Sunday July 25, 2010
Malibu, California
Perfect SoCal Weather
I've had the best weekend. First my beloved nephew Billy visiting me from Colorado and then spent most of Saturday with my BFF Linda in Malibu. I'll blog about Linda's visit in a few days but first about Billy's visit. It's been over 3 years since Billy has had a sleepover at my place. He used to have regular sleep overs from around the age of 5 until I left for Japan in 2007. It was easy to do as my sister and family were living in Pacific Palisades at that time.
This sleepover was an "event". For the first time ever, he flew out to LA by himself! It was actually his first solo flight. My sister and I were a basket case but Billy was very nonchalant about it and made it without any problems.
Billy arriving at LAX last Thursday. Took it with my iphone and its blurry cuz I was so excited!
He arrived around noon and arrived starving. I told him not to eat lunch as our original plan was to go to an all you can eat Yakiniku (Japanese style Korean barbecue) place called Gyu-kaku. But upon arrival, he wanted to go to Taiko as he had cravings for a California roll and their house salad. He loves the ginger dressing of Taiko's house salad. He ended up having Niku-don (beef on rice), 2 house salads (he ate mine), California roll, and we shared a popcorn shrimp appetizer.
After Taiko, instead of going straight home, we decided to see a movie that we both wanted to see – Inception. Since we had time, we stopped at Crumbs in Malibu where Billy had a chocolate fudge cupcake for dessert and a huge glass of milk.
We did go home after the dessert though, to walk the dogs and drop off his suitcase. Skipper totally remembered Billy but Yuki-chan was a bit shy. Actually, she barked at him. Professor also remembered Billy which is pretty amazing. We then headed back to Malibu Country Mart and caught the 4pm showing of Inception. It was awesome and even more awesome for Billy because it was his first 4k Digital Cinema experience.
After the movie, we headed back home to relax. It was just like old times cuz we talked, watched another movie (Step Brother which he recommended and I did not like that much) and ordered some pizza for dinner. As the night went on, Yuki-chan started warming up to Billy and actually jumped on the couch to be with him.
The next day (Friday) we slept in a bit and I took Billy to Paradise Cove for breakfast which also was one of the things we did in the past during a sleepover. But this time, instead of the kid's meal, he had a huge adult breakfast of scrambled eggs with sausage, cheese and bacon, fried potatoes, toast and another huge glass of milk. Billy is now 6ft 4in and his appetite makes me wonder if he will grow even taller!
Paradise Cove
Billy ordered "Damn Good Eggs" from the menu and they were damn good!
The Pier at Paradise Cove
I then dropped him off to his BFF Brett's house. The whole purpose of the trip was for him to join Brett on a volunteer project on a Navajo Reservation in Arizona. Its a week of volunteering and it is the first time for Billy to do this but he was filled with excitement. While he was a Brett's house, I was busy unpacking his suitcase and repacking everything in a duffel bag he is borrowing from me. (Apparently, duffel bags are cool). I picked him up around 4pm, where the first words out of his mouth were "I'm STARVING". So we went home where he finished a quart of chocolate milk and headed to Zooma Sushi as soon as it opened (5:05pm). Again, we had a feast! We ordered steak, fried calamari, california rolls, spicy tuna rolls, crunchy shrimp rolls and gyoza (Japanese style Chinese dumplings). Yum! And it was Billy's first time at Zooma Sushi. He loved it!
I finally got a "normal" photo of Billy. He was texting his friends about the feast he was about to enjoy.
After dinner, we headed home and watched the movie Departed, that I got from Netflix. I, of course, fell asleep, but Billy said it was good albeit violent but he loved his first Blu-Ray experience with surround sound. He also became best friends with Yuki-chan. Yuki-chan loved cuddling and getting scratched by Billy.
The next morning (Saturday), I had to wake Billy up at 6am as I was told we have to be at the Pacific Palisades Methodist Church by 8am. Since we had to fit in the dogs morning walk and breakfast, 6am is when we had to get up. Billy got up quite easily and since he was all packed, we were out of the house by 620am. We arrived at Malibu Bluffs Park around 630am and spent 30 minutes or so walking the dogs.
Billy checking out one of the new toys at the park. When he was little, we used to call this park the exercise park. We used to play tag here.
Skipper following Billy
After the dogs got their walk, we headed to Coffee Bean so I could get my Soy Chai Latte. We then headed to McDonald's for breakfast where Billy had 2 sausage mcmuffins (with no egg), hashed browns and Sweet Tea. I've never heard of Sweet Tea but apparently its popular now. I tried it and did NOT like it. Soo sweet!
Since I was told to be at the church by 8am, and because I hate being late, we arrived in front of the church at 740am. And there was no one! Billy called Brett to find out that we had to be there between 8 and 830am! So we headed to Gelson's where we got Billy a gallon of water and hostess cupcakes as snacks to take for the long ride to Arizona. When we returned to the church around 810, many folks were there including old friends of Billy's from Pacific Palisades. Brett arrived shortly after, and then the teenagers gathered to have their own private conversations while the adults looked on. I stood there in awe as Billy's friends have all grown up to be nice young men! I left before they took off to Arizona and the boys were telling their parents to leave as "everything is under control". So I gave Billy a BIG HUG, conveyed the loving text messages from Jackson to his big brother Billy, and headed home.
Billy and Brett
The volunteers. Check out the guy in dreadlocks!
Billy will be back from his volunteer work next Sunday which is also when Billy's mother (my sister), father and Jackson arrive. So looking forward to seeing them again in beautiful southern California!
ps. Kim, if you are reading this and notice Billy has been wearing the same outfit everyday, rest assured, I washed it everyday as we did not want to go thru the packing/unpacking/packing exercise.