two and half years… 

i’ll never be able to forget… 

the smell of strawberries on a spring day 

the rolling hills 

the apathetic shrug of having nothing to do on a friday night 

the warm hug of a friend 

the japanese cherry blossom hand wash 

the late night windows down cold air drives down Culver 

the mystery of black star canyon

the lunches that were paid for in all change 

the mad rush to in n out during lunch period 

the subsequent glare from mr. gould for being late back from lunch period for going to in n out 

the smell of freshly baked banana bread 

the drive up the hill in newport and staring at the orange county lights 

the two hour good bye at the front door 

the chic fil a lunches

the green belt 

the hicks canyon trail 

the peters canyon trail 

the lake of irvine 

the woodbridge gazebo 

the dollar movie theatre 

the senior center 

the terry hennigan irvine stadium 

the late night halo battles 

the cross walk in front of sierra vista middle school 

the park paseo pool 

the woodbury town center 

the dennys on sand canyon

the irvine valley college cafeteria (they still have the best chicken tenders) 

the 5

the 405

the 22

the 55

the 57 

the angel stadium of anaheim 

the trailwood neighborhood

the meadow wood park 

the del taco 

the castle park 

the northwood high school theatre 

the in n out burger

the newport beach beach side 

the huntington beach pier 

the music filled drives to the beach 

the sun burns 

and most importantly… 

learning how to love.

IT’S NOT LEAVING THAT’S THE HARDEST.  IT’S COMING BACK.

bitches ain’t shit but hoes and tricks

Today is the two anniversary of when I left California for Louisiana after high school.  The following is a completely honest account of what has happened since that day.

6.25.10 - My Dad and I board the plane at John Wayne Airport.  I started a conversation with the cute girl sitting next to me, her name was Samantha. Our flight connected in Houston to go to New Orleans, the gate next to ours was bound for Los Angeles.  Upon arriving in New Orleans at about one in the morning my Dad and I had to drive the extra hour to Baton Rouge, upon arriving at my Aunt and Uncle’s house I was thrust into the shower and went straight to bed. 

6.26.10 - This has to be one of the saddest days I’ve ever had the displeasure of experiencing.  In the morning I told my parents the stories of my adventures in the recent weeks, my parents went to Louisiana a few weeks before me because I wanted to stay to go to Prom and walk at graduation.  Since the day that they left I’ve been on borrowed time in California.  I showed my parents pictures, my mortar board, stupid videos I had taken, and small trinkets I had packed in my suitcase.  My parents began to cry at the end and apologized for making me move to Louisiana.  In many ways I still haven’t forgiven them. 

July 2010 - This month, without a shadow of a doubt, was the worst month of my life.  I had no friends, I didn’t know the area, it was the hottest weather I had ever experienced, my parents argued everyday, and my Aunt and Uncle were bickering as usual.  For a month I watched TV, played computer games, and wished above all to be home.  My brain has repressed most of the events of this month, I don’t really remember much. However, I do remember moving into our new house at the end of the month.  A nice little house right next to LSU, a very charming old house, much better than the brand new house my parents wanted.

August 2010, Semester 1 - Contrary to popular belief I attended Baton Rouge Community College my first semester in Louisiana, not LSU.  My parents moved so quickly I didn’t have time to apply to LSU, the date for freshman admission had passed.  BRCC is a horrible place, even now when I drive by it I get a cold chill down my spine.  At BRCC all I wanted to do was keep my head down and get my grades to get the hell out of there.  However, I did make one friend at BRCC, her name was Samantha.  There are literally thousands of name for girls, just saying. 

9.5.10 - I spent my birthday with my parents and Aunt and Uncle.  They fought the entire time.

December 2010, Christmas Break - I couldn’t take BRCC anymore, a prospective student needs 30 transferable college units and at least a 2.5 GPA in those courses to transfer to LSU.  I only had 15 units but I still walked right into Pleasant Hall (the admissions building at LSU) and talked to Mr. Cleve Brooks about transferring. It was during the conversation I realized two things: I had 15 units back at IVC so I had the required number to transfer in the spring, and Cleve Brooks is the admissions director of the entire university.  Mr. Brooks got all my papers and approved me for transfer, he even gave me in-state tuition (a savings of 7 grand per semester, that’s no joke folks.) 

January 2010, Semester 2 - My first semester at LSU, I started feeling better for the first time since moving to Louisiana.  I made my first real friend in Matt, we’re still friends to this day.  He’s basically a giant from Boston.  I made a lot of friends in my theater class, we had a lot of fun doing improv.  I also got my first job, working at Yogurtland like a complete boss.  I worked there for about two months until I moved over to a restaurant called the Chimes, basically a Louisiana eatery right off of campus.  It was during this semester my best friend Noah told me that his family was willing to take me in for two weeks in the summer.  This news shook me to the core, I would be going home, I haven’t been back since I left.  I finished my finals that semester (got a 3.5 GPA) and finished my last shift at Chimes.  You’ve never seen someone do their closing duties faster. 

