The Roaming Slug

Bloody Mary Quest: The Raymond Restaurant

2010-09-06T00:50:00.000-07:00

I've discussed my quest for the perfect bloody mary before, and I'm here to tell you that I am still continuing my search.

Today's (well technically yesterday's since it's past midnight) bloody mary quest happened at The Raymond Restaurant in Pasadena on Fair Oaks Ave.

It was delicious!

Beautiful presentation too. Big celery stick, lime wedge, two olives, and a cocktail onion.

I've never had a cocktail onion before, so I felt very proud of myself for trying it since I normally don't like onions very much.

Now for the negatives: I can only think of one big negative. The price. It cost me $13. Granted, it was a big drink and I was really happy with it, but I just don't want to pay that much for a bloody mary.

Overall, I think it was a great experience (even though they ran out of the apple fritters my friend and I wanted) and I would go back again if I had money to spend.

Stuck in a Knee-High Obsession

2010-09-04T20:53:00.000-07:00

The time has finally come to admit that I have a problem. I can't resist the urge to buy and buy, and it doesn't help that my friends and family support my obsession. Yes, the obsession is socks. Lots and lots of socks. I love all kinds of socks. The cuter the better. I ESPECIALLY love knee-high socks. What are some of my favorite types of knee highs? Well, I am a firm believer that you can't go wrong with argyle. I love them and I just can't get enough of them!

I bought two pairs today at Target. They are awesome! Once I get my camera up and running I will put up some pictures. My excuse for buying them? Halloween! I need to have socks for Halloween right? What would my feet do without them?

In the last month or so, I have received four pairs of socks from friends as gifts. My dad got me a pair of puffin socks (that is, socks with a picture of a puffin on them) from Alaska. My friend Nikki got me a pair of light blue socks with cute pictures of buttered toast on them. My mom got me a pair of argyle socks from Harvard. And finally, my friend Mindy gave me a pair with wolves on them! How lucky am I?

I just thought I would mention this because I notice that a good portion of my dresser drawers are full of knee-high socks. I have a drawer designated to knee highs. It's that bad.

I don't really think it is a bad obsession. My feet need protection, and socks do wear out over time. It least they're cheap! Plus, they are easy to hide since I only wear pants.

So to all you knee high lovers out there, I'm out! I am a knee-high sock lover! I admit it. I am 100% committed to making my ankles and shins comforted with soft cotton. I encourage the rest of you to try the same.

My inner Soprano

2010-08-24T23:01:00.000-07:00

So, as I mentioned in my last post, I have a new car. Everyone told me that I have to come up with a name for my car, and frankly, this was a big decision for me. I didn't name my last car, which could be the reason why it was never nice to me.

I spent about two weeks driving my Civic Hybrid around with the constant question in the back of my mind. What shall I name you?

I spent hours driving it down the street and on freeways. I even spent some quality time with it just sitting in the car, relishing in the fact that I own something that's worth something. I was about to give up on the name, when I asked my friend Margaret to come with me to The Hat. In case you don't know, The Hat is a burger joint that just smells like good greasy fun.

Anyways, I was driving down a small street doing what I do best, clowning around. I was doing my Tony Soprano impersonation. Margaret then reminded me that I nicknamed her a character from the Sopranos. It was then that it hit me. Both Margaret and my car have the same name! If I am Tony Soprano, Margaret and my Civic are my sidekicks. They are my go-to guy, the person I turn to for help, and to get things done.

At that moment, I told Margaret that the name of my car was Silvio. It made perfect sense! Silvio is always faithful to Tony, and he does what needs to be done for the greater good of the family. My car is the same. I turn to it to get me places, and to be there when I need it. I'm not going to ask my car to whack somebody or anything, although it certainly has the capability to do so. It's a reliable car, just like Silvio Dante.

Not only that, but this gives me the perfect chance to let out my inner Soprano. I can curse at people in Italian when I'm driving, and give stupid drivers rude gestures. After all, it's only my right to do so since I am driving in Italian car. (I know it's a Japanese car, but it has an Italian attitude!) I am completely happy with my decision, and Margaret informed me that she has no problem sharing a nickname with my car. (I told Margaret she reminded me of Silvio because she stands like him sometimes when she's trying to be funny. What was funnier to me at the time was that she didn't know she was doing it until I pointed it out and showed her a clip from The Sopranos.)

Well, that is my big announcement to all those readers out there. I have named my car! It took me a while, but I'm glad I finally got there.

As soon as I get my camera working again, I will post a picture of good ol' Silvio.

The Slug Returns

2010-08-19T23:18:00.000-07:00

I am back on blogger. I'm sad that I didn't update this sooner, and I apologize to my one, maybe two fans out there.

