It's good every once in awhile...

Well, going to LA that is. Hollywood, the every-so glamorous city that seems to host a menagerie of celebrities, celeb-realities, and wannabe celebrities. A group of us headed to Hollywood on Saturday night to celebrate some bdays - for two lovely ladies. But of course, you can't just get ready like you would for a normal night out. No.

So first stop was a new do...hairdo that is. Finally decided to take the plunge and cut off about 5 inches. For a girl, that's a lot. Well, I guess for a guy too. But lordy they shouldn't have 5 inches to cut off! Anyways, J's sister did an amazing job and I'm in love. After visiting the MAC counter and getting ready, I picked up one of the bday girls, N, and we headed to Hollywood.

Got stuck in traffic (gotta love LA!) and made it to the restaurant right on time. Unfortunately, no one else did! We grabbed some margaritas from the bar. We were adventurous. I tried a "blood orange" margarita. Very good! And N got a "prickly pear" margarita. Her's was bright pink! Who knew? Finally one of her friend's showed up, followed by a limo...Apparently the other bday girl had to show up in style too! Although hers was a surprise.

So as we proceed to our table (about 45 minutes after the reservation) the rest of the party shows up. After chips, guacamole, enchiladas, (more) margaritas, and about 500 pictures, we all head out for the evening. This was a short trip up the street to a very random bar. I've never heard of it, but that seriously doesn't say much. I never go to Hollywood. Never. I think the last time I went there was over a year ago. Just too much for me. I enjoy hanging out at home with friends and booze, or a dive bar. But don't like spending money to park everywhere, $10 drinks, expensive food, and wearing uncomfortable shoes. But for nights like this, I coax myself into going. But seriously, I had fun.

Where was J through all of this you ask? At home. He (really) doesn't like going out to places like these, so he stayed in with the Godfather. Which is fine with me. Sometimes it's good to have a night out with the girls!

Addicted to World Pop Culture

I know I got the name wrong. I appologize. But our friend, CM, showed up tonight. He's in between moving to San Fran for law school and being stuck in our valley. And he's bored. So he showed up.


J and I have been watching the series on VH1 on pop culture. We watched it last year, and it was exciting. Well, maybe that's not the right word....But we were interested. I mean, a quiz show where it's real people - count us in!

This year we've been tivo'ing all of them, and on some nights, turned them into our own competition. Since they're all tivo'd, we compete against each other. I'd suggest others to take note, but, well, the last episode aired tonight. Oh well. But here's what we did...

Because we live together (and our lives are OH so exciting), we'd compete against each other. We'd let Pat (yes, first name basis) read the question, then pause it. If it was my turn to go first, I'd respond, and J'd give a back-up answer. We hit play. Whoever was right got a point. At the end of the game, whoever lost had to do the shitty before bed rituals. Ours? Turning off all the lights and making sure the AC was set at a good temperature. (good lord, we're boring. lol).

So, tonight, we thought we'd "spice" things up and get CM involved. So far, J's winning. we're up for the last part of the competition. And, of course, I'm on Team J! all the way!

And ps. don't play this game if your brain cells seem to run and hide after a bit of alcohol. lol

Luckiest day ever?

Well, maybe for the next 1000 years. I know of a lot of people who headed to Vegas for the weekend. But at rooms ranging from $300+ a night, I prefer to stay home. And what service! J woke me up to pancakes, eggs, and coffee. He hasn't done that in forever. And they were so yum.

Last night we went and saw Live Free or Die Hard. It was good, lots of crazy stunts and stuff that obviously wouldn't happen in the real world. But it was nice to see a good action film. I believe this is the last Die Hard that will be made. But who knows, guys like that (Bruce Willis, Harrison Ford...) like to make the movies that made them famous back in the day. As long as it will be a good movie, go ahead. But, if it's just to make another one, and the writing/acting/stunts suck...Just leave it alone.

This weekend is the final hurrah for some of J's friends. One's heading away to school and another is finally going to relocate to this super small town on the central coast. His wife's been there for almost a year now, but he has been here working and trying to get their home sold. Finally, after a year's worth of work and waiting, they finally sold it and can move up there. Of course all the guys give him a hard time. This town is not known for much. But we told him it's a great time to invest in some flannel plaid shirts, shit kickers, and cowboy hats. And belt buckles :o) He's defiantely not that type. But I know J will be sad again. Just a year ago his best friend moved away and that was pretty tough. Even though they all joke, I know they're all quite sad. Another chapter of their lives have ended, but together the ones remaining will work on a new adventure.

Hopefully involving less craziness. But the craziest of them all are the ones still here!

I'm not here for your entertainment...

I've been dealing with stupid people on the phone today. Or maybe it's the heat that's causing the irritation. It's almost 100 today. Luckily I work indoors. Thank GOD. I can't believe it's almost July. Next week is the 4th of July (and awesome block party with Shortie's neighbors) and the summer season (for me at least) is finally here. I know it's been hot and everything for awhile. But I soon might be dusting off the bbq and have some people over. But then again, it's much more fun to go to someone else's house (use up their AC! lol).

That's one thing I'm not looking forward to. Last year the bill was over $100 each month. I'm working on saving money, but I refuse to suffer in a hot house. Last night I didn't get home till 9-ish, so by then you could just open the windows and let the breeze in.

My co-worker came back this week. Yesterday actually. I told her about how we're working with India and she has similar thoughts on it. We still just can't understand why he's so supportive of it, other than the fact it'll bring in revenue. But I'm still bothered.

