Ahoy,
Alas. Ohmeohmy. Oh, brother. He's gone and left me. I can't imagine growing up with any better brother. I can't imagine having any better brother. He's as good as they come. My parents at least got that one right.
reminiscingly trodden,
JT
Monday, July 25, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
hiking sticks, dinosaurs, and rocks
Ahoy,
My brother, forevermore the proponent of all things free, is an excellent hiker. Griffith Park, which is free, has some excellent 50+ miles of trails. It was extra sunny on our side of the mountain. We scrambled down the mountain to get to the Observatory, which was free, because we didn't see a trail that would take us directly there. From there we scittered through a tunnel that didn't have a bike/ped path where inconsiderate LA drivers honked at us despite there being a sign to watch out for bike/ped individuals. I was taught share as a child. Clearly LA drivers feel otherwise.
We went bowling later that night, not free, but "extreme." We did get a free game for next time thanks very much to L's skills. They played Michael Jackson and other videos on the projectors and flashed lights everywhere.
The following day we watched dinosaurs on the big screen, free. K really liked dinosaurs as a kid. Translated from Chinese, he called them 'bite bite.' We have this picture of him in a toy store standing next to a line of dinosaurs he arranged. My grandma is sitting with him. She had to make herself comfortable as the dinosaurs needed to all be in a single file straight line. It looked like they had been there for awhile. The museum showed Jurassic Park at their park and had a paleontologist tell us about all the bad science in it. It was like Movies in the Park in Chicago. Except in Chicago, we don't need to bundle up and we don't leave with our stuff all wet. Pluses across the board for Chicago.
We got to take K rock climbing. I'm pretty sure of all the ways I scared him throughout his life, and all his phobias I was probably the root cause of - heights is not one of them. Being my little brother, he's been dragged on many outings. I'm always delighted at his willingness and company any day of the week. It's surprising the things you can make your brother do. It's always fun to share something new with him. Many thanks to A for taking us and teaching K. Apparently K rocked the wall. My brother's so silly, and boss. Don't you forget it.
beamingly lofty,
JT
My brother, forevermore the proponent of all things free, is an excellent hiker. Griffith Park, which is free, has some excellent 50+ miles of trails. It was extra sunny on our side of the mountain. We scrambled down the mountain to get to the Observatory, which was free, because we didn't see a trail that would take us directly there. From there we scittered through a tunnel that didn't have a bike/ped path where inconsiderate LA drivers honked at us despite there being a sign to watch out for bike/ped individuals. I was taught share as a child. Clearly LA drivers feel otherwise.
We went bowling later that night, not free, but "extreme." We did get a free game for next time thanks very much to L's skills. They played Michael Jackson and other videos on the projectors and flashed lights everywhere.
The following day we watched dinosaurs on the big screen, free. K really liked dinosaurs as a kid. Translated from Chinese, he called them 'bite bite.' We have this picture of him in a toy store standing next to a line of dinosaurs he arranged. My grandma is sitting with him. She had to make herself comfortable as the dinosaurs needed to all be in a single file straight line. It looked like they had been there for awhile. The museum showed Jurassic Park at their park and had a paleontologist tell us about all the bad science in it. It was like Movies in the Park in Chicago. Except in Chicago, we don't need to bundle up and we don't leave with our stuff all wet. Pluses across the board for Chicago.
We got to take K rock climbing. I'm pretty sure of all the ways I scared him throughout his life, and all his phobias I was probably the root cause of - heights is not one of them. Being my little brother, he's been dragged on many outings. I'm always delighted at his willingness and company any day of the week. It's surprising the things you can make your brother do. It's always fun to share something new with him. Many thanks to A for taking us and teaching K. Apparently K rocked the wall. My brother's so silly, and boss. Don't you forget it.
beamingly lofty,
JT
Friday, July 22, 2011
oh, brother
Ahoy,
K and I like our beverages less sugar, more water. So we always water down our juices (I know, blasphemous!). I find a 1 to 1 ratio is usually enough. We, maybe especially he, doesn't like things too sweet, so it was no surprise when he found his ice cream sandwich to be too sweet. Maybe the bacon flavour next time.
