Arraignment

2014 is not my year.  When I went to pick up a coworker in downtown back in December, I was going 45MPH down my usually road to Little Tokyo, this time it was during school time.  What's the cost of 45 in a school zone?  When all is said and done: $441 for the fine and traffic school to get it off your record.

I did intensive research and found this great first person account: http://therazzline.net/article/traffic_ticket_advice.html

But instead of selecting a court date, requesting an extension and praying that my cop doesn't show up, I accidentally selected "Schedule an Arraignment" with no way of undoing it.  Well fuck, I messed that up.  What is an arraignment!??  It's when you go to court and they tell you what you did wrong - if you plead guilty you pay, if you plead not guilty you schedule a court date.  Wait.. you could avoid this extra meeting if you just pay.  I'm an idiot.

But I confirmed this notion through my adventures - go to court, your fine will be reduced.  After doing the courtroom dance lead by an amusing court officer who was both patient, positive and way too good at their job handling confused and stressed people the judge came in and said the following.

"... some of you will plead not guilty and roll your dice that your officer will not show up.  But you lose your right to traffic school and the odds are probably against you.  However, we understand everyone's economic hardships.  Your fine will be slashed in half if you plead guilty today."

And like a processed food on a conveyer belt we all stood up, walked up to the mic, said our plea and went on our way.

"Jose, you did not stop at a right turn, how do you plead?"
"Guilty..."
"Your fine is cut in half, please make your way upstairs.. you have the option for community service or traffic school."  The judge had a great motherly smile.

"Amy, you were jaywalking"  ... people waiting their turn started to whisper.  Poor tall blonde girl in a miniskirt, you should have used the crosswalk.

So my $441 didn't cut to $220.50, but to $312.  Because the court FEEs remained the same.  I'll take it.  And it's the best route to admitting guilt and paying a lower fee for those who feel morally obligated to being punished.... I did see those children I suppose.


**EDIT**

I just finished traffic school through Cheap Cartoon Online Traffic.  Use the link below to save $2
http://www.trafficinteractive.com/referral.asp#oid=1091_1

Total should be $12.95, no hidden fees.  That's like the cost of an Old Fashion at a trending bar or a vodka soda at the Abbey.

MegaFail on Megabus

This is image is pretty dramatic, but that's what it felt like inside my stomach when I missed my bus to San Francisco by 3 minutes.  I spent hours laying out the logistics of my VERY last minute trip to the bay area - what time I would leave work, who I would meet up with, where I would eat.  Down to the second because ... that's me.  On my way to the station from work, I asked the bus driver if I should switch to the subway to avoid downtown traffic, he recommended that I just stay on the city bus that I was on.  I failed to inform him that I was in a rush.

It took me 1.5 hours to get to the downtown station and 5 minutes to disrupt my body chemistry.  Jimmy picked me up and made me feel better.  My mind was fine, but my stomach churned sharply.  A sensation that was neither nausea or indigestion.  Before this, I thought I could stay composed in intense situations such as when Jimmy though he was having a heart attach or when I was a life guard, but apparently not because this missed bus made my stomach do strange things.

It wasn't until I tweeted @megabus and wrote on their FB wall after eating dinner with Jimmy did I feel better.  YEAH! Justice!

But this situation really does show how comfortable my life has been when minor set backs like this upset me so harshly biologically.

The story:

Anyway - lesson learned.

March 2014 - Recap

Catching up!  Lot's of random things in March and here they are in no particular order:

Discovered Pour Haus in DTLA which offers an affordable flight of wine and board games. There's this strip in the lower part of the Art's District with fancy restaurants.  It's a interesting area; very industrial.  The new Santa Fe condos are going to change the feel of district once completed.  Good bye parking!

Below are the neighboring restaurants that are $$$

Bestia
Church and State
The Factory Kitchen
Test Kitchen 2012
Little Bear
Fifty Seven
Daily Dose Cafe

Exploring a Stay on Main, a hotel in DTLA popular for backpackers.  I'm curious about the history here.

Happy birthday Andrew!

"Always on Top" - Improv group

Jimmy is being cute in Silverlake

Caught Andrew acting wild at the USC Fisher Museum of Art. #security

Andrew caught fish at the California Science Center.

Caught these boys playing a drinking game

Happy Birthday JV!  Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles!  I'm glad to always catch this guy's birthday.

Hermosa Beaching

Hermosa Beach sunset right before the St. Patrick day crowd rolls in.  Doucheeeees

Echo Park Lake paddle boating.  $10 an hour a person... or was it $12?

Jimmy's family doing a traditional Indo dance for his brother's wedding reception.  One of Jimmy's friends came up to me and asked me to dance.  We slow danced like middle school.  I was thankful that she noticed my awkwardness.  I appreciate people like that.  People who notice things and approach people.  Very admirable.  I love her for it.

