Musings today

Ahoy, 

Gotta love these shoddy Chinese contractors. There is a certain degree of affection/endearment I intend when I speak of the shortcomings/flaws of my people. Can I call them my people? Is that silly? I can't say I belong, but I can't say it doesn't feel familiar to hear this foreign tongue yet be able to understand the meaning to some degree. 

Also, the anti drug ads remind me of my uncle, whom I'm told had quite the colorful past running with the wrong crowd in hk as a youth. Everywhere we've been, I wonder if my mom walked these steps, or saw these sights. I know so little of our family's past, I wonder if I'll discover anything useful in being here, if I'll make any connections to the past. I wonder where my popo lived, and what she interacted with. I wonder if my mom and her sisters visited and how often. My gong gong and the girls lived in mainland, while my uncle and popo lived in hk. My mom tells me I cut up all her pictures from her days before me. But who leaves scissors accessible to a baby? 

Hong Kong is large on such an entirely different scale than anywhere else. It is playing another game all its own. Hk cannot be measured in any degree of large I ever imagined, or learned about. To be global is a label I feel like hk has come to epitomize unlike any other place I've been, reaching far beyond the urbanity of NYC or London (these three often considered the trifecta of international economies). 

Soyfully peaked,

Jt

Nozomi

Ahoy,

We accidentally got on the nozomi bullet train and escaped unfazed! It was a glorious moment as we stepped off, relieved that there was no conductor to catch our truancy. It was the most stressful hour of the trip. Every time the doors opened, we prayed to Thomas the tank engine that it wasn't the conductor checking for tickets. Everything was pleasant up until I realized we were somewhere we weren't supposed to be. And then it was pleasant again after we got off. 

On the plus side, we got to take the bullet train from Nagoya to tokyo. Our jr passes don't allow us on the bullet trains, but the second fastest one which isn't too far off of bullet train fast is okay. The conductor told us the track number and we blindly got on just as the doors closed behind us. I briefly saw nozomi flash across the sign, and promptly began to panic. I'm sure we weren't on that train for more than an hour, but it felt like eons. We passed mt Fuji, which was majestic and far away. A says he could feel the g forces on the bullet. We got off at Yokohama and high fived. 

Briefly enroute,

Jt

Final destination

Ahoy,

We made it to hk! It really is like ny on steroids. And a giant ashtray, but not so bad as Madrid. People here are rude, pretty much the opposite of japan. Chinese people very obviously stare, and i know this to be true, but I'll never be used to it. They clip their nails in public, this is normal (a was appalled). They spit on the street and on the floor inside (I saw this happen). This is a markedly different culture than where we just came from. I knew this, and I know it more from just the first night. 

Chinese people are rude. There are stereotypes because this is true. Their volume is loud, and only loud. They are pushy and unapologetic. I see why my mom has always offered cleanliness for the reason she stays in the states. 

Washedly foreign,

Jt

Brownie points

Ahoy,

Nagoya is between kyoto and tokyo. On the way back, we decided to stop at Nagoya. Everybody had been telling us there is nothing of interest there. It is the Detroit of Japan. I have always wanted to visit Detroit, so to see the Detroit of Japan, I felt would be equally valid. We made the decision over much deliberation to go to the toyota automobile museum. It wasn't like it was closed, so I had no choice. Toyota has 2 museums in the area, and their other one was closed. 

The auto museum is like an auto show, but also with old cars. It goes through kind of the history of cars in japan with cars from all over the world and how they impacted Japanese car culture and grew toyota to become a premier car company today. So many cars. 

I don't even like cars, so I feel like I should get lots and lots of bonus points for enduring this field trip. Even when we're on vacation I have to deal with his mistress(es), cars. 

Oppositely roaded,

Jt

Never been so lost

Ahoy,

I realize addresses are useless here. There are no numbers, and I can't find the street names, even if I do I can't read the kanji. Our best bet has been wandering around the vicinity of the point and counting blocks from major streets on google maps and asking people. People are very nice. We do usually approach a location just shy of blind. Never have I been so unaware of where to go and how to get there. Also, I'm often not ever positive if I'm where I think I am on the map in my mind. It's even better if we are looking for something that doesn't have a sign. 

We are very grateful for our reluctant tour guide. We've been following him like a line of ducks. It's been convenient, and probably detracting from the being lost aspect of travel. I'm so sure we wouldn't be able to do so much without him, nor communicate outside of gesturing. It's really rather pathetic - to be so utterly disconnected from the places we visit. 

Visited pretty much where matcha was invented and continues to be produced today, uji, south of kyoto. Got some fantastic matcha ice cream. Everything from here on out is bonus. 

Dryly matcha'd,

Jt

Wet dog

Ahoy, 

Rain or shine, the show must go on! We rented bikes in kyoto with the distinct optimism that it wouldn't rain. We were eventually defeated by the weather. Though our will was as large as American Starbucks sizes, our clothes were not weatherproof enough. We had an incredibly ambitious path and made the decision later to be less so. Our first smart choice of the day. 

Doggedly soaked,

Jt

Toilets

Ahoy,

Heated toilet seats are the best invention ever!!! I feel like I've been shafted my whole life. You don't even know the terror that would strike my heart when I had to pee in the middle of the night during a cold Chicago winter. I would dread my morning routine, but there was no way around that. Even worse would be the toilet seats when I had to go while we were camping. Bathrooms are so nice here. I contemplated purchasing a heated toilette seat cover to bring back, but a thinks that would be ridiculous. But he doesn't even know what a revolution this is. 

Efficiently flushed,

Jt

getting there

Ahoy,

Getting to Japan is a breeze. We flew Malaysia airlines, and we experienced the best service. Maybe because we are used to American standards of service, which I am now realizing is way below par for Japan. 

Getting through customs in Tokyo is a breeze. We pretty much just walked through. There weren't many others and no lines anywhere. We got on the Keisei Bus to Tokyo Station to meet our friend. He was lost in tokyo station and late to get us. We waited and people watched. We noticed a lot of men, no women, all wearing long black coats of the same age group. We waited a few minutes more and went to ask at the family mart to use their phone. No phone, and they either didn't understand or chose to not understand my request to use their phone. We went outside to figure out the pay phone. These things always make me apprehensive because I've never gotten how to use one very easily in foreign countries. I've probably spent more time trying to figure them out than getting a successful call. And sometimes they look like they are an incubator for infectious disease. 

