"Work and Play Are Never Okay to Mix the Way You Do" - Jimmy Eat World


Vacation's over. Back to reality. Oh, there goes gravity. Defying gravity. Wicked. I miss New York!

Sure, with all the snow and weather problems and rudish people, one would wonder why anyone would want to live in New York. I, on the other hand, really love the city life. I like the quick pace of the rush rushiness. I like being able to take the subway virtually anywhere. I love the fact that everyone is out on the street walking places! I think I'm ready to live in New York...

Well, that's not going to happen in the next year or so because I've been extended at my job for another year! Yeah, not just one month, or two months, or three months, or four months, or five months, or six months, or seven months, or eight months, or nine months, or ten months, or eleven months, or twelve months, but one whole year! How sweet it is to have some sort of job security. In addition, I got a very tiny raise. One buck more an hour! Yes!

So, a pointless happy buy has been a long time coming. I'm thinking of getting a Nintendo DS. I was kind of interested in it when it first came out, but I wasn't so sure about the game selection. There are some new games coming out and free Wi-Fi connectivity that have pushed me to buy one just for the hell of it. You know? Just because I'm that kind of gimmicky gadget buying guy.

And yesterday, I took Lind-z and her friend to Disneyland for the night. And to keep me company, Cat volunteered to be my ride buddy, but flaked out to invite some friends of her own over. So I ended up hanging out with Rionheart. We did pretty well for only 4 hours in the park. We rode California Screamin' (where we almost sat on a giant loogey and Rionheart added to the saliva count), Matterhorn, and the yet-to-open Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (twice)!

Riders use laser guns to help Buzz Lightyear defeat Emperor Zurg. As you go through the ride, you shoot at many targets that hold different point values. At the end of the ride, you are ranked by the number of points you have. I believe both times, I ended up as a Space Cadet.

Too bad I'm still working. Disneyland is supposedly going to remain open for a straight 50 hours starting May 5th to kick off the 50th anniversary celebration. Oh well, you know what they say: Work and play don't mix... Or is it, all work and no play makes... Damn. What was it? Screw it. It's the weekend and I'm not supposed to be thinking.



Toasting to the good times, good lives,

Gimmicky
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Rest & Recreation & Frustration


New York. What a freakin' ride!

Many things happened that seemed for the worse, but ended up well in the end.

We begin with our subway trip (3 transfers) from the airport. Well, actually, with the heavy luggage and all, that just plain sucked. So let's skip down to Wicked.

Before the trip, I ordered tickets from Ticketmaster to ensure that we'd get to see Wicked (because it's the hottest thing on Broadway right now). The tickets I got were "partial view" seats for $55; second row (CC) seats 6, 8, and 10 (far right). In an attempt to save Erico Suave and MacArthur money for other shows, we entered in the lottery (2 hours before the show), which draws for the first two rows. If we were to win lottery tickets, I would then give my tickets to Ellvin Kelvin and his girlfriend. Ten minutes before the lottery was to take place, Ellvin Kelvin called me and told me to enter his name into the lottery and that he'd get there just in time. But I was afraid they wouldn't let me do it or something, I was chicken crap, so I didn't. And sure enough, Ellvin Kelvin came right when the lottery started. So he was disappointed in me. So the lottery started, and name by name, none of us were called (there were a lot of people). So after the last name called wasn't us, Erico Suave and MacArthur went to sit down while I went outside to apologize to Ellvin Kelvin. Then, I saw the lottery drawer calling out another name and I saw Erico Suave jump up. HE WON! Turns out that some people didn't need the original requested number of tickets, so two were left. And after Erico Suave bought the tickets, his seats read row CC, seats 2 and 4. Right next to my seats! So we all got to sit together anyway.

We got to see a show every night during this trip. The next show we saw was Beauty & the Beast, which was okay. We bought tickets at TKTS for half off; all the way in the back center. The next day we tried for Avenue Q lottery tickets, but lost, so I bought RUSH tickets for Brooklyn (front row, far right), which was also okay. Actually I enjoyed it for its powerhouse performances and creativity. But the story was a little hard to get into and overly dramatic at times; See CORNY. But Eden Espinosa, of Disneyland fame, was freakin' amazing and she's smokin' hot! (She has better hair in person.) After the show, I told her to come 'home' for Disneyland's 50th anniversary.

Then came Avenue Q day. At first, Erico Suave and MacArthur weren't keen on paying $97 (full price) for the show (probably any show unless it's a Cirque show). So, since I really wanted to see it, and since I was willing to pay whatever, I got a ticket early in the morning (sixth row, far left). Then, when showtime came around, and we lost the lottery for a second time, they lined up in the cancellation line and hoped to buy tickets for $97. Right up to showtime, tickets opened up and they got in (sixth row, far right). So we all enjoyed the show and I bought myself a T-shirt.

