Hosmer, baby! 💛

Can someone postmate me garlic fries???

I love that Christine’s birthday is so close to mine, especially when her husband throws her a surprise party at my favorite BBQ spot! (@ Grand Ole BBQ)

The girls gave me the best gift ever: music and travel! I can’t wait to see Tame Impala in Portland!!!

Thanks to Chel, Christine and the old man in a hawaiian shirt at the bar for buying me all those birthday drinks (and even more thanks to Alicia for picking my ass up and Ray for driving my car home).

When the clock struck midnight on my birthday, I was two burritos deep and lying on the floor at Alicia’s house. This is 38, guys.

I’m here for the garlic fries, beer and Eric Hosmer (in that order) (@ Petco Park)

Nothing says ‘Murica like BBQ and corn chips (@ Grand Ole BBQ Flinn Springs)

I had to try my beloved beef rib el borracho style (as featured on DDD!) with my favorite borrachos this 4th of July weekend. Def could go easier on the queso, but I am here for this bed of corn puddin’ y’all!

Congrats to my favorite new first grader, Ari! (@ Pepper Drive Elementary)

I should’ve been less concerned about the dad with the swastika tattoo on his neck and more concerned about being in a classroom full of kinders for an hour, because I am full blown sick now, ya dang kids!

I lived in San Diego for 30 years, but this was my first time here! It’s worth the $18 entry fee, if only to get dole whip from the strawberry shack on your way out (@ The Flower Fields)

Jessie’s birthday BBQ (@ Grand Ole BBQ Flinn Springs)

I missed pre-BBQ beers at Alpine because of stupid LA traffic, but I made it before they sold out of ribs this time! Can all my friends celebrate their birthdays here??? I would get on the 405 during rush hour for BBQ you.

Friends is Shi’s most favorite TV show ever, and Shi is our favorite bachelorette!

Shi chow-crowned an impressive amount of gummy dicks. Marry this woman already!

Don’t have to tell us twice (@ The Tipsy Crow)

This mechanical bull has seen better days, and so has my liver (@ Double Deuce)

It was so much fun partying like I was 21 again, but I spent the entire day in bed afterwards paying for it!

(Same time next weekend?)

—

Friends-themed food and drink ideas:

• Penis cake – “Emma’s 1st birthday cake”
• Cheesecake – “Chandler’s stolen cheesecake”
• Chocolate chip cookies – “Phoebe’s grandma’s cookie recipe”
• Quiche – “Monica’s finger nail quiche”
• Trifle – “Rachel’s Thanksgiving trifle”
• Charcuterie board with jam and crackers – “Joey’s uncircumsized deli meat” / “Monica’s jam”
• Crab cakes – “Ross’ free crab cakes”
• Chicken wings – “Monica’s bubble bath chicken”
• Sandwiches – “Joey’s ride along sandwich”
• Pizza – “George Stephanopoulos’ pizza” or “Ross and Rachel’s breakup pizza”
• Flan – “Rachel’s birthday flan”
• Chocolate torte – “Joey’s date’s chocolate torte”
• Lasagna – “Monica’s mom’s back-up lasagna”
• Mini muffins – “Ross’ basket of mini muffins”
• Salad – “Monica’s perverted salad” or “Rachel’s side salad”
• Punch – “Monica’s tiki death punch”
• Mac & Cheese – “Chandler’s righteous mac & cheese”
• Turkey sandwiches – “Ross’ stolen thanksgiving leftover sandwich (the moist maker)”
• Chocolate – “Monica’s mockolate”
• Assorted candies – “Monica’s little pieces of heaven”
• Fajitas – “Ross’ fine fajitas”
• Cups and ice – “Phoebe’s cups and ice”

Vendors/Supplies:

• Friends Cake and Cookies – Wednesday Cake
• Friends Bunting Banner, Food Signage, Shirts – Shashime Designs
• Friends Bridal Sash – Etsy
  
• Purple Balloons – Party City
• Oh Shit Kit – Amazon
• Drink Pouches – Amazon
• Chow Crown – Amazon
• Penis Gummies – Amazon

Welp, there goes my dinner plans (@ Grand Ole BBQ y Asado)

When they sell out of your beloved beef ribs, you just order everything else on the menu, right?

