Boda

Something blue: Dodgers bachelorette outing

A few years ago Lori attended a co-ed bachelor and bachelorette party at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. (Ugh, the Angels’ stadium would have an awkward and clunky name.) The couple rented out a luxury box and guests watched the game, ate and drank. Lori thought it was one of the coolest things ever. I was (a) jealous I didn’t go — not that I knew the couple or anything — and (b) couldn’t disagree. I probably said I’d like to do that whenever my time came around.

We didn’t go that route because Sean’s friends are in NY, plus Dodger Stadium isn’t his happy place and the Dodgers are not his favorite team. Plus, luxury boxes were out of our budget.

Instead, Lori planned a bachelorette outing that was local, low-key, all ages (one of the bridesmaids isn’t 21 yet), and recession friendly. We bought tickets via StubHub for the LA-based bridesmaides. Lori coordinated carpooling, rides, and our uniforms for the night.

We wore personalized navy blue and white raglan tees. Before printing them, she asked what I wanted on the shirts.

I suggested “La Novia” since it would be less obvious and look-at-me like other tanks/t-shirts I’ve seen for bachelorette parties. Only Spanish speakers would get the meaning behind the t-shirts. I also liked how they were a nod to my love for all things Lotería. (See: La Dama costume idea.)

Sean dropped me off at our meet up point in Elysian Park. It was quite the surprise to Nancy, Vanny, Valerie and Lori in their cute shirts. Even the numbers had some meaning behind them.

I also loved that Lori chose La Novia and Las Damas. Sean left us and we drove in to the massive parking lot. By the time we got to our seats, the game was in the third inning. Isa joined up with us a little later.

The actual game could’ve been better. We arrived at the game around the third inning. The Dodgers were already losing 1-0 to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers tied up the game in the bottom of the 6th and the game stayed that way until the 11th inning. We may have arrived late, but still got to watch a full game. [ESPN recap]

Since the game went in to extra innings, we weren’t allowed to go on the field for the usual Friday night fireworks show. That would’ve made for some fun pictures (sans Isa since she left at the end of the game).

After the game we met up with Sean at King Taco for tacos and sopes — way better than Dodger dogs. I think our shirts might’ve garnered more attention there than at the game. We went our own ways after that since the cousins and Lori live in the opposite direction than Sean and I.

I enjoyed my laid-back night out with my Lori, Isa and the cousins. I’ve been to several games with them over the years and they’ve all seen me through important moments in my life as well as really tough ones. With two weeks out, I couldn’t be more excited to have them at my side on my wedding day.

Thanks Lori, Nancy, Vanny, Valerie and Isa for taking me out to the ball game. Love you.

Música

This side of the road

Note: This post has been sitting in my drafts since mid August. The first show was on Friday, August 10th, then second on Monday, August 13th.

My year always feels off when I don’t get to see Café Tacuba live. They’ve been my favorite band for ages and I always go to see them whenever they’re in town or close enough for a quick flight up to San Francisco or Oakland.

The last few years have felt a little off (music-wise), but this past week has made up for it. I blew my summer concert budget on tickets for Super Estrella’s Reventón. Well, I planned to blow my budget, but the better/pricier seats were already taken by the time I got to the Ticketmaster website. (This summer’s budget was a lot less than in recent years thanks to other big costs coming up.)

On Friday night Sean and I met up with Anel — a new tumblr/twitter friend with great music taste — for the LA radio station’s quinceañera (15th anniversary) concert.

[Sidenote… It blew my mind that Super Estrella 107.3 was celebrating its quinceañera. That seems like a lot of years, but then I think that was only 1997. I clearly remember tuning my radio to 107.3 and doing my AP stats homework while listening. That was the first time I heard classics like “Lamento Boliviano” by Enanitos Verdes, “Oye Mi Amor” by Maná, and “Como te Extraño” by Café Tacuba. I loved those songs immediately. Super Estrella was my first real introduction to the rock en español genre. I’d grown up listening to Mexican music, but was unfamiliar with the rock music that would blow up in the late 90s/early 00s. It’s been a long time since I’ve listened to the radio station regularly, but I’m thankful for the introduction to my favorite band.

