Easter

I wanted to get this up yesterday but I ran into some technical difficulty so that is why I am posting my Easter blog on the day after.

So I had so many different ideas on what this particular blog should be about. Obviously I wanted to show Jesus' love for us and how amazing he is. I originally wanted to do a slide show with many different pictures that show his love in our world. Sadly I did not have enough time to take THAT many photos before Easter. Then I figured I would do a typical blog and just post some pictures of different crosses up. But after I took the cross pictures and looked through all the pictures I have taken in the past, I realized there was a lot of pictures I already had that shows Gods greatness and creativity. So enjoy.

I also need to give a lot of credit to my lovely Fiance Vanessa, who was present during most of the pictures, taken a few herself, and came up with a lot of creative ideas for this project...so thank you Love.

The one and only Travis Courtney

As some of you know and some may not know, a good friend and roommate of mine took his own life exactly four years ago. This is a pretty traumatic event in someones life. I would think that other people who went through this event would agree.

An event like that will stick with you for the rest of your life. I do remember it like it was yesterday, step by step. I remember where we came from when we found him, I remember the events that happened when we found him, I even remember what song was playing on TV when it was all happening. I remember the one song we chose to play over and over and over again afterwords. I remember the people I called, where we stayed that evening, the events of telling everyone, person by person. Even the next day is easy to remember. I remember 1am in the morning, Lindsey coming by after work and staying till I left. The sunrise Glen, Shanon and myself went to see because we couldn't sleep. My mom and Tristan coming by in the morning to pick me up and take me home. I even remember eating at Carl's Jr. before we left and the awkward silences.

But I think after 4 years it is time to remember something else. It is time to remember Travis (or T-bone) and everything we did together and the little things that remind me of him.

There is not a day that goes by when I don't miss having my good friend here with me. So please enjoy these photos about...Travis Courtney


I figured I would start it off with the back of the bulletin that was handed out during the memorial ceremony.


This was the front of the bulletin and the school newspaper article about him. The ribbon was also given out during the ceremony.


I of course never went surfing with him, but someone from Hawaii would of course love to surf. I remember hearing about his surfing class he took in Monterey. He and Elise realized they even had it together I believe.


I have told this story soo many times that of course it had to make it on here. I got a speeding ticket and was stupid enough to take traffic school by renting the videos. Travis came in and saw how sad an pathetic I was. So he left, came back with some SpongeBob party hats, and said "You cant be upset with a party hat" I wore that hat the rest of the time watching those videos.


One of the most creative people I met. He loved to write and he even had a journal. I do wish I could read the entries he wrote during the last days of his life.


There was many nights where Travis, myself, Matt, Dan, and Cody would go out and play basketball at a court that was barely lit by the walking path light right next to it. Travis and I would also play 21 quite often, and as many times as we played I think I only beat him once. My fade was on that game.


The Infamous "Sweater Picture" This is the one and only picture that the four roommates are all in together. We are wearing our beautiful sweaters brought to you by Sam and Katie.


I am very shy when I do not know anyone. Travis is the opposite. First class ever at CSUMB, no friends, nothing. Travis sat down next to me and introduced himself. He was the first friend I had at CSUMB, and the first time we hung out we played Ps2 football, which was something we did repeatedly during our friendship


I am going to use a funny quote I heard from someone recently. Books were Travis' "Drug of choice." He loved to read, and the reason I have all religious books in here is because he loved Jesus as well.


Philipians 4:13. I never knew what his favorite verse was, But this is one that reminded me of him.


And finally I had to do a picture of a guitar because when you picture Travis I am sure you can picture him with his guitar. I do remember one night when the power was out. Travis was in the "Couch Coral" playing his guitar (in the dark of course) so a few of us joined him in the coral and sang along.

Thank you everyone for checking this out. It really does mean a lot to me. If there is anything else you can think of that reminds you of Travis Courtney let me know and I will see if I can get some pictures taken for you.

Different kind of Blog!!!

Hey guys,

I know it has been a while since I have been witting in this thing, so I have new content coming your way. Sine I got a new camera I figured I would have a "photo blog" where I can express myself through pictures. This idea was created by the wonderfully intelligent and beautiful Vanessa. Each time I post, I will try to have different themes, but we shall see.

