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Afterthoughts : This Past Month
The first month of the new year was jammed packed with stuff. You know that saying, "Get a life?" I highly recommend anyone that doesn't have a life to get one. They're fun. This month I've been able to do so many wonderful things. I can't wait for February, which includes Valentine's day, and a trip to the taping of the show Ellen with TheGirl.
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Enterprise from Paramount float
Jan 1, In what is becoming a tradition TheGirl and I went down to Pasadena to check out the Rose Parade floats lined up along Orange Grove ave. the night before the parade. We have gone two years straight now. Though the first time last year was a little better because there were more floats. By the time we left past midnight they were still moving floats up to the gate. It's funny, because we've gone to this thing twice in two years, but I haven't even watched the parade. Ha!
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TheGirl on rollerblades
Jan 2, On the first full day alone with TheGirl we went to Long Beach to take a ride down her favorite bike path. She on her roller blades, and me on my bike, took the path for about a mile and a half, and then back to my car. It was a nice change of pace. But since I don't have rollerblades I rode my bike. My bike with the hard seat. My bike with a bike seat that hurt after five minutes of riding. My butt her after the trip, but it was awesome to spend time with TheGirl. I Love her!
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My cousin's new baby girl
Jan 9, My cousin had her new daughter about a month ago, but this was the first time I got to actually meet her and hold her. She's an adorable little thing. Her name is Natalia. I had a girlfriend named that. You know, other people's babies are nice to hold, but I still don't want to have one of my own. I'm too old to start a family at this point. I'm all about me. HA!
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Jan 11, TheGirl's ex was served with papers today. And of course an angry email followed soon after. He found it completely insulting that she was asking for alimony. It's within her right to do so, of course. Doesn't mean he has to be happy about it, of course. But let's call a spade a spade.. she can't take care of her daughter without that money right now. She's searching for a full time job, but it's hard out there. And since he pretty much threw their daughter out on the street, it's up to TheGirl to make sure she can take care of her.
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Burrito Sonora from El Zocolo restaurant at Disneyland
Jan 13, Yes, on Friday the 13th TheGirl and I went to Disneyland after work. I do miss that place now if I don't go at least once a month. Crazy huh? I'm spoiled. We went and had dinner (pictured above) and got on a few rides. A good night, to say the least.
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Jan 14, Despite her Father working for Disney for so many years TheGirl has not watched every Disney movie ever. It happens. But one that she hadn't watched that surprised me was "Beauty and the Beast." This is one of my favorite Disney films. The term classic is thrown around so much these days. But this is truly a classic. It's one of the best Disney films ever, and I wanted to share that with TheGirl. So we hopped into my car and went to CityWalk. We walked around, eat some tasteless hot dogs from Pink's, and then went into watch the movie. The print was beautiful, pristine. I was in awe at how clear the film looked. A good time was had.
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Computer lab moments before class started
Jan 18, Today was the first day with my new class. Last year I headed a computer lab for seniors. But this year I have an actual class with a lecture. Scary, but super fun. I started out nervous, but quickly found my bearings. I'm don't worry about public speaking much these days, and I know that most of the questions asked by the seniors aren't going to be that touch that I can't answer them. Most of the time they were still trying to master the mouse. It's a nice feather in my cap to now have classroom experience under my belt.
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burger and fries at Daglas
Jan 20, I have spent so much time with TheGirl that I decided I needed to spend some time with my neglected buddy Zach. So I told him I was free for dinner. We usually don't know where to go. But this time a burger joint named Daglas in the Valley was mentioned by him. I said sure, and we were off after work. The place looked like nothing special. But the food was quite good. The burger first didn't excite me. But then a second bite revealed a good burger. The fries were crazy good. They were seasoned and there were plenty of them. It was a good burger, and I'm sure my buddy and I will be back.
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First Bargain store in Van Nuys
Jan 23, Being my day off I decided to run a bunch of errands. I ended up going to Van Nuys to get some things like a squeegee for the car at one of those fake 99 cent stores. There's one that I used to frequent when my Grandmother was alive called First Bargain (pictured above). I went in their and looked for the squeegee. Sure enough, I found it, after much searching. During my search my mind thought back to those days when my Grandmother and I would shop there and I began to get emotional. In just over a week it will be the seventh anniversary of her passing. Perhaps that was on my mind.
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Jan 27, For the last couple of weeks TheGirl and I have been in contact with the manager of a restaurant we frequent in Eagle Rock called The Coffee Table in order to have my photos displayed up on their walls. This starts a few weeks ago when we were trying to pump ourselves up for the coming year. We need to get some things done, and not just talk about them. While having dinner at the Coffee Table we noticed that the painting that were up before had been replaced. We asked one of the employees about the display and he told us that local artists do have their work displayed there. From that moment we have called, and followed up, and had meetings with the manager in order to get this going. It's a small step, but I think one in the right direction towards the ultimate goal of getting my work out there for the public to see.
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montage 1)El Capitan 2)"Mighty" Wurlitzer 3)The Waffle 4)Chinese theater
Jan 28, Today might have been the best day ever with TheGirl. Thursday night I was reading LA magazine and noticed in the things to do section that there was a tour of the El Capitan theater. I went on the website for the Los Angeles Historic Theater Foundation and booked the tour after confirming with TheGirl that she was interested in going as well. I read on the site that the tour was going to start at 7:45pm. But last night I noticed that it was actually 7:45am! That meant we had to wake up super early.
Seven thirty am Saturday is quiet in Hollywood. There are some people, but none of the tourist are around yet. Once inside the theater we were entertained by the "Mighty Wurlitzer." Then the tour started and the big group of people was split up into smaller groups that toured the stage, the dressing rooms, and the blower that powers the pipe organ. TheGirl and I really enjoyed the tour, and we both agreed that it was worth waking up early on our day off.
Following the tour we walked around Hollywood blvd. The weirdos on the street make the street come alive. But the girl and I were getting hungry, so we decided to head out and get some food. I remembered there was a place called The Waffle down on Sunset that I had heard was pretty good. So we headed there. I had a waffle along with a pair of eggs, hash browns, and bacon. TheGirl had a breakfast burrito. The meal was better than I expected, and I so want to go back there again.
Lake Shrine and us
Following breakfast we decided to head to a destination we had tried to visit last month, The Lake Shrine at the Self-realization Fellowship in the Palisades. So we hot footed it to the Palisades. The Lake Shrine was everything I expected it to be. TheGirl was moved by the beauty of the ocean as we drove up to the Lake Shrine. The entire time at the lake she was a little quieter than normal.
After the Lake we returned to Hollywood blvd and El Capitan, specifically the Disney soda fountain. We had dinner and a hot fudge sundae to top off a great day. TheGirl called it the best day ever. I added that it was the best day... so far.
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Jan 31, This morning I went and got a root canal. Not my idea of fun. I almost rather have gone to work. Almost. Today marks eighteen months with TheGirl. Today also marks seven years since my Grandmother passed away. It's tough to be happy about one anniversary while thinking of the other. I went to visit my Grandmother's grave today between the dentist and evening work. I told my Grandmother that this is going to be my year. That I miss her so very much. That I want her to meet TheGirl. That I have lived my life to its fullest, like she told me to do on her deathbed. I also told her that I have made some mistakes since she passed. But that I'm striving to better myself. I love her very much, and miss her more than anything or anyone. Rest in peace.
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