Also, fifteen years! Yeesh. That was the second moment that day I felt a little old, relatively speaking, of course. The first was when I was talking about the 1994 Northridge Quake and was surrounded by college juniors and seniors who didn’t remember it because they were toddlers in 1994.]

The Reventón lineup included some of my longtime favorites I’d seen several times (Julieta Venegas, Kinky, Café Tacuba) and some bands I’d never seen (Hombres G, Beto Cuevas from La Ley, Moderatto). I’d seen the headliner, Enanitos Verdes, once at another arena show in 2000. Who remembers the Watcha Tour?

Our seats sucked, as warned by the tickets, but it was still fun to be there and hear some of my favorite songs as well as some of Cafeta’s new stuff. The show started at 6, way too early to get home from work, eat a quick dinner and take the new Expo Line to Staples Center. By the time we had arrived, we’d missed most of Beto Cuevas’ set and all of Julieta Venegas and Kinky. I’m not upset about Kinky, but missing Julieta made me sad since she’s one of my favorite singers.

As usual, I wrote down Café Tacuba’s lineup:
El Baile y el Salón
Las Flores
La Ingrata
La Locomotora
Volver a Comenzar
Déjate Caer
Chilanga Banda
Este Lado del Camino (single from new album)
Eres
La Chica Banda

***

On Monday night I got another chance to listen to some new Café Tacuba and enjoy my favorites. The show was held at the Observatory in Santa Ana. The venue was very hot and I didn’t want to go on the floor in front of the stage. I got enough of the crowded, sweaty, pushy concert experience when I was younger.

In between “Déjate Caer” and “La Chilanga Banda” Rubén Albarrán, the lead singer, led some chants agains the recent election results (“el que no grita es Peña” and “el pueblo se cansa de tanta pinche transa”) as well as claiming support for the recent youth movement, Yo Soy 132.

I know it’s only been a couple of years since the last show, but this time around the guys seemed much older. They’re all still energetic, play solid shows and do the goofy choreographed dances, but their age shows simply in their appearance. Even from the back of the room I could see Joselo’s grays and laugh lines.

I caught up with my cousin Rene and his buddy Edgar briefly before the show. They were dry and excited. Rene’s clothes were soaked through. He said it was worth it as he’s never been up that close at CaféTa show and he got some great pictures (above). Still, I don’t know if it was as cool as the time we briefly met them at a TV show taping (2003).

Café Tacuba’s setlist from the Observatory on August 13th:
El Baile y el Salón
Como te Extraño (versión despacio/tempo slowed down)
Las Persianas
Las Flores
La Ingrata
Cero y Uno
El Ciclón
La Locomotora
Volver a Comenzar
No controles
Déjate Caer
La Chilanga Banda
El Fin de la Infancia
La Chica Banda
Este Lado del Camino

Encore
Eres
Mediodía
Bar Tacuba
El Puñal

***

Café Tacuba’s first new album in five years, Objeto Antes Llamado Disco, comes out Tuesday, October 16th!

All close up photos of the band are by Rene U.

Boda

Red, teal (and coral) bridal shower

I miss wedding planning. That feels weird to admit.

I miss having a project to work on with Sean and my family. I’m sure there will be other opportunities, but for now everyone is just enjoying the down time until the next big party (perhaps the grandparents’ 70th anniversary?).

I understand now why there are bloggers on sites like WeddingBee who write several dozen posts about a single day, especially if they put in a lot of work in to making it happen.

There were a couple of pre-wedding events I didn’t put much work in to, namely the bridal shower and bachelorette outing.

First up: the bridal shower.

Lori and mom hosted my bridal shower at my family’s house four weeks before the wedding.

As the maid of honor, Lori took care of the invitations and planning out the decorations. Mom planned the menu (pasta, chicken, salad and veggies) and made aguas frescas. The other LA-based members of the bridesmaid team — Nancy, Vanny, Valerie and Isabel — helped out by making the decorations and planning some of the games.

The guests started arriving a little after six. I know they planned it for later in the day to avoid the heat, but it was still warm out.

