Dec 02 2012
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California Adventures

Merry Christmas! From Adam & Peanut

Yowza. 2012 saw mucho-a-changes-o for The Old Man and I. For the first time in our lives, we have the word “beach” as part of our address and we couldn’t be happier about it! Outside of that move, we have much to share on from the happenings of 2012, and we’ll regale you with them starting right meow.

Westward Bound

You Old Dog, You

As many of you know, Peanut and I have been trend setters for years – whether it be in how we dress or what we say. For instance, Peanut made it fashionable to wear dog sweaters for puppies when he himself was an overweight and aging beagle. And I for years have been making up sayings and starting verbal trends. Who could forget the “dirty” 2010, or the “filthy” year that followed that? Well this year is no different as boy do I got a real trend setter for you, and it’s four simple letters. YODU. That’s not a typo ladies and gents, not “YOLO,” but “YODU,” which stands for the phrase, “You old dog, you.”YODU

How do you use it in a sentence, you ask? Well, YODU is used when describing something (i.e. a person, an event, a meal) that is truly indicative of what you would expect of it. It’s meant to be an optimistic, caring commentary on the item in question. Let me give you an example: if I were to order chicken tenders at a 5-star steak restaurant, the appropriate response from my peers would be, “YODU.” Another example would be recently my brother-in-law enjoyed a lengthy discussion with a German fellow at a computer conference. My reaction: “YODU.” So you get the idea. It’s gonna take the nation my storm.

Orange & Blue Is The New Silver & Black

Denver Broncos logo

For many, the fact that I quit my job, moved away from home, and got a tattoo was mere peanuts and candy corn (this is another saying I am working on) to what they viewed as the most shocking change in my life – as this year I said good bye to my love for the silver and black, and for the first time fully embraced that delicious color combo that is, the orange and blue. I know, it’s still a little shocking even for me when I say it. But Tebow stole my heart last year, and Manning’s got it now. For the first time in my life, I’m proud to say I am part of Bronco Nation!

Kim Watch

Kim Kardashian Fragrance Launch

Keeping with the annual tradition, Kim K is still very much in my sights. She may technically be with Kanye, but I am a CPA (which is a very sexy profession) and I’ve never lived closer to her. With that in mind, I’ve never been more confident. I know I said it last year, but I’m still thinking that next year’s Xmas Letter will be from myself, Peanut, and Kim. Stay tuned.

Beach Hoppin’

I had the time of my life this past summer – beach hopping from Malibu to Tijuana. Sure it got lonely, but boy howdy was it pretty. Here’s one of my favorite sunsets from the summer of 2012:

IMG_0920

YODU Moment Of The Year

Mince Meat Pie

(Photo: Mincemeat pie, circa 2007. Courtesy: AP)

In the YODU moment of the year, yours truly took a vacation from my vacation earlier this summer and spent a day in Catalina … alone. This is about as YODU as it gets, as my adventurous, exploratory ways were not hindered or bogged down when it came to visiting a distant island meant for newlyweds, lovers, and retirees. I spent the entire day either overhearing recipes for mince meat pies and stories about ‘Nam (this was from the retirees) or becoming nauseated as couples argued with each other as to who of the two of them really should be called, “schmoopy.” I tell you this – Catalina won’t be in my cards any time soon.

Ten Year Anniversary

Lois and I

In September my love and I celebrated ten years together. Ten years! It has been an amazing ride; and I just thank God every day for being blessed with such a wonderful companion on the road of life. We’ve been through so much together – Lois and I. We saw each other through everything. She was with me when I graduated high school. She saw me through the tough times in college when I thought I was never going to pass that class. And I too have been there for her. In 2010 when she infamously just broke down and it didn’t look like she was going to make it, I was there. And we even came out to California together. The point is, through thick and thin, good times and bad, we were there for each other. I love her as much today as I did the day I met her.

Oh, I remember it like it was yesterday. We purchased her for a cool $8,850 – a king’s ransom in those days. But a ransom well worth it, as me and Lois (named after my first ever crush from “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”) have and continue to be together. Here’s to another 10 years, Lois … or until your repair costs financially just don’t make sense anymore and I replace you.

Constellation Prize

Guys, I’m a realist. I get it. There’s probably very little chance that Kim K and I end up together. But a boy can dream. In the end though, my last name probably won’t be Kardashian this time next year. But at least as a constellation prize I met another hero of mine. The Soup Nazi himself. Take a gander:

The Soup Nazi and I

I know it’s “consolation.”

We Got Fleas….That’s What We’re Gonna Call It

So P and I move out cross country and nobody warned us that this state is plagued by blood sucking parasites that latch themselves on to our best friends and make them miserable. I hate fleas. In the sad note of the year, The Old Man (who is now almost 15 by the way) has been the equivalent of a woman in her third trimester for much of his time in Cali. In other words, he’s been uncomfortable. These fleas put up quite the battle, but we’re winning the war. Sucks though … literally.

