Jason's Daily Notes

The weekend began Friday at 11:30 am. I drove from work, feeling excited, to Westwood. I picked up Matthew, who had just gotten out of the gym, then we picked up our rideshare passenger, James, who lived on Landfair. We drove back to the apartment, where we got our stuff together (hastily but thoroughly - I did forget my toothbrush and towel though - doh!). As Matt showered, James and I went to Big Tomy's to get some lunch. I had a California burrito, which was huge! I only ate half of it and gave the rest to James and Matthew.

Soon we were on the road! Well, sorta... We had one more rideshare to pick up, in West Hollywood. Cameron was his name, and he was picking up insurance for his new truck (which is in Sacramento and with which he's opening a green-gardening business). [Our rideshares' names = James Cameron!] So it was really around 1:30 when we really got going. The sun shining brightly, my ipod providing some background music to the conversations we had with our rideshares, it was all good.

When we hit the grapevine, the wildflowers were in full bloom:

The hills were splashed with brushstrokes of orange, purple, and yellow on a rich green canvas. It was the first time I remember the hills blossoming so much.

The rest of the drive was manageable and not very eventful. Somewhere around Kettleman City the passengers passed out. I soldiered on, without any sugar or caffeine. Without any water either, we didn't have to make a single bathroom stop! The windshield got plastered with a smattering of dead bugs. We were making good time, headed for a 7pm arrival, when - BAM! - the 580 came to a complete stop in Livermore. We were stuck there for at least 20 minutes, hardly moving. Two police cars and an ambulance raced by on the shoulder... it was definitely an accident. We got out of there soon after and headed straight for Rockridge, where I dropped off James, then drove south on Broadway into downtown Oakland where I dropped off Cameron at the 12th street BART station. And it was finally time to arrive in Oakland!

Leslie's apartment is amazing! It's new and clean and has a sauna and fitness center! We were tired and hungry, and I had been anticipating dinner for a while, so the three of us bid farewell to Jen and Billy and walked to Everett and Jones for that delicious barbecue:
Nom nom! A good dinner, then we ended up just chilling at Leslie's apt since we were so exhausted. We played the game where we'd choose from three people who we'd kill, marry, and sleep with. It was fun, at first...

Watched Step Brothers last night.
CS: Ilja and Christian returned; we shared some beers and I taught them the rules of baseball
We then went out to Q's and Cabo Cantina (which closed early...). Chilled at the apartment til 3am. Discussed tattoos, etc.

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Woke up still feeling tipsy (aka, like P Diddy?) at 7am.

At work from 8:30-11:15am. Hardly anyone around. Did nothing.

News: The SEC has filed a lawsuit against Goldman Sachs about CDOs; the volcano in Iceland continues to ground flights all over Europe!

It's Adam's birthday and Steve's birthday. Both my Couchsurfing friends from New Zealand. Same day... interesting.

Driving to the Bay Area today! I have 2 ridesharers joining us now. Cameron and James. Exciting!

Time to start this weekend! I'm gonna pick up James (and Matthew) now from Westwood! 11:20am

I returned to the apt last night. There was a "final notice" electric bill waiting. Matthew and I split the bill, but I didn't have any tape to seal the envelope. So I used duct tape. It felt ghetto. But it also felt awesome.

I made vegetarian/soy tacos last night - unfortunately Ilja and Christian didn't return until later, and they had already eaten. We had a few Coronas and watched the Clippers beat the Lakers (!), then South Park.

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Matt took the bus to class. So I didn't have to drive him like I usually do.
Work feels different, a little uncomfortable.
I think I'll come in for a half day tomorrow.
News: ALL FLIGHTS in northern Europe are shut down because of the ash from an erupting volcano in Iceland.
I invited people to bungee jump. Or to give their thoughts.
It's tax day!
Lunch: Soy tacos. No farmers market for me today.
Finished updating my travel blog with Costa Rica entries! It looks good :)

CS: Ilja and Christian arrived last night, just as I was watching Das Leben Der Anderen (The Lives of Others).
We just chilled at the apt.

Jogged this morning to Butler/Mississippi (almost Olympic).
I'm only 6 days away from the 1-year mark at my job!
Plans are coming together for this weekend in NorCal.
I'm now considering going bungee jumping :)
Lunch: Courtyard Cafe salad. And 2 bananas.
News: another big earthquake has struck - this time in China; record-breaking pollen in the eastern US
I'm definitely having an off-week. I feel so disconnected from work.

Songs: Kevin Rudolf - Let It Rock; Usher - OMG

Matt picked me up from work yesterday - we were at Borders, I bought a (too-big) planner. We stopped by Chutney's on the way back, the food wasn't that great (and it leaked through the paper bag onto my lap!) Back at the apartment, I finally got to actually meet Susie, our downstairs neighbor (also a Cal grad!) and her 6-month old son.

