ORBIT!

What's important enough to break the 9 month long silence on this page?

http://spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=31


Clearly, we handle flight hardware very carefully at the launch site. It's hard to believe that I was sitting on something that's now orbiting the Earth.

We're the first privately funded liquid-fuel rocket to orbit the Earth.

From Mexico

From Mexico

From Mexico

More Mexico ridiculousness on picasaweb. Me? Unprofessional around coworkers? Never...

Speaking of unprofessional work behavior, the holiday party pics are up on picasa, too.

2007 flew by. It was a big year for me, a lot has changed and I've come a long way from where I was 12 months ago. It's strange to think of how different I was in January, since at the same time it doesn't feel like a full 12 months have passed. I think I've gained a lot more understanding of myself and what I need, and I'm fortunate to be in a place where I have awesome people around me and a lot of things to look forward to, career-wise and socially.

December was filled with ups and downs, and the start of '08 was pretty rough. Things are getting ironed out, though, and situations are looking up. This whole "open/honest" concept can make things really intense, but in the end I think it's better then the alternative of silently assuming you know what's going on.

Billy and I ventured out for some car-shopping yesterday, only to be met with condescension and prejudice. I'm guessing this is due to the assumption that since we're young, we're not serious about buying the car. Isn't LA filled with little rich girls who's daddies will buy them whatever their heart desires? Telling me I can't test drive a car until I sit down inside and discuss the price with you is pretty insulting, Mr. Obnoxious Asshole Car Salesman.

Three weeks, in 200 words or less

Busy busy busy these past few weeks. D came down to LA and it was go time from the moment he got here (3AM Friday night) to the moment he left (Midnight Sunday). In between, we had shiner bock and fried turkey at Flo and Helen's, partied in a castle in Hollywood Hills, wandered through a fog-flooded Getty, and saw Nickel Creek at HOB on Sunset.

Thanksgiving was strange. Very strange. Home feels even less like home now. Seeing friends after months of being apart makes me realize how easy it is to lose touch. Had an awkard parting with D at the end of the weekend.

Now holiday season is in full swing. I'm hoping to make it out to Mammoth this weekend, but there's plenty to do here in LA if that plan falls through. The following weekend will be spent holiday party hopping; two parties, two contrasting outfits, two very different scenes. Should be a fun one.

And suddently it's November...

When did that happen? I forgot how nice California "winter" is, where anything below 50 is "SO cold". It's good to be back.

It's a little troubling when pictures crop up online which you have absolutely *no* recollection of having taken. Note to self: be more careful, especially when surrounded by strangers and without the luxury of having a close friend watching over you (man, I miss college sometimes...)

Things have been quiet since Halloween, but I'm gearing up for D's visit next weekend and the pre-thanksgiving kegger hosted by lovely Flo and Helen.

Heading up North for Thanksgiving, from Wednesday night through Monday morning. Drop me an email or give me a ring if you'll be around and want to meet up!

Rock it.

Two nights of Halloween down, spent at two very different places. On Friday Helen and I hit up a bar/club in Hermosa, and on Saturday Billy and I went to an underground party in downtown. Girls between the ages of 20 and 40 loved the Rainbow Brite costume, everyone else had no idea who I was.

Still yet to come: West Hollywood Carnaval, and maybe one last Halloween party next weekend.

Back to the bay

The weekend was over before I could blink. Flew in Friday evening, dropped some stuff off at my mom's place, and hopped on the train to SF.

D's birthday party was ridiculous. Good music, good drinks, and good company; what more could you want? My decision making definitely left something to be desired, but what's life without risk? Thumbs up to catching a ride on the back of a motorcycle to the afterparty (thanks, Kip!), but thumbs down to the sketchy guy who tried to lure me into a bathroom when the party was winding down. I was thoroughly impressed by D's biking skills- I was convinced there was a 100% chance we were going to bite it when he insisted on riding double on his mountain bike down hilly SF streets to get back to his apartment at the end of the night. He got us there safe and sound, though, dodging the sleeping homeless guys with astonishing ease. Impressive, especially considering the time of night (or morning, depending on how you count it) and our lack of sobriety.

Unsurprisingly, we didn't get to the bluegrass festival the next day until late afternoon. The musicians were incredible, and the weather was unbeatable. Things were going great until I attempted to head to Berkeley for dinner. Let me tell you, navigating public transit on a packed bus when semi-drunk and unsure of where you're going is not a good time. In the end it all worked out, even though I was an hour and a half late and inconvenienced the entire dinner group by having them pick me up at a farther away BART station so I wouldn't have to transfer trains. It was great to see Mo, Katie, and Justin, even if it was only for a little while.

I hauled myself out of bed early Sunday to get dim sum with my grandma in the Sunset District. It was good to see her, even if she was overly concerned about my lack of a boyfriend. "When I was your age, I already have *three* daughter..." Thanks, Grandma.

Hit up the bluegrass festival again on Sunday, and before I knew it it was time to catch the last train back to my mom's place. D insisted on driving me home, though, so we shared a leisurely dinner in SF before heading south. I felt pretty guilty about having him drive all the way to Palo Alto just to drive back to SF, but I enjoyed spending more time with him before I had to hop back down to LA.

Gotta keep the good times rolling and post a strong finish to the Best Year Ever: Next up is Decompression, followed by San Diego for a weekend and then it's my first LA Halloween. Down time? Who needs that...

Friends and more

Last night I ventured out to a Beach Burn in El Segundo organized by a group of local burners. I heard about it on tribe.net, a site I've been checking out since coming back from Burning Man. I didn't know anyone that was going, but I figured that since I didn't have any other plans for the night I had nothing to lose.

The people were welcoming, and it was nice to sit out on the beach and just chill for a while. There was an interesting array of characters that showed up, ranging from vegan raw food enthusiasts to drugged-out cougars in playa wear to middle aged techies.

I didn't have an instant connection with anyone, but it was good to get out and meet new people even though it put me a little out of my comfort zone.

I'm nervous and excited for the upcoming weekend adventure to SF. So many people to see, so little time. It'll be interesting to see how everything unfolds.