I'm the band who loves you

How can seeing your favorite band at their creative peak be anything but awesome?

It didn't matter that my seat was shitty or that my stomache was rumbling. I was watching Wilco and really, that was all that mattered.

Earlier in the day I was worried that the concert wouldn't live up to my super heightened expectations but of course, that was silly since Wilco rocked the house (as they always do, the reviews say).

I went with cousin-in-law Sonny, who had never heard of Wilco before. He asked his officemates if they knew Wilco because he was going to accompany me and they assured him that Wilco was the best. After the show I asked him if he liked them and he said he was "pleasantly surprised." So I'm happy he had a good time too.

As people know me know, I don't really show much emotion even when excited. Last night, the best I could muster was a really big smile and high-pitch squeals only bats can hear.

I'm sorry if I can't go into details about last night (and no pictures either because I took really crappy ones). Let's just say it was awesome, Wilco was fantastic and my heart almost burst when they started playing "I'm the man who loves you" (which Jeff dedicated to his wife).

(high-pitched bat squeal) EEEEE!!!!!!

Okay, I've pulled myself together and I've got good news. Up in Portland, my aunt got me tickets to see Josh Rouse (with Jason Collett opening). Sweeeeet!

Yes, it is awesome.

More Disneyland dammit!

After a day to rest and get some sleep, I went back to meet up with my family at the park yesterday. I'm happy to note that my nephews seemed to like having me back. There was much rough-housing, a lot of it with me in the center. I think they realized that it was okay to poke and prod and squeeze and sit on me.

Anyway, we spent the whole day at California Adventure and we were all pooped by 6pm. The kids wanted me to come home and play video games but I think my cousin was really tired by then. So goodbye hugs all around, all of them trying to crush the life out of me. See? It pays to be mean to kids.

Later in the evening, my cousins and I watched Superbad. It's sooooo funny. It's crazy good. Instant classic. Two thumbs up. Yum.

I don't know what the plans are this weekend but Lovine, aka the cutiest boy in SoCal, told me about some fest in LA. So that's an option. But it's really up to my cousins to decide.

Weekend with the Nephews Part 2

I think I'm getting old. While Disneyland is still fun, it isn't the same fun as it was when you're a kid. I know that's really elementary and obvious. So it's a good thing I was with a bunch of kids.



Disneyland has gone through some changes but it's still the same place I went to when I was four. But today was a lot hotter and crowded than usual.



Anyway, before I go any further, I have to roll call my nephews. After spending the whole day with them, I've grown to actually like them a lot. But that goes without saying since we are family after all.



Jon is the oldest at 19. He's a bio major at Irvine. And he didn't talk to me much but he's really the only one the younger kids listen to. It helps that he's the size of a small mountain.



Patrick, 17, is an incoming high school senior. As I said before, he's practically mute. He's my favorite nephew by far. I have a semi-pervy crush him for some reason. Yes, it's wrong but I can't help it. I love the quiet types.



Eric, Patrick's brother, is entering high school. He's the one who reminds me of my brother. They have the same irritating personality, always joking around and being goofy in general, a great contrast to his older brother.



Sophia is a few months younger than Eric. She's the only girl out of the bunch, which automatically makes her special. She's a varsity swimmer and such a chatterbox. Like most girls her age, I guess. She's really sweet and such a good kid. Wants to be British when she grows up.

Clarence is 12 and by far the most annoying. He peppered me with questions like, "Are you anorexic?" "How about bulimic?" "Why do Filipino girls look Mexican?" "How come you don't eat much?" "Are you tired? It's 'coz you're old!" The list goes on. I just punch him in the arm or poke in the stomache to make him stop.

Clarence: (after punching him) Oow! You're mean!
Kristine: I know. Get used to it.
Clarence: Auntie hit me!
Kristine: Wuss.

He totally deserved it and I have a feeling he enjoyed it too. Hehe.



