My Future Wife...

Jamie and I are Annual Passholders at Disneyland. It is our getaway from reality. We do not have any family out here in California, so we treat Disney as a second home where we feel welcomed and taken care of. When we are there, you can usually find us bouncing between parks, eating Mickey pretzels, or grabbing Fastpasses on as many rides as we can. We consider ourselves very lucky.

We have visited Disneyland so much that we sometimes come up with new ways to experience the parks. There are entire subcultures of Annual Passholders doing the same. Hidden Mickey searches are one of them. The Hidden Mickey search is awesome, and I have done it a few times. These Hidden Mickey's could be anywhere throughout the park and could be in any shape of the iconic three-circle Mickey silhouette. I have found them in the art in some of the hotels, landscaping, on castmembers, on mailboxes throughout the park, or even on some of the rides hidden somewhere in a dark corner.

This past weekend Jamie decided to spice things up by taking as many photos as possible throughout the park doing her new favorite 90's pose. The result is pretty incredible. See the silly pictures above. 

This is my future wife, and I could not be more in love.

-YourFriendMatt

Let's Write...

I don't know why but it seems crazy people are attracted to me. Recently I was sitting on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean working on some ideas. With my Moleskine in tow, I paced, trying to figure out a personal problem. I sat down and stared at the sea when a squirrelly transient took a seat next to me. A short, "Hey" squeaked out of him as I awkwardly turned his direction. "You know there are plenty of benches around here." Rolled through my head but all I got out was a short responsive, ”Hey.” 

"Want to write something with me?" He asked as I looked around for a camera filming us. This had to be a set up. He coughed, ”Look, you already have a book. Let's write." I mean, I guess he made sense. I took off my sunglasses and replied "Okay. What do you want to write?” I was in a fun mood. What the hell else did I have to do? This guy was brought into my life for some reason right? Let's figure it out. This opened can of worms that lead to a pretty fun story. He started telling me about the marines that were 100 yards off-shore, underwater, ready for us when we “disobey” and that the Santa Monica Pier wasn’t a pier at all but a portal to another dimension. “So, you want to write a Sci-Fi Thriller?” I responded. “Listen, man! Don’t get caught!” He barked and rose from the seat running away looking through me, as if I was a demon…or there was one behind me.

Something like this happens to me at least two times a month. I guess I just have that welcoming "I am just as bat shit crazy as you are" look about me.

Remember. Don’t get caught.

-YourFriendMatt

Hell on Earth...

I am at the Department of Motor Vehicles. This is hell.

February 3rd 2015 - It's a Tuesday morning. The DMV opens at 8 on a beautifully brisk SoCal morning. I grab my coffee-to-go mug and leave to get there by 7:30am, to be the first in line when they open. Pulling onto Colorado Ave. I see a line of people and think nothing of it. After all my local DMV is across the street from Universal Music Group, maybe there is a celebrity signing or free concert. Nope. This endless line of disgruntled zombies holding paperwork is here to get a title changed or take their drivers test. This should be fun.

They don't open for another half hour. 

This is probably my fault. I should have followed the rules, been aware of my expiring license and got it taken care up in a timely manner making a reservation. I did not do any of that and now I am paying the price. When I finally got into the building, just to get into another line, the chipper administrative officer told me I needed a reservation to take my California drivers exam and added "They next one I can schedule you for..." trailing off in silence squinting at the glow coming from his computer screen "Is late March! Wow! That's not bad at all." I stare in awe. I can't do anything but I can't be without a license for a month and a half. I beg and plead asking if there is anything else I can do and he brings me in close to tell me a secret. "The DMV in Granada Hills accepts walk-ins." He whispers "You should be able to get in and out of there quick!" I thank him for the tip and jump in the car - and expired license - to Granada Hills.

After sitting in in the other Hell on Earth Los Angeles provides to the world - The 405 - I arrive a quick hour and a half later at the next DMV and there is no place to park. Usually not a good sign. Remember how that guy at the other DMV said I should be able to get 'In and out'? Well, this is what I walked into.

5 hours, 3 different lines and a panic attack later I walked out. 5 hours. 5 hours of sitting. I had so much time on my hands I wrote this blog, downloaded the DMV App and took practices driver tests. I even called home to a few people to let them know I was still alive.

This is a tale of caution. Don't make the same mistake I did. Make a reservation for the DMV. And if someone gives you advice at the DMV punch him in the balls.

Newport Beach...

“Total rookie mistake bringing the car on this ferry.” I said shaking my my head staring at the shoreline.

Jamie and I love to take day trips. We have both recently entered into the next steps in our careers and trying to line up our schedules has been less than perfect. I spend more time with our dog than with her some days. Luckily we had the opportunity to take some time off together around this past holiday season.

We got up one morning, lazily, had a pot of coffee and started bouncing ideas around. Laguna Beach? A bit far. Santa Ana? What is even there? Burbank? Santa Barbara? Can we bring the dog? As we surfed the internet for “best places to visit in - insert SoCal town name here - we came across Newport Beach, CA. It look adorable and not too far. Kind of a New England feel to it. We found out there was a ‘Fun Zone’ with arcade games, ferris wheel and shore snacks…and who doesn’t love corn dogs, funnel cake and other deep friend delicacies. It has beautiful beaches from the pictures we saw and Balboa Island. Which we weren’t really sure what was there but you had to take a ferry (with car, totaled $3…where the hell can you find anything that cheap in Southern California?) which seemed fun enough for a day trip.

We jumped in the car and 40 minutes later we were reading ‘Welcome to Newport Beach’. As we pulled on to the main strip it reminded us of our vacations with family in Outer Banks, NC. Sleepy, quaint, beach-bum vibe that made us feel relaxed. Beach on both sides of us as we pulled up to the Balboa Island Ferry…which only allows 3 cars at a time. I can imagine during there peak season this might be a nightmare but I guess we went on an off day and pulled right on. The ferry took off across the bay and we got out of the car. “Man, is that were we are going? That island is tiny as hell.” I said to Jamie as she shrugged and nodded yes. We stepped out of the car to take a selfie and we were there. The ferry ride took less than 4 minutes. “Welp. Let’s get back in the car.” I said feeling very much like Clark Griswald. 

***BALBOA ISLAND TIP - If you are just heading over there to walk around, sit on the beach or meet up with a friend…YOU DO NOT NEED YOUR CAR. The streets are narrow, parking was hell and it could take upwards of an hour to get back off the island on the ferry. We walked the perimeter of Balboa Island in under 20 minutes. I am not talking about speed walking either. We stopped to take photos, see Christmas displays on the neighborhood lawns and walked an entire dock.

We visited Newport Beach on a perfect day. No clouds in the sky and 60 degrees. Just the right kind of weather to were a sweater or hoodie-vest combo. Which is a fantastic break from anyone who has been living without rain in 75 degree weather for the last year…not that I am complaining. We hitched a ride back on the ferry to see what else Newport had for us. The ferry is located right next to Fun Zone and we found street parking one block way. Told you it was a perfect day. Jamie and I immediately went for the arcade to play as much Skeeball as we could. We grabbed some lunch at Newport Landing conveniently located a on the water near Fun Zone with and upstairs porch to eat on. The food wasn’t that great but the wait wasn’t long and the views made up for it. Their outside seating is a great place to grab a drink, people watch (one of our favorite things to do), look at the beautiful California coast and share a warm conversation.

It’s rare that we get time together, especially for a day trip, but if your in the area or looking for a quick easy place to spend an afternoon with your love give Newport Beach a try. We loved it…just leave your car.

-YourFriendMatt