Monday, November 16, 2009

My Hero

As much as I luv sports, sometimes it gets me down.

And so was my weekend of sports.

Friday. Lakers lost. To the Nuggets!!! Birdman!! The humanity.

Saturday. USC lost. To Stanford! Trees!!! Trees!! 55-21. I don't even understand that.

Sunday. Lakers lost. To the Rockets! A Yao-less Rockets! At home. They lost at home! Sobs.

But alas, there was one bright and shiny spot to this weekend's lackluster sports performance from who else but Ron Artest.

Where would we be without Artest? Aka my hero of the week. Tell me he's your's, too. Oh? What's that? He's not? Well, the only possible explanation for this is that you have not yet seen this clip that I am about to share with you.

Enjoy!

Who else would take Ariza's shoe and then toss it into the stands? Such class. I would've done the same.

But now, you may thing that perhaps this is a behavioral anamoly...he doesn't do these types of things on the regular. Don't underestimate. Why limit yourself to shoes...when you could go for shorts?

Enjoy!

Pants-ing and a song.

But wait...why waste that voice on a mere half-hearted (hopefully totally insincere) apology to an undeserving Paul Pierce. I mean, wouldn't you be compelled to make a music video or something?

Oh wait...he did!

Hot chick? Check! Cheesy piano playing? Check! Overuse of sunglasses? Check!

But hey, he was wearing a Laker shirt. You gotta respect that.

Friday, November 13, 2009

I'm Not Scared of Needles

No, I'm not scared of needles.

I'm not scared of needles. I'm not scared of needles.

Oh who am I kidding? I'm terrified of them.

Like, I'd rather go to the dentist. Ok, almost rather go.

Today my company had its annual health and wellness expo, and each and every year I go to stock up on freebies: contact solution, hand sanitizer, pens, highlighters, toothpaste, toothbrushes...basically whatever I can get my hands on. And being me, I always avoid the testing booth...where they test your blood sugar level and cholesterol because pricking my finger and swiping my now bloody finger across a strip is just not my idea of a good time. Even if it is free.

Yes, a prick. It's not even like they draw blood, you know, like normal tests. Have I mentioned that I haven't had a physical in years...and by years I mean almost 10? My, how time flies. Everyone is absolutely horrified (and some slightly terrified) that I have allowed 10 years to elapse between these physicals. I plead ignorance. I had no idea people got these on a regular basis. Just like how I didn't know that I needed to smog check my car. The cop didn't buy my ignorance plea. Typical.

So today was the day. No more waiving my arm around away from the nurse so she couldn't pin me down to administer the shot. No more long conversations with the nurse about how I'm really scared...and did she promise it would just be like a pinch? No more telling the nurse that bee stings really do hurt, and they should really stop using that analogy. And yes, I thought rubberband snaps hurt as well. Same thing with pinches. And no more asking the nurse to please get me some ice cubes to numb my arm so I wouldn't feel the needle. Although, I was convinced this would work. The theory still needs to be tested.

They never listened to me anyway.

That was the old me.

This is the new me. Or so I hoped. I signed up and waited in line. Watching them prick and squeeze droplets of blood from fingers. Blahhhhh. Helpppp...

So finally it's my turn (sigh), and I sit and the nurse takes my hand and proceeds to tell me how cold it is and how cold hands don't bleed. Great. Just great. But she is nice enough to warm it, but while doing so, she notices that my hand was shaking. Which she proceeds to announce to all (yes ALL) the other nurses. To which they say, "Ohh, did she just finish her test?" To which my nurse says, "No! She didn't even start! Bahahahaha! Bahahahaha!"

Does she really think this is going to make me stop shaking? It just got worse. Poor hand.

The part that really gets me is the anticipation. I just think about it way too much. I watch people before me. I watch their reactions. I like to know what's going on, so this whole, don't look and it'll be a surprise doesn't work for me. The prick itself wasn't so bad, but...it did sting and it was throbbing. I asked if that was normal. I just got more "Bahahahaha!"

I giggled a bit too. Out of nervousness.

So what were the results? Well, apparently I have a normal blood sugar level of 96 (I had breakfast that morning). But nothing sweet...I wonder what it is after I bake a batch of cookies? And my cholesterol was just "low". She said the machine doesn't read anything less than 150.

And that was that. I left with an armful of hand sanitizers, toothbrush and contact solution...and a bandaged finger.

I knowwww. I'm a big baby. What would Yao say?

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Who Used My Salad Dressing?

Seriously...who?

Apparently, I'm not the only one at my office that has a thing for Trader Joe's Low-Fat Italian Dressing. Especially from bottles labeled "Clarice" in Sharpie!