After looking confused at the phone booth, a's friend found us. We weren't expecting him and it was a complete pleasant surprise. I felt like lost cattle at that point. He was such a relief. And he called my late friend, who was 5 minutes away. So far, our first hour in tokyo was an absolute delight, not at all like Europe. We got dinner close by at this place I don't remember, but our friends ordered everything and said they were all the classic dishes. Everything was delicious. It was perfect. 

We walked back to h's place to tuck in for the night. We didn't sleep much on the plane. We watched 4 films. Needless to say, we were ready for bed. H took us on this windy path to his house and we had no idea how we got there, but I'm so grateful he retrieved us. 

Courteously mannered,

Jt

grooming

Ahoy,

I recently had a dream in which he let me cut his hair.

A spends more time on his hair than I do. I think it's funny. But there really isn't much you have to do to out-do me given that I spend no time grooming my mop, which is why it looks like a mess mostly. I probably haven't used a grooming implement since high school, and a hair dryer even before that. Occasionally I get frustrated with my bangs and hack at them with scissors. A always finds that funny. He doesn't supervise so I always cut too much before I know it.

Occasionally we have to stop somewhere to get him more hair product. He'll spend some time mulling over the possibilities and I spend some time looking at packaging of products imagining the hassle but actually will never use. I'm a sucker for packaging. And our bathroom cabinet continues to burst with containers of his partially used hair products.

Most of my life I, and my family, was plagued with finding my long strands of hair everywhere. I used to leave hairs in my textbooks because I didn't want to keep getting up to throw them away. My brother's friend who received one of those textbooks the following year noted one day he would clone me with all my hair in his book. Now that I live with a boy, I find his little hairs everywhere as well. I didn't know that one day my mate's hair would plague me as much as my hair.

hairlessly furry,
jt

find me here

Ahoy,

Setting sail (haha, I wish) for Asia! I've never been to Asia, except for the Asian side of Istanbul, which doesn't actually count. So I'm super duper excited to get lost be immersed somewhere foreign again.

Our intended schedule:

Dec 16 LAX-Tokyo
Dec 19 Tokyo-Kobe
Dec 20 Kobe-Osaka
Dec 21 Osaka-Kyoto
Dec 24 Kyoto-Nagoya
Dec 25 Nagoya-Tokyo
Dec 26 Tokyo-Shanghai
Dec 27 Shanghai-Hong Kong
Dec 31 Hong Kong-LAX

Stay tuned! I'm sure there will be some great tales of delirium.

blazingly holidazed,
jt

25 things before 25

Ahoy,

1. sky-diving
2. swam with sharks
3. got lost in Europe
4. learned how to sail
5. climbed on real rocks
6. changed a diaper
7. walked across the Brooklyn Bridge
8. walked on the Golden Gate Bridge
9. SCUBA certified
10. purchased alcohol 
11. snorkeled in the Bahamas
12. got lost in Africa
13. visited a Greek Island
14. Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, London Bridge, Pyramids
15. road tripped
16. lived on a boat
17. been camping
18. shot a gun
19. zip-lined
20. flew a plane
21. baked bread from scratch
22. witness falling snow
23. milked a cow
24. cliff jumped
25. fell in love

I realize how fortunate I am to have gotten the opportunities to do all these things by my ripe old age of 25. The world is such a big, big place and I am such a small, small person but adventures are there for the taking. I like to think I've never been one to shy from something new and risky, and I'd like to think I'll continue this philosophy over the next 25 years. I hope you'll join me.

wittingly hallmarked,
jt

having fun isn't hard when you've got a library card

Ahoy,

I'm a sucker for book sales. They're like my kryptonite. Library book sales are the best because they often have a surprisingly good selection. The books are sometimes donated and still new, or quality sturdy hardcover library copies that are only slightly used. It's great. You should check a library book sale near you. There are too many ways to buy books.

Also, it's difficult to only check out only one library book when there is a whole entire library full of books I can check out. And there are always new books coming in, but I haven't read all the old books. There are so many books to read, and so little time.

Does anyone else have this problem?

literally bamboozled,
jt

height differential

Ahoy,

Sometimes when I get in bed before the RRS, I like to occupy his side of the bed to warm it up for him because he is incapable of producing and insulating his own body heat.

A: What are you doing over there? You want to switch sides?
Me: I'm warming your side up for you. [roll over to let him on his side]
A: Oh, boy. This is so warm down to my knees!

And we chuckle about how much shorter I am than him and how his feet stick out over the edge of the bed and mine only reach down to his knees.

cozily covered,
jt

addictive

Ahoy,

In preparation for our trip abroad this winter, we have been watching David Chang's Mind of a Chef on Netflix. You should too even if you have no adventure to study for. It is such a drool worthy show, we have to be eating something while watching it. This show, like the narrator (Anthony Bourdain) says about Japan, will either make you a better cook or you will stop cooking altogether.

David Chang is such a character. It is a mix of food travels, David cooking in his NY kitchen, and field trips to other kitchens. There's the occasional science bit about a certain technique or product. I love it, so does the RRS. You will too.

plumingly pumped,
jt

I found this

Ahoy,

Going through the vaults of my laptop, I came across this project I did my last year at Cal. I wanted to document my final year by taking a picture of myself from the same angle every day. Also, I wanted a different backdrop each day, thus forcing me to have new adventures all the time. I know, what a drag it must be to find new and exciting things to do. My schedule my final year was pretty plush. Even though I had compressed my 4 years into 3, I had run out of classes I had planned to take by the last semesters. During my freshmen year, I had planned out everything to get what I needed - a BS in Environmental Sciences, and minor in City Planning. I had fulfilled both sometime during my third year aside from thesis requirements, and needed "fillers" to be a full time student. I just took more planning classes and they were great. This meant it was easy for me to have two days of no school during the week - time I used for my job and three day weekends. 

I do feel like I got to see and do a lot in the Bay Area as my time ended there. I was looking forward to leaving forever and never looking back, also, incredibly excited for grad school. I had never planned on staying anywhere in or near CA, and had every intention of going. If you look closely, you may notice one image towards the end of this video as the reason I came back. That was my best not-so-sneaky attempt at documenting a random person who wouldn't stop bothering us at the airport.

seriously sunny,
jt

megabus: a comparison and a walk down memory lane

Ahoy,

I used to ride the megabus pretty regularly on the east coast. I never knew a time before megabus, and I don't remember how I stumbled across their services. I would take it to visit my family in Boston over holidays, and my cousin in DC because I wanted to leave the city. I also took it to Philadelphia with visiting friends just to see more of this large country. Looking back, living in NYC - the most crowded place in the US - gave me many moments where I felt like the loneliest little ant in a big, big city. Getting away from the city to family was one of the saving graces that I always looked forward to amidst the work and school I was shuffling to and from every day. I relished those hours on the bus that would take me away from it all to something warm and familiar. 

