Skrillex Stole My Mind

My holiday recaps will resume after I gather my brain off the floor and cram it back into my head, and get a good night's sleep to settle it all back down.  After last night's bro-step show, I feel like I've sustained a trauma.  It feels not unlike post-car accident body pains.  I have never been so physically accosted by bass and crowds.

We went to Cinespace to see the first night of Skrillex's Los Angeles venue marathon.  It was packed to the rafters with ravers, club kids, hipsters, bass junkies, and bros.  It was a different crowd than Low End Theory- but not qute a normal Cinespace crowd, either.  The strange blend made for an uneven dance floor experience.  There were thrashy nerds and bros that wanted to mosh.  It was aggressive.

The opening acts were good- KOAN Sound and Alvin Risk.  Both were quality on their own, without the spectre of Skrillex looming over their careers.   Alvin Risk looked like Harry Potter if he was into graphic argyle and filthy bass:

Oh, wait sorry.  All that comes up if you search 'Alvin Risk Cinespace' are pictures of freakin' Skrillex.

Yeah.  It was all about the Skrillex.

An LA Weekly blogger wrote about it here.  That recap is better than anything I can muster up.

Watching these videos will help one understand why I hurt.  Oh, and maybe its a mix of getting up at 6:30 a.m. to run 8 miles after staying awake until 2 a.m. the night (morning!) before.  Oh.. and having a few whiskeys at the Sony/ATV film & TV event.  Whoops... It was Palihouse!?  I couldn't say no. 

The end.  Bedtime.

Holidaze

Recap 2: Epic Travel Day

So, after the anniversary party- we woke up and packed up again and set out on a 10 hour drive to San Francisco.  Objective: arrive before Christmas Eve dinner.  I pretended like I didn't have a wild turkey and 4loko headache and tried to rally the troops with my fake enthusiasm.

Haha, yeah right.  I feigned no enthusiasm.

But giant dinosaurs tend to perk me up a tad.

Even when they avoid direct eye contact.

Luckily I married a true snackmaster, who procured many provisions for our journey.

My husband is a level 10 snacker.... He chooses products with care and precision and a sharpened palate.

And yet- this bag of pork rinds almost defeated him.

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It was the attached skin.

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Oh look, Lardo Highway... which is exactly where we went after 2 candy bars, a bag of takis and an energy drink.

Dylan also found us a spirit guide while hitting the snack stop in Cabazon.  

The 'I-tol-youuuu-sqwrl'

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Look at his majestic stance as he guides us along the 5.

Such wisdom and leadership can only be taught by a most experienced traveler.

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His journeys have brought him far.

After we had exhausted philosophical conversation, MSG was no longer appealing to our taste buds, conspiracy theories grew dull, and I had gone completely travel mad, we rolled up in lovely Burlingame, CA for Christmas Eve dinner.

To be continued in the next segment....

Holidaze

So, I never got around to sharing my grand holiday adventures.  Probably because we were moving constantly for the entire week between Christmas Eve's Eve and New Years.
Its taken me three weeks into January to fully recover from vacation.  And an extra week to feel like blogging again.  Has it been four weeks?  Did I ever learn to count?

Recap 1: Anniversary Party
Phase one of holiday road trip started with a drive to sunny Palm Springs, CA to celebrate my Grandparents' 60th Wedding Anniversary.

60 years ago 12/23 - Chicago, Il - Mar & Jer 4eva!

Cheers!

And luckily, we didn't have to go to Chicago to celebrate- we got to stay in the warmth.

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Because the desert in December can't be beat.

Hotel Room hijinx

(and now Mona G, look away..)

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Yeah, killer windmills.  Keep arms and face inside the vehicle.

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(Ok, no more windmills- all safe!)

Quick stop at the outlet mall for emergency fancy clothes

Sometimes you need to try on $300 formalwear jumpsuits.

A  quick drive in the blinding sun....

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And then its partytime!!

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Chillin' at the cousin table (BEST TABLE!)

Lighting the Hanukkah menorah!!

The venue made them a surprise ice sculpture.  Cool!

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Dylan was the star of the evening- the slideshow was incredible and made everyone cry.

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I, on the other hand- got recruited to serve as bartender due to some venue technicalities.

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(most of my photos from the night reflect this)

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A title that carried over to the hotel afterparty, where I became the sommelier...

For a most foul-tasting beverage.

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Yes- it was Aaron's private reserve original 4loko.

The recoil.

Even though we were only there for a day, it was awesome hanging out with the family in Palm Springs.  Next time there will be 100% less 4loko.

  

Happy New Year!

It's world destruction times-- Apocalypse WOW!

I hope everyone has a year full of happiness, health, friendship, fulfillment, growth, accomplishment, and complete avoidance of Kim Kardashian, Snooki, and any/all Real Housewives.  My goal (NOT resolution) for 2012 is to shut out the nonsense and focus on what matters.  Bye, meaningless pop culture icons.  I seriously don't care anymore.  I need to make up for lost time by paying real attention to current events, economic news, government happenings.

