Wholy crap. Today I start the last session of school, EVER. In fact, I only have one more over-priced, piece of crap reader to buy today at the bookstore. The last penny I have to spend on readings I don’t care too much for. Its probably not even readings, it’ll be a stack of case studies. It’ll be my last, nonetheless (HBR magazines don’t count). 7 more weeks until my big Europe trip! Woo hoo!
So after our little tire mishap, we eventually made it onto the freeway and of course ran into evening traffic. We made it a tad late to the South Coast Winery Resort and Spa, and barely enough time to grab a bite to eat at their restaurant. It was a lovely place, roomy and each booth is large and private. T got a gorgeous prime rib and I got one of the best lambs I’ve had in a loooong time. We also shared a salad (came with a machego toast) and french onion soup.
The next morning we were awakened at 5:15AM to be picked up for our 5:45 AM hot air balloon ride with California Dreamin. We had absolutely no idea what we were in for, but we dressed warm. They picked us up in a van, then drove to two locations where they tested the wind with some balloons. There was a storm coming in, and so we were a tad worried… it turned out to be an absolutely amazing journey. The setup took less time than I thought, as we hopped into the basket and quickly flew away. I was shocked by how little we shook, it was a gentle ride. I didn’t realize how little control there was in direction of the balloon - you go up and down to catch different drifts in order to move in certain directions at certain velocities. Our pilot and co pilot were awesome… really knew the area to explain all the different areas we were flying over. I got some gorgeous shots as well given the clouds and the incoming storm. The landing was a little rough, and the rain started to come in a little. The best part was talking to the pilot and owner, Dave afterwards. He explained his history with ballooning, going back to high school and traveling around the world to balloon. His perspective of the world was a different one and after being in the air for about an hour, can see why.
They took us back to the room where we napped for the next several hours. I awoke to starvation as we first visited Maurice Car’rie Winery for lunch. Steph had shown me pictures and recommended their brie… and it was amazing. There was brown sugar baked in with it so for you sweet and salty lovers, it was heaven. T had chicken and I had another round of french onion soup and salad.
Stuffed, we then hit up wine tasting at Stuart Cellars, a cute place on a hill… I started to get a feel for Temecula wine country. Small and cozy, locally owned. Similar to Santa Barbara area (than Napa), but even more personal. There we picked up Malbec 2004 - Limited Reserve and Tatria 2002 - Limited Estate Reserve
We then visited Bella Vista Winery, previously known as Cilurzo, the oldest winery in Temecula. My professor had worked with the winery for her PhD dissertation and so I decided to stop in. Another small place with a larger tasting room. There we picked up 2 x Petite Sirah 2004 Late Harvest (OMG this was so yummy with Champagne), Petit Sirah Rose 2005, Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 (labeled Cilurzo).
We then visited Falkner Winery, which was next to Pinnacle Restaurant (its set up high so you have gorgeous views), recommended by Dave the pilot from the hot air balloon. Here, we picked up one bottle of 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon.
We then visited Ponte Winery, which was actually next to our place which had a large tasting room and fancy setting, something more of what you would expect in Napa. They had a huge selection and great history to the names of their wines. My favorite, the Graciela was named after the grandmother who now splits her time between San Diego and Italy. We picked up two bottles of the 2005 Graciela there.
We then drove back to South Coast, parked, and walked to our tasting room since there wasn’t much chance of us driving after this point. Most of the tasting rooms in Temecula give you about 5-6 tastings for about $6-$10, much more than what you get elsewhere. T and I shared, but even then I was really starting to feel the wine at this point. Here we bought Black Jack Port, Cabernet Rose 2005, Pinot Grigio 2006, 2 x Gewurtztraminer 2006. I think I fell asleep at this point, skipping dinner altogether.
Lunch the next day was at Ponte Winery. All seating was outside which was a little bit of a challenge, since it was windy and cold. The food was delicious though… so it was worth it. The bread came with this dipping sauce that was amazing. We had steamed mussels and clams with an olive tapenade, my salad had fried green tomatoes and T had a mahi mahi sandwich that he loved. For dessert, the homemade apple pie with candied rosemary was perfect.
To finish off the trip, we stopped by Hart Winery, where we were greeted by their mascot. There we purchased 2005 Syrah Rose and 2003 Zinfandel. We left Temecula after driving through old town, and stopping by a yummy cheese store for some die-for brie. What an amazing trip… we have nearly doubled our wine collection!
Life has its ups and downs. Considering we’re on our second vacation in a week, I’m pretty damn lucky. We were pretty excited, listening to music, driving down the 405 to meet Tienshiao’s brother for lunch at my favorite, Ramos House. That idea was pretty short lived as this big thing came barreling down the freeway - the car in front of us missed it, we ran right over it. Then we had a problem.
What a pain it was to try and get over to the slow lane - to boot, there was no right shoulder to park on as there was another freeway merging together. We then followed two huge trucks to try and get off the freeway but they seemed stuck. We sat on the Pacific exit until some police came over and asked us to somehow move our car onto the shoulder further down the offramp. We moved the car around the trucks and onto the shoulder… turns out that the huge trucks lost its transmission on the freeway, which we ran over (and god knows who else ran over since it went rolling down the freeway after we ran it over).
We were fortunate, the guys in the trucks work for a large company here in the Long Beach area and they had a corporate account with Firestone just a few exits down. We called them and they had the tire in stock - and I called AAA for a flat bed tow (good thing I paid the renewal recently). They hooked us up with a free tire and the AAA got us there… so instead of Ramos House, we ate lunch at Subway and found internet at It’s a Grind so Tienshiao is a bit happier now (altho we ended up just replacing all 4 tires and they’re trying to sell us more crap over the phone). Stuck in Signal Hill. Ugh.