Philip is the youngest with the exception of the two babies (who didn't come with us). He is so good-natured. Like extremely good-natured. He gets picked on by everyone, is punched constantly, called things like "retard" and "stupid" and he takes it all, smiling and giggling. He never gets mad, ever. There's almost something abnormal with him but we all know he's super smart.



We spent the whole day walking around and lining up for rides. At first the younger kids didn't want to go on the scary looking rides but they had to since their Auntie (me) wanted to ride it. They were bitching the whole time about being scared and blaming me for making them go but in the end they loved it. As I knew they would.

Weekend with the Nephews Part 1

Hmm, where to start? As I mentioned in the previous post, I had a rather full dancecard this weekend.

Saturday, I watched Wicked with my aunt and cousin. I'm not really into stage musicals. I would rather work in a play than watch it. But Wicked, as most people know, is a very good musical. I'm not going to go into a review since all there is to say is that the singing was excellent and it was funny and that Dorothy is kind of a bitch.

We might see Jersey Boys later this week which might be more up my alley since I have a great fondness for Four Seasons' songs (and who doesn't, really?)

Sunday, we went to some nice mall (bought another pair of shoes) and got some milkshakes. In the afternoon, I packed an overnight bag and went to my cousin's house for her son's birthday party. There I met the rest of my nephews. Had some pizza and cake then went home to Olivia's house with my nephews (and one niece) to sleep over for Disneyland the next day.

Since I've never been in a situation where I had to spend time with teenage boys, I didn't know what to say or how to talk to them but I quickly found out that the way to make them comfortable around you is to beat them in boy things.

My ping-pong skills were a bit rusty but, gosh darn it, I still schooled them. Even the youngest of the group Philip, 10, who accused me of slapping him early in the day, begged to be my doubles partner.

After that, we stayed up till one in the morning playing on the Wii. I've only tried the Wii once before and it was some lame-ass Japanese cooking game. This time the nephews shoved the game stick in my hands and made me play Mario Strikers. My uber-competitiveness kicked in and I managed to score some goals. I think my nephews were completely befuddled that a 27 year-old oldie (from a 3rd world country) who has never touched a Wii could do that. That's how you earn respect from teenage boys.

Damn straight.

Next post: Disneyland!

I've had a little bit of down time since my cousins went back to work. I usually spend the day sitting around, reading and trying to finish my reviews for Luis. The weekend though should prove to be more fruitful.

I think my cousin and I are going out later today. And tomorrow I'll take out my new shoes (wedges, with blue straps, in case you were interested) because it's gay bar night. Woot!

The show Wicked on Saturday and my nephew's party on Sunday. And Disneyland on Monday! More woots!

So worry not friends, the activity in the photo above will be far and few between. I hope.

(That's Penelope with me in the picture, by the way.)

Tourist Trap day!

After eating at Pink's, Sonny took Steph and I to the Warner Bros tour. I don't know if a lot of people know about it since there weren't that many people there. It's quite cozy since the tour only accomodates groups of 12-15. It definitely doesn't have the flashiness of the Universal tour but it's more intimate and it has a shitload of Harry Potter stuff.

Unfortunately photographing the HP props and costumes were prohibited but it was still cool to see the actual things that were used in the films. There were also costumes and props from various shows like Friends, Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars and One Tree Hill (eew).



Our tour guide Ryan, a very jittery college kid, is showing us the Friends set. Most of the things were squished in a tiny space, relocated from the original studio set.



The props room was great. It looked like a very ecclectic thrift store, with over-sized fruits, all kinds of birdhouses, glassware, and the occasional viking bust.



I think the WB tour is worth taking since, unlike the Universal tour, you get to get off the tram and poke around a little. And most of the sets and studios are in use, it gives you the sense that George Clooney could come around the corner at any second. He didn't of course, but he could have.

Here's a deserted Stars Hollow. The yellow house is Mrs. Kim's Antique shop. No sign of the Gilmores' house though.

