Turtle racing

Yup, turtle racing, that's what I wrote. There is a bar out in Marina Del Rey, Brennan's Pub on Lincoln Blvd, which has been the home of turtle racing since 1972. Turtle racing takes place every Thursday night at 10 p.m. and a cover band plays inside near the bar. 

It's simple. The turtles are placed in the center of a large circle and the first turtle to make it to the outside white line is the winning turtle.

You can rent a turtle to race or bring your own, but generally they have women place the turtle into the center ring but they can't bend their knees as they do it, thus making their asses stick out rather blatantly or flattering depending on the case. If your legs bend or if you're pretty they'll drop a flag and make you do it over and over again, lol. Once and awhile a guy goes out to place a turtle too and he is booed. 

As the security guard outside will yell out to the crowd seated in a circle of bleachers, chairs and and a wall of unluckys who weren't able to snag a seat, there is only one rule in turtle racing, do not point at the turtles. He'll repeat it over and over again, yet of course someone still points and they will drop a flag on the "race course" and make the offending pointer put $5 in the pot. It's not like the pointing really bothers the turtles, it's just a rule that makes everyone laugh when someone has to shell out (no pun intended) money--as long as it's not you of course. Here's a quick video that I uploaded to YouTube.

When I got home though I accidently hit my head on this stupid bike rack thing that pertrudes from the wall in our garage. I literally saw stars and had to put a package of frozen vegetables on the already forming bump on my head. My friend visiting from New Hampshire snapped a photo of my care.

I spy question mark guy

You know that older guy from commercials where he's in front of DC monuments and he's shouting about how he can help get you free government grants, free money, free tax breaks, etc and oh yeah, he's covered in question marks? 

Well, I saw him today in Jamba Juice when I was ordering my second shot of wheat grass (still grassy). He was in a black suit with hot pink and yellow question marks all over him and multi-colored glasses. No, he wasn't filming anything, just ordering a smoothie and being his own walking billboard. I smiled at him after sneaking a shot of him on my camera phone and asked "aren't you the guy from the commercials?"  He smiled and said yes and patted me on the back as he walked up to the counter to collect his smoothie. 

I guess he lives in L.A. So random. His real name is Matthew Lesko a.k.a. the guy in the question mark suit.  His website is matthewlesko.com you can go there for FREE! FREE! FREE! ;)

Here's an interesting interview with him at The Black Table, where he talks about wearing the question mark suit as a marketing tool. 

"Do you believe you need to wear the outfit so that people will take you, well, seriously?

Oh, the outfit to take me seriously? It's the opposite. I've been kicked off of shows because of it. I've lost millions because of it. I was on the Home Shopping Network and they said I had to change my suit. I thought about it and decided, 'This is way too important to me.' Years later they had me back. It was one of those hard decisions that become great later. Your loved ones tell you that you're being silly, that you need the money. But as a result of following my heart, opportunities opened and my business tripled. So now I sell tons through the Home Shopping Network, but they still don't like the suit. We're back to them wanting me to change it again. I can imagine if Jesus Christ was here they'd say, 'You know this rope sandal stuff…we're really appealing to the wrong demographic here.'

On that note, would you say that your garb is equivalent to, say, Superman's cape? Like, when you're not wearing it, you're simply Clark Kent?

You know what, in a way, when I have it on, it does something to other people. When I first started wearing it I was so self-conscious. I was walking down the airport and every step was like lugging around 500 pounds. I felt so stupid, but I just had to do it. Now people smile when they see me. I get discounts on airplanes and hotels. Pretty girls come up and talk to me for the first time in my life. Where were they when I had more hormones?

I feel like I could walk into the toughest biker bar at 2:00 in the morning and feel comfortable. It disarms people. I mean, the buzz creates my life.

Marketing has nothing to do with it. Harvard business school wanted to know about this "branding." This is just me who happens to be writing books. Strategic branding? It was a pure accident. I'm just not that smart."

 

Hmm well his outfit did make me smile and here I am continuing the buzz for him, so just more proof that his branding is working even if by accident and to get attention from chicks. 

Seven years?

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7?

No way, that’s too long. Way too long to have not seen my friend, my dad.

It feels like forever and yesterday in the same gut wrenching ache that I’ve gotten used to feeling when I think of you, which is always. Always. Sometimes I think you are haunting me. I think about you every day, several times a day. You are in my blood. And to have gone seven years of not seeing you, with no reward or time out for how well I’ve dealt with it, or tried to. Just more pain, more years of not being able to hang with my best friend. More silent jokes that don’t receive your wise ass comments back, more Mondays without you to talk to.

I hate this date. Today is when everything changed for me but stayed the same for so many others. You and my mom had warned me that was how it would feel, it’s how you felt when you two lost Serina. Serina. I hope you’ve gotten to see her again. I hope that if you can’t be with this daughter that you’re with your other, my sister. It’s only fair I guess, she only had three years with you, I had 17. Man, I was so young, so confused. I wish I could go back and hug that version of myself. Hell, if i'm wishing I wish my father was still alive and healthy.

