Picture by LittleEgypt

 

This coming Saturday marks five years since Terry (aka, Lord Pineapple) passed away.  Looking through my old blog posts I came across some of his comments and remembered what a great time I had chatting with him online, even through type he had an English accent ... but maybe that's because he typed as if he was Shakespeare.

I was always amazed at his bravery in losing himself to the characters he created - and the man didn't hold his tongue.  When he got diagnosed with cancer he let us know by starting his site ... More Than Just Crabs.  Through there he shared how he was doing, along with more poetry by his various characters ... The Three-Headed Sarahs, Blackie Fortuna, Rev. Tobias Trontby, Sophie Lucy Morgan and all the others that lived inside him. 

Hopefully where he is they are finding him just as entertaining and that it occupies his time so he doesn't take notice that every once in a while he is missed here.

 

 

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The story of my life. To Becca and many others, with gratitude. I was born without morals Without empathy Without love, So it is amazing in a way That hardly anyone suffered because of me. I had my shameful moments All before the age of about 17, But I was not really evil. I have never molested a child. Never forced a woman to have sex with me, Never had sexual relations with a man, Yet I was born without morals, Without empathy. It's true that I had good points, I could not blatently lie That meant I had to make up new lives for me, I needed to act, To be a clown, To write fiction And write under various personæ. It is what people who cannot lie do best. Sadly I have an arrogance, I am a terrible name-dropper, Yet all the none-poets I met I only met through my job, And the only Americans Were poets, Like Anne Stevenson The first person to help Me to start to get published. But I shamelessy name-drop Without saying that some of whom I met (Like John Cleese Who thought me an insufferible little prig!) For I was born without morals Without empathy Without love. So why do certain things like the death of someone, The cruelity to a child, Wars, poverty and so on Disgust me so? To be honest There is only one reason I have never hurt, never killed, Gratitude. Grateful to people for loving me, Every man woman or child Who have made a kind remark to me Every smile they gave me And every laugh. They should have killed me at birth People said that, Me included, It could have been true If I was not grateful To wonderful kind people like you. --- The Clowne From Clown.

 

Have you met my piggies?  They're ready to party!

 

I sold my Xbox 360 so that I could buy the new Xbox next month as a birthday gift to myself, and now I'm having Bioshock withdrawls.  That game is just awesome!!!  For now I suppose it's good I can console myself with the soundtrack ... which has some songs I never would've listened to otherwise.  Like this one ...

If some of you aren't already in the know I work in the construction department of LAUSD, and my particular region is in charge of the more high profile projects for the school district.  This September the Ambassador HS (K-12 span) is going to be fully open to the students of Los Angeles.  It is amazing for me to see this school finally reaching the finish line, especially since when I started working for this department the 'school' was nothing but a big empty lot ... with but a portion of the Cocoanut Grove still standing.  Seeing these pictures, and hopefully soon getting to tour it in person makes me want to go back to school ... this almost tops our Performing Arts school - Central LA HS #9.

 

Here is a picture of the Cocoanut Grove entrance, and below what it looks like now.

 

Here's what the Cocoanut Grove restaurant looked like, and how it was recreated to make the teacher's lounge.

 

Some pictures of the auditorium, which has hand painted details.

 

A few pictures of different areas inside.

 

Finally some pictures of the outside of the school with the plaques of the Robert Kennedy memorial, also note how the high school imitates the facade of the original Ambassador Hotel.

 

I'm sure that once you start listening to the song in the video above you'll realize you heard this before, but the advice given through it bears repeating.  Now that I've had a little time to think and look at my life I see some things that I hadn't notice before, and these are things born out of the choices I've made and the life I lead.

Now, I lived at home with my parents for quite some time and didn't move out on my own until two years ago.  While at home I didn't really spend much time with my parents, and actually I tried to avoid them whenever I could.  Now though, in order to kill time and wait for traffic to die down I visit my parents (almost daily) and eat dinner then watch some TV with them.  Sometimes we get into great conversations where we dust off memories and relive all those wonderful moments. 

