Livin’ the LA Life

So, really, I have not taken full advantage of living in this extremely diverse city that I live in.  It is full of festivities, concerts, exhibits, beaches, and all-around fun of many kinds that I have not divulged in.  Enter today.

It started out a typical Saturday morning-picked up some students to go cheer on Gompers Middle School’s basketball teams.  Now, while this isn’t typically what I do Saturday, it definitely wasn’t noteworthy or anything completely out of the ordinary.  I work with some pretty cool kids that are great to spend time with.  So, we ran around for a few hours cheering teams on, eating some wings (I momentarily forgot about the fact I haven’t eaten meat in two weeks…oops!  Regular vegetarian/pescatarian influence will begin again tomorrow!), and having fun.

I dropped them off and headed to Amber’s to begin the search for clothing to meet this new “style” I have in mind.  Went to the Vintage Thrift shop to search around, to no avail…but still had a good time doin’ our thang!  Ran back home to eat quick snack and change.  Five of us stuffed into Reg (he’s not quite as roomy as the Envoy…but he gets the job done.  And done well!  Albeit quaintly) and headed to Shay’s photography exhibit in Venice.  It was a cute little studio right by the beach with several artists struttin’ their stuff!  It really was quite elegant.  Complete with wine, conversation, and hors d’oerves (I try to spell this unsuccessfully everytime…but I know you know what I mean).  Throwing my plate full of crumbs onto an older gentleman was highly embarrassing, but he was very understanding for the most part.  I mean, really….who does that?  Dang wind! 

Upon leaving the exhibit, we all decided it would be wonderful if everyone lived in a musical.  Where people sang and danced and busted into choreographed moves randomly on the streets.  You better believe this led to much fun on the walk back to the car.  I’m serious when I say my voice is a little bit scratchy from all the singing.  You really should try this.  Incorporate dance moves and drama when appropriate.  I noticed strangers were not as enthusiastic about this musical approach, as they seemed to believe we were mocking them rather than trying to invite them into this musical world of ours. 

We all skidaddled (once again, not claiming to be a spelling bee winner here) over to Temple Bar to watch Fosforo perform.  Hopefully that link works.  It literally took four attempts to add it in here, and I must admit I am a little bit impressed with myself.   It was really awesome.  In case the link doesn’t work, which is a highly likely assumption, I will just let you know they are a little reggae/punk/electronica/mix/goodness all in one.  If I had posted about Spring Break yet, you would have known about my newfound love of reggae.   Which I also do not know if I am spelling correctly.  Whatever!  Anyways, the evening ended with a fabulous conversation with a musician named Alex.  Not quite famous yet…but a musician nonetheless.

Sorry, Raleigh, I didn’t have the chance to catch up with Jennifer today.  She was busy and had to reschedule.

In light of my last post and the fact I’m feeling a little more uplifted, I’ll go ahead and entertain a 5 + 2:

5 Things I’m Grateful For:

• That Reg defrosts rapidly and remarkably.  It really was breathtaking.
• Great friends who like to do cool things and allow me to tag along
• My students who keep me laughing, motivated, and encouraged
• Living with my sister: watching Food Network, playing Dr. Mario, plotting against birds, etc.
• A low-key day tomorrow!

2 Things I Am Looking Forward To:

• Fun weekend activities over the next two months! (bachelorette party, retreat, Arizona, mom’s wedding, Santa Barbara, Lindsay’s wedding, Grandma’s 90th birthday, Monica’s wedding, etc.)  WHEW!!
• CST Testing being over and done with so I can relax a little more!

Introducing….RegEnDev!

Yep, you got it ladies and gentlemen, dear readers of mine….I have bought a new (used) car!  I had been burdened a few weeks ago and realized that my car was really stressin’ me out.  Between the gas, the insurance, and the payment, the trusty GMC Envoy was running me almost $700 a month!!  NOT okay while trying to get myself out of this credit card debt crisis I have gotten myself into (64.7% paid off since last July!…looking like I’ll be debt-free in August 2008).

So, I almost got one a few weeks ago…but that was really a rash decision.  I went to CarMax, tried to get approved for a loan the next day via a credit union and was disappointed with their APR that they offered.  Plus, I was leaving for Spring Break the following day so it was just too much.

So, there I was last night.  Really trying to procrastinate putting away the mound of eight loads of laundry I have yet to put away, writing IEPs that I need to do, and finding anything to keep me from doing the eleven things on my list of things to do for the evening.  And a commercial came on.  Good job, marketing.  I searched on the Saturn website and found the car I wanted offered for $3,000 under the KBB price with full warranty and as a certified used vehicle.  I called at 8pm to make sure they were still open and showed up at 8:17, test drove it, and was out of the door and said adios to the Envoy at 10:47.  Actually, I don’t even know if I said bye.  Poor guy. 

Anyways, in contemplating a new name/persona for this car I really wanted to make sure it was something that stuck.  I noticed on the way home the alignment seems to be pulling a little to the right (gonna go back to check that out tonight)…but then I was like, well that’s kinda cool he’s always bringing me in the right direction.  So I thought, “Righty” but that just isn’t catchy.  So I came up with Reggie…which sounds similar?  Or at least how it might sound when trying to say Righty with a mouth full of grapes or marshmallows….which ultimately led to Reg.  And my car feels like a ‘Reg’.  Then, this morning as I was driving to school I was listening to the Fish and they were talking about endeavors.  I thought how this car is bringing me on new endeavors in this life of mine: the endeavor of being debt free, living more economically aware,  in this new singleness of mine, trying to decide where God wants me next year, etc.  All-around new endeavors surrounding me right now.  So I thought, “Dev.”  Hence, RegDev.  But, just now as I was typing it….I thought RegEnDev flows a little smoother and really, we can just call him ‘Reg’ for short.   Or just acknowledge him as a 2006 Black Saturn Ion (4 door), which is what he is.  And he will be tinted shortly.  Photos to follow soon.  Generic ones posted now.

I <3 Reg.