My So Cal Xmas break
I have been having these monents over the last few days when I just get overcome with emotion and happiness at how cool my So Cal life is. (was?) One of these happened at the park yesterday, we had a lovely picnic at Tucker's Grove with Vogel, Hanson, Alissa, Courtney, Matt Escarsega, Julie and Hannah. We just chilled out on the grass, messed around on the swingset, and for those moments, when your in them with the people you love most and you're not thinking about the future, or how short your time is together, and your not COLD (haven't felt that in a while) it's what life's about. ...Kinda reminds me of the play Our Town by Wilder about how our privelage and curse is to never, in the moment of happiness be able to be aware of our good fortune, because the moment you analyze it you stop living it... something like that. Anyway, Monday was the happiest I've been in a long long time.
After hanging out in the park for hours (oh! saw Mr. Levian there, which might have been what got me thinking about Our Town...) we decided that Matt's attempt at Christmas decoration with a mere 3000+ something lights on his house was woefully inadequate, so we had a spontanious trip to Tar-jay in Ventura, where between 5 of us (Laura Wilson and Colby Beers joined Matt, Alissa and Me) we bought about 50 dollars worth of Christmas lights to loan to Matt. They had strands there for $1.25 it was amazing. Never been to a Target before, but I liked what I saw. Like Walmart, but with no unethical labor practices that I know of. But we bougth a ton of cheap lights (like 2000 to add to Matt's 3000 something) and we're going back after Christmas so we can get all the bigger, crazy robotic etc. stuff for cheap after Christmas. I had another one of these overcome with happiness moments when we were driving up the coast back from Ventura, and were were running parallel to the Amtrak going north, and the sunset was beautiful, and you could see the ocean and sun with the palm trees silohuetted and the light relected off the water even through the windows of the speeding train and I was just overwhelmed be a feeling of utmost contentment.
Had a fabulous time with Liz, I do so love our late night exchanges. Miscellanious drawer organizing, etc. :)
Then yesterday (and today too, like 20 minutes ago I got back from) Lucia's where there was hot tubbing and merriment. Last night we watched Shaun of the Dead and had a fabulous time being dorks and having post-zombie-movie fun at Lucia's dark and secluded house.
And then tonight was so much fun! On par with yesterday even. Went out to fancy dessert at the Montecito Inn restaurant with Courtney, Courtney's sister, Alissa, Justin, The (it must be said) Rediculously Beautiful Julie, Lucia, Jacob and Hanson. Hanson didn't know we were supposed to be swankified, so we improvised slacks and a dress shirt ...and sandals for him from my clothes, and I wore my suit because it's still new, and hey, if you're gonna go, go all out. So we met at Courtney's, and then promenaded to the restaurant across the freeway bridge (like, 1 block away) and had some of the best dessert I've had in a long while. Then we went to Lucia's, with Mike driving me, I got out of my suit, and got to have a nice chat with Hanson's folks about MT and the state of the world and all the good stuff. More hot tubbing at Lucia's (after we finally found the place, which I don't really have an excuse for because I've been there quite a few times) but most of tonight was devoted to watching 24 on dvd. Hanson has a history of over-selling things, but man this is such a good series to watch a bunch of episodes in a row of with friends late at night. Heart pounding action packed good times. I hear it's better than The OC. So Alissa, Lucia, Jacob and I watch all of disc 1 (4 hour-long minus commercial) episodes, and we're plowing ahead tomarrow night. Ah so much fun... having cool friends again is neat.
Finally, note to self: Nick, get a fucking job. You'll thank me later, come summer, and you'll get to go snowboarding and road tripping. Minnesota road trip in summer what what!?