Mini Week Review

Two noteworthy things happened this week:

On Tuesday, I went to the Entrepreneurs Organization meeting to mix and mingle with people and to support some of my workplace associates. It was held at the Andaz West Hollywood (formerly/currently [?] the Hyatt West Hollywood) in their rooftop event space. When I walked out into the pool area, I realized that this would be what I miss about LA.

View from the rooftop pool facing Los Angeles

Maybe one day I'll be a rich and successful attorney and be able to afford one of these homes?

Sadly I was there in a work-related capacity because it was a totes gorgeous facility and super close to home. Oh, and did I mention the open bar?! I limited myself to just a glass of pinot grigio (where I felt like Ramona from RH of NYC) and just one teensy little Cape Cod. The bartender was stereotypically LA -- cute, but blathering some nonsense about trying to make drinks as wholesome as possible. I'm like dude, just give me my Grey Goose and stop trying to be philosophical and homeopathic about the booze.

Unfortunately I was seated next to a guy that I really detest with whom my organization partners. Being near him could have ruined my evening, but I tried my hardest to ignore him. I kept telling myself "two more months" and that was pretty calming!

Last night I went to the UCLA v. Cal State Fullerton baseball game. Normally I couldn't care less about baseball, but it was Mr. VF's friend's (I'll call him Tiger) birthday and that was his pick. Whatevs. Mr. VF and I were standing near the ticket sales booth and waiting for his friend when some guy wearing Bruin clothes walked up to us, asked us if we were going to buy tickets, and then handed us his tickets. Score! Now, random aside: why in the helllllllllllllllllll do people have to pay for college baseball games? I mean honestly, is there that big a market? Tickets were like, $15. Now granted, it's not a lot, but they don't even serve beer at college games, FFS! Where's the redeeming value? But whatever...so Tiger and his wife get to the stadium and as it turns out, these seats were pretty sweet -- located between home plate and first base maybe 4-5 rows back. Score! As I sat talking to Mr. VF, I saw a pretty brunette girl a couple of rows down and told Mr. VF that she looked familiar. Tiger had a similar conversation with his wife apparently because a couple of minutes later, he confirmed who I thought I saw:

Yes, Miss Kara Keough from the Real Housewives of OC in the flesh. Apparently she really did transfer to UCLA and she was in the section rooting for the Bruins. I do like Kara and I really like her mom, but sadly, Jeana was nowhere to be found. I told Mr. VF I was going to blog about her being there and he said "I'm surprised you didn't take a picture." Damn, he knows me too well. Unfortunately I'm still concerned about what people think, so I didn't intrude on her privacy that much. I wanted to though! My team lost, but we had fun with friends. Happy birthday, Tiger!

The Rose Bowl (F*@K $C!)

On April 25, I had the opportunity to attend the UCLA Spring Football scrimmage at the Rose Bowl. Since this will be the last time I'll really get to go to the Rose Bowl (at least for a couple of years), I decided to make the trek out to Pasadena. This is, I believe, the second year that they've held the event at the Rose Bowl and I generally enjoyed myself. There is something about going to the Rose Bowl in this setting that makes you feel really special -- like you were invited to an exclusive party. The only non-delightful part was the $15 parking charge. Ugh, the City of Pasadena is truly the epitome of greed!

The scrimmage was kind of boring. I mean, it's not like a real game. The real fun for me came after the game. I got to go onto the field. At the Rose Bowl. The freakin' field!!! The other awesome part was seeing two of my former students from my previous life as a high school teacher who are now UCLA student athletes...and trust me when I say that their mothers make sure there is an emphasis on the word "STUDENT!"

By the way, excuse the face. I totally forgot I was going to take pictures and I hadn't done my makeup (obvs) NOR had I straightened my hair, so it's all gross and pulled back.

Rahim was one of my favorite students. I had him in my AP US History class a couple of years ago and he was just such a nice kid, period. He always had a smile and a joke (OK, sometimes way too many jokes!) but he always put in effort in the class and was generally pleasant which is a lot more than I can say for other often hormonal teenagers. I had the pleasure of getting to know him and his mother over the course of that year and I am blessed to continue being friendly with each of them.

Johnathan (better known as Jet Ski by just about everyone, due to his blazingly fast speed) was never technically my student, but he's BFFs with Rahim. I got to know him more during the summer before his senior year. I had worked as one of the senior class advisors for the previous class and had counseled many students on options in terms of moving on to college. One of the negative parts of working at inner city schools with strong sports programs is that many times the kids are seen as vehicles for the coaches success, but no real attention or care is paid to the student's future. Sure they will accommodate coaches who are on campus to recruit the student, but the academic piece is completely missing. I did a lot of work for the high school's graduating student athletes in talking about academics and also counseling students who were perhaps interested in walking on, but weren't recruited athletes. One of the parents from the senior class is friends with Jet Ski's mom and introduced us at a graduation party for her son. We hit it off and started talking a lot, particularly when it became clear that Jet Ski was going to UCLA. Jet Ski might look familiar to people who watch the docudrama Baldwin Hills as he was one of the stars of the second season. Another great kid with a wonderful mom.

As you can tell, I'm totally proud of these boys and wish them so much success.

Dead and Gone

RIP Buck Fiddy. You will be missed. You were the one place Westwood coeds could count on to be open late after fraternity parties to soak up the liter of Jungle Juice we'd inevitably drink. Sure, you didn't have straight As. No one is perfect! The fact is that when I stumbled from a Sig Ep or Sigma Nu party (or even from Madison's or Cowboy Sushi, fine Westwood establishments that felt age requirements for liquor sales were really only loose guidelines...shockingly, they're both also closed), Buck Fiddy was, well, $1.50. A perfect price point for poor college students.

You had a makeover in the last couple of years to try to class up the joint, but in the hearts of all true Bruins, you were still the same classless, yet lovable, shack with delicious sandwiches. And now you're gone. Westwood is sadder for it.