On the day Tim Lincecum had his second no-hitter against the Padres, a Grantland article was published about the abysmal state of the Padres. Go ahead and read it. It will give you some background on the rant I'm about to go on.
Well I just re-read the article and now I'm really mad. I've gone to two Padres games this year (I don't even live in San Diego) and fortunately saw two wins. Apparently that was a remarkable feat. Looking up their record as of today, the Padres are 66-74 which gives us 3rd place in NL West. This honestly makes me wonder what is wrong with the teams in 4th and 5th place because if you read the Grantland article...there is alot wrong with the Padres. They should be last, but somehow we are not. The Grantland article is depressing in so many ways: the horrific ownership that made the terrible tv deal that only them rich (let me remind everyone Time Warner refused to carry Fox Sports San Diego for two years!), Matt Bush (I had blocked him out), trading away Mat Latos, I could go on but...let's not. It would be better for everyone if I just made my point.
I mentioned to my sister in July that I could be the Padres GM. She replied that being a GM is hard. I replied back, "Well, I couldn't be doing a worse job." If you read the Grantland article, you would know this to be true. Then my sister told me the Padres had interviewed a woman for GM. Intriguing! I can't be the Padres GM due to lack of experience, but Kim Ng may be overqualified. I hoped she would get the job, I knew that she wouldn't. She didn't. I haven't really bothered to learn the new GM's name because at this point he has to earn even that from me.
I wrote a post a couple of months ago about sports fandom and how uneasy I'm becoming with being a sports fan. I didn't publish it because I needed to sort out my thoughts. Owners are greedy. Players are greedy too, but they put their bodies in harms way for our entertainment. If I like watching sports (the best type of reality television if you ask me), what kind of person does that make me? I feed into the greed and watching people put their bodies at risk for our enjoyment (this doesn't include PEDs which I did publish a post about). I'm definitely not comfortable with anything of this: the avarice that permeates throughout professional sports is something I cannot support. Should I stop watching sports? Can I stop watching sports? All I do know, the answers to these questions will probably be needed before I am ready to give them.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
What do comic book movies mean to you?
There was a time in my life, not too long ago and definitely not a galaxy far far away, where I went to every single comic book movie. Every single one. I watched and made other people watch with me: Superman Returns, Constantine, and Daredevil in the movie theater. I like comic book movies, but I've had enough. I haven't watched any of new Spidermans (Tobey Maguire was just the best Peter Parker), will probably refuse to watch Batman vs Superman, and was curious enough about X-Men Days of Future Past to watch it in the theatre but when people asked me about it...I told them the actors were good. I will say Avengers is a great movie, but again great casting and I just adore Joss Whedon.
I understand why comic book movies are re-booted (they are profitable because people go see them again like Pavlov's dog) and just keep getting made (they do have amazing storylines). They are fairly entertaining and if you are an actor, a dream job. But even I, who has a high tolerance for comic book movies and fandom, am tired of every big movie is a comic book movie.
So even though Guardians of the Galaxy would probably be a movie I would enjoy, I won't go see it because it is a comic book movie. I've had enough. However, I read an interesting argument about Guardians this week: Guardians is this generation's Star Wars. Intriguing and from what I can tell, possibly true. Every generation should have a Star Wars: a spectacular space adventure. However, I am hoping/waiting for this generation's Princess Bride, Back to the Future, or Die Hard. Though it seems like we will get this generation's Ghostbusters. Complete with an all female cast! Now that is a movie I can't wait to see.
I understand why comic book movies are re-booted (they are profitable because people go see them again like Pavlov's dog) and just keep getting made (they do have amazing storylines). They are fairly entertaining and if you are an actor, a dream job. But even I, who has a high tolerance for comic book movies and fandom, am tired of every big movie is a comic book movie.
So even though Guardians of the Galaxy would probably be a movie I would enjoy, I won't go see it because it is a comic book movie. I've had enough. However, I read an interesting argument about Guardians this week: Guardians is this generation's Star Wars. Intriguing and from what I can tell, possibly true. Every generation should have a Star Wars: a spectacular space adventure. However, I am hoping/waiting for this generation's Princess Bride, Back to the Future, or Die Hard. Though it seems like we will get this generation's Ghostbusters. Complete with an all female cast! Now that is a movie I can't wait to see.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Mr. Padre
It would take Mr. Padre to bring me out of a blogging hiatus. One last thing I owe Tony Gwynn.
I fell in love with baseball in the Summer of 1984. The Padres in their first World Series. I honestly don't remember any of the games, all I remember is the excitement felt throughout my family. I've mentioned I come from a sports obsessed family (the fact I never even blogged about California Chrome is kinda lame), so you can imagine the mini-me being caught up in the chaos. It was great until it ended, but for me it was just the beginning. Baseball remains my favorite sport to watch, live or on tv. Sometimes, I even listen to it on the radio. I always make it a point to go to Petco (even when I didn't live in San Diego) at least once year. To me, summer always means baseball.
Having a Tony Gwynn on your team is so awesome, I realized last week that I will probably never recover from it. Kings hockey is actually a great analogy: if you watched the Kings in the playoffs, even when they were down...you were confident they would come back. Irrationally confident which is the best type of high for a sports' fan. There is nothing like it. Tony Gwynn was similar in that every time he walked up to the plate, you were confident he would get a hit. If he didn't get a hit, he would walk. I always thought I had overly fond memories of Tony Gwynn because he was on my team and my viewpoint was biased. But to hear my views validated by everyone last week made me understand everything was just true: Tony Gwynn was an amazing hitter, a great guy, and there will probably be nobody else like him.
So thank you Tony Gwynn for never leaving a team who under-performed for years. Thank you for being an admirable guy with a sweet swing. Mostly, thank you for the love of the game.
I fell in love with baseball in the Summer of 1984. The Padres in their first World Series. I honestly don't remember any of the games, all I remember is the excitement felt throughout my family. I've mentioned I come from a sports obsessed family (the fact I never even blogged about California Chrome is kinda lame), so you can imagine the mini-me being caught up in the chaos. It was great until it ended, but for me it was just the beginning. Baseball remains my favorite sport to watch, live or on tv. Sometimes, I even listen to it on the radio. I always make it a point to go to Petco (even when I didn't live in San Diego) at least once year. To me, summer always means baseball.
Having a Tony Gwynn on your team is so awesome, I realized last week that I will probably never recover from it. Kings hockey is actually a great analogy: if you watched the Kings in the playoffs, even when they were down...you were confident they would come back. Irrationally confident which is the best type of high for a sports' fan. There is nothing like it. Tony Gwynn was similar in that every time he walked up to the plate, you were confident he would get a hit. If he didn't get a hit, he would walk. I always thought I had overly fond memories of Tony Gwynn because he was on my team and my viewpoint was biased. But to hear my views validated by everyone last week made me understand everything was just true: Tony Gwynn was an amazing hitter, a great guy, and there will probably be nobody else like him.
So thank you Tony Gwynn for never leaving a team who under-performed for years. Thank you for being an admirable guy with a sweet swing. Mostly, thank you for the love of the game.
Friday, April 4, 2014
The Plaid Alternative
I've become re-obsessed with plaid. While having an extended lunch with my oldest friend yesterday, I confessed my re-obsession. We both laughed because this new wave of plaid fashion was probably the last thing either of us could have predicted.
I grew up in the 90s (now I'm really aging myself) where plaid was rampant. It was the grunge era and fashion was all about comfort. I was a teenager through the 90s, so nostalgia probably colors my perspective. I fondly remember baby doll dresses (I owned many!), Doc Martens (I never owned a pair of those), and the perseverance of plaid. I'll probably never again wear baby doll dresses (even though they were so comfortable) or buy a pair of Doc Martens (which are also in style again?!?), but I'm all in with this new plaid era. Back in the 90s, plaid meant "grunge." These days plaid means "hipster." I wouldn't call myself a hipster, but I do like the hipster adherence to plaid. Both "grunge" and "hipster" lifestyles could be called "alternative."