Here is an update on the happenings in my life since I've last blogged:

1. Went to the ER...twice! That wasn't a whole lot of fun. I learned some good lessons in that time. One: Trust your gut. When something feels wrong, most likely something is. I went with my gut that something was wrong with me, and I was right. Two: Ease off on the stress. The reason I was in the ER was because I was stressing myself out, and I needed to learn how to just let things go. Three: I have wonderful family and friends. You never know how much you're loved until the bad things happen. Both times I got a good kick in the pants from my friends and family who supported me through what was a really horrible painful time.

2. I did some filming which hasn't been fully edited yet. I've been editing this thing for months now, and I hope I'm doing a decent job with it. My insecurities have crept in and I am beginning to doubt myself.

3. I am living on my own now! I've learned how to live alone and love it.

4. In very recent news, I have said goodbye to my old Chevy Cavalier, and hello to my wonderful Civic Hybrid. I'm loving the feeling of driving a car and not being embarrassed of its constant rattling and shaking, and just plain old awfulness.

....

More updates coming soon! With pictures!

9/2/09: It Might Get Loud

2009-09-02T13:35:00.000-07:00

I finally saw It Might Get Loud. I really really enjoyed it. I thought it was well made, and I learned a lot about not only the guitarists, but about music in general. I knew a lot about the Edge, but just to watch him play guitar and talk about the time in which their music was created was pretty awesome. It was just an amazing thing to see three guitarists come together and just talk about music and explain what inspired them. Some of the best scenes were the scenes where they were just playing. It's very inspiring to see these musical artists clearly loving their craft, and appreciating other fellow guitarists. They respect the music, and they respect the art of making music. Each person approaches music in a different way, from their style of playing guitar to the types of guitars they use.

This movie struck home to me in many ways. I've always loved music, and it is a HUGE part of my life. It affects my daily life, and it was great to see a movie that captures that love on film. One of my favorite parts of the movie were the scenes where each guitarist was listening to music. The way Jimmy Page listened to The Rumble by Link Wray was great because the love of the song and the way it was played just shone through Jimmy Page's eyes. The same with Jack White and the song Grinnin' In Your Face by Son House. It was almost beautiful in a way to see how much a song affects someone. Everyone has their own reasons for loving a certain song, and it was nice to see someone relive that moment when they first heard a song.

Anyone who loves either one of the guitarists Jimmy Page, The Edge, or Jack White should see this movie. I also think any guitarist should watch this movie. It deals a lot with how songs are played and how those sounds came about.

9/1/09: Inglourious Basterds

2009-09-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

I absolutely loved this movie! If you haven't seen it yet, go out and see it now! Also, don't read the rest of this blog if you haven't seen it.

Tarantino is great at creating suspense and tension even when it's just two or more people sitting in a room talking. The opening scene made me feel so uneasy, and I couldn't wait to see how the scene was going to end.

The cast was amazing. I totally have a girl crush on Melanie Laurent. She is gorgeous and her character is great. Everyone does a great job. Christoph Waltz was an AWESOME villain. He is one of those villains that you just love to hate. Brad Pitt was funny, and BJ Novak was funny too, although he wasn't in the movie too much.

There was a good amount of blood, but I honestly thought there would have been more. However, I think all the scalping scenes made up for it. I have a lot to say about this movie, but I can't seem to put it into words right now. Perhaps I will visit this topic later when I have processed it better in my mind.

8/31/09: Oh True Blood

2009-08-31T22:45:00.001-07:00

I finally have HBO!! At last, I can watch all those shows people talk about. It's too bad I'm just getting it now, and not during the time of The Sopranos. It least I get to see True Blood. I can't believe how much the second season has strayed from the books, however, it's interesting to see what changes they made. Plus, I can't wait for more Eric! He is one of the best parts about the show. OK OK. Part of it is because he's really easy on the eyes, but I just think he's a great character in general (in both the books and in True Blood).

My point here is that I'm so glad I get to watch True Blood now. I'm also a fan of Hung. I'm not a huge fan, but it's amusing. I'm also very very happy about watching Entourage. I feel like I've missed so much that I really have to catch up.

I am going to start watching Mad Men. I keep hearing great things about it, so I've decided to give it a chance. I borrowed the first season from a coworker of mine, so I'm all set.

If I'm missing any other great shows, please tell me.

8/22/09: Tom and Bob

2009-08-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

Tom Waits and Bob Dylan. They are my ever growing obsession. With every listen, I hear something new and I get a different meaning out of it.

I have just begun to listen to all of their music since they both have a large discography, but I can safely say that I am a big fan. I'm one step away from buying some bios on them, but sometimes I like to appreciate the music for what it is rather than possibly spoiling it from learning where they were in their life when they wrote it. But then again, it could be even more pleasurable to know these things. Who knows. All I know is that they are two amazing artists that just ring true to my ears these days.

