I am a sun-BURNT tomayto(tomahtoe)...

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, in the summer sun!
Another beautiful california day, and this time it was spent at the BEACH, with a few friends and a lot of laughs. There was an episode dealing w/ a Sea Lion swimming right by us, Jon screaming like a girl, and all the guys running like girls, but it wasn't too bad, more funny than it was scary...just in retrospect of course. But the weather was perfect...only if the water was a lil warmer, I think we would've been in the water(an MAYBE even have learned to swim) a lot longer. Antarctica type water temperature just is NOT fun...and you DON'T get used to it, no matter what you might think. It was a long day in the sun, and it's crazy how being in the sun can really kinda draw energy out of you...like it did today. I'm starting to feel the preliminary pains of sunburn, and for ME to get sunburned, now that's saying something...cuz it rarely happens...Sheesh! I'm so tired right now, I swear my eyes are starting to droop as I'm staring at my computer blogging....look at that...even when I'm about to fall asleep, I'm doing this...if you didn't hear my cry for help before, hear me now....he he he..

P of N R(In the spirit of the MENSA)
Funny how there are times in your life when you have moved so far beyond a certain point, you can no longer go back...the Point of No Return, if you will...and once past that point, you just keep going and going and going. That was me and sleep this weekend...from Fri/Sat...I slept only about 2 1/2 hours, and I slept a lil less than 3 1/2 this morning...goodness...talk about sleep deprivation. I mean, I can't possible catch up on sleep, cuz that would mean that I OWE myself about 6 more hours from Fri night, and another 5 or so from Sat night. Including the 8 I SHOULD be getting right now, plus the beforementioned 2 nights...that's 19 hours...practically a whole day. There's no point in trying to get sleep back...I must move on...and Sleep NOW...but before I go...just a few more things to say...

Appreciations of the Day...
-Maturity, it is rare nowadays and much much appreciated...
-The Beach, the perfect place to relax
-Wild Life, observed from a distance
-Peace of mind
-Knowing you'll get a good night's rest...finally

"By the time you finish reading this. You'll be done reading this."
-Juanito's brother

I am a sun-dried tomayto(tomahtoe)...

Sunny days...
It is absolutely gorgeous outside!!! If you haven't checked it out...try to get in like 5 minutes of sun...and if you don't enjoy this type of weather, then you don't belong in Southern Cali. This is what Cali weather is supposed to be, what they publicize in travel ads and how Hollywood always shows it in the movies. I'm so glad I'm headed off to the beach tomorrow...and this is just the time to be takin advantage of it...while I'm out of work, cuz I can go even during the weekdays...hell yeah.

Peace of Mind
Being at the park for my God-daughter's b-day showed me that there is still peace and tranquility amidst all this chaos and confusion running so rampantly in our world right now. As I laid down on the park bench to chill in the shade after hours of basking in the nice warm sun, I took a gander at my surroundings and just saw a million things that totally brought me peace of mind: london sitting in the sand playing w/ her sticks, my pop and uncle albert sitting on a park bench just chattin away, the other lil kids runnin around and playing tag, my auntie Crystal taking a nap on the grass, and other things that have by now slipped my mind. But seeing all these things really just reminded me that even during the worst of times, happiness prevails...

So I had my hand in making fruit salad for the first time(thanks to my sister) for the party earlier today. Well, actually I made it last night, before I headed out to Irvine...but I would have to say, not to toot my own horn or anything, everyone finished it, which must mean it wasn't totally repulsive...and that it was good...so that brought a smile to my face. I didn't get to totally mash out all the lumps in the sauce before I added the fruit in because I was in such a rush last night, so I didn't think that it would be such a hit. Oh yeah, last night, we hit up the Yardhouse, Irvine for Kel's b-day. I would have to say it was a very relaxing hangout session/b-day party. I kinda liked it, but at the same time, didn't, cuz we didn't get to kick it w/ Kel that much...but nonetheless, Happy B-day Kel! After the partay, me and the old roomies kicked it @ V's house where we pretty much had a "slumber party." He he he, we ate bbq at like 2 in the morning, chilled outside and just talked, and played poker til like 6 AM... I had to wake up at 8:30 to go back to LA and those fools didn't get up til like 4...lucky punks. Anyway, it was a lot of fun and good quality time w/ da boys...

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on."
-Robert Frost

I am Mr. Potatohead...in an oven...

A welcome change
The weather has been so weird lately, but I think that those Santa Anas have pretty much subsided and we can look to better days ahead. And that is the coming of Spring weather....So it is Africa hot outside today, and I was thinking about it while I was sitting out there this morning...yay, that means it's beach time! I love the beach...even though I don't really swim(cuz I can't), it's just one of the most relaxing places to be. I even go there when it's kinda cold, just to clear my head when it's clogged up w/ stupid thoughts, just listening to the waves crash...it's really uplifting. But it's better when it's totally sunny and you can just walk up to the waves and dig your feet into the sand so that it gets between your toes as the waves pull back, and you get that weird feeling like you're moving even though you're just standing there. Building sandcastles, and burying friends in the sand, playing tackle football and bbqing...man alive...I can't wait.

The Children ARE our future...
Signs that we all should think more like children. While London and I were playing w/ rocks outside this morning, we started talking about disney characters and she was talking about Princess Jasmine. So I ask her, "Do you know where Princess Jasmine is from?" And she looks at me and says, "From the TV..." Totally matter-of-factly, she said it. What logic...she is so right. Incredible...sometimes I think I am pretty smart...that I've got a good head on my shoulders...then BAM! Some sense gets knocked into me. Ha...funny how after 25 years....and yes, a little over 3 months of life, I am still learning new things from a 2 1/2 year old girl. But I welcome new lessons learned all the time, so if you're listening up there...keep bringing the knowledge, I can use it.

So the second half of my day actually turned out okay...except for the fact that my car ended up costing like $600...and mostly labor at that... Also saw a Here and Now performance @ LMU...pretty cool...ate at Roscoe's, which I had not done for a LONG time. I'm supposed to take a bunch of my buddies down there for dinner one of these days...man, I bet they can't wait. Yummmmy in my tummmmmmmmmy. I'm tellin ya.