For dinner, we got burgers, which aren't typically on my list of cravings for a number of reasons I won't diluge you with. There's this picture from when K, my cousin C, and I were kids. We were eating dinner on one of those mini plastic yellow tables all kids have (you know the one I'm talking about). And the kicker is that I had half my bowl of rice on the table instead of in my belly or in my bowl. I was so messy. Burgers was just like that. Yet again, the messiest. Sometimes, there's just no getting around it. Good thing there were no cameras to recreate that shot.
sloppily delightful,
JT
K and I like our beverages less sugar, more water. So we always water down our juices (I know, blasphemous!). I find a 1 to 1 ratio is usually enough. We, maybe especially he, doesn't like things too sweet, so it was no surprise when he found his ice cream sandwich to be too sweet. Maybe the bacon flavour next time.
For dinner, we got burgers, which aren't typically on my list of cravings for a number of reasons I won't diluge you with. There's this picture from when K, my cousin C, and I were kids. We were eating dinner on one of those mini plastic yellow tables all kids have (you know the one I'm talking about). And the kicker is that I had half my bowl of rice on the table instead of in my belly or in my bowl. I was so messy. Burgers was just like that. Yet again, the messiest. Sometimes, there's just no getting around it. Good thing there were no cameras to recreate that shot.
sloppily delightful,
JT
Thursday, July 21, 2011
sound the alarms
Ahoy,
I had a blast with the brother. Not even half a day in LA and we ran into Dr. Saroyan from Bones at Whole Foods. We had been watching Bones all day. Arriving at our destination, we went to Whole Foods - where we didn't need to buy anything. Boy, was I glad we made that little detour. If anybody knew our habits, it's that we are not always the most exciting. We've been known to spend days watching endless, mindless, glorious television. Recall the Boston television incident of 2009. Within the span of less than a week, we burned through 3 seasons of Bones. We're probably the worst people to watch anything with. We talk the whole time - constant jibber jabber about the unimportant details. We get excited and really into the show. My cousins can attest to that as they were witness to the Boston television incident of 2009. It seemed we had gone on vacation so we could watch their tv. All day and all night.
Well, we made an attempt on his visit to not be glued to the television screen, which would have been miraculous because I don't have a tv here. We probably watched 2 movies and less than 10 episodes of Bones. Our first non-tv activity was my driving a deathmobile to go get him at the airport.
K: Whose car is this?
J: A's sister's car, but she is out of town. And his car has been out of commission.
K: Is that okay? He trusts you to drive this? I wouldn't. (As he shakily puts on his seat-belt.)
How dramatic my brother is. I don't know where he gets it from.
Later we took the bus, likely much to his relief, to get to mini-golf and Dr. Saroyan! Any golfer would be shocked to witness my antics on the course. I clearly do not have the precision nor patience to be suited for this activity. We should have ended it after my hole in one. K was ballin'. A was ballin'. Boys.
saucily teed,
JT
I had a blast with the brother. Not even half a day in LA and we ran into Dr. Saroyan from Bones at Whole Foods. We had been watching Bones all day. Arriving at our destination, we went to Whole Foods - where we didn't need to buy anything. Boy, was I glad we made that little detour. If anybody knew our habits, it's that we are not always the most exciting. We've been known to spend days watching endless, mindless, glorious television. Recall the Boston television incident of 2009. Within the span of less than a week, we burned through 3 seasons of Bones. We're probably the worst people to watch anything with. We talk the whole time - constant jibber jabber about the unimportant details. We get excited and really into the show. My cousins can attest to that as they were witness to the Boston television incident of 2009. It seemed we had gone on vacation so we could watch their tv. All day and all night.
Well, we made an attempt on his visit to not be glued to the television screen, which would have been miraculous because I don't have a tv here. We probably watched 2 movies and less than 10 episodes of Bones. Our first non-tv activity was my driving a deathmobile to go get him at the airport.
K: Whose car is this?
J: A's sister's car, but she is out of town. And his car has been out of commission.
K: Is that okay? He trusts you to drive this? I wouldn't. (As he shakily puts on his seat-belt.)
How dramatic my brother is. I don't know where he gets it from.
