So, a quick recap...
I moved back home to Walnut Creek almost two weeks ago. It was and is bittersweet. Economically I know it was the right thing to do, but socially it's been really tough. I had a going away/birthday party in LA before I left and it was so much fun. Friends from church and work were there which made it that much better to have everyone I care about in the same place.
I had been really optimistic about the move all the way leading up to it. I wasn't sad or upset on my last day of work, or while packing all of my stuff, or during the party. Not until it dwindled down to just me, RA, Dan and Nathan. Dan left, but that was ok because I would see him the next day. But when Nathan said goodbye, it was the first one that actually felt like a real goodbye (even though I know I'll see him and everyone again) but I guess that's when it hit me, that I was actually leaving, and I started to get teary. Life in LA was "over", I knew I was closing a chapter in my life. So, it was hard. Definitely made me sad. And I miss it. I can't wait to go back and visit, but I know it won't be the same. Four years...who would have thought? Growing up I would have never thought I would ever live in LA, and like it!
So, here are some of my LA favorites:
Favorite Moments:
- Riding bikes to the beach with Ruth-Ann in the summer, almost killing myself and causing a couple near accidents. Riding a bike down Santa Monica Blvd is HARD! I think we were both surprised that I survived with only a badly stubbed toe. Oh, and visiting Mikey at P.F. Chang's on the way and having seared ahi for the first time!
- Riding in the passenger seat of the porsche boxster with the roof down, sunglasses on, hair blowing in the wind, boyfriend next to me, and smile on my face. It didn't matter where we were going when we were in that car, it was always a good time! I loved showing up for church in it though! haha. And of course, one of my favorite outtings was when we drove out to Malibu just before sunset and went to dinner at Gladstones. We even went for a walk on the beach while waiting to be seated. So much fun!
- Getting free tickets for the Laugh Factory and going with 4 of my favorite guys only to find out it was gay comedy night! It was HILARIOUS!!!! Not entirely appropriate, but thoroughly entertaining!
- Squishing in the front seat of Ben's car between him and Nahum for late night outtings. Yes there was a seatbelt, I even had to show the cop!
- Falling asleep with friends, or just on them, while pointlessly staying up watching movies.
- Nahum's mashed potatoes. 'Nuff said.
- Hanging out at Mike and Trevor and Danny's apartment. They make me laugh SO hard! Their other roommate hated me because I would be over late and couldn't keep myself from laughing and would always wake him up. One night Liz and I were over and we were all battling with the Mashoonga!s and Trevor made Mikey fall back onto his bed and the bed broke! Then Danny, with his perfect comedic timing, shouted out, "You don't even have a bed! You are one pathetic loser!" (From Dumb and Dumber). I nearly died laughing. (My profile pic is actually from that night right after that happened.) They are three of my favorite men. I love them. LA wasn't the same after they left.
- Playing racquetball at the UCLA gym with Duncan. We never kept score or really even played by the rules, but we ALWAYS had fun. I usually came back with some sort of injury I had inflicted upon myself.
- The way TP says my name. (Only Laurel will understand that.)
- Bonfires at Doc Weiller.
- Watching fireworks on the Fourth of July at the beach and Mr. Patriotic in his tiny red white and blue speedo in Venice. (Wish I had a picture of that!)
- Pumpkin Chocolate drinks from Coffee Bean in the fall and winter! Nathan is a genius!
- Late night chats with Ruth-Ann and giggling in bed. I'm glad she was still my friend even though I ripped up love notes and refused to tell her stories. ;) One of my favorites was leaving messages on the mirror in lipstick. I'm glad she was my roommate!
Favorite Restaurants:
- The Griddle - Delicious pancakes that are GINORMOUS! Each one is bigger than your plate and they give you three! Last time Ben and I decided to just share, he ate two and I had one. Even then we both were barely able to finish and were full for the rest of the day.
- Cafe 50s - My favorite diner! I love the casual environment and all the decor. They have board games you can play while waiting for your food, including Sorry, Operation, Battleship, and my personal favorite, Connect Four! It was always exciting when I could beat Dan, he's amazingly good at that game! Oh, and they always have a fun paper to read with random tidbits such as where the phrase "Mind your p's and q's" came from. Do any of you know??
- Ruth's Chris - A-MAZING!!! Dan took me there for my 23rd birthday...need I say it was the best birthday EVER?! haha. We both had the ribeye, and I have never before or since had such a beautiful piece of meat! (For those of you who may not know, I LOVE steak! When I was little we were on a road trip and drove by some cows, my mom pointed them out to me saying, "Look Carly, cows!" Everyone was quite surprised when I then replied, "mmm, steak!" while rubbing my tummy, instead of simply making a 'moo' sound like most little kids may have responded!)
- Tito's Tacos - The BEST tacos you will find in LA. At least in my opinion. Cash only though so make sure you go prepared.
- Versailles - A popular Cuban restaurant with great fried sweet plantains and really good tres leches cake.
- Le Petit Four - A cute little restaurant on the Sunset Strip that serves the BEST calamari! I also like how the outside dining is very European with everyone sitting so close to each other and all the tables connected. Last time I went there the ladies sitting next to us insisted that we try some of the Escargot they ordered! It actually wasn't too bad!
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