Friendship | how's it going, eh?

Oct 17

Kimchi + Bratwurst

Hey y’all! One of my fav gal pals Debbie had friends from NY, Sarah + Lisa visiting for the weekend. When Sarah + Lisa are in town, I’m down for a major hang out session! I heart Asian girls from NY!!!! They are a different breed! They talk street + they’re kind of mannish. First stop, Gonjiam in Korea town.

I love going to Korean restaurants with Debbie because, a)she orders in Korean + b)she always figures out the bill.

Korean uncle mafia.

Look!!! Sooooooo good!!!! Kimchi, savory pancakes, beef soup + rice!!! Very comfort food! Like a spicy hug for your tummy!!!

This was a heaping dish of pig’s feet, radish, cucumber, watercress, etc. I was not a huge fan, because I’m not accustomed to the chewy factor of the pigs ear. But, yo the girls scarfed it down till there was nothing but a few shards of carrot!!!! Oh, that’s another thing. Asian girls from NY can EAT!!!!

An offering in the parking lot of incense, watermelon + soju. http://www.yelp.com/biz/gonjiam-los-angeles

Afterwards, we stopped by the Korean market + these bananas were called, “Macho Bananas”. What the heck?! Macho bananas?! Hahahahaaaa!!! Only in Los Angeles. Oh + by the way, if you were wondering, you are correct – they were GIGANTIC.

That night, Debbie, Sarah, Lisa, Cristina + I headed to Alpine Village in Torrance for Oktoberfest. Last year, Debbie, Cristina + I made a pit stop at Alpine Village after the Lobster Festival (I LOVE A GOOD FESTIVAL) during the day + it was a jolly time. Night time was a completely different animal! It was PACKED!!!! Look at the prohibition list!!! You’d think we were going to a Suicidal Tendencies concert! Alpine Village is a little low rent + rough arount the edges, for the record. But that’s why we love it. The people watching is sensational!!!!

Success!!! We’re in!!! How cute are my friends, right?! Cristina is our honorary Asian.

The ever long beer lines. Huzzah!!!!!

Bier ist sehr gut, nicht wahr?

The cute The Haderlumpen & Udelhoevner Dorfmusikanten Oom Pah Pah band from Germany!!!

The MC of the band (in the red hat) looks a lot like this other guy I know….

We got our sausages, potatoes + saurkraut + there was absolutely no where to sit + people kept saying they were, “saving the spot”. Crisitna yelled, “You guys! Stop asking tables with girls! You have to find a table full of dudes!!!!” It worked! I used my powers of persuasion + said, “C’mon, look at these girls!” + voila! Dudes are such suckers!!!!!

The crowd at Alpine Village is the best part of it! I would say it is mostly Latino/Chicano. It’s so nice to see that they are so interested in their German heritage + their national drink! Everyone was so happy + having a really good time!! I loved the people that dressed up!

Oktoberfest is like Halloween, where girls get to have an excuse to dress slutty. I say, more power to you! Why the heck not?!

These peeps were from Eagle Rock + were veteran Oktoberfesters. Yes. She is wearing a beard. I asked her why + it was some over intellectualized statement about sexual confusion or somethinglikethat + she kind of lost me. But, they knew how to have a good time + were good Oktoberfest guides + teachers.

The guy at the switchboards was not amused.

There was a lot of beer raising + yelling throughout the night. I love screaming in German. Ja!!!!!!!!

At one point, the band took a break + Journey’s, “Don’t Stop Believing” came on + people were freaking out + singing along. This homie was not psyched. Totally straight faced.

After Journey, that’s when this guy Heino showed up + the crowd went temporarily insane!!!! Heino is a famous German pop singer from the 50’s-60’s, as my Oktoberfest guides told me. This guy was so amazing + hilarious!!! Like a straight, mod Karl Lagerfeld!!!!

I want to learn more about Heino!!!!! Obsession commence!!!

More beer raising.

We had such a fun night of yelling + dancing + yelling!!! Considering the rough crowd, everyone was really getting along, but as the night progressed, dudes were having too many “wobbly pops” as Jeff calls them. Crisitna + Lisa noticed things were starting to unravel at peaceful Alpine Village + their party alerts went on. They came back from the bathrooms in a rush saying, “Yo, things are getting bad out there! We saw a couple fights, let’s get out of here!!!”. You would’ve thought that we saw a knife fight, because we boned out of there so fast, we left a trail of dust, like road runner style.