Later we took the bus, likely much to his relief, to get to mini-golf and Dr. Saroyan! Any golfer would be shocked to witness my antics on the course. I clearly do not have the precision nor patience to be suited for this activity. We should have ended it after my hole in one. K was ballin'. A was ballin'. Boys.
saucily teed,
JT
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
hello, brother
Ahoy,
My brother(!), the greatest brother ever, one of my bestest friends, most noble punching bags - is coming to visit me! We will engage in so much adventure! It will be so much fun I'll die!
gleefully jetlagged,
JT
My brother(!), the greatest brother ever, one of my bestest friends, most noble punching bags - is coming to visit me! We will engage in so much adventure! It will be so much fun I'll die!
gleefully jetlagged,
JT
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
aquariums are my favorite
Ahoy,
The Aquarium of the Pacific is south of LA. Maybe an hour or so. But I guess everything in LA takes an hour to get to. It had the normal stuff. There tanks, animals, informational placards. Of course every aquarium nowadays talks about climate change and pollution. We went to the Aquarium Monday night because it was half priced. I'm going to say that it wouldn't have been worth it at full price. Nevertheless, I had lots of fun.
There were a lot of places to pet things - sharks, rays, sea jellies, sea stars, sea urchins, etc. I don't think I've ever pet a sea jelly not in the ocean. I'm pretty sure I got stung by a bunch of tiny jellies when I was in the Bahamas, but I don't think that counts the same as petting. The lobby room area spans the front to back of the place - like a giant hall. They have space to project movies onto the walls 8 times, which was impressive. They had one of those hanging globe thingers. The foxes! Oh, goodness, the foxes! They were the most adorable things! They didn't have so many larger mammals like the Oceanarium at the Shedd Aquarium. I did think the fountain and play area is neat for the kids that might get bored of looking in tanks. And they had a bird house with super duper friendly and colorful birds. They will land on you if you hang around long enough. This one is on the smaller scale of aquariums, but they make a lot of effort to make it interactive for children.
treadingly goggle-eyed,
JT
The Aquarium of the Pacific is south of LA. Maybe an hour or so. But I guess everything in LA takes an hour to get to. It had the normal stuff. There tanks, animals, informational placards. Of course every aquarium nowadays talks about climate change and pollution. We went to the Aquarium Monday night because it was half priced. I'm going to say that it wouldn't have been worth it at full price. Nevertheless, I had lots of fun.
There were a lot of places to pet things - sharks, rays, sea jellies, sea stars, sea urchins, etc. I don't think I've ever pet a sea jelly not in the ocean. I'm pretty sure I got stung by a bunch of tiny jellies when I was in the Bahamas, but I don't think that counts the same as petting. The lobby room area spans the front to back of the place - like a giant hall. They have space to project movies onto the walls 8 times, which was impressive. They had one of those hanging globe thingers. The foxes! Oh, goodness, the foxes! They were the most adorable things! They didn't have so many larger mammals like the Oceanarium at the Shedd Aquarium. I did think the fountain and play area is neat for the kids that might get bored of looking in tanks. And they had a bird house with super duper friendly and colorful birds. They will land on you if you hang around long enough. This one is on the smaller scale of aquariums, but they make a lot of effort to make it interactive for children.
treadingly goggle-eyed,
JT
Monday, July 18, 2011
beachy keen
Ahoy,
A took me to Santa Barbara over spring break this past March. It was for rock climbing. We were in the mountains overlooking the city and into the ocean. It was gorgeous, to say the least. Afterwards, we pillaged for Mexican food downtown. Great success. We came back this time for the California Wine Festival in Santa Barbara. It wasn't in the mountains; we were on the beach.
Carmageddon ended up being no big deal, similar to Y2K.We fished for seafood prior to the event. The day was sunny and warm, but the sea breeze was perfect. Wine glass in hand, we charged into the drunken masses. I'm kidding. They weren't that drunk yet. Live music, wine, beer, and the occasional appetizer food item made for a glorious day. Apparently, A and his friend, L, shucked a sea of oysters. I had this gross organic, vegan cookie. Never again! By the end, the port-a-potties were out of toilet paper with a waiting line out the wazoo. Most everyone was tipsy, loud, and friendly (as far as I can remember).
We lazed on the grass for a little bit after we left. At which point a freebie took place that I will forever refer to as the lettuce incident of 2011. We had each received a grocery bag with 4 boxes of lettuce, but then A spotted them giving away the whole boxes that held the boxes. Never one to turn down free things, he decided he wanted it. The box was big enough to occupy more than half the back seat of the car, in addition to the grocery bags. All I could think about was where we were going to put all that and how it was going to get consumed. I don't even like lettuce that much.
despairingly herbivorous,
JT
A took me to Santa Barbara over spring break this past March. It was for rock climbing. We were in the mountains overlooking the city and into the ocean. It was gorgeous, to say the least. Afterwards, we pillaged for Mexican food downtown. Great success. We came back this time for the California Wine Festival in Santa Barbara. It wasn't in the mountains; we were on the beach.
