Ready For Winter

Who says you don't have different seasons in Los Angeles? Fall is here and that can mean only one thing: it's time to load up on firewood. I'm not sure if we really needed all this firewood but I guess having too much is never a problem (and anyone out there in need of wood, let me know). It's also a lot easier to do this when you have a couple able-bodied helpers.
Sometimes I can't believe these guys can just keep working all day long... and sometimes I can't believe I find it necessary to take my shirt off while moving wood all day long.

I have to give credit where credit is due, Benicio was the big helper of the day and really pulled his weight. Julian got involved only when the camera came into play. Sorry Julian, I have to be honest but I was impressed with the sixe of logs that kid could carry.
In the end it was a job well done and the boys got their first lesson in firewood gathering.

Teach a kid to fish...

... and he'll eat for a lifetime. That was my mantra for the weekend and luckily for us Legg Lake is only five minutes away. Yeah, I know what you're thinking: "Hey J, isn't that the lake you saw a dead Cholo floating in when you were 6 or 7?" Yes, same lake but on this trip there was no dead Cholo, only a couple of eager boys trying to catch some delicious carp (don't worry, we didn't catch anything and I wouldn't have kept anything we caught anyways).


What we did catch were some amazing views right in our backyard. I'm still in awe that this park/lake exists in Rosemead (and it's right across the street from a shooting range, so we got that going for us).

The boys had fun and I did promise them that next time we'll rent the paddle boat and maybe bring Alisa along (if she's not watching a special about Twilight and the many relationships of that British heart-throb).

The ducks/geese? were pretty amazing too. I can't figure out if Jules is pointing out his favorite duck or trying to get his older brother to swim after them.

The 4th

The annual block party on Eckhart was a success. There were plenty of games, tarot readings, henna tattoos, food and drink... or as me and Nino Reno like to call it, Drank. To call this years party a success would be demeaning to the party. We blew the roof off the joint and with the impeccable funky stylings of DJ The Future we happened to take this years block party into the wee hours of the night.

With my calf muscles finally healed from jumping around for 3 consecutive hours, I can easily say that the block party is here to stay... or at least until another block decides to throw down Eckhart style.

It seems to me that more blocks should incorporate this kind of atmosphere and not just once a year. Why can't we do this once a month during the summer? It's a great way to meet your neighbors, it's fun to showcase your best food dish/beverage, and it allows neighbors to be neighborly. Who doesn't like that? It's especially fun in a neighborhood with a lot of diversity. I ate
some stuff that I couldn't even pronounce and it was delicious. Carly's Korean "friend" whipped up his Korean Beer concoction and got us all crunk. I think I even saw Car-Man (a man who literally lives in his car) trying to give some homemade moonshine to Beni and Jules.

This will be a requirement when we begin our new home search. I will go door to door asking every person on the block if they enjoy getting together for block parties. If I find that the door is being slammed in my face more often than not, we go to another block.

Here's to America telling the British to take their taxes and tea and stick it up their arse's and here's to block parties. Viva La Fiesta de Bloc!

3 Months Down

We've been living at the EighteenOhEight for a little over three months now. My savings account has never been so happy. Alisa is really getting into gardening, so much so she has taken to actually monitoring the growing process all day long. Last week we had the annual "Major Yard Work" day and althought there is still a ton of stuff to be cut and thrown out, I do feel that we got a lot done (it doesn't look like it but trust me, we did).

I celebrated another year of life last month with some of the best people in the world. It is really amazing how I can keep getting older but stay so handsome. Honestly, I sometimes feel guilty about it. The best part of my birthday night came when I took the stage for a rendition of Power of Love by Huey Lewis and the News and decided it was time to bring the kickworm out of retirement. When I finished and realized that I didn't break and/or pull any bones/muscles I felt really proud. 33 and still bringing it.


We also took a trip to San Francisco and on the way down did our first real camping in Big Sur. The boys loved it, were naturals at roughing it and sleeping in a tent (although Benicio may be the worst person to sleep next to for snoring and kicking reasons), and Benicio surprised us all by showing off his rock-climbing skills.

Needless to say, the EighteenOhEight has been treating us good. Besides the small bumps and arguments over who's responsibility it is to clean the bathroom or do the dishes or who clogged the toilet again, I must say that communal living has been great. Who says 7 people can't share 1 bathroom. Not the Curiel's, that's for sure.

One more tidbit: The East LA Gold Line extension (dubbed La linea de Oro in these parts) is set to open June 27th and I can't wait. I will not feel bad leaving my bus riding days behind me but I will miss the crazy Asian Lady who seats next to me and softly whispers out Chinese hymns, that I consider a sort of serenade, but the thought of riding a train to work again is really getting me excited... It apparently doesn't take much to excite me these days.

