11 posts tagged “good times”
It's tough to explain the last 24 hours in the amount of time I have to write it. I'm trying to get out of work by 3 pm today so I can take a nap being as I got like ZERO sleep last night. I'm going to go into it soon enough but something just put the kabash on the whole thing.
Yesterday was a decent work day and then we had this company/client/media mixer at this sweet bar/restaurant called Bodega. Got a little tipsy there which is always fun when its with coworkers. I used to find drinking with coworkers strange but I actually really enjoy it.
Anyway, after that ended, we went to another bar where I got more than tipsy and next thing I know, I'm in a Hollywood bar/club drinking Patron and Grey Goose for free! It was a rager with some coworkers and to make a long story short, I didn't get home until 4 am. Yea, great when you have to be at work at 9 am.
So that was the great part. The bad was how I felt this morning. My eyes stung, I hadn't eaten since lunch the previous day, I had this weird feeling (the one you get when you're sleep deprived and you can't tell if you're awake or asleep) and an overall contempt for my workspace. Just didn't want to be at work basically.
It became okay after I had finished about 7 bottles of water and realized that several other people were hung over not to mention the guys I was with until 4 am were struggling just like me. Then the AWESOME happened.
I work on a lot of new business work for my company which is very unusual for someone at my level but they have always said they appreciated it and that's all I really needed. I know that I'm getting exposure to people that most people don't. But today I was not only called out on a company-wide call for doing awesome work, but I just got called into my GM's office where she informed me that not only did the CEO of my firm love the work I've been doing but they decided to give me a fat bonus for all my hard work! Booyah! Take that supervisors who hate that I work on new biz! haha!
The only downside is I won't get it until July 15th but whatever. I'm going to have a fun July!
My next piece will be a comparison of partying in college and partying in the workforce.
Have a great weekend!
Word.
So it's been a while blah blah blah.
Been sick with strep throat for a week and that blew. I didn't have to go to work which was sweet. I even got a doctor's note. Haven't had one of those since grade school. But it doesn't make up for not being able to eat solid foods.
I'm feeeling much better now though and time for the biggest Word of all...for now:
On my way to the Kanye West Glow in the Dark Tour at Staples!!
Word!
Post Show: Great seats in the VIP section. I didn't even know the Staples Center had this section. Kinda felt like a baller. That and we just didn't stop drinking. It was one of the best shows I had ever been too. The opening acts were Akon featuring NERD and some Lupe Fiasco, Rihanna and then Kanye came on. What made the show great is that they made it a show. The concept behind the show was that Kanye, the greatest entertainer in the world as he was referred to, was on a spaceship that crash landed on this planet. Before the ship could be prepared...Kanye had to blow our minds!
The stage setup was awesome. He performed primarily on a giant light board with a huge screen behind him that displayed images of landscapes, hyperspace action, some crazy explosions, and the stage itself looked like a giant half pipe. The light board he was standing on was originally slanted like a ramp but as he was standing on it during "Flashing Lights" it started to flattened out and raise into the area with lights around it very similar to a space ship.
He performed for about an hour and half which was awesome. The track list included more than just his Graduation album. It included so much more like Golddigger, Touch the Sky featuring Lupe Fiasco, and Jesus Walks which was my personal favorite. That and Harder. He of course went into a speech about his recent meltdowns and took a few stabs at good ol' W. One of the most intense things he said was that many critics say there can't be any one better then Lennon or better than the other great entertainers in history but "I'm Kanye West and I'm coming after their spots!" It was pretty arrogant but it was pretty freaking awesome also.
Great show and great time. Thanks Kristen for the tickets!
Before I go on ranting I wanted to say congrats to my coworker on her engagement. She's relatively my age and she's already found someone she's ready to be with. She's been beaming full of joy all day so I'm really happy for her. I feel bad for her because she's having the hardest time focusing on her work. Hell, I would be too after the night I'm sure they had together...yea I know, that's wrong of me but you were all thinking it.
You know what bothers me? You can't ever just go off and start saying all the things you want. I'm not talking about wanting a good president or an economy that doesn't strip you of your self-respect. I mean the general everyday things that you see or think about and quietly to yourself you say something along the lines of, "I WANT THAT!" Since I love lists so much I'm going to randomly create a list of things that pop in my head over the next few hours and jot them down here. Fun, right!?
