San O!

It's been a long-standing tradition with my friends to take frequent trips to San Onofre on the weekends. We go to surf, soak up the sun, and just do some good ol' fashion hanging out. This Saturday was the first one I've been to in awhile, as well as Nate's first time to San Onofre. Without getting too into surf jargon, San O is a very good break for longboarders (me!) and great for some "tasty" waves :) Erin came along for the day, too. She had been to San O, just never with the HB crew.

Also, while Shannon and Dougie have been in Scotland with my parents, Erin and I have been taking care of their boxer puppy, Stella. I was really excited to take Stella and Stevie to San O with us, one, to tire them out a little, but also so they can have a little vaca themselves.

Here is Erin and Stella on the way there. Stella's face is saying, don't take my picture. But I did anyways ;)


This Nate about to go out for his "epic sesh." I think it lasted about 5 hours! Oh and don't let this picture fool you, the waves were pretty big.

I made sure to keep the doggies hydrated and cool. They preferred hanging in the back of Nate's Explorer or even underneath it. Stevie open your eyes!

After surfing and hanging out all day it was time to pack up and go. It was such a good time. Luckily, Nate informed me he liked it there so "we were allowed to go back." ha.


I can't even explain how tired we all were after our long Saturday in San O. 2 surfing sessions and laying in the sun can really take it out of you. Instead of telling you, I'll just show you how tired we were..


See... exhausted :)

ACCEPTED!!!

Your's truly just got accepted as a graduate student at the wonderful institute of San Diego State University. Yesss!

Time Traveler's Wife

Audrey Niffenegger's Time Traveler's Wife was by far one of the most unique books I've read in a long time.  I give the author a lot of credit for putting together such a well written book where the plot and story-line weaves between past and present (or the "here and now" as they called it in the book).  The way it is written does not make you think that you are reading science fiction, by any means.  She makes time-traveling so realistic, your "suspension of disbelief" is immediate.  

One example of how Niffenegger makes time traveling so real is that when Henry, the main character and time traveler,  time travels into the past or present he arrives completely naked and without materials.  His clothing and money can't go with him in his travels, so imagine the struggles Henry then has to endure to obtain these things.  He studies how to pick locks and steal just to be able to survive.  There are other ways he sets up his clothing and such, but I don't want to ruin it for you.

A thing to remember is that this book is not called The Time Traveler, but the Time Traveler's Wife.  Clare, the wife, was such an interesting character to me.  Because she cannot time travel it is actually her life that creates more of a chronological "present" for us.  Imagine meeting your future husband when you are 6 years old..  The whole book was such an interesting concept to me (as if you couldn't tell).

There were a couple of things that weren't so great for me.  First was the author, I think, would get a little too "risque" for my taste.  It was a little distracting, although I understand that she was trying to build her characters (I guess).  Second, there is one character in the book that I just didn't "get."  The character, Gomez, was supposed to be a best friend and a good guy, but there were things that happened that I couldn't just brush over.  I could go a little more into it, but I would spoil it and you know how I am against that.

All in all, I felt like the concept of this book was fascinating.  Like I said, the author could have tamed down some parts, but it's her book to decide, I guess.  

Interestingly enough, this book is being made into a movie.  I am curious to see how it all pans out on the big screen.  How did they feel about Gomez?  I definitely hope the cinematography is creative and keeps the artistic feel to it.

The end, not my best review ever, but what can I say, it's sunday and it is HOT.

George Michael - Eh at Best!

So last night Lauren, her mother-in-law Cheryl, and I went to the George Michael kick-off concert. Before you pass judgement, I was given the tickets free from work. I, by no means, sought out these tickets.

Moving forward with the story, none of my San Diego friends were too interested in going and NO WAY was I dragging Nate to go (his response: "I just really have no desire to go.....sorry."). So I was excited when I mentioned it to my best friend, Lauren, and she said she'd go. She'd have to drive from LA to do it, but she was up for it. Woohoo! Then while Lauren was at a Father's Day dinner with her in-laws, Cheryl, her mother-in-law mentioned how she HAD to go see George Michael, because he hasn't toured in 18 years, and he is soo good looking, and she just is such a big fan, etc. A quick call to me and it was planned. The 3 of us would go.

They drove down while I was at work. When I got home we had a delicious dinner and partly discussed what we were expecting. Expectations mostly revolved around what songs he'd sing and what he would look like. We expected something like this, just with some years added...

When we arrived about 15 mins early it was not crowded at all. Let's just say, good parking was still available. So there wasn't much of a crowd, but the few that were there were at least spirited in their love for Georgey (note: T-Shirts were running $45).

We got into our seats with about 10 mins to 8pm. A couple of things I forgot to mention: there would be NO opening act, the tickets said that the show would begin at 8pm PROMPT.

As I'm sure you can guess, the show did not start at 8pm, but 8:45pm. I have to say his stage was pretty cool with a huge TV screen that ran from the ceiling down the stage and stopped at the audience. He came out singing "Here I Am" and the crowd went wild. He voice was better than expected and I appreciated his dancing. BUT...

