The really big question: Can I become a vegetarian?

There hardly has been any rain this month. It is predicted to rain a bit tonight, but definitely not enough to appease anyone in California. It is so crazy California has a water shortage while some of the US is experiencing a second polar vortex. The lack of rain always worries me. Mostly because during the fires of 2007 my childhood home almost burned to the ground. Presently, the news cycle revolves around water shortages and how to conserve water. As a person who likes to be a minimalist in everything but my wardrobe, I already use the smallest volume of water possible. However, I still wrestle with the fact that I could do one more thing: I could become a vegetarian.

Whether or not it is an urban legend, the idea that it takes 3 bathtubs of water to produce one filet mignon makes me cringe. While eating a filet mignon. I grew up in carnivore culture and all of my favorite dishes have meat in them. I really don't even like vegetables. It is only in the past few years and LA living (where there is a tremendous amount of peer pressure to eat healthy) that I've even found a couple of vegetables which are tolerable. That's right, tolerable. So the way I worded the question in the title of this post is telling: I'm actually not sure if I could be a vegetarian.

But I do dream about becoming one. I live in the best place in the US to become a vegetarian. I have cut my meat intake significantly in the past few years. I eat salads. If I could learn how to cook Indian or Thai food, maybe I could reduce the amount of meat in my life even more. Perhaps the dream is closer than ever, but I have to admit just writing this post made me think of beef panang curry (sound delicious!). So yeah, small steps to even smaller steps. At least, I'm heading towards the right direction.

I am SHER-locked

As a true Anglophile, I love the idea of Sherlock Holmes. As a trained scientist, I admire his deductive reasoning skills. As a person who lives in a world with 3 different interpretations of Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr, Johnny Lee Miller, and Benedict Cumberbatch), I am just delighted in every way.

All Sherlocks have a special place in my heart. Robert Downey Jr.'s Sherlock lives in the early 1900's as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote him. Jude Law (whose breakout role is in one of my favorite all-time movies Gattaca) is his Dr. Watson. They have done two movies and there really should be a third but who knows if that will really happen. Johnny Lee Miller's Sherlock in Elementary is the most damaged. In true American fashion, he has risen above his own shortcomings and has become a better detective. The most admirable aspect of Elementary is that Watson is played by Lucy Liu. A female Watson is a revelation. They have a true partnership which requires them to lean against each other for strength. The fact that this is a male/female non-romantic relationship portrayed realistically is the strength of Elementary. This doesn't make good drama. However due to their different perspectives in life...it makes them a better team. But from the title of this post, you know what I really want to discuss is the BBC version of Sherlock.

I just caught up in the BBC version with Benedict Cumberbatch and I would watch the episodes again right now if each one wasn't ~90 minutes long. Why did it take me two years to watch them? Well, for the same reason I haven't caught up on Scandal: once you miss the initial screening, it is relatively easy to put off watching episodes until necessary. The return of Scandal is February 27th. So I will be doing a Scandal marathon right after the Winter Olympics ends.

While watching Sherlock this past week, I was extraordinarily captivated. The Sherlock interpretation of Sherlock Holmes is the most cheeky and progressive. Despite my desire to love all Sherlocks the same, Sherlock is probably my favorite because it takes place in present day England. They made Irene Adler a lesbian (inspired!), Dr. Watson a war vet, and Moriarty an insane villain whose need to win at all costs causes him (spoiler alert!) to commit suicide. The fact that Cumberbatch probably inspires sculptors everywhere with his perfectly portioned face (this makes him beautiful but not exactly hot) results in watching Sherlock "think" a true pleasure. The way the Sherlock series has interpreted the stories for modern day Britain is really remarkable. Anybody who appreciates good entertainment will enjoy Sherlock. I really cannot recommend it enough. In fact, I want to rename my blog "I am SHER-locked." Somebody talk me out of it. Or perhaps into it? :)

I will be watching the first episode of Sherlock's Season 3 this Sunday. Since I'm all caught up, I cannot wait for this season to begin. I want to make scones and watch them over a cup of tea. Let the fascination continue.

