After a quick bite to eat and checking into the hotel room. We headed to the store to start the celebration. Sushi was served along with NOS energy drinks and special bearbrick cupcakes…looked so good, but I stayed strong and didn’t eat one.

new game called spot the blogger

Then if off to the O Izakya Lounge to have a couple cocktails and hang out with everyone. It’s always a good time when you’re catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. Good to meet people that I’ve only gotten to know via the blog.

After a much needed rest we headed to the Hella Flush 3 event. The show had a really good turnout with over 150 cars on display and 1500 people attending. The cars were flush and slammed. This meet made me reminisce on the old days of going to shows, where it was about the people just as much as it was about the cars. Great to see everyone and check out some quality cars.

Then it was off to catch my flight back to OC and proceeded directly to the Juxtapoz 15 year anniversary event in Downtown LA. Lowriders on display, food and drinks were free, and about 150 works of art were showcased.

A ton of people came out for this event and half the event stopped to check out the Pacquiao vs. Cotto fight outside on the giant wall.

Vic poses with his “old” baby

After the event we checked out “The Must” in LA, which is a great wine bar. I highly recommend the cauliflower curry soup and mac and cheese.

Sunday came and it was time to relax and watch the Chargers game. Immediately after watching them win their 3rd straight game and finalizing my domination in Fantasy Football (9-1 record) it was off to the Staples Center to go to the Lakers vs. Rockets. Unfortunately, the Lakers blew it in the 2nd half and lost their 2nd in a row, but nonetheless it was still a good time.

The past week or so has been stressful as I’ve been planning a trip for months that now may or may not happen…stay tuned and wish me luck.

I promised myself that I wouldn’t do much work over the break and focus on relaxing and having fun. My Christmas was one of the best ever. I spent Christmas eve day and early evening in San Diego with D’s family and after an amazing dinner and drinks we headed over to my mom’s house for even more food and unwrapping of presents. Somehow my mom every year still gets me socks and underwear. Christmas day is when the real fun happened. D and I sat by my tree and opened presents…and I was surprised (somewhat) with what I got: Wii fit and slip cover, a Tomlinson jersey, and a ticket to the Chargers vs. the Donkeys (Broncos)! I was super excited as this was my first (yes first) time to attend a NFL game and this was the decisive game for both teams to make the Playoffs. It was also time to get redemption against the team that was handed a win by a blind referee earlier in the season.

“D” does the Warrior pose

Going in sequential order…Most of Christmas was spent playing Wii Fit (much needed after all the holiday eating I’ve done) and then heading to my brother’s place to hang out with the rest of the family and watch the Lakers beat Boston! Like I said the best Christmas ever!

Lakers ended the Celtics 19-game win streak and beat them so bad that they lost the next day too…

The day after Christmas everyone got together and we went out to iLounge with DJ Reflex. Possibly the most fun I’ve had at that place.

Reflex spins for Kanye so I figured it appropriate to throw-up the “ROC”.

Saturday night was spent watching the UFC fight with some friends…Blog Re-cap

On Sunday we headed out to San Diego for the game. I booked a room at the Hyatt in Downtown so we didn’t have to make the long journey back home after the night game and so I could get completely drunk along with all the other fans.

View from the hotel…we could see the parade that went on the next day from the window too.

After figuring out the trolley system to get to the stadium. I find out that the seats were pretty damn good. Field Level near the 20 yard line.

It was a packed Qualcomm Stadium

Told you these were good seats

Ahh yeah…

LT broke a record or two that evening and scored 3 TD’s.

After destroying the Donkey’s the Chargers headed into the Playoffs as the AFC West Champs! (spoiler we then went on to beat the Colts last Sunday in overtime!)

The next afternoon was spent in Downtown SD just enjoying the clear weather and shopping around. For dinner I took D and her mom out to one of my favorite restaurants there. The place is called “Candelas” and it’s Mexican Seafood. So good. If you go I highly recommend the 4-cheese soup and the Chilean Sea Bass.