Ooh, my ratchet screwdriver set came in today too...I love ratchets...all day I've been looking for screws that need to be tightened, loosened, or pretty much just turning everything. I have to put together a bookshelf for mom tomorrow, so that'll be fun. All I need is some power tools and a torque wrench and I'm all good. I can build stuff...that'd be fun. I don't know what it is about me and tools, but I love 'em...absolutely love 'em. he h ehe, I said I "love" tools...funny how some people think we throw that word around too much. Sheesh, what a segue...didn't even mean to do it. Well personally, I think that people don't use those words enough. My family for one...very unaffectionate and definitely does not say "I love you" enough. I think we show it to one another in other ways, but I would like to hear it every now and then...not even hear someone saying it to me...just to hear them say it to each other. And when I think of what we've been through together thus far, I think it's even more important to let each other now...I try to, but even I neglect it sometimes. I'd never have thought that three words could be so major...but they are...

In my wonderful productive attitude, here is are some random list of thingss

I need to do before I turn 26...(yikes I only have like 8 months left!):
-get a job
-lose 5-10 lbs...I currently weight about 158 lbs...pretty gross, eh?
-take a trip to Hawaii(I've never been)
-find a lil philly

good ideas
-start syphoning gas and start your own gas-selling business, starting w/ your friends
-eating at Roscoe's with friends late at night(yum)

bad ideas
-eating at Roscoe's with friends late at night(too full to sleep)
-opening the front door without heed to the wind

Appreciation for the day...
-Friends who know just what to say...

I am a MENSA genius(that's right 19+ correct baby!) caught in 80 mile an hour winds...

Things aren't always as they seem...
I think the initial happenings in your day are pretty tell-tale of the day to come. I was woken up this morning @ 7AM(and since I went to bed at 3AM, I WONDER how this day was going so far) because I had to pick up the bubs. My sister calls to make sure I'm up and says it's raining hella hard outside. So I look out the window, and it looked pretty nice outside, and calm(Damn, weather can be so freakin deceptive sometimes), so I proceed to think sister is totally trippin(as usual), it's gonna be a beautiful outside, and I get up and get ready... I open the door to go out to my car and the freakin piece of crap slams back in my face...The wind was blowing SOOOOOOO hard...and it hit me, right on my nose...and I am now crying it hurt so bad. I clear up the tears, and proceed to walk to my car and a lil branch caught in the gale-force winds smacks me in the leg...I rub it off and run to my car for fear of my own safety. So of course, I'm thinking...damn, what a day already and it's only 7:15! I FINALLY pick up london after fighting through more winds and hurry back home. So after that, it's the usual shmusuals until about 10 ish...where mom and pop go to the PT and I go bring my car in for service...well not til after. I find out that I've worn my brakes down 4/5 of the way so they need to get replaced, along w/ my power steering and some other things, I only opt for 2 of them, which brings my service total to $600 something PLUS tax!!! MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO man! So after I settled down from my heart attack, fed the bubs, and put her down for a nap, I am here at my computer, bitching about it. He he he, what a day it's been so far...I wonder what else is in store for me...

I am totally sore from working out yesterday, I didn't think it would be THIS bad, but it is...thank goodness there's like 6 more days til the next game. I think I shall pass on the gym today and go again tomorrow...my aim is to go at least 4x a week and to lose a few pounds, in the "gut-ular" area. So hopefully, the combination of working out and the b-ball league will help me to attain that goal. I haven't really heard much about the news lately about the war...just that it's gonna "take as long as it is necessary to rid Iraq of its hateful Regime." Other than that, I think I've been so busy running various errands I don't even have time to watch Television or be on the computer.

Things I've thought about a little bit, but could use more pondering...
-Is it better to assume the worst and hope for the best? Like to think that things WON'T turn out the way you want it to and just let things take you by surprise?
-Some people don't "hang out" as much as me and some of my friends do...they think it's so weird

"Live and let live...that is the only way..."

I am an arrow...

Chugga Chugga Chugga
One lost blog and a day later...and I am back at the computer....As opposed to yesterday's unproductiveness, I must say the day was quite fruitful. I took care of London...we got in an argument, but it's all good, she's 2 1/2..., I took my mom and pop's TV to the repair shop, and it seems only that a connection was loose or something or maybe a capacitor went out, so it doesn't look to cost too much...whew...after knowing that I have to pay for my 30k service(of which a special section is dedicated to) on Thursday, that's a big ass relief. From there, I went on to spend some quality time w/ V and we got some crepes and coffee and then he almost made me late for my first game(league started today). We won, thank goodness, only by 2 or 4 or something, and I scored 10 pts...all in the first half, which is pretty sad cuz I goose-egged the second half...I was so danged tired though, 1st game in like a month...but yeah, we won! YAY! After that, it was off to Steamers for some really good laughs and silly antics with some of my favorite people in the world, he he he. Now it's back here...and I can get some rest because I have a good reason to be tired. Tomorrow's forecast looks to be that of yet more productivity, as I (HOPEFULLY) will have hang out w/ my best friend, and again, take care of London, bring sister to the chiropractor and do some other various errands...can't wait...

High Maintenance
So I called in to schedule my 30k service for my car today...dude, it's gonna cost quite a bit of moolah...$249.95, to be exact...when I first heard the price, I had to do a double take, and was like, "Um, excuse me?" He proceeded to repeat it, and I still couldn't believe my eyes as I wrote down the information. Man, you think after spending tens of thousands on such a piece of machinery, the darned thing would take care of itself! I mean, yeah, even if you do your OWN maintenance, that still costs money...and time too, which as we all know is pretty much equivalent to money...(I wonder how much money I've wasted from all my sitting around)...sheesh...the spending never ends...as if Gas didn't cost enough already...it's like the most expensive girlfriend in the world...talk about High Maintenance(he he he, I'm totally laughing at that...I think it is SO funny, HA HA HA).

Okay, I'm tired now...