I was pleased when I heard that megabus was going to have another go at their west coast hub, but I could also see how it failed the first time. The NY hub had people going out to so many destinations - Philly, Pittsburgh, DC, Boston, Toronto, Baltimore etc. And for nearly all the lines they had trips out nearly every hour. Not only was frequency high, but ridership also seemed high. Most trips had people lined up, and only when I rode weird hours was the bus empty. 

Nonetheless, I was happy to give it a try, especially because it was much cheaper than flying. Boarding in NY typically went without incident and quickly. They didn't even confirm your numbers, just glanced at the date/time. They either got more organized or decided they had to check, so in CA they actually check you off their manifest. From LA, you can get to Las Vegas, Oakland, SF, or Sacramento. They leave 3 times a day up to the Bay Area; I rode the 7 hours to Oakland. There was one stop along the way. I got a McDonald's happy meal because I wanted the toy. This hasn't happened since probably elementary school. Some things you can't grow out of. It came with a book about a goat that learns to eat healthy. I would fall for this marketing ploy on the way up and receive another book about a traveling dodo. 

Both my buses to and from were pretty packed, which I'd like to think is a good sign that they will continue to offer their bus services here. All the drivers I've encountered here seem to enjoy their jobs. My guess is that the companies they worked for prior to megabus were not as nice. 

Landing in Oakland was great. The air was much more crisp, as were the leaves. The trees were ablaze with the changing of the seasons. It was refreshing and life-affirming. The only seasonal changes in LA are daylight savings. I feel like it's a unique type of torture to make each day the same as the next. 

quizzically fallen,

jt

100 year aqueductiversary

Ahoy,

Because I'm a dork and love museums and educational things, I jumped at the chance to go to the Natural History Museum for free as part of their 100 year anniversary/birthday celebration. It was a weekday, so it wasn't too crowded. I haven't seen their newest additions of the above walkway and glass lobby and always gawk at the glowing creature as we drive by at night. The other exterior addition of urban and edible gardens was not ready last time I was there. 

I was pleasantly surprised to check out the history of LA exhibit. Clearly I had done my research because I had no idea there were any new exhibits inside. The history of California ownership, trading, ranching, and climate were all very interesting to me because I'm a dork in more ways than one. It's always fun to learn new things no one else wants to talk to me about. 

It was the 100 year anniversary of the LA aqueduct and they had this commemorative bottle on display from 100 years ago. They also gave out commemorative bottles for this anniversary for me to keep for the next 100 years. I'm sure it's an heirloom I'll pass down that will be cherished for years to come. There was an exhibit displaying some of the artwork regarding the aqueduct. I found some neat tidbits of history and commentary on the importance of water for development. 

I loved the edible garden. There were plants, fruits, vegetables, herbs of all varieties growing. And the other side was a flowing garden with various pools and ponds and even a place to dip your toes. I love to dip my toes. The RRS is all too familiar.

There are portions of the museum that are super modern and new, and other older exhibits. All have their merit and deserve a closer look. Think of it as more did-you-knows to bore your friends with. I'm sure they'll love you for it. 

knowingly unlimited,
jt

development projects

Ahoy,

On my way into downtown Culver City is a series of empty buildings and car dealerships. This is a shame because I also pass the Culver City metro expo station. This is prime development space and for the more than a year we've been here, there has been nothing going on. If I've learned anything from my education it's that this is prime transit oriented development, people! Fewer parking space requirements, more mobile options, better access to a whole neglected market, and a destination for a new market. If you build it, they will come!

For a long time, there were great works of street art (READ: tasteful graffiti) on these buildings visible from the Washington-National, Washington-Landmark intersections. Branded Arts had taken over the exteriors and commissioned out to artists while developers tried to tackle some red-tape and hoops (my best guess). A and I had begun to regard these works of art as a sort of welcome mat home. We looked forward to whenever there was a new one up, and definitely noticed when they started to come down. It was a little saddening at first, but I knew they were coming down eventually. Such prime space would not stay in development limbo for long.

Recently, the trademark something-is-happening indicators have emerged. The art came down, the construction/demo equipment rolled in, ground was broke, and fences went up. It's an exciting time to live in Culver City. I guess a whole bunch of projects finally got pushed through all at once.

Culver City, I've learned during my time here, is a quickly growing and developing place. I have patronized a new liquor store, 3 coffee shops/cafes, pasta restaurant, bakery, etc. There are so many new and old things all within walking distance. It's incredibly exciting to live in a place that is so quickly changing. It's unique to me being a part of a community with all these transitions I've been fortunate to not only learn about but now also witness.

The RRS is fearful that now there is this coffee shop across the street we will never leave.

urbanly nerdy,
jt

I wrangled his skinny butt

Ahoy,

As promised (because I never break promises to my 1 reader), his answers:

1. Does the toilet paper go over or under the roll? Over [apparently he observed, and noticed I do it under, but also he changed the roll probably less than once a month before I came along]

2. Cats? Dogs? Both? Both

3. Can you eat breakfast for dinner? Yes

4. Cold pizza: yes or no? No

5. Is it acceptable to open presents as they arrive or do you have to wait for the actual birthday or holiday? Wait

6. Should the dirty forks and knives go in the dishwasher with the handle sticking out of the utensil tray or down in the utensil tray? down

7. Is it acceptable to leave dishes in the sink to "soak" overnight, or do they need to be cleaned before bed? Soak

8. Toothpaste: cap on or cap off? Cap on

9. Again on the toothpaste: roll it from the bottom or just squeeze really hard? Roll

10. Are towels a one-time use item or do you use the same towel until laundry day? Same Towel

11. How about washcloths? same washcloth

12. Road trip or flying? flying

13. What's the right thread count for sheets? 800

14. What brand of toilet paper? Any

15. Mayo or Miracle Whip? Mayo

16. Pepsi or Coke? Coke

17. Can you eat the holiday candy out in the display bowl or must it be left there for display? Yes

18. What is YOUR definition of camping? Camping with a tent, sleeping outside

19. Turn the thermostat down when you go out or leave it alone? down when you go out

20. At what point is a garbage bag too full to stuff more trash in it? Can't fit any more in [I don't think he lives by this judging from the state of the recycle bin]