Festive Peanut

As many of you know, Peanut loves the holidays. Always has. His favorite traditions include eating scraps that fall from the table at Thanksgiving, finding the lone gift wrapped fruit cake under the tree, and blowing a streamer when the clock hits midnight on New Year’s Eve. He loves all of that. But perhaps his favorite tradition is Halloween night – for on one night, he is allowed to be whatever he wants. This year, Peanut chose to be a college graduate, and boy did he love it. In fact, he loved it so much that ever since the night I dressed him up, I haven’t been able to find any of those clothes and props. He must have loved it so much that he’s storing them in a secret place so he can parade around as an alumnus anytime he wants. He’s a total YODU. Literally.

YODU being a YODU

You Want A Laugh?

Unfortunately Youtube won’t let you search for this video as it’s hidden, but if you go to the following site you’ll witness something painful. In my first week at work out here we sang happy birthday to some guy I had never met before. It was awkward. I was awkward. Just watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB3MWGLH2E4&feature=youtu.be

Top 5 Songs of 2012

The songs that defined 2012 for Peanut and I:

5. Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

4. Boa Sorte – Ben Harper and Vanessa Da Mata

3. You and No Other – PawnShop Kings

2. California Sunrise – Dirty Gold

1. Heartbeat Slowing Down – The All American Rejects

The Trilogy

As many of you know, I wrote a very odd trilogy back in 2007 and 2008. This year the final two stories joined its predecessor as published pieces of work. As weird as these stories are, I’m pretty damn proud.

The Trilogy

Merry Christmas!

Peanut and I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas! As you can see, The Old Man and I have been nothing less than a couple of YODUs this past year, and we loved sharing with you why. We’d love to hear y’all’s yodulicious moments of the year as well! Stay in touch and Merry Christmas!

Aug 22 2012
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California Adventures, LA County, Orange County, Pics of the Week, San Diego County

Pics of the Week – August 2012

It’s been one month since I posted to this tag, and I thought it was a fine time to do so. Been a crazy month. Got a job. Met some more peeps my age. And watched a whole heck of a lot of Netflix. But I also continued my Vasco de Gama ways. See below:

Another Trip Up North

I ventured up north into LA again and visited two new places (USC and Burbank) and revisted two of my favs — Santa Monica and Venice Beach. Here was my route:

First Stop: The University of Southern California

Truly SUALI style, on my self guided tour of the campus, I leached on to an campus guided tour and made my way into a filming stage at the School of Cinematography. USC was pretty rad.

The Coliseum at USC. Timeless.

Second Stop: Burbank, CA

Made my way to Warner Bros Studios. This was as close I got though, not gonna pay the $50 to tour that.

Third Stop: Santie Monie

I heart Santie Monie.

Fourth and Last Stop: Venice Beach

The binocular building in Venice Beach.

Some Time In The OC

I live here, and boy do I enjoy it.

Visited Knott’s Berry Farm in Anaheim with the church group.

Peanut and I watched “Freaks & Geeks” in our apt.

Went to San Clemente for a run, a swim, and a sunset:

While I was doing this, Peanut slept:

I went to the US Surf Open at Huntington Beach:

Biked the bay at Newport:

Saw the future of advertising. Crazy!

Ran around Corona del Mar:

Ate some fried food at The OC Fair:

Ran around Peters Canyon in Irvine and caught a non-beach sunset:

And lastly, enjoyed one last trip down south to the Diego

I visited two new areas in SD (Balboa Park (adjacent to the San Diego zoo) and Coronado) and then caught dinner ($3 worth of tacos) at the Gaslamp District. Here was my route:

Art District at Balboa Park.

San Diego skyline from Balboa Park.

And now some freaking crazy cacti in San Diego:

Coronado:

There is a naval air station super close, hence the airport feeling.

Downtown San Diego

Baseball is boring. But on this night, they opened up the stadium (Petco Park) and I was able to walk right up to the field!

Another ugly Cali sunset.

And lastly, dinner in Gas Town.

And the SUALI life is not completely over yet. Five more days of it with a trip to Disneyland a visit from the bro-in-law on the docket! And then after that: SALI in Cali. And that a’int bad either.

Aug 16 2012
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California Adventures, Christian

The Summer Of Adam

In a very relatable episode of Seinfeld, shortly after Susan passed away, George embraced his new bachelorhood and proclaimed it, “The Summer of George.” As part of this epic summer, our boy George lived a three month stint of unemployment, and sought after his personal goals, while mixing in a little relaxation here and there. Some of the things George did was eat a  block of cheese like an apple, buy a Lay-Z-Boy with a miniature fridge built right in it, helped Jerry become the perfect boyfriend, and learned how to play frisbee golf. It was truly a fantabulous summer.