What does alternative mean? I tend to think of it as "against the grain" more than anything. Sort of a rebelling against the collective consciousness. So, why is plaid leading the way? What does plaid signify, if anything? Am I thinking about this too strongly? Sometimes that is the problem when you do research for a living. Small pieces of data can lead to something grand, but more often than not, it doesn't lead to anything significant beyond noise.
However, I do think the re-emergence of plaid means something. Though I freely admit to not having a single piece of datum to back me up. The fact a fabric tend to skirt the outside of convention suggests it might always be associated that way. Perhaps because plaid is such a traditional fabric, people who embrace "alternative" seek a solid foundation. Maybe plaid signifies the strength of tartans worn by Scottish clans. I always associate the delicate nature of lace with the whimsical wonder of Venice. Does the origin of a fabric permeate through centuries? Though maybe only I connect fabric to their origins due to my sewing hobby? These are things to ponder....while wearing plaid shirts.
I grew up in the 90s (now I'm really aging myself) where plaid was rampant. It was the grunge era and fashion was all about comfort. I was a teenager through the 90s, so nostalgia probably colors my perspective. I fondly remember baby doll dresses (I owned many!), Doc Martens (I never owned a pair of those), and the perseverance of plaid. I'll probably never again wear baby doll dresses (even though they were so comfortable) or buy a pair of Doc Martens (which are also in style again?!?), but I'm all in with this new plaid era. Back in the 90s, plaid meant "grunge." These days plaid means "hipster." I wouldn't call myself a hipster, but I do like the hipster adherence to plaid. Both "grunge" and "hipster" lifestyles could be called "alternative."
What does alternative mean? I tend to think of it as "against the grain" more than anything. Sort of a rebelling against the collective consciousness. So, why is plaid leading the way? What does plaid signify, if anything? Am I thinking about this too strongly? Sometimes that is the problem when you do research for a living. Small pieces of data can lead to something grand, but more often than not, it doesn't lead to anything significant beyond noise.
However, I do think the re-emergence of plaid means something. Though I freely admit to not having a single piece of datum to back me up. The fact a fabric tend to skirt the outside of convention suggests it might always be associated that way. Perhaps because plaid is such a traditional fabric, people who embrace "alternative" seek a solid foundation. Maybe plaid signifies the strength of tartans worn by Scottish clans. I always associate the delicate nature of lace with the whimsical wonder of Venice. Does the origin of a fabric permeate through centuries? Though maybe only I connect fabric to their origins due to my sewing hobby? These are things to ponder....while wearing plaid shirts.
Monday, March 31, 2014
On Opening Night
When one thinks of Opening Night, it is often associated with a play. One might imagine getting dressed up, being excited, and most of all, being entertained. Opening Night is magical. If the Major Baseball league had its way, Opening Night would also describe the first day of baseball. From last night's game (the first on US soil for the 2014 season), I wouldn't disagree.
Opening Night consisted of a Dodgers vs. Padres game in San Diego. My sister and I debated why the first nationally broadcast baseball game was the Dodgers vs. Padres. We ended up deciding the weather was the determining factor. And you only had to watch the game to agree. We both grew up in San Diego and we both agreed San Diego looked so pretty on tv. For people who don't grow up watching baseball, it can be a really boring game to watch. Last night's game, wasn't boring at all. Initially, it was really frustrating for a Padres fan to follow on tv. There was the fact the Padres left men on base in the first and second innings. I personally believed the first base umpire should have been fired by the 5th inning. My sister thought the ESPN announcers were horribly biased towards the Dodgers. Case in point: when the Padres made a comeback in the 8th inning, the announcers had no idea who hit the home run. Granted he was a pinch-hitter and it was the first day of the season. We eventually had to look up who hit the home run on-line. Then we watched the Dodgers defense collapse, the Padres hold onto a win by a great outing by their closer, and the end result was the Padres in first place after Opening Night. It was a great night for baseball if you ask me.
Of course, I'm too much of a sports realist to get completely carried away. I haven't read too much (or anything at all) into the fact the Padres are a trendy sleeper pick. My only hope is for the analogy of a play's run to baseball season holds up: that closing night be as memorable as opening night. The excitement of a play's finale is dependent on the play's success. The same reasoning could be applied to baseball. A team's final game is only exciting if the season was victorious. Baseball season is upon us. May the best team (as evidenced by Opening Night! sorry, I couldn't help myself) be the one standing on top in October.
Opening Night consisted of a Dodgers vs. Padres game in San Diego. My sister and I debated why the first nationally broadcast baseball game was the Dodgers vs. Padres. We ended up deciding the weather was the determining factor. And you only had to watch the game to agree. We both grew up in San Diego and we both agreed San Diego looked so pretty on tv. For people who don't grow up watching baseball, it can be a really boring game to watch. Last night's game, wasn't boring at all. Initially, it was really frustrating for a Padres fan to follow on tv. There was the fact the Padres left men on base in the first and second innings. I personally believed the first base umpire should have been fired by the 5th inning. My sister thought the ESPN announcers were horribly biased towards the Dodgers. Case in point: when the Padres made a comeback in the 8th inning, the announcers had no idea who hit the home run. Granted he was a pinch-hitter and it was the first day of the season. We eventually had to look up who hit the home run on-line. Then we watched the Dodgers defense collapse, the Padres hold onto a win by a great outing by their closer, and the end result was the Padres in first place after Opening Night. It was a great night for baseball if you ask me.
Of course, I'm too much of a sports realist to get completely carried away. I haven't read too much (or anything at all) into the fact the Padres are a trendy sleeper pick. My only hope is for the analogy of a play's run to baseball season holds up: that closing night be as memorable as opening night. The excitement of a play's finale is dependent on the play's success. The same reasoning could be applied to baseball. A team's final game is only exciting if the season was victorious. Baseball season is upon us. May the best team (as evidenced by Opening Night! sorry, I couldn't help myself) be the one standing on top in October.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Let It Go because Everything is AWESOME!!!
Obviously, I recently watched two movies with catchy songs. I watched them in reverse order of release date because legos > princess movie with snowman. However, I have to admit: I might like Frozen more than The Lego Movie.
Whenever I attend a 1-3 year old's birthday party, I usually get the celebrant Legos. They have super cool Legos these days. Everything from Star Wars to cupcakes. You really can't go wrong with giving a kid Legos. The Lego Movie is visually stunning and true to Lego capabilities. Lego people in the movie "walk" just the way they do in real life. I was mostly interested in The Lego Movie because I read the screenplay was written by the guys who created Clone High. Hardly anybody watched Clone High but I remember it as a truly funny/clever show. I had high expectations for The Lego Movie and it mostly didn't disappoint. I remember thinking during the movie "Only a kid could come up with this story-line" which is absolutely the truth. The one thing I didn't like about The Lego Movie was it tried too hard to convey its message. I think it could have been more subtle. However, I forgive that aspect because it has a super awesome music video.
I ended up watching Frozen in the theatres a week before its DVD release. At that point, some of my friends had watched it twice (there is also a sing-a-long version) and it had won an Oscar for best animated movie. I grew up on Disney movies (The Little Mermaid is my favorite) so my lagging to watch Frozen has nothing to do against Disney films. I also really like Tangled, so I like recent Disney movies. I guess watching Frozen wasn't on my list of things to do. However, all my friends told me I had to watch it and I loved it. I'm not familiar with the Han Christian Andersen version of The Snow Queen, but I'm sure Disney has modified the story to its strength. I mentioned I was impressed by The Lego Movie's animation. However, Frozen's animation, especially in comparison to previous Disney movies, is astonishing. I'm perfectly aware my adoration for Frozen stems from the fact it revolves around two sisters. This is why I'm biased, but it really isn't my fault I have a younger sister. Frozen also won the Oscar for best song. Let it Go is sung by the always amazing Idina Menzel.