In other "fun" news - I bought the new Kelly Clarkson cd last night. So far, so good. The last song on there is a bit....different. But I like the sounds on the songs. A few are pretty different. But I know I'll grow to like them - that's what happens with a cd. You get it, start playing it. But the songs are unfamiliar and you're not sure if you are really into it. Over time, you learn the words, the music is more familiar, and then you can't get it out of your head. Only 40 more minutes till I can hear it again on my drive home. woo hoo. And hey - thibank yibou fibor yibour pibatribonibage.

I need 1 more day off.....

It's monday, I'm at work, and I could really use a day off. I know I just had 2 off. But 1 more isn't too much to ask ~ is it?

Friday night I saw Knocked Up. That is one of THEEEE funniest movies I've ever seen. I also got some sun on Saturday, had a girl's night in that night (ate A LOT!) and then yesterday relaxed and had dinner with my mom & sis.

But why am I so tired? Don't know. Maybe it's all this heat. Heat makes me want to sleep. I woke up today also, with a horrible headache. So that's not fun. Plus I got an invite to a friend's bridal/wedding shower that's in 3 weeks, and not really a lot of time to find an inexpensive flight to go up north.

Shortie, me, and our men have already booked our hotel for the wedding that's in October. We're hoping Shortie can make it - she'll be 8 months pregnant at the time. But we found some great rates on a hotel because of the advance notice. With the wedding shower, Shortie doesn't think she can make it, another friend (who I was hoping to stay with up north) will be out of town....and the flights are more than I would have expected. So, at this rate, I think I have to decline. I just wish I had an extra week or two notice to reserve a great deal. But I know it's not the bride's fault - she's not planning it ;o)

And what the hell happened to 2007? Next week is the 4th of July? How did that happen? But, I did get my FAFSA filled out to pay for grad school. They apparently think I can afford to pay $13k a year for school. LOL. ya right! Loans - here I come!

Porgy and Bess - my first opera!

Last night J and I went to see Porgy and Bess. It's an opera that is part opera....part jazz...and very different from the typical opera with big white wigs, fat ladies, and a whole log of boredom. It's set in the 1940s in a poor neighborhood and is a story about a crippled man, a drunken slut (not really, but she was in the begining) and her lover that was also a drunk and abusive. The drunk lover leaves, the cripple shows his love for her, she's with him. Then the drunk comes back, tries to steal her away, big fight in the end.

It was really great. Our seats were 6 rows back, almost center stage. I was worried that I'd get bored, but it was awesome. The vocals of all the cast members was amazing. And, for times when you couldn't understand them - there was supertitles that ran above the stage (that was pretty cool.) During intermission I asked J what he thought - and he was enjoying it too. I don't think he was paying attention to the supertitles though ~ he said he couldn't understand part of what they were saying/singing, but got the overall point with the acting. I guess that's what it would have been like if the opera were in Italian. You just have to get the feeling from what the actors are doing onstage, and also feeling the emotion they give when they sing.

I liked it. I'm glad we went. The audience was a mix of casualware, business ware, and then dressy. We went the dressy route. I mean, when else will I get to wear my nice dresses? Only when I go on cruises? Nah.

It's Friday!

Thank goodness! I've decided to delay my actual start of "work" related topics. Last night J and I went to the LA King's hockey game. It was fun. Carmen Electra was there to gain support or something for her charity. Also the 50 contestants for the Miss USA and the reigning Miss USA - recovering alcoholic Tara Conner. Apparently after the event, the group went to celebrate Tara's 90 day sobriety, according to TMZ.com. interesting stuff. Also there was Ryan Seacrest, Kim Kardashian (the one with the sex tape), and a few other C list celebrities.

The game started off not so hot. The Chicago Blawkhawks were up 2-1 by the beginning of the 2nd period. At the end of the 3rd and final period, it was tied. So on came the shoot-out! Most out of 5 shots wins! Unfortunately, they tied that too....So came Sudden Death. Man! I've never seen that before! Talk about being a bundle of nerves! So, after SEVEN attempts from both sides, the Blackhawks came through with the win. Even though it was sad to see them lose, it was really exciting! But totally bummed because only 1 fight ensued. That sucked! And I learned why the refs just stand around during the fight...Apparently they let them fight until they hit the ice. When they're down, that's when they break up the fight. No blood though.

Tonight I'm going out with my mom and 2 of her friends. It's one of their bdays - and somewhat recently separated from her husband, and so my mom and the other friend decided a night out is a great idea. And, since i'm no longer the little 8 year old that would try to eavesdrop on their "adult" conversations - now I get to join! It's so weird. I remember being 9, 10, 11 and always wanting to hang out at the kitchen table where all the adults spoke. I just was so in awe of the interaction and the gossip and everything. Now I get to participate as well. I mean, when I am around my teenage cousins, I still picture them as being young kids. So I'm always leery on talking about grown up things. I have a hard time separating my memory from what they actually are now....They live in a society where you learn things a LOT younger than when I was growing up (which wasn't even that long ago!). But yet my mom and her friends are able to see me for who I am, not what I was.

Shortie might join, if the hubby is working. And tomorrow starts the REAL official countdown of the cruise! I'm so excited. I hope the weather is great. It's been between 80-90 all week here. There's nothing worse than leaving fabulous weather for crappy weather! Anyways, I'm getting bugged by my security officer that I shouldn't be blogging, but working. HA.