Whirlwind Weekend, Once Again

This weekend was a reminder of why I'm thankful for friends and family.

Friday night: I had the pleasure of hanging out with friends at the Annual Standard get together. A good time, where new friends and old were able to get out in to the heat of LA, and shake a tail feather on the dance floor. Though we went home early this year, having missed several of our normal participants (Scott, Liz, Dan, Dean, etc.), we all we home with a smile. Cheers to all!

Saturday started off kinda rough. In the middle of the night, I had had fainting spells, I woke up to the power being out in my area, and it was burning up hot. Not enough of a reason to keep this busy bee from moving! At noon, Kisha, Chris and I spent a couple hours in the Carson Ikea enjoying the lovely AC. We purchased some nice lanterns for Chris' bday party and I got some ideas for how to store my collection of books. Unfortunately, with Kisha needing to head to a wedding and my plans in SD, we had to part ways at 2. On the drive to SD, in El Toro, my car started overheating.

Ambient temperatures read 107-108, while I waited 20 minutes in the shade for the gauge to go back to normal. Maybe it was my erratic driving with the AC on high, but to say the least my car was unhappy about its treatment. I debated whether to return to Compton, where my power would be out until 9pm, or continue to head toward SD. With gift in hand and a bonfire slated, San Diego won out. Some call me brave for continuing to drive in the heat, I call it dumb and persistent. Either way, if the car conked out on me, I planned to take the train back to LA b/c I don't drive Monday through Friday!

Two driving breaks meant that I was unable to participate in the Gompers Reunion at Hospitality Point. I was truly disappointed as seeing Tamara Carson was to be 1 of the highlights of my weekend. We had met in high school, and I remember her as of the the sweetest, gentlest spirits I had known in school. It would've been great to hear how her life had progressed, but alas there was only time to stop and give hugs to her and Dianna Brown. (Who takes great pictures by the way!) Because next up was dinner with Dave's family.
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Dave’s aunt, uncle and cousins (Marcus and Frank), for a number of years. They're consistently a welcoming, pleasant group of people, so I’m delighted I can be part of their family dinners from time to time. The cousins even took a look at my car after dinner to see if there were any obvious problems. (Thanks guys!)
At 7pm, it was time to celebrate Ana's birthday. I met Ana and her son Pedro through Dave, 5 years ago. Since then, we've experienced the ups and downs that life has to offer and I just didn't want to miss the party at her mom’s house. Despite those good intentions, still feeling on the crummy side, I ditched my original plans to stay the night with Ana, and instead headed to my uncle's house. To my surprise, my cousin Lin was there, whom I had not seen since high school! Lin had come down to visit his mom for a couple of weeks because his health has been rather poor of late – failing lung, dialysis required for excess fluids, heart disease, and numerous other ailments; for a man in his 40s, quite a doozie to deal with.

Sunday: I was thus fortunate to have breakfast with him, watch him get on his niece's nerves, and overall just spend time with my family on Sunday. Plus, between napping and hanging out, I saw Park Vista, Chula Vista (which is in SD county), trounce Taipei, China in Little League baseball. How cool is that? Capping the evening, I went to a bonfire at Crown Point Shores with Lisa, James C., Steve, Sean M., and Jessica. Getting to burn some wood, poke the burning wood with a big stick, and then roast marshmallows over the flames was a relaxing experience. I thank Lisa Chamberlain for letting me crash yet another bonfire. When 7pm rolled around, so did the fog. I knew I couldn't just linger in SD much longer because a real job awaited my in LA in the morning. So, after a quick laugh when Jessica arrived, I headed off to LA in silence, with no new over-heating car issues.
Since there's no such thing as a perfect weekend, the couple bummers:
Standard: Dean was unable to join us at The Standard because his brother in the hospital with a brain hemorrhage. Though I’m selfishly sad I wasn’t able to see my buddy, I’m grateful he was able to be with his brother. My prayers are with his family during these continuing trying times.

Reunion: Despite spending less than 10 minutes at the reunion, it seems that I made an impact, though not the kind I would have wanted! Saturday night, I was accused of stalking (first for me being the stalker) and attempting to undo a marriage. Yikes! I won't play innocent. I know what statements I made a month ago to flame this situation. Moreover, I'll take responsibility for my naïveté in believing in someone I thought to be an old friend; even though we had both agreed in July, that eventually I would be disappointed. And indeed, I am disappointed. It saddens me deeply that my name is being dragged through the mud. Yet, as Jessica often remarks, I am a woman in transition. I’m constantly on the move. Thus, I have little bandwidth, or more importantly desire, to participate in drama that is attempting to spin around me. Yet, in this negativity, there's several lights that rise.

(1) In my facebook status, I had mentioned I was saddened by the situation. In turn, I was taken aback by the many expressions of support and validations of characters from friends and associates. To these individuals, I am grateful to each of you.

(2) A couple of weeks ago, Genevieve asked me if my dream to return to SD someday was diminished by other negative comments. Quite the contrary! Negative comments keep me grounded, remind me that there’s always more I can do to improve how I am perceived, and drive me to want to prove to myself that the perception is wrong.

So if for the greater good of the universe that I get blamed for things I did, and things I did not do, then so be it. I have every intent on staying true to myself and continue to strive for happiness at whatever risk comes of it.