Car Wash White Christmas

Oh blogging. It’s so right, yet so hard. Lately I have been trying to organize how to get to the Sugar Bowl. I just begged 3 buddy passes off an old friend of mine at JetBlue. On the big Blue, the closest I can get to Nawlins is Austin. So we would fly to Austin and then drive 8 hours to see the Utes play. If that is not dedicated, I don't know what is. Amanda, or as I like to call her Crazy Sue, is Driving almost 2,000 miles from Salt Lake City to the Big Easy. I told her that if she does drive, she cannot take her car and that she has to take books on tape, not only for some good reading, but because I think she will kill her roommates, if they don't kill her first. I also told her to take the Southern route and not go through Wyoming, Not sure if it's wise advice but snow is snow.
I went to the big D-Land last Thursday and finally got to go on my favorite ride Space Mountain. I told everyone that we are not going on Pirates this time, because we go every single time. So what did we do? We went on Space Mountain….then Pirates. You can't win them all. At the end they have these machines blow snow with the White Christmas song being played. Everyone was so mesmerized by it. The machine blowing snow sounded like a car wash (the extreme jet edition)and it drowned out the song. The one thing you notice at night in Utah when it snows is how everything is so quiet. Like time stands still.

Utes!!!

The Utah football game was the biggest highlight of the week. So many Cewgs were smack talking before the game that I was going absolutely nuts. I have this friend named Ryan who I think might be the most annoying Cougar fan of all. After the game, I said on his Facebook page “48 – 24 no offense.” Apparently he was not happy with the outcome of the game and let me know it. I just said back to him that I couldn’t understand what he was saying because I was too busy booking my airline ticket to Phoenix, or is it Nawlins? Either way, I would get him a souvenir, one that will match his Quest for Perfection T-Shirt.”

I love beating the Cewgs. It’s like the best Christmas present ever. I have never seen Rice-Eccles stadium have so much energy as it did in that game. I keep thanking Utah’s MVP of the game Max Hall. He was such a great asset to the team. To think he helped us not only win the game, but become MWC champions and another BCS bid. Thanks Maxie!! Ok, so it wasn’t all Max Hall, as it was our awesome team. I really hope to go to the Fiesta Bowl, only because the turnout will be amazing. The Sugar Bowl will be a struggle to get to. I’m just really proud of my team. The Tate’s stick with the Utes through thick and thin, and this just happens to be one of the thick parts.

LOTR Hike

Wow what an incredible election day! At first I was not thinking much about it, but as Election Day drew closer, it was exciting to take it all in. Last weekend I went up to San Francisco with Brent for Halloween, and it poured and poured, but we still had a lot of fun. Brent and I went to one of my favorite places called Muir Woods, it's just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, We were able to see the Redwood trees and the smell was amazing. With the fog and the rain, it looked like a scene from LOTR. I even sang the theme song as we were walking through the woods. Brent seems to always get a little soundtrack whenever we go on hikes, he is grateful for it though, I mean who wouldn’t be. We were soaked by the time we finished the hike, but we were glad to get out of the city. The only regret I had over the weekend is I wish that we had flown. The Central Valley in California is one of the most boring drives in the world, it is worse than the drive to Vegas. Next time I am flying or taking Stacey's advice with the train.

On Election Day, even though I was more concerned about the Utah v. TCU game than the outcome of the election, it felt great to vote. I think one of the greatest things about America is the right to vote. Watching Obama with the acceptance speech was amazing to see how much the nation has changed. Almost like watching one generation pass the baton to another. Were in a lot different place than we were the last time we received a new President, I hope for the best.