Even if the world doesn't end on December 21st, I'm pretty sure we're in for some major transitions.  2012 already has a deep feeling of urgency (you know- beyond the doomsday fears, rampant political unrest, and overarching socioeconomic panic).  Us first-worlders feel disillusioned and betrayed, and are finally questioning the system by taking to the streets (..loudly...with cameras) and being more thoughtful about where and how we spend our money.  Which is reflecting what we honestly feel is valuable. Which is awesome.

Our new climate brews revolution- and not just the government kind.  We can hopefully look forward to some social evolution too, as people unite to protect the human and environmental interest and start taking responsibility for careless and selfish actions.  Internet dictionary defines revolution in a few ways, but my fav is 'a sudden, complete, or marked change in something.'  2012 will most likely not be the end of the world, but will surely mark a period of exciting and uncomfortable changes.  


And I am ready for it, and hope to do my best in taking new risks and doing what's responsible and kind and right. 

Wow.  That got real ranty, real fast..

Now I'll sign off with some shallow comment about making resolutions to lose 10 lbs, read more, and drink more water?   Naw.  I hate resolutions.
But I'd love to lose 10 lbs!  
-rimshot-

Happy Anniversary Us!

Holy whatthehell?!?!

Its been 11 years of me plus the Dylanger.  AND I LIKE IT!

Here's to 111 more years.
(Medicine is improving, so why not?)

In front of murder painting- Tate Museum, London.  

Romantical.

Blog Neglect / More Cookin'

Hello faithful reader!
(Or should I say- what's up Dylan and David and possibly Ramona?)

This poor blog is once again suffering from neglect.  I think its because I haven't been an interesting person as of late.  My time is spent working, cooking, training, and being lazy.  Not much room for story generating there.

I've also been a negligent photographer, and photos fuel more of this blog than actual words.

But here are a few pics from my intelligent communications device, and I will fill in my life blanks accordingly:

Its fall in Los Angeles.  AHAHAHAH that means its 75 and perfect.  

Sucka!

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Except when you're at the Queen Mary for Marc and Jen's wedding.

Then it gets rainy.

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No ghosts.... I looked.

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Excellent nuptuals, however.

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It also means green beans in the CSA box.  Gonzo loves green bean, quinoa, mushroom saute!

He also eats garbage, so I'm not too flattered in my cooking abilities.

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I met Patrick for lunch on Sawtelle the day before Thanksgiving.

We kicked off the weekend by getting crunky.

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Then by actually getting crunky while visiting Chuck, Adam, and friends and Tonga Hut.

It was a wild turkey night, and my ribs are bruised to prove it.  

Merry-go-rounds move quicker in the valley.

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I got up early on Thursday and made two big pans of stuffing.

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To bring to the Echo for Gobble Gobble Give.  

Around 3,000 dinners were made this year.

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By volunteers and and awesome food providers.

(I pulled this photo off the web)

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It was a madhouse outside, where volunteers were arranging clothing and toiletry donations.

And cars were arriving to take the dinners out to people in the streets.

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Its always gratifying to leave the event and see people enjoying a warm dinner from the to-go boxes while sporting new duds.

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Then I got to do round 1 of dishes....

(Yay!)

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...before starting Thanksgiving dessert.  

Yeah- I know... its mix from a box.  

So sue me!

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There were secret oreos in the brownies, and cookies n' cream ice cream was used in place of liquid.

  This was surprisingly good.

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Especially while listening to some Ed Rush & Optical.

Gets one into the cooking headspace, I guess?

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I forgot to take a picture of the finished product, but it looked like a big pan of brownie.

Not the most visually appealing.

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After the cookstravaganza, we headed down to Redondo Beach for Thanksgiving with the Hart family.

Turkey, Mac n Cheese, Green Beans and Wild Turkey were consumed.  

Then 'Splash' was watched.

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It was the perfect chance to give thanks for the blessings, good health, and many privileges we enjoy every day without thinking about it.

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And for the wonderful family, friends, animals, and opportunities in my life (thank youuuuuu!)

But most of all, we gave thanks for Qream.

Thank you, Pharrell, for making my long weekend that much sweeter. 

Hey You - Look At My Food!

Its Fall, I guess.
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Kidding!
Its definitely fall.   Duh.
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Its cold and its dark at 5 pm.  And my CSA box contents have been super exciting.  Persimmons, Pomegranates, Artichokes, Collards, Escarole, Apples, Squash, Heirloom Tomatoes so good- you'll punch yourself in the face.

The Box

Pretty, but poorly designed.

Now these are tomatoes!

The greens (chard and collards), carrots, celery, onions and cilantro became part of a white bean soup.

SO GOOD.

..And the kale became chips for ladies' night tapas snacks.

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Gonzo loves kale.  Seriously- he's begging for raw kale.

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Pre-baking.

Post-baking.  

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No, this is not weed.