Author: Cj B

Lava Beds National Park

Well this past weekend was one hell of a trip! Thursday I left work early and drove up to Fresno to meet with Nick. The bronco did GREAT driving up there although it was HOTTER then a hell and my balls were VERY sweaty! LOL. At one point I contemplated driving in my underwear!

Got to Fresno with some time to kill so I went to this cute little farmers market they have on campus. Enjoyed one of the most amazing Brownie ice cream sandwiches ever, bought some wine for mother and some other things. From there I walked over to the library and read some magazines and hung out. Nick showed up around 6ish and we were off to do last minute errands and other such stuff. Got to bed around 11pm after lots of catching up and what not.

UP early Friday morning, Nick made us a delicious breakfast and we were off to a quick start! The drive up there was great! So many things to see and do. I spent most of the time reading about scenic drives in the US and planning the drive back to Iowa! 8 Hours later and we were in Lava Beds where the fun started right away! We got a camp site and off we went to start exploring!

That evening we did a short cave tour, then hiked to the top of this Butte where they had a fire tower and watched the sunset. Got back to camp, made some delicious dinner and drank some wine. Got yelled at by some bitch in the campsite next to us and then went to bed! 🙂

Saturday we got up early and did a 6 mile hike to the edge of a HUGE lava flow. It was really cool to just see it suddenly all STOP right there. Climbed around on that for a while then hiked back… although this time we stopped and did a little detour up and over a butte and did some “scenic boys” style photos! After that we drove out to this Petroglyph point, where there were no petroglyphs and then hiked around some more and drove through all the fields which were VERY pretty this time of year!

Got back to camp, made a freeze dry meal and went to bed after a quick game of Scrabble in which I came up with the word “Fagit”! LOL.

Sunday we got up early and headed out for the day. Spent the whole day exploring caves which I have decided is NOT my thing to do! LOL. By the end Nick just went in alone and I hiked around on the surface! That evening we went up to Mammoth Crater and played frisbee and hung out. Then we went into town and had dinner! Delicious! If you’re ever in Merril, OR stop at Pappy-Ganders! 🙂

Monday we got up at 5:30 and drove home. I was super tired all weekend for some reason and I did not approve. Monday I had a horrible headache all day! Finally got back to LA at 7pm! Ugh what a long day of driving.

Today I leave for Iowa with Daniel. This should be another interesting TRIP!

Later!

EarthQUAKE!

What a long weekend!

So all last week we were in training with that stupid guy. He basically didn’t REALLY know how the system worked at all. Which was VERY scary because he’s our lead programmer and what not. If he can’t even tell people who things work then how can we be sure he’s giving us the RIGHT implementation?

Anyways, I left work early on Friday and picked up the bronco from the shop. It was leaking brake fluid so I got that fixed. It’s still leaking power steering and one other thing, which I’m not sure what it is! lol. Hopefully we will get it back to Iowa without any problems!

Speaking of which, Daniel is going to be driving to Iowa with me. We’ll be making stop overs in Zion, Bryce, Staircase, Arches and perhaps Rocky Mountain national park (if they get the road open in time). So that’s going to be VERY entertaining! LOL

Anyways, so Friday Daniel was supposed to come over, but he called me at like 7:30 and said he was to tired so he went home. Which kinda pissed me off. So anyways I spent the evening cleaning and what not.

Got up Saturday and headed to Altadena to do some canyoneering with the group. WE had a really great itme and although it was a bit hot, the walking around in waterfalls sure made up for that. Towards the end we even found a waterfall that made the perfect slide! We all went down it 2-3 times! Tons of fun! Got done with that and we ate delicious Pastrami Sandwiches at The Hat. I highly suggest checking it out!

Came home from that and met up with Daniel for the evening. We were going to go see Star Trek but then changed our minds as we were sitting in the theater to go play mini-golf instead! Had tons of fun doing that and then came home, drank some wine and chilled for the evening. I even talked him into spending the night for once!

Sunday morning I got up and left to go to Disney land. But as soon as I got up my knee was KILLING me. But I had promised Marshall that I’d come, so I went down there to see him and watch the movie UP. The movie was cute and funny, but overall a little depressing and didn’t live up to what I was expecting.

