221 days down, 144 to go.
So it's official, Wyclef is running for President of Haiti. Now I don't know how I feel about this. On one hand, he is completely unqualified in the political arena and he has a checkered past visa-vie the music industry. But on the other hand, the people of Haiti have been failed and taken advantage of repeatedly by politician after politician promising a better tomorrow. Maybe what Haiti needs as new blood...perhaps someone who is already wealthy and in not entirely in in for the wealth. Who knows but what I do know is that this has renewed the worlds attention towards the plight of Haiti and to me that's worth it. The Haitians still need your help people, give what you can give.

So for today's addition, since I really do see a big question mark looming over Haiti's future what with all this Wyclef presidential hoopla, I will be painting a question mark in the center of my Haitian map from day 14.

Here is a closer look.

220 days down, 145 to go.
It's been a couple days since I last hit the gym so I wend hard today. My entire body feels like it's gonna fail anytime now. I feel so exhausted and drained I can't even describe it. It's not that my muscles hurt but that I just need to lay down for 10 hours. But on the plus side, I did read somewhere that exercise burns calories, of course. But it also builds muscle, which takes up less space than fat. Muscle tissue also requires more calories to sustain it than fat tissue does. In other words, the more muscle tissue you have, the more calories you'll burn at rest. In fact, some studies suggest that over the long term, if you had a choice of eating consistently less or exercising consistently more, exercise would be the better weight-loss choice. So I sure am gonna be burning a lot of fat tonight as I sleep.

Thus for today's painting, i will be adding a red strength triangle over my brown one from day 197 for two reasons. The first reason is that red represents the burn and the second is that brown represents the fat/calories tat will be burnt by having muscle tissue.

Here's a closer look.

219 days down, 146 to go.
Being the weekend, I decided to take one of those long walks in my local park as I reflected on the week past and the week ahead. Nothing exciting like riding in the X2 roller-coaster at Six Flags but after a day like yesterday I needed a day that was the complete opposite. It is wise to balance yourself and adrenalin out every now and then. I also skipped out on the gym cuz that would just be another adrenalin pump which I seriously didn't need today.

So for today's addition, I will be painting I will be adding some greenery to my tree from the park on day 88.

Here is a closer look.

218 days down, 147 to go.
I spent all day at Sic Flags Magic Mountain. Most of it was spent hiking from one ride to another. Even with the so called "Flash Pass", there was still await. But it was all worth is once I got to experience the X2 ride. I'm not one for roller-coasters but that roller-coaster kicked my ass and buy the time it was all said and done, I was speechless. It was the most thrilling ride I've ever been on but I'm not sure I'm gonna give it another try. I think one time was plenty for me. At least I can say I did it.

Anyways for today's addition, I will be painting the signature Six Flags logo onto my strength triangle that's just below my mountain range from the hiking of day 183. This mountain is gonna represent the 'Magic Mountain' part of the theme park and the triangle is gonna represent all the hiking we had to undertake just to get from one ride to another. I will be painting all six flags in their appropriate colors as shown in the official Six Flag logo.

Here is a closer look.

217 days down, 148 to go.
A federal judge’s ruling Wednesday striking down California’s ban on same-sex marriage is a historic and possibly pivotal legal victory for gay rights advocates. Regardless of what your personal, moral or religious opinions are towards the issue, don't forget that we all afforded equal rights under the constitution, gay or straight, black or white, etc. I do have gay friends and you would be hard pressed to find someone in this day and age who doesn't know or hasn't had their life enriched in some way (however minute) directly or indirectly by a gay person. Sexuality aside, I always wish the best for everyone I consider to be my friend. That first and foremost and it trumps everything else and if you are the religious type, the bible teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves...gay or straight. So in conclusion, I think one of my friends on Twitter put it best: "Gays can't marry gays because we honor marriage in America! OK quick, turn on ABC. Who wants to marry a bipolar midget is on!". I think that says it all.

So for today's addition, I will be painting the number 8 into one of my double rainbows from day 40. I think it's self explanatory why the rainbow colors are important to Prop 8, this ruling and it's ramifications on Gay/overall human rights.