This Pretty Much Sums It Up

Over the past few months many people have approached me on my stance on my official position on gay marriage. Basically, I don't care. Not only do I not care if gays get married, it is none of my business. It's a full-time job for me just to keep up with the latest news on LC from the Hills, I don't have the energy to fret about somebody else's libido.
Hard as it is to counter such brilliant logic, my position hasn't changed. The only serious concern I have about gays getting married is that they'll register someplace pricey. My church is serious about the sanctity of marriage. I get that. But aren't more potentially "dangerous" marriages already being performed out there? For example, I hear in church all the time about marriage being ordained of God. But I also hear about how the glory of God is intelligence. Shouldn't it be against the law for stupid people to get married? What's more harmful to society - two well-dressed men getting married and settling down, or two idiots tying the knot and cranking out any number of additional idiots? You should have to pass a harder test to get married than the one we currently have. Essentially, there are but two questions: "How old are you?" and "Is that your sister?" Hell, you could pass this test just by guessing. There are drawbacks. Most people get married when hormones and youth make them about as dumb as they'll ever be. So, even a relatively easy test would by default raise the age limit to about 40. With an increased marriage age limit, there would be fewer births. Genealogy would become easier to do. With fewer births, there would be fewer children born gay. Hey, isn't that what Heavenly Father would want?
OK, I was just kidding about that. But if you're really serious about putting a stop to gay sex, let them get married.

Prizes Falling

Missed a week on the blog arghhhh!! I was doing so well. Well, since I wrote last I went to a Mexican one year old birthday party in Gardena, dinner at Taste on Melrose then breakfast at Toast on Sunset, hiking at Runyan Canyon, had my car stereo ripped out of my car and went to Oktober Fest in Big Bear (It snowed!).

First, Brent’s co-worker invited him to a birthday party for her daughter who was turning one. Apparently it’s a big deal in the Mexican culture. Brent begged me to go, he told me it would make a good story for my blog. Well if it’s a good cause for the blog, how can I resist. I took a picture of the grandpa holding the piñata on the chicken house in the backyard because I knew no one would believe me if I didn’t have proof. It was fun, Brent works with some pretty cool people, so I always like hanging out with them.

Straight from the Gardena Mexican one year old birthday party, to a restaurant on Melrose called Taste, a high trendy place off of La Cienega. That’s one of the coolest things about L.A. you can literally do two things at the opposite end of the spectrum in a matter of minutes. The two venues weren't that different though, if you think about it, most of the woman in the restaurant looked like they had gone to Mexico for face-lifts so many times I'll bet if you whacked their head with a stick, prizes would fall out. So different crowd, same scene.

I also had my car broke into. Last Thursday My car was parked across the street and the dashboard was literally ripped out. Luckily with my dad’s help I was able to put the stock stereo back in. Another crazy thing is they took my gym bag and school bag, and just last night I get a call from the neighbor who found the bags tossed on the side of the street. Luckily my phone number was in one of them, the thieves did not steal anything out of the bags not my new shoes, not my shuffle iPod everything was still there. Go figure? It’s mysterious that the bags appeared on the street 5 days later.

Later after my car was put back together, we went up 103 miles to Big Bear to our friend Steven Woods’s cabin and celebrated Oktoberfest. I had never been to one before, it was fun… I finally got to try sauerkraut. Not bad, not bad. It also snowed a trace, it was so cold up there but I did not mind because it reminded me of the fall in Utah and how great the first snowfall is. Und wer nicht gerne einen guten ersten Schneesturm. Ja?

Sherman Oaks Oooohs

I started my drafting class yesterday at UCLA (heres a pic from my iPhone of the building I meet in) and the class has a size of about 16 students so not too big. The professor walks in and starts going over the syllabus and after awhile ask the question “So who drove the farthest, where did everyone come from?” He asked first “did anyone drive from Orange County?” No one raised their hands. One classmate then said “I drove from Sherman Oaks.” It got a few of Ooohs. I then said “I drove from Long Beach.” “Long Beach? Said another class mate. “Oh my gosh you drove all the way from Long Beach?” It felt like I just told the class that I came from Beirut and had a long lay-over so I thought I would swing by the class before I caught the red eye. Why couldn’t I get the Sherman Oaks Ooooh, or even a Woodland Hills Aaaah? I proceeded to say “well a little known fact about Long Beach, is it’s in the same county as UCLA and has a population of 462,000 we even have our own airport.” (wink) No one was impressed; apparently you’re not a local if you don’t live near campus or the Valley. Since when does the Valley get more respect than Long Beach?

It reminded me of a time when Brent and I were talking to a guy at a party who lived in Hollywood and he was gabbing on about how much he loved In-N-Out. He talked about it like it was the new Zagat rated Bottega Louie on Wilshire. Then he said “well you guys know what In-N-Out is right, don’t they have them in Long Beach?” (cricket…cricket…cricket) I wanted to say, Out-In the –N? N-with-Out? I’m sorry what did you say??? Ohhhhh…. In-N-Out. No we don’t, but I was just telling Brent the other day that I wanted to come up to the big L.A. and eat in one of them purty restaurants you got. In-N-Out Shure does sound special like.

