bowling and Dustin Hoffman

Last night I went bowling with Becca and some co-workers. Becca and I walked from my house, and went the more populated route, through Hollywood and Highland, where most tourists head in Los Angeles. (Along the way I said to Becca, “I smell daffodils!” to which she said, “Well it’s almost spring.” Yes, yes it is, in LA.)

On the way, there were tons of people out and some kind of premiere happening at the Chinese Theater. Turns out it was actually for Luck, with Dustin Hoffman, who happened to be standing across the street. I resisted my urge to pull out my phone and snap a shot, as dozens of other people were doing, because I so wanted to disguise myself as someone from LA who doesn’t care about that type of thing. But boy, do I love Dustin Hoffman.

Then we headed to the alley, where I became forever known as “Bossy.” Are we surprised? After all, it is my boss’s nickname for me.

 After bowling, we walked home (as I joked about the fact that I had earlier said I needed to stop home for a coat, only to get out of the car and realize it was 70 degrees…) Becca and I stopped at the shoe store to see if they had anything cute. (In the shoe store, we stopped to look at some neon shoes, to which Becca said, “Well it’s almost summer!” Yes, that’s true in LA, too.)

Only in LA, I guess, do you see Dustin Hoffman, go bowling, and go shoe shopping in one night…

Cookware, and turkey, and golden pine cones.

Hello kids! I’m sorry I’ve been absent. I have been fairly busy over at GMS getting that blog under control. Tomorrow is our biggest day of the year: Thanksgiving.

Because I’ll be over there blogging tomorrow, I wanted to take a minute to reflect on this year so far.

This year has been crazy, both in good ways and sad ways. I’ve gained a brother. I’ve lost an uncle. I got to see my sister get married. I saw some friends bury other friends. Garlic, My Soul has exploded. Corelyn moved away.

This morning, before a busy day at work and a busy day at home, I decided I needed to do some yoga to energize my day. By the time I got home, I realized I needed another round to keep me going. And ten minutes of meditation.

After that, I could breathe deeply and get through an evening of cooking before another busy day tomorrow. And now, as I sit on the couch waiting for Corelyn to arrive, I wanted to go over what we were thankful for last year – we wrote ’em on a big ole piece of white butcher paper:

Good friends on both coasts! * Megan getting smashed (and maybe slapping ET) * GJH (and his patience) * I got a job! * The color purple! * Perspective * health & happiness <3 * A full gluten-free plate! * WINE + 3 * My LA friends * Color coded oven schedules + 1 * Jeffrey. In general. * Friends that roll with the punches and stick by you no matter what + 1 * Corelyn + turkey * Wonderful Friends and Family! * Justin Timberlake * JT + <3 + hand holding * Golden pine cones * Jeff + garlic bread * My mom and brothers * Castle ladies + travel * Mary + photos + 1 * Ellen + the gym + yoga * Melissa + GF cooking * Meat! * My new LA family! * scarves! * Being alive * Harry Potter * Brand new apartments * Slapsgiving – -Legendary! + 4 * Friends who are amazing cooks! * Cookware * Rebecca’s back rubs * Rebecca + hair + makeup * OTHER ASIAN! * We get to keep the pinecones! * Megan + twin day! * Google Docs + 1 * Corelyn + Jennie’s food blog <3 * Thanksgiving with friends! * Youth! * AZNS + 1 * My brother is working his s*** out + 1 * Coffee * Jeopardy! *

This year, I’m thankful for most of those things, and more, much more. And I can’t wait to share tomorrow with my LA family for the fourth year running. I’m thankful to be cooking a turkey for all of my family here, and thankful that Corelyn could make it, and that 19 others can make it, too. I am thankful for this modern love: friends becoming family, partners and boyfriends and girlfriends and sisters and brothers all becoming your best friend on the day of giving thanks. Traditions of writing thanks, blogging, crossword puzzles, coffee, parades, video chatting with family, and eating turkey, mashed potatoes, way too much pie, and snuggling up for a post-eating nap.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Sooner or later/I swear we’re gonna make it

Morning friends.

This morning marks my 500th blog post. I started this blog on October 17, 2008, nearly three years ago, upon my move to Los Angeles. I’ve written through a few jobs (working at the school, my newest job with Rebecca) and through new experiences (becoming a soccer coach, free lancing for a local magazine, running a 5k) and through exciting life changes (numerous cousins being born, my sister getting engaged.)

This is a picture of Jeff and I, three days after I started my new blog.

 This is our birthday party this year. I think we look pretty much the same.

One of my first photographs of food, when I started this blog. On my point and shoot.

A more recent photo from this spring. On Jeff’s fancy camera.

Do you see the difference? I sure do. In food quality and photo quality.

This blog has allowed me to have a place for people to follow me through my adventures, and to write when I feel the need to just get it all out. I look forward to the next 500 posts. I hope to continue to entertain you about my life, from the boring days of Shark Week to the exciting ones of my sister’s wedding. The past three years has since an advance in my photography skills, more than twenty “5 Good Things,” and a new cooking blog to focus on.

Life has gotten so exciting over the past three years, and I can’t wait to see what the next three years brings. Thank you, friends, for reading about my life, caring about my stories, and eating my food. It’s been a blessing.

 

 

24, please.

Hey folks. It’s Friday, thank goodness, and the day of Harry Potter 7.2. And the last day of my first week at my new job. So far, so good. It’s weird awesome working somewhere on the 24th floor of a building, in a cubicle, with people my age. And Rebecca. Also awesome.

This weekend is a busy one: HP7.2, B’s back staying with us for the weekend, Cricket’s move, Court’s party, San Diego on Sunday, and Carmageddon. For those of you not from LA, let me explain.

Do you see that part of the highway that’s red? That whole highway is going to be shut down for two days. Which may or may not wreak havoc upon the entirety of Los Angeles. People seem to be nervous that the entire world will be off kilter for the weekend, and meanwhile I’m just hoping that I can get to San Diego. Other people are stocking up food in their houses and not going anywhere – Rebecca’s trying to travel every where by bike! Luckily, I live pretty far from that highway, so I am hoping this will help me stay away from any major traffic jams.

Anyone in LA have opinions about the traffic? Anyone from not LA heard about this in the news?