Remodel

*peaks around the doorframe* Oh hey!  It's you!  Long time no see!  Come on in, come on in!

Sorry for the long wait, we've been really slammed over here with maintenance and upkeep.  To be honest we're still in the middle of our remodel, but that's okay.  You can check out what's going on:

So in case you hadn't figured it out from my OH-SO-SUBTLE facebook posting, I've been tearing it up with this goober for the past couple of months, eating a lot of brunch, telling stories, talking acting, and exploring L.A.:

 Speaking of L.A., some mild career dissatisfaction that escalated to downright hatred lead me to email an old theater professor for advice about possibly abandoning a comfortable and well-paying career to pretend I'm 22 again and okay with eating Ramen exclusively.  Or you know, "I'm thinking of becoming an actor".  Of course, he said "Don't do it."  But then he added "If you must, go to L.A. instead."

Well, how SERENDIPITOUS for me!  Because who should happen to already live in L.A.?  Why my aforementioned ginger companion, of course!  Don't mind if I do.

Soooo, it looks like my epic move will have a much more southwardly direction than previously expected.  But that's okay.  Sunshine all the time, tropical plants, continued beach access and someone I connect with effortlessly will hopefully ease the withdrawal from public transpo and hipsters.

So essentially, I'm scrubbing the blackboard clean and starting from scratch.  Who knows, maybe I'll teach again in the future.  Maybe I'll find myself actually working as an actor.  Maybe I'll nanny or go in a totally different direction.  Bottom line:  I'm changing things up, finding out what makes me happy, and doing it all with someone that makes me feel laid-back, excited, inspired and so many other things all at the same time.

Genuine smiles are the best smiles.

Vacation

So planning your own vacations is a super fun new thing that being a middle-class adult is allowing me to do.

That being said, a couple months ago my college acquaintance Andrew and I hatched a plan to go to Disneyland.  He lives in L.A. and said he'd show me around and then we could do a Disney day.  Two essential California adventures I needed to have before leaving the West Coast.

Now, I've gotta be honest:  Andrew and I hadn't seen each other since college and my feelings toward him were muddy at best.  I spent the first semester I knew him actively hating him and that grew into a comfortable tolerance by the end of college.  Neither one of us were sure how this visit would go, but it had potential for major awkwardness.  What can I say, I really wanted to go to Disneyland.

LUCKILY, seven years can do a lot to put people on more similar pages and we ended up having a great time.

Here are some pics:

 Wednesday:

Beginning of the journey.  Dangerous car-selfie.

Almost the whole drive passed by beautiful trees in bloom.  Cherry orchards?  Almond Ranches?  Other things?

Hour number four I see my first and only Arby's, which I subsequently blocked to take this picture.

More out-the-window landscapes.  Watching the sunset over this on the way back was magical.

 Thursday:

Mulholland Drive overlooking the Valley

Hollywood sign.  We never got very close.  Maybe I'll have to go back to check it out properly.

Andrew playing in the fountain near the Dolby Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. 

Grauman's Chinese Theater

For Ma

For May

For me.

We walked from Venice Beach to Santa Monica Pier and back, but my camera died so I don't really have any pictures.  I really liked the Venice Boardwalk, it was like Haight Street.

Under the Pier

Friday:

The man and the mouse themselves!

On Tom Sawyer's Island Pirate's Lair 

For William, but he probs won't read this.

Faux-candid shot "I look kinda dopey".

So Carsland is hella cool.  They recreated Radiator Springs!  It was like being on the set… of a cartoon. 

Having never seen Cars, Andrew didn't understand why I was so excited.

 We had dinner at Flo's.  Come ON.  That's cool.

Paradise Pier.

View from the Ferris Wheel.

Weirdest place in the park.  Mad Tea Party.

Glowing cocktails and thumping electronica.  Cool kinda sexy scene except there were kids EVERYWHERE.

The white rabbit threw down some fat beats.

Always the best ride.

Saturday we just kind of hung around and regrouped.  Went to a cool coffee shop, then headed out.  All in all GUH-reat vacay and sooooo not ready to start the school week.