"We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

I'm sitting here in my room, waiting for some epiphany to dawn on me about something really interesting to write about, but nothing is coming to mind...so I've decided to just let my thoughts flow freely and type as I write them...and I really AM typing as these thoughts are slowly eeking out of my so-called brain. Other than taking care of London, my day can pretty much be summed up in one word...UNPRODUCTIVE...I guess I needed a day like this though, cuz I actually still am quite tired from the long weekend. But still I'm trying to figure out something to do...might go eat some Pho, might go grab some coffee...damn coffee and cigarettes would be nice, but I'd just have to settle for coffee, maybe not. I'm itching to play some ball, so I can't wait til my league starts again tomorrow, finally, a chance for some exercise. I've been waiting for it to start actually cuz I will also get to hit the gym again after tomorrow. I didn't wanna work out prior to the game cuz I handn't hit the gym in so long I didn't wanna get all hella sore and totally suck it up(cuz I already do suck) at the game. Rather, I'll hit the gym hard the day after and give the soreness about a week to subside, just in time for the NEXT game...I'm such a genius, I know....he he he. Weird, I feel like I'm totally talking to myself while I'm writing this thing...I'm like reading it as I'm writing it and I can imagine me just talking out loud like this...how crazy is that...I wonder what it would be like to have a twin, I mean we'd both be 25 right now, so I hope we wouldn't BOTH be sitting here doing nothing but talking to each other...nevermind, I don't wonder what it would be like to be a twin, cuz that would in no way help out my boredom right now, he'd probably be out doing something not-so-boring. I wonder what his name would be though, cuz you know how parents always like to name twins w/ like themes...Ray and Ryan, Artemis and Apollo, Tweedle dee and Tweedle dum, dadaddadadada, hmmm, maybe HE'D be Dearborn and I'd be just Jay...or maybe it would be the OTHER way around...WOAH....okay, done w/ that general wondering...I've been trying to think of people to call...there's people I DO wanna call but I don't wanna be a bug...oh well...I guess I'll just sit here and keep typing...man, this is gonna be such a weirdily(ooh, I like that word) long blog. Finally thought of something to do, I'll organize some more stuff....yay! But before I go, I'll compile a list of dones and have not dones, just to see how productive I really wasn't...

Things I HAVE done today...
-I watched the bubster all day, we played games, read books, watched Monsters Inc...and took a nap
-Checked e-mail, chatted, and applied to like 5 jobs
-Looked at some nasty pictures of old roomies sprained ankle
-Met up w/ my sister and cousin for lunch, and went to the bank
-listened to music
-watched the news on the War in Iraq
-got sad from watching the news on the War in Iraq
-talked on the phone
-read some blogs
-sat in my room and did nothing
-blogged, but lost it...

Things I have NOT done today...
-read one of my many "books on my reading list"
-study for my EIT
-Leave the house for more than an hour
-wash the dishes
-balance my checkbook(I never balance it, but it's still something I didn't do today)
-Get a job

Good Lord, somebody help me please.....

I just noticed something about AIM....it's totally gramatically incorrect...we never punctualize...except in the interrogative or the exclamatory senses....what is the world coming to?

I am a footprint in the sand...

Whew
Man, what a long weekend! I'm so glad to be chillin at home once again...and sitting in front of the comp and wasting my time away... I was gone all weekend because I was on a retreat for Dayz....and man did it totally drain me. Of course, as with all things there were highs and lows...but overall the retreat was a good experience. The thing I most enjoy about retreats is that you really get to spend some alone time w/ your thoughts and your life...and it always feels good to take some time for a lil introspection. And one thing I re-realized this weekend is that I am truly blessed w/ a lot of things in my life, and I need to stop taking so many things for granted. I love being given the opportunity to serve, because I think always thing we could do a lil more service to other people. I also enjoy just seeing all these people again and touching base cuz that's pretty much the only time I see some of these friends, cuz they're far or busy or something...so I take advantage of such opportunities. But like i said, the weekend was totally draining, like 4 hours of sleep max, for the WHOLE weekend...I felt like I was on Spop staff again...man...I'm too old for that...no sleep...probably is gonna prolong my road to well-dom.

I did miss out on a few things though, a b-day party, and the beach...darnit, I love going to the beach...but oh well, the beach isn't going anywhere.

Yet again, I've forgotten all the things I wanted to blog about this weekend as they came into my mind this weekend...I would've blogged about them right when it happened, but there was no computer access where I was...I think I need to carry around one of those lil recorders in my pocket like those journalists, or book-writer people and just hit record and say something everytime it comes up...that way, when I sit back at my desk later that evening for blogtime, I can replay my tape :) Kinda nerdy but yeah, and after a lot of debate the subject, I've come to accept the fact. So there! From now on, as I mention geeky things, I shall not have to add a corresponding remark like..."geeky, I know," or, "Geeky, huh?" or something like that...it can just be assumed that anything I do or say is pretty much...in the realm of geekiness.

Since I don't quite yet have a job, I think I have been given a temporary one. Because sister AND B are now working, and they don't quite have day care set up for london yet, I have been designated as her caretaker, her babysitter, her manny...(male nanny, he he he). Child Technician, I would like to be referred to. So, since mom and pop are here too, and I have to also help pop w/ certain things...it's like a full-time job. So here's the plan...wake up when she gets here, eat breakfast w/ her, then let mom and pop play w/ her as I do my usual internet "corresondences" and job searching for about an hour or 2 and then go back to watching her...so I guess it's cool...I'll be occupied, which is really all I want to be during this time of non-work. And even better...it's with my lil niece...what better way to be occupied than playing w/ a 2 1/2 year old who loves to watch Justice league and read books? Sweet!

Since the day isn't over yet...
here are my appreciations for the weekend...and a few things before that I forgot to mention...
-Seeing your best friend for like 5 minutes and it seems like you guys hung out for 2 hours
-retreats and the refreshing feeling you get after it's done
-total delirium...when everything's so so funny cuz you haven't slept
-quality time

Don't think about timing the jump too long...you might just miss the boat completely...

I am a sore sore throat...

Prognosis
My throat hurts so bad right now I don't even wanna talk...I whisper when I'm on the phone and it sounds ridiculous...Yikes, ME? Not talk? Damn, that's like asking a fish NOT to swallow water...man oh man will I be suffering. If you don't know me and how much I can talk, then you don't know me...times like these AIM is a total blessing in disguise. I hate when I'm sick for a while and my imagination runs away with it and I think I might have something. So since my throat was hurting so bad, I decided to look up tonsilitis, for fear that I might have to get a tonsilectomy...fear, which is two-fold. 1) I have a huge fear of doctors...I think sometimes, they WANT something to be wrong w/ you, and hence get more $$$ and B) I have no health insurance, and I think the costs of a surgery would be substantial, so I'd rather not. Anyway, I think I might have it, but was glad to know that tonsilectomy is done too often and is many times not necessary. There are several reasons for getting it, if it constricts breathing(which it isn't), if it happens more than 7 times in a year(it's March, and this is my 1st), severe tonsilitis(I'm not dying so, I don't think it is), and a couple of other things. I'm gonna follow w/ the remedies and stuff and cross my fingers. Plus I'll be at a retreat for most of the weekend, so maybe I'll pray about it too... But I hate how looking up stuff makes you think you have everything. I remember once I thought I was Bipolar because I read some article about it and I totally self-diagnosed it, crazy...power of suggestion I tell you.