Maybe I shouldn’t blame them. Perhaps they all saw the movie Freedom Writers, which I feel that that production has damaged Long Beach forever. Damn you Hilary Swank! Even the preview to the movie has this girl narrating “If your living in Long Beach, you have to fight to survive.” Yea right….maybe driving the 710. Have you been on that freeway during rush hour? The car is the minority, Semi is king! Anyway I’m going to go to all the local Blockbusters around campus and rent Freedom Writers and not return them. Then my classmates won’t be persuaded by the evil influential Hilary Swank anymore. Long Beach will rule over the Valley once again, and in class I’ll start getting the Long Beach Ooooooohs. Bwa ha ha ha ha.

You ... Sea ... EhhhhhhLL Ay!

Just started school on Monday at UCLA and wanted to share some things that I learned. My professor Eleanor Schapa serves as the design review commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills. To get an intro to architecture, we learned about the different types of styles and influences in Los Angeles area. Here are some notes I took, we went over alot of properties but here is a few of my favorites.

The Avila Adobe, was built in 1818 by Don Francisco Avila, and has the distinction of being the oldest standing residence in Los Angeles It is located in the paseo of famous, historical Olvera Street.

• The walls of the Avila adobe are 2-1/2 to 3 feet thick and are built from sun baked adobe bricks.
  
• Based on a Ranch style for LA breezes, not much wood so used stucco. (adobe/mud/donkey urine)
  

Hale House is a Victorian era mansion built in 1885 in the Hghland Park section of northeast Los Angeles. It has been described as the most photographed house in the entire city, and the most elaborately decorated

The house was inherited by Hale's niece, Odena Johnson, who stated her desire to dispose of it as soon as possible. When plans were announced to demolish the house and build a chrome and steel gas station in its place, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission stopped the demolition temporarily by declaring the house a Historic-Cultural Landmark.

After much debate Hale's niece agreed to sell the house for $1 if it could be moved from the site. In July 1970, the house was lifted from its foundation and moved to the nearby Heritage Square Museum in Highland Park. The move cost $10,300 and an additional $3,000 to raise wires so the house could pass under.

• Highly decorated houses are sometimes called gingerbread houses.


• The More elaborate the detail is the more you showed off how much money you had.


• During the renovation of the house, chips from the original colors were found on the house. The exterior was painted to match the colors from the old chips. The interior has been restored to recreate the appearance that it is believed to have had in the 1890s.
  

Stimson House is a Richardsonian Romanesque mansion in Los Angeles, California on Figueroa Street north of West Adams. Built in 1891, it was the home of lumber and banking millionaire, Thomas Douglas Stimson. During Stimson’s lifetime, the house survived a dynamite attack by a blackmailer in 1896. After Stimson’s death, the house has been occupied by a brewer who reportedly stored wines and other spirits in the basement, a fraternity house that conducted noisy parties causing consternation among occupants of neighboring mansions, as student housing for Mount St. Mary's College, and as a convent for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

• Tower collapsed in the Northridge earthquake, it was re-done by the Walt Disney Imagineers with fake products.

Not necessarily my favorite designs, but the history was fun. These were only a select few of about 50 we went over, others included the Gamble House, (Arts and Crafts design) Banning House (Greek Revival) and Beverly Hills City Hall. (Mission Revival "Churrigueresque") Awesome first day. More details later.

Boycotts n' Things

Ever been to an empanada party? Well I just attended my fist one last weekend in Buena Park. I should be clear; I went to an Argentinean empanada party not to be confused with a Chilean or a Mexican empanada party. The name empanada comes from the Spanish verb empanar, meaning to wrap or coat in bread. Usually the empanada is made by folding a thin circular-shaped dough patty over the stuffing, creating its typical semicircular shape. Argentineans typically put beef or chicken as the stuffing, I’m not sure how many Latin American countries do this, but the Argentina empanadas were good. Brent was in heaven, I think he ate around 12.

