Disney, scarves, and mops, oh my!

 MONDAY OCTOBER 22, 2012

 Disney Monday Funday with Lauren and Mattie.  I had such a great day with these two filled with lots of talking (obviously), laughing (duh), and screaming (yay California Screamin'!).  I love having an annual pass because we can just take our time and do whatever we feel like doing.  There's no rush to fit anything in because we can always come another time and do it.  There's so much to do and see, and everytime we go it's a new experience.  Awesome.  We also got a lot of lovin' from our good friend Mickey Mouse while he was drumming in the parade, per usual.  Lots of kisses blown, the drum sticks pointing at me, and he even made a heart out of the drumsticks and pointed to me.  I love knowing someone in the parades; it makes me feel so special getting the attention when they go by. :)   The top left pic is of us on California Screamin' - Lauren's first time ever going on an upside down roller coaster.  She was freaked out.  The other two are of us waiting for the parade.  The last one is of me with Cruella (obviously).  So cool.  All in all, a terrific day.  I love being able to go on a magical vacation on my days off, only 30-40 minutes away. :)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 21, 2012

 

 I was feeling very New York tonight.  I got to wear jeans, a long sleeve shirt, a scarf, and my jacket because yes, it was cold enough.  Well, like 68, but still kind of chilly in terms of the 90 degree heat we've been having.  I'm not a big fashion person, but I really enjoy Fall clothes.  I love the pants, the light jacket, the scarf, the sweaters, the whole shebang.  I don't miss cold weather or snow by any means, but I do miss being able to wear clothes like this.  So, when I get the opportunity, I relish in it.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 20, 2012

 Julie and I skyped for TWO hours and carved pumpkins and drank pumpkin beer and talked...a lot.  (You can see me and my pumpkin in the upper left hand corner of the picture.)  I am so thankful for skype (per usual) because it allows for opportunities such as this to occur.  Whoever thought you'd be able to carve pumpkins with your best friend on the opposite side of the country while sitting in front of the computer screen?  Very thankful for technology such as this.  Beautiful way to spend my Saturday evening.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 19, 2012

  

 I went out for Happy Hour with Leona, Mattie, Zachy, and Leon.  Such a great time.  We haven't all hung out outside of work since probably last year.  I need to make sure I make more time for happy hours, as weird as that sounds, because having a few hours to just talk out life with some friends is so worth it.  Free therapy and life ponderings. haha.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 18, 2012

 

 I saw this sign while driving and obviously had to take a picture.  How perfect.  I hope it makes everyone smile when they see it, and really has an effect. :)

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 17, 2012

 

 Mattie came over and we had movie night!  Chips + salsa + wine + Hocus Pocus.  Terrific October evening with great company.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 16, 2012

 

 I'm a Harry Potter nerd.  Everyone knows that.  Well, my family is. ha.  So is my friend, Alesha.  There is a store called Whimsic Alley not too far away from where my apartment is that is Harry Potter themed.  You walk in, and the place is designed as if you were in Diagon Alley, with storefronts on either side of you (yes, a makeshift alley with makeshift storefronts within a store.  Brilliant).  There's a costume store with house ties, scarves, robes, a wand store, toy store, mask store.  They even have butter beer (which I did not buy.  Next time.).  They have a smaller replica of the Great Hall, also.  Basically, I was the happiest boy for the thirty minutes we spent roaming around.  Now, to get my butt to Florida so I can go to Harry Potter world... :)

MONDAY OCTOBER 15, 2012

 

While at work, I asked Scott to clean floors.  He came back to me with the mop on his head.  Some days, I really love my job.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 14, 2012

 I moved my around.  No, big deal, right? eh. wrong.  I finally have it in a way where when you walk in it doesn't look like clutter central.  I don't have that much stuff, but the way my bookshelf was made it seem so cluttered because it was the first thing you would see when you walked in - a full five shelf book shelf.  Now, I have it on the opposite wall, so when you walk in, you see my bed.  Honestly, it's such a relieving feeling when you first walk in, more relaxing, which is exactly what I was going for.  yay.

just a note...

