AWOL

There really is no excuse for my lack of posting. But, it happens. I am sorry. I will try to keep up. Here is the current excitement in my life:

I was able to return the 3rd generation iPod Shuffle and downgrade (but more like upgrade) to the 2nd generation. Unfortunately, I had to pay a 10% reshelfing fee. This is ridiculous to me because the product was broken. And I was only returning it so I wouldn’t have to repeatedly get it replaced. Oh well. I learned my lesson. This shuffle’s name is “the third” as in the third shuffle I had gotten in the past two weeks. So far, it has been good. As you can see, it looks like Shuffley, but pink.

In other news, I did not do anything really special over Memorial Day weekend. Part of this was because my boyfriend and I were so busy going back and forth to Ikea. On Saturday, we drove to the giant blue playground of cheap modern furniture and meatballs to buy a desk for my bedroom. It was a madhouse. With my anxiety high, I chose the desk I wanted and we left as soon as possible. I was a little worried about buying the right parts because there were six separate products I had to find in their warehouse section: the top, the frame, and 4 legs. I quickly asked an Ikea worker if I had chosen the appropriate parts and if it was all I needed to make the desk. I also asked if the tools and screws were also included. He reassuringly said “Yes, they are included in the frame box.”

We got home, exhausted and drained, and attempted to build the desk. Immediately, we realized there were no tools, just an empty compartment for where they should have been. I should have known better. I always encounter problems at/from Ikea. Everyone always encounters problems at/from Ikea. My boyfriend did not want to drive back to Ikea that night, so we went to Casa Escobar and had margaritas instead. The next day, we woke up and drove out to pick up the tools necessary.

At first, I did not like the desk in my bedroom because it felt cramped. But having a few days to adjust, I have learned to like it. I just now need a new comfortable chair (NOT FROM IKEA).

Bad Apples

1. I bought some apples at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market and they were expensive, terrible, and went bad in 2 days. Not in season, no bueno.

2. My new iPod Shuffle (3rd generation), Mr. Shuffles, had to be replaced early last week because the volume and tracking button located on the headset stopped working (the music would still play though). They gave me a new one and told me it was unlikely that I would have the same problem. Well, it’s four days later and I have the same problem. In fact, it seems to be even worse. The tracks are fast forwarding and/or skipping through. Today at the gym, I was listening to very low volumed stop and go songs. It was awful.

3. My iPhone screen died on me Thursday night. It wouldn’t light up. The phone was still working though because I could hear the beeps when people txt messaged me. It also made it’s normal noise when you plug it into the wall/computer to charge your battery. I ended up having to restore the phone. Fortunately, it worked and the screen is back. Unfortunately, I lost some information on my phone because I don’t regularly back it up. Lesson learned.

4. There should be a Genius Bar application for the iPhone. Like Onstar, but for the phone emergencies. It should allow you to find and make appointments at Genius Bars that are either closest to you or that can take you the earliest. Also, it should offer quick suggestions on how to make sure if your product really is having problems (such as restoring or even something as simple as turning off/on).

So I have had a tough week with Apple products. Tomorrow will be the 4th Genius Bar appointment I have scheduled in the past week and a half. I hope that it works out and they let me return the iPod so I can get a 2nd generation iPod instead.

Trader Joe’s Plain Nonfat Frozen Yogurt

Pleasantly Tart with active cultures

It is my latest find at Trader Joe’s. Well, it’s not really my latest find. I’ve been eating this for a few weeks now, but have been unable to post about it because I am so overcome with excitement and happiness about it that I forget to take a picture. Finally, after finishing my nightly bowl I remembered to take a picture of the aesthetically pleasing container. It’s tart. More tart than Pinkberry. It also has active cultures too (something Pinkberry doesn’t have). You can tell this when you bite into it because it tastes so similar to yogurt. However, it is almost custard like in texture. Not what I initially expected, but delicious. It’s this cat’s meow.

Happy Mother’s Day

Today is the day I celebrate my mother! Let me list a few reasons why I am so proud of my strong and amazing mother:

1. When I was eleven, my mother quit smoking. After years and years of trying to quit, she finally did and has not smoked since.