Four months ago I didn’t have a fiance pass away from licking too many wedding invitations, but I did have a major life change. I quit my first job, moved out to the coast, and enjoyed a mini-retirment. I proclaimed it “The Summer of Adam,” with options to extend it into the fall.

It’s been a redunk summer — a lot of soul searching, prayer, and God putting me into not only the right mind set, but the right situation as I was offered a job back in accounting this week. I’m really, really excited about this opportunity. I start in like 10 days, so I’m currently saying good bye to the full time SUALI life, but I’m eager to enjoy balance with this new job — as yes, I will work, but I will SALI (SUALI without the “U”) the heck out of California.

I’m excited for this next chapter of my life, but I did want to look back at these last 4 months of my life via a collage. That’s right, SUALI’s version of a pinterest.

My last four month’s summed up in one fantastic image:

Jul 24 2012
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California Adventures, LA County, Orange County, San Diego County

Top 10 Things To Do In Southern California

So You Want To Visit SoCali?

Well do I have a few recommendations for you! I’ve seen a lot and could tell you to spend a week if not a year here (I’m following at the least the latter). With that said though, I’ll give you my “Top 10” and make sure you can get the most out of your trip here.

Without further ado, “The Top 10 Things To Do in Southern California:”

(presented from north to south)

Love Life In Santa Monica

Oh Santa Monica. She’s a mistress’ calling. You got the beach, cliffs on the beach, and an awesome shopping promenade. If that weren’t enough, there’s a full out amusement park on their pier, and it’s the famous site of the western beginnings of Route 66.

My advice is definitely spend a whole day here.  Start off with a run on the cliffs overlooking the beach, pier, and amusement park, and then make your way down to the beach and enjoy the gold sands of LA’s most prominent beach.

After you’ve had all your beach fun, head back to the 3rd Street Prominade for some dranks and teasers. But, make sure you don’t budget for a normal happy hour, as Santa Monica seems to think their prices are in Pesos.

People Watch And Guard Your Wallet In Venice Beach

Venice Beach. A place where all the crazies go. My advice is take in an afternoon here – not a night. For starters, you’ll worry about your safety if you do the latter, and all the street displays/shops close down well before sun down. But while you’re here, enjoy the sights and sounds of the crazy bums trying to get money. Interesting things I’ve seen: a dog that plays dead (literally will do this for hours), a bum with “shitty advice” for $1, and mermaids made of sand right there on the sidewalk. If that’s not enough of a draw for you, perhaps saying “no” to a medical marijuana clinic every tenth of a block might be. The food here is quite cheap too.

Lastly, walk down to the pier and along the way enjoy the sights of the famous “Muscle Beach” that Arnold Schwarzenegger brought prominence to.  Be careful not to look for too long, as aging muscle bound men in speedo’s are known to make that place their home.

Do A Throwback To Your College Days And Tour UCLA and USC

UCLA and USC are too crazily different campuses, and are definitely two sites that should be on your list. Now, since I graduated from the most gorgeous campus in all the land, both these campuses are “yesterday’s desserts.” But, I will say this: UCLA is the second prettiest campus I have ever laid foot on. USC…not so much. USC is ugly. But it’s cool to see the stark differences between these two schools. One is huge and pretty, the other is ugly, but in so, has character. One is public, and one is private.

I first visited UCLA and loved it so much that I had decided to switch my SoCal allegiances from USC to UCLA. …This might have been partly due to the amazing ice cream-cookie sandwiches at Diddy Riese. However, once I visited USC, I slowly came back to my love for the red and yellow. Most of that was due to visiting the USC School of Cinematography (so cool!) and walking around the very old, yet dignified, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The jury is still out for me on who to root for come this football season. I’m sure you’re extremely curious, so I’ll keep you posted!

Avoid Downtown LA And Its Ugliness, But Appreciate The Skyline From Griffith Observatory

Let’s be honest, downtown LA sucks. But the skyline is cool, so why not catch it from the best vantage point – the Griffith Observatory. This observatory is FREE and sits atop the hills overlooking not only downtown LA, but the Hollywood sign, and the remaining surrounding LA area. You’d do yourself quite the favor if you catch this at sunset. Beaut!

Find Some Seclusion And Relaxation In Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes, which is located south west of LA on its own secluded peninsula, gets overlooked by anyone and everyone. To be honest, I had never heard of the place before, and when I visited it, I couldn’t understand why. This place has some gems in nature watching and it allows you to get some seclusion and peace and quiet – something that is far too rare in LA. Come here with a book and few hidden beers (you’re technically not allowed to drink on the beach…YOLO) and enjoy an afternoon in peace and quiet.