 SATURDAY OCTOBER 13, 2012

 

 Alesha came over and we had mexican night!  We made homemade black bean quesadillas with salsa, guacamole, and beans on the side.  DE-LICIOUS!!!  I absolutely love cooking and creating, and it's always more fun when you have someone to cook with/for.  Lots of talking, lots of laughing, and always eating way too much.  Then we watched "Tangled."  Life is good.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

 In the backroom at Starbucks there is a whiteboard with a section that says "Order" so that if we run out of something during the week or are running low, anyone can write it down here and I will look at it in Fridays when I do the order and order it.  I came in today and this was the message in my "Order" section.  It definitely brought a smile to my face.  I love little messages.  The first part was from Lo and the second part was from D. Sull.  It's the little things in life that we need to remember to do because those are the things that tend to mean the most.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 11, 2012

Here's a throwback for you!  Whitney actually sent me this picture in an email today and it instantly brought a smile to my face when I saw this picture inside.  This is Roz and I at the County Fair themed party at The Hallmark, two weeks before I moved from NYC.  There were a select number of seniors there that I formed a tight bond with; Roz was one of them.  She is like me - she talks a lot, is goofy, and always has a story to tell.  When her and I are together, I laugh so much I always end up crying. haha.  Those are the good laughs.  She gives the best hugs, too!  I can't wait to go back and visit...hopefully in the spring. :)

Bonus!

One of the hard parts about taking "ONE" picture a day is that sometimes, certain things in your day are so important and special that they just have to be your picture of the day.  So, what happens when there is more than one?  Well, only one can be the chosen one, right?  eh. Here's where my current stress comes in.  How do I choose just one picture when the two events that happens today are so important that I need to post both pictures?!  Well, I decided that since it is my blog, I can do whatever I want.  (Ew, I sound like a six year old girl #it'smypartyicancryifiwantto.  Ew. I just hashtagged something.)  Anyway, moral of the story is: you get two pictures for today.  Enjoy. :)

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 10, 2012

 Thank God for technology and skype.  Here is my first time meeting Baby Alexander.  He is just the most adorable little thing in the whole world.  Jack and Victoria headed to the hospital on Monday, and Alexander came into this world around 11:40am.  I am so happy for them and the new life that they will be having with this baby.  I can't wait til Christmas to really meet him and hold him and pinch his cheeks and tickle his toes.  Until then, skypes dates will be perfectly fine and extremely welcome.

 

 This is at my second open call audition since being in LA.  I don't like open calls...for many reasons.  Luckily, my good friend, Paige, came along and we had a great day...for many reasons.  So, going to the audition was pretty big in itself because it was for the Broadway caliber one hour stage show of "Aladdin" at the Hyperion Theatre in California Adventure.  So, I had to sing.  If you know me, you know I love to sing.  If you know me, you also know I have some self doubt issues when it comes to me singing.  So, I worked pretty dang hard the past couple of weeks to get my voice strong, to get the songs concrete in sound, acting, and emotion.  I was ready.  I went to the audition, had such a great time performing for the casting director, rocked it out, and went on my way.  I didn't get a callback, however, I am so thankful for this experience.  It proved to me that I can sing, that I am good, and that I am worth it.  Something better is just around the corner.  In regard to my feelings about open calls: you show up early in the morning, wait in line, sign in, wait around for another few hours, sing 16 bars, and then go home.  The life of an actor.  I don't mind it.  The part I do mind, is the weird energy that the other actors bring to the room that you also have to wait in.   Weird energy, negative energy, overdramatic people, people searching for attention from wherever they can get it.  It's a very interesting place, and a great place to people watch.  Being there taught me that I am different from a lot of actors in that I know who I am, I'm not fake, I'm grounded...I'm me.  And I like it that way.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 9, 2012

 I had time to make dinner.  I made a delicious stir fry (in between loads of laundry, fyi  When did I become an adult?!) for the first time in months.  Absolutely scrumptious.  It was a big mix of veggies including carrots, green beans, zucchini, eggplant, onions, green and red peppers, noodles, and tomato pesto veggie patties with rice and tortillas.  I blended my own spices and sauces for a unique taste, as well.  Great healthy dinner that filled me up, but didn't over stuff me.  I love cooking.  I especially love when the end result is completely worth the wait.

Craziness ensues

 MONDAY OCTOBER 8, 2012

 The birthday girl, Vanessa with not one, but two cosmos!  (Why not?!)  I just love this girl.  I have been in four shows with her, one of them with her as the director.  I feel truly blessed by the people I have met and become friends with here, her included.  We met up at "The Federal" in North Hollywood with a group of our friends and had a truly great time reminiscing, sharing stories, laughing way too loud and way too much, and giving huge hugs between all of us.  It was a great birthday for me, I'm sure it was a great birthday for her. haha. :)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 7, 2012

