Signing off

Like my man said, it's over....for now. Hope you enjoyed it as much as we have.
A few months from now when the cold and the snow is here I'm gonna go back and read this and just get that 1000 mile look where you actually can see all the good times again (or we just get the photos out ^^)

Thanks for reading - Elvis has left the building.

Ps. I (Martin) write stuff @ www.jagkanbloggaalla.blogspot.com
For now it's in english, but it varies depending on what mood I'm in. Peace. Ds.

/M

All @ home

Yeah, so now I'm at home too. Madrid was nice. Walking around town was nice. The dinners were nice. The gay pool was nice. Nice.

If you wanna know more, check the facebook photo album. It's all there. I don't have to write it here anymore as I am no longer away. Yeay... ;)

Not going home just yet

So beach buff no 1 is going home already? Not me, I'm staying two more nights!

Arrived in Madrid yesterday. Spent the entire day walking around Madrid and Guadalajara (1 hour by train from Madrid, it's where Gabriela's aunt lives). We had dinner with "Tia" and her family (husband, son and parents). Wonderful people, all of them. I think. I mean, they only spoke spanish, and my spanish not THAT good. But I THINK they said nice things. Atleast they looked nice while speaking. Ok, maybe enough with the explaining...

Day two, took a train to Toledo, which used to be the capitol of Spain (apparently). Old town with lots of beautiful buildings and SH*TLOADS of shops selling swords. Hundreds of them. Swords and armors. Really cool. I mean, it made me feel like I was 8 again. "Oh, look! A sword! Just like the one in Lord of the Rings! Oh, look! Another sword! Just like the one in Lord of the Rings! Oh, look!", and so on. It was a nice place...

Tonight we're going out for dinner. Where we do not know yet. We'll see. I'll let you know. ;)

Hasta luego!

/I

On in, one out.

-They grab Ugarte and then she walks in. Sam, if it's december 1941 in Casablanca, what time is it in New York?

Yeah you read it right. I had to go Bogart on your ass.
It's time to leave the city of lights, Jim Morrison, the Dodgers and all those beautiful miles of beach.
Not to mention all the cool people who get to stay behind and keep doing it all.

Awesomeness is a start, but not nearly enough to sum up this experience. I've gotten to know sooo many cool people, done a lot of cool stuff and laughed so much that I think my jaw needs a bit of rest soon.
So tomorrow morning it's time to go east.
A part of me is liking the fact that I'm going home. But another part really, REALLY wants to stay.....or if it were possible, explore another continent.

But wishing don't make it happen and instead of doing that I'm gonna go home, upload all the pictures and videos from my camera, sit back with a few friends and reminisce on all the fun and start planning my next trip....somewhere.

Arrivederci! (right Ivan ^^)

Just when you thought the fun was over...

You thought l'd left? Well ok, l did leave, but l have not given up! It's just that some of us has jobs to take care of. You know, responsibility. People depending on you. Any way, now l'm at the airport, waiting to board flight SK9556 to Madrid. Gonna meet up with a friend of mine and spend the weekend doing tourist stuff.

Will l get LA-drunk every night while l'm there? Most certainly not. I'm not kidding, l won't drink much at all. Why? Cuz l don't have to, that's why. This time l'm travelling with a beautiful girl. It's not like l'm with Martin anymore, where you HAVE to be drunk just to not go crazy! Ok, maybe that's not why, but it's my story and l'm sticking to it! So there...

NOT on your L.A tour list

My dad is a bit odd. Or just the way I am/wanna be as well.
Tonight we went to a Latino (I hope that's PC and not derogatory, if so, please tell me what the correct term is) place with a mariachi band and possibly the best Margaritas I've had so far.
It wasn't too crowded but we brought the diversity in color to say the least.
But hey, I'm cool about it and it's fun to do something else than the Hollywood sign and Santa Monica pier.

However the band took a break and they played a mix of hispanic (is that more correct?) and dance music.
All of a sudden Mystical's "Shake your ass" comes on as a afro american (I know I got that right) with a larger than average derriere who held him to his words.
And before you know it, this Latino guy was behind her, at least a foot shorter, but still.