Cherry Pickin'

While we were up north visiting Papa Duke and Barbara, my dad wanted to take a drive out across the hills and over to the Cherry Orchards, strawberry fields and pick some fruit, so we all hopped in the Honda Pilot and took a field trip.

It was a beautiful day in the eighties with a breeze and the smell of berries was in the air. I didn't wear any deodorant so yeah, I was sweating a little. The boys were in heaven walking the rows, picking cherries off the trees and popping them in their mouths. Julian was eating them whole which means the next day was not fun for me.

They us buckets to fill, but lots of the cherries didn't make it in because they weren't dark enough. The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice:) right. I think we all had lots of fun out there!

Shout out to Tia Larlee

My boys absolutely love their tia's, but this year Tia Larlee moved to S.F to get her education on in January and everyones been missin' her. Well, she just moved back for summer vacation and Benicio couldn't be happier. They've always had a close relationship and now that she is back and we are all living together, he gets to play everyday with her. It's really cute and this picture clearly shows all the love. Welcome Back (for the 3mos.) Tia Larlee, you rock!

Cause for Celebration!

Reno finally graduated from S.F.S.U, woo-hoo, so we had a fabulous party @ my Dad's up north in Concord. It took him a while, and many colleges later to finish college, but he did and has a B.S in bs, hee hee. Just kidding it's in Business Management. So proud of this guy.

Reno looks all grown up now, it's so funny because everytime I see him, his face seems a little wider, wiser and more mature:)

Family and friends came to celebrate Nino Reno, everyone seemed to have a good time, especially Julian, who had a field day with the pineapple upside down cake, which he happily devoured.

Congratulations Reno, you rock!

Anything Goes

The boys watched in amazement as the garbage trucks combed the streets picking up anything and everything last Saturday. There was so much stuff piling up in everyone's driveway that I couldn't help but go peek and retrieve some goodies. Hey one's trash is truly someone else's treasure...It's the little things, you know.

Roots

This is what happens when a pecan falls into a potted plant...it gets roots and grows like no ones business. Stay away Mr. Pecan. Thanks.

Green Things in Spring

So, I have been wanting to grow some plants and herbs/veggies, ever since I saw Holly's little garden last Fall and all the produce she produced. And I finally got around to doing it! Jordan built my herb garden table (much props) that I saw in a magazine and after a weekend trip to Home Depot, ta-dah it's planted.

I planted a plethera of everyday herbs like; basil, italian parsley, thyme, cilantro and lettuce (arugula, romaine, spinach) in the table. Then my mother-n-law had some clay pots collecting dust that needed to filled, so we planted radish, zuchinni, carrots, tomato seeds in the rest of those. They are all slowly starting to sprout, more pics to come. woo-hoo!!

My potted plants, mostly succulents, are loving the sun on the side of the house, so I decided to give them some friends and planted some Dahlias, Sunflowers and Bachelor Buttons. I cannot wait to see them finally bloom:)

Maybe if I stare at them long enough they will grow faster:)

Home Sweet Home

This going back home stuff is easier than I thought. Even though I've been sick for about two months straight I can't help but be thankful for this opportunity. Benicio loves it. Julian is in heaven (although not pictured, he really digs playing by himself around here). And Alisa is really bonding with my dad (should I be worried that they share so much in common?) So now it's time to start pinching those pennies. I've been going strong so far; brown bagging at work, not buying anymore clothes, and starving the kids (just kidding). We should be in pretty good shape come December and that would be when we start really looking for a place of our own. Fingers crossed.

And yes, we really are this happy... Go Curiel Family!

At Home

I wish the rest of the place looked this nice. Alisa has set up a great place for us to sleep. It is amazingly quiet in this room and I can't explain how great it is to wake up and look out this side window. Now on to making the rest of the place livable.

The First or Last Day

We're officially moved out. It took some serious work (and a couple stitches to my forehead) but we finally moved the last of our stuff out of 845. The picture below doesn't do the kitchen justice. My mom took the cleaning products to a whole 'nother level with this room.

The kids room was pretty easy because Alisa had been moving stuff out of it for the last couple of weeks.

I will miss the chalk wall, which Alisa had done a great job of teaching the boys how to draw on walls (hopefully this doesn't translate into a future career in the tagging industry.

The boys did a great job of staying out of our way with their neighbor Heze. I have a feeling this will lead to some fun times this summer. And in case you can't tell, it was hot this weekend... so hot that Julian felt it necessary to show off the guns.