I also ran my first 5 mile in a long time. Brent who does the 5K often was required to stay and run with me. I told him as we were running (sweat everywhere gasping for breath) that the sportsmanlike thing for him to do would be to let us finish at the house together. He agreed but at the last 10 meters he sped up to finish first. I was so pissed that he didn’t let me win, that I am boycotting his 5K run until further notice.

Top 5 things that has happened in the last week:

5. I used my Olive Garden gift card from Christmas.

4. If Michaela and Spencer get on their academic honor roll, they get Rock Band, which means I get Rock Band.

3. Britney Spears new song “Womanizer” comes out next week.

2. UCLA starts in 4 days.

1. I finally got California license plates.

Angelina Jolie-esque

I went to this pool party last weekend in the Hollyhood hills at a mega size mansion that looked like it would slide down the hill in a 2.0 Richter. The crowd reminded me of those Bacardi commercials where everyone is tan, pretty and has sunglasses that made a revival from the eighties. I wanted to scream mojito! just to see if everyone would jump in sync.

The pool was no bigger than 7X18 which was pretty impressive for a home that had a cliff as a back yard. Not many were actually in the pool, so I guess I attended a look at my beautiful Venetian stone surrounding the pool party. Even though the crowd was Angelina Jolie-esque, we actually ended up having a good time, I came in a party with four people, and you know safety in numbers.

I snuck a picture of the view from the pool house, it was pretty spectacular. I have to admit when I was lounging in a chair by the pool checking out the view I thought is this what P. Diddy feels like all the time?

Da Big House

108,421 – 5,000 = 103,421… 103,421 University of Michigan fans in the Big House last Saturday. I gotta tell you, these Michigan fans take football very seriously, and I would have to say after the Fiesta Bowl this would be the best college football experience I’ve had. I give the Michigan fans an A+, they were so cool to us, and everyone was welcoming; even after we had won, they were still polite to us. We ran into this guy a few hours after who lost a bet over the game so he had to wear all denim. He came up and talked to us about our upcoming season and he treated us like a best friend. The beer in hand helped, but still it was nice to get pleasant drunk rather than a bad one.

Just rewinding the beginning of the trip, Nick and I flew into Chi town and stayed at the Hyatt in downtown, which was right on Michigan Avenue. I took Nick for some Chicago deep dish forgetting that he hated cheese, but he was a trooper and enjoyed the experience. The next day we went to the top of the John Hancock building where we could see all the way across the lake. They had an audio tour of David Schwimmer (friends) who mentioned all the highlights at the top (hence the reason why I am wearing the headphones in the pic). We then went to a Cubs game at Wrigley field which was a great experience; the stadium opened in 1912 and has not been touched since. It felt like watching a real baseball team, even the score board numbers were moved by hand. The experience was really cool.

The drive to Ann Arbor was a part I wish I could erase. There was construction every 10 miles, so it made the drive go longer and longer, by the time we got to the hotel it was past midnight. The next morning we went to the tailgating party and there were over 2,000 fans there, which is a lot for having a game over a thousand miles away. We had a very impressive 5,000 fan turnout, but the number of Michigan fans was intimidating. When we had our season opener against UCLA a few years ago, the Rose Bowl held a good 90,000 and the place was not even a fourth of the way full, at Michigan the place was packed. I have never seen so many people so dedicated with so many traditions as this field. Nick said wait till we play Notre Dame in a few years, but I wanted to revel in the moment. I’m glad we won, but even if we hadn’t I still would have been really glad I went to that game for the experience. Going home was hard because I started to miss the fam, I wish Clint and Co. could have come, but I’m sure we’ll get everyone to go next year to Eugene.