Then during my drive home I heard this song and it all just kicked in how true a lot of the advice in this song really is.  Now, not all of it will apply to everyone ... but really ... when you take the time to look back you see so many things you've missed. 

Well it seems with the more people they layoff at work, the more work gets piled up on my plate.  It's been getting SO damn busy lately I don't even have time to sit for a few minutes at work and gather my thoughts ... or my breath.  Yet, thanks to my boyfriend's birthday this past weekend I took some MUCH needed time to myself and did what I do best ... visit theme parks!

On July 1st King Kong 3D opened up at Universal Studios Hollywood, and since my pass is expiring on the 7th I figured I'd take a peek at what all the excitement is about.  I ended up springing for the premium parking in Frankenstein, which came out to $20 ... because I figured with the crowds I didn't want to deal with the regular parking where everyone else was going.

 

The moment we walked into Universal there were the characters from 'Despicable Me' at the photo op area.  Spencer and I naturally gravitated towards the characters that looked most like us ... didn't realize until after I looked at the picture.  Although since I'm short I wonder how short the people inside were.

 

Here's a quick shot of the newly built backlot area that burned down a few years ago.  At this point I'd say it is about 95% complete.

 

Here is the entrance to the King Kong 3D part of the tram tour.  For those familiar with the tour it seems that the collapsing bridge will no longer be accessible since the exit is now cut off by the King Kong show building.  Sucks ... but entertainment is a bitch goddess ... or something like that.  Maybe I dreamed that line up or something.  Anyway ... moving on ...

 

Handsome and funny ... but not rolled into one.  As mismatched as these two were visually ... they worked well as a comedy duo ... and I was highly entertained.

 

Yes all you Twilight fans (of which I'm not one) ... I sacrificed my own dignity to take this picture for you.  It is Bella's van from the movie ... and you could've actually touched it if you were at Universal Citywalk recently.  Funny thing is that I actually read the first book, but it was in Spanish ... and I didn't know it was such a popular series until I looked it up online.

 

July 4th was Spencer's birthday.  We celebrated by going to see Toy Story 3, and the fireworks went off in my head when I saw that the price for 4 adults to see that movie in 3D was $51!  Damn crazy!!!!

After the movie Spencer's family, and myself, gathered together to eat at a Japanese restaurant ... as if you couldn't tell ... LOL!

 

Then on a goof I decided to go to Disneyland on July 5th since I had the day off.  I was originally going to take care of some business in Anaheim then go to see my parents ... but Spencer ended up getting the day off and talked me into going.  Well ... I'm sure you realize he didn't have to twist my arm to get me to go.

 

I love this model of the Castle at Disneyland, but after visiting Walt Disney World ... our Castle looks so tiny.

 

They've turned part of California Adventure into a techno dance area ... complete with expensive booze to sell and loud music.  It's like a waiting room for those that are whittling time away for the World of Color show to start.  At first I didn't think I'd like it ... but it is actually kinda neat.

 

Then I finally went aboard the Tower of Terror after not riding it for quite some months.  It was a truly enjoyable ride as I let gravity take control and floated for a few seconds as we freefalled ... then giggled as the girl next to me kept accidentally grabbing my leg while hurriedly trying to get a hold of the handle bar on the side.  Granted when I first started going on this ride I had a death grip on whatever was available around me, but after so many times on it I've learned to actually enjoy the ride.

 

Spencer watching Deadliest Warrior while we wait to board our elevator ... of TERROR!

 

We then topped off our day with a trip around the waters of the Jungle Cruise ... although I did take this picture while exiting Indiana Jones.

 

I believe this is what our Skipper called native arts and crafts ... yes corny ... but you're SUPPOSED to laugh.

 

Well that's what I've been up to lately ... now on to more work tomorrow.  Even though I had a long weekend I can't wait for Friday!