Sort of celebrated Persian New Years at the LACMA.  Need to explore Persian food.  Need to understand more about that region of the world.  And the differences in delicacies.

Reflections at Cha Cha Lounge in Silverlake.  There's a wednesday gay night... but it wasn't very gay.  I had the best michelada there.

This is how we do late night.  Tacos on a car trunk.

Absurdly long line for one of the ramen vendors at the Ramen Festival in Santa Ana.  Come early, it's not worth it otherwise.  We broke off into groups and each had 1.5 bowls of ramen... for a lot of money.  We decided that Haraiya Miso Wonton-men was amazing and that the Mattou Seimen Szechuan ramen fell flat.  Both from Japan!  Hmmm... I should post pictures huh?  I should snag those from Jimmy.

A really fun game of Pictionary.  The neighbor told us to be quiet at 9PM.  So we had to whisper.  Made the game more interesting.

Enjoying a parklet in Highland park.

The good thing about living in a loft in DTLA is that you have access to your own epic roof top.  This view is out of the Union Lofts.

Enjoyed #artivism in downtown LA.

Lazertag birthday in Sherman Oaks!  The Alhambra location is larger!

We said our good byes to MJ's bar in Silverlake.  It was sad, but it was time.  We hadn't gone to MJs in a while.  I'm sad I missed out on more foam parties and glow parties.  That night was odd.  The bartenders were lazy, there was only one go-go boy.  It really was dead.  

Sunny moved 1 mile from me.  She has this amazing roof top porch.

After drinking, I took a lyft to Sean's place.  He made me an epic quesadilla with a ton of meat and then drove me home.  What a homie.

Eating Out March

Ramen Yamadaya - I love dipping ramen- tsukemen, but this place missed the mark.  It should have known; it's not their specialty.
Mario's Peruvian - A classic.  Lomo saltado fantastic.
The Black Sheep - Burger and Bar joint in DTLA
Paciugo Gelato - Gelato in Hermosa beach
The Highland Cafe - The best chilly cuties AKA chilaquiles I've had.  Crispy!
Isaan Station - Do NOT order standard thai dishes here.  And it's spicy!  Still dreaming about what we ordered.
The Highland Cafe - Also ordered an amazing bulgogi sandwich and kale salad, which I enjoyed surprisingly
Singapore's Banana Leaf - Get it Indo style!  Comes with fried egg!
Seongbukdong - Yummy Korean seafood pancake
Salju Desserts - This Vietnamese Iced Coffee snow is unreal.
The Black Sheep - With flash this time
Piper's - The Denny's of Koreatown.  Cute patio...
Papparich - Laksa! With thicker noodles.  Mmmmm
Fickle - Bone Marrow... it was okay
Flemings - Happy Hour... pretty good and perfect for straight after work
Square One - Expensive brunch, but one of the best Benedict I've had.  Need cheese for the grits.

I've reviewed most of these places on Yelp!  #elite!

Gay Men's Chorus of LA 


The "God Save the Queen(s)" concert was a tribute to the UK.  This concert had skits and choreo.  Elaborate costumes, set changes.  It was broadway and fabulous.  There was a James Bond skit, Adele and One Direction songs and a serious and touching rendition of Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek."  During a silent part of this song, someone in the row behind us forgot to put their phone on silent and the familiar trill of a Grindr message alert went off.  Surrounding gays could not stop chuckling.

Max Studios Karaoke



Andy is so talented.


Annnnnndddd that was March!

Q1 - 2014

Because of work, I'm starting to think of my year in quarters.  Did we hit our goals?  Q1, 2014 felt like a bit of a waste.  Aside from a very wonderful trip to the Pacific Northwest, I find myself not as entertained with life as I used to be.

I've discovered that I've become impatient with people who lack the specific logic that I possess.  I used to be so patient.  I'm uninspired by people because there isn't anyone who I really look up to.  No close gaysian friends who are married. Though it's basically like being a part of the first Senior Class at a brand new high school... "we're allowed to marry now... um... I guess we're the first ones.  Good luck everyone."

I'm feeling old as I interact with younger millennials in various atmospheres.  The snapchat generation, the #yolo generation.  I don't understand you.  I don't understand why I complain so much about you.  But I know that you're children...

There have been projects that I've just brushed aside.  New light fixture? New photo board? new furniture?  New wardrobe? New skin regimen? New work out plan? The things that I would invest in that would be considered a "life upgrade" are afterthoughts.

I feel creepy trying to dance to songs that don't have any meaning to me.  I feel like I should have partied harder when I was younger when I had the right attitude.  Everything was still new and exciting.

How do these gays in Neverland do it?
- Party all night
- Drink all day
- Sleeping around the circle

Workout so much to preserve their bodies... but don't their minds age?  I wonder if I would be a Lost Boy in Neverland if I was single.  Or would I be complaining about the Lost Boys of Neverland after every failed date and generalize and complain about the community.

