Commute

So I have a wicked awesome commute. I travel from Newport Beach to Burbank every morning and back the other way every evening. It takes about two hours give or take, both ways. So in plain English that's 4 hours a day. I love it. And I hate it. But I do like it.

So here's the rundown. I leave the beautiful city of Newport Beach(and my beautiful wife, who's usually still asleep because she likes sleeping in) at no later than 7am. (7:05 is pushing it, but I can still make it.) I drive up the 405 to Long Beach and get on the Blue Line.

I try to catch the 7:32 or 7:37 which will get me to Burbank on time, but if not, I can catch the 7:42, which if it's running smoothly will get me there. Any train after that, and I'll be late 10 minutes to work.

At 7:30 in the morning most riders are business people and a few student types.
This guy is reading the newspaper. He has glasses.

I travel through the amazing city of Compton. This city is so proud of itself. The train passes right through it's civic center and there are tons of murals and statues, like one of a dog. The picture I took is super blurry, so it didn't make the cut, but if anyone decides to visit Compton on vacation it's a must-see.
Check this mural out, painted on the outside of their city hall; it shows all the wonderful things that Compton has to offer. Look closely at the sign all the way on the left where it shows the symbols of Best Buy, Home Depot and a few other big box stores. Compton has come a long way.















This shows Compton's tall City Hall building, and of course the world famous Tom's Jr Burgers.
































From Compton I travel through the infamous Watts. Known for two things: rioting and weird towers that were built by some weird guy. I haven't experienced a riot, so no pics of that, but I was able to snap this shot of the Watts Towers. (They're poking up in the background behind the urban clutter.)



Here are some of the other things I see from the train as it travels north to Downtown LA:





And of course the Staples Center...


And then I get to Downtown LA. The Blue Line ends up underground, where it meets the Red Line, which travels from Union Station to North Hollywood.

Here's the rush of the 7th Street Station where people scramble to catch the next Red Line downstairs.



The Red Line is pretty boring. The only thing interesting is the people on the Subway.
This guy is wearing a hat over his dew rag. What a Silly-Billy.



Once the train arrives in North Hollywood, it's back to surface. I love taking the escalator up to the ground level. It's the Valley, but I'd rather be on the surface of the Valley than stuck somewhere underground.



From North Hollywood, I take a Burbank bus to the Wonderful Disney Lot. Where I see squirrels.



This bus hits up all the sites.



And this is where I work. My building is actually in the background there.


And then in the evening I do it all backwards. Only on the way back there are a lot weirder people and different beggers asking for money. And this lady, selling treats. (And by treats I mean candy.)


I saw this guy while waiting for the Blue Line to leave. He kept grabbing the air in front of him and shaking. Poor guy must have gotten lost from the institution.




This guy started yelling a really loud prayer. I thought that would be the end of it, but then he started lecturing us about Jesus! We all know about him, Buddy, this is America!












This guy was singing in Spanish or some junk like that. I would have tipped him, but me no speaka.














And that's what I do five days a week, except when I sleep in and have to drive, which ironically takes way less time, despite having to sit in traffic.

I love Betsy, everyone!

By Popular Demand

Here are some wedding pictures finally. Nick and I got married at the Old Santa Ana Courthouse on June 25th, 2009 at 10:45 am after a delectable breakfast at Norm's. We kept the crowd to an absolute minimum with only family and our surrogate siblings in attendance. We hope to celebrate with a much larger crowd when we are sealed (we'll keep you posted on the details as they become available). For now we're happy to be able to share some pictures from the happy day Nitsy became legal. Enjoy!

Before going into the courthouse to be married.

On our way into the courthouse. Brandon is in the foreground taking a picture.

Nick looked so handsome. I guess I was grooming him or something.

The adorable couple.

I loved the exposed heater in the old courthouse. We were waiting in the hall for our appointment to get hitched.

Brandon, Nick and Brian.

Handsome fellows.

Sisters.

Gabi, Malia, me and Caitlin

Signing the marriage license.

Brian and Malia were the witnesses. Here they are signing the documents.

Walking into the little room that the marriage ceremony took place in.

There was a little bench with these SWEET heart shaped pillows. We had to pose for a few shots with these bad-boys.

Total awesomeness.

It was probably at this point that Malia started the timer. We were told that the marriage ceremony would take 8 minutes, and no, we could not forgo the ceremony and just sign papers (who would even suggest such a horror?!?!)

My favorite wedding picture.

Right after we were pronounced man and wife. We didn't get a really good kissing picture because we were hardly able to kiss due to our laughing.

See what I mean? Complete chuckle-heads.

Man and Wife. All in all the ceremony was about 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Give or take a few seconds. Not shabby.

Newlyweds outside the courthouse.

Everyone - Front Row: Gabi, Caitlin, Nick, Betsy, Mom Hite, Malia. Back Row: Grandma Neal, Brian, Aunt Charlotte, Mandy, Dad Hite, Brandon

Everyone again.

Nitsy (and Dad Hite in the background)

Nitsy's official wedding picture.

Leaving the courthouse. You can't tell from the picture, but Nick had a definite spring in his step as we sauntered off to the honeymoon.

This is the surprise that awaited me at the hotel. Nick is so super adorable and I can't help but love him, and I know that he loves me like crazy.