Whenever I attend a 1-3 year old's birthday party, I usually get the celebrant Legos. They have super cool Legos these days. Everything from Star Wars to cupcakes. You really can't go wrong with giving a kid Legos. The Lego Movie is visually stunning and true to Lego capabilities. Lego people in the movie "walk" just the way they do in real life. I was mostly interested in The Lego Movie because I read the screenplay was written by the guys who created Clone High. Hardly anybody watched Clone High but I remember it as a truly funny/clever show. I had high expectations for The Lego Movie and it mostly didn't disappoint. I remember thinking during the movie "Only a kid could come up with this story-line" which is absolutely the truth. The one thing I didn't like about The Lego Movie was it tried too hard to convey its message. I think it could have been more subtle. However, I forgive that aspect because it has a super awesome music video.
Isn't the animation amazing?!?! I do apologize if Let It Go is in your head for the rest of the day. It has been in mine for days. Then Everything is AWESOME!!! finds into way into my brain for hour before Let It Go takes its rightful place. It has been an interesting two weeks. So it is a good thing The Incredibles 2 (recently announced) won't have any music. At least, it shouldn't right?
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
I watched an entire 60 minutes episode. I am as surprised as you.
I found myself watching 60 minutes last Sunday. This was completely by accident: I was doing a mindless task and needed to watch/listen to something. What's on at 7pm on Sunday? Well, 60 minutes has been running at that particular time for 38 years.
My dad was a huge 60 minutes watcher, so I grew up watching 60 minutes. With its prominent newscasters Mike Wallace and Dan Rather, 60 minutes was entertaining, informative, and sometimes filled with intrigue. Pre-internet, it was hard to find unusual stories. More often than not, they were brought to you. 60 minutes built its reputation on aggressive journalism and sensational stories. It was also anchored by a cantankerous old man: Andy Rooney. I grew up without grandparents (I had none by the time I was 7), so I felt Andy was my own personal grandparent telling me how things were better in olden times and how present society/culture was just confusing. He had the bushiest eyebrows.
I haven't watched 60 minutes in years. With the advent of the internet, finding news stories is easy. As I grew older, I realized what I unconsciously liked most about 60 minutes in my early years. I prefer my news brought by a certain perspective: a grizzled, hardened, and truth-seeking perspective. With any type of journalism, it is hard for a journalist to withhold their own notions while reporting. The good know when to hold back their opinion. However, the best are those who slightly impart their knowledge while simultaneously drawing out their interviewee. When I have caught 60 minutes over the years, I've been disappointed with the stories, the journalists, and the reporting. They focused on too many stories in 60 minutes. The interviews were subpar. After hearing about the Benghazi debacle, my disappointment with 60 minutes just increased. The childhood luster of 60 minutes was definitely nonexistent.
So imagine my surprise when I was intrigued by an entire 60 minutes episode last Sunday. There were only 3 stories and each appealed to me. The first was a story about a shooting at a high school. Children should feel safe at school, but that is never the case these days. As was pointed out by this story, there are so many school shootings that perhaps this one didn't nationally register. I didn't remember it. The story revolves around the high school football coach who literally chases the shooter outside the school grounds. However, he is so traumatized by the deaths he wasn't able to prevent that he eventually has to the leave the high school he kept safe. The second story is about the best living art forger. I had never even heard of the guy! As a person who makes it a point to wander through museums, I found this story fascinating. The art forger, Wolfgang Beltracchi, claims some of his paintings still hang in prominent museums. Finally, the third story was an interview with Liam Neeson. This is the first interview which he discusses his wife's, the actress Natasha Richardson, accidental death. These days Liam Neeson is a preeminent action star, but he fully admits to keeping busy as a coping mechanism. It made my heart ache and I am grateful to him for sharing his story.
I watched the entire hour of 60 minutes and didn't once think to change the channel. The stories kept me intrigued with emotions ranging from sadness, complete disbelief, and empathy. It was close to the 60 minutes I remember from my youth. Perhaps nostalgia will encourage me to watch another episode sometime soon.
My dad was a huge 60 minutes watcher, so I grew up watching 60 minutes. With its prominent newscasters Mike Wallace and Dan Rather, 60 minutes was entertaining, informative, and sometimes filled with intrigue. Pre-internet, it was hard to find unusual stories. More often than not, they were brought to you. 60 minutes built its reputation on aggressive journalism and sensational stories. It was also anchored by a cantankerous old man: Andy Rooney. I grew up without grandparents (I had none by the time I was 7), so I felt Andy was my own personal grandparent telling me how things were better in olden times and how present society/culture was just confusing. He had the bushiest eyebrows.
I haven't watched 60 minutes in years. With the advent of the internet, finding news stories is easy. As I grew older, I realized what I unconsciously liked most about 60 minutes in my early years. I prefer my news brought by a certain perspective: a grizzled, hardened, and truth-seeking perspective. With any type of journalism, it is hard for a journalist to withhold their own notions while reporting. The good know when to hold back their opinion. However, the best are those who slightly impart their knowledge while simultaneously drawing out their interviewee. When I have caught 60 minutes over the years, I've been disappointed with the stories, the journalists, and the reporting. They focused on too many stories in 60 minutes. The interviews were subpar. After hearing about the Benghazi debacle, my disappointment with 60 minutes just increased. The childhood luster of 60 minutes was definitely nonexistent.
So imagine my surprise when I was intrigued by an entire 60 minutes episode last Sunday. There were only 3 stories and each appealed to me. The first was a story about a shooting at a high school. Children should feel safe at school, but that is never the case these days. As was pointed out by this story, there are so many school shootings that perhaps this one didn't nationally register. I didn't remember it. The story revolves around the high school football coach who literally chases the shooter outside the school grounds. However, he is so traumatized by the deaths he wasn't able to prevent that he eventually has to the leave the high school he kept safe. The second story is about the best living art forger. I had never even heard of the guy! As a person who makes it a point to wander through museums, I found this story fascinating. The art forger, Wolfgang Beltracchi, claims some of his paintings still hang in prominent museums. Finally, the third story was an interview with Liam Neeson. This is the first interview which he discusses his wife's, the actress Natasha Richardson, accidental death. These days Liam Neeson is a preeminent action star, but he fully admits to keeping busy as a coping mechanism. It made my heart ache and I am grateful to him for sharing his story.
I watched the entire hour of 60 minutes and didn't once think to change the channel. The stories kept me intrigued with emotions ranging from sadness, complete disbelief, and empathy. It was close to the 60 minutes I remember from my youth. Perhaps nostalgia will encourage me to watch another episode sometime soon.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Some thoughts about Bob Costas' eye
When I tuned into the Olympics Sunday night, I almost laughed when I saw Bob Costas' eye. Of course I had heard about it, but I hadn't seen it in action. Mostly I just couldn't believe he was valiantly trying to host the Olympics because his eyes were only going to get worse.
As a person who once had pinkeye and who knows quite a bit about vision, I can divulge some things about Costas' eye infection. He probably has a viral infection because I assume he has tried every type of antibiotic possible. The fact his pinkeye was only spread to one eye was temporary, it is pretty impossible to contain viral pinkeye to one eye. It was only a matter of time before it spread to both eyes. The worst thing about viral pinkeye...it takes a long time to recover from it. I'm talking about at least 5 days, probably a week. Also viral pinkeye, though not painful, does require you to rest your eyes. This is the hardest part. You don't realize how much you rely on your eyes until you can't use them. When I had pinkeye, I just sat on the couch, closed my eyes, and listened to the tv. It was beyond boring.
I'm glad Costas has finally stepped down from his Olympic hosting duties. The next couple of days will probably be super frustrating for him and he has my sympathy. But perhaps with all things that shock us into realizing our vulnerability, he will never take his eyes for granted again. My wish is for everyone (at least those who tuned into Olympics and watched Costas' deteriorating eyes) to take better care of their own eyes. Wear sunglasses whenever you are in direct sunlight. Consume beta-carotene any way possible. And (I'm venturing a guess here) don't open your eyes while showering in foreign countries.
