We woke up early (5 am is super early for people who barely drag themselves out of bed at 7:15, and cRaZy early for Cody who had to stay up working until 4 am the night before) on May 28th, and Diane graciously drove us to the airport, where this happened: 
We got to Long Beach just fine, drove to my Uncle Gordon and Aunt Marlene's house in Chino Hills, and proceeded to enjoy fine hospitality via my Aunt Marlene, and the sound of young children living life to the fullest by playing a dog-tail-flip tic-tac-toe game. We took a quick nap in the same room as a funny turtle (it's Holly and Sam's, Gordon and Marlene are letting it chill at their house until Holly and Sam find a place of their own) after saying hello, spotted some California Jell-O (who knew other states were even aware of Jell-O? :P), then headed out for lunch at Chili's, shopping at Trader Joe's (I LOVE TRADER JOE'S! Why aren't they here already?!) and games at Juan's with Juan and his little brother Isaac.
Sadly, I stink at taking pictures at pertinent times, so we have no proof of Juan's family's awesomeness...or even of hanging out with Juan or Adneisha, but I can gush about all of them with words. Juan's little brother Isaac (he's 15, I think) is funny, skinny, and is a really good sport. All the Reveles kids are good looking people, and we enjoyed seeing Ivory whirl in and out of the house on her way to cheerleading tryouts. Then, Cody and I played some Super Smash Brothers Brawl live with Juan and Isaac for the first time, petted the three little doggies that were running around inside, ate tasty quesadillas (I think) that Juan's stepmom brought us, saw a treehouse Juan's dad built in the backyard, and walked over to 7-11 to get some Slurpee's with Transformers straws. After playing some more games...I think just Bananagrams, we poked our way outta the Reveles' house and headed back to Gordon and Marlene's, where we had a place to sleep. ^_^ To paraphrase Cody, "I got to play games and hug Juan, so it was a good day."
The next day, we were planning on going to go to the fashion district with Juan and Adneisha, but Juan got attacked by a sore throat and phlegm monster early, so we waited a few hours to see if it would clear up, contacted Adneisha, and met up with with her to go to Santee Alley with Cody's family. 'Neisha's such a delightful person, and seeing her again was fantastic. We ran down the street towards each other when we first saw each other, and Adneisha threw her arms around Cody's neck in a hello attack when she first got to him. XD I like that girl.
While shopping with Adneisha, I almost completely forgot to look for anything for myself because it was so entertaining to watch her and listen to her sing along to the songs playing over the stores' speakers. After Cody's family got tired and left, Cody and I drove Adneisha back to her house and got to meet her mom, sister Ebony, her pseudo-brother Tim, and Adneisha's gran; and Adneisha showed us her plushie collection and the artwork that Juan created for her, including this beautiful piece:
Those are characters Juan and 'Neisha collaborated on together, the way they do on a lot of stories and characters. She comes up with the backstories and he draws... The girl is based on Adneisha, is blind, and is in love with an alien...yeah, Juan and 'Neisha are crazy, but that just makes them more fun and interesting, no?
No, I don't have sandals on...these're just my dirty feet after walking around downtown LA in flip-flops:
On Saturday morning, Gordon and Marlene had their family over and Uncle Gordon made us pancakes. :L He makes special shapes on request, so I requested a porcupine, and this is how it came out:
It was really great to see all the California Andersons! They're such fun people, and although I'm not very good at keeping in touch, I'm really glad we got to spend a little time with all of them. Even more, I'm glad that Holly and Sam's baby is all right, and that Brad and Katie's baby arrived safely and had the esophigal problem diagnosed and (hopefully) rectified so quickly.
After we had breakfast, Juan was feeling better so we got to chill at his house while his family was gone, trying out the glory that is Guitar Hero 3 for the first time...which was pretty much epic. Then we met up with Adneisha and Tim and went to enjoy Star Trek and then out to eat at a delicious Chinese place in Hollywood. They even had veggie orange chicken! Woo!!
Sunday morning we left for the cruise, but we tried to go to sacrament meeting with Gordon and Marlene. Unfortunately, we didn't know which building was the "big" building, so we ended up at the wrong place...well, at least we got some church in before getting on the boat. I'm sorry we missed them, though.
And now, more random pictures! Below is a picture of a shopping mall that includes a store called BevMo (that's what we call Cody's grandpa Bevan to each other...)
Tycee after eating with Cody's family at California Pizza Kitchen downtown.
Richard, taken the same time as the one of Tycee above.
Oh, and have I mentioned how awesome Juan is? I requested a portrait last year after finding out he draws, and while we were there he finished a portrait of my little sister Eliza Jane for me. ^_^
When we got back from the cruise, we had a few hours to burn, so we rented a car and attacked Juan again. We played more SSBB with Juan, Isaac, and Isaac's friend Angel, then went with Juan to the downtown LA library and had a docent give us a tour. That place is awesome! I love the artwork throughout the old part of the library, and the new part of the library's artwork is interesting, too.
After the library tour was over, we got some food with Juan, found chocolate in our rental car from a previous renter (which I totally ate as seen below, thankyouverymuch), said our goodbyes to Juanny boy and Isaac, and then flew away home.
