Daniel Beck - Life in LA

Flashback - random pics - LA Skylines

A few random shots of the ever changing LA Skylines that I've taken in the past...

 

 

 
 
 

 

4 of 4 - 06/04/10

11:30 am

Central Casting parking lot. FYI - go in and update your pictures if your looking for bg work. It is almost all Aftra and very, very slow right now. Hit up your agency, call in service and Central with new pics. This reminds them of who you are. Don't just sit at home and moan unless you are on unemployment. Then you are being paid to moan! And that is another story probably coming from the Valley, in some studio, with some great student film with lines and possible nudity. Heck, even porn stars are getting laid off! 

Bad joke , sorry!

12:17 PM

Magnolia and Myers?

I was heading down to drop off some Goodwill items and saw then remnants of another business in Burbank. I swear that on Burbank Blvd and Magnolia Blvd, over 75 shops are empty, for lease, for rent. Another 10 are in the process of being knocked down or built back up. The industry and economy are hurting right now....

 

12:19 pm

Magnolia and Lima

Mannequins! I guess I have this thing about taking photographs of Mannequins. This lovely lady reminded me of an ex..... lol

 

12:25 pm

Magnolia and Victory

The Valero is now a 76 station. I watched the sign hangers for awhile doing their job... nothing more, nothing less.

 
 
 

 

Flashback - set pics: NCIS Los Angeles

Random set pics taken over the years. These were taken on the set of NCIS Los Angeles.

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

Baby Shower pictures - May 22, 2010

I took this as my sign to update everyone on what is happening in the baby department.  It is strange how we draw the lines between public and private. In the past my wife and I have both been under the scrutiny of the public eye, one of the benefits of television. On one hand we didn't mind the attention. On the other hand, we respected our privacy more and more..... 

Our baby is officially public. We no longer hold this secret hostage from friends and family. lol - The early trimester month worries are over and the date of his arrival (yes, it is a boy) is just around the corner. My wife held her baby shower May 22nd. A few pics are below.

 

Cutest cake ever! Porto's Bakery made this adorable cake for the shower!

 

A pile of presents for baby!

 

Gypsy hosted this shower! She's awesome!

 

My mom and Gypsy working on the food!

 
  
 The entire group! Thanks to Gypsy, Cristina and Lyndsey for all of their help in making this shower a reality! Thanks to everyone else who attended. 
 

 

Our Baby's first Mac !

 

I thought this was adorable, sitting across from my wife and child. My wife was surfing the web and I thought, "this is baby's first Mac, how cute!" Meanwhile, my wife fought to see the screen over her blossoming baby bump belly. I snapped a couple pictures and thought that I don't share much publicly about my wife and child. I love them both dearly and they mean everything to me....

Solitude has found a companion, long forgotten songs that bring back so much: The notebook

 

I found it in amongst the clutter of boxes in the back room. A black notebook that had not been opened in years. I paused before lifting it up from itself, a memory or memories that flooded back into my consciousness. 

It was my old songbook. Deep inside were pages, each filled with songs, each one written in the midst of my past, my pain, my pleasure & perhaps my misery. Each song was a part of me. There were hundreds... all written 15 to 20 years ago.

I opened it up and began to randomly read, song my song, word by word, title by title. My heart leapt and sank in the same moment. It was as if my blood was used to write each word, each sentence, each phrase. My intent was strong. It was sorrow. It was painful but, oh, so clear. These were meant to be shared, by me and by others. Ears needed to hear and hearts needed to feel. 

I was alone in that moment, the same way I was alone in writing these words on paper so many years ago,  typing them up, & singing them before I chose to close the notebook up so many years ago and walking away from what the words represented to me.. This was my life, my past, my pain. And now it has been re-opened and I know I should follow where my heart goes... straight back into the words and songs that meant so much. 

My heart needs to write and my soul needs to sing again. My words need to play a tune for all those who have ears to hear... shhhh...... listen.......

Daniel Beck

So I walked the dog around the block a few times...

  
 Today is a much better day than yesterday. My energy level is returning slowly. I don't ache and hurt nearly as much as yesterday. The stress of the move is subsiding and things are good. Maybe the auto immune suppressors are finally kicking in. Maybe it is the calcium channel blockers... I dunno..

So I walked the dog around the block a few times... It is weird for me to hesitate at the thought of working out. I'm not used to slowly inching into things, to workout at a snails pace. That prevents me from flaring up apparently. I'm used to being an all or nothing guy. But I've started a slow paced workout to get me back into the shape I was. 5 times around the block doesn't sound that much, but it exhausted me completely. The dog only stuck around for two laps. Then he demanded to return to air conditioning and indoor atmospheres. 