As a person who once had pinkeye and who knows quite a bit about vision, I can divulge some things about Costas' eye infection. He probably has a viral infection because I assume he has tried every type of antibiotic possible. The fact his pinkeye was only spread to one eye was temporary, it is pretty impossible to contain viral pinkeye to one eye. It was only a matter of time before it spread to both eyes. The worst thing about viral pinkeye...it takes a long time to recover from it. I'm talking about at least 5 days, probably a week. Also viral pinkeye, though not painful, does require you to rest your eyes. This is the hardest part. You don't realize how much you rely on your eyes until you can't use them. When I had pinkeye, I just sat on the couch, closed my eyes, and listened to the tv. It was beyond boring.
I'm glad Costas has finally stepped down from his Olympic hosting duties. The next couple of days will probably be super frustrating for him and he has my sympathy. But perhaps with all things that shock us into realizing our vulnerability, he will never take his eyes for granted again. My wish is for everyone (at least those who tuned into Olympics and watched Costas' deteriorating eyes) to take better care of their own eyes. Wear sunglasses whenever you are in direct sunlight. Consume beta-carotene any way possible. And (I'm venturing a guess here) don't open your eyes while showering in foreign countries.
Friday, February 7, 2014
For the love of hockey
The 2014 Olympics are upon us. It was 4 years ago my hockey obsession began and looking back, it has been at best a very whimsical relationship. I'll start at the beginning.
Growing up in San Diego, there are only professional football and baseball teams which means a dearth of a winter sport. You can actually survive on just football and baseball. The football season starts with preseason in August and ends with SuperBowl in February. Baseball season begins with spring training in March and ends with the World Series (a really arrogant name btw) in October. I never watched basketball growing up and when I tried to get into it later on in life, I realized how much it just annoyed me. Why? There are three main reasons. First, there are way too many points. You can reach up to 100 points in a game! Second, it really isn't a team sport. Superstar athletes are integral to winning. There is no "sum is greater than the parts" thread in basketball which to me is key to sports watching. Third, referees have way too much control/power over the game. These three reasons would only matter to a football/baseball sports fan. Because there are three specific reasons, I just can't get over them to enjoy watching basketball. I do watch some March Madness, but other than those magical weeks (which now include Warren Buffet's 1 billion offer on the perfect bracket), I just avoid basketball.
So what is the perfect winter sport to watch? It is, beyond a doubt, hockey. I used to work in a lab with a Canuck fan and a Avalanche fan. So when the 2010 Olympics came upon us, it was on. Everyday, there were hockey debates and as a sports fan, listening to them was a revelation. There were discussions about line changes, shootouts, hot/cold goaltenders, and everything inbetween. Since it was the Olympics, the games were broadcast everyday and I found myself immersed in all things hockey. There a couple of things to really love about hockey. The first, it is sport made for HD television. It looks amazing on tv. Second, the games are only an hour and half long with two timeouts. Nothing against football or baseball, but the minimal three hour effort to watch those games can be time-consuming. Third, mostly personal reason, there is a honor code about hockey. The players and fans hate when referees interfere with the game. The players regulate the game themselves which sometimes leads to game drama and fights (hockey really is two sports in one). Hockey is the antithesis of basketball which really is one more reason for me to like it.
After the 2010 Olympics, I tried to get into hockey more. As a new hockey fan, I set out to find myself a team. Of course, the easiest thing to do was to become a Kings fan. However, I didn't like their uniforms because they were too "Raiders-like." I just couldn't. Also, when can you ever pick a team without any predisposition? I also needed to pick a winning team to cheer for because trust me, as a Chargers and Padres fan, I deserved it. I mildly followed hockey (not easy in SoCal) and tried to pick a team I wouldn't regret. So of course what happens next? The Kings win the 2012 Stanley Cup (which really is the best sports trophy). Not to mention, they had the best entrance song. I guess when I say my relationship with hockey has been whimsical it is because I haven't really committed to a team. I'm an outside looking-in hockey fan which is all my fault. Though, I do give the Chargers and Padres their due.
So this makes me super excited for Olympic hockey. I have a clear-cut team which is really necessary if you are a sports fan. I'll probably watch most of the games and just immerse myself in hockey. I'll even watch women's hockey which apparently is the best hockey rivalry. Who knew? After the Olympics, we will all know.
Growing up in San Diego, there are only professional football and baseball teams which means a dearth of a winter sport. You can actually survive on just football and baseball. The football season starts with preseason in August and ends with SuperBowl in February. Baseball season begins with spring training in March and ends with the World Series (a really arrogant name btw) in October. I never watched basketball growing up and when I tried to get into it later on in life, I realized how much it just annoyed me. Why? There are three main reasons. First, there are way too many points. You can reach up to 100 points in a game! Second, it really isn't a team sport. Superstar athletes are integral to winning. There is no "sum is greater than the parts" thread in basketball which to me is key to sports watching. Third, referees have way too much control/power over the game. These three reasons would only matter to a football/baseball sports fan. Because there are three specific reasons, I just can't get over them to enjoy watching basketball. I do watch some March Madness, but other than those magical weeks (which now include Warren Buffet's 1 billion offer on the perfect bracket), I just avoid basketball.
So what is the perfect winter sport to watch? It is, beyond a doubt, hockey. I used to work in a lab with a Canuck fan and a Avalanche fan. So when the 2010 Olympics came upon us, it was on. Everyday, there were hockey debates and as a sports fan, listening to them was a revelation. There were discussions about line changes, shootouts, hot/cold goaltenders, and everything inbetween. Since it was the Olympics, the games were broadcast everyday and I found myself immersed in all things hockey. There a couple of things to really love about hockey. The first, it is sport made for HD television. It looks amazing on tv. Second, the games are only an hour and half long with two timeouts. Nothing against football or baseball, but the minimal three hour effort to watch those games can be time-consuming. Third, mostly personal reason, there is a honor code about hockey. The players and fans hate when referees interfere with the game. The players regulate the game themselves which sometimes leads to game drama and fights (hockey really is two sports in one). Hockey is the antithesis of basketball which really is one more reason for me to like it.
After the 2010 Olympics, I tried to get into hockey more. As a new hockey fan, I set out to find myself a team. Of course, the easiest thing to do was to become a Kings fan. However, I didn't like their uniforms because they were too "Raiders-like." I just couldn't. Also, when can you ever pick a team without any predisposition? I also needed to pick a winning team to cheer for because trust me, as a Chargers and Padres fan, I deserved it. I mildly followed hockey (not easy in SoCal) and tried to pick a team I wouldn't regret. So of course what happens next? The Kings win the 2012 Stanley Cup (which really is the best sports trophy). Not to mention, they had the best entrance song. I guess when I say my relationship with hockey has been whimsical it is because I haven't really committed to a team. I'm an outside looking-in hockey fan which is all my fault. Though, I do give the Chargers and Padres their due.
So this makes me super excited for Olympic hockey. I have a clear-cut team which is really necessary if you are a sports fan. I'll probably watch most of the games and just immerse myself in hockey. I'll even watch women's hockey which apparently is the best hockey rivalry. Who knew? After the Olympics, we will all know.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
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.
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.
Friday, January 17, 2014
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.
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.
Friday, January 10, 2014
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
The Apple of my eye goes with my Chrome backbone
Within five days, I made two huge electronic purchases. I got an iPhone 5s and a 720 chromebook. And I would make the exact purchases again.
I'm not one of those people who is Apple-centric. Obviously. Nothing against Apple, I think they have beautiful machines that work exceedingly well. I also think you pay alot for the Apple name. I would say 85% of my family and friends have Macs. The only reason I got my first iPhone was because I had AT&T service which had the exclusive rights to the iPhone 1. I loved my iPhone 1. I remember the day I got it: my cousin was an Apple employee at the time and used his discount to buy my sister and me our iPhones. This is when you could activate your phone at home which you cannot do now. He drove to SoCal for Thanksgiving and delivered us our phones. Everyone was jealous, but they were not cheap (even with the discount, they were almost $400 each). Somehow, I managed to wait 3 years for an iPhone 4 which I traded in for a iPhone 5s. I got the iPhone 5s on Black Friday which means the Thanksgiving tradition of getting a new phone continues. Due to my lack of Apple products, the change in the size of charging pins isn't a big deal to me.