On another note, I hope you have all seen the trailer for The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. It's the new Terry Gilliam movie. It looks crazy, and I love it even more because Tom Waits is in it.

If you haven't go here. Hopefully this link still works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXv9Kgb59xM

8/21/09: When life gives you anxiety, write a blog

2009-08-21T21:43:00.000-07:00

I have tried to improve many things in my life this year. One of them is enjoying the simple things in life. In the past I think I've done a good job of it, but I am really trying my best this year to remain focused and always remember that even though there may be failure, it's ok.

I took a vacation recently and it helped give me time to think and just enjoy life. Here are some simple things I enjoy that bring me joy.

5 Things That Cheer Me Up As Soon As I See Them:

1. My siblings: I love them so much that just seeing them makes me happy. No matter what happens, they will always be there for me.

2. Dogs: especially puppies. Admit it. They're adorable!!! How can you not smile at a puppy? If you are able to do so, then you have no heart.

3. A fresh bag of Haribo gummy bears: I would be much happier if I could sit back once a week, and just share a bag of Haribo gummy bears with my friends and family. They are one of my all time favorite candies and just seeing that gold bear on the cover of the package just tells me that I'm about to eat something simple yet awesome.

4. A new pair of socks: I love socks! I especially love knee high socks. I can even wear them in the summertime. My latest pair, I bought in San Francisco. They're light blue with little robots on them.

5. Random text messages from friends and family: I love getting those random text messages from friends and family that just tell you that they're thinking about you. It's quick, simple, and sometimes gives you just what you need to brighten your day.

5 Songs or Musical Artists That Brighten Any Gloomy Day:

1. I Will Follow by U2: Somewhere between the pounding drums and the Edge's guitar riffs, I seem to forget about what was bothering me and start singing with Bono and just wishing I could dance as oddly as he does in the music video. It's early U2 at its' best and it is one of my favorite songs to hear live. This group in general can bring me out of any funk, but for some reason this song comes to mind.

2. Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen: I would love to dance in the dark with the Boss. I love everything about this song. From Springsteen's voice to the awesome music video (it doesn't hurt that Springsteen looks mighty fine in that white shirt and perfectly fitted jeans). I love to dance around the house to this song as well as blast this on the radio and sing my heart out.

3. Rain by The Beatles: One of my all time favorite Beatles songs. It is perfect. I have had this song on repeat many times in my life.

4. Sure Shot by The Beastie Boys: This song makes this list for many reasons, most of it has to do with my brother. He used to be a radio dj, and those nights when he knew I was listening he would usually play this song. When he'd play it, I knew he put it on for me. I also love this song because it reminds me of Ad Rock dancing...well almost every Beastie Boys song does that for me. I love it when he dances.

5. Don't Look Back in Anger by Oasis: It's one of my favorite Oasis songs. It just calls out for you to sing with them. It is the perfect concert song. When I saw them live, I even heard my brother singing to it.

4/1/09: Happy April Fools Day

2009-04-01T22:30:00.001-07:00

So, it's April Fools Day. yea.. I don't even know if it counts as an official holiday or anything, but it's a pretty lame day. Today was especially lame because my car decided to poop out on me. It made it to work, and then it wouldn't start again. I waited a few hours after calling my mom to help me, and it started fine. My mom said that we should have it checked out so it doesn't happen again, so that leaves me without a car now. I took it to the mechanic, and who knows how long it will be till I get it back. Ugh. I never realized how dependent I was on that car until I have to go without it. Today officially sucks. Blah. I'm left home alone and nothing to do except maybe clean the apartment. I'm so bored, I think I just might do that tonight and tomorrow and the next day and the day after that and the day after that until my car comes back to me.

3/30/09: Customer of the Day

2009-03-31T00:07:00.000-07:00

Customer of the Day:

The customer walks up to me at the counter. He's in his late 60's with white hair and a baseball cap.

Customer: Hey there Smiley! What's up?!

Me: Oh nothing much! How are you?

Customer: Good. Good. Hmm. She vows never to remarry.

He's looking at some of our magazines, one of which has Jennifer Aniston on the cover.

Customer: See, it says Jennifer Aniston vows never to remarry. What's wrong with her? Can't she find a good man to marry?

Me: I guess not.

He then walks away. About fifteen seconds later, he comes back up to me.

Customer: You know what? I don't blame her. I'm still trying to find a good woman to marry. (He then gives me a big thumbs up and smiles and walks away.)

3/26/09: another list of 5

2009-03-26T00:40:00.000-07:00

It's 1:23 AM right now, and I'm really bored and can't sleep. So, here's a few lists of 5.

