Scott Joel Gizicki - Untitled

acrylic on canvas

Scott Joel Gizicki is just another one of those new Los Angeles residents that acts and enjoys writing as well. After being born and raised in Detroit, he finally made it 3,000 miles to the city he's always wanted to live in this past August. He hopes he can stand out from the crowd; at least a little bit.

Scott Joel Gizicki - How to Walk

I remember when I was in college looking through what courses could count towards my Phys. Ed. general requirements and I laughed at the walking class they offered. I'm not laughing anymore. Coming from someone who is strictly a pedestrian - people don't know how to walk! OK, of course not all people, but there's a large majority out here that need to abide by these rules.

1. Look Up
-Pretty self-explanatory. So many people walk looking down or side to side or even at their cell phone. While I'm incredibly guilty of the last one, I still manage to keep looking up and stay vigilant. You never know who or what you may run into, which does bring me into the next rule.

2. Pick a Side and Stick to It
-This is especially aggravating when there's only one person in front of you that you need to pass. There are so many walkers out there that do not realize they sway when they walk. You need to imagine sidewalk as having dashed lines much like the road. You cannot be moving in and out of these imaginary lanes. Not only is it annoying as shit but it's hazardous! What if I was one of these look downers and I don't realize you're suddenly in my lane? Boom! Collision!

3. Maintain Your Speed
-It really doesn't matter what speed you walk as long as you are also abiding by rules number 1 and 2. All I ask is to be mindful of your surroundings. Kindly let people walk by you if you're a slower walker and don't rudely push through crowds if you're faster. There is a real method of walking through bigger crowds safely and efficiently. This skill comes to great use especially when walking in areas that attract a lot of tourists.*

4. No Sudden Stops
-I get it. Sometimes while walking you need to stop whether it's to rest or to tie your shoe. Again, pay attention to your surroundings before stopping. This is so painstakingly annoying especially while attempting the inter-weaving in larger groups of slower walkers or when getting on and off of staircases, escalators, elevators and/or public transit. There are others behind you, so get to a safe and less crowded area before you suddenly stop.

5. Public Transit
-Aside from the above mentioned stopping as soon as you get off public transit, my worst pet peeve in this category applies especially to the trains. When you are getting ready to board a train, first pay notice to see if there are others trying to get off. This is made quite clear by the windows on the doors! It drives me cuckoo bananas to see a mob of people standing in front of the doors creating an obstacle to get to the stairs. Come on people, move! It's even worse when they try to walk in as people are exiting. Oh! Another thing that drives me crazy is more applicable to the buses. When a bus driver asks you to move all the way back and fill in all the seats (especially when trying to make room for the elderly or handicapped) for Pete's sake just move back! It's not that daunting of a request!

These are five very simple rules that could make life for all foot-dwellers a hell of a lot easier. Please share and abide!

*Rules do not necessarily apply to tourists considering they've a lot to see and they are over-whelmed by all senses. However, it does not make tourists any more tolerable to be around.

Scott Joel Gizicki is just another one of those new Los Angeles residents that acts and enjoys writing as well. After being born and raised in Detroit, he finally made it 3,000 miles to the city he's always wanted to live in this past August. He hopes he can stand out from the crowd; at least a little bit.

Scott Joel Gizicki - Memory Lane

Isn't it amazing how one little thing can take you back to what sometimes feels like a life time ago? For example, whenever I wash dishes and I get to washing knives I think of my father. I had to have been real young, but as a kid I loved doing the dishes. I used to pull a chair in front of the sink and kneel down on it and wash away. There was one time in particular that my Dad came into the kitchen as I was scrubbing away. He told me he wanted to see how I washed a knife. He did this to ensure that I was indeed safely cleaning the utensil. I held on to the handle as I safely soaped up the blade with the sponge and my father was glad I was knew what I was doing. I distinctly remember thinking to myself that I was going to show him even further how good I am. I then touched a safe part of the blade and began scrubbing the handle to clean that as well. Dad of course told me not to do that because I could hurt myself. I remember feeling this disappointment that my over-zealous actions did not impress my father. Looking back now, I know that he wasn't upset but just looking out for his youngest. It's funny the things we hold on to from childhood.

