Love Stories

Everyone has a love story. Some will break your heart. Others teach lessons. Even still there will be the ones to cherish. Most of all, we need connection. We need to feel valued by another & to share our lives. Many people would rather not be lonely. So, it's a risk for all of us but love is a path taken anyway. Love doesn't always have to be romantic but it can be. Love is better without conditions. Love is valuable. It's a reminder to live & love others dearly. From the bottom of my heart, I hope everyone has a chance to experience love that transforms them & perhaps makes them want to sing. 

Today, I saw this music video by Justin Timberlake where he showcased love stories from his fans that he asked them to share with him on Twitter. Regular people taking a risk but most of all they are loving each other. I thought it was a beautiful tribute indeed.

#notabadlovestory

http://dld.bz/drDmu

Let's love! 

Letterpress cards pictured made by local San Antonio designers, Samantha Reich & Tina Leh. Printed by local printer: Superior Printing. (http://sanantonio.aiga.org/we-love-you/)

(post by Julie) 

Featured Blogger & local Musician, ARMANDO MARTINEZ, with a link to a song that saved a friend

About Armando: 

Armando is a singer/songwriter, teacher and a music therapy student. Has been playing for over twenty years but it's not until the last 5 years has been a full time troubadour/busker. Armando teaches @community centers NYA, commanders house, haven for home as well as SAM ASH. When not teaching Armando performs at different venues in Antonio.and hosts open mic Mondays @Sandras (1603 s Presa) and on Thursday @ Jnos cantina (1014 s Presa) Frombeyondo@yahoo.com.

Check out the song that saved a person from thoughts of suicide!  

Featured Blogger & Local Entertainer, CHRISTOPHER 'CHICKENFINGER' CHAVEZ, will have you laughing your ass off

About Christopher: 

 I have been making people laugh since kindergarden, it is the only thing that makes sense. I'm from The SouthSide of SA, kicked out of my house at 16, dropped out of high school at 17, and in jail by 18, After that I got my life together. I ended up being the only one in my family to attend a University. I was the Section Leader for the Tubas at Texas State University at 27 years old. I currently am a marketing director in SA and have fiancé, 2 little boys with one on the way. I host the ANYTHING & EVERYTHING Podcast on greenstarradio.com. I also travel all over Texas as a Play by Play and ringside announcer for a few independent wrestling circuits.
Still estranged form my family I hope one day they will be forced to see me on HBO and Showtime. By Demons Be Drivin....

 

Check out CHRISTOPHER 'CHICKENFINGER' CHAVEZ podcast here! 

Detour Ahead

Article by: Robert Kemmerer

One lesson Josie has taught me through our relationship is that life has some rather unexpected surprises. Don't be afraid to wonder from the path because you never know what you are missing.

Each time we leave our cave we set out on a path that was, for the most part, planned. Planned in the sense that we know where we are leaving from and where we have to be. Everything in between is the adventure.

Through our detours, breaks, and accidental turns i have discovered beauty not to far from reach that I have blindly walked by. Here are just a few.

The Sunflower Fields 
photo by: Josie V. Eclecticism

Located on Hwy 90 headed west towards Uvalde. Just as you have exited the city of good ol' San Antonio look for this treasure on the eastbound side. You will know it when you see it.

Even a weed has a heart 
photo by: Josie V. Eclecticism

Not too long ago we took a walk through a local park near our home. We have been through here several times during our "Texas Winter" months. This visit was a little different. The leaves were sprouting from the trees that were once bare and flowers began to bloom with such vibrance. Life had come back. We geeked out on the beauty and suddenly this little guy caught my eye. Reminded us of Dr. Suess. Can't help to wonder if this was a inspirational source for many of his iconic characters and landscapes. 

This was here the whole time?
photo by: Josie V. Eclecticism

I only recently began traveling to downtown San Antonio. It was to chaotic for me. Through a desire to move forward with my passion I took baby steps moving through out the downtown streets. Then Josie came into my life and that baby step process became a metaphorical rollercoaster plummeting down from its highest point. Exhilarating and life changing. I have lived in San Antonio for years. At least a quarter of my life and till just recently this was something I passed by on a weekly bases without knowing it was there.

My life lesson, take a detour every once in a while. It may just change your life for the better. I thank my love Josie for breathing life back into my soul.

Featured blogger & local artist: MINNIE HERNANDEZ, explains a photoseries & a recent project.

About Minnie: 
I am a self taught artist and mother. As a child I would always have a pencil and paper handy, so that I could draw to my hearts content wherever I was. My real skills lie in painting and sketching but I also enjoy exploring other avenues of creativity such as ; photography, jewelry/ accessories making , illustrations, cover designs for novels and most recently collaborating in giving new life to old furniture. My inspirations come from my surroundings, whether it be nature, culture or gazing up at the stars.

Current series: (a photo & furniture series)

The photos were taken while hiking on the trails at Raymond Rimkus park in Leon Valley

As for the bench it was a collaboration, I just added the finishing touches, Patrick did the dirty work of taking the old rotting wood boards and rusty screws off and replacing them with newer boards, He painted the frame and boards with discounted sample paints we were lucky to have come across. And I used some of those paints to add the vine and flowers to the backboard.

Check out more of Minnie!  
Support her at the next event she's in! 

Featured Artist: PAGAN GOLD || photojournalist for local blog [The Night Shift]

PAGAN GOLD is a local photojournalist for THE NIGHT SHIFT who spends his time at independently owned business, Espresso Gallery (529 San Pedro Ave. SATX)

The purpose of THE NIGHT SHIFT is to help make people aware of the scene in San Antonio. 

From the beginning to end, GOLD provides insight into his way of thinking, not just through the fluency in his tone, but in writing as well. He is a writer that shares a part of his soul to his readers. His voice echoes in the words he writes. 

"I want to be a martyr of what I believe in..."-- Pagan Gold

 an interview with Pagan Gold by Josie V. 
at Espresso Gallery

his latest work

 photographed by PAGAN GOLD

Check out an article about local artist, AMAZE on THE NIGHT SHIFT

The never ending pursuit of bettering oneself; Goal Managing by Josie V.

I have this problem which is also a blessing. The idea of bettering myself is always on my mind and reiterated when life throws those moments of clarity. Those moments when you are looking at something wonderful that it fills your body with energy, kind of like a helium balloon, and you feel connected. You don't just feel connected, you are inspired and forever changed. I recently had a wave of this. It happened when I was watching a documentary on Netflix about a couple who were building a tiny house. Apparently, there is this whole underground culture of people beating the system Henry David Thoreau style , sorta. If he were to be living in a traveling house decked out with amenities such as electricity & internet. The man who was building this house with his girlfriend was young, barely had any money, but clearly followed the internet. With the many tools one can learn through reading how-to blogs and watching tutorials on YouTube, as well as recruiting help from found items on Craigslist, within a year he had build himself his own house. What made this house much more than that, was he built it to be home and it was. Who doesn't want that? I have experienced some turbulence in this roller coaster life of mine. I am constantly trying to better myself because I know I deserve better. I always do. The problem with this is that I am constantly rediscovering ways to do so, leaving the many to-do lists I came up with during my last aha! moment. These to-do lists pile up! It's funny because if you were to look through my stack, you would notice that they are mostly very similar. It's hard for me to complete a task. The great thing about this though is that I am never bored, most of the time I am motivated, I discover something new about myself and I am constantly reminded that I am worthy enough to create the next masterpiece, or that Art is still worth making, or whatever. Life is a trial and error process. I found a couple of tips from the internet about goal managing. Whether you want to create a home, or the next masterpiece, these tips are useful: