things
So I've been meaning to update about my really cool weekend, going to LA and stuff ...but then HALO 2 happened. It's amazing, I bought an xbox just for it, and it's a fantastic MULTIPLAYER game. I've got more than $250 invested in it, with buying the console, game, extra controllers and internet service for it, and it hasn't dissapointed. There were IN EXCESS OF 300 PEOPLE LINED UP OUTSIDE GAMESTOP AT MIDNIGHT JUST TO PICK IT UP. Good time with the floormates, and dorm lans! I have spent an embarassing amount of time playing over xbox live. Seriously, this week has been just Halo, filled with stuff between playing Halo..
So I did get to go to LA, my first weekend away, but I didn't even get to go home. Got to fly from Sacramento to LAX where my cousin picked me up, and I spend the night with him. The next day I called Hanson, and got to take my cousin's car 10 miles down Sunset Blvd. to UCLA. I only had about 2 hours to spend and mess around there but I hung out with Hanson, after we met in this quad-area. I recognized his walk from across the terrace before I recognized his face. I also ran into Alex Burke walking the streets of UCLA so that was interesing, she was surprised to see me.
And then my family. My wonderful, amazing, extended family. I don't get along with my pop at all, but my family is awesome. Kinda reenforcement that "you're not crazy, your dad really is the family fuck up, it's not just teen angst.". In addition to getting fun time to just chill and wrestle with my cousins, we were there to celebrate my Grandmother's 90th birthday. That amount of time won't fit inside my head. All my aunts and uncles toasted her, and made a little speeches about how much she meant to them, but what really made me proud was hearing about some of the things she had done in her life. My grandma is SHARP, especially for a 90 year old. The gathering was also very much a mourning for the democratic party, and it was very refreshing and reassuring to be around my aunts and uncles most of whom are professors and doctors and all of whom have written books in their feilds to know that there is sense in the world, and the jesus freaks and paranoids haven't taken over completely. Even if they're the majority. It really got to me, hearing about how my grandma had been constantly ahead of her time in her stand on civil liberties, championing rights and just generally fighting the right ( -> left ) poilitical fight through her entire life. She was telling us about her frustration with the bridge group she plays with at a very expensive exclusionist golf club, about how she was the only Kerry supporter but continued to encourage her Bridge-mates to question, learn and THINK. At 90. I was impressed and as proud as I've ever been to have Moore as my last name. Well, part of it.
In addition, this even was catered So I had FANTASTIC food, served to me at my grandma's amazing Pasadena house. I went around and had the "hey college man! How're things?" conversation with everyone, twice, and was also really grateful and encouraged that I got absolutely no backlash for saying that I was leaning toward a music major. Learned people were such a break from college...
I got to go back to UCLA afterwards (from like 1am to 4 am) and hang out with Hanson and Vogel and some people on their floor. I'm so jealous of those guys. We just hung out being the same strange people we were, but pointing out whenever someone used a new word or displayed a new mannerism and just were totally over analytical as always. It was hella cool. (barf). I miss those guys so much. I survived high school, in every sense of the word because of my friends. Where my family was fucked up, my friends were there and it sucks not to see them/you everyday.
Misc:
I officially don't hate The OC now. Hanson finally got me to sit down, watch the first episode and I didn't hate it.
I fully got an A on my music theory Midterm after nothing but B's and C's on HW. That made my week.
I for sure want to have an epic bonfire this winter break at Hendry's with as many people as possible (it's been a while Danielle!)
Mindy is rediculously amazing because she sends me clothes after I fail (spectacularly) to adapt to climate changes.
I'm going to mail you stuff Shelley, I promise.
...and I can pwn all of you in Halo 2