Mama

          This is my mothers' first trip to Los Angeles. Her stay is about 2 weeks, and she has until this coming Tuesday until she departs back for Pennsylvania. So far this trip has pushed my threshold in a trait of mine that is stubborn as shit.
She's always been the most supportive momma ever to me. However, I deny her the other kind of support she so often insists on me-
I watch people around me ask for shit and just grab and run with it, or just expect shit given to them all the time, or favors, and it just turns me off to a degree that you couldn't even imagine.

We butted heads a lot, until we finally sat down and had a talk that I needed to hear. I worry about my parents, and their well being and how well off they will be. Though, she reassured me that things were okay and that I didn't need to feel the way I doo-id. So she gave me the best thing I've needed for a long time... an actual bed. I can't tell you guys how fucked up my neck and back feels from sleeping on shitty mattresses for 5 years. It really takes it toll.

ANYWAY.

I haven't taken too many pictures. But I will. Yessterday was Disneylaaaand.
Her first trip ever! Needless to say she was THRILLED! She loved everything. We hit all the musts and the best storybook rides. We also hit up California Adventure. Her favorite there was Soarin' over California. I don't get why no one I know enjoys it, I think it's awesome.
Today we were supposed to be visiting Hollywood, but she said changed her mind and would rather stay home. Totally fine by me! :D
  We're trying Hollywood again tomorrow. Sunday I'd like to take her to Universal, and then Fett is going to take us to dinner and eat yummy Peruvian style rotisserie chicken in Korea Town. I introduced them to each other and she really likes him! She wants him to join us on Sunday to do outty things with us.

LET ME TELL YOU HOW FUN IT'S BEEN WITH LIVING SPACES AND BED THINGS.

but first here are some pictures.

This is my momma. Blurry photo is blurry but she is tiny and full of pep. Like a small barky little dog.
Also, pretty much every day she's been here she's prepared Peruvian food for us. I'm loving it, obviously. And she's more than thrilled to do it. She showed me how to prepare another one of my favorites that I'm gonna make aaaaaaalll the time--- maybe. I miss Josh and Rot's cooking, it feels weird not impressing each other with our culinary skills. You guise would love this, I think. Perhaps if they put a potluck together or something I'll make it for them.

Disney things!

We took a lot of pictures of just her, mostly for my dad to see lol.
I would've liked to be in them with her but I don't trust strangers and I loathe most of the people that attend Disney. The idea of their slimy, gooey little fingers all over my phone makes me want to blow up a Wal Mart on black friday. So we also took selfies

 Right after Indiana Jones. She absolutely loved it!

In California Adventure we went to check out the Cars area. I had never been there myself so it was totes new for the both of us. We got on that newer ride where they race at the end. She loved it!

Star Tours! 

There were people behind us in line so this was the most rushed photo I've ever taken in my LIFE. 

I held up my phone, hoped she was in the frame, took the photo, and moved forward instantly.

You guise don't understand how important it is to me to never be the cause of a bottleneck.

UGH.

 Everyone wanted to get a picture with Mr. Disney so we stepped to the side and stole a shot from there!

We shared a turkey leg, and indulged in two churros each.
This whole day at Disney also never would've happened if it wasn't for Jackie, who went out of her way in order for my mom to have this day. I thanked her a billion times, and told her I was in her debt.

Whatever she needs I'll be more than happy to aid with!

We left around 5 and of course traffic made the 45 minute trek a 1.5 hour long one. It didn't help that my GPS kept making me go the local way to avoid the highway, and my directionally challeneged dumb ass complied like an idiot every time it told me to take an exist and make 16 left turns in Glendale, only to get back on the 2. WHY.

Anyway... she absolutely loved it. 

Today she told me that she enjoyed herself so much that she even dreamt of the rides she was on! :D

 She also took it upon herself to reorganize our living room and 'dining room'
It looks great, but I had to tell her to calm down with it. Though it is appreciated, she didn't come here to clean up after our shit. So she's been chillin in my room playing her cute little facebook games discovering movies on Netflix. haha XD

 This was one of the things I'd prepare for Josh and Rot. 

It was cool. One of them would make us dinner, then I would make us dinner, then the other would make us dinner, and it was just a thing. And it was nice. They liked this. I showed Josh how to prepare it, but I wonder how much he retained. :P

BED THINGS.
So like, my mom was like YOU NEED A BED DON'T ARGUE WITH ME THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

And I was like -__- fine.

