Family & Friends

A Weekend Away

Posted in Family & Friends on November 20th, 2011 by Mika – 1 Comment

I spent my weekend up in LA with my family and had some time with my BFF Amber, her boyfriend & her sister. It was her sister’s 30th birthday so that was celebrated on Friday night. Saturday night was a going away dinner for my brother who’s going back to Texas to be retrained in a different job for the Air Force. He leaves the Sunday after Thanksgiving and will be gone for 2 months or so.

Unfortunately I learned on Saturday that a friend from Sardo’s passed away earlier this week from a massive heart attack. He was a very jovial man who was passionate about performing and was always so nice and snazzily dressed in a handsome vest and slacks. He was 49 years old. The last time I saw him was a few weeks ago when I’d gone up with Devin for his dad’s birthday. I’m glad I got to see him then. He’s already very missed. I just couldn’t believe it when I saw an update from another Sardo’s friend. I was definitely shocked. :(

I’m now back in San Diego and relaxing after driving home in rain and poor visibility. Thankfully there wasn’t too much traffic; I made it back in less than 3 hours. I did think I had a flat tire at one point, but everything was fine. It was apparently the freeway surface making that kind of sound/feeling. I’ve only had a flat tire occur once while driving, thankfully, so I’m not too attuned to what it sounds/feels like to have one. Thank God I have AAA now! Just in case, you know!

Damn Mosquito

Posted in Family & Friends, Life on October 11th, 2011 by Mika – Be the first to comment

I’ve recently had some drama come into my life again and it’s absolutely the most annoying thing ever. As oblivious as I can be, I absolutely know that I do very little to warrant such things, especially recently, to occur. Haters gonna hate, but don’t FUCK with my shit. I am tired of not being able to stand up for myself against this stuff though. I don’t know how to do it without being the one to “start” shit. This kind of drama I end up in always involves people who claim they’re so forward, so strong, so aggressive, etc. etc. but they’re they most passive-aggressive little craps ever. I don’t want a fight, so I won’t talk about wanting to start one, but these people… Christ. If you want to talk about, then just do it. I’m fine with just venting to my friends because you actually did wrong and I’m hurt and angry. Eventually it’ll be just a figment of a memory to me, though. I’m not going to go around and talk shit about you, though. Nothing that isn’t true and I don’t tell everyone what’s going on either. They can ask, it doesn’t mean they’ll get shit from me, though. I don’t like to propagate drama when, really, it’s totally unnecessary and immature.

But hey, what can you do about them bitches? Nothing. Unless you want to throw the first punch and then, that’s just stupid. I’m doing what I can within the walls of what matters to me to set things straight and right again. I don’t need to further involve myself with someone else because they want to talk shit.

On a positive note, I may be closer than I thought to my next raise at work. I just need to be observed and succeed during a rush and with my manager watching, but she said if I do that, I should be ready for it! I do feel like I need more time in the position then I’ve been getting recently. I’m eager to get the level boost!

Another positive is I’m sure I’ve been losing weight. I don’t keep track, I don’t even own a scale, but I’ve been walking so much more since we’ve moved to our new apartment because I’m about a 15 minutes walk to work and 25 minutes to my friend’s house. I have no problem with walking and I don’t know why I haven’t done more of it. Oh, probably because we were living in such a hilly area before and that’s just no fun. Too much of an incline and I die :lol:.

Because so much as happened in the past month since the blackout, I think a bullet list will suffice for now.

  • Had friends from L.A. visit
  • Went snorkeling for the first time. Took a while to get used to, and ended up with two mouthfuls of sea water. It was fun while it lasted, though!
  • Have had more food truck experiences
  • Went camping with my friend Jess overnight. Fun and madness was had.
  • Kobe Bryant came through my work and I totally served him his food while the boys where jizzing themselves over him. ;)

I’m sure there’s more, it’s just kind of hard to remember smaller details.

I’m so excited it’s fall, though! I just hope it gets cooler in the day sooner and even better, drizzle and rain! I love gloomy weather. Love love love.

I Could Go All Day

Posted in Family & Friends on June 2nd, 2011 by Mika – 1 Comment

Today has been my day of rest. I feel as though I’ve been up & at ‘em since my work week started this past Friday. Not to mention, I kind of can’t believe that I’ve had some decent sun exposure everyday since Saturday and have only ended up with small areas of minor sunburned skinned. That’s kind of amazing since I’m so pale and I burn so easily and quickly.