Carmageddon ended up being no big deal, similar to Y2K.We fished for seafood prior to the event. The day was sunny and warm, but the sea breeze was perfect. Wine glass in hand, we charged into the drunken masses. I'm kidding. They weren't that drunk yet. Live music, wine, beer, and the occasional appetizer food item made for a glorious day. Apparently, A and his friend, L, shucked a sea of oysters. I had this gross organic, vegan cookie. Never again! By the end, the port-a-potties were out of toilet paper with a waiting line out the wazoo. Most everyone was tipsy, loud, and friendly (as far as I can remember).
We lazed on the grass for a little bit after we left. At which point a freebie took place that I will forever refer to as the lettuce incident of 2011. We had each received a grocery bag with 4 boxes of lettuce, but then A spotted them giving away the whole boxes that held the boxes. Never one to turn down free things, he decided he wanted it. The box was big enough to occupy more than half the back seat of the car, in addition to the grocery bags. All I could think about was where we were going to put all that and how it was going to get consumed. I don't even like lettuce that much.
despairingly herbivorous,
JT
Sunday, July 10, 2011
the park
Ahoy,
One of my favorite things in LA, and California, are the parks. At Berkeley, I loved how close I was to forests and nature and how all of it was nestled into the city and landscape of urban space. Having grown up across the street from the park and the Lakefront, I've become used to having parks and natural landscapes nearby. I've always loved living in cities, but they wouldn't be the same if not for the parks that polka dot its interiors.
Parks in LA are of a different grade than in other cities. Not as common are the playgrounds and picnic fields of New York Public Parks or Chicago Park District. Like much of California, parks in LA tend to be forest preserves or regional/state parks. They are protected swatches that have always been trees and forests that now happen to have trails. It's a trip to get to these parks. In NYC, there is a goal of every resident being within a 10 minute walking distance from a park. I don't think that would be possible here. I love the park, and the ones I've been to in LA are great, but they're just so far away. Like everything else in this city.
So he told me we were going to Griffith Park, but we were stopping at other ones along the way because I get antsy and restless in the car. So we never made it to Griffith Park, but ended up only making it to Runyon Canyon Park. There were canyons, dogs, a horse, and a goat. None of them followed me home.
exhaustively compliant,
JT
One of my favorite things in LA, and California, are the parks. At Berkeley, I loved how close I was to forests and nature and how all of it was nestled into the city and landscape of urban space. Having grown up across the street from the park and the Lakefront, I've become used to having parks and natural landscapes nearby. I've always loved living in cities, but they wouldn't be the same if not for the parks that polka dot its interiors.
Parks in LA are of a different grade than in other cities. Not as common are the playgrounds and picnic fields of New York Public Parks or Chicago Park District. Like much of California, parks in LA tend to be forest preserves or regional/state parks. They are protected swatches that have always been trees and forests that now happen to have trails. It's a trip to get to these parks. In NYC, there is a goal of every resident being within a 10 minute walking distance from a park. I don't think that would be possible here. I love the park, and the ones I've been to in LA are great, but they're just so far away. Like everything else in this city.
So he told me we were going to Griffith Park, but we were stopping at other ones along the way because I get antsy and restless in the car. So we never made it to Griffith Park, but ended up only making it to Runyon Canyon Park. There were canyons, dogs, a horse, and a goat. None of them followed me home.
exhaustively compliant,
JT
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
where LEGOland is
Ahoy,
Due to time and other considerations, we did not go to LEGOland. Fear not, brave souls, I will return. LEGOland will be mine.
So we went to San Diego to visit one of A's best friends and explore, of course. I was told it should, theoretically take 2 hours to get there (which is still a long trip by my standards). Due to traffic and other considerations, it took upwards of 4 hours (count 'em - 1-2-3-4 hours!). I was taught the word for 'jalopy' in Spanish in high school. To which I and my classmates replied with various confused and disbelieving groans and gripes as to what that was and why it would ever be relevant to us and when we would ever use it. The highlight of this drive to San Diego was probably seeing these 2 old, what I could only describe as jalopies carrying cargo and furniture that was stacked twice as high, on top of, and over the jalopy. To my amazement.
