My Last Week in Santa Barbara, CA

Yesterday, I left off on New Year's... I just wanted to comment that half of that 8 hour trip to and from Mexico was with my little brother. I always worry for him and display a ridiculous amount of tough love but I just hope he knows that I really do love him. And I tell him that I do. When we get along, it actually goes well... Unfortunately we have different ideas about morality and assholeness so sometimes, it can be rough, us. Anyway, I took over most of the driving on the way back and therefore had full radio control so ipod time it was! At one point Josue turns to me and says, "Your music selection is a gay wonderland. And why is everything so high pitched at the end!?!". I tried arguing but I realized that most of what I have on said ipod is Glee and Beyonce...hmmm, I thought, maybe it would be fun to work on expanding my musical erudition which leads to my New Year's Resolutions for 2012:

Expand my musical knowledge/library
Research one country every month (history, politics, authors, music, etc.)
Go jogging at least 3x a week
Volunteer at a location that helps the community
Write to my friends and parents
Start studying for the GRE's

Ok, so back to January, it was time to say goodbye... Let me try to remember what I did before I skidattled. On the 2nd I got to see My Thanh (Mtm <3) on my way up from Mexico. I cannot even begin to capture what this friendship has meant to me over the years. I actually met her my first year in college after the guy I was dating dragged me to a UniCamp meeting. UniCamp! I was hooked. Anyway, over the years we have seen each other through so much... and she has always been there for me. Luckily, I was able to have breakfast with her before I came to The Burg. We had pho!!!!

My work buddies aka new friends Claudia and Michael also took me out to "The Intermezzo" and my Dinglehopper met us there, as well as a new bud, Sam whom woo'd us with her NY stories...

The wonderful Claudia, on the left and Dinglehopper on the right.

Sam and Michael and great food and superb drinks!

On Friday 6th, my final day at work, Janely (other receptionist/friend/roommate) paged everyone in the office and they all came up and said goodbye to me. They gave me a card, there were a lot of hugs going around, and they assured me that I would have a place to return to if I came back. I HATE crying in front of people, but I was so touched that I may have shed a tear or two. (Haha, I miss stalking people in the office, c-walking for the accounting dept, playing pranks on random people, making funny gangsta calls to Glen, and shooting the shit with Janely! I do.)

My parents, Ma and Earl, came down from Hanford on Saturday to give me one big hug before I left. Guy Ky and I met them in Ventura, we ate at Chipotle, then walked on the beach. Afterwards, we went back to the hotel room and hung out a bit before leaving. I am really happy I got to have that hug.

My Ma and I

Earl, Guy Ky, and Ma hang out at Ventura beach

I also went out to my last Sunday at Wildcat. Chris came up from Los Angeles to join in on the fun, although he did assure me that it was mostly due to the fundraising event that took place at Wildcat. Angelica, Lou, and Lisa came up from Ventura. We started the night out at Kyle's condo (where Rachel and Rachel joined in on some fun) and then tore the dance floor up. Wildcat, I basically paid rent there the whole time I lived in SB. And at midnight when I turned another year older, it was in great company.

On the left we find my bombastic crew:Lisa, Angelica and Lou. On the right: Rachel dazzling us with her smile!

Rachel attacking the cupcakes!

Yay, my homie G  Claudia!


Adrianne and Claudia! (I was giving the bird to the Dinglehopper)

        

             

My SB former hot roomies: Chris on the left and Dinglehopper on the right

Then met up with Guy Ky later that evening and hung out with the Tripod. Guy Ky and I got back home and I finished packing at around 3AM. The following morning, my Dinglehopper drove me to the airport and I arrived in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania around 10PM.

My Dinglehopper and the sunrise. I miss them something awful.

My boys pose. I wish I had gotten my brother in this picture because he drove up to say g'bye. Meant a whole lot to me...

And so I got on the escalator, turned to wave one final time at my brother and Dinglehopper (who was happily sending birds my way), and the journey began...