Mike took this picture with my camera phone.  I like how it came out (especially because I couldn’t get on the grass). 

Wow!  Haven’t been around here in a while, but things have been busy – what with me breaking my leg and all.  But Mike has been wonderful, and such great company during this whole time with me.

He was the first person I saw right after my surgery, and I mean RIGHT after, he was outside the recovery room – and I have to admit that it was really nice to see a familiar face after that.  Even walked with me as I have struggled on my walker going to the movies and just plain getting around – at least I can drive now though … but for today Mike came over to my house and we headed off to Pasadena.

The day started off at The Cheesecake Factory.  Mike and I tend to go out to eat at new and interesting places, so I wanted to show him one of my favorites – and I’m so glad he enjoyed it.  We were right by the window too (which is on a major street), so passerbys sometimes paused and saw us enjoying our meal – I found it kinda funny.  We both got strawberry flavored drinks, and they were both so good!  Obviously the cheesecake was good too, and I’m glad we both agreed to skip an appetizer to enjoy our desert (because I don’t think I could’ve done it otherwise).

A few blocks up the street was the Norton Simon, and I was nicely surprised by the variety and arrangement of the pieces there.  I especially enjoyed hearing Mike comment (both serious and funny) on the pieces in the museum.  It was great just being there for the day and getting around somewhere new.

After all that he drove around Pasadena and Highland Park (I think that’s it …).  He even offered to go stop by the comic book store I frequent (I should never go there right after pay day … I got a good number of books).  And, Mike drove by his old neighborhood and showed me around.  It would have been great if he stayed in that area, mostly because it is really close to where I live. 

It was just a great day, like days out with Mike are.  And I always look forward to Sundays with him because it is such a nice change of pace from the work week.  I’m just hoping to get walking on a cane soon so we can go off to Monterey and have a nice few days of vacation – that’s gonna be so much fun!

This is the picture I took being on the wheelchair path.  I just wish my camera phone captured the wonderful colors much better.

On Christmas Morning, I attended the Morning Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, in downtown Los Angeles, not too far from Liz’s house in Boyle Heights. We drove pretty much along the route that she takes to go to work, and went past some of the places which we have visited before, in Little Tokyo, and around City Hall. Parking was free at the Cathedral, and we were among the first to get to the location. Although there were thousands at the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, the 8am Mass only had a few hundred attending. Here is a shot of the front of the Cathedral, showing the fountain.

Here Liz takes a photo of the fountain with her handy cell phone camera. She loves her little ROKR and uses it more often than her digital camera. She looked beautiful in a Christmas Colored coat. The Christmas Tree in front of the Cathedral can be glimpsed above her. I also have some more photos of the Cathedral on my latest PhotoPost on WhenWordsCollide.

This is the Nativity Scene on the grounds in front of the Cathedral.

Here Liz poses in front of the etched glass Angels in the North Wall overlooking the Hollywood Freeway.

Here is the Guardian Angel above the left hand entrance to the Cathedral.

This is one of the many stained glass windows in the Mausoleum area of the Cathedral.

I haven’t posted many entries here at InternetSerendipity. Our last entry was for the Dinner Detective date. We’ve spent more time since then together, but we just haven’t made time for posts at this blog. Christmas morning was special, however, and was actually the first time I’ve been inside a Church in many years. Even though I am not Catholic, it doesn’t really matter, because a house of worship is a house for all people. I always feel blessed when in a Church of any denomination.

One last shot of the Nativity Scene outside of Olvera Street in the Plaza. We had a nice brunch in one of the restaurants in Olvera Street, to finish a beautiful morning.

I surprised Mike a few days ago with a call at work. 

“I sent you an e-mail and need an answer right away.  I would have called with the information, but it is a bit detailed.”  I told him over the phone.

After reading through the e-mail he made the choice of a New York Strip Steak and Cheesecake.

And most important of all, he had no clue what he was in for.  I just told him the evening will be from 6 to 9 p.m. … so we would be out late that night.  Believe me though, I was so very tempted to blurt it out.  To tell him what was up my sleeve.  But, I kept quiet the surprise of where we were going.

