Welcome to my blog, updated whenever something of interest happens in my life (for the most part). Complete with pictures and video, you're sure to have a great time (although I can't promise you that). Anyway, thanks for visiting!
(pictures expandable by clicking)
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The Return To California
March 15, 2007
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Out to breakfast on the day of my big 2-5.
We went out to breakfast about 4-5 times at 3 different places during my stay ... and I ordered waffles every time. I don't know what my problem is. Leave me alone.
And on the night of my birthday the Dahers took me out to Benihana, an incredible Japanese restaurant where they make and serve your meal right in front of you. Umm ... yes, again I am sporting my snob smile. I look a little too feminine there, don't I? I'm sorry, I realize this is a conservative website.
Broda and sista.
We're ready to roll ... ready to down some serious grub.
Our cook. Check out the Back To California video to see him twirl those things with lightning speed.
Forming a work of art with the rice.
Tell me that doesn't look good ... unless you're a vegetarian ... and if you are, you're not welcome to this blog.
Can't see them, but I'm being serenaded with a happy birthday song by the restaurant waiters. Very awkward, so I just clap along and smile.
And the birthday boy is presented with a free ice-cream. Yummy.
The daycare kids made me some
great birthday crafts and cards (only two in this pic).
Man, Nathan made me this incredible timeline banner chronicling our many trips and good times with one another. Major thanks, Nathan.
A closer look at part of it.
The daycare kids. Was upstairs when I overheard one of them say, "Jordan is 25!? He looks like he's 20!" Yeah, whatever, kid.
But just when I think the festivities are over, the very next night I'm forced into the Daher's van and driven out to some crazy place at 11pm. They refuse to tell me where we're going, nor am I given any subtle hints whatsoever. Course, judging from this picture, I wasn't the only tired one.
We get "there," and then I am told to close my eyes and wait for some 20-30 minutes. This is the worst day of my life. I'm never going to visit the Daher family ever, ever again. What a bunch of cruel, demented weirdos.
I'm then forced out of the vehicle, and harshly told to keep my eyes shut. Finally, after much ado, I'm told that I can open them.
"Oh! A ... movie theater ... are we here to see something? Dream Girls?" Nope, to my utter shock, the Dahers rented out an actual movie theater to watch The Book Of Being in. Not only that, they invited some friends, who also invited a rather eccentric actor/writer/opera singer they met at McDonald's. Yes, this would turn out to be a night I will never forget.
I'm all smiles. This should be fun.
Yes, eccentric, but a really nice guy, and an incredible singer. Not only did he sing for me Happy Birthday, but even the well-known Italian song, "O Solo Mio." Oh my goodness ... all I could do was stand there thinking, "If only everone I knew could see me now."
Welp, I guess this is my night, so I'm gonna live it up!
Inside the theater while Nathan has the camera fixed on me.
There I am ... speechless. I thought I had seen it all.
Then they bring out a dinosaur-themed birthday table. Holy cow. By this time I'm embarassed. I can't believe anyone would go to so much trouble for a moron like me. :-) :-/
The Book Of Being on the bigscreen. Very cool!
Then, just when I thought I had seen it all, Nathan plays an hour-long documentary he made called "The Chronicles Of Being," showing clips from our earliest films, behind-the-scenes footage, testimonials given by those who've seen the movie (you might recognize this fellow ... Michael Denton), and pictures and videos from our friendship over the years. Ended with a real tear-jerker ... but, of course, I never cry in front of people, so I just calmly bawled later. :-)
"Well, look what we have here. Another breakfast outing, and another order of waffles." Hey, these are strawberry waffles, not just regular ... and you know you want em.
Nice pancakes, eggs and sasauge, Nate.
Uhh ... wasn't supposed to show this.
Time for some bowling. Nice form, lad!
Ugly form, lad!
Talk about close. Kyle actually had more strikes then Brad.
Remember Scratch? Such a funny dog. Always wants to be by people. I'll walk downstairs, and she follows. I'll go back upstairs, and she follows, lying outside the bedroom door.
Off to Disneyland! We get there and, lo and behold, Mickey Mouse is scaling the Matterhorn (below the guy at the top).
Nate in front of Adventure Land.
Good ol' C-3P0 from Star Wars.
We get ready to board Space Mountain, a very fun indoor roller coaster ride.
Our official Disney photograph. With lights flashing and music blaring it was almost impossible not to go insane like this.
These guys were good. You can see them playing on the video.
The magic kingdom. They sure do keep everything pretty elaborate.
So we're standing in line at the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, when I look up to see Lucky Jack himself ... Jack Sparrow, ascending the stairway above us. I quickly take out my camera, and take a look at him. He looks at me. This is the biggest moment of my entire life. Then, he walks to the side railing, and poses. Snap! Thanks, Jack!
And there he is in the ride ... or his animatronic double, that is. They've since added him to the ride since the release of the movie.
We're on some kind of ride here.
And a parting shot with Pluto. Twas a grand day indeed.
My last night at the Dahers ... and we're making it a good one. Check that out. Chocolate in motion.
Nathan diligently scrambles to finish his half of our little movie.
So I show up at the ticket counter and, "Sorry sir. We don't have you on here." A few days earlier, I had called United to switch my departure date from Saturday to Tuesday, but alas, no record of such. Why does this not surprise me? I'll tell you why. Because I had to talk to a guy in India who I could hardly understand to do it all. You know what? I am getting so tired of companies switching their phone services to India. It's ridiculous. In any case, they got me on another plane leaving at 1:30 and, as God would have it, it turned out to be a blessing, as Nathan and I were able to have one last breakfast together. Yes, I ordered waffles.
Goodbye, Southern Cal. You were good to me this trip, and I made a lot of memories that shall be with me for the rest of my days. Such ends my adventure, and thanks for sharing it with me.
And thanks for stopping by.
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