UFC shenanigans

I went into the UFC gym at 3:30 or so, and I knew I was supposed to ask for Torrence. Of course with my luck he wasn't there. But there was this Australian guy working the front desk, So I spoke to him. His name is Mike, and I had no idea that he was the owner. I explained my situation, and he told me Torrence would be in in a bit. I asked for a tour of the gym, and as he gave me one, I was running my mouth like a mower. I got wayy too excited about fighting (I've always wanted to fight/train) and looking back, I probably looked like an idiot.

While I was waiting for Torrence to get in, I went to the public library, bought a cute as hell red jacket from Goodwill, and took a small walk under the California sun. I came back about 5:30 and had my "interview" (lol) with Torrence. He asked me basic questions, and we ended by him telling me he would give me a call by Friday to tell me if I got the job or not. I drove home, and within the hour he called. I got the job!

I come in Monday-Friday 6am-1pm and do basic things like mop the lobby, keep the bathrooms clean, log appointments, answer the phone, you get the idea. I was trained by Brianna, and honestly she is freaking awesome. Brianna is 26, dating one of the Muy Thai trainers at this gym named Turbo, professionally rides horses, and was so much like me. We had a lot of fun talking for the few days she trained me. Unfortunately she had to leave because she moved away to Texas for her horse racing. Even though I knew her for 4 days, Ill miss her a lot.

The cool thing that happened here though was that after 2 days, the District Manager named Paul (a big ass scary ass Tongan man) came in and offered me a job as a sales rep. He and Torrence said they liked me and as long as I was okay with "taking money from people" I could have the job. I thought about it, and its just a sales job. People are smart enough to say no if they don't want something, and Im not a snakey person. So, I took it.

Im in "training" right now with Carlos, and Carlos is in the top sales. He's supposed to have been teaching me how to go out and approach strangers on the street about our gym, but instead we have been going out to In n out and going to parks and stuff. Which, Im okay with that, but in the end I need to know how to make money so Id like to actually learn something from him. But he hasn't taught me a thing. I have found out some pretty weird things about Carlos..

For instance. He prefers to drink alone. Its not that strange, but still I feel like it'd be quite depressing to drink by yourself all the time. He has a lot of anger yet he's really quiet and shy. Not usually a good combination lol, I just hope I don't ever get on his bad side. And then theres the fact that he likes to do Cocaine. So thats fun.

I was ordered to go out and "prospect" on my own and I absolutely bombed it because  I have no idea how to approach people on the streets. It was really embarrassing and I felt so dumb, and when I came back and told Carlos about it, I randomly burst into tears. I think the stress of everything I've been through this month was gonna make me blow and the prospecting is what took me over the edge. I felt like an idiot but I pulled it together kinda quick. Yikes right?

Other than Sales training, I've been doing a little bit of Brazilian Jiujitsu with Armando. I love Armando. He's 23, a skinny tatted out ex gang member. He's cocky as hell, but really a big teddy bear when you get to know him and he's all talk. He's a good fighter, so he's been teaching me. After one lesson, he said he was really impressed with me and loves how quickly I caught on, he was expecting me to be bad because Im "a girl". What a brat

After work sometimes I have been going straight to Creature FX (Marks) for some extra hours that he offered me.  it sucks and I'm working from 5 am basically to 7pm. I'm beat every time I do it. But its been fun because I got to work on an umbilical cord for a skittles commercial coming out in 6 months, and seam and patch some horse legs for a Movie (or TV series, idk yet) called Godless.

So this is life lately. Just working, training, crying, going through life.

Gangsta Pancakes

So, shortly after the fire, things naturally got crazy and weird as hell again. Lets dive in.

One night, and unfortunately I can't remember what night it was now, but I went to go hang out with Willy in Burbank at Timmy Nolans (a bar) with Nattalie and Joey. We didn't last long there, because Willy wanted to go to a going away party for his friend. The only information I was told about this party prior was that it was "a Pancakes party". So, OF COURSE I thought  it was a literal pancake..party.