Here is a closer look.

216 days down, 149 to go.
Today is president Obama's birthday and apparently President Obama didn't get the memo that birthdays are the equivalent of holidays for black people. We can't count the number of times we've heard, "I'm taking tomorrow off because it's my birthday." Well like many of us who think that's ridiculous, President Obama is doing what he normally does on his 49th birthday -- working. He won't be celebrating with the family who is out of town; rather he will do like many Americans, celebrate with friends after work. Democrats and Republicans are taking the opportunity to celebrate and dismiss the president on this occasion. Democrats are hosting events in his honor while Republicans are sending out postcards taking jabs at him. To this we say, like school in the summertime, no class.

Anyways I would like to wish him a very happy 49th birthday. Even though we don't agree on a number of issues, I can appreciate the fact that he has achieved a monumental feat to be come the first biracial president of the United States, transcending all racial barriers.

So for today's addition, I will be painting a 9 next to my American flag 4 from day 184 which marked another birthday. It was for the 4th of July; America's Birthdays. So what better place to commemorate America's sitting President's birthday by combining both numbers to represent both the President and the nations birthdays. Damn I'm good!!

Here is a closer look.

215 days down, 150 to go.
I spent another day in the F430 with the top don in the California sun and I was reminded how nice it is to take a break and just enjoy life. So I have decided to take one day off every week and just enjoy the life that I work so hard for the other six days of the week. Experiencing the California sun behind the wheels of such a super car make it all worth the long grueling hours in the studio and on the road. So I'm gonna enjoy it as much as possible before I hit the road. This post is not just about a Ferrari in actuality but also a Ferrari as a metaphor for the best things in life and the gifts our sweat and tears bring us. We all need to take the time to stop and enjoy them otherwise what's it all for.

So for today's painting, I will be adding one of my 'best things in life' that God has blessed me with the opportunity to experience which is an F430 by painting the number 430 in my signature Ferrari speedometer from day 212.

Here is a closer look.

214 days down, 151 to go.
Imagine my surprise when I step out my front door this morning to find the show Deaxtr being shot at the house across the street and all the main character were there including Dexter and Debra Morgan, La Guerta, Angel Datista, Mazuka, etc. Suffice it to say they shot all day and I gat to sit on my porch and watch one of my favorite shows LIVE! Now tell me how many people you know can attest to this. Hollywood baby...a place where dreams do come true. Here is a pic with Lauren Vélez aka Lt. Maria Laguerta in the pink top and red skirt:


So for today's addition, I will be painting something quite morbid but characteristic of Dexter which is a blood splatter. I will have to mixing some black in with my red to get that signature blood red because the red I currently have is a little too light to pass of as blood.

Here is a closer look.

213 days down, 152 to go.
Today was a very laid back Sunday. Although I had a few thing planned like the gym, hiking Hollywood and a couple errands, I couldn't follow through. Plus I knew my favorite block of programing courtesy of HBO was coming later on and I didn't want to miss a minute. So I ended up just "chillaxing"...yeah I hate that word too but it does aptly describe my day.

So for today's addition, I will be painting footsteps in the sand of my beach from day 76 because when I think relaxation, I think footsteps in the sand. To me that a very relaxing feeling. Maybe I should go to the beach next weekend.

Here is a closer look.

212 days down, 153 to go.
I spent the better part of my day in a 2010 Ferrari f430 Spider and boy was it fun. It's like a drug because you are scared to death of the power behind you but yet you push that accelerator every chance you get. By the time it was all said and done, I probably wore our one month's worth of break pad ware and tear in a few hours. But it was worth it. They say you only love once and so I'm gonna live it to the fullest every chance I get. So should you.

So for today's addition, I will be painting on a typical yellow Ferrari speedometer at it's max or redline as we in the high speed automotive world call it. I will be painting it into my 'Roses Around The Love Star' circle originally from day 44 which has since taken on a few transformations. You really have to follow this journey because thing things change all the time on my canvas. Thus an image that is there today might be gone or annexed into another image tomorrow.

Here is a closer look.