Heading Home...

I guess I am feeling very reflective this time of year. This has been quite the year. I finally finished school in January, moved to NYC by myself, found a new job, made new friends, as well as added many new stories to add to my long winded list of entertainment for friends while drunk! I am exhausted to say the least. It has been good though. I have learned a lot about myself and what real true friends are. Some bad times were added to the mix, but overall I feel this was a huge year of growth for me personally. At the risk of sounding like my own mother, I am proud of myself.

I am heading home to visit my family and friends on Wednesday and can I tell you, I am very excited. My plate is pretty full as I have scheduled out almost every night with the people who I miss and love very much. I am also looking forward to those things we take for grantid when living in Cali; Albacore sushi (ya...none in NY..can u believe that???), In N out, Jack in the Box, the beach, 70 degree weather, and of course moms hugs! I will be getting plenty of this stuff for about a full week...I am sure I will return home about 10 lbs heavier, but very loved.

I return for Christmas alone...but I have some great NY friends who will also be away from their family and we are going to celebrate together...for this I am happy! :)

I want to wish everyone in Cali and NY a very merry Christmas, Chuannukah, Kwanza, or whatever special holiday you celebrate this time of year. They might have different religious or cultural implications, but they are all basically celebrating the same thing, family and friends and how lucky we all are to have it.

A Little Bit of LA In The Big Apple

Grew up in a Bruin family. We all bleed blue and gold and love it. I don't remember a time where UCLA wasn't THE school to attend and/or root for. I would have attended myself (and almost did) if it wasnt for the strong teaching program at CSUN. It's a state school that is strong and proud. I like their standards and I LOVE their football team.

With that said....being in NY for the much anticipated 'University of Spoiled Children' vs 'University of Caucasians Lost Amoungst Asians' football game was interesting. I wasn't about to miss out on the fun and not see watch and root for my Bruins even from 3000 miles out. Sure, its nice knowing the Rose Bowl is 15 miles away and you are not fun from the insanity of both Pasadena AND Westwood, but I did my best to enjoy.

Chrissy, being a true blue bruin along with James and my buddy Meg all went down to Brooklyn to watch at Aaron's bar. It was good times. We watched, acted like retards (oh wait, that might have been just me), and watched as my baby bears did something miraculous.

This rivalry has been decades in the making. It's something like two Universities that are within 10 miles of each other who HATE each other more than most middle eastern countries. One is a private school of spoiled children who think that they somehow deserve a better spot in this world. Now sure there are SOME USC students who are ok. But most are brats and I really love to put them in their place. Nothing about the fact that you had to pay 120K for your degree makes it better than mine. Sorry! The other is a state school that costs much less and offers a great program both academically and athletically. Some of the smartest and more innovative people I know went to UCLA. Like I said earlier, I was on my way there to obtain my art degree when life took a turn and I had to make a hard choice. Not to mention parking in Westwood is a bitch!!! lol So these two schools might share the same metropolitan area, but they are like worlds apart.

As for football...these two teams have shared the limelight over the years. UCLA had a very strong program a few years back and dominated USC for eight years. Then USC took the lead and not only dominated UCLA for seven years, but basically the entire college football program. With Leinert and Bush at the front of the lines my baby bears could only sit back and take a beating every year. Sad times.

This year...that all ended. Funny part is USC is still a very dominant team. They were number 2 going into this game. They should have taken down my bruins with no problem. That was what was SUPPOSED to happen. Then fate took it another route. I sat in the bar and watched in amazement. I am still in a state of shock, but its beautiful. The bruins defense took on a great game. They stopped the trojans at almost every attempt to gain ground. It was a think of beauty people! I don't care how far I was away, all I could feel was what the atmosphere in Westwood and the Rose Bowl was like. I can only imagine the party that was taking place back home. :)

I called my sister like 18 times till we finally got a hold of eachother long enough to scream into the phone till we just couldnt make out intelligable sentences anymore. We were both happy sisters on Saturday night. We both weren't planning big nights out on our prospective coasts, but since I was at the Cherry Tree anyway and she was not about to sit home and do nothing with the excitement of that win in us...we both went out and got loaded. :) I just wish we were together IN WESTWOOD! :)

So next year...its me and T at the Rose Bowl.....can't friggin wait!