Birthday beers (@ Thorn St. Brewery)

I tell everyone I know that my favorite ice is the nugget kind they have at Sonic, and it was so thoughtful of Christine to remember.

The last time I brought sangria to her house, I asked her beforehand if she had ice, and Pammie was like, “Of course she has ice, she’s an adult!” and I was like, “But I never have ice at my place.” And she was like, “Exactly.” I mean. Who needs ice when you keep the vodka in the freezer???

The girls think this is what I sound like, and I ain’t even mad. Thanks for dinner, drinks, my new sound bar, and a much needed girls night! Love you b’s.

Today was a good day (@ George’s at the Cove)

Chargers playoff win. Bohemian Rhapsody takes the Globes. Parents’ 40th wedding anniversary. Amazing dinner and this view ♥

Happy early birthday to my favorite sister! (@ Monello)

FYI I can only eat pasta when it’s prepared tableside in a cheese wheel now.

She is messy, but she’s kind
She is lonely most of the time

Sugar, butter, flour (@ Civic Theatre)

Oh, my heart. Even though Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen won all the Tony awards, Waitress is my most favorite musical to date. It’s like how everybody loves Breaking Dawn: Part 2, but my favorite Twilight movie is New Moon, because it’s the saddest one where Bella was emo AF listening to Lykke Li and pining over the loss of Edward the entire time…

I mean what, I don’t know anything about teenage vampire sagas.

I’ll have one… one of everything! (@ BJ’s Brewhouse)

Alicia and I drank our way through their holiday cocktail list. The blood orange pom fireball sangria tastes like Christmas in your mouth! It’s def going on the menu for any and all future holiday spreads.

ILYSM (@ Grand Ole BBQ Flinn Springs)

My most favorite BBQ spot in San Diego (and all of California) just opened a second location near the bestie’s house in east county. It’s bigger and less busy than its North Park flagship, and more importantly, it has a full bar (the original location doesn’t serve alcohol, but you can BYOB). It should def be on your BBQ bucket list! Also, if you don’t have a BBQ bucket list, how are we even friends???

See I know what we’ve got to do
You let go, and I’ll let go, too

L-Boogie up in here (@ Open Air Theatre)

I can’t believe I’m old enough for 20th anniversary tours, but the rough morning I had after getting home at 2am was solid proof!

This album soundtracked my junior year of high school, and hearing it in its entirety made me feel 16 again ♥

More videos here.

Breakfast Club (@ Flower Child)

My favorite girls met at an ungodly hour for breakfast so that the mamas could have extra girl time away from their six kids (four of which are twin babies!). I only had to worry about getting myself up in the morning, and I was still one of the last ones there! Ha. I haven’t laughed this hard in such a long time. No one will ever be as entertained by us than us ♥

Chino x Mike Shinoda 🖤

Came for a sandwich, but stayed for the pride parade (@ Ike’s Place, Hillcrest)

A few of my favorite things…

109° weather calls for frosé all day (@ The Pioneer)

The 4th of July fell on bottomless beer and lobster night this year (@ Viejas)

What a time to be alive.

Felicidades to my favorite 8th grader (@ Pepper Drive)

5 hours and 2 footsie wootsie massages later (@ San Diego County Fair)

Christine’s twin babies came early, so their big sister’s 2nd birthday party moved from Chuck E. Cheese to Denise’s backyard. No complaints here!

Can we just go on record and say that I’ve added a flat top grill, fire pit and pool to my list of must-haves for my future home???

Brunch with my fave girls (@ Breakfast Republic)

Quote of the day:

If Beyoncé can get cheated on, none of us are safe!