I Want...
- to start work at 10 am on a daily basis
- new shoes and jeans
- to find someone that's open and honest...and is really hot
- Kung Pao Chicken (it's lunch time)
- a new camera so I can finally start taking photos again
- the Dodgers to figure it the fuck out
- to take a nap under my desk (just ate Kung Pao Chicken)
- to play GTA IV some more
- go lay on the beach (it's annoying being able to see the beach from where you work)
- to burn one
- a really sweet coat
- a raise
- an Irish Car Bomb (it's been a rough day so far)
- to go home!
- a giant bottle of whiskey to myself until I get so drunk I decide to share it with all my friends...even my Vox neighbors
- to come up with better ideas.
Well, there you have it. I started this list around 10 am and it's now 6pm. As you can see, my head wanders throughout the work day.
Word.
It's May and that means one thing...my lease is almost up. I'm sad and excited to say that I will be moving out ofglorious downtown LA and moving to the Westside. I'll be honest, I'm more excited than anything. Not only will I be a hell of a lot closer to work, but I'll be living two blocks from the beach! Venice Beach to be exact. Home of The Doors, George Yung, super tramps, the last refuge of the hippie culture and every other person who's lost his way and wound up in beautiful Southern California. Needless to say I'm to fit in fairly well.
This is not to say that I'm not a little sad about leaving my downtown hub. I mean, it is downtown LA and nothing is better than the reaction I get from people when I tell them I live there. People always seem to be concerned that you're going to get stabbed down there or something. I can honestly say that in the last year that I've lived there, not once have I ever been scared walking downtown at night. Mainly cause I've been somewhere drinking copious amounts and the only thing on my mind is usually trying to get home to eat or continue the intoxication efforts. It's not as unsafe as everyone thinks especially with all the new developments downtown.
I will also miss my crew. It's safe to say that I've spent the last year hanging out regularly with the same people and that is by no means a complaint. We've had one hell of a ride the last year and I wouldn't have had my first year of college any other way. I'm glad I'll be living with my friend Dave rather than alone as awkward silences are killer...especially when you live alone. I'm sure I'll stay in contact with my crew and we'll continue to dominate like no other so I'm not worried. It'll just be different. We'll be moving our efforts to the westside soon enough.
I'll be moving within the next month and I hope to bring more time and energy to my writing. It's not like I'm writing a novel here but it's been a great outlet these last few months and all my friends/neighbors on Vox have made me feel welcome. It's nice to know people read this every once and a while. My hope is to buy a new camera and start meeting some interesting people on the Venice boardwalk. Could be quite the adventure.
Until then, I just want to provide two quick lists of my Top 5 worst things about downtown and Top 5 best things about downtown:
Top 5 Best Things about Living Downtown:
5. People think you're either a baller or hardcore to be living downtown...or just crazy.
4. Several bars are downtown giving you the opportunity to stumble to the bars and home from the bars.
3. The Staples Center is so close you can literally walk to Lakers' games...if we could afford tickets (at least there are free passes to the Rhino)
2. You really feel like an urbanite and LA becomes your bitch.
1. I may have hated my building in the end, but living downtown gives you a great view of one great city.
Top 5 Worst Things about Living Downtown:
5. Traffic exists on and off the freeways.
4. Sometimes you forget you're still living in an English speaking country (I love other cultures and all but if you're living in the States, learn some fuckin English)
3. No one wants to visit you downtown because of bums/muggers/bad parking/fear of losing valuables/having to navigate the mysterious one way street terrain
2. Everyone you meet in the bars is either a) completely full of shit, b) annoying as shit, c) a piece of shit, or d) smells like shit (that is not meant to be offensive but a bunch of people in a tiny bar start to smell)
1. Living downtown can really make you feel trapped in it. You need to really make the extra effort to get out.
So there it is. One month to go and who knows what crazy adventures will happen before the move out. It's been interesting so far and I expect nothing less these last few weeks.
Word.
I never thought having cable was important to me but without it, I'm losing it slightly. My cable and internet was turned off while I was on vacation last week (I vacationed in Los Angeles...it was quite the trip) and it's killing me. Work is busy on my return so posting has become difficult but I wanted to share some things as I'm sure everyone wants to hear about it.