We get to Zachs house, and as we're getting out of the car I ask "so what kind of pancakes are they having here? why are they throwing a pancake party haha?" yikes. Apparently "Pancakes" is the name of the guy who's leaving, So you can bet I got made fun of the rest of the night. We walk in, and immediately there was a weird vibe in the room. Not too horrible, but something was just...off. I shrugged it off and decided to try my best to be outgoing and talk to everyone, and I did. 

Most of these people looked pretty intimidating. They were either Hispanic or Tongan, tatted out, bald heads or dreads/long hair, wife beaters, the usual. Everyone was drunk and/or high so they weren't too closed off. We stayed for a few hours, and that was that. 

BUT heres where it gets weird (as if a going away party for a guy named Pancakes isn't weird enough) 

Not only did I go to this weird going away for Pancakes, but I had no idea that every person at that house party straight up were Gang Members. NOT ONLY were they just gang members, but they were RIVALRY gang members who absolutely despised each other. But, somehow, Pancakes was friends with both of these gangs, and so they (for the sake of being cool for pancakes) made a peace treaty for one night so they could wish Pancakes good luck.

So lets recap. I was literally at a "Peace treaty" Going away house party, for a Gang member named Pancakes, and the house was filled with Gang Members who have murdered each others friends before. HOW DID I END UP HERE

I found all this out after I left the house, and I could not stop laughing, it was just so ridiculous. I spent the night at Willys again, by the time we got done with the party it was really late. Willys really cool, we have so much in common. I feel really comfortable around him. I drove home the next day and started looking for regular work, because the industry has been really slow and full of spotty work lately, and I need to eat. 

I called a few places with no luck, but then I remembered that I had seen a UFC gym by my apartment driving one day, so I looked it up. I called and the front desk girl (Brianna) told me to send in my resume and they'd give me a call. I did within the hour, and didn't get any call over the weekend. So, desperate for a job and also a free gym membership, I called again on Monday and they told me to come in before 5:00 that day. 

...

We didn't start the fire

  

Theres quite the Fire happening right now where I live. Its been named the Sand Fire...I didn't think it was that big of a deal until yesterday morning, I walked outside to find that the entire sky was blocked out with orange and black smoke. When I say blocked out, I mean VERY thickly covered. It was raining white ash, and there was already a layer collecting on the ground at this point. When I walked outside, I genuinely felt like I was in a post apocalyptic world. There were sirens constantly going off in the distance, you could hear people crying, but yet it was eerily quiet. 

The fire got so close to our apartment, I could see the flames from my balcony. Of course, we had to evacuate. There were 1700 firefighters on the scene, dozens of trucks, etc. the fire as of right now is only 10% contained, and its burned more than 22,000 acres and 17 homes. Im not joking when I say this is a big fire...So we left. I grabbed the things I felt were the most important to me, packed it up, and we all drove to Noras house to spend the night. 

I hated it. 

Smoking and drinking can be fun, but its not a lifestyle for me. For these people, it is. Drinking and smoking is as casual to them as breathing air. I was feeling particularly lonely during this time, so I stayed on the hammock for a while, and watched the sky. You always usually feel the most alone when everyone is fucked up at a party (in my opinion)

I came back in at some point, and everyone eventually went to bed. I got the couch, but I honestly might have rather had the floor. Ive never slept on something so uncomfortable. But the day came, and we got the good news that we had been waiting all night for. Our homes had been saved, and we were able to go back. I was so relieved. But as for now, we are still on precaution, and the fire is still raging. 

This Photo was Taken in North Hollywood, which isn't far from my place. The sky looked just like this all the way to LA. I've never seen anything like it. 

Now we're all caught up. I think.

If theres a Will theres a way

So, Sir William.

He's just a person in the end. Just like everyone else. He might be a little strange, and even a little mean. But I like him enough. He likes me too, I think. Either that or he just likes my body. Who knows what peoples true intentions are these days. Anyways.

