Ranking the How I Met Your Mother Seasons

Hello everybody!  El Guapo is back after a little bit of a break with a new blog post!  I know you guys have been yearning for some of this wisdom and I like to think I deliver in a timely fashion.  Unfortunately with the school year wrapping up I wasn't able to post.  But alas the summer has come and I've blown the cobwebs off my pen and legal pad on got to writing.  To be honest I wasn't sure what to write about.  I can't help but think that you guys might be getting tired of posts about sports.  (I am.)  Considered writing about movies but I hadn't seen any good ones recently.  (And who wants to read about Oblivion or Evil Dead? No one.) So in the midst of my writers block I decided to tune in to the season finale of one of my favorite shows, How I Met Your Mother.  Somewhere along the way I decided to rank the seasons so you're welcome HIMYM fans.

For those who don't know, How I Met Your Mother is basically an old Ted telling his kids the story of how he met his wife and their mother.  The show's gone on for 8 seasons now and if I had to give the show a review on the spot I'd give it a solid "Guapo".  It's a touching story of Ted Mosby's quest for true love and aren't we all looking for that special gal to call our baby mama?  My ideal girl has wide enough birthing hips to give birth to my 8 pound squid baby.  (Everyone knows Guapo babies come out the womb with tentacles.)  So let's get started with this ranking!

8. Season 6 (Best Episode- Blitzgiving)
This season was by no means a bad one, it was just the least good out of the rest of the seasons.  Marshall's dad's death made me super sad.  Can anyone really tell me they were a fan of Zoey and keep a straight face?  (I can't.)  She was kinda hot though, and Katy Perry was too.  Plus who doesn't love the Captain.  He is the epitome of the man I want to grow to be.  The Blitz was also good for laughs.  (We all have that one friend who ends up being the Blitz.)

7. Season 7 (Best Episode- Trilogy Time)
I loved Quinn.  If Barney had been marrying Quinn instead of Robin I honestly wouldn't be that mad.  I'm just glad he didn't end up with Nora.  The season finale was great.  (Waitforit is still the coolest middle name of all time!)  I'm just hung up on the fact that Ted is still hung up on Robin.  I mean Jesus, buddy.  Her vagina broke!  She can't push a squid baby through that thing.

6. Season 8 (Best Episode- P.S. I Love You)
The return of a darker Robin Sparkles! And the Captain is back!  I could do without Victoria but at least Robin and Barney are finally together and it looks like it'll be forever!  Plus at long last we finally meet the mother.  I don't know about you guys but I was getting restless.  After years of being teased I was ready for this.  Plus that bat shit crazy girl Jeanette was good for a few laughs.  And who doesn't love Patrice?

5. Season 2 (Best Episode- Slap Bet)
So many great moments in this season.  There's the girl with the crazy eyes, we met Barney's gay, black brother and Lily and Marshall got married.  And am I the only one who fantasizes their bachelor party being like Marshall's?  (Probably.)  This is really where I think the show elevated itself into a great show.  Only reason I put this so low on the list is because I'm not a fan of that Ted/Robin combo.

4. Season 1 (Best Episode- The Pineapple Incident)
This is really before the show hit its comedic stride but I couldn't deny it had some great moments.  This is the season where we met poor innocent little Ted.  Marshall wasn't fat yet.  Game Night is still one of my favorite episodes and would be my favorite of this season if it weren't for the genius that is The Pineapple Incident.  And up until the season 8 finale I was pushing for the mother to be Mary the Paralegal.

3. Season 5 (Best Episode- Girls vs Suits)
This is actually the very first season I watched in full.  I saw this season and fell in love with the show and I had to go back and watch every single season.  I loved seeing Robin and Barney together, even if it was only for a few episodes.  Plus the Playbook was awesome.  I actually bought a copy of it.  Can't tell if it works or not though. (It really doesn't, but who cares.)  Slapsgiving came back and a grand musical number about suits sung by Barney?  Yes, please.  There were so many good episodes in this season like the inspirational The Perfect Week and Say Cheese.  It was really just a good all round season.

 

2. Season 3 (Best Episode- Slapsgiving)
How about instead of me listing the episodes I liked I just list the episodes I didn't like... Hold on...Couldn't find any.  This is the season when they introduced the Bro Code.  (Another book I ended up purchasing at the extinct Borders.)  Barney and Robin hooked up for the first time and Ted got a tramp stamp!  Plus who can say no to Barney's green St. Patty's Day Suit?