I had read about those dinner theatres where they play out a murder and the audience participates.  And, I had always wanted to go but never had the opportunity to have someone accompany me.  After I got Mike’s meal choices I called the Dinner Detective to make reservations for Nov. 12.

Well, yesterday I got to Mike’s place around 4 so that we had plenty of time to get there.  Once there Mike noticed it was an area he was familiar with and since we had time we looked around. 

They had a wonderful fountain in front of one of the movie theatres (besides liking monkeys I also like lions since I am a Leo), and further down saw the Culver Studios lot with the wonderful mansion out front.  Also took a stroll around the Culver Hotel, where Mike told me the munchinks from the Wizard Of Oz stayed.  There was so much packed into the area that I kept telling him it is a spot we should come by and check out again.

After some sightseeing, and a wonderful Chantico at Starbucks we headed off to the show.  They had us congregate outside for appetizers and interrogation.  Some of the questions they suggested were interesting:

• Do I look good in this outfit?
  
• How many times have you wanted to kill your boss/employees?
  
• What is the first thing that pops into your head when you look at me?

It was nice to be in a crowd of people that were out to have fun, and even better was when we were seated … we lucked out and got a wonderful group at our table.  The most memorable was Rhett and Scarlet … though Antonio and his date were great as well … Antonio being the one that would end up solving the case.

The night was more then fantatstic … more then great.  The actors were wonderful, and we were entertained throughout the whole evening.  Then to top of the evening there was a singer in the main part of the restaurant singing old standards from Frank Sinatra … Dean Martin and such.  I was glad when Mike suggested we go dance.  That was a great way to top off the evening.

For this being a fluke on my part, it turned out great.  The whole evening was memorable.

SHE SAYS:

The weather here in California is for the most part quite pleasant.  So, it was perfect for a day out – which I did with Mike this past weekend.

Quite a lot of things have been going on around me, and I was a bit frazzled by it all.  And, I have to thank Mike for bearing with me and being so wonderful throughout the day.

The day started off with a drive down the Peninsula, or maybe I should say Pacific Coast Highway.  Needless to say the view was nice, and the weather was perfect.  I was a bit out of it to fully enjoy the whole experience since I was up since Friday, but didn’t want to miss a day out with Mike.  Along the way we stopped by the Wayfarer’s Chapel.  It is a wonderfully designed building made mostly out of glass sitting on a cliffside overlooking the ocean.  Unfortunately, there was a wedding to take place soon so the chapel was closed. 

Once we were back on the road we went to the Redondo (I hope I got that right) pier.  There we had a wonderful meal, and the waitress seated us right at the corner that is above the water.  The midday sun glistening across the ocean, seagulls and dull sound of waves crashing did make for a relaxing environment.

After our wonderful meal we headed back up the road to the botanical gardens.  I have to admit that it was a gorgeous place, and the walk did me well after lunch.  The only thing is that I get freaked out walking on grass, especially when it is all spongy and stuff.  It’s weird, but it gives me the shivers to walk across.  I think it was because in having dogs they use the yard (or grass) as their “toilet”, so it freaks me out to be barefoot on it … let alone walk across it for fear of germs of some sort.  Though I don’t think I’m a big germ-o-phobe … there are just some things that get me going.

Anyways.  We walked among the grounds towards the lake, and observed many wonderful trees and flowers.  The magnolia trees were magnificent, and I was tempted to just lay there on a bench and absorb the peaceful shade that they provided.

Now, in a few days I’ll be surprising Mike … and I can’t wait.  I can barely stand to keep it a secret and feel that with minimal prodding I’ll blurt it out to Mike.

HE SAYS:

November 3rd was our 2nd Monthiversary, and I forgot. Already I’m forgetting Monthiversaries.  Well, to tell the truth I thought it was this weekend, (Which is two days off.) when I am wishing Liz Happy 2nd Monthiversary. In fact , “this weekend” begins in about 2-1/2 hours. I should have noted the monthiversary on the blog, however, but it’s been incredibly busy at work, and I’ve been so tired when I get home. It’s been so busy I have to work this Sunday, opening up the shop and running a crew to try to get some projects up to date. So the few hours I spend with Liz today will be heavenly. I have to get up at 4am on Sunday, so each hour today is my only “weekend”.