One thing I've noticed is that every time I go around the block, someone had dumped something on a curb. Couches, mattresses, shelves, bookcases, televisions, boxes, a clothes washer..... every time I go around the block, something new appears. This gives me something to look forward to. I might as well snap pictures of the 'crap of the day on the curb' . 

Crap of the Day on the Curb: Session 01. This is just one trip around our little block. Many more will come in the future!

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
       

The dog is loving our new hood. So many other dogs to play with, sniff, lick butt and try to pee on. It is a dogs world, no doubt about it. I'm enjoying today. And I feel good for the most part. Exercise is a necessity in my life now. It helps iron out the day. That is for sure. Just as long as I remember to use sun block.... 

I have a friend coming over this afternoon. Last night I mentioned 'it' to her. Even though this blog is public, I haven't told many friends and acquaintances that I was diagnosed with Lupus, or the fact I'm focused on leaving Lupus and regaining my life. This is a very humbling experience. One at a time, they either hear from someone else, read my blog or get a call and invitation for me to tell them in person. 

This is still a very personal thing for me, I don't like it and I don't like to talk about it. I didn't tell many peeps at my work as I didn't want to risk loosing my job. I didn't want to tell my family as I didn't want them to worry. I didn't want to use words that put a focus on my struggle. That seemed like a bullseye. But I know my own words will help others fighting Lupus. I hope it will help others find a way to leave it behind as well and embrace life to its fullest. It still irks me... I'm just being honest. I have a number of ideas to help spread awareness for Lupus issues as well as help raise funding for curing this secret disease.

 Leaving Lupus is spreading awareness. I'll be meeting with three or four males living with Lupus in the next couple weeks. Face to face. Up to this point I have met no males, only females........ and I wonder why these statistics are as they are.

 I'm off around the block to sort thoughts and walk the dog. There has got to be a bush, couch, ottoman, chair or sign he missed peeing on earlier..... anyone want a peed on mattress? I know where you can get one for free!

5 of 4 - 06/02/10

4 of 4 is four pictures taken throughout my day in LA. Occasionally it will be 5. Like today!
 
10:18 am - Open up the front door to find this blocking our walkway. Water issues, broken pipes and construction abounds. . I bounded over this one quickly

 

11:22 am - Crap on the curb. Every time I walk the dog around our block, I see new crap someone drug out and left on the curb. So I decided to take pictures of all this crap before my dog peed on it. Does anyone want a free, peed on mattress? lol..

 

11:27 am - O holy tree! The power lines maintained their solitude despite the ever expanding growth and progress of natures beauty in Glendale..... Now I need a picture of that giant donut over by LAX!

 

1:32 pm - cracked and broken, this tile represented the theme of todays walk.... but it was still holding itself together..... just like real life does sometimes.. 
 
  
 

1:37 pm - sidewalk weld - there are ten grates, each with a weld or part of a weld on them down our street. I may shoot all of them at some point in the future..... I guess this was a slow day, wasn't it? 

 
 
 
  

 

Flashback - set pics: HawthoRNe season one

Random set pics taken over the years! These were taken from the set of HawthoRNe: Season one

 

 

 

 
 
  

 
  
  

 

4 of 4 - 06/01/10

4 fof 4 is four pictures taken throughout my day in LA. 4/4 06/01/10. We are back into the groove of things. Last month was a month of change, my wife and I have moved to Glendale from Burbank. Boxes everywhere. Time to get organized, in shape and back into inspiration. 

  

12:03 pm. Magnolia alley in Burbank. I love the back alleys and side streets, graffiti is a true work of art. This is art from the heart of the artist.

  
1:13 pm - undisclosed parking lot, Burbank. 

Be grateful for everything when so many have so little. This was taken in a parking lot, I will not mention the exact location.  This lady may be a frequent guest of the fast food shacks and grocery stores that offer some form of assistance to those in need. Her car was what she called home, filled with clothes and papers. Her shower and restroom may have been in the nearby fast food store. Diabetes was evident, Her face is hidden for privacy. When she limped away for awhile, a few dollars appeared from a strangers donation, tucked into her windshield wipers that should have been replaced a year ago. Homeless is a theme I follow, wondering about the names behind the faces and the stories of how the streets became the place they called home. We are grateful. 

 
 
 
 3:37 pm - Power lines on Chandler, so many volts, so little time. I wandered through the park for a bit sorting thoughts....

  
 

 3:42pm - one of the coolest streets in Glendale, backside of Reese. I love the energy that the trees give to this area of Burbank. So relaxing and inviting. It is refreshing to the soul and spirit. That's todays 4 of 4!