So we went to Living Spaces and finally decided on this frame and mattresses and whatnot. 

Dudes come to put it together the next day.

2 days later, we're all in my room; my mom on the computer, me and Lauren on the bed. 

We're just chillin on the bed and at one point Lauren shifts around to make herself comfortable and the bed fucking breaks. Like, it collapses. The footboard on the left side just.... eats shit and detaches and the metal bars underneath give in and bend as the bed goes forward and the footboard just falls off. Lauren's on the floor, and I'm sitting in the middle of the bed with the patience of a Jedi, bottling the most I've ever bottled in my life.
Which was fine, because it wouldn't do any good to get upset over it, and it'd get replaced, so it's not worth my energy. 

So.
THAT was a thing.

We went back the next morning and they told us they'd have it the next day out for delivery.

Dudes came back, one of them was one of the guys from before, and the guy putting it together said that perhaps it hadn't been latched on correctly. Either way, that was a thing, and it sucked, but it was fixed, and my mom is comfortable again. We ended up sleeping on my old mattress in the living room in the mean time. 

We also got a dresser from Ikea. So fun! I love putting things together. It's like a puzzle. Also, I'm impatient with things I know I can do myself if I tried. ^_^
Took me a while buuuuuut I did it, with some assistance from muh momma.
Jason also stopped by that morning to drop off a Boba Fett helmet from his birthday cake! lol
He had a birthday party the night before that he asked me to come to since it's like 2 houses down. So that was also a thing.

 It's been a few days! Don't hate me, Sandeep :P

The Docs I had on gave me 3 1/3 inches to my height. Still a midge.

 So they stooped down to my level! ^_^

Jursurn and Sirry sir!

 Lauuuurreeenn :D

 D'aw, Sir is such a cuddly bear

 I felt pretty.

sorry bout it.

So now we're sitting in my room. My mom's been on a Netflix binge, watching all of the movies. We watched some Guillermo del Toro's stuff. I'm not a movie person at all (it better be sick or I want those hours of my life back), but the stuff she does prefer to watch is pretty alright, so I deal.

Last night I also got to see Fett for a few hours. It's felt like it's been a while since I saw him last. I missed him quit a bit.

Work is going extremely well for me. I'm up for a promotion and was recognized for an 'employee of the month' kinda thing, except it's more like... of the quarter. which is 4 months. It was nice to be acknowledged that way. Basically, things are improving again after that little lull that occurred following my crazy October and November months of doing all of the things.
Lots of nice, fun, happy positive things are occurring again. The only thing that would make everything PERFECT would be... my classes. It finally dawned on me to simply take two bullshit classes to get into the system so that I at least have SOME kind of priority that I can leverage in order to get my per-requisites to start my major. It's so shitty that new students basically can't get jack shit until they're in the system already with units. They didn't do that at my other college! Oh well. Now I know.

Anyway.. I'm pooped.

omg yesterday... was my day off, and also the day we go to Disney.

My boss calls me at 5:09 in the morning telling me that the other person that was supposed to be there to open didn't show up. They were supposed to be there at 4.

He apologizes for waking me and asks if I could come in to help out. Jared was there too, I think he went in like half an hour earlier or something. He never works mornings, so that was total lolz.
I told my boss that I couldn't because I had to go to Disneyland... and he was like ohhhh okay.. that's okay you go have fun! Have a good time! and he sounded soooo desperate and let down.
I went in anyway and left early to go home, get ready, and go to Disney.
We left Disney around 5ish. Arrived home around almost 7. Went to the store to grab some stuff for my mom to cook stuff for today. Came here and watched a movie. Fett said he was getting home soon from stuff and wanted to see me. So I went over there. Didn't get home til around 1:30ish. Woke up for work at 6:30am. Been awake ever since.

I kinda wanna pass out right now and just..........shhhh.....  so. tired... .. k.. bye..... zzzZZzz..

Steam

    Last thursday Fett was like.... come with me if you want to live

No, not really. But he does have this habit of telling me we're going somewhere and not telling me where. As long as I know ahead of time, I'm always down. Spring shit up on me and it's less likely (100% not going) to happen.

