Jesus! I'm a sinner.

For this entry, I had prepared a list of superlatives but I was worried that "awesomest, jesusiest, fishiest, bananaest, and alienest" wouldn't be the most effective form of communication so I suppose I'll just have to explain. What made this weekend so insaniest was the number of times that I found myself thinking "where AM I right now?"

My ride or die chicks and I ventured off to Salvation Mountain on Saturday. On the way there we listened to what felt like the soundtrack to my entire middle school existence and a whole lot of reggaeton. I've decided that somewhere in Puerto Rico there must be a reggeaton graveyard where Daddy Yankee now works as a groundskeeper.

Salvation Mountain. You've probably all heard of it since it's apparently the cool thing to do these days. It's the most unique adulation of Jesus love that I've ever encountered. As someone who was almost denied admission to the Vatican, this is clearly NOT the reason that I made the journey, but JESUS was it great. Even though I don't quite share the sentiments, I love that one person can be SO passionate that they achieve something extraordinary. The entire thing was built by Leonard Knight out of adobe, straw, and paint that people donate. It's like all you need is a mission and little elbow grease to make magic. If Gaudí hadn't been financially backed by all of Barcelona, he would have probably made something similar to this. It's bright and whimsical and just a little busted. Exactly how I like things.

Salvation Mountain was just a ways from the Salton Sea which we stopped by in search of shelter from the 100° weather. Lily and Hanna were sadly born with the curse of the white man and could barely take the heat but I thought it was perfection. Unfortunately, the Salton Sea is not really the most refreshing of seas. Its shore is made up ENTIRELY of fish bones because the rising salinity makes it impossible for most fish to live there. You can't see the floor through the carcasses and bare feet don't do so well on it but none of that kept us from testing the waters a bit. It was kind of a mind fuck to think how many fish the shore must be made up of considering that it's the largest lake in California. Despite its grimy nature, we couldn't resist adding some shutterbugs to the hoards of insects. I'm really loving all of the photos I've been taking lately.

And because weird begets weird, down the road from the Salton Sea lies the International Banana Museum. I got a banana nut milkshake and sat on a monkey shaped stool while indulging in the sheer ridiculousness of the day thus far. But I was naturally not satisfied so we got back to L.A. in time to celebrate World Whisky Day at the Venice Whaler, get kicked off the pier, and eat terrible food at Norm's.

Sunday I went to a screening of the X-files. Am I the only one that thinks it's the greatest thing in the world that I can say that? Hey Cindy, what'd you do today? Oh you know, just saw a screening of two episodes of a TV show that ended over ten years ago in a theater full of fanatics and the creators of the show. I've only actually gotten through about two and a half seasons of the show but I'm already rather invested. Plus, I knew I was among my people when the mention of Joss Whedon sparked gasps and they showed clips of the original The Haunting as influences. It's like on Gilmore Girls when Kirk gets a cat and Rory says that he always was a cat person, he just never had a cat. I always was an X-files person, I just hadn't watched it much.

My life is the most magnificent madness.

Oh yeah, and I also went to Disneyland in my best Roxanne outfit. Perfect weekend.

To love me so.

First things first, I may be banned from Bass Lake, along with my entire family. Those poor people had no idea what they were getting into when they signed up to host our little gathering. We, on the other hand, had a blast.

The gals and I had been craving a girls trip for some time now so, when I heard about this wedding, I insisted that they come along. It was at the Pines Resort in Bass Lake which is right off the lake and only about five miles from Yosemite. I got to sleep in a loft that I'm told is usually only appealing to children but I loved it. I'm sure I don't have to go on about the beauty of nature and whatnot but waking up in that loft and sticking my head out of the tiny little window is pretty much the best way to start any morning.

As I mentioned after the bachelorette party, my family is nuts, but this time there were even more of us. At one point, Hanna looked at me and said that she thought she understood me before but that being around my family made me make even more sense. I am the product of madness. My family is loud, obnoxious, and ape shit crazy but they're also wonderfully witty, supportive, and not to be fucked with. Our group took over the resort and I never even bothered learning anyone's room number because all I had to do was wander into the loudest cabin with the open doors. 

My cousin married an Indian gent so us ladies all signed up to get henna done but there were so many of us that the poor woman was there all day. While they were doing the bride's, which alone took three hours, I noticed that she had dots on her legs so, obviously, my well trained eye saw hidden Mickeys and immediately asked for one in my design. It's the funnest little game of hide and seek.

The ceremony was outside by the lake which I thought was the loveliest setting. It was short but sweet. The bridal party danced down the aisle, there was some bible talk, and then it was over. I got a little annoyed that the pastor failed miserably at speaking both English AND Spanish but that's just me being sensitive. I also wasn't too fond of their music choices but I really shouldn't talk since I will not marry anyone that does not agree to this being our wedding song. It weeds out a lot of the duds, I think. 

The reception is where everything went off the deep end. My family dances. The whole lot of us like to get down but the DJ was TERRIBLE and would have been booed if he weren't friends with the groom. Luckily, we were all enjoying ourselves too much to care that the same song was played five times. By the end of the night, some douche was peeing in a water fountain, my sister had sealed her fate for the next morning, and I had punched someone in the face. You know, standard wedding stuff.

The next morning, Lily forced me to wake up so that we could check out and hit up Yosemite before heading home. I'm really glad that we made time for it because all of the wedding requirements severely hampered my nature time. Very hard to describe Yosemite besides just saying that it's unreal. Pictures don't do it justice but I gotta try, right?

So now I'm considering actually putting away my luggage that has been out since the beginning of March. Won't need it again until June when Cindy goes east coast.

Water Lily.

A Hannimal in her natural habitat.

Sleepy heads.

Mickey not pictured.

Whatchu want!?!?

Get. It.