Desert animals?

A short while ago, I trekked to the Mojave for a visit. I heard about this place called the "wild desert reserve" for months now, and I finally demanded a showing.

So, one fine day in November, I took a trip.



Giraffes...

This poor goat wanted some leaves so badly. He continued to gaze hopefully at the branches, waiting for some to fall, or for one of us to assist him.



This lil' fellah was just hanging out. He wasn't in a cage, just some random desert lizard, enjoying the mid-afternoon sun.

Ostriches!!

Underwear idea?

Crazy kitties!

Alright, I know this is not about Coachella, but I will get back to that shortly. I think all of you that skim this blog appreciate my ADD. It's just been so long since I posted kittens for all to enjoy.




Yaaaaaaaay!

Coachella makes me steamy

More exciting things to come!

Old friends, new times

A friend's mom contacted me on facebook mentioning that she and said old friend were going to be in the area and if I was interested in joining them. It had been years since we had hung out, and I wasn't sure how things were going to go. Worries were thrown aside, and the overall feeling was 1995. The unattractive glasses and awkwardness were missing, and replaced with wisdom, and inappropriate jokes.

Ice monster.

For me?!

My favorite

I love the avocado and deep red...adore this combo

More neighborhood

Enjoy the hedges....because I sure do

Hmmm

Attempting to study.

I blame it on Christian gypsy lady distracting me.

Harlot!

In the mornings on my days off, I walk to the neighborhood bean shop. Lately, I noticed there's a gypsy looking lady that hangs out and sips her iced coffee. While I was pouring my usual glass of water, she grabbed my arm, allowing water to spill onto the counter, handed me a small booklet. At first, I thought a curse was about to be cast in my general direction. Instead, she mumbled about the lord in her eastern European accent, then went about her day of giving he half eaten sandwich to a not homeless but shaggy guy, then grabbed the leg of a guy on crutches so she could pray for him. A good morning, indeed.

"I'm so sick of makin tacos all day!"

Seen in a Mexican eatery in lil Tokyo.

Wayfarer chapel

Lloyd Wright, son of the guy you don't need me to tell you, is the architect. Its all glass and wood, and massive pines engulf the chapel as a peaceful blanket. Its open daily for meditation and services. A friend from the past was in town with her mom, and we met up here, then went to the tide pools. A beautiful day all around.

Bones make good monocles

My mom is delusional.

My sweet mumsi sent me a care package a couple of weeks ago. It included a few things I had forgot at her house, including a few pieces that she thought I would "like". Well friends, one of those pieces included this hot number from yore, an L.A. Gear original. I wanted Steve to try it on, but he refused. I even offered him my Elmo pj pants to wear with for the extra hotness.

I know he's crying somewhere in MN about the missed opportunity.

leave me some too!

My friend is a large fan of the show "Six feet under", and I am also, becoming one as well. He wanted to see this house the last time he was here, but we didn't get to it. He got to bask in the glory this time 'round.

The only time I felt guilty about that extra cheese curd

The planetarium at the Griffith Park Ob. is really a sight to see. But for Steve, it brought him back to that nightmare he had two weeks ago, where I take all the acid, and leave him with the empty baggie.

Whilst whale watching, always be sure to have an extraordinary docent onboard to ply you with very important, and valuable knowledge. This classy lass informed the masses with brain numbing facts such as: "whales have baleen. It's similar to that stuff your hair and nails are made of." and my favorite: "dolphins eat giant squid. the white marks are from the squid trying to escape. They get to be 30-40 years old" random person: "the squids get that old?", Ocean docent: "yeah, yeah they do too". The Louvre could only wish they had someone with this talent.

The first edible Steve indulged in once in my pad was Thai food. We stopped by a place nearby, and I usually have good fortune with my orders. In my opinion, yellow curry is only allowed to have these elements: Curry, tofu, and onions. I humor the thai staff when I say, "yeah, potatoes are ok I guess" because combined with the rice, it equals sleepy time for yours truly.

A day(s) in the life.

A rousing game of checkers at the hooka lounge. We smoked strawberry/watermelon tobaccy, while viewing celebrity rehab. Believe it or not, awkward was not in our dictionary.

Museum of Jurassic Technology tea room. I think this is the classiest he's ever looked..I kid.

Oh, the puppies of the sea*!

Scads of 'em! Although, the seagull really puts the cherry on the top...you know he's yelling out things to the sea lions, while pooping on them.

I get awfully excited by inter tubes, especially when I am on a boat in the middle of the ocean. It's just feels so...organic.

*I know that sting rays are the official puppy of the sea. Sea lions just look so similar to puppies. Fact: they are actually closer to bears. Really.

Roadrunner and Coyote: Discuss.

Well, for some reason, my lovely Raspberry isn't posting the pictures I have been mobile blogging. (Which is why everyone is missing out on the really important parts of my life, i.e. making guac, petting kitties, and laying on my couch. I know you TOTALLY miss it)

My friend Steve was in town visiting on Tuesday - Friday, and we had a lovely time. We went whale watching, and saw hoards of dolphins, two blue whales, and a couple of giant squids. Productive? Indeed. We also visited the Griffith park Observatory, and caught a sweet show at the planetarium. There was also a pit stop at Jumbos Clown room...ha. Steve also had the experience of attending the Museum of Jurassic Technology, which holds a special place in my atrial chamber. While there, tea and cookies were consumed in the tea room, and the importance of sending canines into outer space was discussed.
The trip was capped off with overeating at creme De la crepe, and a lovely beach stroll. Lacking a restroom and the capability to hold urine without pain, I enjoyed a much closer view of the tide as my processed coffee combined with the salty water. It'll probably see Japan before I do.

Guess whatguesswhatguesswhaaaaaaaaaat?!

My awesome and delightful lady pal gifted me with an excellent new toy: A Holga pinhole wide angle camera.

I have yet to use it, as it takes film that I do not have. And, I have to use a tripod for it due to it's pinhole nature. Luckily, there is a level on the top for accuracy.

We need to have a "Day of Cameras", which includes us compiling all of our photo taking devices, and putting them in a rucksack, and lugging them around the city. We both own Holgas, digital cameras, and so on.

Once I actually use this camera, I will post pics, and a nice review if anyone is interested.

Latte art

Started going to this coffee joint near me that actually brings the coffee to you, instead of making you wait at the counter. I always get a lovely pattern each time, and I thought I should post one finally.

Yay for avatar in 3D IMAX!

Its the only way to go! I thought I was in the movie- I tried grabbing a branch and ended up falling on the next row....someday pandora, someday....

Cosmo has a new outfit

If you look closely, you can see that kosmo's shell has a couple of different patterns....she is finally molting her old shell! I found several tiles in her home, with more to be found soon, I'm sure.

Yay!

Light leaks make for good conversation starters

me and a friend were at the Santa Monica promenade last saturday, and we stumbled upon some excellent sales on Holga accessories in Urban Outfitters. A 35mm adapter, plus a filters, and a filter holder(!) along with a flash for 34 bucks all together. A steal, really. The below Holga is exactly like mine, although now I wish I went for the traditional black.

Anyways, super pumped about that!

Currently reading...

I just picked up "You Shall Know our Velocity", the other day, and granted, it was not the Eggers book I was looking for. It does sound really fantastic, and I am pretty happy to dive in.

I'll let you know how it goes...

My new mantra

Guess who isn't sleeping alone tonite?

Tator tot!

He was adopted, of course.

Chips anyone?

My kosmo has been molting her shell, and its been very exciting. Her shell is all new and shiny. Pictures coming, someday.

Aw dang!

This happened a couple of months ago. I had it fixed earlier, and I wished they just would've replaced instead it of plugging the tire. Then, on my way to work, this happened.

It pretty much sucked.

Hey, 2009; you forgot something!!!

I intend to leave all of my baggage from 2009 and beyond; in 2009.

1. Drama Queens...that includes you too, Laurenation

2. Silly relationship hooey.

3. Insecurities.

4. Being mean just because

5. An event that happened early in the year that matured, empowered, and made me realize who I am. I will not forget it completely; but I will not let it run havoc.

6. Anxiety attacks.

(I'm really stretching on this one.)

7. General bullshit that weighs me down, tries to annihilate and destroy my well-being.


8. Ex-boyfriend drama that angers and raises my blood pressure...let it go, already!!


Of course there's more; but I gotta take a nap.

"Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”

"Life can be found only in the present moment. The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life." Thich Nhat Hanh

We work hard to survive each day

Working on my resume and cover letter, I feel as if moving on is hopeless. There is this invisible quick sand, and I cannot pull my over sized stems out. I've been sinking into a thankless, dead-end job that I have succumbed to for the last almost 3 years. Sadly, I will be losing it at the end of this year. Part of it, I realize is bittersweet. I will HAVE to move on, and do what I came out here to do. I ask myself repeatedily what that task is.

"It's what makes me happy, fufilled, at peace, constantly learning, growing, and demanding more"

The above has become my mantra, for god who knows long. Now, I finally found what makes my heart beat fast, and brain thirsting for more.

How the hell am I gonna get there?

2010 is the year.

Happy New Year beautiful folks!

I hope everyone had a safe, fun NYE...I, however; fell asleep at 10, slept thru my alarm, then woke at 2am-only to get up and go to bed.

Laurenation is pretty lame in 2010.

Anyways, hope to see all of you succeed in this year filled with promise!

You know you want more...tator tot!

Krumkaka?

My aunt makes these norwiegan delights every year or so, and they taste scrumptious!

Ricky! co-starring Killer, aka Killy.

I know all of you have been waiting for this one...and by all of you, I mean my brother and my 2 dear, lovely friends that check this blog.

Mumsy's back yard.

This pretty much sums up my week in MN.

Tater tot!

My mom let me gift him with the regal title of "tater tot". He is very tiny, and very sweet. He crawled into my bag a few times, after he sat on my knee.

I live a very exciting life.

What was that? You want me to keep procrastinating?

This is my mom's cat Chevy a while back after he was done luxuriating in his ringworm bath.

work schmurk!

Why do school work when there's a cute kitty to post? This is my nephew, Marvin, and he is really sick with bad kidneys. This was taken after his fluid injection, and he was very unhappy.

Clearly.

some more lost writings

Rash, prairie dogs, rash, prairie dogs...I continued my quest for the answer to my current debacle. I am not too keen on rashes, but I sure do love prairie dogs. I gave up momentarily, only to find myself stepping on broken pieces of sunflower shells. Gingerly, I flicked off piece by piece of shell while questioning the idea of selling the gerbils to large blue mouse that I once met. Speaking of which, I was half expecting a phone call from the bastard.

Some old writings

"You smell that, fresh cake, sweet frosting?" A ghoulish rubber face sitted next to me demanded an answer. I ignored his pleas of validation, continuing my search for a place to hide during the zombie holocaust. As I proceeded, a lowly looking fellow took the empty seat next to me. Squeals of delight and frustrations were being emitted. I wasn't sure what to think of them, so I took the liberty of asking him to quiet down. Not more than 5 seconds after my request, the gentleman revealed a pistol that looked part shotgun and part silly putty. His down syndrome-induced grin made me think twice about my requests. A moment of whatif swept by; maybe I should have just agreed with the rubber face about the cake. Sadly, I did not have enough crazy in me to grant it. A part of me hoped to escape this predicament without a bruise, but the downs's fanny pack told me otherwise.

Allocation! Coordination!

Repeatedly, the downs mimicked my 5th grade speech teacher. I thought nothing of this encounter previously, until the fanny pack incident. Luckily, all that the fanny pack had against me was a spoon that he bent while practicing his telekinesis and a set of dentures that turn him into batman.

Goo-goo! Thruuppp!

A quick peek to my right ensured me that the cake guy was up to no good; only this time a baby was in on it. Some graphite scribbling and a trail of drool began forming on my hand. A few dots, some lines…was the baby trying to tell me something in Morse code?! Perhaps this baby…before I could continue my delusions, the anti Christ or whatever I thought it was began blubbering and drooling.

Paradise?

Each time I whine about being cold, me mums sends piccys of the dastardly MN winter. Her feeble attempts at getting me to feel bad and lame for being cold don't work. My response for these shots usually result in me questioning the white balance, then complimenting her dashboard accoutrement.

Ricky gets his Christmas wish

My mom has a disabled kitty that she takes out on excursions. His name is Ricky, and he meows deep and righteously. She pushes him in a cat stroller. I initially thought she pushed him in a baby stroller, which made me savor the imagery much more. Especially when she mentioned pushing him in the stroller with my stepdad near the elementary school by their house. She said something about how she didn't want to go by there because she didn't want the kids to point and run up to the stroller...I thought it would be she didn't want to be seen pushing a cat in a baby stroller.

Tea time kitty