magicalobizuth

So this last weekend, we did two things. Saw Harry Potter IMAX in 3D (I hadn't seen it at all yet) at the Bridge. It was about freakin' time. It was an enjoyable movie, as far as movies go, but I will never understand all the need to change things you don't really have to. And of course, there is the tug of all the things you hoped would make it in the movie but never had a chance. I long ago divorced the books from the movies, and I am much happier that way.

So anyway, bottom line, I would give it a solid B. I loved all the goofy teen dorkiness that abounded in this one.

The other thing we did this weekend was get new bikes! Juan has been wanting to get bikes for a while now and after stalling and research, we finally got a couple. Our price point was pretty low, so we weren't looking for professional bikes or anything. We ended up at a local bike shop where the owner helped us out himself. It was nice, like a real neighborhood. It's hard to explain, but in LA, it's hard to get the real neighborhood vibe. That place was totally giving that vibe though. Kids and adults, all ages, walked in with their bikes or parts for help and/or replacements. It was nice to see a small local businessman doing well, especially in this economy. Been there for around 17 years or something like that.

Juan got a mountain bike because he wants to be able to go off the main road sometimes.



I got a 7-speed cruiser (with a basket!).


We went for a ride by the Los Angeles River (which you can see from our apartment balcony). We didn't ride much, I am so out of shape! It totally kicked my butt.

But I guess that is the hardest part, starting, right? Here's to making positive changes!

It was Juan's birthday yesterday and we celebrated a number of ways. I arranged a carne asada for him at his parent's house on Saturday and invited our friends (always referred to as "La Chusma") and our immediate families. My mom bought the meat (ranchera/beef skirt) and prepared it (I didn't have the time nor the room to go buy it as it was on sale on Thursday only), I bought the boneless chicken breasts and prepped those, mother in law made the rice and beans, I made a green chile and avocado salsa, potato salad, and kaptainsnot  made a super delicious carrot cake from scratch. Juan rented a karaoke machine again, but this time it was harder to get people to sing.Unfortunately, as the night went on, the people that did want to sing sang rather loudly, drunkenly, and crazily. They kept singing rancheras and doing the "ah ah ah ha ha ha" stuff on the mic when they certainly didn't need it. And no, this wasn't the immediate families or the Chusma. But we'll just leave it at that.

We had a good time and by the time we got home and into bed it was almost three in the morning. I was so tired that I wanted to sleep the entire day but we had an appointment at 5:00 p.m. in Universal City that we couldn't miss, so get up around noon we did. :D

We picked up kaptainsnot from my parent's house and drove to Universal Citywalk because I gave Juan a double flight at iFlyHollywood on Valentine's Day that he hadn't cashed in yet. I finally booked it for him and decided we needed to go because left up to him, he would never actually do it. It's a laziness thing of getting something done, I dunno. So anyway, we get there and just make it (ok, we were late but I called ahead). We get there as another group of flyers is in the tube with spectators surrounding from all sides. This only got Juan more anxious and excited. We walked up, signed in, signed his life away and bought the DVD (big mistake).

Juan then went to get changed and "trained" while we waited outside. About 15 minutes later, he was the first one to get in the tube. He was suited up in a black and purple jumpsuit, extra large goggles (to cover his glasses), and a black helmet. He had his arms tucked in with his fists under his chin as we walked to the doorway and gently fell forward in the wind tunnel. There was a coach in there the entire time, moving Juan around trying to get him to balance. After watching the video, Juan can't believe that he was so off, he needed to bring his knees down and be straight instead of U-shaped like he was. He just didn't know that is what he looked like while he was in there.

You get to fly for one minute at a time which sounds really short but is ample time to have fun in there. He flew twice and is ready for his next flight. And no, he has no want of flying out a plane. This gives you all the fun and adrenaline (maybe not as much adrenaline) of sky diving with all the safety you could possibly have. The only thing safer is tying a cable and swinging you above a mattress. lol

kaptainsnot  took a little bit of video, but I forgot to tell her to keep the point and shoot camera horizontal. So, some of the video is sideways. Sorry! I also added some of the photos to the end.



We had a great time watching him and he loved the flights. We had dinner afterwards and watched Hancock which was much better than what most people and reviews led me to believe. I am glad we gave it a chance. The Dark Knight was sold out at the IMAX there and there is no way that I am not watching this movie on IMAX. Maybe next weekend, we'll see. Anyway, it was a great weekend!

ETA: And I forgot to mention the neatest place that we discovered while there, The Los Angeles Sock Market!!

It's our anniversary! (ah Tony Toni Tone)

Anyway, today we celebrate four years of wedded bliss. LOL OK I can't even swallow that one without laughing. But we are truly blessed to have found each other no less than twelve years ago (last Tuesday, to be precise). We are at a stage in our lives where we aren't happy with what we have become (individually) and are starting to work on getting to the good stuff together.