Last 5 Movies I've Watched (both at home and in the theater):

1. Let The Right One In

2. Oklahoma

3. 28 Days Later

4. Ghost Town

5. Watchmen

My 5 Latest Obsessions:

1. TCM. Turner Classic Movies. I love this channel! Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Fred Astaire, Paul Newman, and so many more. The best thing about this is of course, no commercials.

2. knee high socks. Ok. I've always been into them, but lately I just can't get enough of them. I think I buy a new pair each week. I love 'em!

3. the gym. I usually work out at home since I love pilates, but my friend Teresa just got a 24 hour fitness membership, so I've been going there with her. It's a good thing I'm actually getting use out of my membership. I'm sure my mom's happy about that. However, I still love pilates. I just need to find time to do both.

4. reading. I guess I'm always reading something since I work at a bookstore, but I'm trying to be better about it. For a while there, I was really slacking off with the reading. There are some really interesting books coming in right now, so I'm trying to get through as many as I can.

5. youtube. I've been on youtube a lot lately. I basically look up musical performances by different groups. Yesterday I was watching old Tom Waits videos and concerts. Today, I was looking up some old Sondheim stuff and Radiohead music videos.

My Top 5 TV shows right now:

1. Dollhouse: I'm really trying to get into this show since I love Joss Whedon. Plus, Eliza Dushku is pretty bad ass.

2. The Office

3. Nip/Tuck: this show has gotten so outrageous. I think I still watch it just to see how far they go with it.

4. 24: Jack Bauer is awesome. period.

5. No Reservations: I love Anthony Bourdain. He gets to travel to some awesome places.

Props to Soul Coughing

2009-03-11T23:14:00.000-07:00

I found this in the newspaper and it made me really happy. I had this flashback to listening to Soul Coughing at Tower Records with my dad. It's good to know that other people appreciate them too. They are underrated, but then again, they didn't last too long. Oh well. I'm just glad I was there to read this and have this flashback of some good times with my dad. That's not to say we don't have good times now, but it was a different time in those days. I was young and naive, where as now I am older...and still naive.

Some More Description on the Bloody Mary

2009-03-04T20:21:00.000-08:00

My friend Jenny and I are on a quest for the perfect bloody mary, as most of you know. Jenny wanted to give us her input into her feelings about the qualities of an awesome bloody mary. Together, we will tell you all about our adventures in the future and how we pretty much fail and succeed every time we go out for a bloody mary.

Here's Jenny's blog:

Cheers to my curious friends who are in quest of such valuable information as the perfect bloody mary. You could say I’m in blood lust when it comes to bloody marys. The thicker the better, I didn’t order a bloodless mary! I think the bloody mary is a fine concoction. Funny, since all the ingredients in their separate form are not all that enticing to me. Worchester sauce, Tabasco sauce, tomato juice, vodka, various vegetables; too bland, too bitter, or too eccentric on their own, but when they are all put together it creates something quite extraordinary. It also gives me the idea that I am taking the healthy route. Major plus!

So what makes a good bloody mary? I have 5 rules. Lets start with the appearance of the drink since it is the first thing you notice, and judgement is always passed upon first appearances. When the drink comes to your table your eyes should light up a little at the wonderful sight before you, if your jaw drops a little that’s the opposite effect and I would only assume you have what appears to be a small glass of a nearly clear looking substance, in which you then hope the bartender did not water down the vodka because that’s your only hope of enjoying the rest of your night. I want my bloody mary to resemble a secret garden where shrimp, cheese, and green olives happily co-exist. The glass should be large enough to harbor these big dreams. I’ve also added a bonus appearance factor: sword toothpicks. These little toothpicks, combined with various vegetables of a rather squishy nature create endless amusement to those who like to play with their food. On guard!

Spice. It’s all about the spice. I’m grown quite fond of “kick spice”, the kind that kicks you right in the throat but then disappears right away leaving you with a sense of spiked adrenaline that has nowhere to go but into your conversation, your raging appetite, or your unquenched, now impulsive, highly addictive thirst. I’m very picky about my spice. If it’s too little, I’ll feel like I’m at grandmas house enjoying a nice glass of tomato juice freshly squeezed from her garden. Very healthy, very boring, very not what I’m looking for at a bar. If it’s too spicy I start to sweat and all orifices on my face start clearing themselves. It’s not pretty. We cry into our beers, not our bloody mary’s. Spice is edge. My bloody mary’s better know kung fu without making me cry.

Condiments! Bloody condiments! I dare say this is my favorite part of the drink. I try to take guesses what condiments will be used in my drink before it arrives. Why is every place different? I think when you order your drink you should be able to choose what condiments you would like. Fortunately for me, I’m not picky. I say the more the merrier. I want a bloody mary salad of just condiments. Little bite sized snacks you can stab with your toothpick. I envision my drink as treasure chest, big green olives, gawking celery sticks, dead sea creatures that died trying to get to this fountain of youth. Too much? I suppose. The point I’m trying to make is we all like to snack on something while we drink. Why not put the snacks IN our drinks and make it a satisfying sight to behold?