1. Season 4 (Best Episode- The Naked Man)
This is season when How I Met Your Mother hit its prime.  I'm not saying the show got progressively worse but it was at its best during season 4.  Barney was chasing Robin and Ted got engaged, then left at the alter.  (Sad but entertaining.)  The Naked Man is still I move I want to do one day.  ( Who wouldn't.)  And I loved Barney's video resume.  To top it all off Barney had sex with his 200th woman.  That's a lot.

Alright guys that's enough of my blogging for the month.  But I will be back next month and more regularly so you can look forward to that.  If for some reason you aren't looking forward to this summer you can always look forward to more Guapo.  As always you can follow me on Twitter @ELGUAPO3.  Feel free to stalk me on Facebook Raynesha.  And after months of requests I've finally given in and got myself an Instagram.  I already grace you guys with my words might as well throw in some free pics while I'm at it.  Anywho the name is CAPTAINCRUNCHTIME.  Thanks for reading and stay Guapo out there!

Happy Warriors Clinch Day!

Hello everybody!  Guaps here just wanting to say Happy Warriors Clinch Day!  Clinch Day is basically the equivalent of Christmas for kids but much more rare.  And better.  With today's win the Warriors have officially clinched a spot in the playoffs for just the third time in my life time.  The first time was in 1994 and I was just a baby.  The second time is the We Believe season back in 2007.  I think most Warriors fans will share my sentiment when I say I'm just as relieved as I am joyful.  As a Warriors fan I've experienced a lot of hardships and a lot of heartaches.  I remember crying as a child when the Warriors were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.  Those were a lot of tears for a lot of seasons.  (You could probably fill up a kiddie pool with those tears.)  I don't cry anymore because I'm a grown man but I can admit when the Warriors don't make the playoffs it does make me sad.  Not today though!  Today I smile!

We have seen terrible injuries and bad exits from some of our favorite players.  We have been waiting and we have been waiting years.  We have been waiting for this day, for this moment.  Our team has been made fun of.  Critics have shown a lack of respect for this organization.  Not today!  Today we are rewarded for our patience and loyalty.  Today we experience something special.  Today our team is acknowledged and respected.  I truly believe the worst is over.  From this point on I believe we will make winning a habit.  Today We Believe came back.  But this time it's not a one season visit.  We Believe is back and it's here to stay.

The Ballad of Raynesha

Hello all!  Guapo here with another edition of Infinite Wisdom.  I'm sure you guys are all getting ready for St. Patrick's Day tomorrow.  While you guys go out and get fucked up, I'll be in my dorm celebrating the life of a wonderful saint.  For those of you who don't know, Saint Patrick was a bishop in Ireland in the 4th century and I guess people there really liked him.  (I skimmed the Wikipedia page.)  In all honestly the Guaps doesn't have anything planned tomorrow so unless somebody has a better plan I'll probably have a movie marathon on Netflix while "eating a sandwich".

I'm guessing y'all are thinking, "Hmm, Guapo's life seems kinda boring.  I guess not much goes on in his life." It's true sometimes I go through long periods of time without having anything interesting happen to me.  Yes, even someone like El Guapo lives the life of an average American from time to time.  But I kind of prefer it that way sometimes because the alternative would be going through another "Raynesha" experience.  Sometimes I'll reference Raynesha and some people have no idea what I'm talking about.  Well, I'm about to tell you the story of Raynesha.  I still have nightmares about her but I do this because I love you guys.

This took place March of 2012.  Basically a year ago.  I have a friend who makes hardcore music and he invited me to one of his shows in Castro Valley.  I'm not a fan of that type of music but I came out to support my friend.  (How sweet of me!)  The event was called the Burrito Bro-Down.  Let me just say this:  If the title of the event is Burrito Bro-Down I can only assume that the burrito comes along with the price of admission.  No! That was not the case.  I had to pay for admission AND for my burrito.  I basically bought one burrito for the price of two.  And it's not like it was one of the best burritos I've ever had.  My mind wasn't blown away by the tastiness of the burrito.