Driving down the 101

It's been one week and time really goes by when you're always out of the house. I haven't had much time to watch Family Matters reruns (but I try to make time for Phil of the Future, because let's face it, Ricky Ullman is so damn cute).

This week we had a cupcake competition. My tita and cousins each tried to top the other with their cupcake masterpieces. Stephanie and I served as judges. And I think it was unanimous that Carlene won, although her credibility was questioned when she blatantly used store-bought brownie mix. Below are Sonny's second place cupcakes (made from scratch and with love):



A lot of the photos I take are from inside the car, which I suppose is natural since most people here live in their cars.

I've been to the US a handful of times now and the novelty has sort of worn off a little. When I was younger, I would have my face pressed against the window, marvelling at the freeways. But not anymore, maybe it's because the hills of California isn't as picturesque in the summer.

My cousins live out in the suburbs, which is pretty enough but a tad bare for my taste. I love going into Los Angeles where it's crowded and traffic (crazy, I know) and the houses don't look like the ones next to it.



We went to tourist spot Pink's for some hotdogs. They were pretty good but the line was freaking long. The thing I noticed though, is that after waiting for nearly an hour, it only takes most Americans 15 to 20 minutes to eat and they get up and go. No chit-chatting, no enjoying the atmosphere. Man, if I queued up for that long, I'm going to sit and look at all those celebrity photos.



But I suppose the quick turnover is good for business and it's good for the people who are waiting for a table. Even though over 50 people were lined up, there was always an empty table.

My mother would be glad to know that I'm keeping my spending to a minimum, although stores like Old Navy and Nordstrom make it very hard. I love my basics. I love my plain white t-shirt.

But I also like my new polka-dot shoes very much.

Getty Museum!

Today I tagged along with Sonny and Stephanie to the Getty Museum. Woot! I've heard it was really beautiful and man, it doesn't disappoint.



It's huuuuge and wonderfully well maintained. My mom told me photos were allowed but she failed to mention it was only for the permanent exhibits. So while I was snapping away with my cellphone cam (I know, lame), a security guy hurries over and tells me it's not allowed. Oh well.



This bat is made out of plastic garbage bags! It's really more impressive when you see it for yourself. The following sculpture is made to look like a dinosaur carcass but it's shaped like little naked men. All made with Crayola clay.



Here are some Getty shots. It's hard to take a bad photo of the Getty.





The permanent exhibits are, of course, impressive. But after seeing paintings and sculptures in books and films, it's a little bleh seeing it ferreals. I don't mean to be blase about it since I'm in a room full of priceless objects d'art, but after seeing painting after painting and so on, it gets repetitive.





Complainy stuff aside, it was great and I hope I get to go back before I leave. We didn't get to see all the exhibits. I didn't get to stand in front of the works long enough since my companions were kind of speed appreciating.

I just slapped myself. What kind of art student says things like that? Maybe that's why I'm an art school drop out.

A little light reading

She traps my bishop with her knight, flashes me a sly smile. I contemplate the board, trying to find a way to take her knight or move my bishop. Things are looking grim for White.
"Henry, are you a really a person?"
I'm a bit taken aback. "Yes. What else would I be?"
"I don't know. A spirit?"
"I'm really a person, Clare."
"Prove it."
"How?"
"I don't know."
"I mean, I don't think you could prove that you're a real person, Clare."
"Sure I can."
"How?"
"I'm just like a person."
"Well, I'm just like a real person too."

Any minute now Nell will ring the dinner bell and Clare will have to go in. She sits back down on her side of the board. I can tell she's lost interest in the game when she starts building a little pyramid out of all the conquered pieces.
"You still haven't proven you're real."
"Neither have you."
"Do you ever wonder if I'm real?" she asks me, surprised.
"Maybe I'm dreaming you. Maybe you're dreaming me; maybe we only exist in each other's dreams and every morning when we wake up we forget all about each other."