Shi will not rest, y’all! 😅

What sorcery is this??? (@ San Diego Civic Theatre)

My morning raclette (@ Venissimo – Liberty Station)

Were the tacos the best I ever had? No. But were the micheladas good at least? Still no. (@ City Tacos)

I should’ve known that this place was no bueno when I saw people drinking wine with their tacos, and the only mexicans eating there were the friends I came with.

Rise up (@ San Diego Civic Theatre)

Birthdays, BBQ and BYOB (@ Grand Ole BBQ y Asado)

Thanks to everyone who came out last night ♥

Last Supper (Pop Pie Co)

Behind the scenes (@ SeaWorld)

Burgers and beer for breakfast (@ Modern Times Fortress of Raditude)

Pammie, Dennis, Paul and I arrived at the Shake Shack pop-up 30 minutes before they opened, and the line wasn’t too bad. The longest I’ve ever waited in line for food was over 2 hours at Howlin’ Rays in Chinatown, so this 45-minute wait was no bigs. There was absolutely no shade though, so our burgers came with a side of UV! It was worth the tan lines…

Level up (@ Coin Haus)

Leo took Alicia, Ray and me to this beercade in La Mesa last night. It’s in a nice area with an industrial bar and gorgeous resto next door. Things have def changed since I lived there years ago!

I like their system so much better than other barcades I’ve been to. You exchange a credit card for a tapcard and use it to serve yourself beer and play video games. It beats having to wait in line at the bar for $15 drinks or having to use quarters for the games (ain’t nobody got change for that!). When I turned my tapcard in at the end of the night, it ended up being less than $20 to drink some beers and play a few rounds of Contra, Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros and more. The cashier said I was a cheap date! Boys, don’t all come running at once.

Lord Huron (@ Del Mar Racetrack)

I had all and then most of you, some and now none of you
Take me back to the night we met

The last time I attended 4 o’clock Fridays may or may not have been 14 years ago to see Hoobastank.

I’m learning some amazing moves from these guys (@ Wonderspaces)

Pad squad* (@ Petco Park)

*not pictured: Alicia and I dodging homerun balls (none of which were hit by the Padres, of course).

Hot Tub Cruisin’ (@ Mission Bay)

Chel’s grandma always told her that she changes boyfriends like she changes panties, and this is the final one. Congrats to the bachelorette!

S/O to our captain, Shi! You the real MVP.

I don’t think you’re ready for this jelly (@ Birch Aquarium at Scripps)

Claws + crop tops (@ Green Flash Concerts at Birch Aquarium at Scripps)

I saw BØRNS for the third time, and unlike the weather, he did not disappoint! It was my first Green Flash concert overlooking the pacific, and the only green flash I saw on this gloomy day was the overpriced beer all the UCSD kids were drinking. I love this venue, though. You get to explore the aquarium before the show, and on a clear day, you can watch the sunset while your favorite band plays.

Gingerbread ale and memory jars (@ Common Theory Public House)

I spent my holiday vacation back home in San Diego making memories with family and old friends.

Just after Christmas, my cousin and her family were involved in a devastating house fire that took the life of her daughter and everything they owned. It has been a difficult year for my family in general, and this tragedy solidified 2015 as the worst year ever! Hopefully 2016 is kinder to us all. A friend of the family set up a GoFundMe account if you would like to make a donation to help.

My dear friend, Jay, also lost his mom over the holidays, and I met up with him and friends I haven’t seen in forever at her memorial. I love seeing these guys, because no matter how much time has passed, we can all still pick up right where we left off. The highlight of my day was when Pammie and I walked into the chapel and Jay’s brother greeted us with arms wide open and a simple, “Bitches.” Classic Rome. Jay trying to give me dating advice was a very close second. The lowlight of my day had to be when my ex-boyfriend brought his fiancé and his parents to the memorial, and all I brought was my extra holiday weight. LOL. Just kidding. (I brought my sister, too.)

My resolution this year is to be better about staying in touch with family and friends. I have a tendency to close myself off, and I’m trying to work on that. You really never know when you’re going to lose your loved ones…

Leon Bridges took me and Anthony to church last night (@ The Observatory North Park)

Brunch in the barrio with these babes (@ ¡Salud!)