I had a million things that were on my mind but I can't seem to hold a thought for very long right now...so, next time nalang....BUT, I DO have some... Appreciations for the day...
-Warm salt water
-$0.99 Filet-o-fish (Yummy)
-My friends
-Loungin around the house
-AIM
-the way listening to music makes me feel
-the "dance"

"It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for something you are not."
-André Gide

Again and again...no more
Some more things I noticed were totally unnessary on the million and a half broadcasts about the war..weather reports. Why would you give a weather report for Iraq? I heard them forecasting the weather in Iraq over the next few days in and around Bahgdad...why? I don't plan on visiting Iraq in the next few days, and I'm pretty certain no one else will either...it was SOOOOOO dumb, well to me at least. Granted, they're trying to give us all the info on what our troops are encountering and stuff, but this borders on complete stupidness, weather? Really? Plus these correspondents are already getting heat for giving away locations and shit...

Why during a peaceful protest does some idiot always have to start some ish? And they always give the cops a hard time about trying to keep them in order, when, HELLO, they're blocking traffic so OTHER people can't get to work on time and stuff...it's not such a good protest when they're disrupting everyone else around them...yes I respect the 1st amendment, but not when it imposes on other peoples lives. Anyway, I've talked about the 2 times in as many days...I'm almost like the freakin news...and I'm gettin tired of it.

Word of the day
Dis-attached

Appreciations for the day...
-Acting like I'm in high school
-Chatrooms
-Phone conversation
-Robitussin

It's a thin line...
This whole war issue has really divided the nation in two...people protesting and blocking traffic, totally not cool(yes, I agree w/ you Juandog), and some people in total support of it. I think I saw a poll on the news last night like 60% supporting and 40% not...A friend and I were talking about it last night, how we weren't totally convinced about one side or the other, and well, we said, well if we HAD to take a side, I guess I would stand on the support side...and that's only because we used the logic about supporting terrorist networks and stuff like that, which made us want to stand behind the decision to get Saddam. Not that going to war WILL stop any of this terrorist action, because do we really think that if Saddam went down that that would be the end of it? I beg to differ...man someone will be there to take up the torch and carry on...but it is a stance, and one against terrorism, which I support....IF that is the case, but it's hard to tell whether or not the info leaked out to us is always true. But we live in a time of total fear...I mean, I know many of us will not be able to comprehend what that's totally like(9/11...those people, now THEY know what that's like), and personally, I'd rather not. Because it is NOT a lie that there are those out there that want to rid the world of America, and in turn, Americans...that's US people, me and you...umm, I don't really like that idea. I'd rather we were terrorist-free and holding hands and eating tootsie rolls and shit like that...but it's a cruel world out there, and we gotta do what's best...

I am my pop's 1981 Pontiac Bonneville...

Blah Blah Blah
I feel so freakin blah today...my sickness has moved up a level, forcing me to take some roh-beet-too-sin every 4-6 hours, not to exceed 4 doses in a day, which I RARELY do. This sucks major doodoo man, PLUS there's errands to run for the parentals today. They know I don't feel so good, but they have no choice, mom can't drive really far, and pop of course can't, so that leaves it up to me...man I feel run down. I'm trying not to mope around w/ this sickness but it's tough too when you feel so tired and out of it. All you can do is help your body combat the illness I guess...well, Here's to getting better!!!

News News News...
Why does EVERY freakin channel have to broadcast the war? Like one place is gonna have a better angle than the other? It's the same shit man, talking talking talking, lil updates here and there...I wanna watch some regular TV!!! Granted I have cable, but it's the principle dammit! Why can't they have like one channel dedicated to all of these updates...like a collective effort at bringing us the most up-to-date 411 on this whole war business. Or better yet...put up a "War Channel" then, you wouldn't have to wonder like what this channel was all about...oh duh, it's about war. Hmmm, I wonder what's going on in Iraq today, hey pop, can you put on the war channel please? That would just make everything so much more simple...

One of my friends told me about Energy Healing today. Apparently, she was feeling on the blah side a few days ago and some dude offerred to give her some energy healing...her body drew energy from his body and WHAM! She was feeling a lot better....he even gave her mind energy to deal with all the things going on in her life...pretty crazy. It might be in her mind, but that's a pretty awesome concept...it branches out even further from self-healing...we can heal each other...that's pretty cool. Man, do I need some of that right now...

I think sometimes that people overestimate my strength...I mean, it's really flattering that people would think that of you as to want to depend on you for almost anything, but it's almost flattering to a fault. What if I overestimated my own capabilities because of their overestimations, thinking that I can do it all, but fail miserably? What if I am so over-extended or spread out so thin I totally fall apart. Okay, maybe I'm reaching a little here, but I just really feel worn down sometimes, and I think some people overlook that. I think I just need some Jay time for a while...one day even...I don't get enough of that.

"Life is the art of drawing without an eraser."
-John Gardner

I am a self-cleaning oven...

On the Edge
Dark are the hours when war has begun...The world awaits the attack coming from the US... It's so crazy listening to the news...you hear about threats to Los Angeles, increased security, dadadadadada...this is a freaky time man. And it kinda amazes me that so many people either don't know or don't care about it. These are serious times, and I think it would benefit us to be more aware of what's going on around us...and really, just take a moment and hope for peace...

Inner Cleansing
That title sucks dookie man, oh well. Before I start talking about this next subject, let me segue with a lil scene that I saw on my way back from playing basketball earlier today. I saw this lady lightin up a cigarette in her car...and when we drove by her, her BABY was in the freakin back seat!!!! Poor lil baby man...can't even say anything. Okay, so she was stupid... As I already mentioned, I went to play ball w/ B today...man that guy is a lagger, he he he...we were supposed to go at like 12 but didn't go til like 1:30...at least we went though, so I'm not complaining...THAT much. So I've begun to exercise again, which I think is good for my body... But it's crazy cuz ever since I stopped smoking...over the past couple of days...I've gotten pretty sick. I'm coughing up some pretty yucky stuff... I think my body is cleansing itself or something...getting all the gunk out on the inside that's amassed over the years. Weird though, I don't remember this happening before...the other times I've quit. Maybe my body knew back then that it wasn't gonna last, and I guess you can't BS your body...so this HAS to be a good sign. But if I'm still sick in a week, then I'll start freakin out...I'll cross my fingers...

I saw this movie called "My Sassy Girl" tonight...it's pretty good. It's Korean w/ subtitles, but I got a lot of laughs out of it...2 thumbs up.

Appreciations for the day
-shooting around for 2 hours w/o any other thoughts on my mind
-The Ear (Thanks for "listening")
-music

"Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half."