21. How many times is it acceptable to hit the snooze button? until it is annoying to anyone else sleeping

22. Thrift store shopping: great deals or gross? great deals

23. How far in advance is it OK to plan a vacation? 3 months

24. Restaurant reservations: necessary or too restrictive? necessary

25. Roller coasters: love 'em or hate 'em? love em

26. More chocolate chips, less cookie or more cookie, less chips? perfect balance

27. How much orange juice must be left in the container for it to be returned to the fridge? 1 cup

28. Chip clips or just roll the bag up? chip clip

29. Call the doctor or just take some medicine at home? medicine at home

30. Where is the prime location for the TV remote to stay? visible to anyone looking for it

31. Is it OK to have a TV in the bedroom? Yes

32. Should folded clothes be put away, or is it OK to just pull as needed from the basket of clean laundry? Yes [to put away]

33. Do you need to write a grocery list or just wait until you're walking around the store to figure out what you need? either way

34. Making the bed: must-do or waste of time because you're just going to get back in it? not a must do but nice

35. Is it OK to shave/clip toenails in the living room? Sure


flamingly bundled,
jt

about time for the first time

Ahoy,

Everyone is always shocked when I admit I've never been to Bishop. You would think the RRS has a memory like Dory, the blue tang from Finding Nemo, given all the times he is shocked to find out I've never been to Bishop. Shocked! It's only after the 3rd hour of conversation about climbs in Bishop that he notices I'm bored. I think one day he is going to be incredibly attentive as a caretaker. Help us all if I ever fall ill.

We took the weekend after his midterm to go to Bishop and wrangled his friend G, and his girlfriend L, and their dog Penny in a car. I had a great time not roughing it in a hotel. Don't get me wrong, nature is great and all, but I've always preferred civilization. I've been camping before and I remain skeptical of the novelties of voluntarily ceding the modern conveniences of plumbing.

I messed around on some baby warm-up stuff. And then we were off to grade chase. A has been shooting for a V6 at Bishop, or V7/V8 anywhere else so he could start breaking in his new solutions. So let's face it, this trip to Bishop would really be about his relentless lust for locking in a V6 and thusly- his solutions. He got his 6, the pictured top out is French Press - super balancey and crimpy. And this time, there were also more girls than just me. The second day, they brought me to a bakery, which was marvelous. I would have been happy had they left me there all day. Not all dreams can come true.

There is just as much praise for the food we devoured as the company we kept as the rocks we climbed at Bishop. Fun, food, and friends - essentials of life. Small town America is always fascinating to me, but I know I would never thrive there. At this rate, it's once every 3 years. So look out, Bishop, me and my kid shoes are coming for you! I'm sure you're shaking in your boots.

sneakily afoot,
jt

I found this list

Ahoy,


I found this article that listed the below questions. I think they are funny regardless of the future. These are my answers.


1. Does the toilet paper go over or under the roll? I never notice.

2. Cats? Dogs? Both? dogs, but they are always more fun when they are not yours.

3. Can you eat breakfast for dinner? I can't eat breakfast for breakfast.

4. Cold pizza: yes or no? all pizzas go!

5. Is it acceptable to open presents as they arrive or do you have to wait for the actual birthday or holiday? acceptable as they arrive, waiting is for sentimental, withholding suckers

6. Should the dirty forks and knives go in the dishwasher with the handle sticking out of the utensil tray or down in the utensil tray? no dishwashers

7. Is it acceptable to leave dishes in the sink to "soak" overnight, or do they need to be cleaned before bed? preferably before bed

8. Toothpaste: cap on or cap off? on, because otherwise you're just going to get it dry and crusty and then it won't come out unless you squeeze really hard and then it suddenly bursts everywhere and then I'll have to clean it up. Not from experience or anything, just my imagination. Honest.

9. Again on the toothpaste: roll it from the bottom or just squeeze really hard? I tend to squeeze, rolling from the bottom is for people more patient than I

10. Are towels a one-time use item or do you use the same towel until laundry day? same towel until laundry day

11. How about washcloths? laundry day

12. Road trip or flying? depends on where we are going. I can't sit still either way. Road trips mean Backstreet Boys on loop because he hasn't gotten around to adding to the cd collection in the car.

13. What's the right thread count for sheets? I think his majesty has higher standards than I.

14. What brand of toilet paper? nothing fancy, I don't need to wipe my butt with a pillow.

15. Mayo or Miracle Whip? neither

16. Pepsi or Coke? neither

17. Can you eat the holiday candy out in the display bowl or must it be left there for display? candy is for eating, you're a sucker otherwise.

18. What is YOUR definition of camping? if you're glamping you should just go to a hotel.

19. Turn the thermostat down when you go out or leave it alone? turn it down when you leave if you remember

20. At what point is a garbage bag too full to stuff more trash in it? I don't think he knows. If I don't take out the garbage, he will keep stuffing it down.

21. How many times is it acceptable to hit the snooze button? a lot of times, especially when it's his duck alarm tone

22. Thrift store shopping: great deals or gross? sometimes great

23. How far in advance is it OK to plan a vacation? a year or so for international trips and serious planning several months in advance, domestic trips as late as several months, road trips a few days

24. Restaurant reservations: necessary or too restrictive? depends on the restaurant

25. Roller coasters: love 'em or hate 'em? love 'em

26. More chocolate chips, less cookie or more cookie, less chips? more chips

27. How much orange juice must be left in the container for it to be returned to the fridge? at least 2-3 fingers in a cup

28. Chip clips or just roll the bag up? chip clips, soggy chips are for suckers

29. Call the doctor or just take some medicine at home? at home care

30. Where is the prime location for the TV remote to stay? I have a notorious reputation for losing the remote. We don't have a tv, but my parents know this all too well.

31. Is it OK to have a TV in the bedroom? yes, Saturday morning cartoons

32. Should folded clothes be put away, or is it OK to just pull as needed from the basket of clean laundry? put away

33. Do you need to write a grocery list or just wait until you're walking around the store to figure out what you need? I like to wander the grocery store and I take my lack of list as an excuse to take more time in there.

34. Making the bed: must-do or waste of time because you're just going to get back in it? waste of time

35. Is it OK to shave/clip toenails in the living room? yes, but catch them in something

His answers to come as soon as I can wrangle his skinny butt here.


safely wilted,
jt

new gyms

Ahoy,

I went for a visit to the up and coming Touchstone gym, LA.B, near downtown. The walls are so, so, so very tall. It's going to be so, so, so big. I'm pretty excited, as I'm sure everyone else in LA who climbs is, because it's about time something quality came around here. Hangar 18 has become known for not having water fountains, though novel, that is not a good thing to be known for. Nor is it impressive that they only change the sets once a year. I'm just growing ever more loyal to this gym with each passing day.