Be A True Californian And Enjoy Their Food at In-n-Out and Trader Joe’s…Oh, And Taco Tuesdays

Californians know their way around the kitchen. While In-n-Out and Trader Joe’s are a little too hyped, I would still recommend definitely going. Get yourself a 4 x4 on an extra toasted bun at In-n-Out  and enjoy some cinnamon coated almonds at Trader Joe’s before heading over to any and every Mexican restaurant for bomb diggity taco deals on Tuesdays. Your thighs may hate ya, but your taste buds won’t!

Surf In North Huntington Beach (Bolsa Chica State Beach)

Every visitor to SoCali must try out surfing, and if you’re going to do it, I’d recommend Bolsa Chica State Beach. The waves are low and long here – perfect for a beginner. I myself caught ten waves here on my first time.

Body Surf In Newport Beach

Let’s face it peeps, the main reason you’re coming to SoCali is for the beach. Well sir, the prettiest, best beach in all the land resides in my current town – Newport. Come here for the entire day, and enjoy endless body surfing in the glorious, pristine Newport water. Make sure you catch an epic Newport Beach sunset, otherwise you haven’t really visited here.

SUP In Laguna Beach

Life’s too short not to try new things that you’re sure to suck in, so go to Laguna Beach and try some stand up paddle boarding in the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy the experience as you row your way along the coast, viewing anything and everything from Newport Beach to Top of the World to Dana Point. Again, make sure you catch a sunset here, otherwise…well, you know the drill.

Be Mesmerized By The Beaches in Encinitas

When you go to Encinitas you’ll wonder why you don’t live there. The beauty alone is enough to make Greece look like poop. The cliffs meet the beach here just a few feet away from the crashing waves of the Pacific. The culture here a’int too bad either – a small town beach community that serves up great tacos in addition to those delicious views I was talking about.

You Enjoy The Bar Scene? Try The Gas Lamp District In San Diego.

This place is cool, although I really wouldn’t know. I’ve been to “Gas Town” twice. The first time, I got made fun of for wearing plaid (girls can be so mean) and the second time, I ate some boneless chicken wings by myself at a booth in TGI Friday’s. Either way, I saw what the place had to offer, and it was fun. So go here, but don’t wear plaid, and don’t go to TGI Friday’s.

You may have noticed I cheated and turned this list into a ‘Top 11.’ Well…there’s just too much to freaking do here!

Jul 15 2012
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California Adventures, LA County, Orange County, Pics of the Week

Pics of the Week — July 2012

It’s been a month since I lasted posted pics, so I thought I would post some more and show you guys what I’ve seen. Since the epic camping trips I enjoyed up north, I have done a lot of exploring in Orange County, did a day trip back into Lala Land, and took the ferry into Catalina. Some of my OC pics aren’t as glamorous as posted before, but I did manage to catch several an awesome sunset. Enjoy!

The Everyday Life of an OC-er

‘The District’ is a local strip mall that reminds me of the Flatirons Mall back home. I go here a lot for some peace, quiet, and nostalgia.

Peanut is doing well out here! He misses the yard in the 303, but he likes a good Cali sunrise and he loves boogie boarding.

Orange, CA is a really cool small town in inland Orange County. The city is focused around a small, quaint shopette as well as Chapman University pictured above.

Irvine is the business district of the OC. It’s like the DTC of SoCali.

Pasadena

I went to Pasadena for the Fourth. Here’s a pic overlooking the city shortly before the fireworks began over the Rose Bowl.

LaLa Land Adventures

Last week I ventured back into LaLa Land to see a few of the things I hadn’t seen yet. I went to some rather forgettable places (i.e. Chinatown, Echo Park) but I found some gems in Bel Air and at UCLA. I tell ya this, if I hadn’t gone to school at the prettiest campus in the nation, I would have gone to UCLA. Awesome place.

-Trip Route

A. Newport

Delightful Newport Beach at dusk.

B. Compton

Compton had about as much to offer as a vegan buffet. This was the best pic I got off, and I still had my finger in the way of the lens! Won’t be going back anytime soon…unless I join the Bloods.

C. China Town, LA

China Town? More like Poop Town. Place sucked.

D. Echo Park, LA

Doesn’t have the character like Wash Park or City Park in the Dirty D have, but it did have palm trees. Which of course, are pictured above.

E. Robertson Blvd, LA

Robertson Blvd is in Beverly Hills and apparently is more famous for celeb sightings than Rodeo Drive. I came here with expectations of seeing Fred Savage shopping for a pair of capris and Venus Williams sharing a plate of oysters with Kelly Clarkson. Unfortunately, none of the sort occurred. Although, I could swear I saw Murphy Brown walking by in a white suit. …Probably should spice that story up a bit…not very sexy…

F. Bel Air, LA

Bel Air was annoying. While extremely pretty with gorgeous homes, I was unable to take any pics because you can’t park your car anywhere in that neighborhood. With that said, I did love the winding roads and the greenery, but I was a little turned off when I saw DJ Jazzy Jeff being thrown out of one of the homes on his keester. What type of a society are we living in where that type of behavior is deemed as appropriate?