Then on the last night, they wanted to see Phantom of the Opera, but I didn't. So they went to the box office and bought $20 tickets for rear mezzanine, far right. I wanted to see Rent instead. I've heard that the lottery for Rent is very easy to win because they give away 34 seats and the show's old, so no one really goes. But being a Monday (when most shows are dark), Rent, Phantom, and one other show were the only ones playing. So of course there was a huge turnout for the lottery and the show was almost sold out. Well, we three entered and didn't win. So as Erico Suave and MacArthur went to Sketchers to shop, I ran to the opposite end of Times Square to get half priced TKTS seats. When I got there, the tickets were sold out! So I ran back and dreaded paying full price for a show I'd seen 3 times already, but I wasn't about to do nothing that night, so I decided I'd just pay. When I got to the box office, all sweatylike, I asked the ticketman if he had any seats left.

The ticketman said, "Yeah, I got some left."
I replied, "What's the cheapest you have?"
"How many do you need?" he asked.
"Just one."
"Let's see," he said while typing into his computer. Then he stopped. "Oh! Just one? I have an extra $20 lottery seat here."

I was freakin' ecstatic! I gave him $20 and I got a front row, far right ticket. And being the 4th time watching that show, I can honestly say that that cast was the BEST cast I've ever seen do it. The Mark was great. The Roger looked the part and sang exactly like the soundtrack and even played his own guitar! And the Mimi had the most energy I've seen. It was an incredible way to end the trip.

It just goes to show that when things look their darkest, a light will shine through in the end. Yeah, I stole that from Kingdom Hearts.

Of course, we did do other New Yorkian things than watch a bunch of shows. We visited Central Park, the Empire State building, the Statue of Liberty, Rockafeller center, 5th Avenue, The Natural History Museum, and other places.

Oh and there were some plumbing problems that wouldn't leave us alone. For instance, the third day, we found the bath tub/shower was flooded. Then on the last day, the toilet wouldn't stop flushing. But it all was resolved in the end.

Oh yeah, and then on the last day, it snowed. It was pretty harsh by California standards. And when we reached the terminal, some New York ladies were making fun of us because to them, this storm is a "flurry." So we conceded that we were wimps when it came to snow storms, but when we reach the check in counter, we found our flight cancelled! Some freakin' FLURRY!!! But for some reason, we had decided to leave for the airport 4 hours early and they were able to get us on a flight to Long Beach. The flight left at 7pm (we got to the airport at around 6pm), but that flight had originally been scheduled to depart at 3pm. So I guess it was delayed for us!

It was a weird vacation, but fun. It had its stresses and messes, but fun. And that's it.



Staying on the west coast where toilets and showers WORK,

Ricky
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On the SunNY Side


Here we go again!

It's off to New York again for me tonight. I'm very excitamated! I'm also a little scared. This trip is going to be so spontaneous. We've got really nothing planned.

All's I know is that we're seeing Wicked tomorrow night and it's going to snow like crazy. Well, I guess we'll just follow wherever the almighty subway takes us.

I still have to pack. Can't add anything more because I don't know anything more!

I will be back next week! Or if something cancels our flight again, I'll be sure to bitch about it later tonight.



Slacking at packing,

Ricky
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Friday Night Cabin Fever


I'm going freakin' nuts here. I am going insane. Really insane. I'm about ready to scream, crawl out of my skin, and run straight into a wall just because I feel all clammy inside.

I think it might be because I worked out earlier today. After a workout, sometimes it feels good. However, sometimes it makes you the most uncomfortable you've ever been in your life and you'll find yourself wanting to hurl yourself off a cliff.

Couple this miserableness with the fact that it's been harder for me to breathe lately and you have one very annoyed and irritated GOD PLEASE SOMEONE PUNCH ME IN THE FACE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm antsy. I'm pissy. I'm irritable. I'm jittery. I'm smelly. I'm masochistic (at the moment). I'm volatile. I'm moody. I'm flatulent. I'm itchy. I'm crabby. I'm bored. I'm tired. I'm hyper. I'm going to scream if I don't end this blog right now.



Having a case of writer's blog,

Sickly
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Party Shuffle


Two things.

The iPod shuffles I ordered three weeks ago finally came in the mail. I bought one for Ellvin Kelvin for his birthday and one for myself, but I had to say that it was for both Timotei and I because my parents would frown upon me having two iPod products. Timotei uses it most of the time anyway, so I'm trying to get him to give me $100 and just call it his own.