I first climbed at a Touchstone gym. They taught me how to top rope, and my climbing arsenal grew from there. Though I didn't climb many times there before I left the Bay Area, I'll always regard Touchstone gyms with a certain degree of nostalgia for where it all began, and the first time I climbed with A. For the following years, I would only occasionally go climbing, mostly when I went to visit A in LA. I didn't really get into climbing until NYC. In a moment of boredom and loneliness, I made the rash decision of joining the climbing club at school, and got a membership to the Manhattan Plaza Health Club. I tried to go 2 or 3, sometimes 4 times a week. It was really convenient because I could stop there after work on the way home. It was a small gym, but they had a new wall up every week and the staff and climbers were always nice. With the club, I'd sometimes go out to Brooklyn Boulders or the Gunks for day trips.

We recently learned how to lead climb, which is a new frontier I'm happy to pursue. Though we boulder a lot, I've always enjoyed the ropes more and am eager to do new things.

grippingly dangled,
jt

closest thing to an art museum I'll ever like

Ahoy,

I'd been wanting to go to the a+d museum to see the Never Built: LA exhibit. It was ending October 27, so I had to force my RRS to tear himself away from his schoolwork to catch this. Such drudgeries I make him endure. In true timely fashion, we got there with a little over half an hour to see everything. That turned out to be just barely enough time to read everything, take a second look at the ones I liked best and get a souvenir.

The exhibit is a collection of drawings, displays, and plans for developments and the like for LA. It ranged from housing projects to highway plans and theme park proposals. A and I both liked it a lot. I loved all the descriptions of each project. Whoever wrote them must have been having a great time because they were all laced these snarky, backhanded comments regarding the pettiness and backwardness of politics and politicians. From the exhibit, you can imagine that LA could have been a much more iconic city in terms of architecture. There were ideas from some really big name architects, and they were all really grand.

We stopped by LACMA to look at the giant rock after the museum closed because he loves the rocks, especially giant ones perched atop a walkway at an art museum. He also likes art museums. We just agree to disagree on this point.

We agreed to try the Oaxacan place down the street from us. I had tried to go before but the hours listed were incorrect. It's a pretty small place, and feels a lot like you're eating in someone's house (I think because it is). It was delicious. I got something that looked like a pizza. He said he had tried mole before and never liked it, but the mole here completely changed that. And it was easy to pick up a bottle at the Bar & Garden across the street to have with our meal.

structurally distinguished,
jt

prepping for the holidays

Ahoy,

Halloween came and went without much incident. The RRS had family visiting, so we dressed in our costumes for dinner and boba with them. I was a Christmas tree and he was the star of David. We are trying to be culturally sensitive. And also, I figure this is like two birds, one stone. It's a costume and holiday card all in one go.

A doesn't like scary movies, so he said we could only watch PG movies.

lustily haunted,
jt

that time I ate at Charlie Trotter's

Ahoy,

I've just seen the news that Charlie Trotter has passed away. Although, it's really not like I knew the guy, and I don't even remember meeting him. His passing does bring to mind what I do know of the man and his restaurant. Charlie Trotter's is a common name on the Chicago, and even worldwide, fancy restaurant scene. I didn't know it at the time, I had no clue. It was one of the best restaurants in the world and I had the opportunity to dine there as a high schooler. A meal here typically cost in the hundreds of dollars. For some reason, I along with other peers got a free meal in high school for some reward for leadership or community service or something.

I really didn't know what I was in for. I figured, free meal - sign me up! (This mantra would guide my decisions for many years to come.) I knew nothing of the reputation of Charlie Trotter. I knew nothing of the culinary world outside my own house nor the proper mores associated with fine dining. I even showed up late. And the RRS will attest to my dining barbarism because it was years later on our first formal date where it was just the two of us (and not also all my high school friends) he was appalled to find that I didn't put my napkin on my lap.

I really don't remember much of my meal at Charlie Trotter's. Thinking back, I should have made more measures to do so. I do remember that my bread plate was never empty. Whenever I finished a roll, someone would swoop by unnoticed and place a new one. I do remember there were many dishes and each dish was only a few bites. What kind of meal is this?, I wondered. But the food, I don't remember what we ate, was all delicious. And someone would come out to tell us what we were eating, all of it foreign to me. We sat in a private room, I think. The restaurant was closed that night and we were the only guests, a ragtag group of high schoolers and their club sponsor. I do remember we got a tour of the wine cellar, and I do remember not being interested because I knew nothing of wine or its many forms of seduction. I do remember being incredibly, incredibly full. And I'm pretty sure Charlie Trotter, the chef royalty himself, came out to greet us and give us the tour. I do remember he seemed like a nice fellow, no airs about him.

Thinking back, I'm amazed and grateful to have had the opportunity. So many others save for months to dine here and we even had the restaurant to ourselves. So many others covet their time at his table, and at the time my meal here was not nearly as well appreciated as anyone else. It was dinner and just like any other night I needed to eat and do more homework. I regarded it as simply any other meal, and only in my adulthood could I truly appreciate where my taste buds had been. It was only years later when I had begun to acquaint myself with the world of James Beard and Michelin that I even remembered that I ever ate at Charlie Trotter's.

I can make no excuses for the immaturity of my high school self. My current self, however, apologizes on her behalf. When I later saw that Charlie Trotter had closed his restaurant, I knew that my meal there was once in a lifetime. I remain forever grateful that I not only got to dine at his restaurant, but also got to meet the man. I wasn't worthy.

tastefully spooned,
jt

talk show

Ahoy,

I got tickets for the Ellen Degeneres show! I went with a friend, M. She had never watched a whole episode or been to a talk show taping. Ellen is the best host. I think this was the best first time experience for attending a talk show taping. A was supposed to go with us but he couldn't play hooky, so he missed out.

We arrived at the studios about 9am and were the first ones in the standby line. Within the hour, a representative came out and checked us in and gave us a numbered ticket. We were sent off to go get food or coffee and told to come back. We found the most hipster coffee shop in Burbank. When we came back, they had us wait on the benches and played that day's episode on screens. This waiting experience was better than Jimmy Kimmel. We spent quite a bit of time there, but it never felt like it was dragging along. We got into the audience for the taping of Monday's show, and got a bonus guest from Tuesday's show (Matthew McConaughey).