We stayed with his friend on his ginormous couch in a house full of people that I wasn't sure if they all lived there or not. The people were really nice, but "unambitious," he described. Nonetheless, we had a grand time engaging in conversation, television, food, and games with the household. Mostly excellent restaurant selections were provided throughout the weekend ranging from happy hour appetizers to Mexican. A boy at the dim sum restaurant was wearing a LEGOland hat. There was a barbecue Saturday night at which 12 pounds of meat were consumed. Apparently 12 pounds was not enough.
A and I went to the beach on Saturday and climbed around some cliffs and looked at ginormous, (probably) expensive houses. We likely trespassed on someone's property and sat on their chairs. I only have evidence of his delinquency. What a shame. On Sunday we ventured downtown to the Seaside Village, probably equivalent to the Chicago lakefront. Tourist traps galore amongst the Navy ship and giant red lobster. The usual people that look like statues, balloon animal artists, stalls for souveneir tchotchkes. There was this one guy that was stacking towers of rocks of deceptively uneven surfacing. He would have a bunch of large flat-ish ones and then the top 2 would be a super tiny pebble like thing with a ginormous one on top of it. We spent an evening at Old Town, which I'm sure would have a lot of historical significance, but seemed more like a theme park of the wild west with souveneir shops instead of saloons. It looks a lot like those towns from Oregon Trail. How many wagon axles and boxes of ammo will you need to cross the river before spring?
Nothing but sun, per usual. Apparently it was hot, but it wasn't humid enough for me to really catch on fire.
broilingly dry,
JT
Due to time and other considerations, we did not go to LEGOland. Fear not, brave souls, I will return. LEGOland will be mine.
So we went to San Diego to visit one of A's best friends and explore, of course. I was told it should, theoretically take 2 hours to get there (which is still a long trip by my standards). Due to traffic and other considerations, it took upwards of 4 hours (count 'em - 1-2-3-4 hours!). I was taught the word for 'jalopy' in Spanish in high school. To which I and my classmates replied with various confused and disbelieving groans and gripes as to what that was and why it would ever be relevant to us and when we would ever use it. The highlight of this drive to San Diego was probably seeing these 2 old, what I could only describe as jalopies carrying cargo and furniture that was stacked twice as high, on top of, and over the jalopy. To my amazement.
We stayed with his friend on his ginormous couch in a house full of people that I wasn't sure if they all lived there or not. The people were really nice, but "unambitious," he described. Nonetheless, we had a grand time engaging in conversation, television, food, and games with the household. Mostly excellent restaurant selections were provided throughout the weekend ranging from happy hour appetizers to Mexican. A boy at the dim sum restaurant was wearing a LEGOland hat. There was a barbecue Saturday night at which 12 pounds of meat were consumed. Apparently 12 pounds was not enough.
A and I went to the beach on Saturday and climbed around some cliffs and looked at ginormous, (probably) expensive houses. We likely trespassed on someone's property and sat on their chairs. I only have evidence of his delinquency. What a shame. On Sunday we ventured downtown to the Seaside Village, probably equivalent to the Chicago lakefront. Tourist traps galore amongst the Navy ship and giant red lobster. The usual people that look like statues, balloon animal artists, stalls for souveneir tchotchkes. There was this one guy that was stacking towers of rocks of deceptively uneven surfacing. He would have a bunch of large flat-ish ones and then the top 2 would be a super tiny pebble like thing with a ginormous one on top of it. We spent an evening at Old Town, which I'm sure would have a lot of historical significance, but seemed more like a theme park of the wild west with souveneir shops instead of saloons. It looks a lot like those towns from Oregon Trail. How many wagon axles and boxes of ammo will you need to cross the river before spring?
Nothing but sun, per usual. Apparently it was hot, but it wasn't humid enough for me to really catch on fire.
broilingly dry,
JT
Monday, July 4, 2011
happy 4th on the beach
Ahoy,
We returned to LA for fireworks. I guess technically not LA. Redondo Beach is a little south of LA. We tried to meet A's friends from tennis when it started. There were 2 shows. After the first one (disappointing), apparently a boat drove out and set off another set closer to us. Off in the distance we could see fireworks from a few other cities. But still, nothing like what Chicago has.
satisfactorily adequate,
JT
We returned to LA for fireworks. I guess technically not LA. Redondo Beach is a little south of LA. We tried to meet A's friends from tennis when it started. There were 2 shows. After the first one (disappointing), apparently a boat drove out and set off another set closer to us. Off in the distance we could see fireworks from a few other cities. But still, nothing like what Chicago has.
satisfactorily adequate,
JT
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