G. UCLA

My new second favorite school in the PAC-12. Look below to see why:

Delicious ice cream sandies.

Dana Point, CA

I enjoyed a day of boogie boarding in Dana Point this past week and LOVED what I saw.

Catalina Island

I took a day trip into Catalina this past week. The island is mostly known for a place for newlyweds and retirees, so while I enjoyed it, I don’t see myself going back anytime soon. Regardless, got some sweet pics of America’s version of the Greek islands:

And lastly, two more delicious, delicious pics of Newport Beach:

Jul 14 2012
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Christian

Two Months Later…

It’s been two months since I’ve been a Cali bum, so I thought it was a fine time to reflect back on this period of my life and let you guys know how I have been doing.

For many of you who follow me on facebook or instagram, my life right now looks pretty sweet. And that it certainly is. Contrary  to those pictures however, there is more to my life right now then appreciating Cali sunsets and taking advantage of ‘Cow Appreciation Day’ at Chick-fil-A.

Looking back at these two months, God has done a lot of work in me – both in ways I prayed for and in ways I never even expected. So, what does that entail?

What have I exactly been doing out here?

That’s a question I get a lot. Well, I’ll paint the “fun” picture first. I’ve explored. I’ve seen almost everything from Malibu to Tijuana. I visited the land for newlyweds and retirees by myself in Catalina. And, I’ve gone to the beach almost every day I’ve been here. But the exploration hasn’t stopped there. The Lord has had bigger plans than that.

Exploration, challenging myself, seeing new things, and abolishing the complacency with life I led in Denver are all things I have been praying for God to lead me to. And His work began the first week I came out here. I was blessed to have some great people that I knew reside in Orange County, and they not only invited me to their church but plugged me into the community there. This has been something I have thoroughly enjoyed– and in many ways it’s the first time I have experienced the joys and fruits of engaging in a community with my brothers and sisters in Christ. In Denver, I didn’t make time to do this. Out here, God has softened my heart and allowed me to take wonders in it.

So far, the people at this church are the only peeps I know in SoCali, but that’s enough for me. I have joined a bible study with the men of the church, hung out with them in my free time, and grown through the Lord with them. It’s truly been incredible. And, to top it off, God has recently challenged me in a crazy, crazy way in asking me to help lead the youth ministry at the church. Answered prayers that I never even thought to pray about!

In addition to the wonderful community I am building out here, God has kept me energized to read His word and other pieces of literature that I wanted to get immersed in with all this time I have. I’m reading several Christian “self help” books, and while that may sound legalistic, it’s something that I’ve yearned to do – to better myself through His word. While I do drop the ball quite a bit in picking up the bible, I have done a great deal of reading/journaling the books that I feel He has led me to. Those being ‘Twenty Someone’ and ‘So You Want To Be An Entrepreneur.’ More on the latter later.

I mention these readings because they are important to me, and to show where a lot of my time is going. It’s a tough life right now, but for the most part, my typical day looks like this:

8:30 Wake up and proceed to drink an “entire pot” of coffee whilst watching Curb Your Enthusiasm.

9:30 – Noon: I actually don’t know what happens during this time of the day. It just disappears, and I generally have nothing to show for it but the reminiscence of a few Trader Joe cinnamon almonds on my shirt, and a very weird Wikipedia trail on my browser history. Why, just the other day I spent 30 minutes researching the differences between a cappuccino, a latte, and an espresso. While on the subject, I bet you guys didn’t know that while an Americano is prepared by adding hot water to espresso, the name of the drink, and to coffee gurus, the very drink itself changes completely when the process is reversed. Apparently adding espresso to hot water is called a ‘Long Black’ and is apparently more “voluminous” and stronger. Learn something new every day.

Noon – 4:00 – Apparently I come out of my coma here. I usually have my first meal of the day, and then I collect my things for the fun I set out to enjoy that day. Usually I pick some place I have never been to in Orange County, and I go there with the intentions of finding a coffee shop to read those books I was telling you about, and then once done, I subsequently tour that part of the city on a run.

4:00 – 5:00 – I sit in traffic. Even though I generally only travel no more than 15 miles away, the myth is correct: SoCali traffic sucks almost as much as it blows.

5:00 – 7:30 – Find a beach. Swim. Boogie board. Catch a sunset.

7:30 – 1:00am – Make dinner, sip on Two Buck Chuck, and watch a lot of TV.

It’s a great schedule, and I’m loving it, but God is starting to get me hungry again for work.  I have actually had a part time accounting/admin gig out here and I have volunteered and tutored some kids in Santa Ana, so I have done “constructive” things with my time. These things have been great for me in gaining some confidence (something I pray daily for), and to experience new things. Teaching kids has been pretty cool – although way different from what I expected. And the part time gig I have is pretty dang sweet… too bad it couldn’t turn into a full time gig.