The Ellen Show is a delightful time. I would go again. We got Mexican food at this restaurant close by and M commented the horchata was as pure as Heisenberg's meth.

applaudingly afoot,
jt

that time I didn't burn the house down

Ahoy,

The RRS recently discovered flambe. His new favorite cooking method, and he'll take every opportunity to employ it. I let him be head chef for a night, and he almost burned the house down. Maybe I'll think twice about how much supervision he needs next time.

He has this habit of turning the flame on as high as possible, it's pretty much the only setting he knows. It's as if he doesn't know how to cook at any temperature except hothothot! Watching him cook is like a scene out of a war movie. There are splatters and explosions and flames everywhere! He leaves a trail of dishes and kitchen tools and stains and dropped ingredients. All ye who approach be warned.

He made lamb last night and tilted the pan to an angle so that the brandy he poured in would gather at the bottom. Also, the heat on the stove top was all the way hothothot! The next thing we knew a giant flame hopped up all the way to the ceiling. It made this big 'whoosh' sound, like in the movies. I guess it's a real thing.

There doesn't appear to be any damage, but that was probably the closest I've witnessed to burning the house down. And it wasn't my fault at all, and I'm not going to let him forget it.

exceedingly alit,
jt

hippies gathering

Ahoy,

LAGreenFest was last weekend. Have you ever been? I've been to a lot of them. They are always fun. I went to my first greenfest in San Francisco as a wide-eyed college student. I've also been to the Chicago, Washington, DC, and NYC greenfests. It's always fun to sample and check out the newest organic, locally made products that I would probably not ever be able to afford. When it comes to "green" products, I'm really not the best hippie. I remain skeptical. But I can feel the optimism of many other gullible hippies surging through the energy of the convention center. It's difficult to find this type of excitement elsewhere.

I went exploring around the building and found this really cool tree art thing on the 11th floor. All the other volunteers guessed I was a high schooler. One of these days I will age, and it will be a curse and a blessing.

We went to try out the new udon place next to the ever popular ramen place in Little Tokyo. You know the one. We sat right in front of the noodle master and it was super fun to watch him roll out noodles during our meal. Little Tokyo was super busy that night. They had set up a karaoke thing on the plaza for people braver and more intoxicated than me to embarrass themselves.

To top off the night we sampled this organic non-dairy ice cream place in which I exclaimed my love for processed American snacks. Let me just walk through Whole Foods shouting that and see what happens to me. There was a really good chocolate ice "cream" at Kippy's, but it doesn't quite hit the spot like creamy ice cream. Again, I'm a really bad hippie also for being a slave to my taste buds. And my taste buds have grown up on processed American snacks.

devilishly tempted,
jt

halloweens last

Ahoy,

I'm getting pretty excited for Halloween this year. But it's going to be difficult to top last year's costume of the Mars rover, Curiosity, and Mars. It's the one and only night of the year the RRS lets me dress him. His request this year was to not have to wear a box. 

Last year's box.

This year's costume will be unveiled in a separate post.

spookily candied,

jt

for the millionth time

Ahoy,

We went to see the space shuttle. Again. O and my brother had never seen it before so it was well worth it. Plus, it was EndeavorFest in celebration of the one year anniversary the Endeavor arrived in LA. Happy Birthday, Endeavor!

In continuation of our space themed weekend, we also went to watch Gravity in imax 3d on Saturday. It was awesome. You should all go see it. If you're as reluctant in your old age to watch things in 3d as I am, you will also find that this movie is the movie to watch in imax 3d.

On Sunday, my brother left me here in the desert. And the other boys made me go to the beach. We found a plastic rock structure thinger on a children's playground. And commandeered it for a good chunk of time because they don't make playgrounds this fun for grown-ups.

clamberingly envious,
jt

for the corgis

Ahoy,

It's infinitely more difficult to convince my brother to do something without the lure of dogs. The Corgi Beach Party was pretty much all he came for. He will admit it right away, because who are we kidding here? Dogs are much better than sisters. 

My brother would have sold me for a dog if our mom allowed dogs. They are probably less trouble than me.  

sandily pudgy,

jt

permission granted

Ahoy,

The RRS had an old friend visiting. They've known each other since grade school. There's such an ease and childlike delight that possesses a person when they are with their childhood best friends. The comfort of history and memories that link people together can cause you to discard all of your insecurities. It's absolutely adorable to observe two grown men giggling like schoolboys. The RRS tends to be overly formal, calculating and polite with a lot of people, even friends, but all of it slips away when he is with I. It's a side of him I am always honored to be in the presence of.

I'm sure if you've spent a day exploring with me, you know that it can be absolutely exhausting. I have the uncanny ability to push you to your physical, and sometimes mental, abilities like I'm paid to do so. A knows this about me all too well. So I had to first check with A what I's power level (like in video games) is, so that I don't break him as I've done with so many other souls (you know who you are). A gave me the go-ahead to "run him into the ground." And bulldoze I did.

I gave him the whole scenic walking tour of Culver City. We were only out for about two hours, and he was absolutely exhausted. The following day, I took him to the museum to see the space shuttle. We arrived back to Culver City in time to catch the farmers market and happy hour. I know they're exhausted when they're asking for coffee in the middle of the day.

The next time we see him will probably be in Istanbul! Bon voyage, my friend!

questioningly kosher,
jt

we have to look at art?

Ahoy,

Because he was racking his hours up during the week, the RRS got to play hooky for half the day on Friday. Yahoo for me because he took me to the Getty Villa. First we karate chopped a watermelon and picked up sandwiches from Surfas. There weren't a lot of people at the Villa that day.

I must preface this by saying that I like the Getty Villa much more than the Getty. I could admire the architecture of the Villa much longer than the art at the Getty. The gardens and structure of the Villa is much more interesting to me than the galleries at the Getty. It's built like a Roman Villa with many pieces and components imported from or inspired by ancient cities in Italy. Anybody that knows me should know that I like art museums the least of all museums. They are the most boring and least interactive. I thought we were there to see the building and gardens, but A tried to get me to look at the art. I'll bet he regretted that after his first heart attack. He's such a straight-edge. I got much too close to the pieces for his liking.