We are reading the Abs Diet books (Juan has the orange one, I have the green one that is targeted towards women - there really is very little difference, mostly anecdotal, except for like one chapter). Now, I hate the word "diet". It is such a failure of a concept that I have never really actually been on a diet - ever. Sure, I will cut back on this or that, but officially declare myself on a diet? NEVER! This book kinda talks about that too and how it really is more of a lifestyle change which is what we all need anyway (or at least, most of us do). There isn't anything Earth shattering in the book, it is all very straightforward and helpful. It talks in plain English but it also gives you the background information to understand what is going on with your body. Remembering something as simple as muscle=calorie burning machines even while at rest is something that makes me want to strength train and that is a nice feeling. So we're learning a lot as we go through the book and I have cut back on my daily soda and converted to diet. That might not seem like a huge deal, but it is to me! I have also refused sweets and have made overall better lunch choices (and even had breakfast at home a few days this week instead of buying at the cafe downstairs). Increased water intake as well, as my morning bladder will sadly tell you.

So all these little changes (which we haven't even fully started yet) surely have to add up to something. I feel like this is really it this time. We have to make changes or we will be so disgusted with ourselves there will be little we can do to live with ourselves. Besides, with my recent diagnosis, it's really time I did something.

Well, I certainly digressed from my anniversary post! :D

I keep thinking back, not our wedding day so much, but that day that we sat at the bus stop, waiting for the 260 on Atlantic and 6th Street in East LA twelve years ago. We'd gone out on a date the Friday before (we saw ID4) and at this point, we just knew that we were totally into each other. Juan was waiting with me at the bus stop and we had already let his bus go a few times (it was more frequent), and I am sure at least one of mine had gone, but we were just enjoying our company not wanting to really part just yet. Then Juan held my hand and stared at the street in front of him and fidgetted and stuttered his way through asking me to be his girlfriend. I just looked ahead to the street as well, smiling from ear to ear because I knew exactly what he was trying to do but not making it much easier on him. It was freakin' adorable. I mentioned it to him last night and he laughed and said that he can't believe he did that. He certainly has grown into a really confident man, even if he likes to share the boyish side more often.

Days before we had a car were actually very nice. We enjoyed each other's undivided attention on the bus. It was a different time, we were kids and our worries were few.

Tonight we are going to enjoy a simple dinner at a local joint we've been wanting to go to (Johnny Reb's) for a while. We might do something this weekend, but I am not sure. I got him some fun cuff links shaped like 8 balls. He's never had any before because he's never had a shirt that needed them, until recently. It was pretty funny actually. After washing it, he noticed that he was missing "a button" on his cuff. Then he realized they weren't "normal" buttons. I kinda did a *facepalm* and introduced him to the concept of cuff links. He knew what they were, but never having needed them, it just didn't occur to him. lol The boy side, remember?

( And some interesting/random/sundry links and info... )

But it was all in good fun.

Juan's family came over on Saturday, late morning, to watch a movie and eat. They've kinda made it a "thing" to come over whenever they can during the day on Saturdays to watch a movie at our place. It started with the Bourne Trilogy which they absolutely loved (who doesn't?).

Then I had to get all dolled up for our annual Ocean Conservation Awards Gala at the Aquarium. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and seats go for $600. I went as a volunteer since I have heard that it is really neat to go to. Well, I worked registration and got to see everyone arrive. Then I got to see pretty much nothing. lol It's ok, it was a nice reason to get all dolled up, even though the only proof is a bad self snap shot from my phone.

My little sister slept over same night and we played video games. I finished Bioshock (such a great game, I whole heartedly recommend it to people who dig FPS).

Next day we got up a little late and went straight to lunch at Shakey's in Juan's parent's neighborhood for Father's Day. After eating, we hit up the family pool hall in their neighborhood where after playing not so succesfully, Juan showed us some of his pool trick shots. I even put them together using iMovie on my mac at work which took a grand total of like five minutes. It took YouTube longer to encode!

We barely made it home after grocery shopping to cook up some sausages for dinner since my family visited for dinner! All in all, it was a great weekend, I just wish I had slept more. lol

I just listened to Coldplay's new album on KROQ and I am elated.

My babe is in San Francisco without me.

While that makes me really proud of him, it still pulls at my heartstrings (and fortunately, his too).

Yesterday was really windy here at home (nothing like the poor folks in Kansas, but that is a whole other story). We live right next to the LA River which is next to the freeway. Well, the area around the river is so dry and dusty so with the wind, it gets really dirty around here. I love the wind, but the dust is getting into everything! I had to remember to close the bedroom window because last time I left it open while I was at work, I came home to a crunchy-dust-covered bed! It was SO GROSS!

I left the window in the living room open hoping to enjoy the air, but as I cleaned the thick layer of dust, more dust would settle. Eventually, we just closed the window for a little while.

Today is the complete opposite. Hardly any air, but the air that is around is warm and discomforting. There is no real circulation and it just overall sucks. TOO HOT.

I don't like that this year I wasn't able to wear my coats. The only time I got to wear my good coat this year was for the Xmas party at Juan's work, and that was more for looks than for need. My jackets are left hanging for another year. Not cool. Literally.

( And because you know you love it, more scrap... )