Do you know the way to San Jose? Da da, da da, da da...

So to answer that question, it is a resounding no, unless I have my trusty Garmin in tow.  But I decide to go against conventional wisdom and drive up to San Jose from Los Angeles, solo.  Yup, just me myself, and I with all my stuff...

It was long, but not as long as others have told me.  I had heard anywhere from 4 to 8 hours, and it took 5 plus.  I didn't stop but once for gas (and to make sure I had my wallet) so that significantly decreased the travel time.

Unfortunately for the good people of San Jose (like LA) I brought the rain... and it poured for a little bit last night.  But it looks pretty nice now, but I'm guessing it's chilly out there.

So here are a few pictures I took on the road on my 5 hour drive...  (I guess it's backwards... don't ask why)

1.  The greenery of San Jose... pretty!

2.  A big reservoir on the way to SJ.  I tried to get a better picture, but I was driving!!!

3.  The boringness of the drive up there... that middle 2 hours sucked!

4.  Some vineyards on the drive up, I think (once again, DIVING!!!)

5.  Leaving Los Angeles!!!

Adventures in Westwood... The Secret Stash!!!

I admit it, I'm a Kevin Smith fanatic... teetering ever so precariously on lunacy. I've got all the movies (Clerks (and Clerks X), Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Jay & Silent Bob Strikes Back, Jersey Girl, Clerks 2), I've got the Clerk animated series, I've got all his concert films (An Evening with Kevin Smith, EWKS2: Evening Harder, and now Sold Out: A Theevening with Kevin Smith). No I haven't seen Zack and Miri yet, but I do intend to...

(If you're into some crass, but thoughtful and though-provoking humor, Kevin Smith is your type of writer, director, raconteur!)

But anyway...

Being the fan that I am, I realized that I should visit the western mecca of the View Askew empire: Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash in Westwood. Brice being the friend that he is decided to oblige me and take me out to there as a part of the sightseeing excursion through Southern Cal. So here are the pics (I know it's all weirdly arranged... no idea how to fix it!):

1. Silent Bob bobblehead, signed!

2. The new Threevening with Kevin Smith DVD, signed again!

3. The Secret Stash's sign outside

4. The Mooby Menu from Clerks 2

5. Golgothan: The "poop monster" from Dogma.

6. Cocknocker: The bad guy from Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back.

7. The Mooby uniforms: From Clerks 2

8. Bluntman and Chronic: From Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back

9. Sign from the Secret Stash store.

Halloween Hangover... Pre, During, and Post!

Well, I'm back. I was unable to post yesterday because I was unable to maintain uprightness due to a little too much celebrating Halloween... and by a little, I mean a WHOLE lotta vodka. We were able to go to two parties that night both of which provided free alcohol!!! (I am on vacation, so I am able to go a little crazy, but if you can infer from my previous two sentences, I went crazy, crazy!)

But I was able to take a couple of pictures before the party, a couple of shots during the party, and very little else.

So here's the shot list (Not sure what's going on here with the pictures, but they should be semi-self explanatory:

1. At the Halloween Party: Su (Nurse), Brice (Doctor), Lynn (Pirate), and Dan (another Pirate). No pics of me, I didn't really dress up, unless you count some sparkly devil horns...lame, I know.

2. A water thing at the mall that we went to. Very cool

3. Pinkberry: Heard the hype, had to try it. If you like tangy yogurt, not so much TCBY more so frozen version of Yoplait, this is for you. Tasty, a little pricey, but hey, I'm on vacation!!!

4. & 5. The Disney Concert Hall: A very large, shiny building. I was looking to see where they built the Disney ears into the design, but I couldn't see it. Oh well....

The first 24 hours on vacation!!

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Hello everyone...

I'm writing from semi-sunny California! It's been a pretty cazy whirlwind tour in the past 24, so let's just start from the top...

The plane ride was fun. First class really IS the way to go... Despite the increased leg room, better service, and "free food", it doesn't MAKE you sleep. And for that reason, I spend a sleepless night tossing and turning. Not fun in the least. But alas, I made it safely to Los Angeles!

Getting into LA was easy, driving around has proved to be pretty crazy. The driving is fast and furious. I'm a little (or a lot) stressed out because of it.

Thanks to Dustin and my Brice, I got to see a few things here and there... so here are a few pictures (see above):

1. Inn n Out Burger: No, I didn;t get the double double, just a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate shake... mmmm.

2. Some cool stairway in downtown LA: Stairs with an accompanying waterfall... NEAT!

3. Inside the Downtown Los Angeles Public Library: Hanging through the library. Very big, neat looking stuff...

4. Outside of the library: More waterfalls headed out of these building, all very cool, but don't they know it's BAD feng shui?

5. Big statue outside of another downtown building: Look familiar? Watch Heroes? That's the place of the final fight in season one!!! Looks weird even up close, kinda like the COBRA insignia.!

So yeah, hopefully I can do this everyday... more pictures do be shot tonight!

72 hours and countin'...

In a little less than three days, I'll be officially on vacation! It probably is very much overdue, but what can I say, I need to work to make money, right? I am definitely looking forward to it, but I am also very trepidatious and semi-anxious about going.

As I've started to pack and tidy up the office, I wonder more and more what haven't I done to prepare! That's weird because I never thought of myself as a real "OCD type" or such a micro manager, but I guess in the four plus years I've been at the office, I guess I've had to use all those things to be successful. So really, maybe this IS a good thing to be going. To recharge, refocus, re-energize, think of new and better ways to further my business and improve on what we have at the office.

I know that Rolando is very excited to be having the opportunity to focus on massage during this time and I think it will be a good experience for him as well.

I'm pretty sure that my friends have internet access and will let me know on their computer, so I will make every effort to keep a daily journal of my goings-on in California. And if you want to get in touch with me, let Sommer or Rolando know, and I can get back to you when I can! So back to packing and errands....

Just a couple of weeks away...

It's a very exciting time for me... yes, a little stressful as well. But like a mommy, you have to cut the cord eventually, and that's pretty much what I'm gonna be doing when I leave on my vacation for the 11 days I'm gone. I have no doubt in my mind that the office will run smoothly when I'm gone, but please believe that I'm definitely have a couple of sleepless nights away from the nest.

But as the time gets closer, I've started getting things in order... new phone, new ipod, new haircut (well, it's the normal one for me anyway). I'd like to hope that my clients miss me, but I think they'll appreciate the fact I'll be coming back with some new fun stories... hopefully!

So anyways, I was just keeping you in the loop as I start winding down and head off to the Golden State... More when I get around to it!

Vacation imminent... well, not THAT imminent

Hello everyone...

As some of you already know, I'll be going on vacation from October 29th until November 9th. I'm very much looking forward to my vacation, my first one since oh... 2002 or so (grad school) and my first time leaving the islands in about the same time frame as well.

I will be headed off to Los Angeles, with possible detours to San Jose and/or Las Vegas. If I'm able to, I'll try to blog my way around SoCal and NoCal, letting you know about the fun happenings... maybe some pictures if I am so inspired.

Don't worry, if you're looking for a massage, the office will be in capable hands of Rolando and Sommer. I won't be there, but if you haven't figured it out by now, I will definitely be keeping tabs on my baby :P!!!

We're about two months away from my vacation, but I just wanted to let you all know.

So I'll be back between now and then to keep you up to the minute with all my travel plans!