Last week ( our Seventh Weekiversary) we went to see “How the West Was Won” in Cinerama. I was going to post a blog entry here, which was a repeat post of this one, so I have at least posted a link to when I blogged about the experience of seeing Cinerama before. Liz suggested that we take surface streets instead of the freeway, which was packed. Driving from East L.A. to Hollywood on Cesar Chavez, which turns into Sunset Boulevard, brought back a lot of old memories for me. I didn’t even know about the surface route, since I go everywhere on freeways. But when driving by the hillside homes in Echo Park and Silverlake, which are neighborhoods in which I lived when a small child, memory overwhelmed me. I almost maneuvered myself into a few fender benders (I hope Liz didn’t notice) because I was staring at all the scenery. After the movie, which is almost four hours long including an intermission, Liz chose the restaurant, (La Padilla? If I got that right after a week, congratulate me. I’ll remember after the second time I eat there.) It was an authentic Mexican restaurant on Cesar Chavez Blvd. in East L.A.. The food was excellent, and capped a long but fantastic day. Liz could explain exactly what we got but I’ll try. It was a dinner for two which included a three legged clay pot filled with shrimp, chicken, and beef, smothered in melted cheese, surrounded by nopales (cactus)  and covered with a mole sauce. They served little “Coronitas” beers in an icebucket, and fresh corn tortillas (made about four feet from where we were sitting.) Guitarists serenaded the patrons at the restaurant, and the atmosphere was romantic and colorful. The place was busy, but not packed, and it was very cozy in a small space.

Today I plan on taking my favorite drive around the peninsula. As I write, the sun is out and it looks to be a beautiful day. I told my roommate Joel yesterday that Liz takes me on “locals only” drives in her part of town, which just happens to include downtown L.A. I like to show her “my part of town” where “everybody has an ocean”. So after rounding the peninsula, and perhaps stopping a few times for overlooks, with a trip to Wayfarer’s Chapel and Abalone Cove, if it’s open, the last stop is the South Coast Botanical Gardens. The link is to my webshots gallery folder of the Gardens.

Then a late lunch and back to my place for whatever happens next.   I’m sure it willl be a Happy 2 Monthiversary (2 days late) for both of us.

 

Early in the day I read Mike’s blog about how he was planning on giving Halloween candy out today.  So, I decided to test out that theory and surprise him.

I got the ball rolling for people to dress up at work for the day, and I thought it would be a darn shame to let Mike miss seeing me in all my regalia! 

So, late in the day I called him to see how he was doing … and he also informed me that he had gotten his glasses … which was perfect for that way I knew he would surely be home if I went to surprise him.

Straight out of work I headed towards his place on the streets for most of the way since I figured the freeways would be crowded, and luckily I got on the 110 at a point where the traffic went smoothly with hardly any stop and go.  I got to his place around the time I had estimated, which was good enough to stay and chat a while before he retired for the night … since we both do have to work the next day.

I knocked on the door and his roommate got up to open up.

“I’m here to do a little trick or treating!”, I said with a smile.  He told me that my costume was great.  I told him that I hadn’t told Mike I was coming over and it was a surprise.  So, I went to Mike’s computer room and knocked … and I opened the door to surprise him.  Though, he kind figured (or as his roommate said, “hoped” … lol) it was me.  And it was.

Mike was gracious enough to sit and talk with me for the time I was there, and I even got a 100 Grand out of it.  Sure enough he had bought the candy!  Not that I doubted him, but he had the GOOD stuff.  (Hint: next time get Baby Ruth)

I enjoyed being there with Mike and his roommate talking for a time, and have to admit that it is nice to just relax and chat after a day of work.  It was a surprise for Mike, and a nice way to end the evening for me. 

