July starts tomorrow… Where has the time gone?! Seriously?
Lots has happened recently. Don’t really know where to start. I really like that my last post mentioned Portland and NOT San Diego, which is where I was in between Vegas and Portland, haha. That was a nice month. 3 different cities in 3 consecutive weekends. Not too shabby, actually. 
Anyway, since I don’t really care for writing much about it right now, here are some pictures for you to see what I did whilst in San Diego:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hi_sonia/sets/72157618793209256/
Just know that it was a damn good time, and a beautiful weekend, weather-wise.
Fast forward to 2 weeks after Portland. I was in Thousand Oaks for USA staff training, which is this awesome 5-day training weekend where aaaaalll staff from all over the country unites for one weekend to learn the material that would be taught at our camps(longest sentence,ever. right?). I was awarded my 5th-year pin for having worked 5 consecutive summers now, and it feels freakin amazing Shout out to all 5th-years out there! wooo! Pictures from that later. We also welcomed some rookie staff, Denny and Q, who were ours to train for the weekend. It was nice having rookies around, since we haven’t really had anyone new after 2006. So much talent and personality. I can’t wait to hear their first-year experiences. 1st year on staff is golden, in my eyes, at least. Everything is so new and exciting.
Anyway 
With this month coming to an end, I look forward to the summer and my BIRTHDAYYYY which is 2 weeks away from yesterday. EEP! JULY 13th—write it down and then wish me a happy birthday the day of
I’m turning 24, and yet, I still don’t feel like i’m 24. I mean, I can carry my weight as a 24-year-old, don’t get me wrong. I just thought that I’d be acting a lot more grownup-y at this age by now. So, I either estimated the wrong age, and it happens when you’re a lot older -or- maybe i’m not ready to be boring and worry about everything just yet. Maybe its something else. Point is, I’m happy with who I am, where I am, and what I’ve been able to accomplish by this age. Degree or not. Things could be a little better, things could be a lot worse, but nonetheless, I’m happy. Happy to be alive, and happy to make it to 24 in one piece.
With that, I want to say… life is great. Fantastic. Thank you GOD.
Hello, July!
I should’ve updated sooner. Welp, better late than never
1. PORTLAND WAS AAAAAMMMAAAZZZIIINNNNGGG!
2. Portland is way underrated.
Katie child pretty much took me everywhere that was labeled “fucking awesome”. Saturday Market, the MAX!, Voodoo Doughnut, Saint Cupcake , Shari’s, Malone’s, BISCUITS, Panera…. too much good stuff in Portland and not enough time 
I didn’t realize I was in Portland until… the second day into my trip, haha. And then by the time I was adjusted and wanted a little more of the town, it was already time to go home! nooooooo!! The weather was beautiful! Katie child was amazed at how well the weather was behaving. I suggested that I brought the sunshine with me
I adored Saturday Market. It was this really neat artsy/hippy-ish street market with stands that included hundreds of DIY crafts, ranging from paintings, clothing, wall decor, you name it. If only I’d brought a bigger suitcase with me I bought these really neat sundresses and a couple of shirts from some cool graphic designer dude. I wanted to buy this one painting SO bad, but the seller wasn’t arou
Time flew! I thank Katie Child (and the Pod) for being great hosts this past weekend. But mostly Katie child; had it not been for her constant “when are you coming to Portland?” inquiries, this trip could not have been possible.
There were a lot of things I appreciated in Portland that I wish LA had: TREES, bike lanes galore, Saturday Market!, The MAX…. uhhh… pretty much everything I mentioned in the beginning of this entry 
However, the music scene in LA can’t be touched, amongst other things (but don’t let me get into it because that’ll spark a whooooole other entry that has nothing to do with portland… )..
Anyway, I promised myself that I would have to visit again sometime before the year ends. It was just too fun. And because I need more Katie child in my life!
Flickr set HERE.
I’m officially in Portland!
I arrived at around 11 last night and was greeted by an excited Katie Child at the baggage claim. The flight went by SO quick; didn’t even finish reading my cosmo I then met her boy that goes by “Pod” and then we drove to the opposite side of town for food. We ate at Shari’s which is Oregon’s version of Dennys. Food was pretty good Since I flew in at night, I really wasn’t able to see much of the scenery on the way to Katie’s place (womp), but I figure since I’m here for the next 3 days, that’ll leave plenty of time to catch up
First thing you notice about Portland if you’re not from here: there are a LOT of trees. I know trees aren’t something that someone should typically be excited about, buuuuut if you live in LA and think that PALM TREES are trees enough, you haven’t seen ANYTHING. Literally, every other block or so, there are trees lined up, its like a mini forest in every direction you look. Reminds me a lot of the UC Santa Cruz campus. So since there are lots of trees here, the air is WAY cleaner. And since it rains here a lot, it really contributes to the clean air that much more.
But anyhoot. Got to Katie’s place around 1ish, crashed by 2ish, and remember being waking up around 6 to a doggie licking me in the face and trying to cuddle with me on the couch super cute! Her name’s Dakota, and I have to remember to take a picture of her before I leave.
Soo as far as plans are concerned, we really don’t have any, but that’s the part of our friendship that has always kept us going; spontaneity is key. Sooo whatever we end up doing later, I’m sure it’ll either be fun, chaotic, disfunctional, or all of the above. Stories to be shared later
Until then, I’m gonna see what else I can do to kill time until Katie’s off the clock. Feels nice to be out of the LA bubble for a bit.
That is all.