I am one of those cuts you got like a few days ago and then have scabbed up and is totally itchy...

I THINK I was workin on an entry before I left earlier tonight, but I lost it completely due to a blackout here at home...and I have no idea what was on it before so...

Close, but no cigar...ette
Today was one of those days...one of those days where things really started to get to me and had I had any cigarettes with me, I probably would've caved and had one. I would put it down, but then it would get me all frazzled again and bring me right back to where I was half a day ago. Let's just say I've noticed some things around me in the past few weeks that have just built up from lil frustrationlings to big gigantor frustrations. I haven't had the chance to vent out to anyone really cuz either they're venting to ME or things are just a lil too busy. Not that I mind, just that it isn't good timing and I'm okay with that. But it would be cool to have a punching bag. Deep Breath... maybe I could benefit by taking some yoga(serious? yoga?) or something...maybe or something is more like it. Not that I think yoga is totally like a wussy thing to do, I just don't feel the whole yoga thang. But hey, yoga over malboro, I guess. Maybe cuz I haven't had the opportunity to hit the gym too...yeah, maybe that's it.

However, I DID get the chance to go to steamers today and hear some awesome live jazz from the Chris Williams Quintet. That always helps a lot...of course, I'm more all about Luretta McCray, cuz she's totally like an Ella/Sarah chick.

I also got to spend most of my day w/ London...one of the most absolute joys in my life, so that obviously was another pick me up. Man, she is growing up soooo fast. She can say, "I'm two and a half," she can read out the letters if you spell her name one by one...when you ask her a question and she's not sure about the answer, she says, "Wait a minute, I'm thinking." And she puts away all her toys when she's done playing w/ it...dude, that's all sister's doing, not mine...I swear!

Factoid of the day...
I found out today that even though I lock the keys on my cell phone, the numbers 1 and 9 are never locked, thus enabling me to call 9-1-1 without any extra button pushing were I to fall into some incident requiring me to make such a call to an emergency call center. Pretty cool, I thought...maybe it's just me...oh well.

Appreciations for the day
-Text messaging
-Live Jazz
-Laughter
-Watching my niece grow up right before my eyes...
-FOOTPRINTS

The good, the bad and the ugly
Drinking Hefeweizens, Watching someone drink Sangria and a Turtle at the same time, and Toe Socks

"Much unhappiness has come into this world because of things left unsaid."
-Fyodor Dostoevsky

An exercise in futility
So after a few hours wasted and lots of help offerred by Jon and Chris, my attempt to install the scanner proved to be quite futile. I hate computers...no no no, I take that back, I hate not knowing how to install this crapola. Plug n Play my tiny lil booty...I was getting so frustrated man, thank goodness I'm not one of those throw my-computer-at-the-wall types...which would be bad for one reason, the equipment isn't mine, he he he...it's on loan til I get my desktop sometime in the next few weeks. Darnit, tonight would have been perfect to scan, I had so much time on my hands...now I gotta wait...sheesh...I'm never gonna get those pics up. But I DO get to go to sleep early tonight, should I choose to accept, and I probably will. I guess All's well that ends well? Did I really make myself feel better by that wannabe witty remark? I don't think so...shoot.

I am YO....

Twists and Turns
The laundromat is such an interesting place, it's full of crazy people. I was there earlier this morning doing my freakin 6 loads of laundry...HOW it got like that I can't imagine...I guess I've been so busy lately that I haven't noticed. But that's me, Mr. Absent-minded. Some people think I'm EXTRA absent-minded lately, but I'd beg to differ. Now what was I talking about again...he he he...Laundromat. So I'm just there, minding my own business when this lady starts yellin at one of the maintenance dudes. From listening to the conversation, how could you not, she was totally yelling for all of us to hear, I was able to infer that she was pissed off at one of the maintenance guys. Apparently either she or the maintenance guy spilled something all over the ground. I think that SHE was the one who spilled it, because the way she was yelling it was like she was trying to sway us to believe that she didn't do ANYTHING. So afterward, like 1/2 an hour later, I guess the maintenance guy threw away her coffee, but it was just sitting there, and no one knew who it belonged to, and the lady got all riled up again...it was funny...yelling all over again. She was like, "I'm tired of being picked on..dadadadada." There were two lil kids playing hide and go seek, some random dude asked me how to wash the inside of his coat(?), just craziness...

Nam and I went to Highlands today to pick up her ID and CC b/c she forgot it there this past saturday. Again, I hate LA cuz there's so many cars...it took us 52 minutes to go 6 miles...Anyhoo that place is really nice. I think the cover is a lot though, which is probably why I haven't gone. They DO have Koji's there though, so that's cool, maybe I'll go there one of these weekends. Anyway, so we eat at this lil sushi place kinda in West LA/Beverly Hills area and while we're sitting, she notices that Heather Graham is sitting right next to us at the bar!!! Holy crap man, that woman is beautiful...we were all star struck but trying to be all breezy about it, it was comedy. Not many people noticed her until she got up to leave...and after she did, Jonathan Taylor Thomas comes in and takes the seat right next to where she was! It's not that we were like total fans or anything, but it was just crazy...and so I go, "Who's Next?" And Carson Palmer (Not totally famous, but will be in a few years)walks out of the bathroom, we were laughing our asses off...just because she had been there so many times and never had she seen any celebrities walk into that place...I guess LA has its ups :)

I owe lunch/dinner to quite a few people, because of my dumbass offering it to "people who noticed something peculiar about my blog..." I think 4 people so far. I've decided that I'm capping at 6...two more people and that's it...THERE...it's stated.

Word of the Day
easily-told-what-to-doable

"Do not try to live forever. You will not succeed."
-George Bernard Shaw

I am a Sunday afternoon...

Dum dee dum dee dum
I had to wake up hella early this morning(even though I came home at like 4AM), cuz I had to pick up mom. I was really glad that I did have to wake up though, because it was absolutely gorgeous outside this morning. It was like 59 Degrees, with a gentle breeze and just awesome...not a cloud in the sky for the moment. Now, it IS supposed to rain today, but hey, I got to enjoy this brief calm for a while. Days like these that make me glad to be a morning person. Man, a Sunday drive is one of those things I really enjoy, no traffic, barely ANYONE on the road, and just totally relaxing...I think it's time to take a road trip somewhere...up north, perhaps? I haven't been there in like 3 years! Holy Cow!!!