Willy has been, as I have mentioned earlier, very adamant about hanging out with me.
we hung out a couple of times with the group, and once with just Nick, Nattalie Joey Will and I.
It was fun, we went to a couple bars, hung out at some random guys house, walked around LA, and by about 9 pm, everyone was ready to go home. Willy wasn't though. He organized a plan that worked out to where everyone would go home when they wanted, and I would go to Wills. He told me he would just get me an Uber home, So I stayed.

We walked into his apartment, its nice. very large, wood floors, 2 cats, lots of horror movie posters..VHS movies filling up the shelves. I like it. We spent the entire night on the balcony conversing with each other. Willy is definitely a talker, he's got a dominant personality..so I let him do his thing. I like to listen.

I learned a lot about him...He kissed me. With a uh.. very..strong amount of force if I might add. I was definitely taken off guard by it, wasn't sure what to do. lol. Billy Bob Thornton's son just kissed me?

We ended the night at about 3 am, and he called my Uber. When I got into the car, the first thing my uber driver did was look back at me and go "Girl, The hell is wrong with you?? Have you lost your mind?" confused, I asked what he was talking about. He then began to tell me that I was in one of the most dangerous places in California (Panorama City, remember?) and that he almost didn't come and get me when he found out where the location was. lol. that made me feel GREAT.

My Uber driver was really nice. Got me home, and that was that. Will had me come over again the other night, and this time I drove. He told me to park in front of his garage, and that my car would be safe (this is a key part of the story here). He showed me his room, and told me stories behind all his little knick knacks he owns. He has envelope stamps from World War II with Hitlers face on it. He's also got lots of original movie props, original paintings, taxidermied bats, etc. Very one of a kind. I loved it.

So, We (mostly he again) talked until close to 5 am. We both decided it was too late for me to drive home, and I was too tired, so I spent the night. We slept in his room, and my god does this man snore. and also his cats wouldn't stop trying to eat my bracelets the whole night. Needless to say, I did not get a good night sleep. Well, come morning, I was getting ready to leave when Will comes into the room, nervously laughing. I ask him what was wrong, and he responds with "Uh..Your car is gone"

Dear God, when will this bad luck end?

I rush downstairs and outside to find that he's right, my car is 100% gone. It got towed. So, we found out who towed it, and Will offered to pay the $160 to get it back. I wasn't about to fight him on it because 1. this bitch told me my car would be safe there 2. I have no money 3. he has a rich dad.
After getting my car back, I drove home and spent the rest of the day looking for work. I got a text from him asking if I want to go to a concert on Wednesday. I agreed, So this Wednesday ill be seeing a band called Brand New perform as well as Modest Mouse. It should be fun.

Mormons can be Goths too

I'm friends with Metal Head SFX Artists now. I live in California. Don't judge these posts. shhh..

Since I have been in California, Every night has been an adventure. I have gone to lots of bars with these people, and I always, always get shit on because I'm 19 years old and a "baby" so its been tough. They want to get me a fake ID lol. But, aside from the bars, I have been to some pretty weird parties as I previously mentioned.

One of them being a Gothic Pool Party. Yes, you heard me. a Gothic..Pool..Party. I laughed out loud when I heard we were going. I was excited to be honest. I was curious to see what this pool party had in store for me. So, on the night of the pool party, I whipped out everything Black that I owned. It felt like Halloween. I went for a heavy black smokey cat eye, Black lips (of course) paled my face out, and wore a dress. I actually liked the look.

Unfortunately, I was not able to wear it out, Because right as we pulled up after driving 30 minutes to this party, Cody selfishly decided he didn't "Feel like going" so we went home. But, its not important.
Whats important is that we ended the night by going hot tubbing and it felt wonderful.

Up next in these crazy events I have gotten to call "my life" has to do with Mr. Billy-Thorntons offspring. Angelina Jolie's step son. Oh yes.

-Micah

 Goth Micah will return