So I'm watching the show eating my overpriced burrito and I'm noticing the hardcore dancing.  For those who've never been to one of these shows, basically you got a lot of people running around and colliding with each other while also pretending to punch midgets.  Personally I prefer twerking it with a girl with a big booty but to each his own.  Anyway, amongst the crowd of midget punchers I see a portly black lady falling over whenever someone runs into her and high fiving everyone she sees.  When I'm getting ready to leave and head home some dude asks me if I can give this lady a ride back home because she lives in Oakland and everyone else lives in either in Castro Valley or San Leandro.  I'm looking at this lady and I'm feeling kind of bad for her so I ask her what part of Oakland she's from.  She tells me East Oakland, which is kind of vague but I was making sure I wouldn't have to drive to West Oakland.  (Such an awful place.)

The route from Castro Valley to Oakland is the 580 freeway.  (The better of the two freeways that run through Oakland.)  When you reach Oakland you start in Deep East Oakland and make your way towards West Oakland.  This is just some information in case you need a reference point.  So we are on the freeway and I'm asking the lady some questions to make small talk.  The lady's name was Raynesha and spoiler alert, she's a fucking weirdo.  So the first thing I learned is that she got to the show by taking a bus and walking to the venue.  That's a long ass commute for a local show.  And she rambles on about how she does this a lot by herself.  In fact, she does a lot of things by herself like going to the movies and going to the park and so on.  Apparently she invites her friends and they always say no.  She's also 29 and living with her parents because her parents don't want her to be out on her own.  The more she goes on the more sorry I feel for her.

Those feelings of compassion don't last very long.  When we reach the Oakland city limits I tell her to let me know when we reach her exit.  She glosses over that and notices that I have The Chronic playing in my car and begins to describe frame by frame what happens in the "Dre Day" music video.  I've seen the music video and what she was describing was nothing like the video.  At this point I'm also noticing that she's speaking really very slowly and oddly.  She would say things like, "And then... they see... they see the guy... and then the guy... he walks that way..."  I could only assume she was either on drugs or something so I ask her.  She replies by saying, "Do... Do I look... like I'm on... on drugs?"  Yes.  Yes, she did look like she was on drugs but I wasn't about to say shit because at this point I was kind of scared of her.  Especially after she told me loves to watch documentaries about serial killers and keeps a journal about her favorite ones.  And when I say "favorite ones" I'm not talking about documentaries, I'm talking about serial killers.

I'm getting kind of freaked out at this point and I've realized that we are almost leaving East Oakland and getting closer to downtown.  I point this out to Raynesha and she tells me to get off at the next random exit.  From there she just points to streets for me to turn on, dropping little nuggets of information in between the directions such as how her parents were racist towards Hispanics and would kill me on sight.  These aren't things you tell to a person giving you a ride to make them feel comfortable.  I'm debating in my mind if I should drop her off at a corner or something because I'm fearing for my life.  Plus, it didn't seem like she knew where she lived.  I decided against it and eventually we did get to her place.  Now, we exited the freeway close to downtown.  Her house was all the way back by the colosseum.  We had passed that freeway exit maybe 12 exits before.  So we get to her place and it's in a pretty bad neighborhood, worse than mine maybe.  She goes on to thank me for being such a nice guy for giving her a ride and I'm just trying to get her to leave my car so I can get out of there.  But first she has to check her purse to make sure she has everything.  She's fumbling through her bag very slowly so immediately I'm thinking I'm about to get jacked.  I start praying in my mind but it was unneeded because she wasn't going to rob me.  She finally exits my car and I book it.  I head home just thanking God that I will never have to see or hear that person ever again.

Wrong!  She gets my number and starts texting me and calling me.  When she texts she uses numbers in place of letters.  For example instead of "What's up" she texted "Wut5 u6".  First of all, she's 29 and she's texting like a 6th grader from Oakland.  Second, it's extremely inconvenient to write like that so she's going out of her way to text badly.  Naturally I ignore her calls and texts in hopes that after a few days she gets the point and leaves me alone.  That doesn't happen.  (My assumptions are usually pretty off.)  Weeks go by and then months go by with me receiving either a call or a text from this psycho almost everyday.  And this is happening at the same time that the religious cult-like club from Chabot was harassing me and trying to save my soul.  (Another story for another time.)  Finally one summer afternoon she left a voice-mail for the first time saying something about how she's looking for me and that she will find me eventually.  I think that was the last time she tried contacting me and that was five months after I met her.  So is the Ballad of Raynesha over?  Right now, I'd like to think so.  But I've been wrong before.