Upon getting ushered out because it was closing time, we exited via this edible garden that was filled with herbs and fruit trees of every variety. I was so tempted to pick everything and take it with us to cook for dinner, but I was with the straight-edge. We rushed over to catch a Friday evening showing of Rush, but by the time we got there - only the front row seats were remaining, so we left to return another day. The poor boy was so upset. I'm not sure I had ever seen him so upset. It was as if somebody had stolen his other girlfriend (READ: his car). He was so upset. It was absolutely ridiculous because we watched it on Sunday.

dribbelingly seasoned,
jt

first day of school

Ahoy,

The RRS started school this week. So I'm bestowing upon you some first day of school photos. He pretty much looks the same from year to year these days, so it's not quite as cute as those kid ones you see everywhere else on the internet. 

semesterily asea,
jt

repeat

Ahoy,

We made it out to Black Mountain again this past weekend, but it was a far less action packed climbing day than last weekend. I was just happy to be outside with our friend E. We ended up staying there later than anticipated. It was a mad dash to get home so we could get back out to Santa Monica for the Glowfest. It was an excellently puzzling time of strange concepts and art things. Clearly, I'm not cool enough for this.

A and I took the bus from Culver City to Santa Monica, which took probably less than 20 minutes. It goes straight on the highway with less than a handful of stops and dropped us off pretty close to where we wanted to go. I finally got to try a slice of Joe's Pizza in Santa Monica. I love a good NY slice, and I'm pretty much over those California style pizzas with the soggy middle. I'm always jonesing for pizza, though, there is never a time when I'll say no to pizza.

A was so upset on Friday when we didn't get to see Rush, so we finally got to watch it on Sunday. This movie is completely testosterone driven, just drenched in manliness. I'd never ask him to watch a girly movie in the theaters in exchange. I've come to accept that the big screen should be reserved for action movies. But we did get ice cream afterwards, which was delightful.

simmeringly sorted,
jt

glorious holds

Ahoy,

This past weekend we went to Horse Flats for the first time. Of course we went to go climbing. It's just an hour outside the city. I had been in this direction before. E and I went to Switzer Falls, which we passed on the way up to Horse Flats. We parked right at a camp site and after a short hike, we had reached all the climbs we could get our hands on. Really short hike, super luxurious climbing trip if there ever was one. There were even bathrooms at the camp site. It looked like everybody had cleared out from camping, which was a little eerie because the weather was really nice and crisp, it was still Sunday morning, and super close to the city. Where did everyone go? There's always suspicions in my mind if a place is deserted that by all logic and reasoning shouldn't be. What does everyone else know that I don't?

Climbing was great that day and everybody got to do stuff or hang around. We didn't spend a ton of time wandering around looking for climbs like at Black Mountain, which is always appreciated.

We zipped down to the San Gabriel Valley for Chinese food and boba. Everybody ate really fast. I always get concerned about A's rate of consumption in these settings because he eats really slow. I wasn't  really certain how one acquired that "skill" from being in a family of 6 (if you don't eat fast, you don't eat, right?). But then I had dinner with them, and it became clear.

Whenever he has dinner with my family - my mom is always telling him to stop talking and to focus on eating his food. Meanwhile, he's trying to talk to my family and asking silly questions out of formality/politeness, which (if we're being honest here) my family couldn't care less about. And, my dad doesn't speak English and my mom has a really thick accent, so it's not like they can even communicate. Also, my family is unfamiliar with the typical American niceties and mores I have found in his house (read: to any outsider, my family members are unabashedly rude Chinese people and his pestering them will not merit their thinking any higher of him). However, the amount of food he eats will correlate positively with how impressed they are and worthy of their daughter he is.

linguistically aloof,
jt

moon cake day!

Ahoy,

Last week was moon cake day. My mom called me to alert me of the news. Did yours? She goes by the lunar calendar still. It's a bit of trouble getting her birthday right every year. Saturday night, we boarded the LA Metro for a ride into Chinatown for the moon cake festival. I've never seen so many people in Chinatown here. All the other times I'd been there, it was practically deserted. There are many things unimpressive about LA Chinatown, but the proximity of the train stop is not bad.

Like any other Chinese celebration, there was lots of noise and lights and crackling/exploding things. We settled in front of the food stage to watch a guy carve fancy things out of fruits and vegetables and the moon cake demo. This was kind of disappointing because they had the fillings premade and were just showing us how to use the molds. They passed around moon cake samples that we watched the volunteers furiously cutting into pieces earlier. Fun fact: A and I both like the lotus paste with no egg the best. I don't like yolks of eggs, I used to "gift" them to my brother. Unfortunately, A does not fulfill the food finisher role quite as adeptly as my brother. No one will ever compare.

We ended with dinner at the only restaurant I've ever been to in Chinatown because that is the only place A's family goes to when they visit. Everybody was so excited to have Chinese food; it was really excellent. And no trip is complete without boba so we all migrated to Little Tokyo and walked through Grand Park to catch the train back home.

poppingly pasted,
jt

fire season

Ahoy,

The weather was super perfect this weekend on Black Mountain. We got a ride with our friend up a dusty, bumpy dirt road. His car got a nice healthy coat of dirt. We had been to Black Mountain more than 2 years ago. The last time we camped overnight and it was colder, more overcast and wetter. This time, due to our perpetual lack of preparedness, it was just a day trip.

There were lots of people camping, some people were even camping right next to the boulders. We began at a cluster of boulders we started at last time. Due to my perpetual lack of tallness, I had to get creative on this climb everybody else seemed to be able to just stand up to reach. Like many climbing trips, I spent a good amount of time hanging around. Unlike many climbing trips, there were other females to hang around with.

It seemed like an endless hike trotting around looking for this climb we were at last time. Like many other situations, we found ourselves leading a group of disgruntled companions. The nearly blind leading the blind, you might say. Sometimes it seems like the RRS is so doggedly determined to get somewhere, while the rest of the group simply is just unaware of what they have signed up for. The remainder of the day consisted of scouting trips in search of something specific that we may or may not have found. We scouted up to a watch tower on top of the mountain, which was really cool because I just read a book about a guy in New Mexico who watches for fires from a tower.

We came across a climb that had a super sketchy fall and downclimb. And here is where everybody lost years off their life from watching G climb it, while A went on a scouting trip. I'm so glad he wasn't there to watch it because he would have been more terrified than me, or he might have tried it too - which would have been worse!). We hightailed it out of there before any of the other boys got too close and moved onto another climb with a much less harrowing fall.

During our long hikes, we stopped to gaze upon the majesty of the wilderness because we were really high up in the air and there are mountains everywhere and it was glorious. I always enjoy when it's scenic while we embark on quests of things we will never find.

doggedly pursuant,
jt

about time

Ahoy,

For once in ever we awoke without a plan. So I thought it was about time I took the rocket scientist to go see a rocket. We went on a train adventure to the USC campus to visit the space shuttle at the California Science Center. Before even going in, we got suckered for an ice cream treat from the mago man. We had had ice cream not even 12 hours ago so clearly we needed some more. He said the rose gardens there blew all the rose gardens he had ever seen in his life out of the water. I pointed out the Bones stock shots of the Jeffersonian from either view from the gardens, and he took pictures of flowers. There were kids swimming in the water feature, and I was so tempted, but we had a space shuttle to see so we forged on.