So after the movie, JoEric and I walked around the park a little bit and then I was in way to much pain so I just went home. I was very sad because I didn’t get to hang out with Marsall!

Came home and Daniel was just getting ready to leave, but I talked him into staying. We watched movies, had some hot sex, made dinner and then road the roller coaster that is the Earthquake! I was very scared.

Daniel left after that and I went to bed. Got up Monday morning, did work, came home, took a horse sized advil and went to bed.

Today I am trying to do work,but not really succeeding very much. I am so apathetic right now towards my job and my boss. Just this project is going to be such a huge problem and nothing is happening the way I had anticipated it to and it’s very annoying. I wish I had spoken up more originally and said NO we are not going to use Columbus IT.

In other news, I am getting very excited for the trip to Lava Beds. It’s just going to be Nick and I! The way things should be! LOL. I am hoping that they get the road through Lassen opened up so that we can make a trip through there. Also looking for some people with wide angle lenses so that I can borrow one!

And that’s about it. Adios!

One Year ago…

Grandpa Black and ChrisI can’t believe it’s already been a year. One year ago this week, I made an emergency trip home. I was hoping to make it in time to say one last good bye to grandpa, instead I was greeted at the airport by a tearful mother and bad news. The week was full of emotional roller coasters, good times and bad, seeing family, new memories and talking about old ones, laughter and crying, good food and lots of support from neighbors, friends and the community. I still think about and miss my grandfather every day. He was a huge inspiration to me and I only hope that I can become half the man that he was. I just wish he were there to continue to share in our families joys.

I still kick myself every day for not going home a day earlier. If only I had I could have seen him. I could have said goodbye and how much I loved him, how much I’d miss him. How much he meant to me. I hope that he knew that and I’m glad that the rest of the family was there to support him in his last moments on earth. I hope that he’s out there somewhere, in kind or in spirit watching over us and smiling.

Shoulder Hurt…

Sooooo. It’s been a long weekend and start of the week. Friday I got off work and went home. I was supposed to go mini-golf with Daniel, but the place we were going to go was closed and it was cold/rainy. He met me at my house and we chatted, ate dinner and then drank some wine. It was a good night. Had a little discussion about how he’s not ready for anything serious and what not. He left that night and I was a little pissy with him. I wasn’t expecting to hear from him again.

Saturday I got up early and went out and did a bunch of stuff, lots of chores and what not. Nothing exciting. I had to make something to take to the play that evening and couldn’t think of anything. Went to Trader joes to hopefully find something but ended up just spending a ton of money on food for myself. Got home and Sirin called and found out that someone that was coming was vegan. So I opened up my vegas recipie book and picked something out. Decided on a Leek and Asparagus Quiche.

Met up with Marshal and then headed to the play that evening. It was ALL the way up in Northridge and Sirin insisted on driving her car which was VERY annoying. And then she made ME drive it! Why not just drive MY car then! Ugh. Anyways, got there and it was totally random play at some church. It ended up being alright but nothing fantasitk (The play was “The Fantasticks”). lol. Anyways.

So Sunday I get up and meet up with Jerry. It was just he and I to start with and we weren’t sure how many people were coming. Thankfully Claudia, Jenn and some other girl showed up so that was good! I left there at 1 and met up with the realtor. Looked at some nice places, some REALLY nice places and some shitty places. So we’ll see. I’m just so hard to make decisions like that. I don’t realy want to LEAVE south Redondo, but at the same time, it’s time to get out of there… Ugh! I need someone to come along with me to help decide!

This week has been annoying, though not much going on. Monday I heard from Daniel again and he wanted to go to The Proposal that night. So we did that and he was all touchy feely at the movie theater. Crazy boys. Make up your minds about what u want!

The Proposal

proposalSo the other day I was invited out to see a screening of “The Proposal”… I really enjoyed it! Very funny, lots of laughs, etc. I would suggest checking it out once it hits theaters.

When she learns that she’s in danger of losing her visa status and being deported back to her native Canada, overbearing book editor Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) forces her put-upon assistant, Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds), to marry her. Directed by Anne Fletcher (27 Dresses), this romantic comedy also stars Craig T. Nelson and Mary Steenburgen as Andrew’s parents, Joe and Grace, and Betty White as the outspoken Grandma Annie.