Another icon that puts me into time travel mode are packets of condiments like mustard or ketchup. This story also involves pulling the chair up to the sink. I recall always wanting to squeeze one of those packets until it exploded. Well, on this particular day mustard was my drug of choice, but I knew well enough to try and prepare for a messy clean up. Over that sink I kept squeezing when "SQUIRT!" The mustard shot right up in my eye. I love that I can take trips like that all throughout my day. Such as when I walk into 7-11 to purchase their incredibly delicious Monterey Jack Chicken Toquitos and spot the FunDip candy (formerly known as Lik-A-Maid) I can't help but think of eating that with my mother as a young child. She never liked the Marshmallow-flavored Lik-A-Stiks used for dipping, so I'd wait in anticipation for her to pass them off to me.

These little trips that we get to take are so incredibly precious. It reminds us of where we came from. There are of course those little trips that remind us of more embarrassing times. In my Junior year of high school, I along with two other friends dressed up as the Three Blind Mice for Halloween. Subsequently, the children's nursery rhyme will always transport me to my lunch period that day when I tripped on absolutely nothing causing my food to splatter on the floor along with myself. Thankfully I was in costume, so I announced to the gazing eyes and chuckling laughter around me that I was only playing the part. Even if my face gets a bit red recalling that graceful moment in the history of Scott, it's still so vitally important because it is in my history.

Everything that has happened in my life has built who I am today. Without it, I would have never written this albeit late entry for WWW. I also wouldn't be that person that is so proud to be me, either. So, every time I find myself washing another knife, I smile and say to myself, "Look, Dad, I'm washing it right." I know he smiles back at me and says, "Great job, son." It's the little things that keep us connected to ourselves and maintain our humanity. I urge all of you to allow yourself those little trips down Memory Lane. You may be pleasantly surprised or blind-sided with embarrassment but either way it can keep you on track to reach your next destination in life.

Scott Joel Gizicki is just another one of those new Los Angeles residents that acts and enjoys writing as well. After being born and raised in Detroit, he finally made it 3,000 miles to the city he's always wanted to live in this past August. He hopes he can stand out from the crowd; at least a little bit.

Scott Joel Gizicki - Letter to My Brother on the Eve of His Wedding

Dearest Brother,

Watch those cold feet

You may slip down the aisle!

How I am so proud of you

Proud of the grown man you have become

And so proud of myself

I took care of you, Little Brother

Yes, I am one hour and 17 minutes older

Yet still wiser

We came from the same womb

On the same night

It was mother who so bravely

Pushed us out that tunnel into a brave world

A brave world

All in all, my love is growing stronger for you

I find your actions foolish, however

How I miss the smell of your hair

In the morning

I taught you all about women

I don’t take all the credit

You taught me about man

The only man I long to be with

I want to drink your skin

Feel the pulsating of your blood

Deep within my safe haven

I hear your voice every time I shower

“I must listen to Little Brother,” I say.

I tell the nurse to quiet down

I say no more

Do change your mind

Do come back

Do come

With every limb

With every muscle

I quake and long

For you.

Sincerely,

Older Sister

Scott Joel Gizicki is just another one of those new Los Angeles residents that acts and enjoys writing as well. After being born and raised in Detroit, he finally made it 3,000 miles to the city he's always wanted to live in this past August. He hopes he can stand out from the crowd; at least a little bit.

Scott Joel Gizicki - Blind Faith

I used to live in Chicago. I know when people say they used to live somewhere you expect them to say it was for at least a year. It actually used to drive me nuts when you would hear someone say they lived some where for two months and they acted like an expert. Well, I became one of those people to an extent. I lived in Chicago for nearly five months. OK, like four months and a week, but it was such a difficult time in my life living there and it was an amazing experience, however, in the aftermath that I feel I'm allowed to say it was once a home. You just got to love that hindsight. I moved out there because not only did I just go through a difficult and stressful break up, but I also came as close to death as I ever thought I would be when a medication I was taking caused severe liver damage. Thankfully, the liver; being a miracle organ, recovered fine with no long-term side effects. Anyhow, I digress. I very much so needed a change. Both of my sisters and several friends already lived out there so I thought it'd be perfect.