Ok, so I know that I assume a healthy amount of risk by leaving things in the communal office fridge. But, I feel that I take appropriate measures to guard against potential food thieves. I use the less visited (and less communal) fridge. And of course, I label.

Exhibit A



See that scribble right above "Italian Style"? That would be me claiming this dressing as my very own.

But I guess writing my name on it didn't have quite the effect I had hoped for. Like...the effect of deterring people from using it. As in almost all of it! I brought this dressing to work last Monday and used it about 5 times...1 tsp at a time. These are small salads. So you can imagine my surprise this past Monday circa 12:30PM when I saw that my dressing was almost gone!

So I took matters into my own hands.



I mean, just in case it wasn't clear the first time. I know it's not mean or intimidating...but that bright yellow post it note is by design. Eye-catching isn't it? It's from my Lakers post-it note collection. The purple post it note is up next if this yellow one doesn't do the trick.

And before you criticize me for being selfish and petty because it's "just salad dressing", I need to tell you that this is so much more than salad dressing. So. Much. More. Trader Joe's has actually discontinued this dressing. As in I can't buy more! This bottle is one of my last bottles that I searched for once I heard of this tragic discontinuation. Sighhh.

To add insult to injury, this is not the first time I have been food-jacked at work. The first time was a few months ago. I had a lunch meeting and was given a boxed lunch from Pacific Whey. My fav boxed lunch spot. Why? Not for the sandwiches or fruit salad, which are very nice by the way, but the cookies are fantastic. I luv a good cookie. And these are seriously good cookies. I like them so much, that I try to spread out the cookie over two days. Half today, half tomorrow. So I left half of my peanut butter (also my fav) cookie in my boxed lunch box. Along with half my sandwich and an apple.

At cookie time the next day, I dove into my boxed lunch only to find that my cookie was gone! Gone! And I very obvioulsy bit the cookie. Someone ate my half-eaten cookie! My apple and sandwich was still there. But no cookie. Awful afternoon. I was salty for the rest of the day.

First cookies...now salad dressing...I better keep an eye on my oatmeal.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Ladies Who Lunch (or Brunch)

Heehee. I've always wanted to say that!

But, I've always felt kinda silly about it. I mean...who researches (and seeks out) new restaurants and oohhs and ahhhs at things like pumpkin pancakes and apple french toast? Maryn, apparently...and thank goodness! I'm so thankful to have her as a brunch buddy.

About a month or so ago, Maryn, Marsha (new BFF via Maryn and Ashlyn) sampled the offerings at Osteria Mozza. Amazing! Our next dinner will be at Lucques for their Sunday Supper. But Marsha has recently become the proud owner of an adorable little puppy named Taro. Which I luv...for its poi dog reference. And as such, she is a little busy...so our little supper club will resume in December.

I can hardly wait!

Well, obviously. I mean, I just went to brunch today at another Suzanne Goin venture, Tavern. I think our brunch can be summarized into 3 categories: food, service and atmosphere.

First up, food. Which was totally satisfying and delicious. But how could you expect anything else from the same chef that operates AOC? I luved the crusty bread with pats of butter and...big flakes of sea salt! So you could salt your own butter! It was so simple, but so perfect for a pre-brunch snack. We had every intention of having brunch type food, but the Niman ranch beef burger just sounded sooo amazing (with fries, of course), so Maryn had that, and I had the french toast with caramelized apples and cider.

The Niman ranch beef burger was soooo juicyyy...like it dripped down my thumb. Always a good sign. And on toasted brioche! And yes please to the fries! Who knew a burger could taste soooo awesome at 10:30 in the morning?

As for my french toast, I knew it was with carmelized apples...but I didn't know there would be a caramel sauce! Such a good surprise. Someone must've told them my secret obsession with caramel sauce, or not so secret, I suppose.



Mmm...my french toast is taking a dip in caramel. At least there's some apples in there.

Another cool thing about Tavern is their assortment of pastries. So we of course had to order pecan sticky bun...with bacon. Mmm...



Ok seriously, who knew one little bun could garner so much attention. I swear at least 3 other tables were eyeing it...and some even ordered it! But come on, could you really say no to this? Take another look.

On to the service. But first a disclaimer. This place is located in Brentwood, so I guess maybe people here like a different level of service. Like...super attentive...and umm...hands on? Case in point. Maryn had a tree for a neighbor, and unbeknownst to us, one of its leaves found a resting place in her hair. But luckily...ahem..."luckily", our waiter spotted it, and proceeded to remove it from her hair! Hahaha! "Excuse me...I don't mean to play with your hair but..." I was trying really hard not to laugh. Unsuccessfully. Maryn tried really hard not to look freaked out. Semi successfully.