An optimist becomes a realist: How the Chargers made me grow up

I'm a natural optimist. When you grow up in San Diego, it really can't be helped. Everything is sunny, life is a beach, and carne asada fries can be found anywhere. As one grows older and moves away from Sun Diego, reality does settle in. Of course, the Chargers have had a huge hand in ushering along my maturing.

The Chargers history is painful. It is even more painful if you are a Chargers fan. So I don't need to re-hash it since I already lived through it. I remember everything. During the Tomlinson years, it was easy to be an optimist about the Chargers. Also when you are in your 20s, everything and anything is possible. The Chargers/Jets playoff game in 2005 was really just the worst. You can read the recap here. I threw a playoff party for that game and proceeded to become to worst playoff party hostess ever. I ignored my guests, screamed at the tv, and when Kaeding missed  the overtime field goal...I never got up after crumbling to the floor. People left my apt, I didn't move. People called/texted me, I didn't respond. When one of my oldest friends (also a big Chargers fan) called me, I finally peeled myself off the floor and moved to my bed. We rehashed the entire game and proceeded not to console each other. Finally, I called my parents (it was a Sunday and I usually called them on Sunday). My mom answered, heard my sadness, and immediately gave the phone to my dad. The first thing he said, "Pobresita, are you okay?" I replied, "No!!!" Keep in mind, this was about 4 hours after the game ended.

That game was 9 years ago, yet I think about it often. Probably more than is healthy. Mostly because it protects me from ever becoming that type of fan again. Sports fandom can unite the most disparate of people, but it can seriously suck the life out of you.

I've been cautious about these last Chargers playoff games. Too realistic. I haven't let myself enjoy them. In ~48 hours, the Chargers/Broncos game will start and I will be glad because everything will be settled in 3.5 hours. Until then, I will try to just bask in the Chargers playoff hopes and dreams. Because if I can't, then what is the point of being a sports fan? I should just live in the unrealistic hopes and dreams of Chargers playoff football. Yeah, it is a good thing I have 48 hours to work on that.

Embracing 2014

My favorite time of the year just ended. It starts with Thanksgiving (the best holiday in my opinion) which leads with comfort food, football, and shopping. Then it is my birthday. When I was younger, it was terrible having a December birthday. Mostly because some people would just give you a birthday/Christmas present. There is nothing worse than a birthday/Christmas present when you are a child. Now I embrace my December birthday because it is always a great time to reconnect with people during the busy holiday season and flights around my birthday are always cheap. This is good for birthday getaways. My favorite time of year ends with Christmas. There are 12 days of Christmas (this includes New Year's Eve and Day which are their own holiday) with the last day of Christmas being January 6th.

My favorite time of the year contains the best shopping period: end of the year sales! You can redo your entire wardrobe with end of the year sales. My favorite fashion season is fall, so I really do wait for end of the year sales to buy things I have been coveting. Since I live out in California, my wardrobe doesn't really change much throughout the year (sorry for those who are experiencing the polar vortex!!!). So I always take advantage of these sales to boost my wardrobe for the upcoming new year. To me, it is the ultimate fun.

However, I didn't buy too many things this end of year sale season. Part of it has to do with the electronic purchases I made the previous month and half (see last post). I also did get alot of things I wanted for my birthday and Christmas. The only item missing were black boots with a flat heel which I ended up buying last week off of RueLaLa. They arrive tomorrow and I hope I really like them because I can't return them. Though perhaps the reason I didn't buy alot of things during the end of the year sales is because my wardrobe might actually be perfect? Nahh :)

I did want to discuss my new favorite accessory: a brave collection bracelet. The brave collection line was started by an American named Jessica Hendricks who was teaching English in Thailand. She traveled to Cambodia and was enthralled by the culture and history while appalled by the rampant human trafficking. I won't go into human trafficking predicament on my blog because it breaks my heart and makes me so angry. There is a plethora of information on the interwebs. Upon her return to the US, Jessica founded The Brave Collection which employs Cambodian artisans to make bracelets. The bracelets contain the word "brave" in Khmer, the language of Cambodia, with a woven extension. They are also very pretty. I have the sugar mix bracelet which complements any outfit, in more ways than one.

Read here to learn more about The Brave Collection. Sometimes I feel we all need a little armor to get through the day. There is nothing better than a Brave Collection bracelet. Well, that and the perfect pair of black boots.