Boy, I was not prepared for this move. I was not prepared financially. I was not prepared mentally. I was not prepared emotionally. I took the first job I was offered which turned out to be a marketing scam and cult. Side note to the unemployed: NEVER WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT SELLS INNOVAGE OR QUANTUM PRODUCTS! SCAM! OK, I got the Caps Lock moment out of my system. So after those three weeks of hell I ended up working in this cafe that was the bottom floor of my apartment building. I loved it. I really did. Working there stirs up nothing but fond memories despite how bankrupted I was from the cult. I gave out free food all the time and in return would get higher tips. Yes, pretty much stealing, but you got to do what you got to do. There was a friend I made, Amber, whom I have unfortunately lost contact with, which is bizarre to think of in this socially connected world we now live in. She would stay late and help me close just to be kind. We would sneak around to the back for smoke breaks and she even bought me a real nice journal. She made those nights worth it. I loved her and I miss her. She was so kind and I hardly knew anything about her. I hated when I closed without her there. Not because I got out later than normal but because I missed her. Ted, the owner, once tried to put me on an opening shift. I came in an hour late from over-sleeping and it was closing shifts only from there on out. I had a crazy sleeping schedule if I even slept at all. I would work maybe 5/6pm-12/1am six nights a week. I would usually go out to the bars, which I could not afford, but when you're broke and depressed you don't really think things through. Whether or not I went to the bars, though, I'd be falling asleep as the sun came up. I put blankets over the windows in my room.

I remember one time on a day off, my cousin Steve was in town. I had literally slept an entire day away. I believe I slept for 20 hours and missed several calls from my cousin. I did manage to meet up with him near the midway Airport on public transit. It's a bitch to get there from Rogers Park where I lived. Well, we got some food and had some laughs and I was eager to get back home knowing what an absolutely tiring ride home I had ahead of me. So, I rushed down the escalator stairs and even got annoyed by an older woman who was walking too slow. I got about 20 feet in front of the escalator and I heard the old woman scream. Little did I know that this scream would lead to my most profound moment while living in Chicago. She was the reason I needed to live there.

I noticed that the old woman I so rudely rushed past was blind and carrying several bags. She had fallen at the bottom of the escalator. I ran to assist, considering no one else around me cared. I helped her to her feet and she told me that a Metro staff member was helping her but just left without a warning. I asked if I could help her carry some of her bags and offered my arm for her to hold. She complied. What if I had been a thief? I soon discovered we were heading in the same direction, only her stop was two stops before mine. I helped get her to the trains and we took the same trek home. She told me how she used to live in Hawaii and that she was attending school to go into real estate. She was a beautiful older woman of about 55 to 60. She had a sweet and soothing voice and an incredible sense of humor. We made fun of people's conversations on the train. I no longer had to kick myself in the ass for sleeping so late that day and missing all those calls from Steve. Oversleeping thus forcing me to only close at the cafe had a purpose. I had to be there for her and she had to be there for me. It may seem like I was the Good Samaritan in this story but she had no idea that she was that to me. During a time in my life where I maintained little self-respect and lack of self-compassion this woman's blind faith in me restored and healed me even if just for that night. I wish I could remember her name, but I know I'll never forget her and our moment together.