Through experiencing different things like the tutoring and the part time gig, I have been able to get outside my box a little and just see what else life has to offer. Through the part time gig, my journaling, and God’s work, I truly believe He is warming me up to not only working  soon, but actually in working in accounting again.

I’m not going to go too in depth here, but I’ll give you a quick run-down with what I am thinking. Let me back up here a little bit first though. When I first started my career after college and was miserable, three ideas that excited me popped into my head. One was to live in SoCali. Check. Another was to live in Greece. And another was to own and manage my own brick and mortar shop. The more I pray about it, and the more I read up on it (hence the entrepreneur book), the latter excites me quite a bit. With that said, I have very little direction after that. I have no idea exactly what type of industry I’d want to get into, nor do I have the experience or the finances for such an endeavor. I have a loose direction, but outside of that, nothing much. And that’s ok.

One thing that I have learned since letting Christ into my heart is that we’re not meant to control and dictate every facet of our lives. We have to give that control up to Him, trusting He will lead us where we are meant to be led. This idea has actually popped up several times in my readings through the verse Matthew 6:31-34:

“So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Even with that scripture, and pretty much everything that is written in the bible, I still worry. I still have anxiety about everything. But I’m trying to come to the Lord with it.

So, I have that goal in mind – a goal that may or may not ever happen. But it’s something I can work on now – plan, read up on, and strategize for when and if the day ever comes to make it a reality. In the mean time, I feel like the Lord is calling me back into the field that I have my degrees in. I think it will be a much different experience – doing  accounting in perhaps a more laid back atmosphere, and perhaps in an industry I can get excited about and that can translate later into helping me set up my own shop. I’ll let you guys know how this goes, as it will be an exciting and trying experience in getting my first post-public accounting job.

With regards to the time table on this, I envision that I’ll be good and hungry about getting on the colloquial horse here again soon, but until then, I still have a few things I want to do – including the tedious tasks of getting the resume and Linkedin ready as well as practicing my interviewing skills. Besides those “fun” items, I have a short list of various things I want to do, and I have included them below:

-Catch a California sunrise (5:30am…eeek!) from the ocean

-Learn how to drive a Vespa

-Go on a freaking date

-Surf a few more times

-Try a cold cut sandwich … hey, I never said this was an aggressive list!

All that aside, the most important thing I will constantly be keeping in mind as I transition to this next phase of my life is ‘balance.’ I don’t want to look at this part of my life – this amazing, bum like period – and it coming to an end, as something epic and that I will never be able to enjoy life again. That type of thinking got me into big trouble at my first job. I’ve been praying most for this idea of ‘balance,’ and that when I do go back to work, that I will still make time for God and for these glorious things He has taught me and led me to these past two months. I pray that when I do start work, that I remember why we are on this planet and that in whatever we do, that it should be to God’s glory.  That’s the struggle of every Christian, but in that too it bears the most fruit.

Well hopefully that wasn’t too wordy, I just really wanted to recap the haps here. Life is good and God is great! Be talking to you soon!

Jun 25 2012
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California Adventures, LA County, Orange County, Pics of the Week, San Diego County

Pics of the Week – Late June, 2012

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks, but I have a lot of pics to show from them! I’ve been blessed to be able to  beach hop from Newport to Tijuana, and then to have a full week of camping on the coast with some great, great people. Below are just a few of the great memories/scenes I was able to capture. Enjoy!

Before my trip down south and my epic camping trip, I got some great pics of the delish OC.

Crystal Cove

This is the beach where the Cohen’s lived by in ‘The OC.’ And they still do! Heck, when I was there, I actually saw Ryan Atwood punch some guy for stealing his cotton candy. That man is still filled with so much rage.

More Crystal Cove.

Top of the World, Laguna Beach

Is this Greece?! So pretty!

I got lost in the hills of Laguna, and this is what I found.

And now, some pics from my epic trip down south. Here was my route:

A. Newport

My town at night.

B. San Clemente

C. Carlsbad

Spent a week here camping last year. Coming back was more out of nostalgia, but still so pretty!

D. Encinitas

Cliffs right on the beach. One of the coolest beaches I’ve been to yet.

Water dripping from a cliff onto the beach.

E. La Jolla, San Diego

A gem of SoCal. Never even heard of this place before, and I was blown away.

Seals. And a bird. In the same pic!

The original ‘Wet Seal.’

F. Mission Beach, San Diego

Nothing special, but a beach nonetheless. Lots of seaweed here, but great atmosphere. The homes on the boardwalk are of the most redunk I’ve seen though. Def a most see.

G. Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego

The nightlife district of Carmen San Diego.

H. Tijuana, Mexico

Crossing the border…alone.

The very border itself.

Mexico? More like ‘Sucksico.’

And finally, after my epic trip down south, I went north and camped with some pretty fantastic Coloradans and Californians. Our first stop:

San Louis Obispo

Wine tasting!

