I Went Went, Back Back, to Cali Cali pt. 1

I've been between work assignments for a minute and was starting to get bored so I flew out to LA for a week to diversify my loafing.

Landing at LAX, American Airlines was having a throwback colorway moment

Becky picked me up and we decided to lunch at Locol, Roy Choi's new socially responsible fast food concept in Watts.

All ordering done on touch screen terminals, I've got a few notes I'd like to pass on about the UX, if they're taking them.

Clockwise, mas or menos: chicken nuggets, collard greens, a carnitas foldie, and cheeseburger (just look at the fat glisten atop that bun!)

lots of little characters all over the place

"Don't you get how good this nugget sauce is? But what flavor would you call it?" That's the mystery, what to call the nugget sauce flavor. Lemon/Lime?

Local characters on the bulletin board

All in all, pretty pleased with my meal at Locol. I wouldn't say it's destination-worthy, but if you can work it into a detour or ride home from the airport, then do it.

After meal, checking out Watts a little and those famous Watts towers. I'd never seen them before and thought they were a little short until I realized they were handmade by one crazy man over thirty years. Then they seemed to be just the right height.

Then it was home to Grandma's. Imagine photos of me being at Grandma's house for a few hours before this one was taken of Collin. Because Collin and Mallory came over and then Greg and Becky came over and then we went to dinner at Lucky Noodle King in San Gabriel.

Driving down to the restaurant, goofing off with my f1.1 lens

Driving past this place I thought "I wonder if that's where we went roller skating in 1st grade?" even though I can read and it is a bowling alley

No food pics from Lucky Noodle King but we ordered all the hits--twice cooked pork, chongqing chicken, smashed cucumber, wontons in chili oil, dumplings, maybe something else

Then it was time to return to the most important restaurant in my life, the place where I learned to order for myself and what I liked (fried shrimp sandwich Rest in Peace) and didn't like (all those peas that came as a side with the spaghetti), for a dessert of onion rings and bittersweet hot fudge sundaes

This is what you'll find as the central image of the Condie/Taylor/Barnes family crest

Then Becky and Greg had us over to their apartment for some games (video) and my first night in LA wrapped up at a reasonable hour.

Don't freak out! It's there to scare away ducks.

Guys, We Went Camping

This weekend there was a well-organized excursion up to Camp Liahona and, guess what? I went. It's nice to get away and go camping every 7 years, that's what I say. Most of us arrived at dusk and by campfire time it was completely dark. No one really could tell how many people were there or who they were talking with, but still, good camp vibes did abide.

Camp finally quieted down around 2am, just in time for the Dolby surround sound snoring to kick in, so by 5:30 I was like "Well, I guess I'm awake now?" but I held out for 6 before I got out of my tent.

Also, shout out to Ned for lending me ALL his camping equipment after me just asking if he maybe had an extra sleeping bag. I didn't know that most tents were see through now, and so much easier to set up than 27 years ago. Lying in Ned's little see through tent at night, looking up at the stars, listening to everyone talk and talk and just not shut up, I thought "Hmm, maybe I love camping?"

Do not disturb the bat houses

I don't understand why Spanish-speaking swimmers have to wait for a soccer player before they can get in the lake

By 8am breakfast was happening. I was worried it would just be granola bars and stuff, but no, it was mountains of eggs and bacon and fruit and pancakes. Me, on camping principle I woulda subbed some Brown n Serve sausages for that bacon, but the bacon was Christmas-morning crispy, so I gave it a pass.

I asked for a Batman pancake and got one! Or a hammerhead shark! Whatevs!

After breakfast it was straight on to fun. Some people hiked, some people swam, some people canoed, some people tossed a ball by the campfire. Me, I had accidentally left my swimsuit behind, so I sort of lingered around the lake like a fully-clothed creep.

Mark was walking around offering bites from a fistful of pancakes

Before using them for pancake frisbee golf

In the distance: family slack line antics at the chaperone encampment

Who wore it best?

Lazy sunbathers

Look at me, I'm Cesar

Leica on Leica

"How did you get up to camp, Brigham?" a ride in Leanna's car. "How'd you get down?" a ride in Kim's car

And speaking of Kim's car, guess it's leaving now! Better get going! Thanks everyone that put together such a nice, easy camping trip for doing such a great job.

This Was May

I think one of the best things you can do during the second half of June is finally blog up about everything from the month of May that didn't involve Tennessee, musuems, or fire.

The month kicked off with a Mets game to celebrate Jeff's birthday. I finally got my picture with the Mets dog. She loves her pipe. Don't try taking it from her!

I go to sports games for the chicken fingers. And I buy chicken fingers at Citifield for the pickles.

So there's a player named Brignac?

Let me tell you about a grand Wednesday night in the middle of the month, right after I got back from Tennessee. It started with dinner at Salvation Burger with Bryndee and Lauren

Popcorn pie? Ok!

(fun fact: a few days later there was a big fire at Salvation Burger and it has been closed ever since! Those are the risks of wood fired burgers made manifest.)

And ended with seeing La Sera in Brooklyn at the Market Hotel. La Sera has been one of my favorite bands the last year-ish or two, I find their last three records infinitely re-listenable, so it was just so good to see them for real. 

(Todd and Katy are married)

How much did I like the show? Just look at me! It gave me a Star Wars smile!

Here's a video of La Sera taking a break from the punk and country punk to cover Led Zepplin's Whole Lotta Love. Stick around for (or just skip to) the end to see Todd shredding. For a few records La Sera was basically just ex-Vivian Girl Katy Goodman, but bringing in Todd has infused the music with a loud, fast, out of control, and FUN guitar energy. For me, this is a perfect band.

Ok, moving on. One Saturday Angelique had a few of us over for an oyster luncheon. We sampled four...or six?...different varieties of oysters and all tried to shuck our own oyster. It was a grand time. I'm always up for eating a few oysters, even if I don't know what I'm doing.

One Sunday after church Cameron and Dave led an expedition to go see Manhattanhenge (that's the twice yearly astronomical event where the setting of the sun lines up perfectly with the city's East/West streets). It was a little too cloudy for a good 'henge, but henge-watchers were out in force, hoping to catch that perfect stock image for the next Gothamist post announceing the next Manhattanhenge.

And lastly, another year of tutoring has drawn to a close. Shout out to my boy Christian (who I have been working with since he was in 8th Grade) for getting into BYU-Idaho and to Rudy for his mission call to Brazil! And shout out to Kristin for being the only person tough enough to run Hot Dogs and Homework.