Toodles from Portland!
So I was looking back on my entries and realized that there’s not a lot of posting going on here. I’m looking to change that. How about I start it off with an update about my Vegas trip?!
Vegas was AMAZING!!! I think Albert and I totally outdid ourselves on this one, haha.
Friday we get to the hotel around 3ish and I’d say within the hour, were granted a free 2-night stay on our next visit (flippin SWEET, man)! From there we hit up an oxygen bar, relaxed a bit, and then went to dinner with izzy and eloy, and then went back to our room to get ready for Cirque Du Soleil “Love”. It was a MISSION to get to the tram that led us to the Mirage (which is where Cirque) was taking place, and made it on time to see the show =) I could not BELIEVE how good the show was. I definitely had a new found appreciation for the performing arts; beautifully done, I must say. I just remember having nearly every emotion in me provoked through that performance. I cried, I laughed, I felt like a child again, I remember leaning over to Albert at times saying “that was BEAUTIFUL.” So much talent within that show; from the dancers to the costume changes, to the trapeze artists… they had it all! Its something I feel everyone should see at least once at some point in their lives. I had “Strawberry Fields Forever” stuck in my head all weekend long as I thought about this, haha. Seriously. This show was too good. Worth every penny. I can’t wait to come to Vegas to see it again! ahhh
Behold: The almighty CONCESSION STAND!!
Casino portion outside the bathrooms:
Isn’t he adorable? =)
The route back to the hotel was included into my “highlights of the night” memories. I guess I didn’t realize that the show ended almost at midnight, and so… we pretty much ran into countless drunken trainwrecks on the way back to the hotel. I guess you notice these types of things when you’re not drunk. hahaha funny stuff to say the least. At one point I remember Albert and I were so distracted by the groups of drunken (what seemed like) cavemen/women that we wound up on a wrong BRIDGE on the way back to the hotel (nooooooo)! I guess that’s what we get for following drunk people and trying to get a laugh out of it, or four. One things for sure, I never laughed SO hard in my life! I remember at one point burying my face into his shoulder because i was CRYING a river from laughing soooo unbelieveably hard. Seriously. Best part of the trip for sure!
Went to bed around 4 i think. We were up by like, 9? Went to breakfast at the Luxor and had complimentary mimosas mmmm. Shopped around, gambled some (won $50 from a $1 bet!), and then got ready to see No Doubt at the Mandalay Bay Had some drinks before the show (which included a chilled shot of Patron that tasted like WATER as it went down, yuuuummm), and then we were off! Floor seats at the show were great! I put my ushering skills to work and totally sweet-talked one of the security guards into letting me run to the front of the STAGE to take pictures. Its times like these I wish I had an SLR (which i WILL by the end of June, GUARANTEED!).
Saw the Sounds, Paramore (ehhh) and No Doubt. The Sounds RULED as usual, I just think they would’ve put on a better show if they weren’t the opening band - Albert agreed. Paramore is just too played out for me now. I wish I would’ve been able to see them when they first came out in order to fully appreciate them. No doubt brought it, as expected. Tony was drool-worth, as usual. So happy I finally got to see No Doubt when I wasn’t working, haha.
Anyhoot. From there we went back to the hotel, and were sooo exhausted by the end of it all, i honestly cant remember what happened haha. I think I remember eating though, and calling it a night. Had breakfast at the Luxor again on Sunday morning and then drove back to LA. *sigh*
Such a good weekend. Didn’t want it to end!
Anyway, for more pics, here’s the link to my Vegas album on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hi_sonia/sets/72157615429945970/
and No Doubt:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hi_sonia/sets/72157618699352557/
(*disclaimer, the pictures aren’t that great)
A San Diego post to come maybe later today. I’ll try to have it up before I leave for Portland on Thursday *squee!!*
That is all.
when I can finally do this…
*melt*
HI!
I’m going to Vegas next week :*
then I’m going to San Diego the week after
and THEN i’m going to Portland the week after that!
WHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!
I’m on a roll Feels fucking fabulous!
Its about effing time.
and….
BECAUSE I CAN.
that is all!
Sup.
Looks like Albert and I are in search of a new addition to our apartment- a PET!! For the longest time we threw a couple of breeds up for debate, but after much thinking, we figured that a precious little dachshund would be the perfect fit! AHHHHHHHHHH I can’t even BEGIN to tell you how long I’ve been waiting for this moment to come! Its been a good 2 and a half years since I realized that this type of breed is one that I would most certainly want to welcome in my life and give it all my love and time and attention and and and… ae;oihgjasdgakdjhgdjfh!!! I just never said anything about it to anyone because I knew that it’d be a while before we found a place and a landlord that would allow a pet in our home.
But don’t think that I’m doing the whole “ZOMG I WANT A PUPPY BECAUSE PUPPIES ARE CUTE AND GIVE IT AWAY AS SOON AS I GET BORED WITH IT” —- nooooo sireee bob. I’m doing a SHITload of research and looking into rescues and breeders around so cal and inquiring EVERYWHERE. I want to make sure I am damn prepared when it comes to this, because a puppy/dog is a HUGE responsibility and I don’t want to end up with a dog that’s neglected and disobedient as a result of my not-knowing-what-to-do thing. Anyway, hope that made sense.
I’m really excited and looking forward to this! I seriously cant wait til we find the perfect little dachshund to call our own =) It’ll probably be a while before he’s here, but knowing that one is coming soon makes me giddy like a school girl!
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
that is all.
have a great weekend, folks!