Last night, I went out to Joe's B-day @ Tangier w/ a couple of friends...it was pretty cool. Very lax, not much of a dance floor, though later on that night people were just dancing in this lounge type area, but I had a lot of fun nonetheless. I was immersed good conversation and drinks for most of the night, and met some new people. The fun even kept going when we went to Denny's afterwards where we stayed til like past 3AM I think. Thanks Joe for a fun time! It's a wonder how we got home I should've been so tired... HOW?

Here's another sign to tell you you're getting old. While I was waiting for mom this morning, I was checkin out the female doctors/nurses/whatnot that were coming in and out of the hospital and noticed that there are a lot of attractive people in the medical field. I ALSO noticed that I was probably pretty close in age with several of them and actually pondered for a twinkling the possibilities of going out on a date with a couple of them. ME? Going out w/ like a doctor or a nurse or a whatnot? Crazy...just any professional is the thing that's trippin me out...which most of my peers are...professionals = old = me...wow.

My throat has been hurting every time I've gone out lately, like I've smoked a whole pack of cigarettes the night before, but I still haven't. Maybe I'm a lil under the weather...but I hope not. I hope it's just one of those physical withdrawal things that are going to pass like....now.

Did you know that "Don't Know Why" by Nora Jones fell off of the KIIS weekly top 40 list last week and then came back IN at #38 this week? I found it kinda strange...I mean homegirl won like 5 grammies and this is like her mainstream hit right now, and it's #38? Wow...

PS- lunch/dinner to the person if you are the first to notice something kinda peculiar about this entry...

"Goodness is the only investment that never fails."

I am a super-soaked sponge...

Duuuuuude, it is freakin pouring outside. P-O-U-R-I-N-G If you don't have to step out...don't. I've been out in it all day, and while I love the rain...it is raining pretty darned hard out there and you don't wanna be traveling in weather like this. I saw a car hit the median while I was on the 60...he wasn't even driving that fast...just started hydroplaning and lost control. Be careful out there...you crazy kids. Crazy, talagang crazy...

Things that make you go....DAMN!
Oh my god...I dont' know if I blogged about this already, but I'm too lazy to look it up and I also don't care if I already did...ha ha ha. Anyway, so sister ran over a bolt the other day(wednesday evening, I think). Okay a lil background here, sister is not one of the greatest people at handing high stress or even medium to low stress type scenarios...ha ha ha ha(i.e, she freaks out when things go arye[sp?]). Anyway, so she calls me in mini-panic attack mode and tells me that she thinks she has a flat and dadadadada...so I tell her to pull over and check the tires...reluctantly, she does so and seems to find that all tires are ok. So she says, it's kinda loud and there's definitely something wrong, so she DRIVES to my parents house and leaves it there and takes my car so I can get it fixed. So I get home and take a look and there it is...a freakin BOLT right there, like someone screwed it into the tire, even came with a washer and everything. Yesterday, I decided to take it and get it repaired so I could get my car back ASAP. So I take off the tire and take it to the shop to get it patched up...$10, no big deal. Later that evening, I went to Weiland's with the boys and when we were leaving at like 2AM, I go outside and see that the tire is totally flat. So I have to change it and put the donut on and drive home...this morning I went back to the shop so we could figure out what was wrong w/ it...I found out that because she kept driving on it for like another 10 minutes, she jacked up the beam of the tire and it was well, irreparable. So a new tire ends up costing me $40, and because it wasn't their fault that that happened...I lost the $10 as well....one word....DAMN.

Things that made me laugh today...
-Not looking where I'm walking when it's raining really hard and stepping in a huge puddle
-how rain runs right off my head and into my eyes
-Being called a midget
-performing "magic"
-lists of "500 things I like"
-trying to read lists of "500 things I like"
-talking about condiments on hot dogs

" When you feel lost, look for the Lighthouse in your Soul."

I am a little white lie...

Sit and Enjoy...
I took pop to Physical Therapy today, cuz mom came home from work hella late and needed to sleep in a little...so we go and it's my first time up there... So we go up to the 6th floor and go into the waiting room. I sign him in and take a seat. I noticed a small end table with a basket of bagels and muffins and coffee and a sign that said "sit and enjoy." I thought to myself...man, these are here for a reason...it's one of those lil jedi mind tricks they play on you in offices and stuff. Here...have some food..forget about the 1/2 hr wait til you get called in...yummmmmmmmm. Punks...so me and pop end up waiting...30 min before he goes in, but I never had a bagel or anything cuz I already ate breakfast....damn.

NSYNC
Have you ever seen that commercial, I forgot what car brand it was but it's where you need the perfect shotgun partner while you're driving? Like for eating? Well, I found one of mine today. We were on our way to get lunch @ Crazy Fish, this cool sushi place in LA, makin good time, but we missed the street and wasted 15 minutes going back to it. We get there and after like 10 min, finally get seated(it's packed...of course, how else can it end up when you're in a rush) and my friend gets a call saying she has to be at a meeting in San Pedro by 2PM, so we get up and decide to take out our order. We get it after about 10 minutes and get in the car and head back to my house...so we decided to eat in the car, cuz if we didn't and she just dropped me home, we wouldn't have been eating lunch together, as planned...but I was driving, and it was sushi, so I couldn't eat it like a burger...cuz you know, I gotta put my teensy weensy bit of wasabi and put the soy sauce on it. So she prepared it and fed me while she ate hers too...we were totally in eating sync, ha ha ha...although she DID she stab me one time w/ the chopsticks, but it wasn't bad...everything else went smooth as silk and we even finished all our food before we got back to my house, and she was on her way to her meeting...I thought it was rather cool...you can't do that w/ everybody...

Life...
-I had to wake up super early today to pick up mom from work, she worked 16 hours...I don't know how she does it. She's supermom...
-Pop cooked eggs this morning!!! Mind you, it was Egg Beaters...but hey, that's a BIG step.
-I've been reading up on pop's condition and I learn more and more by the minute, and feel guiltier everytime I lose patience w/ him.
-He forgot my name when the dude at the counter asked him who I was while we were at the store :(

"The journey of self-discovery begins and ends with the self"

I am the last remaining dust bunny...

Back to the old school
I went bowling in Glendale last night with Jon, Ai and Averell...it was a lot of fun, they had this like Rock and Bowl night thing where if there was a blue head pin in your lane and you got a strike, you'd get a free game...Unfortunately, we squandered our 4 opportunities. ANyway, I ran into some people I knew and hung out with way back when I was still in High School and it was crazy to see how some people never change. And it definitely is a small world, we chatted and found out what was goin on w/ all the people we used to hang out with...some of our friends were engaged, no longer together, and a bunch of different things. I don't know how many times I think to myself.."man, did I ever think I'd be talkin to this person, at this time...so long after we'd seen each other last?" Crazy...