Now, I don't know if you have seen the movie road trip but in it, Sean Willam Scott's character E.L get's some help when he's to donate sperm. What he says in THIS clip after about 2.05 into the clip was sorta how I felt when watching what transpired on that dance floor.
Stop, stop.....ok, keep going. I didn't really know whether to look away or keep looking.
It made my night at least.

Now, I'm just chilling out, having a beer preparing for a hard day in the sun with a book and a water/coke/beer/Margarita....in that order.

Like the man said:
I think I'm gonna get tanked.....tonight.

Hole in.......

.....the head! And two aching feet later and I have officially made up for my golfing deficit.
If you didn't know it, I've only played once since arriving 3 weeks ago and that was a very successful round. How I did?
Glad that you asked. I shot an 82 which is very good since I usually play in the 90-95 stroke region.
Today I started of with 9 holes at the infamous, the classic, yes dare I say, THE LEGENDARY course Penmar. Par is 33 on this little beauty and I shot a 38 which is very good especially since you can't warm up (there is no driving range there).

After that I helped my dad out with some work he had to get done. So I did some pro bono work on my holiday. My spot in heaven is secured, or at least I skipped out of one ring in Dante's inferno.

Before the round we scarfed down some well deserved In & out burgers. I went all out and got the vanilla shake as well. In and out, please, PLEASE franchise in Sweden!!!

Going down Lincoln, high on life, in a good mood after the first 9 holes played, high on fat and sugar we head to Westchester to play another 15 holes.
Before heading out I "prepared" myself and as I was a man literally kicks the door open yelling:
-Hey man, you in here? Are you taking a shit??!!
Caught with my pants down (to what extent we leave out) I sorta baffled look over and a jolly, drunk....American (I can't describe him any other way) looks at me and says: Ah, not you dude. Carry on.

That was about as much fun that Westchester allowed me to have. I was quickly pulled of my high horse hitting the ground face down. Play was slow, I played like sh"t and the I wound up +18 on 15 holes.
What kept me going is the qoute I read the first time I played:
-A bad day at the course is still better than good day at the office.

And even though the last round was so-so, I still get my reward - Margaritas!!
Life is so fair.
Cheers frinds!

(btw, this was supposed to be a short blog, but I guess that's me in a nutshell.)

Hanging with the celebs....

...ok sorta.
Was down Venice way again today chillin' with my boys down at the beach. On my way back I went down Brooks ave. and I see the road partially blocked. Being the Curious George that I am I move up and the next thing I see is a black Porsche with a busted right headlight...CALIFORNICATION!!!

And lo and behold, 2 seconds later I'm just a few feet away from David Duchovny. Of course I got ushered out of lens way and got my camera up just in time to get a nice shot of the rest of the crew and the back of his head.

Ah well, it was still pretty cool. Tomorrow I'm hitting the O.C, Newport- and Huntington beach.
Boom!

Rode hard and put away wet

Ok ok, before you get your dirty little mind spinning about the headline I'll cut you off and explain.
The expression is something cowboys use to describe a long hard day, or in my case, a long hard weekend.
On Friday we went playing pool and at the pool hall there was a mariachi band playing 2 tables down and I'm sure people in Mexico heard them. It was at least, AT LEAST 35 degrees celsius (95 Fahrenheit or so) in the hall which of course ment we had to down Pacificos. I'm leaving the number of bottles out, but we walked out of there, me victorious of course with some room left for Margaritas. Enough said.....

Saturday was slow in the afternoon, i.e slept until noon. After breakfast I had the hair of the dog that bit me and before you knew it, life was a whole lot better.
After dinner at Pattis where Alex (a mate from the Hostel) joined it was off to Santa Monica and what transpired I can only describe as one of the weirdest nights of my life.

Sunday and I just couldn't get rid of that damn hair so we hit a boardwalk bar for breakfast. That is if you with a straight face can call beer and an Italian sausage pizza breakfast.

