Driiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiink!!!!

What do these items have in common: shopping, studying, bar hopping, hanging out, loss of soberness, the movies, and freakish weather? They are components of my fantabulous weekend.

Friday night I drove to Diamond Bar to go to the movies with Luis, Erika, Sebastian and his friend Sammy. We went to a sham of a theatre to see the Sponge Bob movie. It was funny, it was cute, but it was not worth the $10 admission...

Saturday morning got up at the crack of dawn (or so it felt) to pick up Eric and head to the SPLIT warehouse sale. Walked out with 6 t-shirts, 3 sweatshirts, 3 pairs of pants, 2 scarves, and 2 jackets for the slight price of $110. Luis got the best bargain of us all, walking away with a very nice leather motorcycle jacket for $25, when the tag priced it at $170. It is a great quality of leather and super comfortable and warm - I was so happy for him - he was super excited. After our shopping extravaganza, the three of us + Julie headed out to IHOP for some delectable breakfast. We finished up and decided it would behoove us to study for the afternoon, so Eric, Luis and I went to VDC and studied in the grad lounge. After that, Luis and I headed back to my place and got ready for the night. We decided to take a cab to the peninsula, where we were to meet up with Lizzie, Mark, DUSTIN, his lady-friend Serena, and Meera. I got lectured by the cab company about wanting them to pick me up at a business location, which was I thought an OK thing to do, but apparently I was misguided. We met up at the Newport Brewing Company, started off with a few rounds of beer, got to meet Serena - who is super cool, MAT CALLED FROM THE UK (which was the most awesome surprise of the night!!), ate some dinner, and discovered that there was a breathilizer in the bathroom corridoor.. I was so bummed when I realized at the end of the night that I was too drunk to remember to try the machine to see how drunk I was...After the Brewing Co, we walked across the street to Malarky's. We danced a little, we drank a lot - it was rad. Then, we hopped our way over to our favorite haunt of them all: Patrick's. Again, we drank and talked...then walked over to the fellas place for some after party fun...Now this is where the freakish weather kicks in...There was a downpour of torrential rain, which stopped minutes after it began. Then, Yagi offers to give us a ride home to Newport (via Jack in the Box) and there is strong wind, thunder, lightening and some drizzling. (I must note that the side jaunt to Jack in the Crack was so much fun - Meera, Dustin, Luis, Yagi and I all in the van laughing at life and just having a great time. Luis and I dozed off to TV on the couch while we were eating our grub...good times...

Sunday Luis and I lounged around for a bit, then I gave Luis a ride home to DB. I popped in to say hello to his family and got some yummy soup. I am so spoiled everytime I go there. Luis, Erika and I then mosied on over to the Spectrum, where we met up with Lizzie and Mark to go see "Saw"...After the flick we ate at Wahoo's, walked around - then called it a night...The weekend of fun had caught up to me...soberness was setting in and my body was exhausted...

Today has been funny...funny marketing meeting, good lunch from fatburger, treated to a coffee by Jason...good times...

Join the cause...

An overwhelming sensation came over me this morning while at my desk: I need to get out there and do something for those who are less fortunate...Every year around the holidays I am always inspired to get out there and do something for those who have nothing and each year time gets away from me and I am unable to commit...So, I have decided that I need to get off my ass and help. I am either going to volunteer to visit with hospice patients a couple of hours a week, or I am going to volunteer with a pediatric cancer foundation...One way or another I am going to open my heart to those who need a little extra emotional sustenance. Thus, if anyone who reads this (if anyone reads this) wants to join in my cause, let me know. It wouldn't be a huge chunk of time out of the week, just a bit...but that little bit of time could mean so much to someone. (**okay, that was my PSA for the week...I will hop off the soap box now)...

I had lunch today at Pei Wei with Luis and Marc and halfway through the meal I realized that I was progressively concentrating my thoughts on work...Now that is just wrong...The whole time I was thinking about what I had to do and what was going on and who was throwing temper tantrums and what kind of disaster things were going to be in when i returned...Sure enough, I come back to work and there is drama...I am finding it harder and harder to separate myself from work and that is the biggest buzz kill...

So, I loathe math...but, my awesome boyfriend has been tutoring me and training me to think in a "left brain" manner. He is such a saint - patiently explaining everything redundantly for me soas I understand, making quizzes and homework for practice, not getting mad at me when I get frustrated...

OC tonight...and after the chaos that has been this week - I am in need of a drink! :) Bring on the beer!!

My signature is actually worth something...

That's right...I am officially a Notary Public...It only took like 9 months (and nearly 2 hours at the Civic Centre in Santa Ana to file my oath and bond) - it's about time!! :)

So, a bunch has happened since last I wrote...

Friday - went to see The Incredibles with Luis & Sebastian in CHINO!! That movie is so cool!! (I think I may have been more excited to go see it than Sebastian).

Saturday - relaxed in the morning, made myself a grubbin breakfast, watched tv, then drove to DB to meet up with the Sanchez family. Went to Sebastian's soccer game and then to his pizza party. The place was so crowded it was intense. Little kids and pushy parents everywhere. But, all was good - good food, good company...can't go wrong. :) After the soccer festivities, Luis and I drove to Old Town Pasadena, where we met up with Jules. It was so good to see her!! We sipped drinks at Mi Piace and chatted about life. We drove back to Diamond Bar a little before 1am and decided to stay up there for the night.

Sunday - I awoke to an excellent breakfast, and again, great company. I felt so spoiled! :) After some more loungin, Luis and I decided to go to UCI to put in some study time. It was quasi-productive (with the exception of my frustration-enduced temper tantrum over math).