Memorial day weekend was fun. I spent almost the whole day Saturday with my friend & coworker, Y. We worked the day together and spent the night enjoying each others’ company and I helped her survive the last night with her mother-in-law. Sunday was comprised of my driving alone to Costa Mesa for the Scotsfest at the Orange County Fair Grounds. I expected the husband to go with me, but after having spent the whole day on Saturday with his future brother-in-law for a bachelor party, he was spent. I met up with my parents, having missed the opening ceremonies and Memorial Day service, but I enjoyed the rest of the day. I got to imbibe in my first Scotch tasting since I haven’t been to the fair since before I turned 21. I also got my royal dose of pipe & drum bands. I can’t tell you how much I love bagpipes and drums! I enjoyed a banger with onions and was half-tempted to try some fish & chips. My mom bought me some shortbread from a different vendor than who we usually get our Scottish fair shortbread from. I also bought a few chocolate bars imported from overseas. I notice that they use hazelnuts in their chocolate like we Americans use peanuts. Can I tell you that hazelnuts are so much better than peanuts?? Fact. They are.

Monday night was spent going over to the house a friend we met at one of the bars we frequent in SD. She wanted to have a big barbecue, but everyone she initially invited flaked on her and she sent us a message inviting the husband and I. We went ahead and joined her since we had nothing else to do and no other plans, either. It ended up being a very nice night, sitting in her backyard just talking and drinking pseudo-margaritas, made with frozen juice & ice instead of a margarita mix.

Tuesday night I took the train from Solana Beach to Los Angeles Union Station and the bus the rest of the way to Van Nuys. I was late to the show, but I finally made it to Sardo’s for some much missed Porn Star Karaoke. Since the husband and I have been on opposite days-off the past month or so, we haven’t been able to make it up in forever and I finally did! It seemed slow enough compared to their other nights, but I still only managed to get in one song. I got to see my bartenders, KJ (karaoke jockey), host, security guys and some other regulars. Not to mention, the porn stars. One of the girls told me I was beautiful, which was definitely flattering. Ron Jeremy showed up relatively early! Everyone was in a tizzy when that announcement was made, of course.

Wednesday was spent with part of my Marinara group of friends, including one who’s been living in D.C. for the past couple of years. She gets to come out this way every once in a while for work and she tries to use her leave time to extend her trip to spend time with her best friend and the rest of us. I wish I could’ve come up and spent more time with them, but yesterday was a good day. We went to a family farm and went berry picking. Most of the berries were still not ripe for the picking yet, unfortunately, but that didn’t keep me from searching out some that I could take home. I managed a decent crop! Ryan got a bunch of lemons that he used in home-made lemonade that night. Nessa got herself some strawberries along with myself. Ness just spent her time trying the berries and determining they were all not quite ripe enough to keep. Maybe next month!

Next was a trip to In-N-Out, which Nessa hadn’t yet had even though she’d been back about a week. While I talked a little shop with the guy taking my order, and he was very nice, I was disappointed with the service. They messed my order up the first time and forgot about remaking it the 2nd time. They messed up Ryan’s burger… and overall they seemed to lack decent cohesion. Team work makes the dream work, people! Once they got my order to me, it was quite delicious. Animal style fries, lightly done, with extra grilled onions and mustard & ketchup instead of the spread. Omnomnomnom!

Ryan had to leave for work after that and the Nessas and I made our way to the beach. The water was way too damned cold for me to try and get anything wet above my feet. It was a beautiful day, however and the sand wasn’t too hot, so Ness and I just lounged on her blanket while Nessa enjoyed her time catching up with the Pacific Ocean. I coated myself fairly successfully in sunscreen but I still managed slight burns on the back of my knees1 and a sliver around the midriff part of my back when I was laying on my stomach and my shirt rode-up. Tay-Tay and Jessie joined us there and we stayed for about an hour once they arrived. The wind started getting pretty strong and causing a sandblast-effect so we decided to head back into the Valley and see a movie.

We saw the Hangover 2 and while I knew where Teddy was the whole time2 it wasn’t as bad as I’d heard people say it was. To be honest, I can’t really remember the first Hangover movie all that well, but the 2nd is like watching a slightly different version based in Thailand instead of Las Vegas. It was enjoyable for me, with enough laughs.