Slowly, I started realizing things that made me give the concert my mediocre review that titles this post. This is what I started noticing:

1. He was out of breath when he was singing. I chalk it up to not actually preparing for the concert. If you know you're going to be dancing a lot on tour, don't forget to hit the treadmill beforehand.
2. Because he was out of breath he would hold the mic up for the audience to sing a part of the song... I get it, artists do that, but 10 times in 1 song is a bit much. It reminds me of that joke when people are singing badly to a song, and you say, "who sings that?" They answer, "So and so," and you say, "Lets keep it that way." Well I just wish George Michael would have "[kept] it that way." you know?
3. He would drink water during a song. Yes, during.
4. After singing for an hour (starting late, remember) a big clock shows up for the screen. He had a 20 min intermission! REALLY Georgey?!?
5. He looked nothing like the George of his youth. He looked a lot like this, but worse.

Although I did have fun in the beginning, the intermission thing really drained my energy. My conscience started setting in and I came to the realization that I did not want to lose sleep over this mediocre performance.

I had driven with Lauren and Cheryl so I had to have Nate pick me up. Luckily, the first song after intermission was "Faith" so my night was complete after finally hearing the one song I really wanted to hear. I walked out of the concert early to meet my knight in shining Audi on the sidewalk.

A note to Georgey - hey, my dad is really enjoying retirement.. You should talk to him.

Sofia is Coming!!

This Saturday was my sister's baby shower and not to toot my own horn, but ShaSha, Mama, Gail (Lisa's friend) and I put on a good one (toot! toot!). I like to think we had some creative games that were new to most everyone, and who doesn't love a shower you get to leave with a doggie bag of food?

Anyways, I took just a few pictures. I would like to have taken more, but what can I say, I was hosting.

I bet you guys can guess who picked out this cake...


hehe.. ShaSha is so creative :)

The shower was at Gail's house, which is B-E-A-UTIFUL. That is a real coy pond.

Here is Mama, Pisa, ShaSha and me (aka Carol, Lisa, Shannon & Nikki). Lisa's due August 11th! I think she is looking great!

One highlight was a DVD Shannon put together of childhood pics of Lisa and Peter. It got a lot of tears and A LOT of laughs. This is Lisa looking at a picture of Peter and his sister, Elena.

All in all it was a great time had by all. I think one of the most exciting things about it is the realization that Sofia is coming soon. I can't wait to be an Auntie!

National Anthem & Young, Raw Talent

I wish I had some info to give you about these girls, but I don't. What I do know is that they gave me the chills :)

Best Picture Ever!!!

This is the best picture I have ever been a part of! Rock Band, Hulk hand, and all that hair... We are like the REAL DEAL!

Lost: My Imagination

Remember when boredom was a rare occurrence? When there was nothing to do, we would have some of our greatest adventures. Yeah, I miss that.

I’m sitting at my desk. I have nothing to do. I’ve checked all the usual blogs and websites that get me through my day, but it’s only 10am. Boredom has overcome me and I am going into a zombie-like state. My brain is devoid of any notable activity. This isn’t good.

There was a time when I would come up with some pretty exciting time-wasters. My question now is this: is this lack of imagination the effect of my physical surroundings or as I’ve gotten older have I lost touch with the creativity I once prided myself on?

My surroundings are these: cubicle, computer, hundreds of files, a phone, and the usual desk “trinkets.” There is nothing interesting going on. It’s almost eerily quiet today. My case for my surroundings.

But, what if it is more of a personal problem? The thought is scary to me. I was such an imaginative little kid. Where could that kid have gone?!

One time when I was 6 or 7 I was “kicked out” of my sister Shannon’s room while Lisa and her played Nintendo. Being the little sister I was, I decided to pester them by sitting right outside the doorway - I wasn’t in the room anymore, so it didn’t “count.” While I was sitting there I started looking around for things to play with. I found a bobby pin so I picked it up and started messing with it. It fit into the door lock nicely and I began thinking, where else could this thing with two prongs fit? "Oh I know… the electrical socket." So I carried the bobby pin into my bedroom. I spaced the prongs out perfectly with my fingers so it would fit in the two holes. I started getting closer, closer, closer… Right at the last minute I realized what I was doing. As soon as the bobby pin made it in the two holes I jumped back so that only some of the sparks touched me. My hair was sticking up, my fingers were burnt and I was still a little “jumpy,” but I had made it.

See how creative I used to be? Perhaps the electric shock fried my brain, literally. Its adverse affect only to show up now, 18 years later. My case for my loss of creativity.

All I can do is hope my imagination reappears sometime. It would definitely help with my boredom at work. Let me know if you see my imagination in some dark alley, or in a hospital, laid up from illness. Let it know you will take it to its home. Then call me asap and I will come by to pick it up. That is if I can fight off this boredom long enough.

It’s only 11am!