Close to the restaurant we walked by the most modern dry cleaners I have ever seen.

Skipping ahead a few days it was time to celebrate the New Year and what better way to do it than with close friends at our local club Sutra. Sutra has begun their re-model and opened an entirely new area for the evening. Lots of drinking, dancing, and more drinking! The only way to start the New Year.

Gotta love the go-gos

My New Year’s Kiss

I have the funniest video of this drunk guy afterhours being an idiot, but I can not show it as I made a promise not to. If he does manage to piss the right person off again and I get allowed to show it (and he will) I will be sure to post it up for all to see. Teaser: I’ve never seen a grown man cry like that.

For the New Year one of my goals has been to experience life and everything to the fullest. Rather than always drinking and partying (which will still happen) I will manage to also find some culture and experience new things. So in keeping up with my resolution D and I headed out to the Huntington Garden in Pasadena. This place is pretty amazing and despite the cold weather the scenery is just beautiful. Plus with all the walking it was great exercise.

So peaceful and relaxing

Never having traveled to Japan or China it was nice to check out the themed gardens.

The bamboo forest

Dinner in Downtown Pasadena was at a Tapas bar called Bar Celona. Great food and atmosphere and really good happy hour!

With the quality of snow here in Southern California lately I’ve tried to go as much as possible. Snowboarding gets expensive, but so worth it. So to end the holidays we hit up Bear Mountain for some snowboarding action.

Let’s end this long ass blog with an advisory. Don’t get caught in the snow un-prepared, or drive like a jackass, or try to make your sedan a rally car.

Happy New Year everyone!

With about 4 hours of sleep got up and got ready for the first snowboarding trip of the season. California has recorded some record low’s lately and the snow keeps on coming! Headed out to Mt. High for some good times with my buddy Aaron. The conditions were great with new packed and groomed snow. It was crowded, but didn’t seem that bad. Tried out my new Burton gear and love it. I messed around with my binding adjustments all day with the new ICS system and still haven’t found the “perfect” set-up, but will have fun trying. Can’t wait to head up again this week!

Got home tired and a little sore and watched “Anchorman” for the hundreth time…cause that’s how I roll. Then headed out to Sutra for the Social Group Holiday party and also to celebrate Team Fred’s b-day. Some of the usual suspects came out to play and it was great seeing everyone.

Eddie (Mackin), Jerry (Pac Rim), me, Steph (Papadakis / Rockstar Racing), and Jonny Wong (Super Street)! Not pictured: Fred was probably either smoking or taking another shot.

Saw this on the way out…that’s the toughest XB I’ve ever seen.

After another 4 hours of sleep got up and got ready to go to Knott’s Merry Farm. This weekend was the annual Toys for Tots event and they gave out free admission when you bring a toy. I haven’t been to Knott’s in years and D and I decided to bring her nieces and nephews. When we got there it was PACKED! The line to receive a ticket for admission literally wrapped halfway around the entire park! The wait had to be at least 2-3 hours! We didn’t want to dissapoint the kids, so the decision was made to just purchase tickets. But I still wanted to donate the toys I bought, since I have no need for a couple dolls, toy trucks, and a spy kit (well the spy kit was cool). Walked up to the front told the army/navy/marine guy (not sure what service he was in) that I just wanted to donate the toys and will purchase tix and homeboy hooked me up with the tickets anyway without waiting in line. Good looking out! I must have good karma or something.

this was the middle of the line…

Short summary of day. Kids had a great time! I had a great work-out carrying one kid after another. Waited in long lines for both food and rides. Boomerang broke while in line to ride it. Log Ride is still a classic.

Lots of people

someone’s hungry

the brats kids

Log Ride (I’m only making that face cause my hair was getting messed up)

Overall great day and awesome ending to an amazing weekend plus the Chargers won and still have a chance to make the Playoffs – more on that later (crossing fingers). Hanging out with kids can be exhausting, but so fulfilling at the same time. They were so stoked on everything. I wish things could be that simple again.