Anyway.  Let's start over 2014.

Let's start 2014 with Q2.  April.  And this is what I'll accomplish:
- Waking up early to swim... and taking a selfie to prove it every day.
... okay, let's just start there for now.

...and maybe I'll fix my bike for CicLAvia

Holi - Festival of Colors 2014

Almost missed the second annual Holi Festival in Norwalk.  Last year was amazing and I was hoping to experience the same this year.  But something about Jimmy not being able to go made it a little empty.  Plus, I've already experienced Holi so the novelty wore off.  What a debbie downer.  Next year I'm thinking about going in the later afternoon, the energy and light will be a little different.

I love going through pictures from photographers who brave the colors and bring their DSLRs.

John Truong, for example, makes this event look like a dream.  He has these amazing portraits that should be published.  SEE MORE.  He also did the Holi at Will Rogers Beach which I feel like I will crash next year so that I can finally use my bags of powered that I bought separately.  These bags were not welcome at the Norwalk event so that they could profile from you buying there.   There may be safety concerns too.

Other pictures:

When people ask about this event they say.. Oh the running thing... Yeah sure.  The Color Run.  Except without the running and with food, music and dancing.. aka... the festival the Color Run was based off of.  I've mentioned this before, but people gotta look up the origin of things.

My favorite pictures from instagram (credit in the file name).  Lots of hands!

And this is us:

Purple is the harshest color.  The boys had a good time.  When we took a shower, colors covered the drain like Carrie.

February 2014 Recap

Me... at Guisados

February... what I remember about February is captured in a couple of snags.  I'm saving a separate blog entry for my Portland Seattle trip.

I tried to attend the 115th Golden Dragon Parade & Chinese New Year Festival and took my friends on an odd fail ride.  I was having an issue with parking, but found a spot on a hill.  I was facing downward and needed to backup.  So I pressed aggressive on the paddle to compensate for gravity. Except..... I was in the wrong gear and jolted forward almost hitting the car in front of me.  My passangers screamed.  But I caught myself and decided to park farther and safer.  Glad I didn't cause damage.

After walking a mile and watching 10 minutes of the parade, dragons and confetti oh my.  We went to find food.  We found a restaurunt in an obscure plaza and discovered a mild wait.  All of a sudden the lights went out and the cooks walked out of the kitchen for a smoke.  No electricity.  Fail.

We walked to a Banh Mi place that I liked and got excited.... the staff walked out and said, "sorry we're all out.. crazy day."  The festival partakers sold them out!  UGH Fail.

Our third choice was a sketchy and really cheap and dirty takeout place with no seating.  This is us in an alley eating oily things.  Happy Year of the Horse.

This is my favorite alley way between upscale apartments in the Fashion District off Santee street.  And look, I found a pretty tasty quesadilla for 3 bucks.  Looks like this area is getting a face lift with a 20 year project to add a mega City Market which will take over 10 blocks and include hotels, apartments, offices, and even a college.  The Santee alley will probably die as the rent goes up.  So sad, but years in the making.

I stopped by the LA Art Book Fair at the Geffen.  It was really pretty.. I'm illiterate, but I was amused by an Asian-Australian Queer Zine.  Ern says that 321 should have a zine.

There was thing thing called the Superbowl.  I don't know.  I stopped by Kevyns work place to eat American junk food and high five people.

This is real street art.  

Resourceful reflector... a perfect headslot

Jimmy is taking food pictures for our friend's pop up Filipino food project.  It's amazing to see passionate people taking it to the next level.  Check out PATAO

This is the other couple.  Jlo is worried about the future and Andrew and considering the characters in his life he can incorporate into his film.

We sort of invaded private property in Echo Park to explore this new complex of condensed homes.  Really cute and in a great location.

What do you do when you live in an attic space?  You have movie nights and project Frozen and Beyonce music videos on your slanted walls.  MORE MOVIE NIGHTS!


EATING OUT FEBRUARY

- Grimaldi's - Lots of garlic and lots of sausage is my pizza topping jam.  Don't need to go to New York any more!
- Hoy-ka - I got a message on yelp! That my favorite boat noodle place moved.  I was worried that prices would go up since they moved to a location with more traffic.  Nope.  Still under $6 for an amazing spicy bowl of Thai Boat Noodle.
- PATAO Homemade Ice Cream and Pork Belly - My friend is crazy talented.  No sous chef either.
- Folliero’s Italian Food and Pizza - Mmmm really affordable Italian food.  That's what I like!
- Overpriced West side food - A giant chicken pot pie for like $20.. really?
- Boiling Point - Valentines tradition!
- Simpang Asia - So good.  So cheap.  Indonesian food.. but on the West. Gasp.
- Versailles Restaurant - That Cuban chain with that moist chicken.  Yummzers