Oh, a quick Pineapple update too… she seems to be doing quite well.
Haven’t been up to Mammoth in about 2 years… boy have some things changed! There’s a whole new Mammoth Village area which is very reminiscent of Whistler. This year was great - we went up with Stephanie, her husband Melvin, their friend Bharath (who has a daily photo blog using a film camera) and stayed in a little condo that was within walking distance of the Village. Gondolas left from the Village straight out to Canyon which was quite convenient. LOTS OF FUN, lots of wine, lots of good food and of course, lots of controversial conversation 
See the entire Mammoth Album
I came home from my weekend trip to Mammoth (more posts later) to find a very SWEET surprise from Jenn….
These days, I keep waking up at 3 AM. But I don’t go to bed until 11 PM. Its strange when I’m living my time zone and the one T was/is in Shanghai. Perhaps with him coming home today I’ll get back onto my old schedule. Lord I hope so. Counting down on finals, I haven’t slept much in about 6 days.
Wedding portraitOriginally uploaded by tobze.
I hope I’ve not written about this before, since I’ve had this thought often as I’ve grown up.
We don’t live in a vacuum, we all have taken many steps to get to where we are today. But before us, are millions of other steps taken by countless and nameless others that go back hundreds of years who unknowingly set into motion certain events which have created where we are today. Imagine our ancestors hundreds of years ago, as a new son or daughter is born, their hopes and wishes for their future and their children’s children, never knowing or imagining the people of the distant future.
I often wonder about my ancestors, coming from such a small family (and being distant from most of who are my family) the trials and tribulations of their lives. I am familiar with some stories from the great-grandparents lives, but not much before that. I remember visiting my great grandfather who was alive during the Meiji era of late 1800’s Japan. Or the great-grandfather who my father never even knew (his grandfather) who was part of the yakuza and would force his children to pack and move in the middle of the night. My grandparents who lived through WWII in Japan and the choices they made for survival, dodging bombs, living one day to the next. My father the rebel who dreamed of moving to the US since he was younger, working, saving, and finally made it to Los Angeles in the early 70’s, my mother whom he fell in love with and proposed within 2 weeks, bringing her to the US against the better judgment of my grandfather (or so he once said).
Growing up in freezing cold Minnesota, not associating with race but rather being children, singing racist songs that my neighbor taught me to my mom’s horror. Going to Japanese school on Saturdays, feeling the immediate pressure to succeed, seeing my parents pride in performing well in school. Memorizing the multiplication table (in Japanese) by the age of 5, which later became a detriment as I could not produce answers in English as quickly. Moving to California, not quite understanding the difference between Soda and Pop, experiencing the pressures of teenage and high school life, boys, pressures to be thin, to succeed academically, musically. My ironic and random decision to attend UCLA, my coincidental run in with computers and changes in fate. A Microsoft brochure in the dormitory mail box which made me apply for an internship which eventually lead me to my current significant other. The experience which lead me to other jobs after school, influencing others to stay, others to go, others to have opportunities that neither one of us could have imagined. The waiting list that nearly broke my heart but not my spirit. Other chances that have come about, propelling me in directions I never imagined.
Even in my own lifetime these small choices and decisions have lead me down many different paths. How vastly different my life would have been if we had never come to the states. Probably unrecognizable. I wonder how my current steps are changing my future generations. I suppose its not too important - time will erase all memory of them eventually.
First things first. My Pineapple Plant has finally decided to reproduce. After many years of TLC, it is finally starting to sprout! Several years ago while visiting Hawaii, I learned that you can cut off the top of the pineapple (leave some meat on the bottom) and soak in water until the roots grow. You then plant it and wait. After several years of patience, it has finally started to grow!
Next up is my new love, Tano’s Hot Sauce Bag. I wish I had a link to take you to, but this bag has been discontinued and cannot be found anywhere (except for a green one on Ebay). I saw it yesterday at the mall, fell in love with it, but held back due to its price tag of $189. I then came home to do research to find how rare it is to find one… and ran back today to rescue it from the mall. They don’t sell their bags in the dept stores, so only small places seem to carry them. The leather is sooooffffttttt and the smell reminds me of the fine leather back in Buenos Aires.
The other day I visited the Skin and Bones exhibit at the MOCA downtown with my friend Arden. I had never been, and it really was a great exhibit to go to. Both being Cognitive Science majors with a love for fashion, we really knocked ourselves out. We then took a stroll down to the Grand Central Market to find some grub, and grub we did find. Huge tacos… the photo doesn’t do it justice.
The remainder of the day was just as fun - after picking up Hiroko for some Pinkberry (yes, my addiction has gotten a little out of hand) (oh, they reassured me that mochi would be in on Tuesday), we watched The Notebook and the Finale to Sex & The City back at my place before heading over to NoHo to drop Arden off. Hiroko and I decided to be a bit adventurous and stopped at an Argentine BBQ place in the Valley (LaLa’s). I was delighted to find that they carried Quilmes, and the meat was pretty good too although nothing compares to the meat you get in Argentina.
In the meantime, T has been shipped overseas back to Shanghai for a few weeks… and so now we’re on this reverse 16 hr schedule (midnight for him, I’m just waking up) which is quite strange. I am, however, enjoying that I now get TWO flat pillows instead of ONE
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