Happy Late Birthday Panda!

Yesterday was Panda's birthday. She is now the ripe old age of 22. She was my roommate and is still the love of my life. I would do anything for her (and she knows it :P ).

I don't know if you are going to get the chance to read this before you come home but I want you to know that ever since you left you have always been on my mind. You know I love you Panda, and I miss you even more. I would give anything to be with a girl like you. I know your having a blast on your trip, and I am too. There really is nothing like the beauty the Pacific has to offer.

Until we meet again, one of your boys,
Blake

Hawai'i 2006: The Big Island Recap

To be honest our first week was simply a blur. A blur because having never been to the big island, we spent our four days there doing everything we could possibly do. But if there is one thing that I will never forget, and that is the time we spent at Hawai'i Volcano National Park. At first it is like every other National Park you enter, with the generic visitor center and a toll booth and the entrance collecting $10 per car. Yet you drive a little over the hill, and you are blown away by what can best be described as the beautiful sight of ongoing destruction. As you can see in the picture above and below an entire highway was wiped out in a lava flow in 2003 (plus 40% of a coastal town and several million dollar homes)

Now lava in its self is unlike anything I have ever seen. Its entire structure is mostly air, while the rest looks like a very dark glass. Walking on it is very interesting because it crunches and gives slightly, kind of like you are walking on bugs.

Now if you are wondering why they call it the big island, the answer is pretty simple; its over 4,000 square miles in size (roughly the same size of the state of Connecticut). For shits and giggles we decided to drive around the entire island in one day, well that took us 8 hours not counting stops. If you ask me it was a good first week. We went to see the worlds most active volcano, the church where my great-grandparents were married in 1916, I got a chance to tour the Kona Brewing Company's home location, plus I got to add to my pilsner glass collection. All and all I had a blast.

Ok, So Where Are The Bags?

I'm Leaving, On A Jet Plane. . .No Wait. . . Not Yet!

Family Time At The Luau

All You Need Is Beer

Wow, what a day. You have five sales floor closers (3 hard and 2 soft), 2 of which are cashier trained. Calling for back ups every five minutes, no one operator trained, all but one person under 90 days, and you are 15 minutes away from a five hour violation.

So what do you do, you head to Applebee's after to work to have a couple of beers with some coworkers. Nothing like shooting the shit with a couple of people who had it just as bad as you did.

From left to right: Allyn, Me, Brittan

Happy (Late) Birthday Topher

Being how I missed Toph's 22nd birthday and how I leave to Hawai'i on Tuesday, I thought it would be nice to take him out to lunch. So we waited for David to come home from work, and then we were off. Our destination: Casa Ramos

We started off with some beers (cerveza Sol, a throw back to our Mexico trip) and ordered our food. When the waitress came by and asked us if we wanted another round, I answered with and enthusiastic yes. Toph, of course said he was fine, but this being his birthday lunch I insisted. Little did I know that the waitress heard me when I sad it was Toph's birthday.

After our meal, and a couple of beers later they came out, singing. With the infectious singing they brought him a rubber chicken, a sombrero, and a camera.

This my friends is how our lunch ended. And what a lunch is was.

It Is True. It Is An Inconvenient Truth.

You owe it to your self to see this movie. If you don't think Global Warming is real, go outside and tell me its not happening.

Where Now?

So where do I go from here?

How am I suppose to feel?

I gave it my all just to make you happy.

You were on my mind every moment I was awake.

And in the end your not with me.

Why not me?

I feel pain, yet I know your happy with him.

Where do I go from here?

Click! And Your World Passes You By.

It is amazing how a movie will make you think.

It is amazing how spending time with your family will make you think.

It is amazing how just going for it will make you think.

It is amazing the stuff you think of when you do not say a word for two hours.

Thinking, spending time to analyze your thoughts. It's simply amazing what you think about.

