Excerpts From Not So Yore

Article 043.

God is good. And God can be playful at times. When I wrote Article 21, I was pretty much writing off 2024. Totally planning of staying under the radar and tightening up the belt with no outlandish trips or spending. Just get by 2024, I said. Peacefully. That was the plan at least but then of course God had other things in mind. As if to say, "Hold on fella! You've been in the bland for a while!" To be honest, 2024 was truly bittersweet (more sweet really than bitter). I was fine keeping things on the down-low. Stay single, play ball, have a few drinks here and there. Just enjoy life without breaking the wallet. I was prattling along to myself like I always do and it's like God whispered in my ear-- "Or how about we break your wallet but make it meaningful and lasting??" It's the type of dilemma where your personal adage of "it's just money" gets put to the test. I was in some sort of amusing state and was shrugging my head. I find myself slowly and hesitantly replying, "Aaaaahhhh whyyyyy not?" Don't get me wrong, everything that happened to me in 2024 was incredible (I'm soooo blessed) and He knows I'm oh-so thankful. But like I said, He is kinda playful. There’s gotta be a twist in this, right? Or maybe He has a cheaper plan for me this 2025 haha! I’m never writing off any more years especially the year of the Snake so I'll be positively buoyant from hereon out...

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Talking about bittersweet, how about this case involving Luigi Mangione? The young fella who shot United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in the streets of New York. I know as I write this the latest news we've heard is that his fellow convicted and NY prison cell neighbor Diddy is irked that Mangione is getting more attention than him. What a diva! I'm not tackling the Diddy issue, not even a bit. That's a monster on its own but rather briefly touch the surprising divide brought about by Mangione's murder act. First of all, condolences to the Thompson family. No family has to go through that tragedy. But if you or your loved one had been victims of coverage denial from these big corporate healthcare insurance companies, and lost a person dearly to you or personally have been struggling or physically and financially suffering as a result of it, then I can see why you would find Mangione as a hero, despite what he did. Murder is not to be condoned by any means but I understand from a certain angle why some people believe it was warranted. Currently, this case has been awfully quiet. Not sure if the hearing was kept private but I would love to know the motives behind it besides the minimal information shared in social media. What do you think? Was it justifiable or a brutal homicide? Why would a successful young adult like Luigi decide to do such a vile act? What I want to know is if Mangione is alone on this or someone else is really pulling the strings?? It could’ve been masterfully planned all along.

Mangione being transferred to NY

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For a moment I thought I lost my passion for music, my "mojo" as Austin Powers would say. I can't believe I've never heard of Sophie Ellis-Bextor whose been around since the early 2000s. Her hit single Murder On The Dancefloor [https://youtu.be/hAx6mYeC6pY?si=u8-WOAG14Qz9iZ10] was the unnamed song (although it was pretty obvious) that's stuck in my head for the longest time after watching the eerily but appealing film Saltburn. I could've easily Shazam'd the song and figured out that same day what it was but for some reason just wasn't inspired to do so. That wasn't a good sign but I guess I didn't care. I've already missed out on the latest Sza releases, totally forgot about the new Linkin Park album in November and only recently just found out that I don't have the George Benson track-- "You Are The Love Of My Life" in my prized playlist [https://youtu.be/buzKCE7RNGE?si=qRKIAnoWvqpB9G6Z]. What is happening to me? It only hit me hard when my girl asked me if I knew the artist behind the 1982 song I'm Never Gonna Say Goodbye [https://youtu.be/3RVcquHsgGE?si=bGsKoIpo3JU_fzki] and went completely dunce. I deliberately looked at the latest track I have on my "Latest" playlist and it was Eminem's Houdini [https://youtu.be/22tVWwmTie8?si=lZ-QuSfIYbVGaieo], which was released in May 2024. I didn't even think that I would listen to Billie Eilish at all, but here I am also just recently listening in amazement to another May 2024 release Birds Of A Feather [https://youtu.be/V9PVRfjEBTI?si=vejfskEnageWMN4a]. But the one song that I feel so bad on missing out, that I have been playing on repeat (and will continue to do so until my ears bleed), is this collaboration between Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. We are truly unworthy of this song Die With A Smile [https://youtu.be/kPa7bsKwL-c?si=Rw6hs2Fzq6_n8zg9]. What a mesmerizing tune! It was released in August 2024 (where was I?) Aaahhh, I was in the middle of falling in love. And this song would've been a perfect silhouette. I could easily put this on top of the list of my most favorite duets (Article 40). Okay maybe not but that says a lot on how much I'm bewildered by the song. I'm already in love as it is and now as I sing it in my head I'm even more gaga over my Lady Gaga! I knew I'm gonna get my mojo back and now I just have to remember to always hold on to my fervor for music. Queue that song again. ...I wanna hold you just for awhile and die with a smile!!!

