I'm back in Cali and it feels good!
I’m looking at the date of my last entry and I didn’t realize how long it’s been….my bad. The last couple weeks have been packed with work and travel, and a little fun mixed in for good measure. Let’s see, where to start….
Two weeks ago Trader and I headed south to Florida for a much needed mancation. We started things off in sunny South Beach for 3 days where I was abruptly met with $9 beers and the occasional nude beach (totally by accident, by the way). You remember that feeling when you’re at a club/saloon/tavern/bar/disco and your favorite song comes on? You feel the bass from the speakers work it’s way up your spine and all of a sudden you bust out in the moonwalk? No? Just me I guess. Anyway, somehow Trader and I convinced the very large and very Russian (think Ivan Drago from Rocky IV) bouncer at Mansion to let us in and few hours later, that feeling struck me. It not only struck me, but hit me square in the face in the form of JaRule! That’s right, I said it. He’s still around believe it or not. The lights went out and spoke filled the club and Ja jumped on stage a mere 25 feet from us. Pretty cool. I remember my college days and jamming to him in some random basement on a Saturday night and here he is in front of me……many years later.
From there, we took off for Captiva Island, which isn’t really an island at all. This was a trip the Trader won through work and brought me along as his Goose. I like to think that I did my job and did it with pride. The only downside to Captiva was that I got so burned in SoBe that I spent a good portion of my time under a cabana. Not a big deal though. Crushed some fish tacos, enjoyed the scenery, and pretty much did nothing for 3 straight days. Our last night there was fun. There was a big reception on the beach that kinda resembled a luau and then a few after hours gatherings, one of which kept me up all night. And when I say all night, I literally didn’t close my eyes or sleep for the entire night. And my Mom will be happy to know that it wasn’t because I was boozing…had only one all day!
We left with some good memories, some better pictures that may or may not end up on here someday, and some re-established and newly formed relationships. That was starchy, sorry.
So I bounce from Captiva straight to DC for a work thing on Friday. I did DC for the day/night and then hit up Phil-lay for the last leg of my adventure. PA has been a blast the couple times I’ve been there. It seems there’s always someone showing up to brunch in the same clothes they wore out the night before, or complaining that they have been on 5 dates with the same guy and still no kiss. And then there’s this girl that goes spray tanning and gets the level 5 treatment, turning her into a legit contender for a BET award! Wait, I just described the same person. It seems to me she should have her own nickname…maybe “Mini Drama”!! But seriously, Phil-lay’s rad and my new favorite place is Plough. They have the right mix of 80’s and hip-hop and it’s close to home so you don’t have to cab it. All I need now is a Phillie’s hat to complete the look.
By the time I got home I’m pretty sure my 2 dogs had no idea who I was.
Fast forward to today where I’m sitting at the John Wayne airport in OC in what is my first trip back to Cali since I left in December. It’s really crazy being here. I mean, the people, the buildings, the food…..everything is different. And in a way, I almost feel like a visitor to what was my home all my life. Almost like I left and everything changed in the 5 months I’ve been gone. But then again, I’m still sitting on a bench across from baggage claim so I’m sure things will pick up when I get outside!
And as I sit here staring at all the OCer’s I realize just how different life in the Midwest is. I mean, I get off the jet and all I see is huge purses, huger sunglasses, really really tan people, and little dogs everywhere. Ahhhhhh….how I’ve missed home! But there really is a change in the total mentality of folks out here and I think you have to leave to really see the difference. Even the weather knows it’s better then the weather everywhere else!
I’m here for a couple reasons that are work/vacation related. I’ve got some meetings in LA the next couple days and then I’m heading home to the IE (Inland Empire) for 5 days. From there it’s San Diego for work and then back up to Malibu for a wedding next weekend. I’m really curious what home will look like when I get there Saturday. It was always fun coming back during college break to see friends and find out what new restaurant had been put up and who was dating/married/broke up. Now, as I get older, it’s not so much who is dating or married, but who has another child or is expecting their first. I guess this is growing up!