Texture. I like thick tomato juice. If I drop an olive in I want it to slowly glide to the bottom, swaying harmoniously through a dense red cloud. No Kerplunking! I don’t want to see through my drink. Watered down tomato juice is among the worst things you can consume. Blegh!

Price. Let’s face it. Most of us are broke. I want my drink to be worth it. If I’m paying more than $10 for a drink and it is not absolutely satisfying in every way then I’m going to be disappointed. I don’t want to leave my elated state of a good bloody mary when the bill comes.

Thanks Jenny!!! Stay tuned for our Bloody Mary Adventure: Episode 2.

I hang my head in shame

2009-03-03T00:04:00.000-08:00

So, my coworker Alfonso was telling me about how he saw Mick Jagger at the Getty Museum, which led to a conversation about the celebrities that come into the store where we work. For instance, I mentioned Casey Affleck, who stops by on occasion and how most of the time every employee knows which celebrity is in the store within a matter of minutes.

Not even an hour goes by when who should walk into the store but CASEY AFFLECK. Now, I love Casey Affleck. I think he seems like a nice guy and I love his work, but I have never had the guts to talk to him. He goes upstairs and does some shopping and ends up making his way to the registers downstairs. Soon after that, another coworker of mine comes by with a book (Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States) and tells me that he wants to buy it. She hands it to me and tells me that this is my chance to finally talk to him. I hesitantly take the book from her and walk towards him.

Then, what do I do? I avoid him completely and hand the book to the cashier and run off. I completely chickened out!! I am ashamed. It's pretty typical of me though, but still disappointing.

We could have shared a moment! We could have exchanged a few words! I can't believe I ran away from the situation, but I guess there will always be another time to talk to a celebrity. When you live in the Los Angeles area, opportunities like this will always creep up on you.

Top 5 Reasons Why March 2009 Rocks

2009-02-25T20:23:00.000-08:00

It's almost March, and that means that some very awesome things are coming. Here is another top 5 list on why I'm looking forward to March.

1. March 2:

The latest U2 album is released. Those who know me well know my obsession with U2. It's not just a love of their music, but a love and devotion to its members. The music takes me back to some great times in my life, and some bad times too which makes it even the more dear to me. I cannot even begin to describe how excited I am about this album. I'm sure I'll write more about my love for them because, well, that's what I talk about a lot to my nearest and dearest friends and family. So look out guys for the No Line on the Horizon album!

2. March 6:

WATCHMEN!!!!! Finally! This movie is coming out! I remember seeing the panel for this movie last year at Comic-Con. I was blown away at the time just seeing the trailer, and now I am sooooooo ready for the movie. It will definitely be one of the highlights of the year for me. I hope to go to the midnight showing for it, so I'll get to see it as soon as it comes out while all you other people waste your time sleeping.

3. March 31:

From Dead to Worse comes out in paperback. According to the distributor, the latest Charlaine Harris book comes out on the 31st! Yes, I know, the hardcover is already out, but I refuse to read it because I want to wait for the paperback so that I can put it on my bookshelf with the rest of the series. Most of you would know this series of books because of the show True Blood, but I'm in love with the books. Still haven't gotten around to seeing the show yet, but I'll have to wait for the DVDs to come out. Part of me doesn't want to watch it because I'm afraid it will ruin the book series for me. I'm sure most of you know what I'm talking about. I just don't want to be disappointed in the choice of actors, and how the whole story line is presented. Sookie Stackhouse is very dear to me! I don't want to lose her to some bad acting and bad special effects. Plus, I just love vampires, and this series is all about hot vampires doing hot things. Oh Sookie.

4. More Dollhouse.

I have seen the first two episodes of the latest Joss Whedon show. While Echo (Eliza Dushku) isn't much of a bad ass yet, I have high hopes for her character. I mean, it's only been two episodes, and I'm hoping that Fox will give poor Whedon a chance to make this an awesome show. I think it might have potential, although it is a bit weird and you have to just let yourself believe in this world what Whedon has created where all of this is possible. I'm willing to give this show a shot and give it time to grow and develop.

5. Number 5 goes out to all the activities I have planned for March.

This includes filming which I am extremely excited about. There is also another craft day in March. I can't tell you what I'm making in March because frankly I don't know yet. If you have any ideas, please let me know. March will also include another Bloody Mary adventure. (By the way, Bloody Mary Quest: 2 blog will be out shortly just as soon as Jenny and I put our writing together.)

