George’s Birthday

George’s birthday was this last Friday and we celebrated in Disneyland. His brother Thomas and girlfriend Sharon came as well and we all spent an amazing day at the “Happiest Place on Earth.”

The next day George and I drove to Manhattan Beach but finding a parking space there was next to impossible. We ended up in Hermosa Beach and enjoyed the beautiful sunny day walking along the Strand and having a gigantic pizza at Zeppy’s.

We really can’t add much more other than it was another wonderful weekend in California. So why don’t we let the photos do the talking. Isn’t a picture suppose to say more than a thousand words?

Enjoy.



The evening before - the entrance to Disney’s California Adventure theme park, adjacent to the Disneyland Park.



We started George’s birthday by heading over to Downtown Disney where we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Catal restaurant.




And here we finally are at Disneyland.



There is trouble even in paradise. A maintenance worker checking the Alice in Wonderland attraction.


A car got stuck on the Alice in Wonderland ride. The guests take it in stride while a cast member entertains them.



Even extra-terrestrials have to go sometimes.



Here’s the big cheese himself. No, no, the one with the big ears.


The following photos were taken in Hermosa Beach which we’ve visited the next day.



Above is a picture of Zeppy’s where we had pizza. The photo below was taken at the Mad Greek in Baker, CA. Located between Los Angeles and Las Vegas in the Mojave Desert and literally in the middle of nowhere.



Of course, we had to add more to our Disney Pins collection. Yes, we’re afraid it’ll turn into some kind of addiction. Here above you’ll see some of our booty.

Time for the Mouse

Today is the day.


George is going to pick me up right after work and we are finally heading to California for another long weekend. We can’t wait.








Of course, I got a notice this morning that I have to attend a meeting at 3 p.m. today. Of all the days, the powers that be at work decided that today is the perfect day to have a meeting regarding some new project. They couldn’t have that meeting yesterday or maybe could have scheduled it for this morning?


No! Of course not!


It has to be on that one day that I wanted to leave just a bit earlier so we would get a bit of a head start on our drive to California.


It’s fine though. It doesn’t really matter. Maybe the meeting won’t take that long. Besides, I’m way too happy and excited to get out of town with my George to celebrate his birthday tomorrow. And we spend his special day at Disneyland.


Whoohoo!


Listen to me. One would think I’m still a little kid.


Why, yes! I still am. And I proudly admit it too. At heart at least. We love anything Disney, we love themeparks, we love going to California. And with the world going to pots the way it is right now we both need some time away from the “adults.”


It’ll be great. The weather in Southern California is absolutely beautiful right now. And we’ll also enjoy some time at the beach somewhere on Saturday. Maybe Newport Beach? Laguna? Hermosa? Who knows? Who cares? Either way, it will be amazing.


Have a wonderful weekend, world. I know we will.

Change is Good...Not!

As I mentioned in the last entry on Friday, George and I were looking forward to enjoying burgers at our neighborhood bar right after work and spending Saturday hiking in wonderful Red Rock Canyon.



Well, none of our plans fully materialized.



In my last entry I’ve also touted that the burgers served at O’Aces Bar & Grill, our local dive around the corner from where we live, are one of the best burgers in town. Well, make that were...as in past tense.



History! Kaputt! Nix mehr!



Fine then! We just make our own burgers in the future. So...there!


They have renovated the place. Unfortunately, it seemed as if they’ve not only renovated the dining area but also made some changes to their kitchen and the staff.


Their burgers used to be fresh and juicy, made to order with a flavor to die for. What we got on Friday evening was anything but. Dry, tasteless, smallish are the best decriptions I can come up with. Did we accidently walk into a joint of these indistinguishable fast food chains? Seriously, we couldn’t believe this travesty. What happened to that “I just died and went to heaven” flavor?


Oh, that’s right. They renovated...upgraded...improved. In order to cover these expenses they’ve started to cut corners on quality and quantity of food and probably hired a new, less-experienced cook. Not only was the food bad, they also served smaller portions. And on top of that they charged two dollars more per plate.