The Chosen One

Soooo I’m just wondering if anyone out there calls up there sister on the phone and spends 30 minutes playing the University of Utah fight songs on iTunes over and over and has a harmony competition of who can sing the flute part better. Anyone…Anyone? Oh you…you in the back there, was that a hand? No? Ok anyone else.....? I could have sworn that was a common practice.
But in all seriousness folks it is a very important time of year, its Utah Football time! I was reading on my brother Nick’s Facebook page who stated that "Nick is like his grandma who is already packed and he doesn’t leave for 4 days." If you knew Nick and his wraping present jobs, you would understand how serious this is that he is that prepared. I think Utah football unites the fam on many different levels. We don’t always agree with one another on topics, like ripping out all of Miley Cirus’s teeth and capping them at the age of 15, (Clint) or watching The Dark Knight in the theatre for the 9th time (Manda) or all agreeing that Nick is the chosen one, (Clint) but Utah football is one thing that all the siblings in the family are very passionate about. I remember being at the cabin about a month ago, and when we were all talking, 2 hours of the conversation was about Utah Football, I don’t think we can ever grow tired of it. I think it also brings out a lot of our mom in us it, keeps her connected somehow. I remember of what a true and passionate Utah fan she was infact when I was a kid, we did not just have season tickets to football games but basketball and sometimes gymnastics.

When we go to the big house this weekend it’s going to be awesome. I think of the movie Rudy when he walks onto the Notre Dame Field for the first time. He’s in a place where he is in over his head , but he knows he can divide and conquer. The Utes being at a sold out game in the big house is hard, but I know they can take over and win. These big teams like Michigan pay teams like us to come to there field to show off there guns, but I think from the pre-season show we have some guns to show off as well. Lots of pictures next week will be on the blog from my trip to Michigan. Till then, Go UTES!!

Free Conversation Booth

Last Saturday when I was in Belmont Shore, In a tent, on the sidewalk, under the fluorescent lights of a Washington Mutual bank building, six people sit huddled around a small table discussing the a recent Olympic scandal on Saturday night. Behind them, a sign reads “Free Conversation Booth.” Picture a lively, democratic version of Lucy’s “Psychiatric Help” booth in the “Peanuts” cartoons.

I laughed as I walked by. Who in there right mind would set up a free conversation booth? After a good chuckle, I thought well wait a minute, maybe that booth is smarter than it seems. I mean think about it, most people in Los Angeles are transplants from somewhere else. A lot of people who move here can find it very hard to talk to people for the first time, it’s a lot nicer than going into a bar. I then thought what could I talk about in a free conversation booth? Laundry and how I loathe doing it? My garbage disposal stopped working last week, I'm sure many can relate to that one. Maybe I could discuss how Costco and I have this love hate relationship, because they keep discontinuing my favorite products like, Boston leaf lettuce and wheat pasta. Oh but those $1.50 hotdogs, it makes me forgive them every time. Like a puppy with the puppydog look who just peed on your rug.

Perhaps a free conversation booth doesn’t want to hear how I compare a peeing puppy to Costco, but I would hope that they allow open conversation for a wide variety of topics. Politics, religion, and politics can get so heated. Second Street in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach offers the kind of diverse crowd and walk-by traffic that can bring all sorts of interesting conversations. I say don’t forget the comedy in life! Viva La Vida!

Acclimation

Last Saturday, I broke down and decided to face the 405 Northbound to see if I can really handle the UCLA commute coming this fall. I figured since I was accepted for grad school there, I might as well actually walk on the campus and have a look around. My commute in the past 5 years has been less than 10 miles a day and I knew I had been spoiled, but I just thought that if anything was going to keep me from graduating in 2 years it was the N-405.

It was a sunny morning, not much different than the morning that Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese (Ok so I should not be comparing my commute to the beginning of WWII), However sometimes I feel I could make many similarities between the two. Luckily my friend Rachel invited me to have lunch in Brentwood so I could make this kill 2 birds with one stone kind of trip. I figure I need to slowly acclimatize to this, you know, don't drive in the middle of rush hour, kill the opponent slowly. Try a Saturday morning commute first, then maybe a Thursday afternoon, a Monday midnight ride, then bam I got it. How hard can it be?

The commute took 20 minutes from my house. Woohoo!! I get to campus and start walking see all the cool new buildings my classes are in, I even got to see the UCLA football team practicing. It reminded me of the first thing my Grandma said to me when I told her I was going to UCLA. "Your not going to cheer for there football team are you?" Thanks for the congratulations Grandma, I think to myself, but that’s why the Tate’s blood runs Ute red, because of our fearless leader Grandma Dickson. I assured my Grandma that I was a Ute fan dyed red true and through.

Another thing I noticed as I was walking around was that it's a lot more laid back then I thought it was going to be. Sometimes UCLA gets the perception of students driving around with Aston Martins, and Bentleys as they fight in line for the valet parking lot. My High School was kind of like that, except without the cars and the valet parking. One student had a new VW Jetta though.