And finally the atmosphere. This place has such a cute little set up! When you walk in you can either go to the bar or to the bakery area. Once you walk through the bar, you go into the dining area, which is brightly lit thanks to the pretty skylights. And the chairs are so comfy and couch like. And there's cute little trees...so it's a nice inside/outside feel. I was sort of caught off guard by the people in suits and other seemingly fancy attire for a Sunday morning, but that's part of the fun.

And yeah, I might have gotten a couple little pastries to go. But they had chocolate croissants!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

If You Can't Beat Em...

Especially if them are vampire/werewolf obsessed fans.

Emphasis on obsessed.

And oh, did I mention that I know at least 5 people who are beyond (yes, beyond) obsessed.

With what else, but Twilight.

Even Nordstrom has Twilight merchandise and such. Nordstrom! How could you? Anything for a buck. And Bath and Body Works? Woods scent? That is "inspired by a romantic walk in enchanted woods. Twilight Woods is a complex blend of apricot nectar, mimosa petals and Tuscan cypress", says the website. Apricot. Petals. Tuscany. Seriously? Well, I guess I can't say much...my fav scent is Nectarine & Honey Blossom. But come on...that's legit...right? Sort of? Ignore the price. The things I do to smell like a nectarine.

I sort of always dismissed this whole Twilight silliness because I make it a rule to avoid anything having to do with teenage luv stories...especially tortured teenage luv stories. And the whole vampire/werewolf thing was just more than I could handle. I know, I know. I sound like a cold, hearted...ahem...well you know the rest. But...I will admit to seeing the movie, which wasn't too terrible. Yeah, there were parts that really confused me until the end...like Edward's crinkly nose reaction to Bella when she first enters class. I thought she just smelled funky. But apparently, vampires are suckers (haha...suckers...) for human smell, or as I was educated today, strawberry shampoo. Right. Strawberry shampoo. That explains everything.

And, what is the deal with this Edward character? He's in serious need of a tan...or some color. The receptionist at my work describes it as "bringing out the crazy 14-year-old girl in you". Sounds great. And here's where it gets even weirder. Everyone obsessed with Edward is obsessed with the book Edward. The completely fictional character!

But even after the movie watching, I'm still kinda ehhh about it. The Twilighters I know tell me that I must must read the book. "I was just like you, Clarice...until...I read the book."

Intriguing.

So, I decided that I'd give this book a try and sampled an excerpt I found online. The strawberry shampoo incident.

I didn't look up as I set my book on the table and took my seat, but I saw his posture change from the corner of my eye. He was leaning away from me, sitting on the extreme edge of his chair and averting his face like he smelled something bad. Inconspicuously, I sniffed my hair. It smelled like strawberries, the scent of my favorite shampoo. It seemed an innocent enough odor. I let my hair fall over my right shoulder, making a dark curtain between us, and tried to pay attention to the teacher.

Hmm...I wonder what's on the Food Network.

But as a side note, I do enjoy the soundtrack. A lot.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Lunch with Mommy

It's not everyday that I see my mom.

Or every month...or every other month...but I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles when you live 3,000 and an ocean away.

So when I found out she had a short layover in LA on her way back to Maui, lunch sounded like a good idea. Even if it was at 3:00pm...and the last time I ate was at 10:30 in the morning. An orange, I think.

Considering her flight back home was at 5, I decided on In-N-Out...any excuse to eat there, really.

It's hardly ever a dull moment with my mother, and today was no different. As soon as she gets in the car, we proceeded to have the following conversation:

Mommy: I almost took this lady out.
me: Excuse me?
Mommy: Yeah, in customs. She accused me of cutting.
me: So what did she do?
Mommy: She just kept talking to me...saying "excuse me, you cut in front of me...excuse me". I just stared at her.
me: Umm...
Mommy: Then I started to discreetly kick her suitcase...hehehe.
me: Ok...
Mommy: Good thing the line started moving. If she kept talking, I don't know what I would've done. Security might have come.
me: Geees...I guess robbery changes a person.

And yes, my poor mom was robbed in Paris. Another victim of a pickpocket. She's never been quite the same. As you can see. There were a few other hiccups on the trip, and well, I'm not sure Europe will be quite the same as well.

She brought me back some very delicious looking macarons from Nice. I luv macarons! And a huge bag of herbes de Provence from Provence! I can hardly contain myself.

And my In-N-Out cheeseburger was soooo yummy and worth the very long wait.

.