But I think they're great! They are so small and light that you barely even notice that you're carrying it. And the sound quality is superb! You seriously can't believe such a tremendous sound is coming from such a small bubble gum-sized thing. The box advertises that you can put 120 songs on the 512MB iPod shuffle, but I managed to fit 138 tunes on Ellvin Kelvin's. He loves it! I just hope he can find a place to recharge it in New York, seeing as he doesn't have a computer.

Some people won't get the shuffle because it doesn't have a screen. But the thing I learned while listening to my regular iPod is that I usually pick a playlist (I have one or two favorites) and play them in shuffle mode. I'll just listen to the songs in that list without ever looking at the name of the song because 95% of the time, I know what that song is. The playlist is filled with songs I love and want to hear, so the screen isn't needed. A screen would be needed if you want to navigate through many song files, but since the shuffle only holds around 120 songs, navigation really isn't necessary. So to me, the iPod shuffle is more like the ultimate playlist player. It's ultra compact and portable and just bitchin'.

But enough gushing over my new toy. My other "thing" is a report from Grampy and Granny K's anniversary super banquet bash. It was pretty cool. My family all got new snazzy suits and outfits for the dinner and we were told to socialize.

Love was in the air.

It was like going to the Winter Formal.

Cute airplane stuff.

After all the planning and flower making and arguments over stuff and stuff, it was all worth it. My Granny K's were extremely happy they got to see so many of their friends and family. Overall, they had fun, we had fun, and we took a ton of pictures. Oh yeah, one more thing... I overate.

By the way, it's Catwoman's birthday today, so if you see her, give her a 'Huzzah!'



Scruffled,

Ricky
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Overeaters Anonymous


Food is the devil. You do realize that, don't you?

Last Wednesday, everyone in our department at work celebrated our appreciation for a specific co-worker at Luminarias, near Cal State L.A. I have always hated all-you-can-eat buffets because you pay a hefty price and therefore are pressured into eating a ton of food to get your money's worth. So there I was eating plate after plate after plate after plate of food and during that fourth plate, the food just hit me and I stopped. I seriously just sat there with an "oh god, I'm going to explode if another piece of food goes anywhere near my mouth" look on my face, in front of my boss to boot. When I get full, I get sick. I'm one of those guys who finds it almost impossible to burp on command, so the gas just sits in my chest and gurgles in my throat. So I feel gaseous and bloated and in serious stomach pain. I found it incredibly hard to return to my work that afternoon. It hurt all the way through that night.

So you'd think I'd have learned my lesson, right? Wrong. Today, we were treated to a free lunch by the president of the company. To max out what we were allowed to spend, I got a BBQ Combo Platter (ribs, ham steak, and BBQ shredded chicken) and a box of chicken strips and fries. I ate till I was comfortably full. But then, because it is Erico Suave's birthday today (if you see him, wish him a Merry B), his family invited me to dinner at a chicken pot pie place (CPPP) called Moffett's. I got a hearty chicken pot, chicken pot, chicken pot piiiiiie dinner and ate till I was too stuffed to eat even ice cream dessert cake.

Then the chestular gas came. Made me feel completely ill.

So the moral of the story is, I should learn to limit my food consumption because it's not fun stuffing yourself uncomfortably only to find out that there's no room left for a freakin' delicious slice of Baskin Robbin's cookies n' cream ice cream cake.



Eat me,

Ricky
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We Like, We Like To Party


This past Sunday night, we celebrated Grampa K's glorious birth. And although many of us played Kingdom Hearts all night and others played... well, I don't really know what anyone else was doing since I was playing Kingdom Hearts all night, but we still had plenty of time for cake! Cake! Cake purchased by all the Granny Kids with almonds on the side just like the olden days!

Ain't it all grand?

There's plenty more partying coming in the next few days, rest assured.

In otra news, I finished Book the Eleventh (the latest released Lemony Snicket book), The Grim Grotto, and it was great! Reading the entire series is more than just reading a bunch of kids' stories. It's really like an experience. It's so clever how the author narrates and incorporates the reader into the story. I hate the fact that I'll have to wait till this Fall to read the next book in the series, seeing as it ended in a huge cliffhanger. Screw Harry Potter! I want to know what will happen to the Baudelaires! Ha ha hate waiting.



Partying is such sweet sorrow,

Ricky
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The Year of Me


Gong hay, you big fat choy.

Yes, move over cakesniffers. It's my year. It's the year of the rooster. The year of the chicken. The year of the things that everything tastes like. Does that sound nasty?

Anyway, apparently something is amiss with this year and all who were born under the Rooster. BA GOK! My parents explain that something with the last years and the first years makes this year squashed between two years and that's bad. Believe it or not, that's verbatim! So I was told to carry this good luck charm that should send away bad luck. For all you other Roosters out there, you're screwed.