Tacos always taste better in the hood. You know it’s gonna be good if you hear gun shots exiting the freeway (shout out to Tacos Arabes in Boyle Heights!).

SF brought the fog (@ Petco Park)

Keeping the party going (@ Zymology 21)

Darien, his dog Bluey, and Beckham the Super Dog sitting for treats (@ San Diego Humane Society’s Walk for Animals)

We scored a ton of free swag for Rocky and my aunt’s sweet dog who we brought along, but I’m paying for it with a serious auto detail. There’s dog fur in places I didn’t know there could be dog fur!

I’ll be the asshole eating donuts at the 12-mile mark (@ La Jolla Half Marathon)

So proud of my little marathon runner, Shi! Just one more till that triple crown…

Alicia’s birthday with these party animals (@ San Diego Zoo)

Pretending it’s 1991 and helping Shi refuel after her half marathon (@ Cafe Topes)

Morning brews (@ Benchmark Brewing)

Fried chicken, doughnuts & coffee with Chel & these clowns (@ StreetCar Merchants of Fried Chicken, Doughnuts & Coffee)

Pammie’s birthday brunch (@ Great Maple)

When asked if I want a big ass pickle inside my bloody mary, the answer is always yes.

OMG, my mom and her emoticons.

My sister just accepted a job offer back home in SD, and I couldn’t be happier for her (or sadder for me!). The best part about living in LA is that it’s only an hour away from my sister’s condo in the OC and a few hours away from home. With my sister and brother-in-law moving back to SD, I won’t be able to just drop by whenever I’m feeling homesick anymore. I’ll also have to find someone else’s husband to cook me breakfast on Sunday mornings! Ha.

Congrats, Pammie!!! I miss you already ♥

Because half pint glasses make his hands look bigger (@ Alpine Beer Company)

Not pictured: Anthony on the air drums and me on vocals (@ Petco Park)

Paul McCartney – Hey Jude (Live)

Anthony upgraded his second annual shrimp boil with an invite that tested our friendship and a bloody mary bar by me and the girls. All that was missing was some fried chicken!

Winning combo: Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix + UV Sriracha Vodka + Sriracha Chili Sauce

It smells like doyer dogs and betrayal (@ Dodger Stadium)

I live down the street from Manhattan Beach Pier, but nothing beats being at the beach with my buds in SD (even if it is PB!) (@ Pacific Beach Alehouse)

Who doesn’t like a little chorizo in their bloody mary every once in a while? (@ Great Maple)

Ice cream flight kind of night (@ Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream)

I was the only person they carded! #faceofaminor (@ Alpine Beer Co)

Congrats Shi and Christine! (@ Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon)

Beer, buddies, and beer buddies (@ Pizza Port)

Congrats #MrAndMrsOlivar! (@ Estancia La Jolla)

Every time one of us gets married, it’s like a mini reunion. I love that no matter how many days, months or years have gone by, we can all still pick up right where we left off ♥

Last night’s much needed michelucas (@ Karina’s)

…or the reason why I missed my morning hike! SORRY, SHI!

• Our Thanksgiving dinner consisted of enough chinese food to feed a small village plus a turkey (which a chinese restaurant deep fried for us for $25). Ha. Is it weird that I’ve never had stuffing before?

• Bingo, bitches! Now I know where I get my competitiveness and foul mouth from… I’ve never heard my grandma curse so much in my life!

• The Debutante @ The Haven. Good beer and good pizza with good friends.

• I haven’t been home in a while, and Rocky clearly misses me! I found this cuddle bug in my old bed every night I was in town.

Blackfish, beers, and the bernie with Anthony. Brandom!

While I was in SD this past weekend, my friend was telling me about the new Donut Bar that just opened a few months back, but I know better than to go anywhere downtown during the shit show that is Comic Con! Donut Bar is known for their ‘cro-bar’ – a croissant/donut hybrid recently made famous by a pastry chef in NYC. After googling pictures of it, I decided that I needed that sorcery inside of me ASAP, so I made it myself!