One more thing about Apple products: I received a first generation ipod Nano for my birthday back in the day. It worked well and was the determining factor in my decision to get an iPhone. There was a lawsuit regarding the first generation nano (I don't remember the details), but I do remember filling out at form and getting $25 from Apple in the mail. I eventually gave the nano to my mom to use when I got an iPhone. In 2011, there was a 1st generation nano recall due to the potential of the battery failing and becoming incendiary. So I shipped off my 1st generation nano (by this time, my mom had an iPod touch) and received a brand new nano in the mail. I gave this nano to my sister who uses it when she runs. Now you know why I call my ipod nano the gift that keep on giving.
If you include my new chromebook, I've only owned three laptops in my entire life. Well, I did own one desktop at one point. My lack of laptops is mostly a reflection of the theory that the longer I wait, a better laptop can be mine. This type of thinking also applied to the time frames between my iPhones. I wouldn't say I'm a patient person, but I wouldn't say I am impatient person. Mostly it just shows I will put effort into things that I know will pay off. One of my very first posts for this blog was about my first two laptops. I still use my Fujitsu (it is my computer with iTunes so I used it to initiate my stored settings onto my iPhone 5S), but my netbook had been dying since the summer. I was kinda in denial about it, but when I couldn't even turn it on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend...it was time to get a new laptop. Luckily, the very next day was Cyber Monday.
Even though I had been in denial about my netbook dying, I had done some research on laptops. I didn't want to get a MacBook. I didn't need one for work or fun and honestly, I might be too late in the game. I wasn't that impressed with Windows 8 which is touchscreen. What I really wanted was a replacement for my netbook with a camera because I needed to do google hangouts with friends in far off places. I had seen the chromebook commericals and knew the chromebook started at $199. So on Cyber Monday, I immersed myself in finding everything I could about chromebooks. The third generation of chromebooks was just released in mid-November. They come with a solid-state drive (it starts in 7 seconds), an 8.5 hour battery (battery life is the ultimate dealbreaker for me), and an HD camera. However, one of the caveats of a chromebook is you cannot add software to it. Any type of software. It comes with chrome software installed (which instantly updates itself) and all the google apps. Since I use google apps for work, the limitations of a chromebook were not deterring to me. One of the biggest deals Google makes about the Chrome software is that it is virus-free. So far, it has been impenetrable to all viruses. Of course to me, that means one day all chrome software will crash due to a huge virus infection. But perhaps that day is far away instead of being tomorrow. Or maybe I underestimate the mental power behind chrome. The 720 Acer 2G model is only $199 and despite my best efforts, was completely sold out everywhere on Cyber Monday. Luckily, I was able to pick one up at Best Buy two days later. And it really is one of the best purchases I've made.
Last night, I was watching Almost Human in real time (a good show, brought to you by J.J. Abrams whom I recently wrote about in this blog) and saw commercials for the iPhone 5s and chromebook. The iPhone 5s commercial was so heart-warming.
The chromebook commercial I can't find on youtube. I can only describe it as cute. It also made me think about the irony of my electronic purchases. Not many people would buy her 3rd iPhone and a chromebook within a week of each other. As a person who did just that, I would say I'm a person who knows what she wants who simply chooses the best of both worlds. And I would definitely do it again.
I'm not one of those people who is Apple-centric. Obviously. Nothing against Apple, I think they have beautiful machines that work exceedingly well. I also think you pay alot for the Apple name. I would say 85% of my family and friends have Macs. The only reason I got my first iPhone was because I had AT&T service which had the exclusive rights to the iPhone 1. I loved my iPhone 1. I remember the day I got it: my cousin was an Apple employee at the time and used his discount to buy my sister and me our iPhones. This is when you could activate your phone at home which you cannot do now. He drove to SoCal for Thanksgiving and delivered us our phones. Everyone was jealous, but they were not cheap (even with the discount, they were almost $400 each). Somehow, I managed to wait 3 years for an iPhone 4 which I traded in for a iPhone 5s. I got the iPhone 5s on Black Friday which means the Thanksgiving tradition of getting a new phone continues. Due to my lack of Apple products, the change in the size of charging pins isn't a big deal to me.
One more thing about Apple products: I received a first generation ipod Nano for my birthday back in the day. It worked well and was the determining factor in my decision to get an iPhone. There was a lawsuit regarding the first generation nano (I don't remember the details), but I do remember filling out at form and getting $25 from Apple in the mail. I eventually gave the nano to my mom to use when I got an iPhone. In 2011, there was a 1st generation nano recall due to the potential of the battery failing and becoming incendiary. So I shipped off my 1st generation nano (by this time, my mom had an iPod touch) and received a brand new nano in the mail. I gave this nano to my sister who uses it when she runs. Now you know why I call my ipod nano the gift that keep on giving.
If you include my new chromebook, I've only owned three laptops in my entire life. Well, I did own one desktop at one point. My lack of laptops is mostly a reflection of the theory that the longer I wait, a better laptop can be mine. This type of thinking also applied to the time frames between my iPhones. I wouldn't say I'm a patient person, but I wouldn't say I am impatient person. Mostly it just shows I will put effort into things that I know will pay off. One of my very first posts for this blog was about my first two laptops. I still use my Fujitsu (it is my computer with iTunes so I used it to initiate my stored settings onto my iPhone 5S), but my netbook had been dying since the summer. I was kinda in denial about it, but when I couldn't even turn it on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend...it was time to get a new laptop. Luckily, the very next day was Cyber Monday.
Even though I had been in denial about my netbook dying, I had done some research on laptops. I didn't want to get a MacBook. I didn't need one for work or fun and honestly, I might be too late in the game. I wasn't that impressed with Windows 8 which is touchscreen. What I really wanted was a replacement for my netbook with a camera because I needed to do google hangouts with friends in far off places. I had seen the chromebook commericals and knew the chromebook started at $199. So on Cyber Monday, I immersed myself in finding everything I could about chromebooks. The third generation of chromebooks was just released in mid-November. They come with a solid-state drive (it starts in 7 seconds), an 8.5 hour battery (battery life is the ultimate dealbreaker for me), and an HD camera. However, one of the caveats of a chromebook is you cannot add software to it. Any type of software. It comes with chrome software installed (which instantly updates itself) and all the google apps. Since I use google apps for work, the limitations of a chromebook were not deterring to me. One of the biggest deals Google makes about the Chrome software is that it is virus-free. So far, it has been impenetrable to all viruses. Of course to me, that means one day all chrome software will crash due to a huge virus infection. But perhaps that day is far away instead of being tomorrow. Or maybe I underestimate the mental power behind chrome. The 720 Acer 2G model is only $199 and despite my best efforts, was completely sold out everywhere on Cyber Monday. Luckily, I was able to pick one up at Best Buy two days later. And it really is one of the best purchases I've made.
Last night, I was watching Almost Human in real time (a good show, brought to you by J.J. Abrams whom I recently wrote about in this blog) and saw commercials for the iPhone 5s and chromebook. The iPhone 5s commercial was so heart-warming.
The chromebook commercial I can't find on youtube. I can only describe it as cute. It also made me think about the irony of my electronic purchases. Not many people would buy her 3rd iPhone and a chromebook within a week of each other. As a person who did just that, I would say I'm a person who knows what she wants who simply chooses the best of both worlds. And I would definitely do it again.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
2013 Beauty Roundup
My year of Birchbox ended on a whimper. I really didn't like anything in my last box, so this post will not be limited to Birchbox beauty items. I would like to say I enjoyed my year of Birchbox, but not enough to continue beyond the year. I guess that is the problem with Birchbox: if they are doing their job well, you'll probably find what you need with a year long subscription or if not, you will be extremely disappointed with the service. They do amazing things like give away free beauty boxes (remember my Nuance box?) and they have really good gift with purchases. I was lucky enough to get a free Gorjana necklace with a $50 purchase. If you follow them on Facebook/Twitter, Birchbox has really great tutorials about how to do hair, apply makeup, and other beauty advice. Right now, any order of $25 or more has free shipping. And you know how I feel about free shipping. I actually just put in a Birchbox order (to use up the last of my points!) for Caudalie Divine Oil and Benefit Ultra Plush Lip Gloss in Sugarbomb which I described in my previous Birchbox post.
