my life freaking out, whimpering, drinking smoothies, and super high on pain killers. I have the best friends though. Rachel, bless her heart, drove me to a dentist all the way out in Marina Del Ray, because I was too hopped up on Vicodin to drive myself anywhere. (I still owe you a drink.) My friend Jen, who I don't believe I've introduced to The Jones yet, came over just to hang out and talk with me because she knew I was pretty much stuck inside until this got better. Like. Friendship. It's the best. Find and surround yourself with people who want to be in your life and feel like family.

It's about this time that Olena texts me saying she has a package coming in sometime between 8 and 10 AM the next day and to please be home to make sure it's not stolen. My swelling has almost completely gone down, but I'm still taking meds to make sure it stays that way, so of course I'm awake that morning at 8AM sharp to take my first dose. By the time my doorbell rang around 9:30, I had all but forgotten about Olena's package. Understanding immediately that's what was awaiting me at the front door, I slipped into my slippers, threw my hair into an unruly ponytail, and opened the door.

My first thought: "Oh, it's not the Fed Ex guy. It's just Dylan."

Second thought: "IT'S DYLAN!!!!*&^#@#!^%"

My absolute favorite dude (that I'm not related to) was all of a sudden right in front of me and I was so confused and so ecstatic all at once. In an effort to make such a long story as short as possible, I met Dylan when we were studying abroad in London. We quickly and seamlessly became close friends, and although we've been through some shit, we've managed to stay in each others' lives for four years and counting, and he is one of the most special people in my life.

Dyl is a baller. He lives in a sick apartment in Brooklyn, works for Def Jam, is the most hardworking person I have ever met, and his network of people is seriously impressive. The fact that he even keeps me in his circle is shocking. But I digress. Dyl came out to LA to produce an event for one of Def Jam's rising artists. So after I finished jumping and squealing about him being right in front of me, we got brunch, and he headed out to the venue to make sure everything was going to be ready for the following night. Look how excited he is to see me!!!

Every time I'm hanging out with Dylan, I'm introduced to new people and new music. This time was no exception. His first night we went to a bar in Silverlake with a few people in the industry. I had such cool conversations with people I would have never met on my own. Oh and Lana Del Ray was standing an arm's length from where I was. Not relevant to the story, just wanted to give you a picture of how much I probably did not belong in that crowd.

Day two, Dyl and I woke up early so I could drive him to the venue to get ready for the big night. The event was being held at House of Guvera, in a part of Downtown LA that I had never been to before. It was a completely industrial area, full of warehouses, textured walls, grafitti, and galleries. A photographer's wet dream. We stopped at a cafe to get some grub, Dyl took some business calls, and I did what I do best.

Headed back to the venue, and Dylan got straight to work. I was just supposed to drop him off, but what's a girl with a camera to do in an empty event space just hours before an epic live music event? I'm quite positive I was shooting for a solid 45 minutes before I finally snapped out of it and thought it might be a good idea to get out of the crew's way so they could work.

There is so much to say about that night. Pride was my number one emotion , followed closely by bliss and content and comfort and joy. To be in a room of upwards of 500 people dancing and vibing and laughing and listening to amazing music is enough for a great night out. Then, on top of that, knowing that this was all possible because of your visionary of a friend, I mean. It doesn't get any better. I got to watch Kari Faux, Earl St. Clair, Jesse Boykins, and Bibi Bourelly live, and the energy was next level. If you don't know those artists, just like I wasn't aware of most of them, find them on Spotify and Soundcloud NOW because I'm telling you they are making the kind of music you're going to want to be in on.

In the middle of Jesse's set, between songs, he stopped to talk to the crowd. He had us repeat a word after him that I have never heard before: "Schwaza." Of course, I just went along with it, thinking it was some kind of like cool kid slang that I wasn't hip to yet, but then he explained it. Schwaza is that feeling when you're in a moment so incredible that there are no other known words to truly describe the importance or gravity of that moment. That's schwaza. I thought that was so beautiful that I had to write it down and I knew immediately it'd be the title of my blog. Because that's exactly how I was feeling. There are so many words to describe how I felt that night. About myself, for my friend, about the music. Words that paled in comparison to how I was actually feeling. Until Jesse said that word did I realize why I felt so blissful. It was a word assigned to what O and I have been calling "life moments." I was in a room full of like-minded, free-spirited, human beings fueled by love.

Life hands you what you need. Remember that. If it weren't for this blog I don't think I'd have the opportunity to get to dissect life's occurrences so deeply, and I don't think I'd appreciate things as much as I have been. I needed a night like this. I needed something really good. And what did I get? My favorite guy for a few days and a night of schwaza. Life is good peepz.

Dyl's last day we went to brunch, and then hung at his friend Danny's house, where this FLUFFY CREATURE was. He was just calling for me to play with him and take photos of him while the boys played their instruments. Honestly, the president could have been in the room and I wouldn't have even looked up. DO YOU SEE THE FLUFFINESS?!?! I die.

Dylan's departure was inevitable, but we spent the day by the ocean to make the most of it. I'm not sure if Dylan was particularly thrilled to be my model for the few days he was here, but too bad. Actually scratch that. He loved it.

Either I'm a damn comedian or his fingers smell silly. I'm gonna go with the former.

Can we just take a moment to look at how derpy he is? This is why we're friends. When he's working, he's like a freaking mogul, getting shit done and being innovative and intimidating, but then when he's done working, he's pretty much a flailing goofball, who accepts my weird and matches it. And that's my favorite part.

And just as suddenly as he arrived, he was boarding a plane back to New York. Even though I'll see him in like a week when I go home for vacation, it's never easy parting with your favorite people. We spent like every possible minute together for three days, and though I like to block out how much I miss my people in the east, spending this kind of quality time is enough to make me homesick for familiarity. For home, for framily (that's friends that feel like family and family that feel like friends). So, once again, life gave me what I need. Just when I start to feel that twinge of homesickness, I have a two week long trip to Jersey in the books coming up in just a few short days. I'm in the best place right now. I love the people in my life and what I've been (for lack of a better word) blessed with. I feel very lucky today.

I hope your Monday wasn't so insufferable, and that I was able to transport you away from your desk at least for a little while. Thanks for stopping by, leave a comment if you'd like. I APPRECIATE YOU.