Otto Dobre - Romanian Econ

I have never been to the Miramar campus and after getting a little lost, I found parking, campus police to get my pass, my class and the cafeteria. This place is so quaint and nice, and small. However, the classroom is huge and all the equipment is super nice. Computers at each station, and professor workstation with huge .PPT screen et al.  The professor is a riot, great sense of humor already, let us go an hour early, which is to great when its suppose to run til 9:45pm.
Professor Dobre  had this accent that I couldn't put a finger on, someone finally asked an hour into class. He is from Romania, how interesting!

Roll Bounce!

Seems our last roller rink is always under attack.  The joy of flying around that rink brings my fond memories of Skate Castle in Loveland.  I spent a lifetime there, I can remember the days that school was closed and it would be all day skate and when it was your own schools night. Remember how they had all the elementary school shirts on the wall.  I was a Garfield Gremlin. :)  Remember how you'd get a pop for a quarter and you'd get the 'suicide'? The dj-roller referee guy was always my hero, and that was what I wanted to do when I became a teenager. My 6th grade boyfriend was a breakdancer and brought cardboard to the back corner.  I remember the games, and how the bathrooms had no doors.

The San Diego roller ink is not as cool as Skate Castle, but its still a great throwback, and a great place to spend our afternoon.  We went on Wednesday night too, and my system was shocked when Xanadu came over the speaker.....

South Bay Drive In

Lesson, never take a cab on your honeymoon.

Lesson, if your friends starts to act all creepy, GTFO
There was this hilarious line, where the Jesse is like "lets look for clues" and his buddy is all "what do you think you are Sherlock Holmes" and then repeated the "Holmes" part ala Frog, in Colors.
You could hear the peeps in South Bay rolling!

Mission Beach Skating

Christie & I hit South Mission for some beautiful sunshine and roller skating! She got new yellow skates with flames, they are a big hit!  The old school skaters are always there, and we rolled up and watched, and we were invited in. We might have to take that up later. :)  Winter in SD is amazing.

Juvenile Dollinquents

5am and I was too excited to sleep! I laid awake, enjoyed the classic ending of the Howling! Bah! Finally rose and started laundry and coffee.  I was so excited to cruise over to Shea's dads and roust her up to go to Dollhouse for the jr.s program orientation.  She of course, was a nay vote but I drug her anyway.  She actually pulled the sign up papers out of my hand and was like "I'll fill these out" after Hellphaba gave the orientation welcome.  Then she put on my gear, and off she went. The had a Jr. Dollinquent skate with her and this mom's heart has grown 2 sized too big!  We got her her own derby skates that afternoon.  Ironically, we are getting rid of her Capoeria pants are going to get given away today... 

Week One - Derby

Finally, I got the balls to head down to the track and sign up to start training  to play Roller Derby.
Monday - I went to orientation and was met with the open arms I needed.  An invite to the tribe, the offer to come work my ass off and get support.  What a pleasant surprise.
Tuesday - Maxed out a credit card for gear.  Again, went to Sin City Skates, where Trish walked me thru each aspect of the gear, she had me try on all he skates, gave me tips and tricks, and again, that damn encouragement! The reinforcement of "you're never too old" and " a small step is better than no step." 
Wednesday - 1st night of DPV. Putting all that gear on is a bit intimidating and actually skating in it , yeah. well.. I was winded every other lap, my shin splints were from hell, she had us doing squats, push ups and sit up in gear, but I amazingly didn't put my ass on the floor and I left covered in sweat, full of adrenaline and feeling fucking terrific.
Friday - 2nd night of DPV. I am able to do 4 laps without getting winded.  Nova says we need to pull 27 in 5 minutes.  The T-Stop I can do, the Plow.. no so much.. :) But I a got on the banked track and did a few laps, and holy shit.  I got up early this morning, I am so sore, but I'm taking Shea down to encourage her to give it a shot too. :) She has been wearing my skates around the house, since Tuesday.

Good Bye Xmas Tree

Bonfire night at Shelter Island, what was left of the tree went up magically.

Scary to think what it does in a house.

Mandarin House - La Jolla & CBGS's

We cruised over to Windansea a few weeks ago, and drove by the old Mandarin House. Looking so cool and old school, with the big Foo Dogs our front, of course I want to go.  Inside was a fancy room, with big round booth, with the high backs, the waiters are in ties.  So far so good.. then BAM! friggin flat screen TVs on each wall, playing basketball. The worker dudes would stop and watch and as they walked by.  I rationalized this to gambling, perhaps they all had big money riding on this.  We had MuShu Port and House Fried Rice and, welp, not as good as Mary Anns.  Even the PuPu Platter has an unknown object on it that was "meh". The whole experience was over priced, to boot.

We picked up CBGB's on the way home, why it cracked me up to see Ron Weasley as Cheetah Crome, you may want to just enjoy the trailer, only.... :(

Parts Unknown; Song Not So Much

I caught parts of the Anthony Bordain episode about Detroit.  Detroit what was depicted looked exactly like what I saw when we did a very quick drive though.  It was very post-apocalyptic and eerie.  I caught just the end of the new theme song, and it surely sounds like Howing at the Moon to me. ;)

 

Friends Are Priceless

I finally spent the day with my old friend, Heather.  I hadn't seen her in a few years but I had never forgot what an amazing person she is. 

She is so determined and bad ass, it was so great to spend time with her.  :)

Date Night

93%.. Hrm.. but pretty good. It wasn't' what I was thinking, and the lack of drug use was refreshing!

Tool & Hackschooling.. FTW!

Dorm Life

We got the docs signed, the ramen bought and the mattress covered in new sheets! She has her key, her bus pass and her schedule.  I have never been more excited for someone!  She is so smart and she is just going to kick so much ass down there. :)