We went into Griffith Park and drive around the winding roads. I was lost completely. The thought of all the people who get kidnapped and brought here to never see anyone ever again next to their kidnapper crossed my mind and imaged how horrible that would be, just because the park is massive. Gorgeous, but also massive.

We arrived. He warned me that it was fun at the start, but can get boring a little while into it. When we got out of the car I still wasn't sure where we were going. There was a podium and a lady there. The parking lot was definitely not empty, and there were many moms there.

We walked past the podium and walked further in.

oooooooooooooooooohhh :O

Trains! but like... old timey ones! Like the ones in the old 1940s cartoons!!!

 When I was little there was a particular cartoon I really liked that freaked me out a little bit at the same time. It was called "Play Safe"

Had all these trains in it and a little kid that went a little too nuts with exploring.

Have a look!

   

After having this cartoon in my memory and then seeing these trains in person it was definitely an amplified experience for me personally. 

I could never get tired of that place! Fett said we could even climb into some of them!! 

There was also a smaller building inside with other transportation vehicles from even the 20s. Had I not seen the "photographers please inquire within" sign before we went in, I would've taken more- at least inside, but was worried that if anyone patrolling saw me taking pictures that we'd get some kind of reprimand. (All Goths aren't bad people, so I try to stay out of trouble as much as I can, especially around family friendly places and hope to alleviate some of the stereotypes.)

but once we got outside, Fett said that it was fine and no one patrols the area. So.... I took more pictures :)

 Fett said there was something I should see if we went back that way.

 -_-;;

There was more back the opposite direction on the other end of the tracks. Cabooses! and more trains!

It was also really lovely out. In January, go figure. #California

This car was my favorite. It smelled medicinal and very old. Imagine all the people that walked through this very car such a long time ago in its prime..

Heyyyyy... I know where that is :P

Back to the other side again for more pictures!

Just like in the cartoon!!!

I love how valves look. :D

We left once I felt sated. That place is so awesome! I love old timey shit like that, it's so interesting to me and I really enjoy fantasizing about the kind of people that walked through those cars and wondering where they were off to and what they looked like... what the cars and trains looked like brand new and the life they had. IT'S NEAT, OKAY?

From there the next stop was....

But I didn't fucking know that until we were well on our way there.
You guise, it was beautiful. It was one of those original old timey ones that look really dated. It was fully functional and people were there with their children as happy as ever, riding on the merry-go-round. We couldn't because they only took cash and we didn't have any on us, but that didn't keep me from taking in the splendor of it. 

This cart was dedicated to Mr. Disney. There's an engravement right above the guys' head, dedicating it to him personally.

It was gorgeous. A definite thing to revisit.

And there was one last stop before our journey was through. 

The old abandoned LA zoo from the 1930s. 

It's little, but also very creepy. I went at night once with some people.
Scary shit. Supposed to be haunted, but we didn't encounter anything out of the norm. Beware the ferals. Oh, and the wild animals that wander around there, too.

Deep in the back of the enclosures were small passages where I think the trainers stepped through to feed the animals.

a condom.

Just outside of the cages was a lovely view of ... Buuurrrrbank?
Idk, whatever it was it was pretty.  ^_^

That was the end of our little adventure. It was nice especially because we did a lot of walking. 

Tomorrow is when my mom is supposed to be arriving from Harrisburg. I'm hoping that everything goes smoothly and there aren't any crazy weather re-lated issues with her flight times-- but I wouldn't be surprised if her departure was pushed to a later time/day. 

Tomorrow was also originally my day off, but because of that very issue, someone from work is stuck in Boston until Thursday, and I am covering him. Such is life. At least I get to sleep in this time!

Laundry is almost done, and then I'm headed out. 

Also got hit with the news today that Baby had to be put down. Sigh. 

She is the first of our beloved animal companions that succumbed too soon to her age before her time and was put to sleep. My mom called me today to let me know, and that they will be receiving her ashes. It blows. She was 10. They say that 10-12 is around the age that Rotties tend to live to. But I'm glad that I at least got to see her again beforehand. She had a good, spoiled, loving life. Just like all of our other little guys. 

Then my mom tells me two new little ones have been adopted into the family

If I get pictures, I'll post them. I'm pretty anxious to see them for myself.