One of the highlights of the week was a free Laker game provided by the homie Dave. The best part was that we were able to walk to the Staples Center from our apartment so that made the post game show much more exciting. The post game show consisted of a bottle of Highland Stag (a scotch we found at Ralphs that we figured Sean Connery would drink) and some crunchy grooves.
That led to a two person bar night at our local pub, Seven Grand. There we proceeded to drink more booze in the form of some refreshing beer and also get flirting advice from a table of wives. Granted, they weren't desperate housewives and they were not really MILFs but it was funny. One standing next to me continually shouted, "AHH! Men are so stupid!" everytime Dave made a comment obviously meant to fuck with them. It was priceless. We were asking them how to best hit on a waitress at the bar that was pretty hot. Our thought was to approach with the "you're hot. wanna screw?" line while the First Wives club told Dave to say "Hi. I don't mean to offend you in any way but I just wanted to tell you that you are very attractive and was hoping I could talk to you some time." Maybe that would work but that is so lame! I don't mean to offend you!!?? Alright ladies, if I guy calls you attractive/sexy/hot/smokin or Damn!, that's a good thing and if you're offended, just quit. Get out. Leave.
The night continued and Dave ended up in a corner dancing with a drunk friend of ours while I hung out with a good friend Ryan that I hadn't seen in a while. I was pretty drunk and was trying to focus on a pair of girls sitting by Dave. It was DDF for sure...that's Dark Distortion Factor for those that don't speak acronym (Drunk Distortion Factor also works). Strangely enough, Dave and I started talking to these two young ladies who were cute, I think, and we found out they were sisters. That's money right there. The bar closed and I must say I am always proud to be told to leave a bar. Something about it makes me feel victorious. As we left the bar we said goodbye because why waste our time on a couple girls we just met. Well, they "followed" us and by that I mean their car just happened to be in the direction of our walk home. They offered us a ride to our apartment, which remind you is a block away, and so I thought to myself, "What is the correct answer to this question?" I'm glad Dave is my friend because he always has the answer:
"SHOTGUN!"
We jumped in the car and they sped us home. We invited them to a barbecue we were having and we got the digits and that was it. We talked to them the next day but nothing worked out. It's fine. The fact that we were able to talk to a couple of girls after a sweet night of Lakers victory and Highland Stag is alright in my book.
I'll recap my splendid 23rd birthday which was on March 15th later. It was quite the weekend.
Random photo time! I stopped at Jack in the Box on the way home yesterday because I really had to use the boys room and since I drive through traffic, it's usually pretty painful. This Jack was so shady they had bullet proof glass where you ordered AND bullet proof boxes that they would put the food in and you would open the door from your side. So shady! Gotta love Los Angeles.
My homie Dave just got back from the cultural event phenomenon, 311 Day. If you haven't heard of it, you suck, but it's held in New Orleans and it features one of the greatest bands of our generation, 311. They play a set list that commonly goes for over 5 hours and the event lasts for just over 2 days.
As my friend Dave's blog states after the jump to his MTV Blog post:
And one last highlight: In a perfectly genre-bending act of musical/promotional genius, Nick announced during the show that 311 will tour this summer with none other than Snoop Dogg on the appropriately titled 2008 Unity Tour. That’s right, folks. You heard it first.
Thanks for the info Dave and I don't know about everyone else, but I look forward to a show of this caliber.
Word.
So a friend of mine is traveling in Peru right now and it sounds like an awesome adventure to be on. I'm disappointed in myself for not making more of an effort to see another country when I was in college. It would have been easier then. And I would have had the chance to sample the local cuisine and beverages.
This is a quote from an email journal she is sending out to some of us which includes headings of various topics she would like to discuss.
Coca TeaAmazing. Delicious. The best way to get over altitude sickness. Dana just found out that it´s made from the same plant as cocaine.
I bet her teeth were tingling after that one.
I've been having this dream lately except it's not a dream. It's a memory. Something that actually happened in my life playing over and over again every night. The most interesting part about it, is that it's not in first person. It's like I'm a fly on the wall. It's like a memory flashing over and over again. It's pretty cool when you think about it.
I'd explain the dream but it's a personal one. One for me and me alone...