So that's the story of Raynesha.  I hope nothing like that ever happens to any of you.  The obvious moral or the story is if you ever feel like doing something nice for a stranger, don't.  Like my mom always told me, "Stranger Danger."  She also told me that if I took candy from a stranger and he kidnapped me that she wouldn't look for me.  So next Saturday is my 20th birthday!  Yeah, the Guaps will have been alive for two decades.  Basically a 20th birthday starts the one year countdown until the 21st birthday so I'm excited for that.  Don't feel like you guys need to get me anything.  You reading my wonderful blog is enough.  However if you really feel like giving me a present you could tell all your friends to check out this blog.  The next time your friend is rambling on about how her mom is in the hospital after some car accident causally slip in a "Check out guapoknowsall.blogspot.com".  Have a great and Guapo St. Patty's Day and and enjoy the rest of your week.  Stay Guapo out there!

My 10 Favorite Warriors Players (Version 1.5)

Surprise, surprise El Guapo is back with another post so soon.  I actually wasn't planning on writing anything for a while but my hand was pretty much forced.  See, this isn't really a new post.  If you've been keeping up with my blog you know I already wrote about my favorite players to ever play for the Warriors.  (Chances are you probably loved it.)  At the time that I wrote it I was completely satisfied with the list, but Wednesday night something profound happened.  Steph Curry went for 54 in Madison Square Garden hitting 11 three-pointers.  54.  Sure we lost but still Steph's amazing game shouldn't be taken lightly.  I'm sure a lot of people out there are thinking, "Wow, this guy wasn't an all star?"  And to be fair I looked back at one of my blog posts I wrote back in October before the season began and I realized that my blog wasn't doing Stephen Curry justice.  So I've returned to make things right and give you my latest version of my favorite Warriors list.

 

10. Mickael Pietrus (2003-2008)

Oh, Mickael, you lovable French bastard.  Always full of personality.  I remember when I first found out he was French the first thing that came to my mind was, "Why is he black then?"  I was so young and naive.  Anyway, this dude was a corner three specialist.  He played some defense and dunked it every now and then, but his spot was that corner.

9. Kelenna Azubuike (2007-2010)

The Warriors have had a habit of picking up players from the D-League.  All the time.  Some of them have worked out (e.g. Reggie Williams) and some haven't (e.g. Chris Hunter).  Kelenna definitely worked out for us.  He was never a star or anything like that but he was consistent.

8. Al Harrington (2007-2008)

 

I'm not super crazy about this guy, but without him the Warriors wouldn't have had that amazing We Believe season.  He came to us in a trade that shipped away Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Troy Murphy (Thank God!), hit a bunch of threes for us, then a year and a half later decided he wanted to leave.  Last time I checked he's playing for Orlando Magic and I saw him on Attack of the Show.  That's not too bad, I guess.


7. Andris Biedrins (2004-Present)

Honestly I want to put 2004-2009.  I don't know what the fuck this guy is doing with his life anymore.  I guess he just lost all confidence.  Either way for a good 5 year span he was a consistent double-double kind of guy.  At this point of his career though he's happy to get to touch the ball 2 times a game.


6. David Lee (2010-Present)

Not the most exciting player to watch but he puts up numbers.  He goes out there and gets those rebounds and finishes.  Pretty skilled big man, but I just wish he'd add some flare every now and then.  And if you've been keeping up with this blog you know how much I love flare.  This season he's been a walking 20-10 kind of guy.  He's proven to be one of the most dominant big men in the league.  (It's not like Andrew Bogut has gotten off his lazy ass to help David out either.)  To top it off he was selected to the All Star team this year becoming the first Warrior since Latrell Sprewell back in 1997.  He was this close to being moved up the list but I need a little something more from him.


5. Stephen Jackson (2007-2009)

Captain Jack!  You can't not love this guy and his fast break threes.  We got him in the same trade that got us Al Harrington and helped the Warriors in their playoff run.  This guy was dynamite in a Warriors' uniform.  The dude hit 7 threes in game 6 of the first round of the playoffs against the Mavs, who we beat, and he did that shit with flash.  Every now and then Nellie had him run the point, and every now and then he would deliver.  Sure you can complain that he was constantly getting hit with technicals, sure he thought he was better than what he actually was, sure he fired a gun outside a strip club and was involved in Malice in the Palace, and yes he did leave the Warriors on bad terms, but that's what made him such an exciting player.  Currently he's back with the Spurs AND he's a rapper.  Talk about moving up in life.  

