Q4 2012

I hadn't really been feeling like I'd done much worth blogging about lately, but then I started flipping through some pictures and realized that there have been one or two things going on around here. So, without further delay (I suppose there's been enough of that already), I give you...my life. Chapter Q4 2012.

Segment 1: The Endeavour 

Our friend Pierce seriously loves everything NASA. Seriously. He went to space camp when he was a kid and everything.

















So of COURSE, we couldn’t miss the chance to see the space shuttle Endeavour meander at a snail’s pace through the streets of LA en route to its final resting place at the Science Museum…even though it meant getting up at about 5am to do it.

I’m told they had to cut down something like 400 trees along the route so the shuttle could fit down the streets. True story. Here’s proof that David was there…
And here’s proof that I was there!

Segment 2: Appreciating our Surroundings

So sometimes in the hubbub of life we forget that we live in a really cool place with really cool things to see/do. However, we do try to squeeze in some cool local experiences as often as possible. David found a nice place just 20 minutes from our house to get his photography fix and also to feel cultured. It’s called the Getty, maybe you’ve heard of it?

We also managed to see a basketball game for LA’s #1 team this season – and those of you who even kind of follow basketball know that I’m not talking about the Lakers…

We got to see lots of in-between performances by their Spirit Dance Team (you know I love the dancing), and I decided that their favorite move is to duck their head down and then whip their hair back. It’s pretty impressive. I’ve been working on it. 

Segment 3: Celebrating the Holidays

Thanksgiving this year was spent with the Tustin Chipmans (and Emily!). We pretty much gorged ourselves on good food and company and pie.
And then I taught everyone how to play Ripple. They’re definitely hooked. At least some of them.

Since both sets of parents live in relatively close proximity to each other, we found a way to visit everyone for Christmas – over the whole entire 4-day break we had.

It was jam-packed family goodness between Pocatello and Salt Lake, and if you want more documentation than this…go ask David. ☺ (Thanks to Crystal for the awesome group shot, since I only took one picture the whole time I was there!)

And, I got my snow fix.


















Segment 4: New Years 

This holiday deserves its own segment. David took me to see Cake for NYE.  The band specifically requested no cameras during the show, so this is all I've got:
The theater was littered with new years hats and noisemakers, and the ceiling was packed with balloons that dropped on the crowd at midnight.

And the music was actually pretty awesome, too. ☺

And finally, there was the LA New Years Nighttime Half Marathon. We signed up for this as consolation for the fact that we couldn’t run the glow-in-the-dark dance party 5K in DC. And to make it feel more like we were running the GITDDP5K, we dressed up like skeletons. I borrowed some proofs from marathonfoto.com, to give you a taste of the evening.  We tried to do something cool every time we saw a photographer, to increase the odds of getting our picture taken.  Our favorite was probably when we got caught doing Gangnam Style inside Dodger Stadium.



Oh yeah.

The route was interesting – we started in downtown LA and ran past Disney Hall and some other major landmarks, then up to Dodger Stadium, circled around in the parking lot many many many many times (they must have been struggling to fit in the full 13.1, so they just crammed the bulk into that parking lot).  Our reward for all our laps around the parking lot was a seriously spectacular view of downtown LA, and a lap through the stadium itself.  After that, it was back downtown. It was the hilliest half I’ve ever done, but it felt better than any other ones I’ve done.  I'm blaming that on the cooler temperature...and the sea level...and the fact that we didn't care (as much as usual) about time, so we walked whenever we felt like it.  Turns out, I really like running at night.  And hey, free hoodie!

Happy 2013!!