Other than that, I'm sure March will be full of awesomeness. I plan on catching up with friends and family, and just being a happy person. I'm sure I'm missing some other great things happening in March, but at the moment these are the only things that come to mind. Sorry for the lack of blogs lately. I will try to be better about that.

Blogs to look out for in the future: my review of the new U2 album, my review of Watchmen, more bloody mary adventures, more top 5 lists, and more rants

My DVR has good taste

2009-02-25T20:14:00.000-08:00

I'm just getting used to having cable and DVR. I was recently trying to record a bunch of shows. Every once in a while, Oprah will have a show I want to see and I happen to like Dr. Oz because he seems like a nice guy. Anyway, I tried to set up my DVR to record Oprah and it won't do it. I'm not sure why it doesn't like Oprah, but it is clear that my DVR does not want me to watch her. I've tried several times to try and tape it, but alas, it's a no go.

So, I guess I'm left to either manually record it or stay at home every day from 3-4 and watch it. I'm not that desperate, and I'm not that interested to hear what she has to say. After all, I hear about her and her book club selections almost every day. That's what I get for working at a bookstore. It's funny to see people's reactions when they find out that a certain book is an Oprah Book Club selection. Some find the book more interesting while others put the book back right away, obviously not wanting anything to do with it. Mostly men put the book back. I'm not sure why, but Oprah seems to be driving the men away from books like Pillars of the Earth and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Can't say I don't blame them.

The Search for the Best Bloody Mary: Episode 1

2009-02-03T10:28:00.000-08:00

So. My friend Jenny and I decided to start a search for the best bloody mary in town. It started out a month or so back when we discovered that we both like bloody mary's. We went to the Yardhouse and had one, then decided that we should make it a regular thing. About a week ago, we decided to try somewhere new, and thus began the search for the best bloody mary.

We failed miserably in our attempt. Jenny did a great job (or so she thought) researching on where the best bloody mary's are in the Pasadena area. According to her sources the top 3 places were Gordon Biersch in Old Town Pasadena, the Ritz Carlton in Pasadena, and

The Raymond restaurant. So, we tried Gordon Biersch first. It has closed down or moved, which obviously neither of us knew. I hate Old Town most of the time and try to avoid it as much as possible. Next, we tried the Ritz Carlton, only to find out that the Ritz is now The Langham. Then we tried the Raymond. It's a fancy little restaurant, and we were really intimidated, so we left.

Upset about our failure, we decided to try one of the nearest restaurants we've never tried before: El Cholo. Since we were there, we asked if they served bloody marys, and they did. So, El Cholo is our first test in the bloody mary challenge.

What makes a great bloody mary?

1. appropriate amount of alcohol

2. appropriate amount of spice. We like a good kick, but nothing that makes us reach for our water glass

3. sides: celery should be essential, green olives are a plus and any other random vegetable are always recommended.

4. presentation

5. price

If I can think of anything else, I will let all of you know.

So how does El Cholo rate? Well, I'd give it about 6.5

First of all, there was a fair amount of alcohol. It got me feeling a bit happier, but not drunk or tipsy which is a plus.

There was a good ol' kick to it, although it was a bit strong in the end.

There were absolutely no sides! No celery! No olives! Nothing! What a shame. Limes don't count, by the way.

It looked good.

It was a nice price.

Puppy Sitting

2009-02-02T23:30:00.000-08:00

Puppy sitting:

Despite the potential accidents that might happen, I love puppy sitting. Puppies are just so cute! You can't get mad at them if they make a mistake because, hey, they're a puppy. It's what they do. OK. Technically, I did a partial puppy sitting. My mom's friend was puppy sitting and brought this little guy over to spend the night. Meet Simon, the toy poodle. He is sweet, adorable, and loves to gnaw on everything including fingers and zippers and remotes. This is how I spent part of my week, playing with this cute little guy.

By the way, this little guy may be one of the sweetest things I've ever seen, but he still has nothing on this little guy.

Meet Shorty, the chiweenie. He is cute, sweet, and a little rascal. He is selective about who he lets into his own world, and I am one of the selective few. I love this little guy like no other, and he has a special place in my heart. I don't get to see him very often since he's my brother and his girlfriend's dog, and my brother doesn't live in the area, but whenever my brother visits Shorty is most likely coming along. So, while spending time with cute little Simon was awesome, I still miss Shorty. He's the only little dog in my life.

Goals for the Week of 1/26/09

2009-01-27T23:24:00.000-08:00

1. Work on my writing

2. Work on my blog

3. Watch one movie in the theater and one older movie I haven't seen before

4. Make further plans to help people with filming

5. Make it least one meal at home

Did I make my goals for the week of 1/20/09?