So continuing the 2013 Beauty Roundup, here are some of my favorite beauty items which I discovered this past year.
Indie Lee Blemish Lotion I have oily skin which is great/annoying. I have a youthful appearance yet still get breakouts. Most products for breakouts do not work on my skin and these days my breakouts do tend to scar. I read about Indie Lee's Blemish Lotion a couple months ago and was intrigued. As a cancer survivor, Indie Lee adheres to natural products in her entire beauty line. The ingredients to the Blemish Lotion are super simple. It doesn't work perfectly on my skin (I probably need a higher sulfur concentration), but it does work the best. The solution is bright pink, so I would suggest using it overnight unless you work from home. Also if you do order this, order it directly from Dermstore.com instead of Amazon. You will received it faster.
Dickinson's Witch Hazel wipes Since I have oily skin which can be problematic, I've always been drawn to people who have amazing skin. I am truly obsessed with Scott Foley's skin on Scandal (full disclosure: I was always Team Noel) and always comment "He has aged well." Honestly, it is super distracting. I'm obviously Team Jake. Okay, back to the topic. Another person whose skin I've always admired is Drew Barrymore's. Doesn't she always look...luminous? So you can imagine my surprise to learn she uses a product which costs $7.50! I use the wipes once or twice a week and they are great.
Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50 Living in SoCal, I buy alot of sunblock. Right now, I have 5 different types under my sink (I just checked). But the Hawaiian Lotion sunblock is my favorite. It hydrates your skin and protects well. I wouldn't use it on my face (it is quite oily), but it really is my multi-purpose sunblock.
Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy (Eucalyptus Spearmint and Lavender Chamomile) I only mention these two items because I was at Bath and Body Works today buying Christmas presents due to the buy 3, get 3 free sale. When I am stressed out, the only thing that helps me relax is aromatherapy. I would use the Eucalyptus Spearmint scent during the day and the Lavender Chamomile scent in the evenings. I'm not sure how it works (I've done the research) and maybe at this point, it is just a placebo effect on me, but it does help me. I'm a big supporter of aromatherapy and have given the scents out to various stressed out friends. Some friends now swear by aromatherapy too. If I had a big enough sample population, I would do my own research. However, I'm just glad Bath and Body works was having a buy 3, get 3 free sale.
Water. Yeah, yeah we all know we should drink 8 glasses of water a day. But my godbrother recently experienced kidney stones, so let's all try not to know what he went through these past couple of days. Water is the best thing for anyone's beauty regimen. One of my friends sets an alarm on the hour, for every hour he is at work. So when the alarm beeps, he knows he should get up and get another glass of water. Or finish the rest of the previous hour's water, so he can get more. I haven't adopted his water schedule (I can only think how many times I would go to the bathroom), but I do try to drink more water. Really, it can only be good thing.
So who knows what 2014 will bring? I'm looking forward to a year of amazing skin, a beautiful smoky eye application (you really do need 4 different brushes), and a perfect beauty routine. Well, one can always hope :)
So continuing the 2013 Beauty Roundup, here are some of my favorite beauty items which I discovered this past year.
Indie Lee Blemish Lotion I have oily skin which is great/annoying. I have a youthful appearance yet still get breakouts. Most products for breakouts do not work on my skin and these days my breakouts do tend to scar. I read about Indie Lee's Blemish Lotion a couple months ago and was intrigued. As a cancer survivor, Indie Lee adheres to natural products in her entire beauty line. The ingredients to the Blemish Lotion are super simple. It doesn't work perfectly on my skin (I probably need a higher sulfur concentration), but it does work the best. The solution is bright pink, so I would suggest using it overnight unless you work from home. Also if you do order this, order it directly from Dermstore.com instead of Amazon. You will received it faster.
Dickinson's Witch Hazel wipes Since I have oily skin which can be problematic, I've always been drawn to people who have amazing skin. I am truly obsessed with Scott Foley's skin on Scandal (full disclosure: I was always Team Noel) and always comment "He has aged well." Honestly, it is super distracting. I'm obviously Team Jake. Okay, back to the topic. Another person whose skin I've always admired is Drew Barrymore's. Doesn't she always look...luminous? So you can imagine my surprise to learn she uses a product which costs $7.50! I use the wipes once or twice a week and they are great.
Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50 Living in SoCal, I buy alot of sunblock. Right now, I have 5 different types under my sink (I just checked). But the Hawaiian Lotion sunblock is my favorite. It hydrates your skin and protects well. I wouldn't use it on my face (it is quite oily), but it really is my multi-purpose sunblock.
Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy (Eucalyptus Spearmint and Lavender Chamomile) I only mention these two items because I was at Bath and Body Works today buying Christmas presents due to the buy 3, get 3 free sale. When I am stressed out, the only thing that helps me relax is aromatherapy. I would use the Eucalyptus Spearmint scent during the day and the Lavender Chamomile scent in the evenings. I'm not sure how it works (I've done the research) and maybe at this point, it is just a placebo effect on me, but it does help me. I'm a big supporter of aromatherapy and have given the scents out to various stressed out friends. Some friends now swear by aromatherapy too. If I had a big enough sample population, I would do my own research. However, I'm just glad Bath and Body works was having a buy 3, get 3 free sale.
Water. Yeah, yeah we all know we should drink 8 glasses of water a day. But my godbrother recently experienced kidney stones, so let's all try not to know what he went through these past couple of days. Water is the best thing for anyone's beauty regimen. One of my friends sets an alarm on the hour, for every hour he is at work. So when the alarm beeps, he knows he should get up and get another glass of water. Or finish the rest of the previous hour's water, so he can get more. I haven't adopted his water schedule (I can only think how many times I would go to the bathroom), but I do try to drink more water. Really, it can only be good thing.
So who knows what 2014 will bring? I'm looking forward to a year of amazing skin, a beautiful smoky eye application (you really do need 4 different brushes), and a perfect beauty routine. Well, one can always hope :)
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
J.J Abrams understands the other half
One of the reasons (and perhaps the only reason) I am intrigued with J.J. Abrams helming Star Wars is the fact he writes strong female characters. If you like Star Wars, you have read the books or at least the Wiki about what happens in Star Wars mythology post Return of the Jedi. Without spoiling too much, it is Leia who ends up saving the universe. Who knows if the plot of the new Star Wars movie will follow the established plotlines, but with J.J. Abrams in charge it does give me A New Hope (yeah, sometimes I can't help myself).
Most people don't remember or haven't watched J.J. Abrams' Alias. It was a tv show on ABC with Jennifer Garner starring as Sydney Bristow who is a covert operative. Sydney then finds out she comes from a family of covert operatives. Her dad is spy, her mom was an undercover USSR spy who married her dad for cover but her dad truly loved her mom. There is a whole complicated mythology which is only fitting for the person behind Lost. I just realized why I probably didn't get into Lost: I was disappointed by the ending of Alias and basically refused to be sucked into another J.J. Abrams series. But Sydney Bristow is an amazing female character: complicated, can definitely kick-ass, devastated by betrayal yet always unyielding in her moral fortitude. If you are a fan of J.J. Abrams' Star Trek, one of the best things about his interpretation is the presence of Uhura. A background character is the original Star Trek, she is a main character who is heavily involved in the J.J. Abrams version. One of the main reasons the Star Trek reboot is great is because of the new Uhura.
A person who doesn't get the female psyche? Christopher Nolan. If you watched his Batman trilogy, the character of Rachel is pretty much a mess. And somehow he was able make Catwoman to be just a cat-burglar. His main saving grace is Christian Bale's interpretation of Batman. It is absolutely perfect. However, Batman needs his Catwoman and Nolan's interpretation fell far short.