And lastly, Malibu:

Zuma Beach, Malibu

Team Body Glove.

Point Dume Cove, Malibu

And that’s it. It’s been a great first 6 weeks here in the 949!

Jun 10 2012
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California Adventures, LA County, Orange County, Pics of the Week

Pics of the Week — Early June, 2012

I’ve almost been here a month, and boy have I seen a lot! I still want to write in detail about each of these places, but as for now, pictures will suffice. Here are some of the adventures Peanut and I have gone to in the last two weeks:

Anaheim

Downtown Disney — Woody in Lego form.

The surrounding streets of Disney Land. Location of the best run I have ever been on.

Belmont Shore

(The hipster neighborhood just south of Long Beach)

Palos Verdes

A gorgeous secluded, rocky beach just south of L.A.

Beaut.

A sweet bat cave in Palos Verdes. Nancy (me) kinda got a little scared when two bats flew just a mere feet above me during this pic.

Hermosa Beach

A’int no greater sight in the world — Lois with Colorado plates at the beach!

Nancy loves flower pics. This is just the first of many.

Manhattan Beach

The greatest “Manhattan” in all the land!

Red flower and a green taxi? I’ll take it!

Like I said, Nancy loves flowers.

Marina del Rey


I had to get a pic of this place, but honestly, Marina del Rey sucks. This is all there is there. Bunch of boats and boringness.

Venice Beach

Muscle Beach at Venice Beach. An outdoor gym where Arnie Schwarz himself got his starts at. If you look closely, you can see a 60 year old man in a red speedo with a boom box on his shoulder trying to bring in customers. I opted not to work out here, as I didn’t want to make any of the other gymnasts feel bad about themselves.

The pier at Venice Beach.

Santa Monica (which translates to English as “Gorgeous Monica”)

Looking over the bluffs into the vast, blue ocean.

Pic from the pier.

Now, be prepared for a flip book of the greatest sunset ever captured on film:

Irvine

My office. Right before a run in the hills of Irvine. The necessary materials: a backpack full of reading and journaling material, sun tan lotion, a Cambelbak back pack, sun screen, and a cup from In-n-Out. Love it.

Beaut flowers at Shady Canyon.

Lastly, some obligatory Newport pics

“The Wedge” in Newport. Biggest waves in SoCal.

And lastly, just another sunset in Newport.

Jun 06 2012
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California Adventures

How Different Life Is

Two months ago I was preparing for yet another day at the office. Now, and I know this is only temporary, but I am preparing for a day on the road and at the beach. I am pretty stoked for this mini-road trip, and have been looking forward to doing this for quite some time.

No better comparison makes me more excited for this trip than this:

When I was white collaring it up, I left every morning with a laptop, a Lean Cuisine, and a whole lot of depression as I made my way to work. Tomorrow, I leave the apartment with the following:

-Backpack
  Containing:
    -Wetsuit
    -Sunscreen
    -Nalgene bottle
    -2 granola bars
    -Light jacket
    -Shorts (as I will be wearing a swimming suit when I leave the house)
    -”Rooted” men’s bible study book
    -”So You Want To Be An Entrepreneur” book
    -”Twenty Someone” Book
    -Journal
-Lunch
    -Two PBJ’s with Nutella (my  new delish concoction)
    -Granola Bars
    -Parmesan flavored Cheezits
    -Apple
-Water pack
    -30 oz of water in a backpack for the run I have planned in Santa Monica
-Boogie board
-Towel
-Cigar
.
Boom. Loving the suali life. Be talking to you guys tomorrow via texts, pics, and calls!
Jun 05 2012
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California Adventures, LA County

Beach Hoppin — LA Style

On my first post pre-adventure, I thought  I could organize my upcoming trip and do some research on the cities I’ll be seeing.With that said, on Wednesday, I am planning on doing a little beach hopping, hitting every beach from Newport to Santa Monica in one day. Here’s what my itinerary looks like:

A. Newport Beach

I live here. So I probably won’t spend too much time here. But I’m planning on leaving soups early. Well…soups early for me. 8am is the ETD.

B. Huntington Beach

(Distance from Newport Beach: 6 miles, 11 minutes)

While this is the second most beach I have frequented in SoCali, there are a few things I have not done/seen yet. Among them is visiting the International Surfing Museum. In the city that is known around that nation as ‘Surf City, USA,’ it would make sense for me to finally do or see something surfing related. And who knows, hopefully this will be the kick I need to start learning how to surf!

C. Long Beach

(Distance from Huntington Beach: 15 miles, 26 minutes)

I visited this gem last week and had the greatest meal known to man. Outside of that, I walked around the city a bit and enjoyed the sights and sounds on Pine Ave. (most hip-hopping place of the city). I was able to view the Queen Mary from a distance, but I don’t see myself taking a tour anytime soon. Not for the $23 admin price. That’s a lot of money. That’s almost $25!