Scott Joel Gizicki is just another one of those new Los Angeles residents that acts and enjoys writing as well. After being born and raised in Detroit, he finally made it 3,000 miles to the city he's always wanted to live in this past August. He hopes he can stand out from the crowd; at least a little bit. :)

Scott Joel Gizicki - What's Next

His laughter. It's so incredibly adorable. Unlike any I've heard. It was very charming to me then and still makes me smile today. When I mock it he laughs and tells me to shut up. It's OK because I guffaw like a drunken banshee. We both get embarrassed. It's fun. It sometimes sounds like a child being tickled. It might annoy others but it brings me joy. Even his snoring. God, how many times did I wrap pillows around my head with others? No, his snore is comforting. It's quiet enough and steady enough and predictable. Who needs the sounds of the ocean to fall asleep when you have that? He is so talented. His artwork is astonishing. It absolutely amazes me. He has a great lust for life and although he sometimes frolics instead of walks I'm there to play Devil's Advocate. I just don't want to see such a lively spirit torn but at the same time I'd like to think I help ground him just enough so he's protected. He believes in gnomes and fairies and mermaids. I laugh, but I know a part of me believes too, and he brings it out in me. But not mermaids. I won't believe in mermaids because as legend tells, the old sailors thought manatees were mermaids. Manatees = Mermaids. Despite my adamant disbelief on that mythical creature I still love the way he views life. His sensitivity and honesty blows me away. I've never had it this good. I never once found him unattractive despite his constant (my own exaggeration) preoccupied focus on his body. He is insecure and so am I. So sexy and fragile. So human. So real. He makes me feel so alive. Like no other. Now...Wow...Now is soon going to become a next. What are we going to do? Even while we are both aware of the inevitable I'm discovering more of my love for him. It's so difficult. But it's smart because of the different futures we see. The one subject that was essentially the tipping point in our relationship. So, we take it a day at a time. We've been able to tackle and do everything perfectly and honestly in our relationship. I find it incredible that we can even break up so well. We are almost perfect and I'm not ready for what's next.

Scott Joel Gizicki is just another one of those new Los Angeles residents that acts and enjoys writing as well. After being born and raised in Detroit, he finally made it 3,000 miles to the city he's always wanted to live in this past August. He hopes he can stand out from the crowd; at least a little bit. :)

Scott Joel Gizicki - AM Observation

Start time: 7:37 PM Almost every morning when I get off the train to go to work I see this same guy. There is nothing unusual about his appeareance. He typically wears a thinner sweater over his dress shirt of a muted grey or white or eggshell or charcoal. He is a thinner man but doesn't wear those tight khakis that only make skinny guys look like broomsticks which is not at all attractive. He carries a modest briefcase bag-ish thing and wears fashionable glasses that compliment his average hair style well, not well but good enough. The thing that boggles my mind about him is that every time the little white guy appears allowing us pedestrian slaves to cross the street he runs. And I don't mean jogs or speed walks or just rushes himself he actually runs. Oh, and he runs in that awkward Freshman in high school way, carrying far too many books in their backpack because they're afraid of stopping at their locker in between for classes for whatever reason that may be. As soon as he gets to the other side of the street he stops running. He's clearly not in a rush otherwise he'd continue running onto the next crosswalk and then begrudgingly sigh at the rest of us as we catch up to him before our walk friend replaces Mr. Orange Hand once again. I thought that maybe he was terrified of getting hit. Maybe he has been hit by a car before or someone he cares about has. Now, I know it sounds rude, but him running like that makes me want to hit him. No, not with a car, but with my fist. It's almost like when you come across a kid in public that reminds you of yourself at that same age. You just want to go over to that kid and shake them and say, "Stop acting so weird!" I want to punch dorky kids. I get that it's a phase more of us go through than will ever admit, but it doesn't slow my urge to exact violence almost as if to get revenge on myself but in cathartic manner of speaking. I, of course would never want to act on this urge unless I was somehow able to beat up myself. See the thing is, I feel I'm constantly going through phases I want to beat myself up for. I would go back three years ago and beat myself up if I could and when I come back to my own time I'm sure the-future-three-years-from-now-me will be there to punch present-time me. It's not that I regret any decisions or the person I have become because I love me today but I'm always striving for better so I'm sure I'll love the me three years from now more, well at least I hope. I just get so embarrassed thinking about things I did. Running around finding sticks that I said I would marry because I thought my friends thought it was funny, rushing through the halls of high school at the end of the day saying I'm looking for Elephant tracks as I'm pushing my way to my locker or even making out with strangers at that one drunken party that I had no reason to be so drunk at. It's all ridiculous things that I've learned from and so I guess when I see ridiculous behavior I want to share my knowledge and help those people learn quicker what has taken me 27 years to learn. But, I guess that could be the difference between me and Mr. RunsNotWalks. Maybe he's done learning. Maybe he is perfectly okay with who he is despite what others may say and think. I envy and pity him if that is the case. You see, I believe we as humans are always capable of learning and growing as individuals until the day we die. It's why I'm always analyzing myself and comparing my past to my present and applying it to the future. It makes me sad when people give up on that potential we all have but at the same time that man probably has a better chance at finding the comfort of settling down and establishing himself with a life with stronger roots. Of course, the grass is always greener, but I can't help but wonder if there is something wrong with me that I get bored easily in life. It's probably why I enjoy acting. I get to jump into different shoes and really get to know the characters I'm portraying and in the end I usually tend to find out more about me as well. Still, at the start of my days I can't help but to have that urge to shake that running man and tell him to walk like the rest of us, and not for safety reasons, but because in a few years he may want to go back in time and do the same thing. End time: 7:57 PM Scott Joel Gizicki is just another one of those new Los Angeles residents that acts and enjoys writing as well. After being born and raised in Detroit, he finally made it 3,000 miles to the city he's always wanted to live in this past August. He hopes he can stand out from the crowd; at least a little bit. :)