Be aware of “renovations.” Or “re-designed” packaging. Or “new” and “improved” flavors. That usually means that a product, whatever it may be, is now being produced with cheaper materials or ingredients. Miraculously, the contents inside the “re-invented” packaging always seems to be getting smaller. And of course the prices have increased too. You know, the costs of these so-called “improvements” must be recovered somehow.



But everything is just so much better now!


Or so they’d like us to believe.


Ahhh, insidious and schemed greed. It’s still alive and well in a country inhabited by drone-like people whom never question anything, taking everything for granted and just want to maintain the status quo. It’s so much more convenient this way.


Sorry, we don’t play that game. O’Aces has seen the last of us. And why do people always have a need to “fix” things that don’t need fixing. Sometimes change is not good. Not good at all! It’s too bad though because O’Aces had something really good going for them.


Geez, who would’ve guessed I’d get so bitter over a darn cheeseburger?




Red Rock Canyon - the way it should have been.

Our hiking trip to Red Rock Canyon also hit a little snag on Saturday morning. It was just too stormy outside. George and I decided to do some house cleaning instead and also caught up on movies which we’ve recorded over the last few weeks. Yesterday the weather decided to be particularly grey and dreary. The temperature dropped by twenty degrees. We still took a walk in our park but had to cut it short due to more gusty winds and unexpected sudden rain.


Not quite the weekend we had planned for. But there’s always another one coming up. And next weekend...come rain or shine...we’re off to Disneyland in Anaheim, California. It’s George’s birthday on Friday and the Disney folks grant free admission to everyone whom visits the Magic Kingdom on their birthdays. We’ll be meeting with George’s brother and his girlfriend and make a funtabulous day out of it.


California...here we come!


Besides, we’re in desperate need of another Disney fix. Our last trip to Walt Disney World in Florida has already been over five months ago.


And a Disney fan can only stay away from the House of Mouse for so long.

Text Away

George and I don’t do texting. We think it’s stupid. Obviously we’re standing alone with that opinion since the rest of the world is apparently hooked on it.



We just don’t see the benefits in it. By the time I have finished typing in some morse code-ish garbledygook, I have already dialed the number and talked to the person whom I wanted to convey a message to in the first place. And I may have gotten a lovely conversation out of it too. At the very least, I may have left a friendly voice mail in case that person is unavailable.



I’m big on having a pleasant and friendly conversation. I think it’s much nicer to have a little chat with someone than receiving an impersonal text message like “sup?”



George and I have blocked the texting feature on our cell phones. Because we wouldn’t use it anyway and it’s cheaper. So, don’t try to text us “how r u?” We wouldn’t receive it and it would get lost in cyber space forever. We wouldn’t answer it anyway. It’s like someone saying “Hey!”



George and I don’t respond to “Hey!” Hay is for horses.



With all the advancements and conveniences of communication devices such as a cell phone, it’s amazing that people in today’s society somehow seem to have lost the ability to talk to each other on a personal level. Is it any wonder that children these days can’t properly articulate? They don’t have any communication skills at all. Just saying “Hi” is already a chore for them. And forget about hearing them say “Please” or “Thank you.” That is completely out of the question.



I fear for this generation and their lack of knowing how to properly communicate or even how to conduct certain etiquette in a person-to-person situation. It’ll be interesting when they start having to face real life and enter the work force.



I pity them. They grow up without any basic social skills. What a great loss for them. They don’t even know what they’re missing.



Now on a much lighter note...it’s finally Friday.



Yeah!



Talking about proper articulation here.



Right after work, George and I will be heading to our favorite neighborhood dive “O’Aces” and enjoy one of the best burgers in town. Cooked to order with your choice of different cheeses. With french or curly fries. They’re one of the best. Afterwards we’ll walk next door to Wal-mart to get some things we need.


The O'Aces Bar & Grill on North Rainbow Boulevard and West Cheyenne Avenue, basically just around the corner from where we live.



Yes, we shop at Wal-mart. We admit it. We’re not proud of it either. But some of their merchandise is actually cheaper than at their competitors. And in this crappy economy every penny counts. Please don’t judge us. Pride be damned.



We were planning on hiking in Red Rock Canyon tomorrow. The weather may not cooperate though. Strong winds and possible rain is in the forecast. We have to wait and see.



Nevertheless, it’ll be a great weekend.



Because I said so!