The Summer So Far

So I am now officially on summer break from work. I feel happy and liberated, and am ready to have another fun summer.

I have already started on the fun. This week alone I have not rested much at night since Monday.

Tuesday night I was visited by Miss Wendy and Ariel. They were in the neighborhood and dropped by the house for an aperitif. I then joined them for dinner at The Brite Spot, which is not the most ideal dining place but Miss Wendy wanted a good salad.

Nonetheless, it was great seeing them together.

Wednesday was the last day of school for my students. That night I went to the Greek Theatre with Karina and her friends to see Nelly Furtado perform. It was a free ticket, and I had no idea the night would end up being so much fun. Ms. Furtado is quite the performer, and for nearly 2 hours she kept us entertained singing all of her greatest hits.

Thursday was my last day of work. At night, I got together with some work friends. We went to Dockweiler State Beach to see the sunset and enjoy a nice bonfire. We brought plenty to eat with us. I made a nice big pitcher of sangria, which we all enjoyed. And our friend Julio provided the music with his i-pod and a set of speakers he had for it. It was also fun to lay in that beach and see so many airplanes fly above you. Dockweiler is just west of LAX...

Friday during the day, I was a total bum, and loved it! I read the newspaper. Went online frequently. Watched a DVD. And talked on the phone all day. At night I got together with friends from work again and went to see this Spanish band named Ojos de Brujo perform at Watercourt Plaza downtown as part of the Grand Performances summer series. It was a lot of fun. I have been going to see shows there in the summer for over 10 years now. And it amazing how these shows get more popular every year. I love it!

Yesterday, I relaxed most of the day again. I watch another movie at home and at night I went to Raquel's birthday party. Something I am looking forward to this summer is watching as many movies at home as I possibly can. With Netflix I like to have mini film festivals or retrospectives of certain directors' or actors' work. A couple of summers ago I rented a bunch of Cary Grant, Bette Davis, and Katherine Hepburn movies. Last summer I watched at least ten Hitchcock films I had never seen before. I also learned that Elizabeth Taylor at one point was indeed the prettiest girl in the world. I've also brushed up on Luis Buñuel, François Truffault, Federico Fellini... It is almost like taking a film history class.

Anyway, I leave you now with a clip from a movie by French auteur François Ozon. He's been called the French Almodovar. His films are a little darker however... Next to Almodovar, Ozon is one of my favorite directors living today. Enjoy!

Water Drops on Burning Rocks