Last minute Christmas

Since I pretty much left for California right after finishing school, I didn't get to do my last minute Christmas shopping until, well, today. But I'm proud to say that I finished it all up AND got a $78 dress from Urban Outfitters for $14.99!! Amazing! Didn't intend to buy anything for myself but I do have a birthday coming up and now I have something beautiful to wear! Hopefully there will be somewhere to wear it to!

Day Eight: California Christmas

Last day in Long Beach. It was probably the nicest, warmest day of the entire trip. Since there's not much to do in the apartment, Gizmo and I took a walk out of the neighborhood. The area is really pretty with the mountains off in the distance and all the palm trees all over the place. I must have looked like I knew where I was going because some girl asked me for directions! Unfortunately, I could not help her. So much for being a local. After my mom got done work, we went out to eat as a last hurrah. We ate at this place called "Polly's" which is kind of an oddly decorated, home cooking sort of diner situation. Be that as it may, I had a yummy turkey burger with mac and cheese on the side and I got a free piece of pie. Can't beat that! When we got home, I finished up packing and we all went to bed early due to the fact that we had to leave for the airport at 6am.

Day Seven: California Christmas!

It's the day after Christmas and what does that mean? It's Gizmo's Birthday! Although it was his birthday, I got a few wishes of my own. My mother and I went to the Aquarium on the Pacific in Long Beach. Not only did I really want to go there, I really wanted to have a day out with just her. Quality time is better spent when it's just one on one. And it was a really fun day and I'm glad we were able to do it. I took a lot more video than anything else, but I did get a few pictures. It's not easy, though. Fish move a lot! haha I just have one complaint about that aquarium. No penguins! Camden has so many penguins! It's hard to believe the Camden aquarium has something this aquarium didn't! Shocking! Ah well. It was really awesome nonetheless! After we got back, I wound up having to change my flight plans due to the storm brewing on the east. I was supposed to leave the following day, but now my plans were all pushed back by one day. Stupid snow was trying to fuck shit up! But my mother was pretty happy about it!

Day Six: California Christmas

Christmas! My first Christmas in Long Beach and it started out early, but no where near as early as the ones in the past in Millville. After I was showered and dressed, we hung around waiting for our guests to arrive. Once Wilder and Barb got here and settled in we got to the business of the presents. I think the gifts I gave were a hit and the gifts I received were quite lovely. Definitely made out pretty good this year. haha After wards, my mother made some gingerbread pancakes that I brought out. So yum! Then my brother hooked up my parents new blu-ray player and we watched "The Last Starfighter" and then the most recent Star Trek film. After Wilder and Barb left, my mother and I curled up on the couch and watched Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. I had never seen it so my mother basically just went to sleep. But I'm used to that kind of thing so it didn't bother me. It was nice to have some one on one time. Really nice way to end my Christmas :)

Day Five: California Christmas

Christmas Eve! Since my mother didn't have to work, we decided to take advantage of the returning nice weather and head down to the beach. It was really pretty and really sad at the same time. Due to the storm, there was so much trash on the beach. Lots of balls and shoes and bottles and junk. So, we just walked down and back. Wasn't any shopping areas down there like there is at the Venice Beach. I kind of hoped there would be, but there wasn't. So much for last minute Christmas shopping! Later on, my brother, Wilder, and his girlfriend, Barb, came over for dinner and to bake some sugar cookies. After everyone left, Gizmo and I got ready for bed and got ready for Santa to come!!

Day Four: California Christmas

After an extremely annoying and long day, my mom got home from work and we departed to have an evening at Downtown Disney. Although the temperature wasn't crazy warm, it had finally stopped raining! In fact, as soon as we left Long Beach and we got closer to Anaheim, the sun came out for a bit. It was the first bit of sun I'd seen since I landed. I'm not saying I was getting S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder), but all that rain did not make for a great beginning to my Christmas vacation. Luckily, it wasn't too crowded and we had a really delicious Mexican dinner. It was good times. And it's really not far from where my parents live. I hope we can take advantage of that in the future!!

Day Three: California Christmas

Another day of rain. Every vacation I go on is like this. I go where the record breaking weather is happening. But never record breaking in a good way. It's never like, "the hottest winter on record." It's always the "coldest summer" or something like that. Naturally the week I'm in Southern California is when they're experiencing "the most rain they've had on record". So, we went the day in the house watching it rain and instant netflix instant movies. After my mother got done work, we went out to eat at a restaurant called "Claim Jumper". It was a pretty themey restaurant, but the food was yummy and it was nice to be out of that apartment! It was also fun to see all the different styles people were rocking in Long Beach during what they consider to be "winter".

Day Two: California Christmas

Second day in Long Beach. Spent the whole day pretty much locked up in the spare room watching the time go by. It was pouring for the most part. During a break in the rain I went out and discovered that Long Beach has a pyramid! It's more exciting than it looks, though. I did some research and discovered it's true purpose is a sports arena, essentially. I was a tad disappointed, but it still looks neat. After what felt like an eternity, my mother got home from work and I was able to go to the super market and Target. No one seemed to be in a good mood. But things got a tad more cheerful when my mother got me one of the greatest things ever; this leopard blanket from Target! Once my mother had a feel of this soft, lush blanket, she decided to get one for her place too. But honestly, I think she just got it to shut me up. It worked.

You better watch out

Christmas is coming! Are you ready?! Have you been good?! 

Santa has been stalking you like Big Brother all year long, fools!