4. Stephen Curry (2009-Present)

Young Steph Curry is a nice player indeed.  He has that range, he has those handles, and he can dish the ball too.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he won the Skills Challenge during the All-Star break once.  (I just checked Wikipedia.  I'm right.)  I just love watching this guy play.  This will be his first full year without Monta Ellis so this is basically his team now.  Only problem is he has weak ankles.  Okay, let me start off by apologizing to Steph for putting him behind Captain Jack the first time around.  I still love Jack but I really fucked up.  Steph Curry has been playing like an All Star and yet he was still snubbed.  (Those bastards!)  Not only that, but he's been leading the Warriors to a winning season.  And then came the 54 point night.  That's some shit you get from franchise players and Curry is a franchise player.  I knew I had to move him up the list.  Considered putting him above Baron Davis but it was Baron who led us to that We Believe season. Steph hasn't led us to the playoffs...yet.  We'll see if I move him up when the season is over.


3. Baron Davis (2005-2008)

Baron.  After all these years I just want to say that I forgive you.  It took a while, but then I got to reminiscing about the good old days.  He was out there rocking the full beard before James Harden decided to do it.  At his peak with the Warriors I could say he was easily one of the top 5 point guards in the league. Easily.  He could do no wrong.  He had them handles, he threw those dimes, he had that flash and most of all he was clutch.  You might not know this, but they sometimes call me Crunch Time Guapo and everything I learned about being clutch I learned it from him.  This dude was fucking sick.  When he made those alley-oop connections with J-Rich it was like watching art.  And every now and then he would come in with that slam dunk.  He put the team on his back during the We Believe season, and for that I'm forever grateful.  Then, before the 08-09 season, Baron decided to leave the Warriors and join the Clippers.  Yes, the fucking Clippers.  And not the Black Griffin/Chris Paul-having Clippers, I'm talking about the Chris-Kaman-Is-The-Best-Player-They-Have Clippers.  But like I said, I have finally forgiven you.

2. Monta Ellis (2005-2012)

It was sad to see him go last season.  I basically watched him grow up on the basketball court.  His relationship with the Warriors was kind of like a roller coaster. He got that "Most Improved Player" during his second season, the same season we beat the Mavs, and I think we all knew he was going to be a really good player.  But then he decides to ride a moped and fucks up his ankle pretty badly.  (Dumbass!)  But the kid comes back right where he left off and better.  Even after the ankle injury this guy was one of the fastest players in the league.  He was a pure scorer.  If he only knows how to do one thing, it's putting the ball in the basket.  He's done amazing moves so effortlessly (with flare), where as when I attempt them I usually pull a hammy.  Yet every single year he was snubbed from the All-Star team.  Every single goddamn year!  (Seriously, how was Chris Kaman an all star guys?)  Hopefully he can get a spot now that he's in Milwaukee.

1. Jason Richardson (2001-2007)

J-Rich.  Probably the most exciting player to watch as a Warrior.  Back to back Slam Dunk Champion.  Even when I was a small lad I would watch the games just to see this guy dunk.  He doesn't do much of that now over in Philly, but in his prime this dude got up there.  And he wouldn't just settle for for a simple dunk.  J-Rich would say, "Not today!" and windmill that shit.  And if not he'd do a 360.  Why not?  J-Rich was the epitome of flare.  Then when Baron Davis came in J-Rich said, "Let's just alley-oop it every time."  Somewhere along the way he started hitting threes.  Now, that's all he does.  For me, Jason Richardson is by far the most memorable player to play for the Warriors.

Alright guys that's the end of the blog.  Yes, I copied and pasted most of it from my last blog but this was more of a bonus post than anything.  Consider it a gift.  Stay tuned for more original blog posts that are coming up soon.  Have a good night and stay Guapo.

Top 10 MILFs on TV

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A Well Groomed Man

"That's gay!" is a phrase I used to hear when I told guys I got my eyebrows waxed.  Although, using the word "gay" in a derogatory sense became more frowned upon than drowning a cute puppy at my high school.  (I'm sure it's still kosh' in the South.)  I get it fellas.  Waxing one's eyebrows doesn't sound like the most masculine activity in the world but I'm here to tell you otherwise.  In fact, being well groomed as a man can be one of the most manliest things you can do.  (Sort of.)

