Kir in California: Michelle came to visit!!

Michelle and I met in 2004, where we were roommates in London. We didn't talk at all during the orientation days, but soon became inseparable for the rest of the semester. We did really well visiting each other about once a year, in Pittsburgh, Vermillion, England, Chicago, and DC. The last trip was in 2010.

London(2004)

Pittsburgh (2006), London (2006), Chicago (2008), DC (2008)

Vermillion (2006), DC (2010), DC (2008), London (2004)

(I believe the dates are correct....not totally sure.)

Michelle was turning 30 this year and wanted to do something for it. We discussed going somewhere, but eventually decided to save money and she was going to come to LA.

I picked her up at the airport on Thursday and we went straight to the beach! I hadn't been to Manhattan Beach yet. We first stopped at a grocery store and got some food to eat while we were there. It was pretty great. We ate, lounged, and went into the ocean. I've lived here since August and this was the first time I've really been in the ocean since moving here. I've walked along it and put my feet in, but this was definitely in the ocean. After we were there for awhile, we drove to my place, got ready for dinner, and went to a Mexican place in Pasadena. It was really good. Not like East LA tacos, but still good. Nothing is like East LA tacos.

before the ocean

after the ocean

Friday, we started the day at the Getty Center. I had been there twice before--once on my own in January and once in March with Dad. It's a great place to go. It was pretty hazy but the views are amazing. Each time I've gone, there have been different exhibits so that's been good. We ate lunch there, which I only mention because I had a PB&J sandwich and it was delicious and actually not crazy overpriced. We were there for a few hours. On our way home, we stopped in Hollywood to see the Hollywood sign. So many people. It's cheesy, but still fun to see. I think we got home about 4:30 and got ready for FIREWORKS! I really didn't want to drive so we tried out using the company UBER. It was awesome. It's an app that you can request rides and it automatically is paid for through the card you put with your profile, tip included. It was so convenient. I had never been to the Rose Bowl again, but both the driver and Michelle kept asking me for directions. I just wanted to see fireworks!

There were so many people! We walked around the outside for a little bit and then went into the stadium. It was quite confusing because I paid for reserved seats with backs instead of general admission benches. When we got in there, they said we could sit anywhere in our section. Ok cool. We even went back and double checked that it's what they meant. It was, at least until about 8:30, when people starting coming over to where we were saying that "we" (not us specifically) were in their seats. Definite miscommunication with the Rose Bowl staff on that one. There were two different performers that we saw. The first was teenage pop star Ian Thomas or something. Ehhhhhhh. I like pop music and this was terrible. The second group was awesome. The Liverpool Legends and they were picked by Louise Harrison, George's brother. It was quite funny to me that they had an English group performing for a 4th of July celebration.

Onto the fireworks. BEST FIREWORKS I'VE EVER SEEN. I thought that about London. These were better. The last time I saw 4th of July fireworks was in 2011 in Rapid City and they were blocked by trees. So sad because I love fireworks. I took videos of these and just stared at them in awe. So so so so so so so good.

After the fireworks, we walked back towards Old Town Pasadena to get away from the people. We tried Uber again, but there weren't any cars available. While we were debating on what to do, Michelle was able to hail a cab. It worked out wonderfully.

at the Getty Center

outside the stadium

making faces while waiting for fireworks

I'm watching amazing fireworks and I cannot believe it

Saturday was probably the most awesome day. The one thing Michelle really wanted to do was take a surfing lesson. I wanted to but was definitely nervous about it. I had booked one with a company I found on yelp and it was great. We went to Venice Beach early, found some breakfast, and sunscreened up. The lesson was at 12:15 and 90 minutes long. It was the perfect amount of time. They gave us wetsuits and boards for the lesson. We practiced on the beach for about 10 minutes and then got into the water. It was just the two of us with the instructor (Princeton?). It was so much fun. I was better at it than I thought I was going to be. It was definitely harder than it looks and I fell a lot, but I also stood all the way up a few times. Some of the waves were brutal. I lost my hair tie in one of the waves that made me do a few somersaults under the water. I got hit by my board pretty hard twice--once in the head and once in the shoulder. I have some nice bruises, but I'm kind of sad that the one on my shoulder is invisible because it hurt like a bitch.

After surfing, it was pretty relaxed. We went to get food, shopped on the Venice boardwalk, and then sat on the beach and read for a little bit. The plan was to go to Griffith Observatory after that. We tried, but the traffic was CRAZY. Apparently they have monthly star parties and this was the night for it. Ugh, it sucked and we were exhausted, so after being in traffic for about a half hour, we turned around and went home. That was a good choice.

Before....Just a little nervous

After. So very happy!

Sunday was Michelle's 30th birthday! We had lunch with her great aunt and her cousins. Then we went to her cousin's house and swam in their pool for awhile. They were very welcoming and it was very relaxing. Mish wanted to go out to dinner for her birthday, so I took her to the pizza place that Dad and I went to before the Book of Mormon. I went one other time by myself. So good. Fancy pizza. Nice place, but not crazy expensive. We got drinks and a pizza each and then split the baked goat cheese and brussel sprouts. I am 99% sure that I had never had brussel sprouts before in my entire life and these were delicious. OMG so good I want them now. They were charred with balsamic with Parmesan and possibly something else. I wish I had some now. I had told the waitress that it was Michelle's birthday and at the end, she brought us this caramel butterscotch dessert. It was so sweet of her and also ridiculously good. Kind of like the brussel sprouts, I can taste it now.

After dinner, we went to the observatory again. There was still a lot of traffic but we made it. I hate parking there. Absolutely hate it. But we saw the views and saw the inside a little and it was all good.

Brussel sprouts get a thumbs up

Michelle's birthday surprise

Observatory faces

Downtown at night

Sadly, Monday was the last day. Peri, Michelle's cousin, works at Warner Brothers and invited us to come there before Mish had to go to the airport. That was the plan until we got up. We had both thought about it and decided that we wouldn't have enough to really enjoy it and would just feel rushed. What we did instead I think was better. It gave us time to slow down, relax, and see a few last sights. First was breakfast. I found a few options in Pasadena and found a crepe place. It turned out to be fairly cheap and was adorable. The crepes were amazing. Michelle got a savory one with spinach, egg, red pepper, and something else I think. I got a peanut butter and jelly one. Yum. After that, we did a little stalking and found the Walsh house from Beverly Hills, 90210. We were super cheesy and took pictures. The people driving by on the street either had no idea what we were doing and thought we were crazy, or knew what we were doing and thought we were crazy....mostly because I thought we were crazy, but I'm glad we did it. We had a little more time so we went to the outside of the Norton Simon Museum. They have some Rodin sculptures outside and we both love Rodin. It was nice and relaxing way to end the trip. That was the last thing we did and then I took her to the airport.