Inglewood, CA/What would make today a good day for you?

For anyone that knows of my obsession with fake food, especially gigantic fake food, it's obvious why this entry exists. Seeing Randy's Donuts every morning on the way to work has been the highlight of many days. So finally, on the way to my last day of work, I decided to stop and buy a dozen donuts.


© Jasmin Chang 2009
Answer: Business wise, of course if business is good today...the day before Halloween. Personally, that we all get along, everyone in the store. There are 14 people working here and most of them have been here for awhile.

This building has been Randy's Donuts since 1976. The building was built in 1952. There were 10 buildings like this and they were originally called the Big Donut Drive In. The original owner sold it to a man whose son was named Randy. There are four buildings like this left, but this one is the most famous cause we've been in movies. They're actually filming a movie here next week. It is about the end of the world, and they are going to have the donut roll off the top of the building.

My brother and I bought the store in 1978. I was living out in Ohio and I wanted to come back to California and my brother told me that this place was for sale. So, I came out here, worked here for a month, liked and and bought it with my brother. It's been 31 years.

Question: How has the economy affected your life? Have you continued on the same path or cut back?


© Jasmin Chang 2009

© Jasmin Chang 2009
Good morning, Randy's Donuts! Crumble donuts...AMAZING.

Inglewood, CA/What, more than anything, would you like to achieve in your life?

© Jasmin Chang 2009
Answer: I guess I would just like to be happy for everyday, to be grateful for everyday and not let the small stuff get you down.

Question: What would make today a good day for you?

Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/ How do you define love and where did it come from? What is the source of it?

© Jasmin Chang 2009
Answer: Definitely God given. I think people that know God love deeper. You can feel it more if you are connected with God. To define it? It's God. It's what God is. I think that's why we're here is to love. The more you love, the more you will have it in your heart and soul and the other person can feel it in their heart and soul. It's not even about religion. It's about souls and connections and when you connect really deeply with someone, then that's love. I know that when children bond with their mother, that's their first love. It teaches them to love. It's scary because for people that never bond with anyone, it's harder for them to love. Brandon and I connected immediately. We're best friends and we love hugs. Countries that don't teach touching and holding...it's so much easier for the people to be detached. I think people that love deeper are happier. It's almost like a domino effect.

Question: What, more than anything, would you like to achieve in your life?

US, Canada, UK/How does art affect your daily life? Does it?

(I photographed Suzanna in my neighborhood in Los Angeles, but it seemed strange to classify her in that location. For the past few months, she has traveled from London to Toronto to New York to Philadelphia to Jacksonville and finally to Los Angeles in the pursuit of developing her screenplay into a feature film.)

© Jasmin Chang 2009
Answer: Art keeps me inspired When I see other people create, it fuels my creativity. As a creative, it keeps me creative. Art is an expression often of what is going on inside and sometimes words are not enough and then art allows us to communicate.

Question: How do you define love and where did it come from? What is the source of it?

Los Angeles, CA (Del Rey)/Does making art, make you happy?

© Jasmin Chang 2009
Answer: Of course! Of course art brings you happiness! In our head, we always imagine perfection, beautiful things and art makes it so that you can see it. It's real! It's not just in your imagination anymore. We as humans go so far away with our imagination. Art puts that in reality where you can enjoy it, especially in moments where you sit and have a fixation on something. It's always beautiful things. You never want to go to bad places with your imagination. Artists give you something beautiful, something green, with birds around, beautiful where your dreams come true.

Well, in art, I don't like art that has an insult to humanity, but anything that brings peace, love, harmony and life, I think everyone enjoys. Art affects your daily life when you don't throw anything beautiful away. You don't see a flower and kick and break it. You don't throw a big plastic bag over something that is beautiful if you are one that likes sensitive things, beautiful things. Yeah, I admire beautiful people, beautiful things. You cannot deny beauty. It's there. It's only for us to see. You can see beauty in a monkey, but other people just see a monkey. Beauty is all over but some people can see it. You just have to see it. Or what you have to do is knock on that door, let it out. Be open to beautiful things in life, or what you can say is oh, damn it, let me just finish my day. It's not a contract. You're day is not a contract. Enjoy your day. Live your day. Then you will see beauty.

I tell you one thing, with photographers--what I see can be a normal person, but what you see is an angel. I see the picture and think geez what a beautiful person. I mean, it's there, but until you see it in a picture and you say oh my God, it's beautiful. You could have just passed it by on the street, but when you see it in a photo, you see it's beauty.

Question: How does art affect your daily life? Does it?

Hollywood, CA (Barnsdall Art Park)/How do you define true happiness?

© Jasmin Chang 2009
Answer: You've asked the wrong person. [laughs] I've been going through a rough time for awhile so...but I think it's something that comes from within, something that you create, like anything else.

Q: To be added soon...

L, thanks for such an amazing conversation. Unfortunately I got so wrapped up in it that I forgot to ask you for a question for the next person! I hope you do come visit this website and if you do, could you send me your question? You can email me at jchang220@gmail.com! Thanks!

Question: Does making art, make you happy?

Torrance, CA (Oktoberfest)/How long do you think it takes to drive around the island of Hawaii?

© Jasmin Chang 2009

© Jasmin Chang 2009

Answer: I would guess seven hours. I've been up to Oahu three times. Last time I went was three years ago. It was for my sister and my graduation. We graduated at the same time. It took me five years and my sister four years. It was great--all my family was there.

(after I told her that she had the best outfit of all of Oktoberfest in my opinion)

Oh, thanks! It's authentic. Well I actually got it at Alpine Village, but they originally purchased it in Germany. My fiancee is a flight attendant and can get cheaper flights so we want to save up to go to Munich.

(I congratulate them and ask them how the proposal happened)

Her fiancee: I got down on one knee and asked! We were in a cave in Sequoia National Park and we were on a cave tour. We got to the last cave and I had already called ahead so they knew what was happening. It was funny because the tour was actually full of German tourists who had no idea what was going on.

Question: How do you define true happiness?