California pt 2

Where did I leave off? Oh yes, I was playing with a baby and really could care less for it. This is actually reason number 2 of why I’m not cut out to be a homemaker, but I’ll get to that for another time. The next day, Bogey and I hit the slopes. I originally wanted to visit during the spring, but Bogey convinced me to come out earlier so that we could go snowboarding up at Lake Tahoe.

I chickened out and went skiing instead since I’m much better at it. But not really. Cause I spent most of my time on my ass instead of skiing. I actually forgot how to ski. The first time I came off the lift, I immediately fell. I then forgot how to steer myself, how to stop, and how to pick myself back up when I fell. Quite pathetic. Bogey forced me to go down the slopes though and was patient and followed me the entire time. I was doing really well for a while there, but when we started hitting the steeper slopes, fear wrenched me and took over. I was frozen and forgot about all the progress that I was making earlier. After numerous falls and pit stops, I was finally able to make it down the mountain. It probably took us close to 4 hours to make 3 runs.

The view from the mountaintop was breathtaking. You could see the lake and it went for miles. It was ice blue and looked so calm. The air was so fresh. My lungs felt great breathing it all in. The world looked so peaceful and clean up there. I was memorized by the scenery.

Man was I sore the next day. I could barely lift my arms above my shoulders. It hurt to walk. That day we took it easy and visited Muir Woods, which houses the beautiful redwood trees. The trees were magnificent. They just towered and loomed over us and I felt so small, but in a good way. You definitely don’t see trees like that on the East Coast.

That evening we ate at a sushi restaurant called Sushi Ran that has a month long waiting list! We just happened to walk up before it opened and asked if they had any tables. They replied if we came exactly at 5:30, they could squeeze us at the sushi bar. I’m not a huge fan of sushi and ended up getting this phenomenal scallops dish. It was like butter. The scallops were so sweet and juicy. Delicious!

My last full day there we went shopping in Union Square. Bogey bought me this beautiful Coach bag for my b-day gift. I told you I would collect from him! I used some gift cards and he paid the difference. Isn’t she pretty? I love it!

I also rode the trolley from Union Square to Fisherman’s Wharf to buy my Mom some taffy. I think it’s so cool that they still have the trolley system, but I bet if I were a driver behind one of them I would be pissed.

I love how different California is from the East Coast, especially the Bay Area. The landscape is truly amazing. There are hills, canyons, and beaches all within miles of one another. San Francisco reminds me a lot like a cleaner New York City. It has that great city feeling, but a lot more laid back than New York. And I love being on top of a mountain and looking down to see the Bay Area. It’s so pretty.

Overall the trip was very enjoyable. The weather was perfect and it was great to spend time with my brother. He kept asking me when I was going to move out there. Its definitely tempting right now. It’d be nice to live there and experience something different. Maybe I’ll get over my fear of moving away from here and do it.

California Pt 1

I'm going to post my California trip in sections since I really want to capture my experience but am too lazy to sit down and write it all at once. I blame ADD for that. So enjoy.

I wish I were still on vacation. Visiting California was exactly what I needed. It was nice to get away and spend time with my brother and his fiancé, Ad, and her family. I only checked my work e-mail twice (unfortunately I have to, I get around 35-45 e-mails in any given day. Crazy!) I went there to unwind and just enjoy myself, which I did. All my co-workers commented on how relaxed and refreshed I looked. The weather was absolutely perfect and overall I had an amazing time.

Its been over a year since I’ve seen my brother. He hates coming to the East Coast during the winter cause its so cold and hates coming here in the summer cause its so hot. So he rarely visits, and I haven’t been there in about 4 years. So it was high time I went out there.

There is an 8-year gap between my brother and I. He went to college when I was just 11 and hasn’t returned home since. Basically I grew up as an only child and most people forget that I have a brother. I idolized him when I was growing up. Everything he did, I wanted to do, everything he had, I wanted. I think I drove him a bit nuts growing up, and I know I was a pain in his ass. We weren’t that close growing up. But now that we’re older, I think we have come to appreciate one another. It’s a nice relationship.

The first day I got there we just chillaxed. We took his dogs out for a hike in the canyons. They are so effing cute! I also met my brother’s step-grandson. A little back-story here. My brother’s fiancé is 12 years older than he is (they were the original Demi and Ashton) and she has two kids. Her daughter is my age and her son is two years younger than me. Well her son, Paul, and his girlfriend Nong, and their 6-month-old baby are currently living with Bogey and Ad. What makes this story even better is that Paul kept this from Ad until his girlfriend was about to pop the baby out. Bogey said he saw her once during the beginning stages of her pregnancy and just thought she was getting fat. That’s so typical of my brother.

Anyhoo, so I played with the baby, Mai, for half a second. I held him for a bit, but once he started to get fussy, I was like; ok I’m done with you, where can I drop you off? I’m just not a big fan of babies. They make a lot of noise and smell funny. Except Mai doesn’t really cry so that’s a plus for him. He is a cute baby, but he doesn’t just want to sit in your lap like Weasley, so I got bored of holding him after awhile cause he kept squirming. Man, I’m glad I don’t have a kid right now. I have no patience for such things.

I'll post the next parts later on this week and hope to also upload my pics too. I'm still on West Coast time, but need to try and get some sleep so that I can get some work done instead of obsessing over my bracket and who I should pick. Man, I have no idea who I want in my Final Four. Grrr.

Going Back to Cali

I'm going on vacation again for the next few days. I'll be visiting my brother, Bogey, in California. Hooray!!! Bogey lives right outside of Oakland and I haven't been out to see him in at least 4, maybe 5 years. The last time I saw my brother was a year ago. We're a bad family like that. I'm very excited to go. We plan on going snowboarding up in Lake Tahoe, and my brother tells me its the perfect weather for it because you can snowboard wearing a t-shirt. The last time I went snowboarding was actually with my brother, and man, I'm god awful at it, but looking forward to tackling it again. Not quite sure what else we'll be doing. It will be nice to get away for a few days, and my brother still owes me a birthday gift and you can be sure that I'm going to collect on it. I'll post my experience when I get back along with whatever pics I end up taking. Have a good weekend everybody! See ya when I get back.

And thanks Rachel for taking care of Mr. Weasley for me. He really wants Neo to come over and play with him.