Life's pleasant lil surprises
I went to bed pretty late last night and wanted to sleep in...but at like 8AM there's some one pushing me...and usually, when I want to sleep in, I'm rather cranky when someone tries to wake me up...I open my eyes...and lo and behold....it's LONDON, smiling at looking at me saying, "Wake up Unka Jay!!!" I love seeing my niece...and I was just talking about how I hadn't seen her in a while and I really missed her...so after I got some e-mailing done...we went to the living room to watch "Aladdin" while eating Special K cereal w/ berries...where she eats only the berries and leaves me the flakes...kids...they're hilarious. She is growin up so fast...and unfortunately, she's in her terrible two stage..and sometimes it gets kinda crazy, but hey, a lot of kids go through that and you just deal. It was a good hangin out session...she stayed til like 2...and it was the perfect beginning for my day.

The room is finally comin together...I'm still annoyed by this two-tone paint thang goin on but oh well...I'll burn that bridge when I get to it(Is it burn? cross? I don't know, whatever...correct me if I'm wrong). I just need to organize these bills piling up on my desk. and throw away some more junk. I also need to pick up my PS2 from B so that I can play FFX again. I also need those metal pins to come in so that I can finally fix this dumb ass entertainment center...oh and I need to hang up my pics...THEN, I'll be done. I can't wait...no more nods of disappointment from myself when looking at my room...

"Let your words and actions mirror the thoughts of your heart, not your mind."

I am a wanna be auditor...

Office Space
I am currently sitting in Cicely's office, err..cubicle at this very moment. She's callin me a geek right now and she's the one who has christmas lights up in this mug. It's funny how people personalize their own lil spots...as for me I didn't really have a long enough time at my old job to do so, but I tried. I see lots of pictures, keychains, and papers...oh...and a barrelman, cool. Ooooh...victoria secret lotion...JC crew...you know what that means. Anyway, I better let her get back to work...I'm taking up her office space..ha ha ha...get it? yeah...

I am a 1 7/8" screw...

LA settlement Updates:
-Room is still about 70% done...
-I assembled a 5-tier bookcase and now have a place for ALL my books...
-Raised my bed up on cinder blocks...now have storage space underneath
-can't find my check book in this frazzle...
-one of the pegs for my entertainment center shelf got lost in the move...and coincidentally, the metal pins for my new bookcase are the exact same guage(I think it's 12)...anyway, so I called the manufacturer and they're sending me some more...unfortunately I have to wait 5 days...
-After 3 days of searching, I found my wifebeaters[triumphant trumpet sounds]...they were in a box labeled "pillows and blankets"

Life's harsh realities...
So an insurance agent came to the house today cuz we had to have my folks sign up for new policies...apparently they had been on the same policy and if one of them were to pass, then the policy would end...so we had end that one and place them on separate ones. So being in this setting just made me realize how old I AM getting...first of all the insurance agent, Amy, was only like 3 years older than me...secondly, I am the beneficiary on the policies...and thirdly, I was talking to her about all these things I was thinking about looking into...long term care insurance, disability...etc...and she was totally taken aback that i would be aware of all this already...man, I'm old...that sucks.

"All my life, I've loved them all"

I am a spoonful of sugar...

Man, I was so tired last night I fell asleep while writing my blog...that's tired. I'm almost done organizing my room and unpacking all my ish, and beginning to feel a lil settled into home. But I also discovered this morning one of the things I'm gonna hate about living at home, pending having a job, is being able to sleep/wake up whenever I want. My sister called the house at like 8 this morning, she also called my cell phone, but I don't think I even heard taht. I actually didn't even hear the landline working, but I know it was cuz pop woke me up. Dangit, there goes sleeping freedom. Anyway, so sister listens to KIIS FM at work every morning and the b-day month happens to be January...so of course she calls my cell and then the house and tells pop to wake me up...she's all, "sit up, call KIIS @ 8:20 and try to be the 10th caller." and I'm like WTF!?!?!?! Apparently, she has a "feeling" that it's my day... So she forces me to get up cuz she won't hang up and I go to my room(where I now have sound, by they way) and turn on KIIS and I call in...and can't get in... I hear the 10th caller come on the radio and it wasn't my b-day...so sis had good intentions, but I was just not in the mood cuz I was so tired I guess. So I try to go back to bed, but mom decides that since I'm awake, she'll take advantage and get me to start doin errands and stuff so hence my day was started a lil on the wrong foot, cuz I just want some sleep but oh well....here I am.

Mini-thoughts...
-I shave my head every other day for a reason...the last time I shaved it was last wednesday, and I shaved it this morning...man that was torture...I need to find some permanent way to rid my head of hair.
-I need to paint my room. There was a leak in our roof a few years back and the corner of my room got totally jacked. They fixed it and pop repainted it, but picked the wrong color, so it's like cream-ish and now my room is like 2-timed..it's nasty. If I had a dig cam I'd take a picture of it and post it right [here]
-I'm totally laggin on scannin my pics...need to get on that
-I'm getting a lil sick, I think the reasoning is 2-fold. 1) I haven't been getting any sleep since the move, and 2) My body's going through lack of nicotine withdrawals...this always happens about a week after I quit...er try to quit. Cross yer fingers...
-Nora Jones is awesome

I am the never ending story...

[disclaimer: this is going to be quite a long blog, so go grab some coffee and warm up those eyes, or, just don't read it! he he he]

Wow, it's been a tadge bit over 2 weeks since I last posted...and my life has not felt the same during that time, he he he. Blogging was my routine thing, aside from shaving my head and taking showers and stuff(YES I do take showers...for those of you w/ your smart comments), and things of the sort. But life has been nothing short of chaotic during the past couple weeks. Since my last blog I was still packing and moving, right up to the moment when we left for mammoth.