In other news, last night, I fell asleep and found that I was having trouble breathing. It felt as if my throat was numb and closing shut which obviously made it harder to breathe. So, being the Who-Careser I am, I went to the gym this morning and ran on the treadmill. Sadly, I only ran 3/4 of a mile before my throat started to close up again. Suddenly I had extreme shortness of breath and fell under a dizzy spell. I left the gym immediately, but felt like throwing up outside. I had to sit on a curb for 10 minutes to catch my breath and level my head before driving home. I was really scared. Actually it's still pretty scary thinking about it. I hope I'm just getting a cold or something.

But then again, I didn't have my good luck charm with me, so maybe it's the Rooster's Curse!



Never running again,

Ricky
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A "D"-lightful Night of Opera


After a particularly lazy day and afternoon yesterday (spent finishing up The Hostile Hospital, watching Batman: The Animated Series, and sleeping), I was invited by Erico Suave and MacArthur to try out The Macaroni Grill near my house.

I was totally up for it because I've never been there before and it gave me a chance to catch up with them since I hadn't talked with them in a while.

So as we were greeted and eventually seated at the Mac G, we got a huge shock when we noticed that our old old high school friend Dizzy Faye there. Erico Suave and I hadn't seen her for, well, probably since 1999.

Way back in high school, my core group of friends, affectionately known at the time as The Loud Crowd, entered a talent show competition where the five girls in our group became, for one night only, the Spice Girls. Our team was challenged by another group of girls and I'm happy to report that we kicked their collective asses and walked away with the $50 grand prize. Well, Dizzy Faye, who wasn't really in our group (but was on loan and an honorary Loud Crowder), played the part of Scary Spice.

Anyway, so we catch up at our table. Erico Suave tells her where he works. I tell her that I work for an insurance company to which she replied, "Oh... well that's okay." And she told us that she of course works at the Mac G and is an opera singer there! That was surprising. We knew she could sing, but opera?

So as we ate our dinner, we could hear the most beautiful of operatic (if that's even a word) voices from around the restaurant and sure enough, it was Dizzy Faye! Man, she can sing! After this year, she told us, she is going to study opera singing and stuff on the East Coast. I'm so happy for her!

At the end of the night, when your friend works at a place you just ate, you are required to tip big. So we sent them a 25% tip and left the restaurant all warm and cozy or however opera is supposed to make you feel.

Then, with no plans or place to go (and perhaps to make it a theme of the night), we ended up seeing The Phantom of the Opera movie. Of course, I had no idea what to expect, and opera really isn't my thing (unless it's a rock opera), so I was pretty gung ho over the entire experience. Bottom line, I liked it. The story was slow, but interesting and some of the music was great, if not repetitive and sleep inducing, but yeah, I liked it. The Phantom though bugged me. He didn't really sing that well and the way his mouth moved sometimes was distracting. But the girl who played Christine was hot and had a voice to boot. So all in all, I don't think I'd watch the movie again, but I'm interested in seeing how things are staged in the show in New York. So I'll give it a shot (granted that it's not expensive).



Unnecessarily singing that last blog,

Ricky
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The Rambunctious Reader

I am enjoying the hell outta these Lemony Snicket books! Warning, there might be some very minor spoilers (thoughts on outcomes) for The Ersatz Elevator and The Vile Village below.

On Monday, I read Book the Sixth (The Ersatz Elevator) and after hearing that it's the best in the series, I would tend to disagree. I thought it was very good and did include a few surprises and hints at the overall story behind the stories, but I just wouldn't say it was the best. By the time it ended, I felt that nothing really had progressed.

Then, yesterday and today, I read Book the Seventh (The Vile Village) which I thought was just awesome! For me, thus far, this is the best in the series. The way the author slyly slips in hints about the bigger mystery behind the books. I really love how that's done. I'm talking about Jacques, if you're wondering. It really makes you think. Toss in a very clever puzzle (that was a hoot figuring out), some nice couplets, a very likable guardian, and probably the happiest ending so far, and you have my favorite Unfortunate Events book.

Now, I love how Lemony Snicket drops hints in every book, but there comes a time when he's gotta give us something; anything! I mean, c'mon! It's been two books and I still don't know what V.F.D. really means! Although I do have an idea of what it might stand for. I guess I'll just keep reading on and he'll reveal everything in the whopping 300 page 13th book!

I finished The Vile Village at around 7:40pm. Then I remembered that my cousins, The Oblongs, don't have even numbered books in the series (for some reason), so I did a quick search for Book the Eighth (The Hostile Hospital) at my local library's website and found that they had one copy availble! With the library closing at 8pm, I rushed over there and checked it out. Very fortunate for me!



Hooked on books,

Ricky
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