Get the recipe here.

Outta my way, kids! Upside down animals are only my favoritest thing in the world.

It’s been 21 years since I last went to SeaWorld in the fifth grade (do the horrifying math). Yesterday, I went back there with the BFF and her kiddos, and the only souvenir I took home was this walrus photo and a fierce sunburn.

Ikea frame + Target hooks + my own subway-inspired print = a little piece of San Diego in my home away from home.

Yes, that’s pepper spray hanging on the far right. COME AT ME, BRO.

Back to the scene of the crime! Birthday shots at Bub’s with the birthday girl last night. It felt good to be home ♥

This makes me miss home.

What was supposed to be a quick break from baby shower planning turned into 7 hours of drinking and me getting a ride home at 2am! This hostess was def hurting in the morning.

Chel’s birthday brunch at Prepkitchen last Sunday!

(Photo courtesy of @instapammie—I was too busy getting served by Anthony to take any pictures! Ha.)

Clearly, San Diego was sad to see me go.

Snooze with my loves! Apparently, I wasn’t the only one with news 😉
Thanks for breakfast, Anthony ♥

I think the GPOY is assumed here.

Spring Valley: Where Paul Walker gets his fabulous $10 hair cuts (but only on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays).

Chel‘s parties are always pinterest-worthy, and Darien’s first birthday was no exception! Old Poway Park is an awesome place to have a kid’s birthday party (preferably if your kid was born between the months of October and May—I was sweating like a whore in church!).

Exercise in the morning before your body knows what it’s doing.

Oh, my body knew damn well what it was doing.

I said the last time was the last time, and I’d never go back… yet there I was, at an unholy hour on a Sunday, back at Mount Woodson with Shi and Pammie!

I’m pretty sure the sun tried to kill us all today. Worst five hours EVAR!

There is a hell, and it’s the Via de la Valle off ramp during fair season! It took us four hours to get to the fair last night, but the deep fried deliciousness and freakishly large turkey legs that put me in a food coma made it worth the drive!

My Girl Scout Cookie Locator app has met its match.
Take me to your leader maple bacon donuts!

When my friend suggested dinner at D Bar, I had no idea it was owned by Keegan Gerhard from The Food Network… that is, until he came up to our table at the end of the meal and asked if something was wrong with Chel’s half eaten dish! While their chicken and waffle sandwich was nothing to write home about, I thoroughly enjoyed everything else I put in my mouth last night—including the food at D Bar 😉 Ha! I wanted their shrimp poppers to have my babies, and I thought that their lobster mac & cheese tasted infinitely better than the crab mac from Lei Lounge. Had I known this place was owned by one of the top ten pastry chefs in America, I would have saved room for dessert! I will def be back for dessert and drinks, especially since Keegan was so sweet to us and graciously comp’d Chel’s food.

Your sunshine is as blinding as ever, Shirley May.

Apparently, I’ve agreed to hike up Mount Woodson at an unholy hour on my day off tomorrow! I don’t even know who I am anymore…

This pretty much sums up my summer plans.

Phil’s is opening a restaurant in Santee! This alcohol notice confirms it. Soon I’ll be able to get drunk and stuff myself with meat closer to home. And then I can head over to Phil’s afterward 😉

No lunch break at work, an hour of unpaid overtime, and a Chargers loss. Is my pet’s head gonna fall off next???

You said it, Rivers…

Laying out on the beach with the girls in a belated attempt to get a tan this year. In other news, it’s snowing on the east coast. Try not to be too jealous.

SD Restaurant Week has been extended! Coincidentally, my diet has been postponed.

This = me during SD Restaurant Week. And pretty much any of the other 51 weeks during the year.

What’s up, one-legged seagull?