Mammoth
So after getting only like 3 hrs of sleep, in sleeping bags of a completely empty and freezing cold apt(cuz there is SO much crap Chris' new place that there's no where to sleep), me and chris go return the U-haul, take his car in for an oil change and minor service(many lubes), and run some various errands before we officially left for mammoth. So began the drive...of which there was no traffic. The car ride was fun though, good conversation and lots of laughs, so it wasn't that taxing, just physically, as all long rides are I think. We were so tired the first night that we practically went to bed within an hour of arrival at the cabins, though everyone else was party-hartying pretty much, so we were quite anti-social...but hey, we had good reason...exhaustion. So I seemed like a grump(a very rare thing to see) but I got some rest...only some cuz everyone was kinda loud til the wee hours. We wake up early to get ready for snowboarding and it was absolutely amazing...the snow was awesome, and even though it snowed WHILE we boarded(of which I was the one who suffered most, because I had nothing covering my mouth and my mouth was all frozen and it was hard for me to talk) and boarded and boarded, we even went on expert only runs, it was hella fun...hella. I have pics, but not developed yet, so once I get into scanning my pics(ahem, b-day pics) I'll put the link up to them...Anyway, we party harty the second night and are not so anti-social and clean up to go home the next day. People sustained a few bangs and bruises from snowboarding, but the only ones I got was a bruised butt from sledding down the stairs Home Alone style. Went to Schatt's bakery on the way home and enjoyed a non-trafficky ride(you'll see why I keep stressing the non-trafficky stuff later) to chris' apt. Upon arrival, we loaded up his car w/ my stuff(mine was already completely loaded), if you remember I mentioned all my crap was at his place and we went to LA. He stayed over and went home the next day. Most of the week was spent going back to irvine and getting more of my stuff and trying to find places to put it all at my folks place...I also interviewed in Chino Hills at this pump company, courtesy of my friend Tony, ho hooked me up...I should find out sometime this week about it...anyway, so the past week was another jumble of chaoticness leading up to...Vegas. baby, VEGAS!!!

Good times, good times
So after another yet busy but not so busy week, after traffic does down, I go to Irvine to pick up Chris. We chill for a sec and head out on what was to become one of my top 2 vegas trips of all time. Anyway, we get totally stuck in traffic on the 15 N. But only for over an hour, but of course it still sucks to be completely stuck in traffic...as we were not moving. At least we had the laker game to listen to and we were talkin so it wasn't that bad. We ended up checking into the room at 2-ish. I wanted to go gamble but fell asleep watching TV. So we wake up, gamble, meet up w/ my folks and aunts(who were in Vegas since THursday, and who got me the free room), and spent most of the day with them, up until about midnight when we left to go meet up w/ some friends from Irvine. BTW, it's awesome having la familia in Vegas, you don't have to pay for food...and it's hella good. Anyway, back to the club...There's too many of them to name, but the whole crew was all up in Vegas for Jeff's b-day, and we met them all up at the Monte Carlo Pub and Brewery at about 1AM. I don't think I've ever arrived at a club so late, but hey, it's Vegas... So we get in and drank, danced, til the club closed at like 3AM...where things really picked up.

Great Moments in History
so we loiter around and end up splitting up cuz it's tough to get a group of 20+ people to do the same thing, so 6 of us (Joe, Jevon, Jon, Chris, Cic and myself...to whom I shall henceforth refer to as the JC Crew) break off from the rest of the group and we arrive at Cheetahs in the dark wee hours at like 4AM. We're just chillin for a while and we Chris being worked on by one of the Cheetah-ettes and soon enough she took him into the back where he disappeared for like 20 minutes. What happened, we'll never know, but he was strip-club devirginized alright, he he he. We all ended up getting lap dances, but the most awesome part of the nite was when we got Cic a lap dance....I know I said before a picture is worth a thousand words(well, not me only...but I mean I've said it before in this blog somewhere). She was really finicky about it for a while, but once she said one girl was kinda cute, we jumped on the opportunity, so she'd have no way out of it... So the awesomeness ensued. It was hands down one of the greatest moments I have ever witnessed in the 25 year, 1 month and 15 day history of my life. I was totally trippin and so was everyone else. Girls let girls do a lot of ish that us men would get appendages sliced off for...that's all I'm gonna say about that. Well in the end, Cic was an awesome sport about it and we all had a grrrrreat time. So we walk out and it is now 6AM and totally light outside...it's a crazy feeling when you walk into somewhere during the night and walk out in the morning...you get taken aback for a sec. Me and Chris had some comp buffets but it didn't start til 7AM...so we go up to our room to kill some time and don't really sleep. We go back down and have a semi-delirious breakfast and go back up to the room where we just had random conversation and probably all slept for a combined 1/2 hour or so. I have seriously not had this much fun w/ such a group of people in a really really long time, we laughed so much...maybe it's cuz we all had no sleep, but nonetheless, it was really cool. Freakin housekeeping kept trying to come in so I put the "Do not disturb" thingy on the door and forgot to take it off when we left(which eventually proved to be quite valuable) We checked out and met up w/ the rest of the crew at California where we had lunch and eventually parted from everyone, gambled for a bit and started on our way home...

Memorable, but not so fun-times
[Cue beginning of night mare]
So me and Chris finally head out at around 4PM and about 15 minutes into the drive, we realize that we forgot the laptop in the room we checked out of 4 hours prior...so I freak out and turn around and we rush back to the hotel and after some dealins we finally were able get it. Luckily maid service didn't go in cuz the sign was on the door and they hadn't realized we already checked out... So we again, head out and for the first 15 minutes, the drive is so deja-vu-ish. We're zippin down the road when all of the sudden we hit traffic right at whiskey petes...everyone's being forced to exit because the freeway is completely closed down(due to this big ass accident that we found out about later, 2 buses and a bunch of cars). So we exit and it's like chaos everywhere, people trying to get rooms, it's totally hard to use your cell phone cuz all the networks were flooded cuz everyone was using theirs as well, people finding alternate routes, etc...just chaos. So we just end up chillin outside and talking to random people and taking in rumors, some of which I believed, that there were a bunch of fatalities and stuff, and the roads opened back up 4 hours later...at 8. We ran into more traffic going into baker, but we had to go there cuz I couldn't drive anymore and we were both hungry, and I really had to pee, we eventually got home at 2:30AM to Chris' apt where I soon knocked out and thus ended one of the craziest weekends of my life...

So all in all, the 2 chaotic weeks were actually really cool and memorable...but I think now I shall get some long needed R&R from so much activity

Vegas tips...and then some
-Fly when you can, but if you drive, bring extra food and water, and something to keep you busy...just in case
-make sure you get some sleep if you do drive
-never ever go to vegas w/ more 20+ people, but if you do, only designate communal eating times or something and one group hangout, plus sleeping is another horrible ordeal to encounter w/ a group so big
-always take Cic w/ you to a strip club
-Never call Jon "Mr. Coordination"
-Never piss of Jevon
-Joe makes delayed responses
-never talk about blogs w/ Chris

"If your purpose in life is to entertain the gods, you might as well put on a good show."