My first theme is going to be my "Learning" Theme. I just got this camera and am new to this, so I am testing the limits and just trying to take some photos. I did not get any other lenses except for the one that came with the camera which was pretty slow so I had to test A LOT of things out. Hopefully soon I will get a better lens.


Here is a good first one to show you how awesome I look taking pictures from different angles


This is basically making fun of all the "myspace" pictures


This is my beautiful lady who came up with this idea. Drinking her coffee of course.


New Camera = Gotta take a flower picture


Beautiful but also dangerous.


This was too high to look through the viewfinder, so I just guessed a few times.


Fire alarm. I don't know, it looked cool to me.


Can you guess what this is?


I like the texture of this.


This was not staged, the rocks were really just sitting right there.


Something old, Something new.


Always Coca-Cola.


I actually forgot to change the white balance to daylight but I kinda like the blue. You even learn things by messing up.


More texture and more blue mess ups (But lookin good)


I like the little bicycle guy.


...man with a camera.


This was just some random balloon sittin on the beach.


This too was randomly on the beach. Those who know me well, know I wouldnot be able to draw that. Sad I know, but at least I can take a picture of it.


Gotta do a sunset. I kinda wanted a sun, but the colors in the clouds look nice.


Pretty good photo, but this one would be so much better with a faster lens.


This place was good!!!

Well there ya have it, my first "Photo Blog" entry.

I am not sure if I will post another "random Learning" post but on November 20th you can expect to see pictures of things that remind me of Travis Courtney.

Waiting for the Calls

Well it is that time of year again. The time to eat some turkey and my favorite...mashed taters, time to start to think about Christmas to prematurely, and time to remember the worst day of my life, and I am sure the worst day of many other peoples lives.

I honestly do not know why we feel like we have to "celebrate" this date. I know it is not a celebration...it is a remembrance, but I call it that because we should remember Travis any day of the whole year, not the ONE day when he decided to take his life.

It is hard for me to decipher how to handle my day tomorrow, should I live it normally or should I do something in remembrance of Travis. I mean last year I didn't even remember the date was coming up, I had to be reminded, and I was asked to do something specific to remember Travis. I don't know if I wanna do that, but obviously you cannot forget a night like we had.

I can see it now. Phone calls from people who I have not talked to in literately 365 days. I am not sure if I want them of if I am even going to answer. Nothing personal, I mean if you wanna call me, call me any other day of the year. If you even want to call about stuff for Travis do it any other time of the year. I just don't want the "Hey I should probably call and see how things are going since...ya know...this was the day that...ya know...happened" kind of phone calls. Call me because you ACTUALLY want to talk to me.

The One

I kinda like this writing thing. So I am thinking maybe keeping a consistent blog from now on.

Ok so I have been thinking about my life and being single an blah blah blah, people getting married having babies and everything. I even make jokes about wanting a little girl but not wanting to deal with the woman part, (I am joking of course!!!!!!!!) I was thinking to myself. When am I going to find "the One" not some hot chick to date for a while or some nice girl who is fun to hang out with, but "The One" the future Mrs. Lucas Leonardo.

I had this deep conversation with my roomate and we came up with something good. This thing cannoo be rushed. God has a plan for us and he knows when I will find "The One" if there is even a "One". So I need to stop worrying and just put it in his hands because I can guarantee he can find somebody a WHOLE lot better for me than I can.

Weird Connection

Since we are on the subject of Rescue Me, I figured I would write another blog pertaining to the show. I know I havent even posted a blog in like FOREVER and probably dont have any readers, and thats fine, I just feel like writting so I am gunna write. Its very rare when I feel like writting, so when I do, I gotta just roll with it.

I just realized the strange connection with rescue me and LA's current situation, plus I just watched an episode that was very simliar to the one traumatic one I had experienced.

LA is LITTERED with fires, this is the worst case of fires in LA's history. I got a call from my mom and a text from Michelle wondering if the fires are close to me. Do not worry the fires are far from me. It has to go through ALOT to get to me, and with all the traffic on the 405 it make take even longer. I just think of the lives affected, One life lost already.

OK... So...day after I talk about this wonderful show and how I can connect with it in a similar way. Well I got a new disk from netflix today, watched all the episodes on it already...of course...and Rescue me Just managed to connect with me on a very VERY personal leve;, with 2 different situations.

