The One with California Adventures

It's been about two years since I've driven a car with a stick, but the car my uncle let us barrow this trip was a stick. There's something about driving a stick that makes me feel in control. Like I have the power. It's funny how naturally it came back to me, I didn't even stall once! I guess it's like riding a bike, once you know how, you never forget.

Honest to blog, finding an apartment has been sooooooooooooooooooo much harder than I thought it would be. We drove up and down practically every single street in Pasadena calling so many numbers on a million different For Rent signs, I've probably racked up an enormous cell phone bill. At least these vibrant purple trees were there to brighten my day.
Palm trees are swell as well.

And there's this really neat bridge in Pasadena I'd like to walk over some day.

The numero uno problem I've had? Finding a place that allows pets. I get really hot and bothered when someone tells me, "You might have to make a few sacrifices..." - meaning if I want to find someplace to live, I'll have to get rid of Rachel. That's like asking me to give up one of my children. I know I don't have any children, but I love Rachel as if she were. You can't just ask me to get rid of her. I know there are hundreds, if not thousands of places that allow pets in the LA area, and if that means I don't get to live in Pasadena, then so be it. I love animals. I always have. I always will. And that's that. Moving on.

Saturday we hunted til the late afternoon then we went back to Thousand Oaks and saw the movie UP. My mom was quite hesitant about seeing it, in fact, I think her exact words when we were looking at our options were, "Anything but UP." However, UP was the only movie playing around then, I've heard many good things about it from friends, and it got an A in Entertainment Weekly, so she caved. And she loved it. So did I. Very very cute.

My heart did a li'l flip flop when we exited the theater. 157 days to go.

Since Chris had to stay at home and go to school, my mom became my new camera buddy.

We went to church on Sunday and met tons of cute USC Dental School going couples. Lots of them knew places to live. But none allowed pets. Back to square one. After church I was shown an apartment just across the street from the church building that was absolutely perfect. It had our names written on all over it and pets are allowed. This was it, I knew it. I filled out an application and wrote a credit check cheque. But the lady who saw it before me in the morning snatched it up. Back to square one.

We got to our hotel in Anaheim late afternoon on Sunday and headed straight to Downtown Disney. My mom jumped at the chance to have her picture taken in front of this UP balloon :)
Then we saw Night at the Museum 2. There are some very funny parts, mostly involving Hank Azaria. That lisp is something else!

This morning, Monday, we woke up at 6:30am to get to Disneyland right when it opened at 8. Masses and masses of people swarmed around the entrance.

This is still my favorite quote about the whole Disneyland experience - it's a plaque on the bridge as you enter the park.

We ran over to Indiana Jones first, a ride my mom had never been on, and she loved it. She's easy to please :) Then we hopped next door and got on the Pirates of the Caribbean. Then we went back to Indiana Jones using a Fast Pass. Then we went on Splash Mountain. I sat in the front because I thought that would be the seat where I'd get least wet. Haha.

I got soaked.

After that we ran over to California Adventures.

The park wasn't open until 10 so we had to stand behind a rope for awhile. Then we all walked liked lemmings to the only attraction in this corner of the park: the Tower of Terror.
I have a love/hate relationship with the feeling of falling.

I found myself attracted to these mosaics composed of random materials stuck in areas of like color.

A lot of progress has been made to the what used to be a big lake. I guess they're making a big water light show? Or something. To be completed Spring 2010.

I took some pictures while riding on the roller coaster Screamin'
I also got a candid photo of me and my new boyfriend...don't be mad Chris!
Actually, my mom bailed on me at the last minute so a "single rider" was put next to me. It was awkward.

This ferris wheel looked a bit too nauseating so we skipped it. But it was very merry and colorful!

OMG. It was so crowded. I heard that it was so crowded that they had to stop letting people in at some point during the day. I wish my dad could have come, he loves crowds more than anything in this whole wide world.

We got to ride on the Haunted Mansion. It was closed when I was here this January so I was happy it was open. It's one of my faves. I want to figure out how it "works."

The Castle.

For lunch/dinner, my mom made reservations (like five days in advance because you have to!) for us at the Blue Bayou restaurant which is in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. It's been one of her dreams since she was little to eat here. The food was extraordinary. Dream fulfilled.

The past TWO times I've been to Disneyland, It's A Small World has been closed. Not today!While waiting to get on the boats, I figured out that I can change the ISO on my camera, AND I can take macro pictures! Lots of experiments to come...
We attempted to ride Big Thunder Mountain but after waiting for about 15 minutes the ride was shut down and closed for repairs for a few hours. Some trains were stuck on the tracks and we watched as they filed out. But we went back later and got to ride it. Fun fun fun.
I swore to myself I'd never go on the Matterhorn again because it's so rickety, but with a few hours left in the day, I said heck with it and went on it again. My mom agrees, it makes your bones hurt!! Vow renewed.

After 12 continuous hours of walking and adrenaline rushes, I'll admit we were a little pooped.

From sun up to sun down, we sure had a lot of fun at the happiest place on earth!

Tomorrow we have one last apartment to look at that's in the city of Los Angeles. I'm crossing my fingers!