Good call, ladies. Safety first!!! http://www.alpinevillagecenter.com/

Yesterday, we just hung out at Manhattan + Hermosa Beach + walked around + lounged. We were total zombies, so this is the only picture I took.

Aaaaaaah. The End.

Oct 5

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Jeff’s 2 Day Birthday Festivities Pt. 2

Jeff’s Birthday weekend, part 2. Jeff is well loved. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2ND Jeff insisted all of his West Coast family (family also includes the Hoiles of course) to be together to celebrate his birthday, so for that to happen, we celebrated on Sunday. The Hoiles had us over for the partay. Tom, Deb, Matt, Tobin, Steve, Liz, Keiko, Hana, Benjamin + cousin Neil were all there!

Appies, y’all!!! Shaka!!!

Filet mignon + shrimp kabobs on the grill, yo!!! Decadence to da max!!!

Now that is the way to party. Veganism, goodbye. Sorry, Charlie.

Here’s little button Hana using a remote control as a cell phone. Ridiculously cute!!!!!! Unbearable!!

The dinner spread!!!! I kept instructing Keiko + Matt, “The Ta-Daaaa Pose!!! The Ta-Daaa Pose!!! Arms spread!!! TA-DAAA!!!!”. Like an obnoxious stage mom.

Jeff wanted a Dairy Queen ice cream cake. What do you think of the caption? 45 IS a big deal!!!! The zombie kid at Dairy Queen made me want to reach over to check his pulse, but I got a slight crack of a smile from him when he saw my ecstatic happiness when Isaw the cake. Before the cakecame out, Matt, Tobin + I busted out the crown that we all collaborated on the day before with our sweat + tears.

Hana had to give the crown a whirl. 45??? Me thinks not. A mere babe in the woods. A wee bairn. Jeff is definitely a young-at-heart 45.

Okay, how many times does it take to wrangle 4 children into a semi perfect group photo? Let’s take a count.

One. Where’s Tobin? Oh, there you are!!!

Two. Do you like Hana’s Uncle Jeffrey moustache??

Three. Uh-oh. Things are starting to unravel. Yikes. Focus Hana, FOOOCUUUUS!!!!! Tobin! Matt! What the heck!!!??

Four. Jeff + Hana, come on!!!! Keiko, kudos. Always ready for a photo op. Well done. Well done.

Five!!!! Success!!!! Oh wait, Hana + Keiko aren’t looking into the camera. Oh well, as long as everyone is facing forward with their little faces towards camera, that equals done to me!!!

Oh hey, I know what’s going on here!! I see the love gaze flowing between these two!!!!! What the heck??!!! Alas, I always knew Jeff was Hana’s main squeeze, before I even met Jeff. I digress. She’s always asking me, “Where’s Jeffy? Where’s Jeffy??”

After cake, Jeff + Hana blissed out in each other’s arms. They were so content, that they didn’t even notice the bright light of my flash. So cute!!!!!!!! Buddies!!! Happy Birthday, Jeff!!!!!!!!!

Sep 27

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Luau Memories

I’m going to do a couple series of Hawaii pictures + reminiscing because Vancouver has been gray + chilly! Also it’s because when we were in Hawaii the azure sparkles of the ocean would be calling to me, “Shelli!!! Shelli!!! Get off that damn computer! Come play, Shelli!”. Thus, I feel those posts were a bit lacking, so let’s revisit the much glossed over luau night.

I know I already posted this picture, but it’s my favorite. So happy, so in lurve.

I also love the fact that before we got to the luau Kelly said to me, “You + Jeff are like Michael Jackson.”. I said, “Come again????”. She replied, “No, not in the pedophile way, but in the sweet, childlike, innocence you both have!”. Isn’t that really hilarious?! I love being compared to Michael Jackson.

The tram.

Explanation of how the pig is traditionally roasted underground. I missed this part because I was already on the bridge to be first in line for drinks.