Now it's Sunday evening and I'm a bit tired and a bit tipsy. I have to say that I miss my travel partner a bit, but the beach, the sun and a few beers is a decent substitute.
I also started "I wish"-ing. I.e, wishing that my company for the day was someone else. I know it's a waste of time, but hey, I have time in abundance so I let myself slip into that kind of thinking for a little bit. Ta-daaaa - I'm back!

Tomorrow I think we're hitting Manchester. I have no illusion that I'm going to top my last round, but like the saying goes:
A bad day at the course still beats a good day at the office.

Words to live by.

Hermosa beach

My bad, sorry Ivan.
To my defense it was a few years since I was down in Hermosa beach, but when I went back there yesterday the memories came back. Sure, it's not that different from Manhattan beach, but it has even more of the laid back feel that Manhattan beach has.

My ride had no problem finding the way, I acted human GPS so we were all good cruising down Rosecrans and through the streets with all the cool houses to familiar Highland ave.
The gods were smiling (or conspiring, tell you later why) because we found parking right on the beach and took a walk on the board walk and the pier.

But being the swedes that we are we soon found our throats to be just a little bit too dry for our own good.
So we walked off the pier and 5 dollar Margaritas sounded about right.
We took to the 2nd floor, enjoyed each others company and watch the sun set over the volleyball courts.

To quote Ice Cube: Today was a good day.
The gods however weren't smiling on my friends car. As it turns out, we had managed to park the car in a perfect wind/light pole angle which made it a perfect target for bird shit from birds sitting up above. There were white spots all over the car.
What can you do but laugh about it?
This was the only down thing to happen all day.

To top my day off, I came home just in time for a very nice fish and mashed potatoes dinner.
Desert? What do you think? There were cold Coronas in the fridge. Emphasis on were.

Now the weekend is here and stuff is coming together nicely. Today has been devoted to sun, book and planning dinner for tonight. Sometimes even small things can make a big difference.

I can't but enjoy it just a liiiittle bit more knowing that it's raining about 2 inches/day back home.
Welcome to the good life!

Sidospar fran resan

Vet inte hur manga av er som foljt NHL-draften, men jag har kollat lite.
Inte mindre an 7 (sju!!) svenskar gick i forsta rundan. Dvs av de spelare som de 30 lagen har av att valja pa i hela varlden sa valdes alltsa sju ifran Sverige.

Jag vet inte hur hog den siffran varit genom aren, men det kanns som en valdigt hog siffra.

Har ar listan.
Sjalvklart hoppas jag pa Jacob Josefsson som jag tror kan bli nagot.

HEJA SVERIGE!

Sista kvällen med gänget

Så, efter Hooters drog vi tillbaka till Hostel'et och fortsatte på vårt just då viktigaste uppdrag: Att dricka upp de 50 öl vi hade kvar på två dagar. Efter att ha avverkat ca hälften kvällen innan ansåg vi att chanserna var goda. Till vår nackdel (men som inte bekymrade oss just då) var att vi kvällen innan INTE hade börjat med en pitcher öl och två varsina drinkar på hooters, samt att vi hade för avsikt att jobba så gott det gick på den som var kvar på 1,75 liters vodkaflaskan (som hade kostat 10 dollars).

Innan vi satte igång gick vi dock först till hotellet på andra sidan gatan för att ta en överprissatt öl på baren på deras tak. Det var ballt, utsikten var... Ni vet...

Iaf, sen gick vi till baren för att "jobba vidare". Det gick till en början ganska bra. Vi inledde med nån öl följt av varsin screwdriver. Klok som han är bestämde sig dock Ivan för att bara ta en sådan eftersom "annars blir man ju så himla full". Mmmm, just det.

