Noggin Nourishment

CHI TOWN WINTER
Over the Presidents day weekend I was able to visit my family in Chicago. Thanks to my wonderfully charitable cousins, Vanessa and Angel A., I had a great place to stay in their lovely home out in the burbs. Being a So-Cal girl I had prepare myself for the unfamiliar mid-west winter conditions. I bought my own snow boots and packed tons of layers and scarves. If you have never been to Chicago I would highly recommend going. I always enjoy myself and the food is out of this world. I through my diet lifestyle out the window for a few days and just enjoy the tasty treats of the windy city, in moderation of course. Three cheers for Chicago and three cheers for family I hope I can go back again soon.


OC 4 JAPAN

The 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan and the unfortunate domino effects that were unleashed from it took the whole world by surprise as we watched history unfold right before our eyes. Millions of dollars in contributions have been raised to assist in relief efforts. On Sunday March 27, 2011 the OC4 Japan fundraiser was held in Newport Beach at the 8eighty8 night club. The fundraiser was put together by Cal State Fullerton Alumni and was highly successful and raised over $40,000 for disaster assistance. Numerous socialites were in attendance to support the red cross in its relief efforts. Generous event goers opened up their hearts and their wallets to bid on several donated auction items, all of the proceeds going to Japan. The capstone of the evening was a special guest speaker who had been living in Japan when the catastrophe struck. He recounted his reactions and spoke candidly about his journey to return to the United States.The event was highly successful and I for one am very glad I was able to attend and contribute in my own way.




DJ MUFFIN TOP- STILL HALF BAKED
Duarte, CA.
There was a well thought out St. Patrick's day preparty planned on the Saturday March 12, 2011 at one Pay Pay Rodriguez's home. The event was highly anticipated by one DJ Muffin Top (AKA Rene Casanova) for he would finally be granted another opportunity to redeem himself from the infamous wire forgetting incident. It has been rumored that Muffin Top, (named so for the excess amount of pudge that hangs over his pants) while still at the infant state of his career, is no more talented then a boom box from the 1990s. However I will state that I have noticed his skills have sharpened since October of 2010. While there is still the occasional skip or unintentional scratch Muffin Top seems to be gaining a self defined style as well as confidence. Muffin Top still has a long way to go if he wants to become a paid act but he is well on his way to at least being a DJ that is not booed for forgetting a chord.



GEAR GRINDER
Here is something that perhaps only social media heads encounter however. Not such a long time ago I signed up for a new social media account and with that registration I had to create my profile. A few fill in the box type of easy going questions. What are your hobbies/pastimes? What kind of music do you like? That sort of thing. Simple and direct. The only problem is that each question's answer box had varying undisclosed character limits. I was not able to write a complete thought out in either box and the audacity made me wince. Why ask me the questions and hinder my answer? How rude. It was not as though I was entering a short story in either space. All I want is an opportunity to express my answer somewhat intelligently without having to resort to slang or abbreviated words.



RANDOM THOUGHT
Now more then ever I grow increasingly more aware of my own aging and wonder if I pay close enough attention could I pinpoint the exact moment in time my body "isn't what it used to be". Pondering at what point I will wake up one morning with a nagging pain that refuses to go away.  I know that I am not what most people consider old however, I am the oldest that I have ever been and I can only base my views on my own experience. I wonder where the time has gone and I think about the people and the things that are no longer around. What ever happened to Andy Milonakis, iridescent or scratch and sniff stickers, and putting chop sticks in your hair? (not related) Those things are gone and in their place are some other odd ball things. The only constants are change, and Cher.