From The Time Traveler's Wife.

I haven't finished reading this one yet but it's pretty damn good. I heard they were making a movie and I thought Rachel McAdams would be perfect as Clare. Lo and behold, IMDB says she will be playing Clare. As for Henry, it's Eric Bana, although in my mind's eye it's Jeremy Davies (but less twitchy then he usually is). Eric Bana is fine though. Mmm...naked Eric Bana....

Sea World!

As I said before, I was really jet-lagged the next day when we went to Sea World.

Actually, the Sea World experience wasn't for me, it was for another visiting relative, Stephanie. She's future cousin-in-law's sister visiting from Toronto. She's going to be here till next week I think, so I've just been tagging along as a sort of tourist barnacle.


The park was super full since it was a Sunday. It was like being in a Benetton ad too. White, Black, Latinos, East Asians, South Asians, South East Asians (reprezent!), and variations of the above were all there. And they brought their babies. So many babies! Some practically brand new. It kinda made me want and not want children at the same time.

Oh look!(Fake) baby seals!



I'm too lazy to check my blog if I've actually mentioned my future cousin-in-law's name. Well, if I didn't, then his name is Sonny and he's a really nice guy. My cousin Carlene found someone who could put up with her. Isn't that what marriage is all about anyway?



You have to look a bit close to see the polar bear hiding in the cave. Trust me, he's there. There was also a rather lame acrobatic show. But the kids seemed to like it. And they had a giant hamster ball.

Los Angeles, I'm Yours

Well, the plane ride wasn't too bad, except for the nearly two hour delay, the bad food and the bum stomache I had. The flight was surprisingly short, only 13 hours. The sleeping pill I brought with me didn't really work and I only slept for about 6 hours.

I arrived in LAX at 10:45-ish and I finally got out of there at 11:30. Then I threw up at my tita's house at around 1am. I had about two hours sleep then got up at 9am to go to San Diego for Sea World!

(Pictures to follow)

I hadn't been to Sea World since I was 4 and I think I had more fun then. But I suppose that's only natural since I was seriously bangag and I think anything is more fun when you're 4 anyway.

I could barely keep my eyes open but I trudged along behind my cousins and took in some safely-contained wildlife. Gosh, the penguins were so cute. Moray eels? Not so much.

Best thing about Sea World? Funnel cakes. Yum yum yum. But the seal and otter show was good too.

****

I've never been here in the summer and the weather is remarkably warm. Like home but not humid. Yesterday was really hot and sunny and I did not sweat at all. Amazing!

***

I was able to get a goodnight's sleep and an afternoon nap. Right now, my cousin and cousin-in-law to-be and I are watching TV. They have about a thousand channels and it. Is. Insane.

Today alone I saw two episodes of Full House, the movie "French Kiss", America's Next Top Model (cycle 2), Maury, "Meatballs" and I also fell asleep to Matlock.

Not to worry friends, I'm not going to spend 3 months infront of the TV. I just wanted to share how crazy the media culture is here. You never have to leave the house to be entertained.

Last night, as a sort of farewell dinner (but really it was a business meeting with my leaving as an after thought), we went to eat at Spoon. I was with our Explainer host Manolo, his bf Gerry, and our EP Twink, as well as frequent Explainer guest Dean Bocobo.

While Spoon has a great seafood chowder that I dream about, the most notable incident in the evening was Twink downing five beers in under an hour. Amazing! Later on, Ricky, an ANC anchor and another person I PA for, came into the restaurant. It was the first time he learned that I was taking a leave of three months. I didn't tell him before because I knew it would break his heart. *Snerk* Anyway, he told me I'd still have a place in the Big Picture when I got back.

I should be flattered that a lot of people want me to work for them but I suspect it's because they think I'm fun to torture.

Anyway, yesterday was my last day at work. These next three days will consist of meeting up with some people and doing last minute shopping with some running around headlessly.