I don't know why II: the return of the day

So I previously mentioned that I like KROQ.  I am going to have to once again state that they are the best!!!

The mini-adventure started when I wanted to check the mail for the netflix DVD that was supposed to be here for our viewing pleasure.  No big deal, but then the elevator didn't work - strike one. When I finally found some stairs they led to the back of the apartment building and having never been there I took a wrong turn and ended up walking to what basically was a dead end - strike two.  After finding where I was supposed to be going in the dark (it was around 9 at night) I was walking to the mailboxes and was thinking I really should have brought my phone so I could call Andrea and have her open the door from the stairs because it's an exit-only style door.  I walked past the lobby and as usual there were no cups to make my beloved dove hot chocolate - strike three, the apartment complex has officially pooped on my evening.

THEN I got to the mailbox and not only did I find a DVD - hooray one - but I also found another package from KROQ - hooray two!  This time it was even addressed to me :)

I didn't even mind the fact that I had to wander all over the complex trying to find a working elevator because of course there is maintenance going on with the "main" elevator in the lobby.  When I finally got back to the apartment Andrea let me watch Cake Boss - hooray three, life is good.

Betty

We finished watching the ENTIRE series of Ugly Betty today. It was only 4 seasons (and one was the writers-strike season) so it's not that big of an accomplishment.

It was somewhat predictable at times and I could have done with out some parts, but all in all it was a pretty entertaining show.  I don't know what Andrea's new show is going to be, but until she chooses a new one Betty will be in the netflix queue to comfort her.

In unrelated news, here's a pile of Andrea's hair I meant to include in the last post. 

adventures in hair cutting

Before:

After the first try:

During the second try:

Finished product:

It's true, the little girl has chopped of her long locks.  This isn't the first time this has happened and I doubt it will be the last.  And of course on her first day back to work everyone was telling her how good she looks.  Much love to Lauren for providing the skills!

You've got to go downtown; it's JUST like the song says.

Andrea and I recently wandered around Downtown Los Angeles.

It was pretty fun and we saw some very interesting buildings, 

(the hole in the roof is for when the aliens come so they can play basketball)

fountainy things,

and someone even got to stop by something special!

Oh yeah, we saw the Great One too.

(ps. if anyone can find what's wrong they get a candy bar!)

Plastic Beach

Saturday means beach time, and it's always fun to find out who will be there.

Today we were able to run into a roller-skater wearing black socks with pink skull and cross bones (I really hope she's a roller-derbyist).

This time we made it down to Hermosa Beach.

Unlike our usual adventures that are 2-player, we spent sometime with Andrea's Neutrogena buddies.

As you can see, it was pretty fun.  Sadly, we did not see Hermosa Beach's very own Pennywise while we were there :(

But on the bright side Andrea did find a new friend :)

It's hard to complain about the mid-80's, sun and a breeze, except that it all had to end a little too soon.

What's your dream?

Everybody comes here; this is Hollywood, land of dreams. Some dreams come true, some don't; but keep on dreamin' - this is Hollywood. Always time to dream, so keep on dreamin'.

Mr. Smith may have gone to Washington, but all the cool kids are coming to Califorina.

Chris guest stars in this episode (that's obviously why there was a picture of him before).

(This is Chris in his native environs - he's a team member)

Attempting to trick him into coming back someday we rolled out the red carpet for him: long walks on the beach,

taking him to get a Greasy Weiner,

and romantic views of Los Angeles.

Yes, he flew all the way here and we make him eat out of a truck. But the highlight for him was probably the adventure he had in Beverly Hills.

Not the kind of guy who is impressed by fashion or gaudy bling, you wouldn't expect him to enjoy this particular part of the world. What made this so memorable was the opportunity to get up close and personal with a Bugatti. Not just any Bugatti, but Bijan's Bugatti (price tag: THREE MILLION DOLLARS).

Sadly I didn't get a picture of him licking the tail light (I did say up close and personal, didn't I?).

In summation, to keep an 18 year old boy happy: feed him, take him to see things he finds interesting, and it doesn't hurt to let him have control over what to watch on netflix.

Fantastic news!!!

Yes, the last post was an April Fools joke.  I wanted to post this yesterday but it didn't seem right to post actual news when people might think it was a joke.

ANYWAY, after much hand ringing, frustration and loss of all hope, ANDREA WILL BE GRADUATING FROM ARIZONA STATE AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER!!!!!

I will try to cut down the epic tale so I can impress upon you a little bit of how ridiculous this whole process was.  We were basically sure she would need ONE class after this semester because she's taken some on-line classes while working full-time.  The thing that was so aggravating was that if some bureaucratic non-sense could be taken care of her co-op would fulfill the requirements of this last lonely class she needed.  That, of course, would be IF the bureaucracy could be taken care of. 

:'(

But it looks it will all work out, so that's good.

This is pretty sweet news and in grand Arizona State fashion came a mere TWO DAYS before the deadline to file for graduation (oh ASU, you silly devil).

Potentially the craziest job interview ever!

Thanks to facebook a friend of mine, Ubing Pay, I met while on my church mission to the Philippines recently contacted me about an acquittance of his who works for the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI).  Sometimes I think about the billions of people in the world and am amazed when just the right ones meet each other.  About a week ago Ubing messaged me about how some of the people working on a nuclear power plant in the Philippines were on loan from a Japanese firm but were being summoned back to Japan to help out with all the problems their having as a result of the tsunami-earthquake.  The holes left by the Japanese workers now can be filled by some qualified, but less experienced workers, like Ubing.

With the job force as it is in the Philippines, this is quite a break for Ubing.  As an added bonus Ubing was able to get me a job interview too!  I don't think I'm really qualified but they are flying Andrea and I out for the interview - IN THE PHILIPPINES!!!!  Yup, the stars were all aligned for this one - PNRI flies a lot of different specialists in and out of the Philippines on Philippine Airline (PAL) so as a little kick back the Airline gives PNRI reduced fares - and since PAL has 12 hour (!) non-stop flights to LAX - AND WE LIVE IN LOS ANGELES - everything worked out just right!!!!

Like I said, I don't think I'm qualified and I informed Ubing of this, but as I understand it his acquaintance was able to pull some strings and this is more of a favor than a real interview.

Bottom line - Andrea and I are being flown out to the 'pines for a vacation!

I can taste the mangoes now :)