I don’t live by these words as much as I’d like, and I’m probably going to gravely regret that someday.
One of my best and longest standing buds, Giovanni. Came to visit Los Angeles for the first time, and it was the best time.
This is Jay (and Oscar and Amelie).
Colleague, mentor, dear friend, and hero. I made this for his birthday and was glad to hear the ridiculousness of it put a smile on his face.
Truthfully, I think he has more muscles in real life.
King Bud Lidas. Turning all he touches to beer, even beer itself.
I found these words, but almost lost them. You get more wisdom with age, but you also get more forgetful.
This is Kim, and I made this for her birthday. As colorful as it is, I don’t think it quite captures the sheer positivity and happiness she radiates. She may be the most sincere person I’ve ever met, but by no means, takes shit from anyone. That’s what I like best about her.
She also keeps a really fun and quite popular blog. Check it out!
This is Michelle, and today is her birthday. She has a contagious smile and I swear, more teeth than the average person.
It’s really something when I stop to think about everything we’ve done, and everywhere we’ve been together. From my first drink, to my first stamp in my passport. Ten years is a long time when you’re young.
She’s seen me at my best, and helped pick me up at my worst. Through and through, one of my truest friends. I’ll know this one till the day I die.
Here we go.
Alexis. Drew. Magic Johnson’s Friday’s. LAX. San Jose. Terminal Drinking. More flying. My first stamp. Lima. Our apartment. Carolina. Sebastian. 4am 90s top 40. Taxis that weren’t taxis at all. Karaoke. Pisco sours. Sushi. Con permiso. Agua con gas. Agua sin gas. Tour busses. Catacombs. Chili’s. Our taxi ran out of gas. Ice cream. Another plane. Cusco. Our hostel. Cinemax. Michelle. Dancing in markets. Hiking. Hunted by wild dogs. Altitude sickness. Snickers grande. Canadian Irish pub. Dos mas please. A train. Aguas Calientes. Jurassic Park. Hot springs. Market bargaining. Machu Picchu. Touring. Hiking. Photo ops. Wonder. Naps. Rain. A late train. A missed bus. High-speed taxi driving. Intercepting and boarding our bus. Frostbite. Arequipa. Sand boarding fail. Rafting. Rafting rescue. Cerveza hunting. Bibs. Alpaca. Another plane. Back to Lima. More Chili’s. Ramada. Security cameras. More Cinemax. Another plane. San Jose. More flying. LAX. Mckenzie. Home.
That was my trip to Peru. Exhausting, but I wouldn’t do a thing differently. If this was difficult to grasp, then I described it perfectly. You really had to be there.
Saw this on the news. Bears an eerie resemblance to my friend George. Hide your tacos.
George the Poet. This day is his birthday.
Met a lot of folks since living in Los Angeles, but he stands a bit taller than most to me.
Today is this mans birthday, and this man is Michael. Got a lot of stories with this one, known him seven years now.
We moved to Los Angeles around the same time. Like to think we leaned on each other a bit. But really, it was more me leaning on him. I owe him a lot. His family too.
Many adventures, many more to pass.
Never the place, always the people.
Duncan the navigator. George the poet. Drew the holiday. Ashley the dancer. Alexis the Sun. Jacquelynne the Italifornian. Colby the certain. Christina the welcoming. Mike the noble.
These are my friends. The kind that when asked to bring a chair to a party in my empty apartment, bring a couch. I was about as low as hell, for a long time, before I met these people. I’m so lucky, and I know that well.
Sometimes, we drink.
My friend Jon Kim, who once convinced me he was from, and escaped North Korea. I believed and told this to people for at least a year. Still a running joke.
For years now, no longer than a few weeks have gone by without catching up over beers. Sometimes talking about nothing, sometimes talking with weight in our words. Always enjoyed the conversations.
He’s moving to Seattle today, so there’ll be a bit less of all that. I’m glad to see him go though. Nothing sad about a friend chasing opportunity, trying to better their life. Upwards and onwards.
Godspeed Jon Kim.