Sorry about that. I get caught up in my memories. And that's why I bring this all up. We all remember some of the great memories. Winning a championship. Your first kiss. Your first *cough* time. Or the first time you blacked out...or there is no memory of it which is probably better that way.
Then there are those memories you wish were dreams...or nightmares. Your first day at a new school. A break up. Lots of shitty things...so let's drop it.
I rarely remember dreams, which really sucks sometimes. You ever in the middle of a dream and you're like, "awesome!" Then you wake up and you can't remember any part of it other than "awesome!" It's lame. But I cannot shake this dream/memory. It reminds me of not only some good things but a few bad things. It's quite annoying. I wish it was lucid dream like in Waking Life or Vanilla Sky. Then I could do whatever I wanted. Probably would do the same as the memory. Yea, it's that good.
A couple memories I'd like to recall. Like the time Gloria Estefan's "Conga" came on while my roommate and I in Vegas where enjoying ourselves with our dates...*cough* What?! Neither one of us would give up the room! Or the time I was in Rosarito for Spring Break and I two stuntmans per night including two at a bar which even made the Mexican bartenders cringe. It's intense. Try it. Then there was the time a brother of my fraternity nearly broke his leg on top of a mound of boulders in Joshua Tree. Had to carry him 3 miles back to camp. And one of the best memories: getting blackout for the first time with my buddy Kevin Freshman year of college. We played the Bad Boys drinking game with Jack Daniels and Miller High Life as a chaser. Every time they same the name "Mike Lowry," you take a shot. We didn't finish the movie.
So yea. Memories are great. Now that I think of it, having the dream every night has reminded me of some pretty great things. It's hard every once and a while. But I'll get by.
And one final memory for all to see. It's kind of long and not very interesting (I'll admit it) but be sure to watch the end.
This is Dave, Renzo and I skating a parking structure at the Convention Center and a few Natty Lights. Good times. We were kicked out shortly after.
Word.
So I had my 3-month review (after 6 months of employment) last night. I was upset at first for the delay but we were all way busy so it's all good. I'll start with the bad news. No raise :-( The conversation actually opened with, "this review would have been more pertinent if there were money involved but it's very rare to see raise after 3 months." How about 6 months?? hehe. My manager is chill so it's all good. I'm not great at deadlines but we all knew that. It's just hard with hundreds of emails a day and numerous projects that are labeled as "high priority." That phrase used to mean something but it's thrown around a lot in the work place. The only time I get crazy on something now is if the word "crisis" is involved.
This week has been full of crisis though. Seems like the whole office is uber stressed. I had a woman in the elevator look at me and ask, "It's Friday right?" I found this funny and almost annoying. We like to remind ourselves that the work week sucks and all we have to look forward to is Friday. SO, people use that as a way to connect with people they don't even know. I kinda wanted to respond, "You're fuckin retarded. Of course it's Friday. Jackass!"
Overall a great review especially since it took place at my manager's pad with a couple brews and a USC basketball game. A couple brews turned into 3 and a trip to a bar to finish off the game. Not only did I get a few things off my chest that were bothering me (you've heard most of them -- work horse status, being left out of the loop, not thinking about my work load or my other clients, etc.) but I was able to kick back with my manager for the first time since I started really. He also let me in on some super secret company info. I love what 7 beers will do to you. I mean I was honest about a few things too but it felt like it was okay to say it all.
The drive home was fairly simple and I enjoyed me a PBR while I watched some South Park. What a great combination that was. I ended being home all by myself and I realized that I haven't seen my homies all week. I've been so engrossed in work that I've wanted to die and I come home to an empty pad. It's a week like this that makes me glad I don't live alone yet. I mean, sure, I found ways to amuse myself but some good conversation is always the best.
Join me in drinking copious amounts this weekend!
Word.
I'm going to write more but I just want to say fuck yea Giants. Tom Brady is a little bitch and I'm glad he got sacked numerous times. The only thing better than watching a team succeed and achieve something amazing is watching the same team not succeed :-) Horrible, I know.
I'm at work and extremely uncomfortable. I'm paying for this weekends activities specifically the crazy adventure I went on last night. It had it's perks though. Video of an attempted shaving cream trick to come.
Be back later. Lots to do and absolutely no motivation...its rough.
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