Jessie was able to score us free tickets to SD Beer Fest last night! Shi was the least drunk, but managed to spill the most beer. And had a hard time remembering anything this morning. So… pretty much a regular day for her. Ha.

It probably wasn’t the best idea to drive on gas fumes yesterday. Or offer to give my stranded coworker a ride home when we got off early. Or blast my air conditioning while sitting in traffic for 45 minutes because all the lights were out.

During The Great Blackout of 2011, I was stuck at Anthony’s house with an empty gas tank thinking, This is who I’m spending the end of the world with??? Ha.

Things I learned during the blackout:

• Don’t wait till your gas light turns on to fill up
• Anthony washes his face with Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub
• All you need in an emergency situation is a bottle of wine, a gas grill, and a friend who knows how to cook

Shit is about to get real up in here. I’m either going to cut a bitch or take my pants off.

Oh, Torrey Pines… I may be sore today, but I was thrilled to be on top of you last night.

The girls and I got up at an ungodly hour this morning to support Jessie at the America’s Finest City Half Marathon!

Jess and I are still sick, so we spent all day Friday watching movies in our underwear, overdosing on Zicam and Emergen-C cocktails, and carbo-loading in preparation for her race today. Yes, I probably didn’t need to carbo-load with her, but what’s done is done.

Congrats on completing the Triple Crown, Jessie! We couldn’t be more proud of you ♥

We took family photos at Coronado Beach this weekend for my grandma’s 80th birthday. I’ll spare you the images of me and my 40+ Asian relatives in our clichéd blue jeans and white tops, and instead leave you with this gorgeous sunset.

Padres game and entirely too much beer and sangria swirl margaritas for a Thursday night with Christine, Jessie and Christian. We scored free tickets to the game, but I def paid for it the next day at work! Holy hangover.

After hours of sunshine and margaritas at the SD Oyster Fest on Saturday, Jessie and I continued the party at Las Hadas, El Camino and Starlite with Christine and Sher.

Day drinking always sounds like a good idea until it’s past midnight and you’re still drinking.

The San Diego County Del Mar Fair is back in town!

The girls and I enjoyed some bacon donuts and Bruno Mars before heading back down to see Mayer Hawthorne spin at El Camino (where Jessie got me drunk enough to rap about ass and titties).

Since Arlene is vacationing in Cabo this week, I thought I’d be able to take a vacation from working out. Apparently, I was wrong. Thanks Shi and Christine for keeping me motivated and making me run up and down this damn mountain! The view from the top was worth it.

I’ve been training my entire life for this.

Update 4/25/2011: This event has been CANCELED 🙁 The light at the end of the tunnel just got dimmer.

Update 4/28/2011: Boomers is having a Food Trucks & Fun event from Friday 5/20 to Sunday 5/22 with over 20 gourmet food trucks from SD/LA!

Ohhh, so this is what 6am looks like.

I would not be mad if this kid fell out of my uterus. If watching this video doesn’t fill your heart with joy, then you are dead to me.

Well, this is a terrifying cloud.

One night I’m sleeping naked with the fan on, and the next I’m sleeping naked under my down alternative comforter. What gives???

I went to TNT at the Museum of Contemporary Art downtown last night. After work, I took the trolley from Old Town and got ogled by three different men at three different stops on the 9-minute ride. Public transportation is for the pervs! Chel, Christine, Anthony and I had a light dinner at St. Tropez. While the food was just okay and the hip hop music distracted from the French ambiance, we did, however, enjoy how our seats vibrated every fifteen minutes from the passing trolley buses—Yes, even Anthony enjoyed it. And yes, it’s been entirely too long since I’ve had a man.

We hit up MCASD afterward, and some of the artwork was just beyond me, but I did enjoy this one piece by Vhils made of sculpted brick wall with plaster and paint:

I also enjoyed the Stone IPA, the 9 o’clock Mexican and seeing three of our collective ex’s. Yeah, that wasn’t awkward.

Several street artists, including Shepard Fairey and Banksy, did public commissions around downtown, so def check them out if you’re in the area.