Vet inte riktigt när eller hur, men helt plötsligt var Ivan full like a kastrull. Det är och kommer för alltid att förbli ett mysterium. Eller? (att hävda att det hade med Alex teori om att man 'inte känner alkoholen i strupen om man andas ut all luft innan man tar en rejäl shot' som Ivan testade, det tror jag inte på)

Sen då? Tja, vi gick till puben på andra sidan gatan. Ivan raggades på av en bög som jobbade på hostel'et längre ner på gatan. Varför var han inte en skitsnygg amerikanska?! Iaf, när de stängde gick vi och satte oss på stranden tillsammans men nån uteliggare och hängde där ett tag (vissa "hängde" mer än andra som envisades med att vara sociala och faktiskt konversera). Sen gick vi hem och gav Bagrad (eller Jean eller vad han nu heter) en dubbel lapdans samt försökte locka in hans Belgiska (manliga) kompis på vårt rum utan större framgång. Tror jag.

Viktigast av allt var nog ändå att vi gjorde slut på ölen. Big success.

Nu är man iaf hemkommen. Här måste man jobba. Här regnar det som FAN. Här har dygnet en annan rytm. Här kostar ölen mycket mer. LA - Sverige 4 - 0.

MEN! Här hemma har jag min egna sköna STORA säng. Som man kan SOVA i. Som inte står precis bredvid en annan säng i vilken det ligger en "thick lump" och snarkar som om hans liv hängde på det. LA - Sverige 4 - 2.

Ta över stafettpinnen Martin, vårda den med stolthet!


/I

The show must go on

Ocksa var det en kvar emot den stora staden. Stallning just nu, Martin Lakers 1 - L.A 0.

Igar forsvann alltsa 50% av vi kan beach 2009a alla. Ryktet sager att min van hamnade pa fel terminal och att flyget var sent men att han nu i alla fall ar hemma i ett stycke.
Manga kanske tycker att "vi" kan beach-, borde bli "jag", men jag forsakrar er om att jag och mitt ego ska gora allt vi kan for att kompensera hjalteforlusten vi lidit under dagen.
Igar nar det verkade morkt ringde telefonen och helt plotsligt var det utgang i Santa Monica och lite forfeke bokat.
Kvallen blev sen och blot, mycket tack vare nagra stadiga kamikaze White russians (byt mjolken mot Bailey's)
Sista ogonkastet pa klockan visade ca 04.45.

Sa idag har det blivit power naps, lite boklasning och tvatt. Allt for att vara pa topp imorgon da kosan styrs soderut. Om min ride hittar hit dvs. men jag har fullt fortroende.

Kom pa att vi glomt att posta en lank. Klicka har
Klicka pa yes for att bekrafta.
Om du inte kommer till bilden direkt (vilket du borde) ga till bild 188 fran den 30:e.

LEGENDARY!!!!

Anekdot 2:
Grabbarna glider in pa det Australiensiska grillstallet mittemot, Bondi (uttalas Bondai, Ivan 1 - Martin 0) grill. Efter att mat bestallts och nagra kalla hamtats fran hotellet (ja man fick gora det, heeelt sjukt) sa inspekterades condiments korgen.
Det fanns inte mindre an TRE olika sorters hot sauce att ha pa maten. Overkill var ordet.

Jag ska inte ga in for mycket i detalj pa vad som hande sista kvallen - det tankte jag att min respartner ska fa aterberatta.

You're not goin' anywhere you tick lump!

Hooters!!

Yes, vi var dar.

Yes, det var happy hour (en pitcher ol kostade 10 dollars, appetizers var half off).

Yes, deras "hot" chicken wings var verkligen HOT. Sadar sa att lapparna brann. D.v.s. precis som det SKA vara. Som tur var sa var deras margaritas riktigt goda och svala, vilket gjorde det hela till en fullandad upplevelse.

Att betala for olen var dock under oss, vi fick en gratis PITCHER. Om det var p.g.a. var charm, utstralning, humor eller for att vi helt enkelt ar SA awesome later vi vara osagt.

Nu ar det "sista natten med ganget" som galler, i morgon aker vi. Ivan aker hem och Martin aker hem till farsan. Den sistnamnda hotar dock med att aterkomma till Hostel'et innan han aker hem till Sverige (f*cker).

Igar och idag annars sa har det handlat om att hanga pa beachen, spela beach volleyboll och traffa slaktingar (Johannes, soon to be world famous actor).

