Jurassic Park

On Tuesday evening, a few of my friends met up with me and we headed to see an outdoor screening of Jurassic Park at the Hollywood Forever cemetery.  I've been dying to see a movie there forever, and was happy to finally have the opportunity.  It's honestly such a fun experience (even if you are surrounded by a thousand hipsters).  We brought a bevy of wine, food, and candy.  Although we were a bit far from the screen, Becca had luckily brought her ipad where we watched the movie as it played on the big screen simultaneously (people shifted a lot during the movie making the screen almost impossible to see).  Becca is also super awesome because she can (and did) quote the entire movie.  It was especially fun because everyone laughed at or quoted the right parts, and were playing fun Jurassic Park drinking games.  As an added bonus, I discovered that I was correct- drinking wine from mason jars is especially convenient when drinking outdoors (lids ftw!).  The evening ended with fireworks by the screening and some beautiful ukulele playing by Becca in the car.  Pretty much a perfect night.

Redondo Beach Pier

I have two missions this summer: 1) to visit the beach each and every weekend 2) to visit every bar on LA Weekly's 'Best Of' list.  I did a pretty good job of these things this weekend.  On Friday night, I went out with Ricky and Rob to a bar on the list from 2011 - Rosewood Tavern.  Ricky hated all the hipsters and the music but it's definitely a place I would take a book to after work to read and have a pint.  We also ventured out to The Dime and The Dresden- the latter of which I loved simply because Marty and Elayne sang some of my favorite Sinatra songs.

On Sunday, I picked up my dear friend Franci and we met up with Ricky, Rob, and Ricky's family at the Redondo Beach pier.  It was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday - copious amounts of fresh seafood (we got to pick our own crabs and oysters), beer, arcade games, and oh yeah, the best churro of my life.  Franci showed me all the places they filmed there for The OC which also prompted me to start re-watching the series last night.  All in all, a wonderful weekend.

a mariachi band serenaded us during our meal

boyish charm

the best arcade game ever

Franci is really fond of having her picture taken

ha ha, Rob's result

the four of us didn't win either game we played

rubbing for good luck!

the churro that changed my life

Nico

Today, my little brother Nico turned 15 years old.  I can barely believe it!*  He is the youngest of our siblings, and I am the eldest.  We have a 9 year age gap.  Despite this, we're incredibly close.  I am so proud of the man he is turning into.  Despite his joking remarks, and digs at the family (we're the funny ones- him with his great one-liners, and me with my sarcasm)- he has an incredible heart.  When anyone in the family is feeling hurt or broken, he's our protector.  He'll hug me when I'm crying, or just spend time with me on the couch, keeping me company.  He's also learning a sense of responsibility and family- when I visit home, I see him offering to help with the house work and yard work without the nagging of my mother.  He's learning to mow the lawn, use the grill, and take an equal share of what it takes to keep a household running (somewhat) smoothly.  Also- he makes me laugh like no other.  In so many ways, we are alike and it closes the age gap a bit.  We'll hole up in his room for hours, him strumming the guitar, singing with me.  When he was a bit younger, we used to have sister-brother dates, and he wasn't as embarrassed by me as he is now.  We would go for a movie, or ice cream, and having that time just the two of us was really special.  I really cherish our time together.  Now he is taller and stronger than me, but his heart grows with him.  He checks in with me now and again, sending me sweet texts with a million emojis.  I'm incredibly lucky to have him for a little brother.

Happy birthday Nico, may all your wishes come true <3

*I wanted to say 'holy crap!' but my mom loathes that I use this turn of phrase because, as she insists, 'crap isn't holy!'

Things I'm Good At

beer + trivia with Prestyn = awesome way to spend an evening

• Leaving my glasses all over the office. Everyday. In my boss' office, my co-worker's desk, on top of the scanner. Everywhere.
• Laughing the loudest at the movie theater.  Especially in moments where no one else is laughing.
• Having crushes on inappropriate men.
• Losing SD cards.  They disappear like socks in the dryer, which sucks when I want to use my camera.
• Blurting out embarrassing things about myself.  Mostly in front of cute guys that make me nervous.
• Finding the best greeting card to suit the person who receives it.  Just trust me on this one.  Or ask my mom.
• Embarrassing my younger siblings by tagging them in pictures they hate.  Oh, I believe this actually applies to everyone in my family (I don't buy it, but it's what I'm told).
• Listening to a new music album for days or weeks in a row without getting sick of it.
• Loving people quickly.  Not a romantic love.  When I bring new people into my life, I care about them a heckuva lot right away.  I know it's weird.
• Sarcasm
• Cooking pork chops.  I know it's not hard, but it's my go-to meal, and the first real meal I learned how to cook when I was young.
• Being uncoordinated.  I frequently walk into doorways, trip, fall, stumble, drop things...I'm one of the least graceful and poised people I know (but being the best of the worst is something, I think).

Happiness

Last night I went to the Auld Dubliner in Long Beach for trivia with Prestyn

This last weekend, I was in the pool in my parents' backyard, hanging out with my brother, and felt so joyful.  It was a great feeling to be outside enjoying the California sunshine with someone I really love, just giggling and doing nothing.  I felt like I could never imagine being sad again, and everything lately has led me to know and live my life knowing that happiness is a choice.  It does not depend on how far I've reach a goal or how many or few obstacles I've encountered, or where I am.  My own happiness depends on me only, absolutely no one else.  Not what they do or don't do or say to me.  It's a choice I must make, every day, every moment.

Now I know this all seems so basic. Common sense.  However, it's something that can be so easy to forget. I can get bogged down by the little things, especially since I live alone.  I spend so much time in my head, and when you don't talk about things out loud and share the burden, they can feel heavier or more complicated than they actually are...or maybe that's just me.  I'm a bit of an over-analyzer by nature, and have the tendency to take things a bit too personally.  The good thing is that being aware of this makes it easier.

I have no reason to complain about life.  I have a steady job, my health, a family I adore, and a handful of other people in my life who truly care about me.  Everything else just doesn't matter.

Simba

My buddy Ricky adopted the most beautiful dog this last weekend, whom he has named Simba.  I came over yesterday to meet the pup (3 years old but I'm annoying and call every dog a pup).  I had to post these because what person doesn't love pictures of cute dogs? (serial killers, that's who)
Also, he has what I call Kate Bosworth eyes - yes, I know it's really called Heterochromia iridium (no I didn't, I googled it)