Scott Joel Gizicki - Sepia

Why is it you think you put pins in me

to mark where you've been? What's mine

is mine; and yours is yours. Have you

ever woke to find that you can't find your

identity? I can assure you that it's not

under the bed. I won't do this again. I

feel the pain of emerging into this mold;

bodies colliding thoughts finishing the

sentences and faces unable to mask the

urge to throw up. I'm nauseous. Is this the

ebb or the flow? It's starting to fool me and

I can't have this moment last forever if this is

how it shall remain.

Scott Joel Gizicki is just another one of those new Los Angeles residents that acts and enjoys writing as well. After being born and raised in Detroit, he finally made it 3,000 miles to the city he's always wanted to live in this past August. He hopes he can stand out from the crowd; at least a little bit. :)

Scott Joel Gizicki - King Midas, What a Bastard

Foreword: Sometimes in life, well, I think you just need to write yourself your own win like I did with this song below during a more trying time of my past. King Midas, What a Bastard I bought a Cow It said Moo Move on over to me Went to the market Came back covered in fleas At least I still get the milk for free I got it just the way I want it to be, yea Chicken crossed the road To catch a bus down to Georgia Sold his soul to the devil Ain’t gonna take no time To take get my eggs outta basket Send it on a one way ticket to hell Just don’t forget to pack the snow cones I think I keep walkin’ On the sunny side of the street Ain’t gonna rain on this parade They put a monkey on a cake For my very first birthday Now you betta get off of my back Cuz I got it Oh yes I got it I got it just the way I want to be, yea Ain’t gonna take granted Eve’ything that’s been handed to me Gonna keep this silver spoon under my tongue And Just like King Midas Touch eve’ything it turn to gold I got it just the way I want it to be, yea Cuz I got it, oh yes, I got it I got it just the way I want it to be, yea They say its cheaper by the dozen so I grab myself 13 Good thing the baker and candlestick maker are my friends When you learn to play with fire You’re gonna find a moth that gets burned Just like a chicken down in hell Yes, I’m gonna play charades Among the water and the flame With a wink I make a lion tame Cuz I got it, yes I got it Oh I got it, Yes I got it You know you want it, Cuz I got it Yes I got it, oh I got it I got it just the way I want it be, yea Scott Joel Gizicki is just another one of those new Los Angeles residents that acts and enjoys writing as well. After being born and raised in Detroit, he finally made it 3,000 miles to the city he's always wanted to live in this past August. He hopes he can stand out from the crowd; at least a little bit. :)

Scott Joel Gizicki - Don't Do Anything

Foreword:
Below are song lyrics that I wrote about two years ago. Even though the song's title alone screams anti-risk taking I think it really coincides. The upbeat jazz-like song itself illustrates an internal struggle of fighting against a want. Perhaps you could even say it is mind vs heart vs. another unmentionable part of the body. In the end, the voice of the song does nothing. Even though the voice ultimately made the right decision in hindsight; while actually in that moment doing nothing was still indeed a risk. I don't think a risk always needs to be some grand gesture or staring down the eyes of danger. Sometimes the risk comes in when deciding between your own heart, mind or well, you know.