Work: Whoa, busy this morning! Research, compiling, resizing files!
Munching on a yummy Asian pear.
Jonathan finished his triathalon Sunday - nice!
Michele (P) will be on Let's Make a Deal as a contestant this Friday (?). I'll have it recorded and waiting for me ;)
Lunch: Eggs and potatoes that I cooked up quickly this morning
News: Mourning the death of Poland's president; Obama's hosting an anti-nuclear weapons summit; the Dow closed above 11,000; continued unrest in Kyrgyzstan
Work is BURYING me right now. Locates, DVD copies to burn...
Dodger home opener today! MMG is there.
Really dragging this afternoon... need energy
now offering a rideshare on Craigslist for Friday.
GOD IT'S ONLY TUESDAY?! Feels like it should be Thursday...
Ok I gotta go.
Songs: 2009 Mashup; Keri Hilson - Knock You Down; BEP - I Gotta Feeling

CS: Christian left yesterday.

It began to rain last night. It rained hard. Pounded against the window. It started just as I was trying to get to sleep, around 10-11pm. And it was so loud I was having trouble falling asleep. I cranked the heater up and buried myself in my sheets. I thusly woke up around 7am feeling very cozy. No breakfast, just OJ. Caught the bus to work. The bus driver passed out prochures about some service change and turnstiles now being implemented at subway stations. I didn't take a brochure. The driver also decided to announce loudly the name of each bus stop (in addition to the pre-recorded voice announcing each stop). It was a bit weird.
Things just feel a bit off today, like I'm extra clumsy.
Lunch: One slice of pizza from food court. $4.37 (I tried to pay with exact change but I had no pennies, doh. And I could barely understand what the Asian lady ringing up my food was saying.)
I should get my tax refund by May 4, according to the website.
Still haven't received my zip-lining photos from CR...
I think I should join the foreign service. It would be exciting and rewarding. But then again, I really would prefer working in the private sector...

Matthew picking me up today. Actually right now (5:30). Outta here!
Songs: Journey - Don't Stop Believin'; Owl City - Fireflies

Friday night.
Stayed in. Matt and Christian watched Inglorious Basterds as I rested in my room. Jessica and Maja never showed up. Beers followed.

Saturday.
Slept in a bit. It was even cooler than Friday and cloudy.
The adventure of the day: Go to the hospital where they filmed Scrubs. (It's in Studio City.)
Christian and I bussed it (a nice old lady talked to me at the bus stop), we each bought a day pass - I was surprised they had a paper pass to give to Christian. Got off at Highland, walked to Hollywood, took the metro to Universal, then bus to Whitsett/Ventura - the driver didn't accept CZ's "day pass" because it was only a one-use transfer! :( Walked to Riverside Dr and saw the hospital! It was abandoned and closed off. We then waited over 50 minutes for a bus to come and take us back. I found out my mom was in the area and just asked her to pick us up. Christian and I got some organic burritos (not that great) while waiting. Mom and Tita Linda showed up and drove us to Chinatown. We all got dim sum from CBS Seafood and Family Pastry! Greasy but delicious! I bought a green lantern and some poppers. Walked through Chinatown, the Cathedral of LA, the music center, Bunker Hill, the central library, LA Live, to Staples Center. There was an LA Kings game. Christian and I had margaritas during happy hour. We then walked back up Broadway Blvd through downtown to Little Tokyo (there was a festival that was closing up) and to Olvera Street (where we had some Horchata). Then we grabbed the bus back to my apt (took ~50 minutes), stopped by Vons to buy some Natty Light, then rested at the apt drinking beers for the rest of the night.

Sunday: Slept in, walked to the Sunday farmers market (bought asian pears, eggs, tomatoes, and apples). We watched the Lakers game (loss) then he left to meet his rideshare to SF ~3pm. I then proceeded to watch Inglorious Basterds myself (wasn't that impressed). Alone in the apt for the evening.

got Lomo Arigato last night; drove Matt to another meeting; went out with Christian to the SF Saloon for a couple beers (!)
did some dishes this morning, the sink is still leaky so I'm using the other side.


POREOTIX WON ABDC! Wow!

My mom and uncle got into a little car accident yesterday. More like a motorcyclist ran into them from behind.
Ah, that's his name: Eskino (the other attorney whose office is all the way on the other side of the building)

Lunch: Leftover chicken chaufa from Lomo Arigato last night. Had some deja vu, repeated the exact same conversations with Jeff and Farrah in the lunch room.


I dunno if the two Swedish girls are coming tonight.

Free Indie concert tonight in Downtown LA!

I'm staying at my apt this weekend.

Songs: Mashup of the 25 hits from 2009