Anyways, I've been looking for a Christmas present for my godson and apparently he is still too young for Lego Star Wars. So I guess he will be getting something else. However, I am excited to take him to Star Wars episode 7 (in 2015!! time will fly by) because I know J.J. Abrams will ensure the presence of strong female characters. The more think about it, the more excited I become. The countdown to a whole new Star Wars starts now.
Most people don't remember or haven't watched J.J. Abrams' Alias. It was a tv show on ABC with Jennifer Garner starring as Sydney Bristow who is a covert operative. Sydney then finds out she comes from a family of covert operatives. Her dad is spy, her mom was an undercover USSR spy who married her dad for cover but her dad truly loved her mom. There is a whole complicated mythology which is only fitting for the person behind Lost. I just realized why I probably didn't get into Lost: I was disappointed by the ending of Alias and basically refused to be sucked into another J.J. Abrams series. But Sydney Bristow is an amazing female character: complicated, can definitely kick-ass, devastated by betrayal yet always unyielding in her moral fortitude. If you are a fan of J.J. Abrams' Star Trek, one of the best things about his interpretation is the presence of Uhura. A background character is the original Star Trek, she is a main character who is heavily involved in the J.J. Abrams version. One of the main reasons the Star Trek reboot is great is because of the new Uhura.
A person who doesn't get the female psyche? Christopher Nolan. If you watched his Batman trilogy, the character of Rachel is pretty much a mess. And somehow he was able make Catwoman to be just a cat-burglar. His main saving grace is Christian Bale's interpretation of Batman. It is absolutely perfect. However, Batman needs his Catwoman and Nolan's interpretation fell far short.
Anyways, I've been looking for a Christmas present for my godson and apparently he is still too young for Lego Star Wars. So I guess he will be getting something else. However, I am excited to take him to Star Wars episode 7 (in 2015!! time will fly by) because I know J.J. Abrams will ensure the presence of strong female characters. The more think about it, the more excited I become. The countdown to a whole new Star Wars starts now.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Growing up in a military town
Sometimes it is hard to remember San Diego is a military town. There are beaches to distract you. Comic-Con comes once a year to create havoc. Let's not forget the incomparable San Diego Zoo and Sea World which if you grew up in San Diego were the best places for field trips. Though these days if you have a child under 5, you are more likely to visit Legoland than anything else in San Diego.
But there is a huge military presence in San Diego. Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard all reside within San Diego County. The only one missing is Army, but there's a base a couple of hours away by car. My father wasn't in the military, but almost every single one of my friends' fathers was a military guy. My friends had to deal with deployment, missed birthdays, general lack of communication (i.e. internet didn't exist), and watching me interact with my dad. I know it wasn't easy.
So Veteran's Day and Memorial Day have a special meaning to any San Diegan, native or new. A big thank you to everyone who has served our country. May we honor your and your families' sacrifice with empathy and gratitude. Be safe and stay strong.
But there is a huge military presence in San Diego. Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard all reside within San Diego County. The only one missing is Army, but there's a base a couple of hours away by car. My father wasn't in the military, but almost every single one of my friends' fathers was a military guy. My friends had to deal with deployment, missed birthdays, general lack of communication (i.e. internet didn't exist), and watching me interact with my dad. I know it wasn't easy.
So Veteran's Day and Memorial Day have a special meaning to any San Diegan, native or new. A big thank you to everyone who has served our country. May we honor your and your families' sacrifice with empathy and gratitude. Be safe and stay strong.
Monday, November 4, 2013
A Review of Allegiant, the Final Book in the Divergent Series
I wrote a post about the Divergent series a couple months ago. The final book of the series, Allegiant, was published on October 22nd. I finally finished the book and should give it a review since I already dedicated a post to the first two books of the series. This is difficult because I don't want to even think about the book I just finished.
The problem is I (along with many others) really dislike Allegiant. I actually bought the book on its release date, skimmed through it, figured out I would hate it, and then it took me 12 days to finish it. No spoilers here, but I agree with the majority of readers. The ending is contrived and what the author Veronica Roth thought she was doing wasn't what she actually accomplished. The amazing story of strength, perserverance, and love apparent in the first two books ended up being a convoluted mess. Mostly I'm just disappointed.
Now I have even more respect for The Hunger Games. It is marvelously written with a true understanding of the human condition. I mentioned in my Divergent and Insurgent post that Veronica Roth was too ambitious which is obviously true. She ended up changing the way Allegiant was written because she couldn't write the story she wanted. But I think that should have been the first clue the path she decided to take was not how the story should have evolved. Much has been written about Roth's youth and in Allegiant it is very apparent. However, I also understand her defense of Allegiant and appreciate the maturity she has shown in its discussion.
So I highly recommend The Hunger Games to anyone. As I've mentioned before, Catching Fire is my favorite of the series and and trailer does not disappoint.
It looks good! The Divergent Series is subpar in many ways, but I don't regret reading it. However with all things, it is hard to remember the good when the ending is so bad.
The problem is I (along with many others) really dislike Allegiant. I actually bought the book on its release date, skimmed through it, figured out I would hate it, and then it took me 12 days to finish it. No spoilers here, but I agree with the majority of readers. The ending is contrived and what the author Veronica Roth thought she was doing wasn't what she actually accomplished. The amazing story of strength, perserverance, and love apparent in the first two books ended up being a convoluted mess. Mostly I'm just disappointed.
Now I have even more respect for The Hunger Games. It is marvelously written with a true understanding of the human condition. I mentioned in my Divergent and Insurgent post that Veronica Roth was too ambitious which is obviously true. She ended up changing the way Allegiant was written because she couldn't write the story she wanted. But I think that should have been the first clue the path she decided to take was not how the story should have evolved. Much has been written about Roth's youth and in Allegiant it is very apparent. However, I also understand her defense of Allegiant and appreciate the maturity she has shown in its discussion.
So I highly recommend The Hunger Games to anyone. As I've mentioned before, Catching Fire is my favorite of the series and and trailer does not disappoint.
It looks good! The Divergent Series is subpar in many ways, but I don't regret reading it. However with all things, it is hard to remember the good when the ending is so bad.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Venturing into Downtown Vegas for the first time
As a long time SoCal resident, I have been to Vegas many times. However, I have never gone to downtown Vegas. It is the original Vegas which is about a $20 cab ride from the Strip. I guess I have never ventured to downtown Vegas because I never had a reason to visit downtown Vegas. It makes sense it would take The Killers to bring me there.
The Killers are my favorite band. If I had to describe The Killers, I would say they are a glamourous rock band with super catchy music. Their shows are amazing. Some of my affinity for The Killers resides in the fact that I saw them very early in their career and liked them then. I used to love putting on The Killers while driving to Vegas. They really are a Vegas band: shiny, nonsensical, and always reliable for an amazing experience. I've always wanted to see The Killers in Vegas, but never had the chance. Then came Life is Beautiful.
The Life is Beautiful festival was very ambitious. First, it had an incredible lineup with The Killers, Imagine Dragons, Kings of Leon, Beck, and a reunited Jurassic 5 to mention a few names. The festival organizers brought together a culinary village sponsored by all the famous restaurants in Vegas. Each booth had various dishes which all had to be under $10. There was also a chef stage where musical acts would "cook" with chefs. Also at the festival was an Alchemy garden with all sorts of libations. As a festival, Life is Beautiful was a revelation.
Since the festival was in downtown Vegas, I convinced my sister we should stay in downtown Vegas. Just so we can could walk back to our hotel after the festival. We ended up staying at the Golden Nugget which I highly recommend if you are staying in downtown Vegas. The bathrooms were tiny, but the awesome pool makes up for that inconvenience. We even splurged and bought chairs at the adult only pool for Sunday so we could recover from Saturday. The bartender at the adult pool even had the tvs set to football games. The Chargers were on a bye, so I didn't have to be that person who had to watch her game and make everyone else watch it too. I simply watched and cheered everyone else's game while poolside.