-------------

Don't Do Anything

I see you standing there
Playing the part like you don't care
Stealing glances, don't catch my glare

I keep on keepin' cool
I end up actin' fool
So I don't do
Anything

Don't do anything
Don't do anything
Just dance, just groove, just feel the mood and I
Don't do anything
Don't do anything
Cuz a kiss won't seal the deal
It's too late I copped that feel

Like a dolphin dancin'
In the net I'm movin'
Fast, I'm beadin'
Beating the sweat

I just won't stop now, please
Head on my damn knees
Limb from limb is the
Sea I swim, but I

Don't do anything
Don't do anything
It's you I want, but I go for the other and I
Don't do anything
Don't do anything
Out the door with that fear
It's like headlights without the deer
So I don't do anything
Don't do

Stomp your hands and
Clap your feet and
Snap those elbows to the beat
Stomp your hands and
Clap your feet and
Snap those elbows to the beat
Watch those and
Avoid surprise and
Suppress, Depress, Impress, Intense

And

Don't do anything
Don't do anything
It's you I want, but I go for the other and I
Don't do anything
Don't do anything
Just dance, just groove, just feel the mood and
Don't do anything
Don't do anything
It's you I want, but I go for the other and I
Don't do anything
Don't do anything
Those baby blues cast a spell it's true
But you better watch out
Cuz there's nothing you can do

Scott Joel Gizicki is just another one of those new Los Angeles residents that acts and enjoys writing as well. After being born and raised in Detroit, he finally made it 3,000 miles to the city he's always wanted to live in this past August. He hopes he can stand out from the crowd; at least a little bit. :)

Scott Joel Gizicki - First Steps

If you live life correctly, by my standards, you should experience at least three new "firsts" a year. This could be anything; from trying raw fish, going para-sailing or visiting Disneyland for the first time ever. That’s how I live my life: Proudly. I label myself as an experience whore, which makes me a walking conundrum because I’m also proud of the notion of avoiding labels at all cost. However, I additionally tend to get off subject which can be quite a nuisance when attempting to stay under 1500 words. This way of living is rewarding but does come with consequences.

There are a lot of those firsts that you would not even wish against your worst enemy. Diagnosed with Epilepsy at age 9. Burying your father at age 12. Seeing that your best friend has lost both his legs at age 14. It’s a "good with the bad" type of lifestyle, indeed. Having experienced such life altering moments, you must learn to alter your outlook, as well.

Although I consider myself a recovering Catholic one phrase always stuck with me: When God closes a door, He opens a window. This suggests that with each ending there’s a new beginning waiting for you, but I’ve taken it a step further. Nothing ends, it only keeps going. Well, for a while there I was going and going like a little pink bunny that used to invade commercials in the 90s. In December of 2009, someone was telling me to slow down. I had my first seizure in two years while driving and hit a tree breaking both my ankles. I went through a short time of telling myself that it’s over. This is going to halt all my plans. Then I remembered that whole outlook thing. My father was with me in that car to make sure I didn’t injure myself further and my best friend was with me in the hospital. I still had my legs and, wow, here he was walking. So, like my best friend, I changed my outlook and said, “How many people can say they were fortunate enough to take their first steps twice?”

Scott Joel Gizicki is just another one of those new Los Angeles residents that acts and enjoys writing as well. After being born and raised in Detroit, he finally made it 3,000 miles to the city he's always wanted to live in this past August. He hopes he can stand out from the crowd; at least a little bit. :)