#1 This is pretty big. The chiefs wife has alzheimers and forgets everything and goes through spurts. There was one spurt in which he was gone, but the nanny watching her was there. She was acting so strangely her nanny started to become somewhat scared of her (VERY familiar) Then she locked herself up in the bathroom, (Now I have seen some shows that have done this 24 is actually one of them, but none as close as what I am about o tell you) When he gets home, they both noticed blood leaking from underneath the door, only to bang on it and yell at her to open it, to finally breaking it down to see her lying there, now the only thing that was off, was it was not her wrists, it was her neck, and she..Luckily survived.

#2 Now you may ask, how can anything else on this VERY SAME EPISODE connect as much as #1. I will tell you how. Tommy (Dennis Leary) lost his son in the VERY same episode. They had the funeral and everyone was there saying the typical thing everyone feels like they have to say. I mean I would say it too if I was on that side, but trust me at that time nothing you say will make the other person feel better. They were saying how sorry that were, and of course the "if you ever need to talk I am here" Now to top it off, this REALLY ticked me off. Tommy's wife blames the accident on Tommy as if he was not grieving himself. This reminds me of a story I heard, the night it happend. At some other place, when they found out about it, some jerk who needs to be socked, walked up to a good friend and ask "Are you the reason for this?" I mean come on!!!!!!

There ya have it, it was just in my head so i figured I would let it out. I think it is coming out because we are getting close to year #3 since it happened.

Rescue Me

No I am not asking anyone to "rescue me" and no this is no cry for help. I am talking about the ONE and only show that may actually surpass the great 24. I know what most of you are thinking. "How can Lucas ever think a show is better than 24, I mean this is the guy who got me hooked." As much as a drug as 24 is, and as much as I enjoy being the "drug dealer" in this case, I was sadly disappointed with the last season of 24 and anxiously awaiting the arrival of season 5 of Rescue me.

Ok so this is how the new "addiction" started. Chris, who is currently my roommate, is a show fanatic, he got me hooked on a few shows. One of them being survivor, in which I actually sent in an audition tape only not to get selected, but lets save that for a different blog (Ok so I lied, I probably wont write about my audition tape. I just sounded cool) And then got me to watch Rescue during season 4. I wasn't sure I would like it being I was 3 seasons too late, but the very first episode I watch...I LOVED. Not only are certain parts freakin hilarious, there are very VERY dramatic and deep parts of the movie which I find very interesting and VERY entertaining.

So once I got my free month of Netflix, guess what was the first thing I rented. THATS RIGHT!!!!! Season 1 of Rescue Me. Now is where it gets a bit deeper. Season 1 is based soon after 9/11. Now take in mind these are New York city firefighters who were present at the towers on 9/11, who lost many men, three of which were in their own house.

I...also going through a traumatic experience, not quite like 9/11 but I would say pretty darn close, observed how each character dealt with their grief in different ways.

Tommy, our main character (Dennis Leary) Deal with grief through aggression. He shuts himself out from everyone else, and is very "edgy" while fighting fires. What I mean by edgy is, I mean like living life on the edge. He always put his life on the line saving people from a fire, even if it is not necessary, as if he had a death wish. And I haven't even got into his horrible drinking problem. Tommy like most alcoholics, tries to drink his pain away.

Franco is a younger fir fighter who deals with his grief by working out and getting his aggression out that way. He is also a HUGE player, I mean you name her, he banged her (sorry for the word "banged" i have been watching this show WAY to much) I feel he does this so he does not have to get close to anyone in his life, if you don't love anyone, you cant lose anyone you love right??

Sean is a very basic character, he is mostly the comic relief. I have not seen Sean deal with it at all. He seems like he is just pushing it down, and trying to life his life as normal as he can so as not to have to deal with all this trauma.

Lou is the one I find the most interesting. I mean FDNY do not really sit down and talk about their feelings AT ALL. That is never appropriate in the firehouse, and that is basically all these men have, they are all brothers. Lou gets his feelings out by writing poetry. Thats right a fireman writing poetry, but he does it in secret, he HAS to, the way these guys get on each other, there is no way he can tell the other guys.

Basically I have observed how these men dealt with traumatic times and compared it my own life, and people around me, and found things VERY similar. I mean yeah no body is drinking or sleeping around or writing secret poetry (at least not that I know of) but each of us deals with our very much same traumatic experience very VERY differently.