I can still remember finding out. I was supposed to see you that day, after school. We probably would have went to Sams and the Chinese Buffet. I cried at lunch thinking about if you died, even before I knew anything. A premonition? I’ve always found that weird…and magical. How did I always know you would never live to see me graduate? How did I know I would find out almost the exact same way I had thought of? Why did I cry at lunch? Were you giving me a heads up some how?

Thankfully, in terms of grief, the last five months haven’t been as bad as the prior six years and seven months without you. Maybe I’m getting used to it? I hope not, I don’t want to forget. Well, forgetting the pain would be nice, but I’d never forget all our memories. I know that. There are too many. I am you.

I met someone. Someone special and I’ll always regret that you couldn’t have met. His humor reminds me of yours and in that sense it feels like you’ve been around somehow these last five months. I try to tell him and everyone who hasn’t met you, who you are. I tell stories of us. I even imitate your voice when I say your parts. Ha, I can almost see your head shake at the idea.

I love you dad. I love you for teaching me so much even through your mistakes. I love that you got me. I love that I could go to you about shit.

I’m sorry you had so many hard times. I’m sorry you couldn’t be here now for the good. I’m sorry.

I’ll continue to make you proud dad. You’ll always be with me, you’re apart of me. I am you.

Christina from Grey's Anatomy: "There's a club. The dead dad's club and you can't be in it until you're in it. You can try to understand, you can sympathize, but until you feel that loss. My dad died when I was nine. George, I'm really sorry you had to join the club."

George: "I don't know how to exist in a world where my dad doesn't."

Christina: "Yeah, that never really changes."

PS: The Art of Making Pizza With My Dad  Don't worry, this post is more upbeat.

Shot through the heart

I had my first wheatgrass shot yesterday, which technically was the first shot that I ever had that wasn't alcohol or NyQuil. Jamba Juice, which I love, sells 1 oz and 2 oz shots of wheatgrass, which the company dubs, "liquid sunshine in one little shot!" 

I've often seen people order the tiny green shots served on little treys  and have heard about it's health benefits, but I had never tried it. So, with the encouragement of a colleague, I ordered a 1 oz shot and watched as they cut a handful of grass at the roots of a growing plant paddy and put the contents into a grinder press. Then the resulting liquid was collected in a tiny plastic container and the freshly squeezed mulch of grass was collected and tossed. (I wonder if they use the particles in a compost for growing new wheatgrass...hmm). 

I then received the shot accompanied with and an orange wedge as if I was taking a tequila shot or something.  It took me three sips to drink the little ounce and then I happily bit into the sweet orange. When asked how it tasted all I could say was "grassy." It smelt and tasted like fresh grass (and yes, I've tasted grass before). It was sweet and not terrible though. Not something I would normally enjoy but considering the health benefits of wheatgrass I think I can handle a 1 oz shot of it once and awhile. 

What benefits? Wheatgrass supposedly is an all-natural detoxifier loaded with 23 essential and non-essential amino acids, enzymes, phytonutrients, vitamin K, folic acid, potassium, selenium, vitamin C and other powerful antioxidants to neutralize free radicals, aid in healthy complexion and digestion.

Wheatgrass juice boasts 60% of the body's recommended daily allowance for vitamin K in a one-ounce shot and 120% in a two-ounce shot (other sources include broccoli, soybeans, brussel sprouts and cabbage). Vitamin K is necessary for blood clotting and bone formation and may help prevent osteoporosis. It's supposed to provide natural energy as well.

I didn't feel like I received a shot of espresso, but considering I hardly eat veggies I did feel healthier for drinking it, even if it was only in my mind. 

Ski School

I still can't get over the fact that I went from looking at the Pacific Ocean to snow capped mountains in just a two and half hour drive and not even going to another state or boarding an airplane. Crazyness, but I love it.

Friday evening after work and dinner, we headed to Big Bear Lake for a skiing weekend. I've been skiing since I was four-years-old, while my boyfriend had only been once in an unsuccessful venture. However, I got him to try it again despites his claims that "Mexicans don't ski" and his fears of being late to the game. My mother, after all, had learned to ski  at the same time as I was but she was 31. 

We stayed at a really cute bed and breakfast only a half a mile away from one of the two mountains nearby, Snow Summit. Raphael was scheduled for a beginners ski lesson but I tried giving him my own lessons on the bunny hill before and after, which I think really helped him because he was  in control and stopping easily. It wasn't easy trying to explain the movements I was doing since it had been a long time since I was being taught, but I tried my best. 

The second day and another ski school lesson and more private instructions from me, he was really skiing. I can't believe he got it so fast, he was turning and following my leisurely zig zag motions down the beginner hills with ease, and he only fell once the whole time. I was quite impressed and eager to do more and looking forward to skiing together again. The town was also charming. 

Oh and I got new snow goggles since my Oakley's were still back on the East coast, these ones are a clear pink and by Crush. I should have gotten them the first day though, since I got a sun burn from wearing just regular sunglasses and no sunblock. 

Extra: If you live in Chicago and Greater Illinois, Kansas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City or Tampa Bay you can buy your own Valentine's Day gift this year and get expensive spa treatments for only $59 at famous local places in honor of national heart month (Feb). Go to PrettyCity.com/love to find out where.