Overall, I think the best part about LA is the fun people we have to love there.
Note to self: when bathing a Truffle, make sure to dry her thoroughly before letting her escape to the wild blue yonder of the living room. She will always rub herself all over any dry patch of carpet she can find to pervade wet dog smell throughout the world.
My cute mom and Jane. Poor Eliza Jane is terrified of Truffle, but one day I hope they'll be friends.
CODY! We're chillin' on the porch steps after a hearty Sunday dinner last month at my parents' house.
Said Sunday dinner...
My mom helping out George with his cold hands.
Tycee can cook! Tycee ate a cookie, too. Tycee also graduated from the University of Utah on Friday with a bachelor's in communication, emphasis on public relations. We partied heartily.
Tycee and her husband Richard, bein' all smart 'n stuff.
Cody showing off Tycee's graduation gear:
Tycee telling us all why Richard rocks at a "yay Tycee!" dinner at Biaggi's that night, and all of us being entertained.
So, congratulations! You did it, Tycee!
I should also mention that my brother Don graduated from the U on Friday with a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, although we didn't make it to his convocation. XD! My brother's doing it toooooo!
Okay, there's not really a rhyme or reason to any of these pictures. I've just been lazy and haven't blogged properly to keep up with all of them...so...um...sorry? And enjoy, if possible. Captions are below the pictures. I'm not sure why I do it that way...I just do.
There's a crazy bird--I have no idea if it's a hawk or some random tropical bird--but it hangs out on the top floor's balcony of the building west of our clubhouse. I see him every time I go to work out, which isn't very often, but it's fun to see him.
Uh...I made a mini lunch and put it in an Altoid tin for kicks a few weeks ago. Sad thing is, it's still in my fridge. I hope it's not moldy.
Closer view of the wheat thin sammich and mini carrot sticks.
Tycee showing off her impressive hiya skillz after we watched Australia at her and Rich's apartment.
Enjoying the movie.
Sadie, the Parker's doggy. Cody lived next door to the Parkers for 10+ years while growing up, and Sadie's been a part of that. She's getting old, so we wanted to make sure we documented the tenderness. Awww, Sade!
Cody nerding out at Best Buy. He loves touch screen tech, and really wants to have a Windows 7 touch-screen capable device for when it launches.
Tabbouleh! This is my own. The other picture on the blog's one I found online.
Lemon lime cake with berries... :L I do love my food, peoples.
Truffle all scruffy lookin'.
My sister Sarah's son George and my mom, making a snowman last month. Sarah and I sat back and enjoyed the snow, and took pictures. What adventurous lasses we be!
Diane's beautiful butterfly cookie for Valentine's Day. Ah, I love my sisters.
The caterpillar! He bloomed beautifully, didn't he?
Cody pointing out his kinship to the Civic, with both of their scruffy beards. This was up in Logan, the day of Cody's grandpa Clint's funeral in February.
My Valentine's day card from Cody. I LOVE it and smile every time I see it.
I love where we live. I think pretty much everybody loves where they live and have things they enjoy and hate about the area. Personally, I enjoy seeing the scenery every time I'm outside here. It's just gorgeous.
Me in my awesome 3-D glasses, seeing Coraline with Cody.
Our friend Juan got one too many taunts from Cody and sent this picture with Cody's favorite character from a video game...it still makes us both laugh to see it.
I promised pictures, so here's our friend Juan's avatar, which inspired:
The LeonMorado (purple lion) plush! To go along with his anime crush,
Neliel tu Oderschvank (without a face. Juan's an artist, he can finish it. :P) Cody and I are excited to see Juan and Neisha when we go to California at the end of the month.
Juan and a Nel cosplayer at last year's AnimeExpo in LA.
Juan and Adneisha, yay for meeting people online. XD They're both awesome and I can't wait to see them again.
Cody's kitteh I made him for worksy, so he's surrounded by happy things.
2.0 view. The cat goes well with Cody's cat calendars (yeah, TWO cat calendars!) and Cody's insatiable love of felines.
Warning: You may not want to continue reading if hearing about "female troubles" troubles you. Or trebles, basses, or altos you. Whatever way, you're fairly forewarned, and I won't be offended if you leave the blog.
For the past few months--okay, year-ish--every time I get my period I feel bitter. My body's obviously well enough to create a happy lining for a baby, but not enough to reap the benefits of going through that cycle of baby preparation to foster a fetus (or, y'know, have a zygote created in the first place.) I know it's illogical to be frustrated with something like procreation, that is so amazing when it works that it's nothing short of miraculous, but I have a hard time not wanting my body to go all-or-nothing. If I can't get pregnant, stop the charade of the periods, please. Let me just be a nothing instead of a half-working female. I just want one way or the other, not this limboland.
Illogical, but that's how I feel.
So, now periods are almost a time of mourning, each and every month. Maybe I need to find a new perspective on all of this, and I'll probably try soon, but right now? I just want to be sad.
I found this on http://designismine.blogspot.com/, a lovely blog full of fascinating or beautiful things (often both.) Rejoice in things and people that don't waver in asking for attention when they need or want it, for how else are we supposed to know?
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