We got tickets for the Imax Hubble movie and Endeavor viewing. There were screaming, whiny children everywhere but we did our best to not step on any. We saw bits of the museum here and there. There's a wall of ice that is really useful for sore climbing fingers (I'm sure that's a problem we all have, not being able to find an icy hole to fit our fingers in). After a good while oohing and aahing at the space shuttle, we went on a search for pizza because I always want pizza. We got to watch a quidditch practice session while we ate on campus. It was great. If there's any sport you need to watch, it's quidditch.

ultravioletly relieved,
jt

we were tricked

Ahoy,

This weekend we got the wool pulled over our eyes. Our friends proposed a nice shaded hike, and we fell for it. The weather had been unusually toasty the past week, but we still wanted to go outside. Certain activities get discounted when the temps go up. Among them are walking through the desert, going out during high noon, rock climbing, etc. We made mistake after mistake in electing our day's activity.

The plan was Leo Carillo, which we had been told was a shaded hike up for a bit flattening out onto a tree lined plateau and ending with a lake at the top. There would be birds wading, and us invading their habitat for a dip. The perfect treat for our hike up. Alas, this is a hike best reserved for winter. As we inquired further on the way up, it soon became clear to me and probably everyone else was thinking the same - a lake without a source of water and only visited during the winter would be no lake on this blistering summer day.

After what seemed like an endless trail we arrived at the lake that once was. Once again, the RRS and I had not brought enough water. This I will account to our wrongful anticipation of a leisurely hike. It's like we never learn. Good thing everyone else is better prepared than us or else we would have never made it off that mountain. After clambering around on the rocks by the lake and sitting under the lone tree, we made a break back to the bottom. It seemed as though the way down was even worse than the way up. Occasionally we'd get pounded with these blasts of heat like when you open your oven that is hot, hot, hot enough to bake a pizza (really hot, but without the satisfaction of a baked pizza). I imagine this is what an ant feels like under a magnifying glass.

Finally, we reached our oasis at the bottom, probably where we should have stayed to begin with because we parked right at the beach and for some reason walked inland and up a mountain to only get closer to the sun - like California close enough to begin with. All four of us alive, we vowed to never again (like we ever learn). We stepped in the ocean after we had recovered from the brink of death at the bottom of the mountain. It was low tide, perfect for tide-pooling, and people were engaging in all varieties of surfing. Never have I relished the touch, taste, satisfaction of water more than on this day.  I guess you could say the best adventures begin out of bravado, ignorance and trickery. Boy, did we have those in spades this day.

toastily brined,
jt

we weren't sure if this would be fun

Ahoy,













After our plans were dashed for going climbing at Tram on Labor Day, we were on board to go climbing at Purple Stones. We'd never been here before, and hadn't heard a lot about it. The RRS was not so sure about what we'd find there, but after I read him some stuff I googled he was more than psyched about it. Me - I'll believe it when I see it. This is one of the cooler outdoor climbing places he's taken me to in SoCal. The winding road leading up to the site is something the RRS probably dreams about driving his car on. We pretend we're like the TMNT and duck walk down this drainage pipe onto this forested riverside path. We crawl around and over all these boulders to get around and to and from climbs. It's pretty neat that you're never too far from a babbling brook or water sounds of some sort. There are a lot of trees and shade which is always appreciated on a hot day. The rocks are all sort of cool shades of purples and pinks. They're pretty prominent, and this place holds some solid picture worthy vistas. It's pretty secluded because we did not see anybody except when we were on our way out, and you usually see tons of people climbing anywhere else.

Purple Stones is something like an oasis in the desert. It would have been too blisteringly hot to climb anywhere else so close to the city. The privacy, lushness and flowing water of this place at a moment's descent from the desert is an adventure I gladly welcome. This place was right off the PCH, and we easily stopped at the beach to dip our toes after climbing.

Life is good when there are beaches and climbing.

aridly humid,
jt

we thought it'd be fun

Ahoy,

After his final on Saturday we got to celebrating with some ice cream at Mateo's and a stop at the grocery to get food to cook for our night before half marathon dinner. Even though he said our bedtime was 8, we probably didn't crawl into bed until 10 or 11. This is what happens when he is in charge of the clock. Our wake-up time was 3am. And we were out of there by 3:30am. It takes little to no time to get to Disneyland at 3:30am, if anyone is wondering. That is an excellent time to go. The race starts at 5:30am, and we have to wait around in our corrals for everyone ahead of us to get out. We didn't end up crossing the start line until an hour into the race. The RRS drank tons of liquids and kept having to pee before we started. There were tons of people in costume, which made for really interesting people watching while we waited.

We were off right when the sun was coming up so we were running through Disneyland and California Adventure in the daylight. The route led us through some back entrances so we saw some behind the scene stuff, which is really not as fun as in front of the scene stuff. Most of the route was in Anaheim and they had entertainment along the way - cheerleaders, Mexican music and dancing, etc. Every so often, there would be Disney characters and a set on the roadside for you to take pictures with. My favorite were the streets lined with 300 classic cars. We ran past the Honda center, and ran on a trail for a bit. We got to run through Angels stadium with people watching from the stands. That was pretty neat. Daisy and Donald were waiting at the finish line. It was such a hot day, I'm really glad we finished when we did and not a moment later.

We wandered around downtown Disney for a bit. We ate some beignets and a breakfast burrito. I was so tempted to jump in any and all water fountains I saw. We left to check out some Labor Day sales at a nearby mall because we are fiscally responsible, and the RRS bought a whole bunch of things. He wanted to go shopping. Not my idea, but we knew there'd be sales this weekend, and he'd been shopping online so much I had to give in. We ran over to Irvine for boba and Vietnamese sandwiches, and headed back home to shower and lounge around. We spent our time with the air conditioning on and watching the IFSC competition videos until it was time to leave for dinner.

I'm so glad our friend E was willing to drive us. Not sure that we would have made it otherwise. We caught the last night of the 626 Night Market. There was so much good food to eat and not nearly enough space in my belly. The weather was just really the perfect summer night, warm and a little breezy. I really couldn't have expected a better day.

mildly winded,
jt