The Killers are my favorite band. If I had to describe The Killers, I would say they are a glamourous rock band with super catchy music. Their shows are amazing. Some of my affinity for The Killers resides in the fact that I saw them very early in their career and liked them then. I used to love putting on The Killers while driving to Vegas. They really are a Vegas band: shiny, nonsensical, and always reliable for an amazing experience. I've always wanted to see The Killers in Vegas, but never had the chance. Then came Life is Beautiful.
The Life is Beautiful festival was very ambitious. First, it had an incredible lineup with The Killers, Imagine Dragons, Kings of Leon, Beck, and a reunited Jurassic 5 to mention a few names. The festival organizers brought together a culinary village sponsored by all the famous restaurants in Vegas. Each booth had various dishes which all had to be under $10. There was also a chef stage where musical acts would "cook" with chefs. Also at the festival was an Alchemy garden with all sorts of libations. As a festival, Life is Beautiful was a revelation.
Since the festival was in downtown Vegas, I convinced my sister we should stay in downtown Vegas. Just so we can could walk back to our hotel after the festival. We ended up staying at the Golden Nugget which I highly recommend if you are staying in downtown Vegas. The bathrooms were tiny, but the awesome pool makes up for that inconvenience. We even splurged and bought chairs at the adult only pool for Sunday so we could recover from Saturday. The bartender at the adult pool even had the tvs set to football games. The Chargers were on a bye, so I didn't have to be that person who had to watch her game and make everyone else watch it too. I simply watched and cheered everyone else's game while poolside.
The Killers were the last band for the entire festival and they were amazing. I had already seen The Killers twice (of course I did) for this Battle Born tour, so this was the third time I had seen them under a year. But The Killers were in their hometown and they were so excited. It probably helped that they had been home for about two weeks before this show and were ready to do one last performance. Brandon Flowers, the lead singer for The Killers, told stories about their songs. Mostly, they were thankful for their fans, demonstrated their appreciation by showering everyone with confetti, and ended the night with When you were young.
However, I will end this post with my favorite Killers song, Mr. Brightside. Thanks to The Killers for validating my reasons for making you my top band. Viva Vegas!
Thursday, October 24, 2013
My favorite places on 3rd Street
When I first moved to LA, I moved to West L.A. Unless you are familiar with L.A, you probably have not even heard of West L.A. It is the area just west of the 405 but east of Santa Monica. It is a pretty unremarkable area which has alot of conveniences. It is close to the 405 and 10 freeways which allows you to get around in L.A. No matter where you live in West L.A., you are guaranteed to be in a 5 miles radius of at least 2 Trader Joes. The rent is comparatively cheap with could definitely be worse parking. Mild weather (I know, it is weird to discuss differences in weather in L.A but if you live in L.A. you know there are disparate temperatures depending on where you live) since you don't get the marine layer or the 100 degree weather of the valley.
During my last year of grad school, my roommate bought a house. She offered to let me move in with her which was super nice. Mostly because as a minimalist in everything except my closet, I actually didn't own any furniture except my bed. Though I did own the TV and the wine bar (with alcohol!), so I really just had the essentials. Although, she had wanted to stay in the West L.A. area, my former roommate's dream house ended up being in Crestview which is a tiny neighborhood adjacent to Beverlywood. I hardly ever ventured east of the 405, but as a decisive yet adventurous person I said yes to moving with her.
Although Angelenos are mobile people, they don't really venture outside of their neighborhood unless out of necessity. The traffic is that bad and the convenience of your neighborhood usually just wins out. It was good for me to live in another part of L.A. and I grew to really love it. Just north of Crestview is 3rd street which became one of my favorite L.A. areas. It is filled with various eateries and shopping. If you don't mind walking a few blocks, you can park in a residential neighborhood and don't have to worry about metered parking.
So after enough preamble, here are some of my favorite things on 3rd street:
Little Next Door I always think I'll try a different brunch place, but I really adore Little Next Door. The food is scrumptious, the croissants amazing, and the decor is super cute. I've also come here for dinner and dinner is also very good. A true gem amongst the brunch scene.
Shopaholic sample sales I found this store while walking to Jones's on 3rd (which I'm not going to review but it is an LA institution). The salespeople are friendly but not overwhelming. The clothes are super cute and definitely my style. As important, the prices are extremely reasonable. One of their hallmarks is the massive dressing room in the back, so it is definitely not for the shy person. Just make sure you wear cute underwear before you go there.
Robata Jinya The best ramen in L.A. is at Daikokuya but Little Tokyo is really out of the way for everyone who doesn't live in Little Tokyo. Robata Jinya is a very close second. The ramen has sublime flavor and the noodles are perfect.
Mendocino Farms Everyone told me the sandwiches from Mendocino Farms were amazing. So when I tried one, I obviously thought I was going to be disappointed. However, all the accolades are deserved. It is literally just perfection. To add to their amazing-ness, they procure their own soda line. So I had one of the best ginger ales in my life to go along with one of the best sandwiches of my life.
There are a couple other cute clothing stores on 3rd street. None are as expensive as you would think considering their proximity to Beverly Hills and Melrose. I would suggest having brunch and then checking out the shops. Then you can reward yourself with a dessert. I'm partial to Georgetown Cupcake, but there is also Fonuts, Magnolia Bakery, Lady M Cake Boutique, or even Jones's on 3rd. Then again, now that I think about it perhaps you should start with a baked good/coffee, shop, and then eat dinner. Either way, you really can't go wrong on 3rd Street.
During my last year of grad school, my roommate bought a house. She offered to let me move in with her which was super nice. Mostly because as a minimalist in everything except my closet, I actually didn't own any furniture except my bed. Though I did own the TV and the wine bar (with alcohol!), so I really just had the essentials. Although, she had wanted to stay in the West L.A. area, my former roommate's dream house ended up being in Crestview which is a tiny neighborhood adjacent to Beverlywood. I hardly ever ventured east of the 405, but as a decisive yet adventurous person I said yes to moving with her.
Although Angelenos are mobile people, they don't really venture outside of their neighborhood unless out of necessity. The traffic is that bad and the convenience of your neighborhood usually just wins out. It was good for me to live in another part of L.A. and I grew to really love it. Just north of Crestview is 3rd street which became one of my favorite L.A. areas. It is filled with various eateries and shopping. If you don't mind walking a few blocks, you can park in a residential neighborhood and don't have to worry about metered parking.
So after enough preamble, here are some of my favorite things on 3rd street:
Little Next Door I always think I'll try a different brunch place, but I really adore Little Next Door. The food is scrumptious, the croissants amazing, and the decor is super cute. I've also come here for dinner and dinner is also very good. A true gem amongst the brunch scene.
Shopaholic sample sales I found this store while walking to Jones's on 3rd (which I'm not going to review but it is an LA institution). The salespeople are friendly but not overwhelming. The clothes are super cute and definitely my style. As important, the prices are extremely reasonable. One of their hallmarks is the massive dressing room in the back, so it is definitely not for the shy person. Just make sure you wear cute underwear before you go there.
Robata Jinya The best ramen in L.A. is at Daikokuya but Little Tokyo is really out of the way for everyone who doesn't live in Little Tokyo. Robata Jinya is a very close second. The ramen has sublime flavor and the noodles are perfect.
Mendocino Farms Everyone told me the sandwiches from Mendocino Farms were amazing. So when I tried one, I obviously thought I was going to be disappointed. However, all the accolades are deserved. It is literally just perfection. To add to their amazing-ness, they procure their own soda line. So I had one of the best ginger ales in my life to go along with one of the best sandwiches of my life.
There are a couple other cute clothing stores on 3rd street. None are as expensive as you would think considering their proximity to Beverly Hills and Melrose. I would suggest having brunch and then checking out the shops. Then you can reward yourself with a dessert. I'm partial to Georgetown Cupcake, but there is also Fonuts, Magnolia Bakery, Lady M Cake Boutique, or even Jones's on 3rd. Then again, now that I think about it perhaps you should start with a baked good/coffee, shop, and then eat dinner. Either way, you really can't go wrong on 3rd Street.
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