Hopefully I will do better at surprising him next time … *insert evil & sexy laugh here*

This past Sunday, while listening to Liz talk to me about wanting to perhaps find a place of her own to get away from her lifelong family home, I was only a bit surprised. We both have talked about getting out of our present situations. Mine with my alcoholic roommate, and she with her demanding mother. I am dreaming of a place for us together, and we talked about “our house” when touring the prefabricated “home” which is pictured on the blog header to this site. I was hoping that we could perhaps become not only lovers but roommates at some future time. However, I have lots of money problems right now, and Liz wants to find a place of her own in the meantime because of family problems. I cannot see myself moving out of my situation for a little while longer, partly because my roommate and I will have to split up, and neither one of us would just “leave” the other holding the rent bag, as it were. I’ve spent two days thinking about what this would mean for Liz and my relationship. An “interim” living arrangement might be a good thing for Liz. I hope that she is also thinking about someday living with me, as I think of living with her all the time. I wrote the following poem this morning.

 

“Lodgings”
Poetry by Michael F. Nyiri
10/25/057:03 a.m.

I’ve been living in limbo, near a decade or more,
Moving into this limbo I knew not what was in store
For me, only that I escaped the relationship from hell
And in time, accepting of this hellish place as well.
Moving many myriad times throughout the
course of my life
Escaping one dungeon for another one’s strife
Trying to maintain happiness with screaming neighbors
Day after day it’s the same ridiculous labors.
My roommates are legend, and I can’t stand them at all
But they remain friends, my critiques have to stall
I have changed, perhaps not for better
And I don’t like my attitude
I would love to just leave
For another long or short latitude.
Right now, I feel skittish, and hopeless, and irritable
Who knows what life brings to the plate at the table?

Now that I’ve met you, I hope maybe we’ll couple
And find a home for ourselves before my situation buckles
The cat hair and beer cans will all disappear
And then I would always have you standing near
It’s only been minutes in the tight scheme of time
The lines of our lives haven’t had time to rhyme
We’re still feeling our way along early love’s path
But our home situation is causing us wrath

Now you too want out of your place and your home
Bubbling animosities, irrationalities breathing foam
I listen to you imply that your situation is untenable
And I want to caution you not to stay unbendable
Little thoughts of unrest will fester and boil
Causing your wanting to flee home, hearth, and soil.

Give me a chance to build a life with your dear
Don’t play with fire out of searing cold fear
There’s lots of trauma involved in moving I know
I have moved so many times and have nothing to show

I wish I could build you a dream house right now
And present you a gift far from your familial strife
I look in my crystal ball but presently just don’t see how
So wherever you land, I hope you’re still in my life.

Living in Limbo is not the best occurance
Living in perfection is of course the best deterrance
Someday I hope to live in your perfection
But know I will support your life wherever it’s direction

HE SAYS:

Today I’m walking home from the Ralphs and I pass by one of those Teriaki places. Now I’ve never given this one a second look because they used to be a grits and barbecue soul food place called “Wheaton’s Eatin’s”  where I always got great grub. And there are just so many Teriaki places in this town. I saw a sign on the outside of the building I had never seen before. “BOBA”. I only had one or two “sips” of the Boba you got in Little Tokyo a couple of weeks ago, but I was hooked. I love those little tapioca “pearls” and how they almost “melt in your mouth”.

The menu actually looked pretty good. I got hungry while waiting for my BOBA but didn’t go over a weight ledge and order the curry chicken or even the sushi rolls. There was some stuff there that I couldn’t remember or pronounce, but it looked tasty, and the “kitchen” was always busy. My number was called and I got my Strawberry BOBA which was like a shake but with those tasty little “pearls”. Now when you’re over at my place and need your BOBA fix, I’ve got your back. BOBA is right around the corner.

Are you thirsty now?

 

SHE WRITES:

This is something I wrote a while ago, but it fits … I love letting my imagination run wild.

---

I don’t know what it is about me, but lately I have been emanating so much warmth – and heat. It just radiates off of me. I think it is fueled by my desire and passion … for you.

Do you know what sweet torture it is to have had you, yet … you are so far away? To only taste of your body between such long periods of time? I become starved and emaciated for your body Beloved. That is your name now. It came to me in a dream … Beloved. Loved by me. I whisper your name as I feel the echoes pulse within me of our last union.

Beloved … you are electric.