After my own personal tour walking around in 85 degree heat with jeans on, I meet up with Rachel to have lunch. We haven’t seen each other since High School, and it was fun catching up, though sometimes I had to stop myself from asking her questions about the 405 commute. "Don't do it Steve, don't do it" I thought to myself. "Talk about pretty and fun things like chocolates and traveling." Some people might think I’m crazy back home talking about a freeway so passionately. But I tell you the 405 has been know to either make or break people, and I will not be broken. What’s that line in Gone with the Wind before they go into intermission? “As God is my witness, as God is my witness they're not going to lick me. I'm going to live through this and when it's all over, I'll never be hungry again. No, nor any of my folk. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill. As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again.”

Just take out the lying, stealing, cheating and killing part. It would create too much traffic.

Maddy Lo

Got to back to the tah tah last week and spent some time with my new niece Madison who is quite honestly the most adorable thing on the planet. It was fun to see the fam again.

In grandma’s pool, Spencer and Michaela competed in a competition where they jumped off the diving board and had to catch a nerf type ball while in the air before going into the water. Clint and I were commentators for the events. The first round in Miami was won by Michaela and since she was the winner she got to represent USA at the Olympics in Beijing. We asked Spence since he lost, which country he wanted to represent, he said Japan. So it was Michaela Tate; USA, and Spencer Nagayama; Japan. Michaela was leading all 4 rounds at the Olympics, but the last round Spencer made an amazing catch and won by just one point. It was funny because when he caught the ball and landed in the water, his upward stretched arm came out of the water with the ball in hand followed by his body. The crowd went wild. The award ceremony followed with Spencer on the top pool step, and Michaela on the second.

Flying home stand-by was interesting. I could not get on the SLC-LGB flight, so I flew into San Diego. Once I was there, I took a Taxi to the Greyhound bus station and tried to purchase a ticket to Santa Ana. They ended up being sold out and the only way I could get north, was to downtown L.A. I and arrived downtown L.A. at midnight which is an interesting scene, but Brent got to the bus station the same time I did. Phew.



Picture of Sue Sue at the cabin

Spencer Nagayama and Michaela Tate being presented with their medals after the Catch the Ball Off the Diving Board Olympics. Spencer won in the final round by just one point. It was an amazing catch!


Maddy Lo sleeping on my lap at the cabin.

Kailey wearing Amanda's shoes. She could walk better in them then Amanda can.

Casa de Termino

Getting some request from people back in the Tah-tah to show some pics of my new home. We live about 4 blocks from the beach its a pretty sweet set-up. We're located in Belmont Heights which is a suburb of Long Beach.

Back to the Blog

Well Mama Stace told me that I need to take this blogging more seriously, and in a way I think she might be right. it's a good tool to keep friends and fam informed and in-touch.

I spent the 4th at the cabin, we made ice cream and Kailey got to lick the beater. It used to be my job, but she just looks at me with those big blue eyes and she gets whatever she wants.

I am now an uncle to a second niece named Madison London Tate. So now I have Kailey Jo, and Maddy Lo. I get to visit my favorite nieces this weekend in the big Tah-tah. Pictures are soon to follow. Congrats to the new mom and dad.

This past week I have been more serious about the post-grad architecture degree at UCLA. It seems all roads lead to Westwood in the Fall, even though it’s a 30 mile drive one way. The only thing that will keep me from pursing UCLA is the drive. Right now the cheapest gallon of gas in LA is $4.35. Yikes!! Classes start the 22nd of September, so I have a little time to come up with a plan of attack. I'll keep you posted.

I got in contact with my old college roommate, it had been 5 years since we had any communication. He lives in WeHo and does hair and make-up for some big name celebs. It was interesting to hear his stories about Britney and Paris who ironically paid for his Range Rover. Oh Hollywood, I keep thinking its so far away, but just a 20 minute trip up the 110 (55 with traffic) and there it is. It was good to see him and hang out. We both have come a long way since we lived in a little house in Lehi. We both still can’t believe we once lived there. Working in Provo and going to the U. Nowadays that would cost about $600 a month just on gas. UCL what again?