In other news, my dad is having surgery today on his eyes...kinda scary...but completely routine...Also, my grandparents came home yesterday morning from 2 months in Oz (that's Australia for those who don't know the slang). Lots happened along their journeys and I only heard a fraction of their stories during our 45 minute phone chat.

The Irvine Company continues to piss me off on a regular basis...the drama with the lease keeps haunting me for some reason or another...They can suck on a fat one for all I care...

8 DAYS UNTIL I GO HOME...
andee = excited :)

Uh-Oh...

Why on Earth did they have to make my Gap card legal tender at not only that fine store, but Banana Republic and Old Navy as well?!?! I have been good about not shopping and not really using my credit cards and lo and behold I get my new trio card in the mail and I am inspired to go buy work clothes...shit...

Walked into Ruth's Chris last night and although I had already eaten dinner I was instantly hungry. The smell of sizzling steak and butter overloaded my senses...good stuff...

Work is going well but annoying the hell out of me right now...I am just starting to get ahead and then...PLOP...another stack of mindless shit-work is given to me...Good news is I get yet another intern during the holidays to help with all this crap they give me. I was specifically told to give her the most mindless stuff of all...umm, I may have some difficulty distinguishing what I should be doing then - since it is ALL mindless...

Okay, now I am just avoiding the issue...I guess I should get back to work...

keep it real, yo...

(you know, I had a friend in high school who finished EVERYTHING with that phrase...he thought it was ultra cool...hahaha - how misguided he was...)

"This isn't California, you know..."

Well shit, that was an understatement if I have ever heard one! That particular phrase was uttered to me by a native Oregonian who consequently found himself sitting next to me in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Express in Columbus, Ohio. We were both waiting to go with a group to grab some food at Max & Erna's (imagine the lovechild of TGI Friday's and Denny's), which was conveniently located adjacent to the hotel. We had been introduced by my Uncle Larry in the morning before my cousin Justin's wedding. The detail of his state of residence is important, as he was bashing on California as much as he could. When he found out that I had just arrived from LAX and that I was freezing my ass off, he decided to get one last jibe in there to emphasize how "wussy" us Californians are...And if I hadn't been to hell and back throughout the night flying and hustling just to make it on time, I would have shared a bit of my impressions about Oregon...but, I settled for a very sarcastic, "You got that right" with a smirk. My point resounded loud and clear.

That's right kids, I was in Columbus this weekend...I left at 11pm friday night out of LAX, flew to Cincinatti/Northern Kentucky (had a really obnoxious experience at that God-awful airport, coupled with the fact that all I wanted was a cup of coffee, a McDonald's hasbrown, and some sleep and I lacked them all...AND I had a snafu with my flight and the terminal from which is was scheduled to depart...) at 5am, then flew to Columbus at 9:30am.

The wedding was great - so much better than I had ever anticipated. I hung out with my parents, my Unlce David, my Meme, My Aunt Lisa and her new husband Jamie. It was hilarous. I met my cousin Jessica's boyfriend - who is a really funny guy. I danced with Justin during the dollar dance for like 2 songs so we could catch up on life. I drank copious amounts of alcohol and actually witnessed my dad dancing!! It was a rare sight - I took photos. I also had to play babysitter to my Aunt, who had waaay too much to drink. It was great to hang out with that family...It had been too long...and although my relationship is still strained with Meme, I think it was important that I saw her...My cousins and aunts/uncles treated me like family and told me how happy and "special" it was that I flew all night to be there...

So, needless to say I was sleep deprived and tipsy for a good majority of the weekend. I felt a family connection that I had never had with that side before and it was a relief...

On the way home I flew to Minneapolis/St. Paul (which is one of the coolest airports I have ever been to) and then into LAX - where I was greeted by a very HOTT Colombian. :)

Oh, and did I mention I flew first class the whole way - yes, this was the $18 plane ticket trip...I have officially been spoiled...

There are so many other things that happened during this past weekend yet I am having troubles recounting it all...I will write more as I remember it, but now I must go to lunch. :)

10-4

I exercied my right...

I got up at 5:45am to get ready and get there, but I voted. (For those who don't know, my polling place is 25 miles from my house...which sucks on days like today...) I am proudly wearing my "I Voted!" sticker on my shirt -- and I can honestly say I am proud to have exercised my civic right. I know it is so cliche, but honestly, I am proud to have the oppportunity to speak my mind (no matter how small my voice) and say I don't like what is going on.

So, we found a mouse in our laundry room while I was trying to do laundry...it was so incredibly nasty...I hate mice...They are right up there on my shit list with spiders...So, not only have I been fighting to renegotiate our lease, but I am fighting to get them to rid our apartment of this vermin...gross...

This weekend was Halloween...tons of fun. It all started on friday when Kika, Luis, Julie, Don & Vanessa and I went to Knott's Scary Farm (after a grubbin dinner at Panera). Saturday was the party at Boyaners. Luis went as Rambo - I went as Rambo's chick - Yagi was OddJob - Meera was Miss Match fashion designer - Andy was a bloody surgeon. We had a hell of a time finding the place...thought we were at the wrong party...saw a fight...tapped the keg....Luis scavenged me some Guiness in between trying to pretend to "sell crack" to the random high school kids that showed up...snaked some girl's Smirnoff Ice (because we could)...feasted on Del...drove Luis's sister's car back to my house...watched Wayne's World and passed out. Sunday studied...had Pei Wei...fell asleep early

Tonight I am getting my hair done at a new salon and I am really excited.

Countdown to Ohio: 3 days...