2009-01-26T00:16:00.000-08:00

1. Work on my blog: Accomplished!! I did work on my blog! As you can tell I even used a picture in one entry! woohoo!

2. Go to the movies: Accomplished! Twice! I went to see Last Chance Harvey as well as Valkyrie.

3. Clear out one box from my apartment: Failed! HOWEVER, I don't think that this should count because I did clear out a bunch of stuff. I have a new bookshelf and I cleared out the old bookshelf. There were stacks of books just laying around, and I put those on the new bookshelf too. So I did make more space!

4. Finish reading one book: Failed! I am currently reading Wild Sheep Chase by Murakami. It's really good, but I've been a bit distracted lately. I'll try to finish it this week.

5. Learn something new about what's going on in the world: Failed/Accomplished. I learned a few things...mostly book related so I don't think it really counts.

2.5/5 Not too bad this week. I could do better though.

socks, shoes, and rants

2009-01-22T12:00:00.000-08:00

So, here's some more blog love from me to you. Pictured above are my two loves. Socks and Chucks. Ah... how I love them. I never leave home without one of them. Lately, cute knee high socks are my ideal combination with my black Converse. This pair of socks have lady bugs on them. I love them! Great find at Target.

Here's a random top 5 list for you:

Top 5 Reasons Why I Hate Working in Retail:

1. The customers: Ok. The average customer is fine. I'm talking about the bitchy customer. The customer that expects you to know what they want even though they don't know what they want to begin with. I am talking about those customers that assume you're stupid because you work in retail. I'm talking about the customer that treats you like crap because they had a horrible day, have a horrible life, and are generally a horrible person. Those are the customers I hate.

2. Dress code/work attire: OK. I'm not sure how most retail places go, but for me I hate having to think about what I wear. I would love to just throw on a t-shirt and some jeans and go to work, but unfortunately I can't. I have to make sure that I look presentable. This also includes the apron. I wear an apron to work. Wearing it in general is fine, but I'm talking about standing for hours wearing it to the point where it starts to pull on the back of my neck. I hate that.

3. Standing for hours: I wouldn't mind being on my feet for hours a day, but it's the fact that I'm not allowed to sit that bugs me. Sometimes I'm a bit tired! I'd like to be able to sit! What's wrong with that?!

4. Lack of lunch options: There are definitely some places to eat around my workplace, BUT it all gets old after a while. After a while, you just end up going to the same two or three places and getting the same two or three things. Yes, I know. I can actually BRING my own lunch, but then again I'm just eating the same thing I had the night before. Blah. Lunch time in general kind of sucks. I like to have my options and roam. I can't do that at work. OK, in retrospect, this has nothing to do with retail....but whatever. I guess maybe the scheduled lunch times is the problem. I have a limited amount of time to eat, and I don't like to feel rushed.

5. This is a tie between: Being inside when I want to be outside and Having to learn useless information. I hate working when it's beautiful outside. I feel like I could be doing something fun like running around in the sun, but instead I'm working inside. Also, in order to be successful in retail, you need to learn everything about your line of work. If you work in a clothing store, you should learn everything about your inventory and future inventory and even past inventory. That goes with every retail job.

New Year's Resolutions

2009-01-21T12:30:00.000-08:00

OK. I have had some time to think about this. Resolutions should be something that betters yourself, and should also be something practical. I have made them in the past and have failed. So, this year I have decided to keep it simple.

- I will strive to be a better person. I will try not to judge people too harshly. Try not to be cynical and accept people for what they are.

- I will try my best to be on time. I am always known for being the one who is late, so I have decided to change that

- To go along with that, I will try not to procrastinate. Why am I always pushing my priorities aside? NO MORE!!!

- Film something!! Why did I pay soooo much money on a camera if I'm not going to use it?! Craziness. I need to film something. Make a short film. Do some interviews. Film flowers wilting. I don't know. I need to do something with it!!

- Read. Read. Read. Not just fiction which is what I normally read, but I should read other things. Yes. Catch up on some comics. Read a biography. A history book. Something that helps me become a better person. Something that makes me think about my values.

- Craft Day. Once a month, I will host a craft day. I want to get in touch with my creative side. I need to be able to balance work and fun. I hope to be a happier person this year, and I feel that craft days will really help me keep my stress level down and my happiness up.

- Leave the country. I've never visited another country before. I hope to do so this year. I don't care if I go to Mexico or to China. I want to set foot on a different country.

-Spend more QUALITY time with the family. I love my family to death, and I need to remember to take some time out from my life and see what's going on in their lives.

- Be a better friend. I think I can be an awesome friend. However, one can always be better. I will work on my friendships and not take them for granted.

- And finally, find out what and who makes me happy. It's just as simple as that.

I guess these aren't really resolutions. They're just a bunch of things I need to do in my life, and I hope to start doing them this year.