I just went to go see Click! with my family (minus Robert because he is at a Spain reunion with a couple of buddies). It was one of those movies that shock you. Shock you because it was good, so good that your mind bursts into a million thoughts that you have been suppressing for quite some time. You start to look back at what has passed you by. You remember things that happened years ago, things you promised to do but never got fulfilled. Things you wish you had; love, companionship, true happiness. You wonder if you did one thing differently would where you are now change? If you did something differently would you be with that one person who you know would return the love you project towards them? Should you take a break and watch the world pass you by for just a little while? What do you do?

I did one thing that I never thought I would do; I went for a girl that I thought I never had a shot with. For the first time in my life I wanted a real relationship. I wanted to get to know her, spend time with her, go slow. Toph and David could not believe it, me not wanting to sleep with a girl till I got to know here. I never had a problem finding someone for that reason, and now that I look back at it all my girlfriends that I've had over the past 4 years ended up being my girlfriend after being "friends with benefits" for a couple of weeks.

But she was different. She was special. I forgot how it was to feel scared when you talk, thinking "Am I going to say the wrong thing?" Having butterflies in your stomach everything you are near her yet never wanting to leave her presents. She is the person I always thought I never had a shot with, until I got enough courage and went for it.

I spent so many years of my life living in a world thinking that so many things where beyond my grasp. But now I know that there is so much in front of me, within arms reach. Would I do things differently knowing what I know now? Hell yes, but the past is the past. I can only go forward.

I don't know how she feels about me, and in a way I'm glad about that. Its time I did something where I know its not a sure thing. To quote Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, "Is she worth it?"

Yes, yes she is.

Monica: Camping For The First Time

This past weekend I took Monica camping for the first time. Now I know what your thinking, how can she be 17 and have never gone camping? The answer is simple, my dad spent a majority of his youth camping and my mom grew up in Mexico. So when we were young we did other things for family vacations.

After picking here up in Marysville we left for Chester. Up highway 70 to 89, some of the most beautiful country you will ever see, we were there.

Our destination: Butt Valley, more specifically Butt Lake.

I would go into more detail on how it was and what we did, but I feel that the pictures say it all.

A Happy Night

Right as I walked in the door Panda gives me a call.

"Blake, Toph wants to go out with Erick and I. Can you come?"

Here are the pictures to describe the time I had. Oh the fun. . .

Believe it or not this is Toph, dancing. Yes, dancing at the Bear.

I love it when you bump into people on the dance floor.
From left to right: Topher, Lindsey, Jada, and my self.

After leaving the Bear, we all headed down to the U Bar. After getting another round of drinks, and really starting to feel the effects of the Stop Light that Panda got me, I knew I needed to get a picture. So here I am with my Panda. All liquored up.

And now for everyone's favorite, the aftermath. Well we all puked, everyone did. I even managed to get a little of it on Erick! God bless him for taking care of us. It's 11:20AM and Panda and I are about to get some food. We're fine, right as rain.

Toph on the other hand is hurting. Hurting like a dog that just fought a rabid snow lion in the backwoods of Mississippi. My prayers are with him.

Man, I Stumbled Into This One

After having a BBQ lunch at Erick house, I decided to walk home. It was a beautiful day, I was feeling good, Toph left earlier to play some WOW, and Panda went on a ride with Erick. I love walking through out Chico, you notice so much of the town when you are taking you time to get from point A to point B.

"Hey! Where do you think your going!?"

I was walking past Joe's Bar, it was Veronica, and today was here 25th birthday. So what did I do? I joined the party.

Veronica and I at the University Bar (A.K.A. U Bar)

I love Chico's drink prices. I started a tab at Joe's and the U Bar. When everything was said and done I only spent $27. Not bad to liquor myself, Veronica, and Vanessa. Plus I found a new drink that I like. It's called a "Quick Fuck," and its made with Mellon, amaretto, and Irish cream. Quite tasty and only $3.50.

In the end I bounced before everyone left for LaSalles for more drinks. Happy Birthday Veronica, and thank you for letting me join the party, I had a blast.