Let's think about this.  As guys there are certain things we tend to do when it comes to grooming.  We go get haircuts, we comb our hair, we shave, and we clip our nails.  We do these things for a variety of reasons.  We groom ourselves for hygienic reasons (hopefully), to look our best, or even to attract females.  Just like we don't like it when females have hairy ass legs (at least I don't), females don't like guys that just look sloppy.  I'm not here to tell you what girls want in a man.  Even though I am El Guapo I don't know what every woman is into.  I do know this though: I don't like girls who are into guys with hairy backs.  Part of the reason why I groom myself is because I like girls who can appreciate a well groomed man.  

   

Now back to this eyebrow waxing business.  Naturally I don't look like Helga from Hey Arnold! but my eyebrows have room for improvement.  I don't want to use tweezers because I don't have nimble hands so I go to a place called European Wax Center.  Now there is no sign anywhere that says "For Women Only".  In fact, there are a number of male waxing options at this spot.  It's not a place where they'll judge a guy for getting waxed.  Of course if it were a place that specified that it was only for women I probably wouldn't go there.  Now in case you were wondering, it doesn't really hurt that much.  I just went last week and it went smoothly.  I have to be honest, the conversations I have here are different than the kinds you might have in a barbershop.  In the barbershop you might talk about that LeBron dunk the other night or about how Chief Keef ain't no hitter.  (If I catch another motherfucker talking shit about Chief Keef I'm fucking beating they ass!  I ain't fucking playing no more!  I feel Keef!)  I was talking to the esthetician about how I saw The Lion King earlier that week and she told me about he favorite musicals.

I didn't go and get super thin and perfectly shaped eyebrows.  I just got rid of unwanted strays and kept some thickness to maintain some masculinity to my face.  The point is you guys don't need to worry about this not being manly because I do it, and who's manlier than the Guaps himself.  And this applies to other the other things as well, like pedicures.  I've never gotten a manicure in my life, I can clip my own fingernails, but I enjoy the occasional pedicure.  It feels nice, they clean my feet, I get to read a magazine while they clip my nails,  and it's so convenient.  (I haven't been able to touch my toes since I was 13 or 14.)  What part of that sounds feminine?

Now I'm not telling you guys to go out and wax your eyebrows or get pedicures.  You are men.  (Unless you're not.)  And I can't tell a man what to do with his life or his eyebrows.  All I'm saying is if you want to do extra things to groom yourself don't be afraid that you'll be called feminine.  If you're not insecure about your masculinity there is no need base your decisions on how you are perceived.  Now if you are secure in your masculinity and just don't want to do these things that's fine.  If you have bushy eyebrows and if you are okay with that by all means let them be.  If you like bowl cuts don't feel pressured to get yourself a signature GuapoCut©.  If you're a tad bit chubby and you are comfortable in your own skin, as long as you're healthy there is really nothing wrong with that.  At the end of the day you are a man because you make your own decisions. 

  

And thus concludes my 10th post.  Yes, 10th.  I am so glad that I've been able to keep on writing and that you guys have kept on reading.  I'm back in LA County and I'm ready to start my second spring semester at Dominguez Hills.  This is actually my first spring semester at Dominguez Hills given that I took a break last spring.  I am pretty excited to start school but I'm even more excited to continue writing this blog for you.  As always follow me on Twitter @ElGuapo3 and leave suggestions of something you might want me to blog about.  Stay Guapo out there!

Bossa Nova & The Lion King

As we drive over the Bay Bride as my family has done many time, I try to spot the City through the window.  On a clear summer day you can the City's skyline from the bridge.  This particular night I cannot see far through the thick fog, though this is not unusual weather for a winter in San Francisco.  I'm dressed up for tonight's main event.  I'm not talking about my business suit, but I'm not wearing a jean and t-shirt combo you might find me wearing in the comfort of my own home.  Tonight my family and I are going to watch The Lion King, the Broadway musical, so there is reason to look a little better than I usually do.  (I usually look really good anyway.)  Besides, I've always felt that when traveling into the City there is a necessity to look more dapper than I do in Oakland.  (I'd be more inclined to dress up in Oakland if they stopped wearing over sized white tees.)  I'm ecstatic to see The Lion King but first we must eat.