See? When I heard the guy say, “Everyone please enjoy…” I was already gone. I’m just a blur. I’m like, “Peace out!”.

Dinner, drinks + a show!

The bass player probably has a license plate that says, “I’d rather be fishing”. His face said, “Somebody get me another whiskey + soda.”.

The couple’s dance! My sister Ashley gave the MC our name to announce. This was only the second time Jeff + I did a “traditional dance” together!!! Jeff isn’t much into dancing unless it’s crazy person dancing.

Jeff’s first visit to Los Angeles was the first time we “danced”. Can you believe it?!

Ohhhh, sniff!!! Looking at these pictures again is making me sad! I had so much fun on this trip!!!!

The mothers got a golf cart ride to the hula performance. My mom was hanging off the back yelling, “Woo-hoooo!!! Wooooo!!!”, when they rolled up.

The “Japanese” part of the dancing was the best. It was so cheesy + wrong. I think I remember they called us, “Our humble brothers + sisters of Japan.”. Ah, so desu ka….

Liz + I called it, “Japanese Disco”, because their kimonos looked all shiny + synthetic even from stage! They were dancing all fast + nodding their heads a lot at each other. I was cracking up! Loved it!

The “Maori” girls are always my favorite with the fire lit poi balls.

And of course, the piece de la resistance of the hula – the fire dancer. And they always happen to be a chief from some faraway island. Uh-huh, ok.

We all had so much fun at the luau! There’s always haters that complain that it’s cheesy, not true to the cultures, the lines are long + the drinks are weak, blah blah blah. What do you expect!? It’s good clean, dorky, fun!!! I miss Hawaii. I’m signing off to go cry now.

Sep 26

4 Comments

Cottage Culture

Hi everyone!!! I’m completely + absolutely enjoying my Canadian immersion! Over the weekend Jeff + I went out to Steve + Liz’s Cabin/Cottage. Everyone on the West Coast (west coast is the best coast) calls them cabins, but east coasters call them cottages. Steve + the Fayles are East side so they always refer to it as the cottage. Sorry for the tangent, MOVING ON!!!!!

This has been my third trip to the cottage – located on the Sunshine Coast on Sakinaw Lake. Canada is plentiful with lakes. Cottage culture is huge since the summers are so short (regard my last post – Seasonal Affective Disorder, y’all) + Canuncks know to party it up with boating, canoeing, inner tubing, wake boarding, swimming, diving, paddling, water skiing…need I go on?

First, is the hour long BC Ferry trip from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale. Then, it is an hour long drive up the Sunshine Coast to where Steve + Liz’s boat dock is.

We usually grocery shop in Gibsons + pack up the boat tout suite!

The girls are old pros. Old pros.

It was surprisingly hot + so Keiko + I went swimming when we got to the cottage. Keiko loves to get in the water + yell, “I’M SWIMMING!!!!!!!!”. And we both get really psyched.

The next day was also warmer than we thought it would be so Jeff decided to get the party started by jumping off the boat house roof as he is want to do. The girls always have to have their life vests on when they are near the water. Auntie Shelli is learning alot of child safety the past couple of months.

I’ve done this jump before. It’s a lot higher than you think once you are mid air. It hurt my ears when I hit the water – I’m not a fan.

The girls love to yell, “Again! Again!!!”. This picture cracks me up because I didn’t use a fast shutter so I only caught Jeff’s legs right after he jumped off the roof. Doesn’t it look like muppet legs dangling from the top of the frame?! Hah!

Daddy’s girls. Awwwwww!!!

So irresistable!!! This picture reminds me of my sister + I. Cuuute. Buuuddies.

A couple pictures Keiko took with my camera. Not bad, eh? Eh!!!! Canuck Transformation commence!!!

Then, we did some work laying wood chip as a path from the dock up to the cabins.

More SWIMMING…

The water is exceptionally clear, clean + oh so refreshing!!! There’s nothing like it!!!

After swimming, Keiko + Steve started a bonfire. Check out the determination on Keiko’s face as she’s fanning the fire! Keiko + Tobin are two of the hardest + most tireless workers I know. If they ever teamed up, they will be CEO + VP of a multi billion dollar corporation + I shall work for them.