Fortunately, it didn’t keep us from enjoying ourselves with some games. I joined in on a couple of games, but sat out making wedding dresses out of toilet paper. I judged the best dress during the fashion show. I chose the group representing three generations (Madrina Chilo, cousin Paty, and niece Desiree) for design and functionality. Some of the other dresses didn’t hold up as well. And there were some that could hardly be called a dress but got a lot of laughs.

After the games, I opened gifts. I untied the notes from the mirror Vanny made and checked out the notes. There were some cute drawings, funny and touching advice from women I greatly admire.

Before everyone left, I took a bunch of photos. Of course.

A few of my aunts and some cousins

The cousins/bridesmaids and friends mainly from UCLA days

I noticed during the party that there were several cute outfits in coral. I missed that trend this summer, but my friends/cousins looked great.

Many thanks to mom, Lori, dad (for work behind the scenes), Nancy, Vanny, Valerie, and tía Josie for planning a beautiful bridal shower.

Cine, Los Angeles

The Simpsons table-read

There’s many reasons I enjoy my job. Namely, I like working with college students to help them meet their goals. The additional perks are pretty cool. This summer, I got to attend field trips as a chaperone to the Aquarium of the Pacific, Disneyland and California Adventure and a biotech company’s campus. Those were all part of coordinating one of the summer research programs.

Yesterday’s staff field trip took us to the Fox Studios a few miles away in Century City for a table-read of a Simpsons episode.

This isn’t the first time I’ve been up close with the entertainment industry. It’s hard to avoid it living in LA and attending/working at UCLA. Years ago, I walked in on the filming of an Old School scene. A couple of years before that, I was in a Destiny’s Child video with the UCLA Marching Band. I auditioned for MTV and have been an extra in big audience scenes. And like every other Angeleño, I spot a celebrity every once in a while.

All those experiences were memorable in their own way, but the table-read stands out. It was surreal hearing the voices behind the characters (Yeardley Smith, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellenata, Julie Kavner, Hank Azaria, Pamela Hayden) just a few feet away. I geeked out when Cartwright did Nelson Muntz’s “ha ha!” mocking laugh. Those who know me know I do that at inappropriate times. I had to calm down my inner 9 year old who has been watching since The Tracey Ullman Show days and who was super jealous of all the other kids with Bart Simpson “Eat My Shorts!” and “Ay Caramba!” t-shirts from being overly starstruck.

The show runner, Al Jean, narrated the action and gags yet to be animated while the actors read their parts for writers, producers and several guests. Someone in the office knows a writer, hence the invitation. Sean came along too. The episode itself was quite funny, I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

After the reading, we were informed by a coworker that the actors would sign scripts. A few of the actors rushed out, but a few remained and were gracious enough to sign autographs and take photos. Sean and I got signatures from Azaria, Cartwright (she had the longest line, but it moved quickly), and Hayden. I should’ve told Azaria that I love Bumblebee Man more than Moe. I didn’t get to take a picture with a VIP guest, Jane Krakowski — I love 30 Rock! Jane was busy speaking to others. We checked out the studio store, discussed the next steps for the episode and then returned to work.

I’m glad we got in once last field trip before summer officially ended and the students returned to campus for the fall quarter.

Boda

Notes on a bicoastal wedding

I can’t come up with anything eloquent right now, but I do have pictures and a few notes.

I’m elated to be married to Sean.

I’m pretty sure I’ve never smiled so much in one day nor posed for so many iPhones.

I feel incredibly fortunate and blessed to have such amazing family and friends. My parents were impressed that so many of Sean’s family and friends traveled out from the east coast.

I’m so glad our guests had a super time. And gained some new friendships in the process.

I felt like a “wedding princess” — according to my niece/flower girl, Isabelle.

No one lost the bet. Neither one of us actually cried, but we both teared up at different points during the day, mainly during the ceremony (vows, cousin Fabiola singing “Ave Maria”, and hearing that we were a symbol of hope for the St. John Vianney community struggling after the fire).

Yes, it was hot. The high was 107, but we managed to stay indoors with the air conditioning on full blast all day except for about an hour when we took photos outside.