Two weeks ago Trader and I headed south to Florida for a much needed mancation. We started things off in sunny South Beach for 3 days where I was abruptly met with $9 beers and the occasional nude beach (totally by accident, by the way). You remember that feeling when you’re at a club/saloon/tavern/bar/disco and your favorite song comes on? You feel the bass from the speakers work it’s way up your spine and all of a sudden you bust out in the moonwalk? No? Just me I guess. Anyway, somehow Trader and I convinced the very large and very Russian (think Ivan Drago from Rocky IV) bouncer at Mansion to let us in and few hours later, that feeling struck me. It not only struck me, but hit me square in the face in the form of JaRule! That’s right, I said it. He’s still around believe it or not. The lights went out and spoke filled the club and Ja jumped on stage a mere 25 feet from us. Pretty cool. I remember my college days and jamming to him in some random basement on a Saturday night and here he is in front of me……many years later.
From there, we took off for Captiva Island, which isn’t really an island at all. This was a trip the Trader won through work and brought me along as his Goose. I like to think that I did my job and did it with pride. The only downside to Captiva was that I got so burned in SoBe that I spent a good portion of my time under a cabana. Not a big deal though. Crushed some fish tacos, enjoyed the scenery, and pretty much did nothing for 3 straight days. Our last night there was fun. There was a big reception on the beach that kinda resembled a luau and then a few after hours gatherings, one of which kept me up all night. And when I say all night, I literally didn’t close my eyes or sleep for the entire night. And my Mom will be happy to know that it wasn’t because I was boozing…had only one all day!
We left with some good memories, some better pictures that may or may not end up on here someday, and some re-established and newly formed relationships. That was starchy, sorry.
So I bounce from Captiva straight to DC for a work thing on Friday. I did DC for the day/night and then hit up Phil-lay for the last leg of my adventure. PA has been a blast the couple times I’ve been there. It seems there’s always someone showing up to brunch in the same clothes they wore out the night before, or complaining that they have been on 5 dates with the same guy and still no kiss. And then there’s this girl that goes spray tanning and gets the level 5 treatment, turning her into a legit contender for a BET award! Wait, I just described the same person. It seems to me she should have her own nickname…maybe “Mini Drama”!! But seriously, Phil-lay’s rad and my new favorite place is Plough. They have the right mix of 80’s and hip-hop and it’s close to home so you don’t have to cab it. All I need now is a Phillie’s hat to complete the look.
By the time I got home I’m pretty sure my 2 dogs had no idea who I was.
Fast forward to today where I’m sitting at the John Wayne airport in OC in what is my first trip back to Cali since I left in December. It’s really crazy being here. I mean, the people, the buildings, the food…..everything is different. And in a way, I almost feel like a visitor to what was my home all my life. Almost like I left and everything changed in the 5 months I’ve been gone. But then again, I’m still sitting on a bench across from baggage claim so I’m sure things will pick up when I get outside!
And as I sit here staring at all the OCer’s I realize just how different life in the Midwest is. I mean, I get off the jet and all I see is huge purses, huger sunglasses, really really tan people, and little dogs everywhere. Ahhhhhh….how I’ve missed home! But there really is a change in the total mentality of folks out here and I think you have to leave to really see the difference. Even the weather knows it’s better then the weather everywhere else!
I’m here for a couple reasons that are work/vacation related. I’ve got some meetings in LA the next couple days and then I’m heading home to the IE (Inland Empire) for 5 days. From there it’s San Diego for work and then back up to Malibu for a wedding next weekend. I’m really curious what home will look like when I get there Saturday. It was always fun coming back during college break to see friends and find out what new restaurant had been put up and who was dating/married/broke up. Now, as I get older, it’s not so much who is dating or married, but who has another child or is expecting their first. I guess this is growing up!
2 comments:
Since you brought it up...any huge purse or huger sunglasses you want to bring back to the midwest are mucho welcomed!
J & K say hello!
You have listened to too much Rome. But not bad writing for a kid whose library consisted of back issues of SI.
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