Vill inte baissa LA, men det ska bli lite skont att aka hem. Intalar jag mig iaf.


/I

4th of july

Hypen var inte dalig nar vi efter frukostenseglade ut (i detta fall metaforiskt) pa strandpromenaden utanfor hotellet straxt innan klockan 12.
Vi glodde lite basket och som vanligt var Lakers bast av alla.....utan att ens ha varit pa plan. Ar man i USA anammar man ratt snabbt tanket "jag ar storst, bast och vackrast".
Folksamlingen kring muscle beach gjorde oss nyfikna sa vi slantrade over och dar star tva galanta damer och visar upp sig for nagra domare.
Blicken och den tysta kommunikationen som sa "vi stannar va?" tog ca 0,7 sek.
Lektion 1 i att saker kan bli antingen battre eller samre startade i samma ogonblick. Damerna forsvann som pengarna pa klubben igar (vi kommer till det) och presentatoren annonserar att nu ar det over 45 som ska visas.
Ok, 45 ar kanske ingen alder, men in kommer nagot pa hogklackat som gissningsvis fick sin sista busvissling efter sig vid samma tid som Nixon var president.
Kort och och gott - it went down hill in a hurry.

Pa vagen tillbaka blev det nagra AWESOMENESS!!! trojor. 2 for Ivan, en till mig.
Bulle till marinan och de oforglomliga orden "maybe I'm not pronouncing it right" fran Scott ar kanske de mest bevingade orden nagon sagt utanfor the I&M circle. (Hela historien kan bara inte dras har, utan maste helt enkelt berattas med en kall i handen och den skon slappa australiensiska dialekten)
Batresan var ocksa AWESOMENESS!!!
Kalla Corona, kycklingvingar, coola manniskor och 25 pers. istallet for de 5 personerna jag trodde skulle med.
Sjalvklart har bada herrarna munladret installt pa ratt frekvens for innan vi vet ordet av har vi fatt skjuts till hotellet, svidat om och hamnat pa en underground ravefest som var huuuur nice som helst.

Hemkomsttiden ar fortfarande lite oklar, men det blev sovmorgon i morse i alla fall.
Vad ska man saga? En mycket, MYCKET minnesvard 4:e juli.

Happy 4th!

Boat time!

Nu ar vi nyinsmorda och redo for en heldag pa sjon. It's gonna be legen.. wait for it...

SMR

Herren ger och herren tar som en viss herr Persson brukar saga har blivit det mest vedertagna uttrycket efter uppfoljaren till en logn, dvs (paus) eller?
Det hela borjade efter en blot kvall da det skulle inhandlas diverse mat och dryck pa Ralph's och vi hipp som happ hamnade vid sprit avdelning och utan storre eftertanke sager yours truely:
-Vi ska fan inte kopa nagon sprit idag........eller?

Mycket situationskomik och som det heter, du var tvungen att vara dar. Men efter det har det blivit oerhort vedertaget.

Som vanligt har tankebanan gatt i en atta och vi ar nu tillbaka vid det forstnamnda utrycket. Just nu tar herren en hel del. Magen "sket sig" igar och idag ar det extra strenght Tylenol och nasspray som galler.
Men det ska mycket till for att kuva Martin Lakers vilja.

En trakig nyhet ar att kamerasladden till min kamera sitter kvar i datorn hemma. Sa alla ni som vantar pa bilder och filmer far vanta lite till.
Ja, jag ar medveten om att det finns minneskortslasare, men som Aaron brukar saga:
-It's a bit of a mission.

Imorgon ar det 4:e juli. Da kor vi all in, 100% och nagra floskler till som vid detta tillfalle flyr mina fingertoppar.
Fridens liljor!
/M

WWF, watch out!!

Nu ar det bestamt: Vi ska sla oss in pa banan som wrestlingproffs. Artistnamnen blir "El Pollo Loco" and "Harry Taco". WAAAATCH OUT B*TCHES!!! Vi har aven tva GRYMT coola masker att ha pa oss (a la nacho libre), saljs pa strandpromenaden.

