Bittersweet | Moments

It's always interesting when life throws you bittersweet moments to chomp on.

For the past 7 or so years, Brandi has busted her buns with 2 companies to finally have the opportunity of a lifetime. She headed of to Hong Kong for international market for GUESS handbags to help coordinate things from the production side of things. I can't explain how excited, proud and sad I was all at the same time. Although Brandi and I have been together for over 8 years now, we have been fortunate enough to not have to spend that much time apart. She was gone for 1 week and while we've managed to get through times like that just like any other couple would, I headed out to Seattle for 1 week the day before she returned. It may sound odd to some, but it was really weird for me to drop her off that the airport but not be there to welcome her home, especially after such an exciting trip. You can see highlights and all of the awesomeness that her trip was filled with here.

While she was gone, I had to keep myself EXTREMELY busy! After work on 7/18, I met with my buddy Eric for some much needed indoor karting at K1 Speed. It had been a long time since we hung out since he doesn't live all that close and I have been traveling so much.

I'll own this helmet forever...

We both managed to make the top 100 times for the month of July. Here are the results from just 1 of our 4 races...Yep, that's me at the top. Typical...

Once the weekend rolled around, I needed to keep myself busy so I ended up shampooing our carpets and cleaning the entire house on Saturday. Sunday was spent washing my car, Brandi's car, Angelique's car and getting Brandi's car an oil change before heading off to the gym. Once I was all showered up, it was time for dinner at The Cheesecake Factory with my mom and Angelique.

The next few days were filled with preparing for my trip to Seattle for Round 5 of the Formula Drift season.

As you can see, Mixie wasn't exactly thrilled I was leaving and she was ready to come with.

Here's a shot of some huge ass mountain peaking through the clouds about an hour outside of Seattle.

Once we landed in Seattle, the first thing I took notice of were the stunning clouds!

Well I wasn't really in Seattle but it's the closest place you'd be familiar with. We drove about 30-45 min. outside of Seattle to Monroe, WA. Let's be real, there's never any cool race tracks near a big city unless it's a street course. The event itself would be held at Evergreen Speedway which had recently been re-done. The owners did a great job to say the least!

Anyhow, we arrived at the hotel to check-in and headed off to grab some Mongolian BBQ. After that we had our staff meeting just had a low key night since we had an early call time the next morning.

Thursday was supposed to be practice for the drivers but rain but a stop to that. It finally cleared up around 5pm and drivers were able to squeeze in a good hour or so of practice before Friday's qualifying session. For dinner, we headed to Bellevue and ate at Tap House Grill which was pretty good. Enjoyed a few Pike IPA's with a solid gorgonzola and bacon burger! Back to the hotel we went for some much needed rest!

Friday morning we awoke to amazing weather and knew right off the bat we were in store for a great weekend of drifting! Here's a shot during the drivers meeting...

Friday night was actually pretty awesome. A few of the staff members headed to K1 Speed for some karting action before eating dinner at Din Tai Fung in Bellevue, WA.  If you've never been there it's a MUST! Their dumplings are so bomb! Once dinner was done we went to Lucky Strike for the Formula Drift pre-party.

Saturday was the main event! After hitting the gym and grubbin' on breakfast we headed to the track.

Jose and I drove our go-kart around to check out some of the car show entrants pulling when we noticed this guys skateboard...inverted trucks give this board a super-slammed look. Not exactly great for riding since it only goes straight but mighty original for sure!

As far as staff lunhes go, this was hands the best we've had all season! Both Friday and Saturday we got Hawaiian BBQ and spam musubi! Two of my absolute favorites!

This event brought out record breaking crowds! It was jammed packed! So awesome that the sport of drifting and Formula Drift specifically have come so far!

This event was beyond exciting and I feel so blessed, privileged and proud to be part of such an amazing organization. Having grown up at the race track, the comradery that is shared between staff, drivers and the crew members is something that I can't quite describe. We're all there for different reasons and have different job duties but all get along as if we've known each other for years. Some of us have and some of haven't but you'd never know the way we all get along. I hate being away from home and especially away from Brandi but if I have to, this is the crew I want to be with.

Once the event was over, it was time to head back to the hotel for some sleep! 

Sunday morning we all woke up and headed over to one of the best brunches I have ever been to. We ate at Salty's across the bay from downtown Seattle. 

We grubbed on everything from king crab legs, eggs benedict (my personal favorite), cheesy hashbrowns, sausage, ceviche, shrimp, oysters...you name it, they not only had it but it was BOMB! 

Once we finished it time to become tourists and stroll through the Pike Place. Of course we hit up the fish market and first Starbucks!

After that we decided we wouldn't be full-blown tourists without getting animal t-shirts. Here is my lion!

That was about all the time we had before catching out flight back to LAX! It was a long few weeks away from Brandi and our first dinner back together had to be at our favorite sushi joint!

 

I am so happy to be home and back to our normal lives! Just over a month from now Brandi and I will be husband and wife! Each and every day that passes raises my level of excitement, anticipation and eagerness to be married! Speaking of which, last night we finalized the invites and filled out our marriage license! 

Until next time...

-Brandon