2. My mother beat breast cancer. I’m not going to lie, it was scary to come home from college and see her without hair that she lost from chemotherapy. Not that she looked bad without hair or with a wig (in fact she made it look good), it was just hard to accept that my own mother was in a battle with mortality. But, she had kept a positive and realistic outlook, keeping her chin up and doing everything she could do to make sure she was healthy.

3. After the breast cancer, my mother gave up drinking alcohol to protect her health. I am so amazed at this because it would not be easy for me to give up such a pleasure in life.  But, she is able to see the bigger picture and knows that it is in her best interest.

4. My mother is learning how to use a Mac. That’s right, my mother and I are Macs and my brother and father are PCs. It’s exciting to see her actively learning to use a new and different (also way cooler) operating system. She is so cute and regularly goes to the Apple store for private lessons on how to use her Mac.

5. She loves me.

And that’s just a few of the reasons…. I love you mom!

(Also, let it be known that even though I never wrote anything for Father’s Day; I do love my father too and am also proud of him. Both my parents are incredible people and make an amazing team of awesomeness. Sometimes it is hard to be so far away from them for large amounts of time).

Intelligentisa Venice Coffeebar - Coming Soon!

Intelligentisa Venice is hopefully opening on May 15th! Different from Silver Lake, when you enter the beautifully designed Venice coffeebar you will meet with a concierge and then be taken to one of four custom-fabricated espresso machines where you will deal one on one with a barista. They will take your order, make your drink, and ring you up. Like all Intelligentsia’s, the workers will be hip, knowledged, and amazing! The whole process is pretty neat, including paying because they do not have registers and use a cell-phone like tablet so you can pay anywhere in the store (like the Apple store!).

Also, I read that they have hired M’Lissa and Chris Owens from Ritual Coffee Roasters in San Francisco to work their magic behind the bar. This couple is notorious for amazing coffee cuppings, which is equivalent to wine tastings. I am very eager and excited for it all!

Hours
Sunday-Thursday: 6am-10pm
Friday: 6am-11pm
Saturday: 7am-11pm

Intelligentsia Coffeebar
1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291

Meet Mr. Shuffles

Apparently, I have owned Shuffley for over a year and it was no longer under warranty. Sad for the retirement of Shuffley, I bought the 3rd generation shuffle and named him Mr. Shuffles (I am not original, but I love to personify). Here is a picture of Shuffley and Mr. Shuffles hanging out on my table.

I didn’t register the fact that there would be differences between 2nd and 3rd iPods until after I used Mr. Shuffles. As you can see, Mr. Shuffles has a monolithic stature making Shuffley look short and stout in comparison. While all the buttons on Shuffley are located on, well, Shuffley, that is not the case for Mr. Shuffles. The on/off and music sequence order button are both still on the iPod itself, but the volume and track control buttons are located on the headphone cord. This detail is going to take awhile for me to adjust to since I am so accustomed to using Shuffley. Overall, I am very excited for Mr. Shuffles and am hopeful that he will be a great replacement.

Chabuya, but I hardly know ya…

On a Thursday not so long ago, my boyfriend and I headed over to Sawtelle to eat at Asahi, but were unpleasantly surprised to find it closed. Instead of pouting, we I looked at the positive side of the situation: a chance to go to a new restaurant! Even though my boyfriend is a simple eater, he doesn’t like eating “new” things very much. So I said, “How about Chabuya? They have ramen and they take credit cards!” It worked. Hooray.

The service was pleasant and smooth. I ordered the Tori Soba, fresh homemade noodles with original chicken based broth, green onion, fried shallot, and charbroiled chicken. The noodles were more al dente than I am accustomed to (Asahi), but in a good way. Next time I think I would get with the house pork broth instead of the chicken broth to mix it up a little.

My favorite part of the dinner was the Shrimp Shiumai (shrimp dumplings). The delicate chewiness of a dumpling shell with the softest most amazing center. And mustard, a condiment I love, to dip in! This was a combination I never would expect to work, but was amazed to find how appropriately perfect it tasted. Four was not enough.

I plan to go back again someday, especially since I heard they have Sesame Ice Cream(!)

Chabuya Tokyo Noodle Bar
2002 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 473-9834