My Summer Goal

Today Panda and I went to the Honda Motorcycle dealer to look at some bikes.

This is what I found; a perfect starter bike!




It's the Honda Rebel; small, light, and not to much. For only $3,500 out the door, I could totally have one by the end of the summer!

A Real Life "Thank You For Smoking"

About two months ago, I noticed and advertisement in Newsweek from American Spirit, which happens to be the only brand I smoke. It was an offer for a FREE carton of cigarettes. Being an occasional smoker, I thought to my self "what the hell," and sent in for it.

All I had to do was mail them a copy of my driver license (both sides), a check for $6 to cover shipping and handling, a completed survey (question #1: What is your name?), and 5 upc's from any brand of cigarettes. I guess that's how they prove you are a smoker.

Well, on Monday it arrived. I will admit I was excited, and perfect timing to boot. I was about to go and buy another pack of blue. I opened the package and to my surprise there were two, yes TWO full cartons. That over $90 in American Spirits!

Here is what they sent. From right to left:

1 pack of Ultra Light (yellow and white)

1 pack of Light (yellow)

1 pack of 100% Organic Light (gold)

6 packs of Medium (sage)

6 packs of Regular (blue)

1 pack of 100% Organic Regular (maroon)

1 pack of Robust (black)

1 pack of Menthol Light (green and white)

1 pack of Menthol Regular (green)

1 pack of Non-Filter Regular (brown)

Now what am I going to do with a pack of non-filtered cigarettes?

I Need Boobs

The World Lost A Great Man Today

My Grandpa Rogelio



December 1958 (3 years before my mom was born)
1937-2007
March 26th, 1937 to April 23rd, 2006

I awoke to a phone call this morning. It was my mom. Being a Sunday, and Robert's 21st birthday, I thought she was calling to remind me to wish him a happy birthday. I was wrong.

"Blake, my dad just died."

That's all it took. I jumped out of bed, called in to work telling them I would be out for the next couple of days, and I was off. Topher came down with me which helped me because I knew I would not be alone.

Four years ago, when he was healthy as a horse, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. In four short years that disease robbed him of his body and mind, but not his soul.

The one thing I will always remember about my grandpa is how he was my interpreter growing up. We would go up to Weed and visit for weeks at a time. He was the only one outside of my mom and aunts that could speak english. At the time my grandma did not know any english, and Nora being young was always away at her friends houses. He loved history, geography, and always had a good joke and an amazing story about his life growing up.

I love you grandpa, I hope you know that.

Thank You For Smoking: A Breath Of Fresh Air

Last night Panda and I went to go see Thank you for Smoking. It was a great film that all in all pushed the message that you, yes you, have to make up your own mind on the issues in front of you.

That's all I'm going to say about the movie. You have to go see it for your self. I promise you that you will not be disappointed.

Reflecting @ Upper Bidwell

By spending most of my day at work and school, I knew I needed to get out and enjoy the wonderful break in the weather. So I headed to Upper Bidwell Park to be out in the sun, away from all the traffic and the sounds of the freeway.

You know the should invent a tripod for cell phones. I'm all the way at the end of this concrete wall. I love listening to the wind blow across the tall grass.

...What can I say, there ducks...Chico ducks...swimming in Horseshoe Lake.

Nothing special. It's a lone white oak in a sea of green.

The nice thing about Bidwell Park is it's huge. As a matter of fact it is the third largest municipal park in the US. Here is the lone Middle Trail.

I love this area and Loomis after the long rains, everything is so green and the land is full of life.

Living Life In The Fast Lane!

Are you ready to race?

Easter Sunday will be Monica's 17th Birthday. So to start the celebration Panda and I took her to Pluto's for lunch. When we were done with our meals I asked her what she would like to do.

As you can see she chose wisely.

What we have done today:

Go Cart Racing

Lazer Tag

Miniature Golf

On a side note, Panda has never done any of the above things. Monica and I have not done anything like this since I lived at home.

All I can say is we are having a blast!