Pammie and I were given free tickets to Comic-Con on Sunday. I knew I was out of place when I looked up at the big screen and thought out loud, "What movie is this?" and some dude looked at me like I was crazy and said, "It’s Return of the Jedi!" I’m pretty sure I was the only one within a 10-mile radius who hadn’t seen a single Star Wars movie.

While I was at the Iron Man booth, Pammie ran up to me and said, "Guess who’s here?!?!?" And I was like, "Robert Downey Jr?!?" And she was like, "Kevin from the Jabbawockeez!" I mean…!

As we waited in line for the panels, the girl with the Fringe tote in front of us said, "Too bad you guys got the sucky Vampire Diaries themed tote bags!" Um. We totally traded a small child and an old man our original Batman bags for these “sucky” Vampire Diaries bags! LOL.

We missed the Glee panel, but we were able to get into Sons of Anarchy. OH. MY. JAX. He is officially in my Freebie Five!

The San Diego County Del Mar Fair opens today! I look forward to it every year. Where else can you watch the pig races (my fave), stock up on Quick-n-Brite, see a freakishly large horse, and eat deep fried Twinkies all at the same place? Is it weird that my heart started to race when I saw the new fair food map?

And so the universe decided to kick us while we’re down and make it rain the whole week.

I love you, Mark Sanchez, but my San Diego Chargers are gonna kick your beautiful ass today. BOLTS, BABY!

I started this blog over the weekend bitching about the third parking ticket I received this year alone in the OC last week (the second in SD and the first in LA—it’s like I’m trying to be ticketed in every city). Now that San Diego’s going down in flames, it all seems so trivial. I can see one of the five fires burning around SD from my own backyard in the Valley. Besides having class canceled during the Cedar Fire of 2003, I’ve never really been affected by a fire until last night. I thought I’d be able to sit it out in the comfort of my own home like the last time, but the police pounded on our door around six o’clock and urged us to evacuate immediately. I didn’t realize how serious it was until I saw the flames rising above Mt. San Miguel towards my house on TV at my grandma’s apartment. A lot of my friends live in the same neighborhood, so I contacted them all to make sure they were okay, along with my relatives who had evacuated the fires in North County. Luckily, everyone was fine, but my relatives up north won’t find out if their houses were spared until they’re allowed to go back home later this week (along with nearly a million other displaced Californians). I was supposed to have two midterms, a project and a term paper due this week, but class has been canceled through the weekend… That doesn’t really make me feel much better about what’s happening here at home, though.

On a happier note, I finally booked our trip to Hawaii. Pammie, Shi, Chel and I are going to have an amazing time… The only thing I’m not looking forward to is all that exercise I have to do in order to be beach-ready by January. And all that yummy food I have to avoid over the holidays. And all those nights I’ll spend crying myself to sleep out of hunger. I mean… What.

Hoobastank just played a free 4 o’clock Fridays show at Del Mar after the horse races! I didn’t expect them to sing that many songs because this show was technically free, but damn! They sang for like an hour and a half! Edgar, Sheen, Sheryll, Joanne, Framee, Joey, Jose and I got there around 7:00 p.m. and Sheen, Frame and I stood right in front of the stage. The rest of them stayed in the back to avoid the chaos that was the mosh pit. I was a victim of crowd surfing gone bad! I was in the worst possible spot. This guy leaped from the stage and fell on Sheen and me. At one point, some girl kicked me on the side of my face. By the end of the show, I was dehydrated, sweaty, nauseous, bruised, and my hair was ten times bigger than it was when I arrived… but I would do it again in a heartbeat, because hoobastank ROCKED!!! I’ll make a mental note to wear my beat up chucks instead of flip flops the next time I see them (what was I thinking?). I’ve seen them a few times before today, and I love that they still do intimate shows. A few years back when Linkin Park was unknown to MTV and I was their biggest fan EVER, I didn’t end up going to their show at a small local venue and to this day I still regret it, because I know that they will probably never play at a small club ever again. Boo.