With that, we pretty much were all exhausted, including the time Nessa had before she needed to be at her aunt’s house. We parted ways with Tay-Tay and Jessie and made our way to drop Nessa off. Ness and I went back to her apartment and just lounged and talked for a couple of hours until Ryan came home from work. Houdini, Ryan’s African Grey parrot apparently has a foot fetish. She enjoyed using her beak and mouth to inspect my toes and she was so excited, fluffing up tons, as she was doing so. I have to say, it was very amusing & interesting. Ness’s cat, Gabana, was so intrigued by the parrot! She wanted to get close, but Houdini’s not the friendliest bird, so she will peck and draw blood! Ness was very concerned that that might happen. Thankfully we kept them separated enough.

Shortly thereafter, I made my way home, tried to catch up on some interwebs stuff, but I was actually tired, so I passed the eff out.

I had a very enjoyable week. It’s hard to think it’s only been just a week. I feel like I have quite the bad sense of time these days as weeks feel like months, but certain times it feels like it’s only been a few days… Kind of crazy.

  1. I rolled my jeans up too high and forgot to apply sunscreen, of course
  2. Thanks to the husband who told me after it was spoiled for him by Reddit.

If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.

Posted in Family & Friends on April 25th, 2011 by Mika – 1 Comment

Quote from Benjamin Franklin.

I just had a nice long shower and am painting my toenails and waiting for them to dry. I thought I might play another round of RollerCoaster Tycoon 2, but I figured a blog entry should be due.

I never really know what to do when friends are going through an incredible difficult time. Regardless of the situation, I never seem to be the one taking an active role to fight for them, provide for them… The best I seem to do is just to be there for them. My ears 1 are always available if you need to let something out. My shoulder is always there to be leaned or cried on. My arms will hold firm around you when you need someone to give you that hug or hold you up. I think I never really jump into any active role, for fear that I could make things worse.

For instance, last night, a friend of mine had an explosive fight with her husband in front of friends and family. She was in tears, angry, embarrassed, shocked… anything you could possibly feel in that sort of situation. Her closest guy friend was there for all of it while I was there for just most of it. He helped intervene and step in when necessary while I held her hand, let her squeeze it, let her sob into my chest while I hugged her tight and just stood 2 by her. I also cracked the occasional 3 joke here and there, since that’s what I do when situations are tense & stressful.

I never know if it’s enough, but I figure if I were her, I don’t think I could ask for much more. I don’t expect anyone to fight for me or go into something on my behalf, even though I know plenty of people would. At times like that, I just want to feel comforted and secure. I hope I was able to provide that for her, at least.

Unfortunately I couldn’t stay by her side through the end of it since I had to have the car back home for the husband to take to work super early in the morning… I’m still not sure what happened after I left. I just hope she’s okay.

  1. Or eyes.
  2. Or rather sat.
  3. Quite possibly inappropriate.

Forgiveness Is The Oil of Relationships

Posted in Family & Friends, Self on April 6th, 2011 by Mika – Be the first to comment

Something you have to forgive someone for.

I think because I grew up practically desperate for friends, I never held grudges against those who wronged me for very long. How can you keep friends if you hold grudges? There’s right and wrong to that question since holding onto those grudges can save you the trouble of staying in or going back into a relationship or friendship that was ultimately toxic. However, there’s a fine line between that and holding onto things when they really don’t matter in the big picture and the long run. We’re all human and we’ll end up making mistakes, especially against those that we care the most about, and as much as we’d expect forgiveness for our own errors, we can’t not do the same for others.

That said, I need to forgive certain people, primarily1 former friends, for being who they are and doing what they’ve done. That’s usually what causes the most turmoil between people, right? Yes, they hurt me back when, maybe without even knowing it, but they don’t hurt me anymore because I haven’t kept them in a position to do so. Except where it comes to my holding onto what they’ve done to me. Yes, things hurts and you can’t force that hurt to go away, but holding onto any additional emotion and baggage the came from that hurt will only help it linger and give it lasting power. It’s draining and unnecessary, yet I’ve found myself unable to let go of things as easily as I used to.

I could go into a whole spiel examining why I probably don’t let go of things as easily anymore, but that might be a blog for another night. 2

  1. But not all.
  2. Self: Note that down for when you’re stuck.