As I’ve set off on this Blog journey, I’ve contemplated exactly what it is that I wish to write. I’ve spent the hours, days and months of COVID Quarantine writing more words and pages than I’ve ever written. Yet, although our true selves are told through the characters we create, I’ve not written one word about me and that is, after all, what a Blog is all about. I’m a film buff, avid reader, music historian who loves hearing new sounds, fine dining snob, wannabe Chef, wine connoisseur, who loves the Dodgers, the Cowboys, Sooners, Spurs, Kings, Manchester United and my beloved Bowling Green Falcons, with a passion and time for all. I take care of my dad, the great Dr. Rolando Andrade, and love my girlfriend, Heather. I’ve been blessed with a treasure trove of terrific friends, across this great country, and despite COVID, I generally have no complaints.

So, what else is there to say? Well, I do have a passionate love for Los Angeles.  My first novel, Ten to the 405, is my first love letter to the city I’ve called home for twenty years. Jake Hansen, the protagonist of Ten…, goes on a journey with his friends, Pete Mills and Lamont Wagner, and I try to place them into as many LA locales as possible. I have intimate knowledge of all the places Jake visits, and I do my best to invest as much knowledge and facts of the locales, as possible. I have outlines for ten Jake Hansen novels (I’ve already written three screenplays on these characters) and intend to cover every inch of Los Angeles and Southern California in these books.

I do want to write as much about many things, as possible. My interests are wide, and my opinions are almost as wide, ask any of my friends. For those of you who know me well, you know 53 is my favorite number. I mean, 52 and 54 are so in your face; 53 is always steady and always there for you. I will, in the days, months and years (?) ahead, write about my 53-favorite movies, TV shows and episodes, books, wines, songs and albums and LA haunts. It will give me an opportunity to scour the depths of what I find interesting and hopefully, you will as well. I start this as a run-up to my first book published but wish to continue it through subsequent novels, screenplays, movies and whatever else may come. 

I am also in the process of starting my own podcast. That will take some time and effort and there’s a solid chance I will have a partner in this endeavor. Veggie and The Lisper seems a solid title (I’m the lisper).

I’m not sure my working schedule for the blog; maybe one a week, maybe two. I will do my best to steer free of undue controversy (politics and religion will not be a subject I’ll discuss on this blog) and I wish to inject humor and heart to as much of my blogs as possible. You will see my thoughts on wine and dining, but this will not be a Yelp. If I do not have anything good to say about an establishment, I won’t say anything at all.

I will include photos of my cooking and the Wine/Drink of the Week. And perhaps a Friend of the Week and Adventure or Visitation of the Week. I guess, all in all, I will experiment until I get my sea legs and provide a solid blog for everyone to enjoy. I’ll provide you 53 things of joy, fun and love. I know I will enjoy it. Thank you for going on this journey with me!

Everyone, please take my advice; pull down your pants and slide on the ice. 

Kevin R. Andrade