L.A.

City of Angels

Southland

Lalaland

Lotusville

Double Dubuque

El Pueblo

Lotusland

Oh Los Angeles, California…..Hoping to take an "ego checked" approach to determining why am I deserving of a trip to this geographical, cultural, economical, social, political, & educational power house, I turn to individuals that I engage with on a daily basis to explain why they think I should be chosen. These people I have selected possess the time, involvement, & unbiased opinion as to why I would make a great selection for this adventure. So with this said, here are the "sources of justification" and what they had to say if it was OnMilwaukee.com that approached them in regards to "why does "E" deserve a trip to L.A.?"

"I asked "E" what would his responsibilities after winning the trip be & he said to possibly blog his findings, check out as much action as possible, & most importantly have a good time, well…, I have known "E" for damn near 40 years now & feel that there isn’t an opportunity he doesn’t relish. You want to send a guy who will be on top of the action, bring something to the table, & cordially give back, this guy will not disappoint. And as far as OnMilwaukee.com accepting their decision to choose him, well, I wouldn’t be worried knowing no one gets more out of the chance to represent & show gratuity then him. It’s a win win win situation for you, L.A., & himself. So just give up the ticket. L.A. will be glad you did & so would I, for I have never been to L.A. & would love to hear from a fellow blue collar, down to earth, guy from Milwaukee, what in the hell is right & wrong with L.A."—Alex, avionics designer & co-worker.

"Whether relevant or not, what "E" has done for me goes beyond words. I have moved a crazy number of times in the almost 40 years I have known him & not once did he have a reason to not help me move when I asked him. His loyalties towards people’s needs are purely poetic. I once heard him speak of his interest in seeing California, due to a brief but volatile trip to San Francisco in which he, ironically, moved someone out there. Without getting to the real meat & potatoes, he said that crazy people do crazy things & his trip found him heading back east without helping himself to the fruits of California. If a person could redeem a ticket any where they wanted to go just by helping people out without any real regards for their own interests, intentions, or needs, "E" would have been checked in on a flight a long time ago. With this said, I would I think he truly deserves a chance to get out west & replace his only west coast memories. Jeez, he might even help someone move a 1970’s couch with a pullout bed hanging on by rusty springs up 4 flights of stairs in near 100 degree weather like he did for me. "-Emi, chef & friend.

"If it wasn’t for the fact I have next to no money, I would put "E" on a flight to L.A. myself in a milla-second if that is where he wanted to go. Convincing you doesn’t seem so hard. What he does for me doesn’t matter nor should it have any difference how you decide. It’s what he doesn’t do to me or no one by that matter. Never being there myself & unsure if I would fit at times, I have some how developed small but removable adolescent, stereotypical views on L.A. & the people there. But "E", he could set the record straight for me & any other person like me that is in the same boat with a small hole in it. You see, "E" reeks of open-mindedness, loves social interactions, craves strange settings, & gets off trying new things. But who doesn’t right? But let me tell you, he does all of this all the time no matter where or what without showing disrespect, ungratefulness, & inattentiveness. Just by being that way should be reason enough to give him a lift out there. Not only would he be that way to you people at OnMilwaukee.com, he would be that way to L.A., & who knows, L.A. might just like it."-Cornell, self proclaimed part-time artist/writer & brother.

There you have it………….Ego checked after all. You see, those 3 people are the same person. Alex, Emi, & Cornell are me, myself, & I trying our best to <u>feel California and look Minnesota </u>instead of the same old looking California and feeling Minnesota……………