1/20/09: Goals for the Week

2009-01-20T21:16:00.000-08:00

1. WORK ON MY BLOG

2. Again, go to the movies.

3. My house is full of boxes that were once in storage. I need to clear out it least one of those boxes.

4. Finish reading one book.

5. Learn something new about what's going on in the world whether it be political, social, or economical. I need to expand my mind and be open to new ideas.

1/20/09: Did I complete my goals for Jan 12?

2009-01-20T21:08:00.000-08:00

The answer: Yes and No.

1. Failed! I completely failed to work on my blog! How horrible am I?! Ugh. In my defense, I thought about working on my blog! I came up with new ideas for it, but there was definitely no follow through on my part. I will try better next time.

2. Completed! I did see a movie! I went to see Revolutionary Road. I decided to take myself out. I found some Laemmle movie tickets in a drawer, so I decided to take myself to a free movie. It was really really good. The acting was excellent. The worst part of it was the woman behind me who kept hacking up phlegm. Gross. I'm surprised I didn't get sick from it.

3. Completed! I watched Night of the Living Dead. It was good. Not as scary as I was thinking it was going to be, but it did kind of freak me out. Now that I watched it, I think I am ready for my next zombie movie. Probably Dawn of the Dead or whatever it's called. My mom tried to watch part of Night of the Living Dead with me, but ended up getting a bit grossed out when the little girl is stabbing her mom over and over and over again.

4. Completed! I did catch up with some friends. I went to my friend Alicia's birthday celebration. Curry, billiards, and booze...not a bad way to spend a Friday night.

5. Completed! I tested out some of the color changing elements on my camera. It didn't change much...but I decided that I need to go outside and take some pictures. I'm sure the changes will be significant in a different setting.

SOOOO.... there you have it. I completed 4 out of 5 goals for the week. Not bad! Stay tuned for my goals for this week!

1/12/09 Goals for the week

2009-01-12T00:34:00.001-08:00

The title is pretty self explanatory so here it goes:

1. Work on my blog

2. See one movie in the theatre

3. Finally watch Night of the Living Dead

4. Catch up with it least one friend

5. Test out one new feature on my new camera

Pre-Christmas December Memories

2008-12-24T00:22:00.001-08:00

My first official blog entry:

I planned on starting this blog a loooong time ago, but just haven’t gotten around to it. Anywho…. It’s now late December and I have to say that December 2008 has been pretty great to me.

December 3: I got to knock off another band off my Top 5 Bands to See list. Oasis. My brother invited me to go, and I just couldn’t pass up the chance to see them. I absolutely love them, and they didn’t disappoint. They played almost all of my favorite songs, and I did get a little teary during Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova. Cheesy, I know, but still totally awesome!

December 10: My birthday. Here are my reasons why this birthday was especially awesome. 1- I have awesome friends. I not only had one person make me cupcakes, but I had another friend buy me cupcakes. Plus, I spent it with everyone I love (except for a few people like my brother, his girlfriend, and some other friends who don’t live in the area). 2- I got to wear a fabulous birthday hat and button at work. 3- I got some great gifts. I received a stuffed monkey who I have named Bill from my little siblings. (once I figure out how to put pictures onto my blog, I will put up a picture of him) I got a digital camera from my mom. It’s soooo nice and I take it everywhere. I also got a few movies, gummy bears, and a Nightmare Before Christmas ornament. 4- free birthday Pizookie. If you haven’t tried it, then you must run out to your local BJ’s restaurant and try it. It’s awesome! Fresh baked cookie with ice cream on top. Ahhh. And finally number 5- I realized how great I have it. I have a wonderful family, and I have wonderful friends. At work or at home, I always feel loved. I had one of the best birthdays ever and I have to thank all of my family, friends and coworkers for making it awesome. (A special shout out to my birthday card I got from my brother, his girlfriend Nicole and their dog Shorty.)

December 12: Official birthday party celebration. This was a two person celebration with me and my friend Teresa. We decided to invite all of our friends and have a combined party. It was a crazy night complete with great friends, some good ol’ booze, and music. A successful party isn’t complete without some sort of drama or drunkenness, and of course this party proved no different.

Things I am looking forward to this month:

Christmas. It’s not really about the presents, it’s more about the company.
My brother’s visit. I love him to pieces, and I miss him a lot. I’m just really looking forward to seeing him again, even though I just saw him a couple weeks ago.
Catching up with friends. Christmas time is a great time to catch up with friends who are coming home for the holidays. This year, I get to see a few friends I haven’t seen in a while.
Movies. There are a lot of great movies out right now, and I hope to get a chance to see them all. Anybody have any suggestions on what I should see?
Cold weather. I love the cold crisp air. I can’t get enough of it. OK, I know it’s not really that cold compared to other parts of the US and the world…but it’s cold for wimpy Californians!