Friday, August 31, 2007

Getting Back In The Saddle

Oh yeah - how easy it is to procrastinate with this thing. I swear, its not like my life has been quiet and I have nothing to write about...I just don't update it! Ok, enough of that bs - I'm just lazy.

Here is a quick recap before returning to our regularly scheduled program:

The Car Drama
So I'm driving my dad's car and other than the fact that it runs, its a vast improvement over my previous devil car. Why do you ask (or I'll pretend that you ask for narrative purposes)? Because the driver's side window works. Let me say that I never truly appreciated windows until these 2 weeks happened. I can get fresh air, I can do the "my arm is flying" trick while driving, and I can use the drive thru without shame! But the best part of this borrowed car is the fact that its a four door and Jake has the ability to roll down the window in the back. Reason being is that earlier this week, we were on the freeway coming home from work and school when I hear this scream, blood curdling scream as if he had gotten hurt. I look back and Jake is indeed crying his little heart out. I ask what happened and apparently his pencil (his favorite pencil of all time!) went flying out the window and he actually asked me to stop and go get it. I was trying to comfort him but quite frankly I could not stop laughing. I actually had to stop at 7-11 to buy him a slurpee to calm him down. The ease of bribing your child will never get old in my book.

George Clinton
A good friend (who is totally awesome and knows who he is and he knows that I think he's totally awesome) hooked me up with some tickets for the George Clinton concert a couple of weeks back at the Greek. Before going in, my friend and I made bets to see how many 1) white people were going to be there, 2) inappropriately dressed women were going to be there, 3) pimp suits were going to be seen, and 4) dancing that made us laugh out loud. I think we called off the bet before we even got inside. Moment of the night: when I rushed George Clinton and told him it was a great show - I would have gotten a picture but noooo, I forgot my camera. And by the way - why isnt this posted on YOUR blog...hmmmm?

Jacob and the Tooth Fairy
Since we last met up with Jacob and his trials of growing up, he has lost two of his bottom teeth. Let me say that doing the who Tooth Fairy routine really brings back memories of when I found out that the Tooth Fairy didn't exist. My brother can back me up on this one. I remember waking up and sticking my hand under my pillow looking for my dollar but there was nothing - no tooth, no dollar. The Tooth Fairy robbed me - the little bitch! So I did what any decent child would do...I screamed for my daddy. My dad runs in and I tell him what happened. He said that maybe I missed the dollar and it should be there...so he helps me look for it. I look to my left to see my dad put his hand in his pocket, then I look to my right while he moves the money from one hand to the other and slips it in between my bed and the wall. In my memory, its still very slow-mo (and cuts to dramatic reaction shots along the way). I was disheartened to say that least. Back to my child and his moment of fantasy - he had put his tooth in a ziplock back and put the bag under his pillow. Before I went to bed, I put a dollar in a ziplock and switched out the bags. In the morning, he woke up and pulled out the bag with the dollar and had this look of just sheer joy...its no wonder parents keep this fantasy alive for so long because so help me I'm still kicking myself for not getting a picture of his face that morning.

Oh Yeah, My Birthday
Earlier this week I had a birthday. Yay me. Birthdays have a tendency to have me re-evaluate everything and look at where I've been, where I am, and where I want to go. We'll see how this year turns out - so far, its looking good. I also kind of see birthdays like Christmas - I love the anticipation but when it actually gets there, its sort of a let down. I guess a part of me will always wish for Jake Ryan to show up in his little sports car and take me to his house where he has a birthday cake ready for me. Ahhh - fantasies that will never happen. But this birthday has been good - I have friends and family that care about me and I'm very lucky to have that. Another great thing about this birthday is that Jake "took" me to Disneyland to celebrate. Oh yes, that is another post. Stay tuned...

Sunday, August 12, 2007

The Joys of Public Transportation

This past week was a test of wills. My wills. My will to have the patience to take public transportation to and from work everyday because of my car debacle. Luckily, I had a good book to read and it made it all bearable.

Unfortunately, the only time I didnt have my book - all hell broke loose. On my way home on Thursday, I realize after I've gotten on the train that I had left my book at work. So I decide to just sit back and people watch. I really have to thank the 65 year old man who played his guitar badly and sang even worse to entertain me. I'd also like to thank the abnoxious 5 year old that kept trying to sit on my leg to talk to her mother. Not only was she going anywhere she felt like, but she was rude to people around her. I didnt feel all that bad when I "accidentally" stepped on her foot as I got out of my seat to get off the train. Life sucks kid, suck it up.

I had opted to take a new way home and it worked out pretty well. So well, that I opted to do the same thing into work. My goal was to jump on the bus to Pershing Square in Downtown LA then hop on the Red Line to my exit for work. Sounded simple right? RIGHT?!?!

The day before, the bus had picked me up at Olive and 5th. So I was waiting for Olive and 5th the next morning. But Olive and 5th never came. See, I didnt realize that on the way down, the bus goes on Grand and on the way back it comes up Olive. This information could have been helpful, especially when I ended up being kicked off at the end of the line near Staples Center.

Here is the thing - I wasnt lost. I knew exactly where I was. But for a split second, I felt hopeless. I dont know why, I just did - the thought of calling my dad actually crossed my mind even though I knew there was nothing he could do about it. The bus driver was kind enough to tell me to walk up one block to Olive and most of the buses would pass by Pershing Square. I knew from my Kings game experiences, that I could have just walked up a few streets and caught the Blue line to 7th/Metro station and switch to the Red Line. I mostly just felt stupid for not paying enough attention and putting the 2 and 2 together to get off at 5th and walk over a few blocks to the station. Being oblivious is something I hate being, I need to know and I need to do. If I dont, I figure it out, then I do. I ask a few bus drivers if they indeed passed by Pershing Square and I did get a few no's with the doors slamming in my face (nice). Finally, I got a live one. As I was trying to put my dollar in, I was telling the driver about my mistake. He got a good laugh out of it and let me ride for free to the station.

I doubt any this would have happened if I had had my book because I would have been so freaked out about missing it, I would have paid more attention. The upside to all this is that I was able to see LA in a new light. I had never seen the Disney Concert Hall as well as the MOCA. I never realized just how busy LA is in the morning. Not to mention how balanced life seems to be, with coffee shop owners having breakfast ready for their patrons to workers arriving at the jobs just in time. It was nice to see that side of LA and realizing why I really do love this city so much with the absent-minded harmony we have with one another. I may have to ride the public transportation a bit more.

Sunday, August 05, 2007

Well, I Guess I Was Due

Its been a good couple of weeks for yours truly.

Got a promotion at work. Been happily busy with Jake and friends. I have even been enjoying Tango with the weird Chinese guy snapping his fingers at me to dance with him (I wish I was kidding). And I can't forget to mention that Psych and My Boys are back on the air for the summer.

But this weekend, the Ying to my Yang caught up.

My devil car died on me. It didnt even have the decency to die in my parking spot! Oh no, it picked the off ramp on the 60 freeway in Chino to ask for its last rites. I knew I had been tempting fate for a while with my ride so it doesnt completely surprise me. And I should be grateful that I was with my parents (instead of alone with Jake) and near my friend's house when it happened. I just have no luck with vehicles as of late - so I'll be hitting the Metro all week. At least I have my latest Thursday Next novel to keep me company.

Now, if I could only find my damn debit card things could start looking up.