Mikachu · nu

Saturday 9: Home.

1. Do you live close to where you grew up? Why?
I live ~3 hours south from where I grew up¹. I moved down here when my (ex)husband finally started his ATC job.

2. Have you ever been so angry that you almost lost control?
Absolutely. I end up throwing stuff and it usually breaks…

3. Are you a fan of a musical act that slightly embarrasses you?
Does Cher and Celine Dion work for you?

4. Is there a movie that always makes you cry?
A Walk to Remember.

5. Who is the most famous person that you’ve met?
Kobe Bryant and Drew Brees are the most recent, and also the most currently famous. I have a list of celebrities I’ve seen/met, though²

6. Before you leave your home, what must you have?
Phone, keys, lip balm of sorts, debit card.

7. What do you miss the most about being a kid?
Not worrying about bills.

8. Tell us about a passion of yours that your readers would not expect.
I really love Worship music. It’s how I connect to God. It makes me cry sometimes.

9. At what age do you think you’d be to think, “I’ve had a great run”?
70.

I love different methods of travel. A lot of people don’t enjoy flying… I absolutely adore it. What do I love more than taking a flight? The train. I’ve been on a train almost as many times as I’ve traveled via air. I think what I love most about it is watching everything pass by me. Or should I rephrase that as I’m passing everything by? Either way, I love to observe my surroundings and just take them in. It makes me wish I was better at capturing them on film¹. I did just realize that while I do have a frontward phasing seat on the majority of my trip, I’m on the Eastern side of the train, so I won’t get the ocean view. However, I do enjoy taking in the backside of the cities and towns we pass through. The unseen rear ends of buildings that only employees and delivery persons see.

Shall I mention the different train station platforms? The one I boarded today is modest and nothing special. However, I do pass through Los Angeles Union Station and it’s a beautiful landmark. I only wish I was able to disembark the train and take in the architecture inside. The exterior ain’t too shabby, either. Then there are the more quaint stations, like Santa Ana and San Juan Capistrano. I think San Juan Capistrano is my favorite. It’s very garden-y and reminds me of my friend, Vanessa. Very earthy, quirky and creative.

I have to say, driving up to Los Angeles, I consumed two cans of Starbucks Vanilla Double Shot. I chose to forgo sleeping and departing around 5am to beat the morning rush hour traffic that’s inevitable once you hit LAX, but not arrive too early compared to my 11:30am train departure. While I only had to make one pit stop on my way, I think I’ve tinkled half a dozen times once I got to my parents’ house.

Now it’s time for a snack of Cheetos and mustard. I know, I’m weird, but I think mustard can make almost anything better

I’m having fun lately. I’ve changed my status on Facebook to “single” and that got all sorts of comments and “likes”, not to mention a few private messages from a couple of guys. That was definitely amusing.

I haven’t really been home and sitting still by myself in several days and I can tell you that I don’t like it. It just gives me too much time to let my mind over think, making me sad or angry. I just spent the past hour or so reorganizing my Facebook photo albums and pruning some photos, especially now that I’m trying to figure out what to do with the memorabilia from my relationship with Devin. For instance, I’ve merged any album that was him-specific with more general albums. I’ll need to start an ex-box soon, too.

The start of the new year has already brought me new and fun things. For one, I’m finally getting into Supernatural. It’s like, watching a horror movie but it’s something different to be scared by in each episode and it doesn’t last long enough to seer into my mind, giving me something to fear when I go to bed at night. Back when I was close to Angel and Kristen just over a year ago, they were such huge fans and I just don’t know why I didn’t follow their lead into the series. It took just seeing an episode (or two?) at Jess’s house, recovering from a night of drinking & debauchery earlier this week to finally push me over and get into it. I’ve just finished season 1, but I thought I’d take the time out and blog a little about it. Not to mention, I felt like I needed a show to fill the void since the Dexter season finale, and during the holiday break of my other shows.

Something else that I’ve taken up is Project 365. However, since this is a leap year, it’s more appropriately called 366 if one, such as myself, is aiming for that extra day. I’ll try and post a weekly digest of my photos, and here are this past week’s.

Admittedly, I’m using a camera app on my phone to apply filters and post them to various outlets, such as Flickr, Twitter, Dropbox, & Tumblr¹. I’m not doing it so much to work on my photography skills as I am to just try and keep something up for longer than a month.

The badge I’ve used is courtesy of a PSD by http://www.pixeden.com, in case you were curious

I spent a good hour or so going through Google Reader, taking it all the 2011 recap posts that most people have taken to doing today. I honestly can’t remember too much in specifics off the top of my head to provide you with anything remotely comprehensive. I also don’t chronicle my life too well even in photographs to help keep a visual guide, either.

January

• I had my first tooth pulled; my lower left wisdom.
• Bowled my 2nd or 3rd ever 200 game, buzzed no less.
• Opened Veracity MB with Angel, Jennfur & Kristen.

February

• Grandma turned 80!
• Bowling in my company’s bowling tournament.
• Devin’s dad got married in Costa Rica, but I didn’t go .
• Took Drew Bree’s order at work; I had no idea who he was.

March

• My first trip to & from L.A. on the train.
• ZinFest with my parents.
• Bought my new camera.
• My first experience with the flu in concious memory.

April

• Ordered my first Animal Fry from work.
• Watched my first baseball game at Petco Park.
• Experienced a 14 hour day/night in Gaslamp. Way too much drinking!

May

• I made my newest, awesome friends from my bar: Jessica, Missy, Henri & Bobo, amongst others!
• Was named customer service person of the period at work.
• My brother turned 21 and we all went wine tasting in Temecula for the occasion.

June

• Went fruit picking with my Marinara group.
• Devin’s sister was married.
• Got to see Jennifer Love Hewitt sing her own song karaoke (and got it on video!).
• Went up to Silver Lake for the first year without my grandma.

July

• Was surprised by Moon Amtrak day!
• Saw Wil Wheaton at an outdoor screening of “Stand By Me” at Stone Brewery.
• Went to Rocky Horror for the 2nd time ever!

August

• Moved to a new apartment.
• Turned 25 and celebrated at my first gay bar!
• Saw Jimmy Eat World!
• Served Kobe Bryant his food in the drive-thru at work.

September

• My Marinara friends visited me down here in S.D.!
• Experienced the massive blackout that affected most of Southern California
• Snorkeled for the first time.
• Went camping alone with Jess.

October

• Bought my first corset.
• I was served divorce papers on the anniversary of my grandpa’s passing.

Yes, there are two more months that I haven’t mentioned, but that was just the cherry on top of what had been a very tumultuous couple of months with Devin. Everything else since has seemed to be overshadowed by my dealing with that. I experience a bunch of up & downs, of course, but I think I’m not doing too badly in regards. It is what it is and for the best. We just haven’t grown up together and we want different things. Or rather, he doesn’t want to be married and I can’t keep trying to make things work on my own. Time to start anew.

Here’s to a new year with many new beginnings to come…