The outfits are not too shabby either!

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Hannah Kobayashi. The Native Hawaiian who made headlines nationwide after disappearing to Mexico in November and has been found alive last month. She was the subject of a search after she missed boarding a connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York on November 9. Her family feared that she was kidnapped and a victim of human trafficking. On a Christmas Eve dinner in the Valley, I met men of my age with one who distinctly looks like the late Chris Farley. Besides talking about actresses who've preserved their beauty throughout the years, we had a lawyer, who ate like there's no tomorrow,  eventually giving out a garrulous talk about Kobayashi. Theories spilled and everyone had their opinion but honestly, what really gives? What about those weird text messages that Hannah sent to her aunt? “I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds for someone I thought I loved!" She texted that she was scared and couldn't come back home to her sister as well. Then in the middle of the search Hannah's Dad flew to LA and was found dead by suicide. Why on earth would he commit suicide in the middle of the search? Was he guilty of something? Were those text messages by Hannah directly towards him? Of all the articles written after she was found, there was no real emphasis from the family about the father's death. Like his suicide didn't matter at all. Which really makes me believe that Hannah was running away from the Dad. There may not be overwhelming evidence of this but I can't help but put the pieces together. Let's hope to find the truth together soon. Or perhaps just let this die down like it should. The latter seems more likely.

The “Find Hannah” posters were all over LA

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Lastly, the start of 2025 to Angelenos was heartbreaking. I was in the Westwood office and saw a cloud of smoke at the west side of my glass wall. This was a Tuesday afternoon, January 7. To be honest, this was not the first time I've seen this scenario. The Malibu Coast have had a history of smokey catastrophes. What I saw was not at the beginning of the Palisades fire but certainly at its early stages. The view from the 23rd floor gives you an astonishing sight of the entire landscape. Even at that juncture, that far from the site, you already feel concern for those people who resides in that area. How far would this disaster go this time? Little did I know that it would be, combined with the Eaton and other county fires, the biggest fire-related devastation in SoCal history. I scramble to go home, already anticipating an even busier commute because of the developing affairs in Los Angeles. I sincerely was thinking about the progress of the event but got lost in frustration when I was reminded that my bus ride had change routes at the start of the year, and now I had to take a few more bus/train transfers from previously one. When I got home my grievance turned into anxiety as I immediately turned on the TV and as I witness the ongoing saga, I shake my head in disbelief. Me and probably the entire South Land. What an apocalyptic event! You feel genuinely bad for those impacted. People were in a state of catharsis, panic and loss. Dozens of thoughts ran through my mind...

"What if you are a retiree who paid for your house already and just living off your pension?"

"What if you're still paying for your dream home and not knowing now how to recover from it?" 

"What if you don't have any relatives to go to on the interim and have your house as your only source of shelter?" 

"Would their insurance cover the damages or better yet do they have insurance policies for these types of tragedy?"

Could you imagine the questions, the worries, the unease in these people. I am lucky as I live about 40 miles away from both the Palisades and Eaton fires, yet I can smell through the air the burden of this tragedy. I pray for those who've lost houses, businesses and loved ones. It was painful to watch.

The community is standing up and it's inspiring to witness Angelenos providing support to the victims and first responders alike. Although the containment in those fire zones is not yet at 100%, the road to  recovery has officially started. The city of Los Angeles is resilient and I have no doubt it will rise back up again. The Rose Bowl is now a temporary refuge area, thousands of goods and clothing donated and Hollywood celebrities showing up for support. I even watched the Rams on MNF, whose game was moved to Arizona due to the uncertainty of the situation, played an inspired and dominant wild-card victorious game where both the team and fans donned LAFD and LA Strong gear signifying unity amidst adversity. It maybe a long and winding road to recovery, but eventually it will be achieved. Fight on LA, fight on!!

It looked like hell in Pacific Palisades!!!