En "skon" grej fran flygresan hit: Sitter bredvid en kille som kollar sin mail pa planet. Jag "sover" men laser forstas allt. Han borjar med att lasa ett brev fran hans alskarinna (han hade berattat att hans fry var fran sverige). Sett kopierar han detta mail, skapar ett nytt, andrar om nagra ord och skickar det till en ANDRA alskarinna. Samma procedur upprepas till en TREDJE. Snacka om att vara en player av rang.

Lugnet fore stormen

Sa idag den 3 juli, dagen fore Independence day, tar killarna en valfortjant och valbehovlig vilodag, for att i morgon kunna festa like it's friggin' 2009 (and you're in LA)!

Har lamnat tillbaka hyrbilen idag, det var lite sorgligt. Nu blir det till att hyra cyklar och cruise'a upp och ner for strandpromenaden och kanna alla tranande blickar fran varenda kvinna i hela LA. Nastan.

Det har aven inhandlats SPRIT till att ta med sig hem (eftersom 150ml-regeln gor att man inte for kopa taxfree om man mellanlandar nanstans (bitches)). Fick ett bra tips om ett liqour warehouse dar de hade det mesta asbilligt. So it's party at my place when we get back!

Nu maste jag bege mig ut far att kopa en till resvaska, det jag shoppat lar INTE fa plats i den jag hade med mig.

That's all for now. Peace!


/I

Boogie Board FTW!

Morgondoppet i morse blev LITE annorlunda an vad det brukar vara. Vi lanade en Boogie Board pa vart Hostel och begav oss ut for att mota vagorna. Och SOM vi gjorde det. Vi fangade ett par riktigt skona vagor, red dem som om de var [insert your choice of mother]! BOOM!

Aven Ivan som aldrig testat forut lyckades surfa vagorna, med nagra vassa tips fran Boggie-veteranen Martin forstas.

Nu ska det shoppas en gang till, foljt av lite skon volleyboll pa stranden.

Ikvall kanske det blir en ol. Kanske. Vem vet...

/I

Dilletanten 1 - Verkligheten - 0

Som vanligt maste jag ga in och styra upp vissa faktauppgifter i det hela. JA, min radarparter har kopt ett par skor for 15 dollar.
JA - vi har varit pa Dodger stadium ikvall.
JA - vi korde en cheap-ass tail gate utanfor med lite Pollo Loco.

Och ja, vi har cruisat ner for Olympic blvd. med Snoop i hogtalarna.
Gladje 1 - haters 0!
Sa summa sumarum, vi har haft det LEGENDARY....WAIT FOR IT....DARY!!!
Det som forglomts ar In and out burger, basketmatchen, den skona cruisen upp till S.C 2 och hela baseboll upplevelsen.
Jag (M) har haft en fantastisk dag och ska nu sova gott. Morgondopp 09.00 - GIVAKT!!!

Och huruvida saker gatt pa roven for yours truely....som det sas....herren ger och herren tar.
Slutar som vanligt med ett citat fran.....ja, ikvall Enzo:
-Tomorrow is going to be a big day.....skal!

Shopping like mad

Idag har vi shoppat som om vi hade brost!!

True story:
Vi aker till sports shack for att kolla sportartiklar. Ivan hittar ett par SJUKT coola skor (AND1) pa rea, bara 50 dollars. Ber om att fa den andra skon, men far efter 5 minuter (ty) veta att den inte finns att hitta och att det var sista paret (forutom ett par i storlek 13). DAMN it. "Herren ger och herren tar" sager Martin, varpa vi beger oss till en annan sprts shack for att hamta ut en t-troja som Ivan paxat. Val dar sa har de en super-rea pa parkeringsplatsen. Gar fram och fragar om de har nagra basketskor i storlek 9 och de har ETT par kvar. Long story short, Ivan koper ett par AND1 for 15 (FEMTON) dollars!!!! "Herren GER" indeed! Boom!

Forovrigt forlorade Martin idag kampen om en supersot tjej mot en irlandare. Kom igen, en IRLANDARE!?! Hur dalig ar man da?

/I