How I imagine our next meeting. I want to caress your face. Take in each feature through my fingertips and look at you to burn my memory with this image. The image of you and I … sitting with our legs entwined … in the darkness. You relaxed and receiving. I taking you into me with every single fiber of my being – angelic succubus. Beloved, you purge me of the poison of lust and desire by allowing me to take you like I do. Leave me clean.

“Do you know how beautiful and precious you are to me Beloved?” I slowly and carefully whisper into your ear as I hold your face cupped in my hands. I want you to soak in each word and feel it deep down to your core. Then when I have let the words linger and make their way to your soul I will playfully, delicately and longingly lightly lick your earlobe and you will hear me exhale as you inhale. Breath interchanged in close space, and my hand falls from your face down to your chest.

I can feel your heartbeat and my other hand travels from your neck to your back, I pull you closer … and deeper into me. Our ribs interlock and I close my legs around your waist. My hands roam free and so do my lips. I kiss … your forehead … your eyes … your nose … your cheeks … your neck … your shoulders … and finally. Finally … I sensually lick your lips and prepare it for a kiss. I look deeply into your eyes and see I am inside of you. And, with that I kiss you. I kiss you long and hard. I take your lip and bite it. Bite it with enough pressure to blur the boundary of pain and pleasure.

Beloved. If you only knew. If you only knew that having you deep inside me. Thrusting in and out isn’t enough. I want to absorb you into me. I want to go beyond you and me. I want that moment where we are both one and time stops. Where beauty, love and light intersect. That thin crossroads of what is beyond words yet understood by both. That you are me and I am you … that we are one.

At times Beloved. At times it feels like I so want to be intermingled inside with you that I think I will break you. The times I scratch your back and draw blood, I hold back. I want to tear you apart and see the warm core in the center of you that fills me with such passion and desire. What is it? Where is it Beloved? Is it your scent? Is it your warmth? Is it your words? Is it that look of your eye? The touch of your hand? That singular sigh?

Beloved. I would move mountains and build bridges for you. I want to bathe and anoint your body with oils and lotions. I want to lick you from head to toe, run my hands through every inch of you. Record you for eternity from the outside in. I want to swim in your body Beloved; I want to live in your sea.

Exhuberant Evaluation
Poetry by Michael F. Nyiri
Turesday, October 11, 2005 5:51 am

Every moment spent in wonder
Life inhaled as a breath of purpose
Inner beauty shines bright, injected with
Zeal and quantum care
Always learning
Both earthbound and spiritual
Every moment spent alive and vibrant
Touching my
Humanity with softness and love

Memories might be hazy
Energy and stamina might lag a bit, but
Never does your caring or vibrancy lag
Doctors are a given in your existence
Ovarian obstacles and diabetic detritus
Zoo animals inhabit your room
And you always have a smile for the world

 

The Best Date
Poetry by Michael F. Nyiri
Tuesday, October 11, 2005 6:15 am

I want to sire you up to Heaven
Riding in a carriage pulled by swans
Listening to the music of the stars
Swooning in their bowers in the skies.
I want to kiss you in a moonbeam
Shining along with old man moon’s smile
Hearing the Heavenly choirs of angels
Singing just for us

I want to couple with you forever
And never leave your side
I want to feel your body breathe
My breath inside your lungs
I long to live beside you daily
So we can feel each other’s heartbeat

Every day is now an excuse to think of you
Every moment is a moment spent beside you
In memory.
Every life is one that touches yours
And every love is one that reaches you

Our best date has not yet begun
Our life is but a beginning right now,
Taking babysteps to Heaven.
But the swans are at the ready
And the carriage is waiting,
With a shine that blinds the sun.
The Best Date is forever
And I will spend it with you, my only one.

---

BEHIND THE POETRY: The first poem is an anacrostic, and the first letters of all the lines spell Elizabeth’s name. I have always written anacrostic poetry for every gal with whom I have ever been involved. It is one of my “traditions”. I have already written a few poems for Liz, but “Exhuberant Evaluations” is the anacrostic that has been bubbling in my brain for a few weeks. All my poetry for Liz will be presented on this site instead of on WhenWordsCollide, so subscribe to this site too if you subscribe to my regular site, in order to receive all my poetry as I write it.  MFN 10/11/05