Disney Week Starter
I had been back in California just 48 hours. Monday had arrived. Disneyland called. Not because it was "Disneyland," but because it had something I needed. It had "New Orleans Square." Yes, I was jones-ing for some wrought iron and beads. And Disney delivered. But first, to relive the Bourbon Street experience, Don and I headed to Ariel's Grotto for some martinis and lobster nachos. Nice. Ok, yes, we had to hit a few rides: Toy Story, Soaring... but eventually we made it to NOS, as I call it now. To save space. Which doesn't make sense since this explanation is longer than just typing the words out. Then it was the Haunted Mansion, because you just have to. By 8pm I was beat. I had gone in to work that morning for the last time until August. So I had been up early, and all the excitement of officially starting my summer, well. I had a very very good first day.
My Dinner With Jason
And then it was Tuesday. Days following in progression, as they do. Tuesday night I had a maybe-date-maybe-not dinner with Jason. It turned out to be a not, because he's seeing someone at this time. But I didn't let that stop me from enjoying Korean BBQ! Yay! All you can eat meat cooked to order at your table. Can't go wrong! Although this BBQ didn't have a grill grate, it had a flat thing... not sure what to call it. I think the other one Jason took me to had a wire thing where the fire could touch the meat. No matter, it was good and the brisket, especially, was divine. I could do Atkins if every dinner were like this. After, we went to the Faultline (closed) and then the Eagle for a cocktail. It was nice to reconnect with him. He's a good guy - one of a few I know - and I look forward to more time with him.
Six in the City
Wednesday came and went. And Then Thursday came. Diane was performing in a one-act play that she co-wrote and I just had to go see her. "The Ballad of Bob and Joan" was about Bob Dylan and Joan Jett. Kidding. Joan Baez. It was very well written but what surprised me the most was how real she is on stage. She shines. She is so totally alive and in the moment that you believe everything about her character. I'd never seen her on stage before, so when I say I was surprised, I just didn't know... And that she wrote it as well - amazing. It is too late for you to see the play - it closed this weekend - but I'm sure there will be others. I hope soon.
Beatin' the Heat
By Friday, I'd actually finished moving in. I had every room just about the way I wanted it. Celebration. The hardest room was the "guest bedroom" because I had been using it as the crap heap, all the boxes I hadn't unpacked, all the stuff I wasn't sure where to put - it ended up there. So making it a finished room was tough. But I did it. And to celebrate, a day at the pool. Which turned in to a few days at the pool, actually, as the weekend warmed up into the 90's. Damn glad I have that pool. This summer is gonna ROCK!
CSULA Sucks (Still)
One thing I had to do this week was go to CSULA to check on a credential issue. Some of my paperwork got returned and I needed to know why. So I took all my forms in and made an appointment to see a credential analyst. They took my papers, walked into a room, came back and said, "I don't know what the problem is." Really? And you get paid how much? Their best guess is that instead of sending an original letter saying I'd met my English subject matter competence, I sent a color xerox copy. So I resent my application with the original. And crossed my fingers, because I have no faith that CSULA knows what it's doing.