What I do want to do on this mini-road trip is stop at and peruse Belmont Shore. I only drove by it last week but it seems to be a more low key/younger area of town with a bunch of chic, indie boutiques.

D. Rancho Palos Verdes

(Distance from Long Beach: 14 miles, 27 minutes)

Note: Picture not taken by me.

This will be the first stop on the mini-road trip that I haven’t yet seen. Judging by the pics on google, I don’t know why I haven’t yet. It’s kind of funny too — nobody has recommended for me to see this place. Perhaps because it’s a peninsula kind of separated from everything else, or perhaps because it’s delightful and they’re trying to keep Coloradans away from it. I’m betting on the latter, so I’m pretty stoked to check this place out.

From my Lonely Planet book it describes Rancho Palos Verdes as this: “…cruise north along Palos Verdes Dr at sunset for awesome eyefuls of stunning shoreline. Steep cliffs tumble down to rocky shores and secluded coves as the roadway ribbons past rambling multi-million dollar mansions.” Well, call me Nancy Ben Pasha, but that sounds pretty swell. Looking forward to getting some sweet photo ops!

E. Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach

(Distance from Rancho Palos Verdes: 10 miles, 23 minutes)

Note: Picture not taken by me.

I saw Redondo Beach a few weeks ago in “The Scout,” and was quite unimpressed. It was to a beach as ugly is to poop. Man…I really  need to work on my analogies. Anywho, when I saw it a few weeks ago, the city just seemed very industrial — a huge pier and a lot of factories.

The more I research this city though, the more I reaffirm the fact that it sucks. I’ll still drive through it and give it a once over, but unfortunately for the ladies of Redondo, yours truly won’t be stepping foot in this city.

Hermosa Beach on the other hand, will be fun to see. Reading up on this city, it seems the beach is, of course, the main draw. The locals at Hermosa are known for their volleyball-ing skills too. I see myself enjoying a few waves of boogey boarding, and who knows, maybe even playing in a pick up volley ball game.

F. Manhattan Beach

(Drive from Hermosa Beach: 2 miles, 5 minutes)

In “The Scout,” this was my favorite city we visited. In fact, I loved it so much I even started to regret living in Newport. I hope that I still love it, but not as much the second time around.

The thing I loved about this city was although it was a beach and was a hotspot for many tourists, it sure had a lot of character. If the Highlands in Denver were a neighborhood in LA, this would be it. Hipster meets culture meets the ocean at Manhattan Beach, and I love it!

In “The Scout,” I appreciated not only the great beach, but the rolling hills that surrounded it, as well as the chic, local shops that paraded along the pier. Again, call me Nancy or Agnes Ben Pasha, but can you picture anything better than fun, swanky shops at the beach? Well..I’m sure there are a few things, but it’s still pretty cool.

G. Marina del Rey

(Distance from Manhattan Beach: 11 miles, 28 minutes)

Note: Picture not taken by me.

Marina del Rey perplexes me. I drove through it a  month ago, and thought about as much of it as Donald Trump thinks of Rosie O’donnel. Additionally, per the map, it just looks like a large parking lot for the yachts of LA’s elite. With that said, I have heard of this place numerous times in pop culture. So, this will be a stop on the tour.

H. Venice Beach

(Distance from Marina del Rey:  2 miles, 7 minutes)

Note: Picture not taken by me.

Now this is perhaps the stop I am most excited for, only because of the fact that I wasn’t able to see it one month prior on “The Scout” because it was too crowded. Venice Beach has a lot of pop culture allure to it. For starters it is known as “Muscle Beach,” where AC Slater-ites pump iron directly on the beach and where Arnold Swarchenegger literally started his American roots in. Additionally, this city is where ‘American History X’ took place — which makes me, a kid from Littleton, CO, a little squeamish as to what exactly I’ll be seeing.

All those reasons aside, people come to Venice Beach for the boardwalk (‘Oceanfront Walk’). I’m excited to do some people watching here, and then to travel on over to Muscle Beach and show those macho pig heads a thing or two about bicep curls.

I. Santa Monica

(Distance from Venice Beach: 3 miles, 9 minutes)

The last stop on the tour will be the greatest — Santa Monica. I love this city as there is just so much to see. From Third St. Promenade to the beach to the amusement park on the pier — this city has it all. I am hoping to get here around 4pm, where I can go for a run on the beach and the pier, and then make my way over to Third St and do some serious people watching. A beer and a bachelor’s dinner will be had somewhere in town here too, both on a college budget of course.

After leaving Saint Monica, I’ll take the 10 to the 405  to eventually the 55 to get back home. …Been here 2 weeks and I’m already talking like them!

Anywho, thought I’d post my plans and start getting excited for it. I’m looking forward to taking many a pic and exploring the heck out of the coast!

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