We pull up to this place on 8th street between Mission and Howard out in SoMa called Bossa Nova.  This was my first time at this Brazilian restaurant and the first time I've heard of it.  This restaurant is kind of a diamond in the rough.  There's no large signs pointing this restaurant in flashing lights.  (Probably to keep the ratchets from finding this place.)  Instead there's a small sign right next to the door that reads "Bossa Nova" to indicate that you have indeed found the place.  I've always judged restaurants on three main criteria:  presentation (ambiance, scenery, music, costumes etc.), customer service (how long it takes for my water to be refilled, is my waiter a dick?), & food (there's gotta be food if it's a restaurant and it better be good).  Let me walk you through my experience here.  When I walked in the restaurant the first thing I noticed was the music.  It was some type of Brazilian music, my guess being bossa nova.  In case you are wondering, bossa nova is a type of Brazilian music that's a sort of a mix between jazz and samba.  It's pretty upbeat and very fun to listen to.  (Fun fact: bossa nova in Portuguese means new trend.  Just looked that shit up on Google.)  The music really set the tone on how the experience was going to go.  The next thing I noticed was the dimmed lights.  The lights weren't so dimmed to the point I couldn't see ahead of me, but rather dimmed enough to create an intimate sensation.  As far as presentation goes, this place gets the job done.

Customer service was a little bit different.  Our servers were really friendly but the food took quite a while.  When the food did come out, boy was it well worth the wait.  I ordered something called feijoada, which is basically this bean and pork stew.  It tastes just as good as it sounds.  (Possibly better.)  The feijoada came with this white rice and some spinach in separate bowls.  This rice must've been the best tasting rice I've ever eaten; it had this buttery taste to it that was surprisingly good.  The spinach was also good but to my chagrin it had onions.  Now I hate onions.  I don't just dislike onions, I HATE them.  (Top 3 things I hate: 1-Lakers; 2-the kid from Bridge to Terabithia and Hunger Games; 3-onions.)  For some reason I actually enjoyed these onions.  This restaurant somehow made onions good.  Next came desert, which was somehow better than the already-amazing entree.  Desert consisted of this small chocolate cake and this plantain with ice cream dish.  The chocolate was delicious as expected, but the real surprise was the plantain ice cream.  Now I grew up with a Guatemalan mom and grandma so platanos y frijoles (plantains and beans for my gringos out there) were commonly on the menu for dinner.  The way they prepared these plantains though were unlike anything I've ever tasted.  They cooked it with rum and combined with ice cream created one of the greatest deserts I've ever tasted.  As soon as I took the first bite it was as it my taste buds were being massaged and finished off to completion with a happy ending.  (Whoa, that was a dirty metaphor!)  They took something I love and made it better.  All in all it was one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time.

On to the show we go!  It's only a block and a half to get to the Orpheum so my family decides to take the stroll.  This is my second time at this theater (I saw Wicked here as well) and if you've never had the opportunity to go inside, let me just tell you it's one of the nicest theaters I've been to.  No disrespect to the theater at Dominguez Hills but this place is not your average college theater.  Anyway, tonight's show is The Lion King.  I'm assuming everyone reading this has seen the Disney movie at least once, if not 20 or so times.  I'm not going to bother running down the plot.  As much as I like the plot of the movie it's not the reason I came out to watch the Broadway musical.  If I just wanted the story I would've just popped in the DVD in the comfort of my own home wearing some pajamas.  (I got the sequels too, yo!)  The best thing about this musical is the costumes and scenery.  This is some really heavy production.  This ain't your average high school play where Simba is played by some kid who drew whiskers on his face with a sharpie.  This has to be some of the best costume work I've ever seen in my life.  To call the costumes beautiful would be a really cruel understatement.  That's like saying that Kate Upton is only okay.  (Now that is disrespectful!)  Then there is the music.  All your favorite music from the movie is there plus others you haven't heard before.  You can sing along to your favorites and still be pleasantly surprised by new songs.  And the choreography just takes this show up another notch.  This was really just an amazing show and a great way to top off a great night.  If I reviewed how my nights went this would probably get a Guapisimo.  But I don't.

So that concludes my story/reviews.  I wasn't too proud of my last post so hopefully I can make things up to you guys with my first post of 2013.  It's a new year and there is a lot to look forward to.  Mostly my blog.  As I get ready to start my next semester in college I also look back at this past one I completed recently.  I hope this blog brings as much joy to you as it has to me while writing it.  My next post will be my tenth so I promised it'll be a good one.  I don't know what it will be yet, but it will be good.  Best wishes on this new year and stay Guapo out there guys!