 My second 27th birthday!  Matt and Lo got me tickets to see Book of Mormon at the Pantages Theatre.  So, we met up, grabbed sushi, enjoyed some drinks and good company, and headed on over to the historic theatre at Hollywood and Vine.  I've been wanting to see this musical for some time, but I especially wanted Matt and Lo to see it because I knew that they would love it and find it absolutely hilarious.  I was right.  The three of us (as well as the rest of the audience) laughed hysterically throughout the entire show.  So fantastic, such a breath of fresh air, and that little taste of NYC I needed in my life.  My face hurt by the end of the show because I was laughing so much.  We walked home, and finished the evening off with some Pinkberry.  A perfect Sunday.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 6, 2012

 Was talking to Danielle on the phone and she had to hang up with me to send my this picture of the tree on my grandparents' street because it was so pretty.  I agree and thankful she sent it on over.  This is something I do, in fact, miss about the East - Fall.  I love the crisp air, wearing sweaters or hoodies, drinking Pumpkin Spice Lattes with that that specific scent of Autumn in the air (for those of you who have experienced it, you know exactly what I'm talking about).  So wonderful.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

 

 I love taking walks on different streets than usual, or even on the same streets.  The key is to be actually being in the moment and taking in all that is around you.  There's so much beauty everywhere that we so often overlook or skip...like flowers.  Here's a pretty hibiscus I passed.  Funny, they're kind of all over here, and while growing up (and even to this day), my mom has two hibiscus plants in front of our house.  It's just interesting that I always seem to notice them...maybe that's why.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 4, 2012

 This is my life lately.  Water, smoothies, and dreams - literally and figuratively.  I've been really focusing on my health for a while not, but I'm trying to make sure I'm getting certain vitamins in, and the easiest (and tastiest) way is through fruit smoothies.  So, as a treat for myself after I work out, I make a delicious smoothie.  That's another thing; it's been so hot/I've been so busy, that I haven't really treated myself to work outs for a while, and I can definitely feel the difference.  I already feel better.  It's something simple that I need to make sure I make the time for.  Dreams - I've had crazy dreams lately, so I've been looking them up.  They basically all come down to me being in an emotionally and mentally straining situation (yup!), but also that new creativity is blossoming and on the horizon (yay!).  On top of this, I've also been re-evaluating my own life and dreams, where I'm at, where I'm going, where I'd like to be, goals, etc.  Pretty deep stuff.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3, 2012

I love that I can be myself.  All the time.  And that person is goofy, weird, loud, confident, crazy.  Luckily, the people I surround myself with accept me for all of my qualities, no matter how out-landish I may seem at times.  I also love that they are down for adventures.  I left work one day at noon and spontaneously headed down to Disneyland to spend the rest of the day with some friends.  It was kind of a rough morning, which then turned into a beautiful day with tons of laughter and ridiculous times; like this picture.  Here is Alesha and I caught by pirates.  I will always be a kid at heart.  Obviously.

Dinosaurs!

TUESDAY OCTOBER 2, 2012

I spent the day today with Nick and Scotty at the Natural History Museum, Downtown.  Very fun day, I might add. (I love my day off adventure days, by the way)   Although the museum is awesome, huge, and beautiful, my favorite part: obviously the Dinosaurs.  Ever since I was really young, I've been fascinated by dinosaurs, along with my brother Nicholas.  I even remember when he, my dad, and I went to the Shores Theatre (yup!) to see Jurassic Park.  It was very scary to me at the time, but I was in love with it.  Needless to say, we geeked out a bit in the dinosaur hall...and texted Nicholas pictures while there, as well.  My favorite dinosaur, in case you are wondering, is the Triceratops.

Happy October! (October already?!)

MONDAY OCTOBER 1, 2012

I decided to celebrate the first day of October, and the beginning of Fall, by heading to the beach with one of my fav people in my life.  We grabbed some subway and headed out to Will Rodgers Beach.  The sun was hot.  The waves were big.  The conversations were long.  The laughs were extensive.  The seagulls were ever-vicious (and stole Lauren's sub from her bag.  yep.  That happened.)  We stood in the water and let the giant waves crash against the shore and ease into our legs.  We laid out on the sand and soaked up the rays and caught up on the past few weeks.  Such a beautiful, relaxing, and much needed day for both of us. 

Destination Friends.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

This is Caroline and I - drinking strawberry mimosas at brunch in Silver Lake.  Caroline was a Hilberry grad who currently lives in Boston; she was here for auto show training with Mazda.  The funny thing about our friendship is that whenever she's in town, we always get together for a four hour coffee talk, some drinks, or a random adventure.  The other funny thing about our friendship, is that we've met up more since I have moved away from MI than when I lived there.  We became good friends when we studied abroad in Moscow together, and the friendship continued.  Every time she came to NYC, she would phone me up and we'd meet up.  The same now goes for her trips out to LA.  I absolutely love it.  I love friendships that kind of travel through the years...literally and figuratively. :)