5.19.11 - On this day I flew home to California.  I flew into John Wayne airport, when I saw the 405 freeway sign I began to cry on the plane.  No one on the plane knew the sort of delicate situation I was in.  When I walked out of the gate over to the pickup zone I had the goofiest smile on my face of all time.  I was literally the happiest boy in Southern California that day. 

5.20.11 through 6.5.11 - I spent a glorious two weeks seeing my old friends, enjoying the California sun once again, and enjoying some much needed mild weather.  Leaving again was horrible. 

Summer 2011 - I worked and went to summer school.  Nothing exciting. 

August 2011 - It was during a conversation with Dad that I decided I would rush a fraternity.  My Dad was a Theta Chi back at Michigan State, he mentioned that joining would help me gain friends and improve my quality of life in Louisiana.  I had to agree.  Rush started on 8.18.11 and took 4 days to complete.  At the end of those four days I was a pledge to Phi Kappa Psi.  

9.5.11 - Spent my birthday with my parents, they yelled at me the whole time. 

Fall Semester 2011 - I started gaining friends through my new fraternity, some are great guys, some not so much.  I made a new friend in Gabe, one of my pledge brothers, we’re still best buds to this day.  I met a girl Caroline along the way, we dated low-key for a little while.  This was the first time I had talked to a girl outside of a friend capacity since Sam.  Overall it was a good semester, my grades suffered from doing pledge bullshit but I enjoyed all the football games and the brotherhood of my new friends. 

Christmas Break 2011 - The Cheneys came to California for a few days to see Kendall for Christmas.  It was a great trip, but extremely short. 

Spring Semester 2012 - This is where things get interesting. I moved into my fraternity house, a single room on the bottom floor of the house right next to the outside door.  This is the first I lived away from my parents.  Of course they were still two minutes down the street but a difference none the less.  It was during this semester that I started my new job with Tiger TV.  I was a segment anchor, I wrote and cut the video for my own two minute segment on each week’s sports show.  This sort of job experience is extremely important for a broadcast journalism major.  Phi Kappa Psi had social events for the first time in a year and a half this semester.  Wow, were those ever fun.  Our early exchanges were exactly what I was picturing college to be, drunken fests with good looking girls.  Man, I was hooked. 

1.25.12 - I met Christina Kelley at our exchange with Zeta Tau Alpha…more on this later. 

March 2012 - The craziest month of my damn life.  I worked two jobs and had a social event every Saturday.  I would go into detail but I’m either too embarrassed or it’s too crazy for the kids. 

3.24.11 - My parents tell me that my Mom’s friend Kaelyn is willing to take me in for the entire summer in California.  More on this later.

3.25.11 - Christina and I decided to start dating.  

End of Spring Semester 2012 - Tiger TV offered me a main anchor and production job with the sports show, I immediately accepted.  I moved my belonging out of the fraternity house for the summer, and started my drive home. 

5.12.11 through 5.14.11 -30 hours home, fuuuuuuck 

Summer 2012 - And this brings us to today.  I’m not quite sure how I made it but on this two year anniversary I’m right back in Irvine.  My true journey home has just begun.  I won’t stop until I get myself into a position where I can be home in California for good. 

6.25.12 - Spent all day writing a stupid tumblr post. 

If you read this whole things you’re either really bored or a good friend.  Even if you didn’t read it I love you all.  If you haven’t seen me yet and would like to my number is 949-981-8711, I’m here until July 25.

whatshouldwecallme:

just a few things. 

1. march 2012 may go down as the craziest month of my life. 

2. i’m coming back to california over summer (for 2 months!), get stoked. 

3. i miss everyone back in irvine so much still, you wouldn’t believe. 

4. and most important of all. never, ever, ever lose sight of yourself.  Being true to yourself is the most important thing you can do. 

that is all

1. The feeling when I walked through John Wayne Airport on my trip back.  I swear if you saw me I had the all-time goofiest smile on my face.  Literally people were probably looking at me thinking, “What the fuck is wrong with this guy?”  

2. My trip to Tuscaloosa.  And along with that, any LSU football game.  Oh, and when we won the SEC Championship.

3. When I was offered, and accepted, my new sports anchor position with Tiger TV.  I can’t wait to start. 

4. Realizing that I didn’t need a girlfriend or anything of that sort in my life.  Holy crap what a freeing experience.

5. Noah visiting Louisiana.