It was an ordinary workday today, but what made it out of the ordinary was that I finally got assigned to a new parking lot! Cedars-Sinai is ever-expanding, but unfortunately the parking spaces don't increase at the same rate. Because I actually work a mile away off site, many employees such as myself have to still park on campus and get shuttled to our various bldgs. The shuttles are not always consistent so many times I find myself waiting 20 minutes for a shuttle and another another 10-15 min for the ride. On top of that, I still have to walk to my car since the shuttle doesn't drop me off at my particular lot. So it kinda sucks b/c in order to get to work on time, I leave while everyone is still sleeping, and I'm the last to come home. Our soon to be former roommate manages to go to the gym after work AND still comes home before me. But I sucked it up b/c I was glad to have a job. At all.
My supervisor found out that some employees park at this other lot that is much closer to the office, it's about a 5 min walk so she got me on the waiting list. How come she didn't get me on the waiting list for my bldg? It's a 2 year wait. Yeahhhh. (My supervisor and coworkers got parking b/c they have seniority...having worked there 2 dozen years btwn the 3 of them)
So anyways I love this lot so much more than my old lot! 1. There's only 3 levels as opposed to 8 so no more driving around and around and around and around looking for a dumb spot 2. There's waaaay less cars coming in and out so I don't have to worry about getting hit (the old lot ppl turned corners w/o even bothered to look) 3. There are no compact spots- each spot is HUGE!!! In my old lot, even stupid Minis and Bugs still managed to park over the lines, so for every 5 spots, only about 4 cars actually fit. 4. No speed bumps! In my old lot I'd go through at least 3 speed bumps for every level higher that I had to find parking 5. The lot is actually on my way to the office, so I'm not backtracking. Before, I had to drive a mile north past my bldg and then I'd have to shuttle it a mile backwards. Now, I reach my lot first, I walk a quarter mile or so, and I'm at my office. Easy peasy!! 6. This lot is closer to Fairfax/Crescent Heights where the traffic is soooo much better. La Cienega and Robertson gets so congested and La Cienega esp has the worst road maint. Today from closing down my comp to entering my garage, it took 40 minutes! Only 40 minutes! Usually it takes me at least an hour. I know people out there have crappier commutes so I'm not complaining that mine is the worst. I also know that many ppl have terrible parking situations. Neither are really enviable contests to win. Anyways this is a lot of rambling about a parking spot.
I know it's just a parking spot, but every little thing makes a difference!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
My First Time
So I saw Star Wars for the first time ever. About time, I know!
It was very good, now I know why everyone goes bat crazy over it. I will be watching 5 and 6...eventually. And maybe 1, 2, and 3 even though everyone says they suck.
And someday, I will get around to watching the series of LOTR, the Matrix, Rocky, Star Trek, etc.
...or let's not get too ambitious.
What are must see movie series in your book?
It was very good, now I know why everyone goes bat crazy over it. I will be watching 5 and 6...eventually. And maybe 1, 2, and 3 even though everyone says they suck.
And someday, I will get around to watching the series of LOTR, the Matrix, Rocky, Star Trek, etc.
...or let's not get too ambitious.
What are must see movie series in your book?
Friday, September 18, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
First Wedding Setback
I guess there is never smooth sailing when organizing this kind of shindig.
Today we had our first wrinkle in our plans.
I had been browsing wedding photography blogs long before I ever met Jerry. I knew what shooting styles I liked. So by the time we got engaged, I was pretty well versed in what I wanted. Over this past summer, I found a photographer that I loved and more importantly, that Jerry loved as well. We decided to go with her, and so we stopped looking.
Bad idea.
Because we had committed to the "idea" of that photographer, we decided that a verbal understanding was enough. Our photographer didn't want to meet with us until we had booked our site, and we couldn't do so until 9/1 (more on that later). In the meantime, she would let us know if someone else wanted her for 9/18. Once we had the date set in place, we set an appt to meet with her. All this time, her calendar was clear for 9/18 (she was booked for 9/25 ,which is why we specifically booked for 9/18). Then I get this email today saying that one of her clients changed their wedding date from 9/11 to 9/18. Because they had placed a deposit, the couple had priority over us. Business is business.
I'm more annoyed b/c I just wasted nearly 2 months of not looking for another photog. Nowadays the best budget ones book more than 13 months in advance, so seeing that we're about 12 months and 4 days away, the pool to choose from had gotten a lot smaller. It's not really the end of the world, but I would have preferred to have locked down the photo vendor sooner than later and focused my time and energy on something else. Now we'll have to put our other DIY plans on the back burner for a while.
I am positive that we will find somebody else that matches our photography aesthetic. And I know that when we get our proofs back from that future wedding photographer, we'll look at each other and say, "it totally worked out for the best." This isn't something to go bridezilla over (although Jerry is REALLY pissed off right now) since wedding photogs are a dime a dozen, but for now, I'm going to be a little bit sad b/c I'll have to find another "the one". I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason, so back to the drawing board it is.
What wedding setbacks did you encounter? How would you have felt in my situation?
Today we had our first wrinkle in our plans.
I had been browsing wedding photography blogs long before I ever met Jerry. I knew what shooting styles I liked. So by the time we got engaged, I was pretty well versed in what I wanted. Over this past summer, I found a photographer that I loved and more importantly, that Jerry loved as well. We decided to go with her, and so we stopped looking.
Bad idea.
Because we had committed to the "idea" of that photographer, we decided that a verbal understanding was enough. Our photographer didn't want to meet with us until we had booked our site, and we couldn't do so until 9/1 (more on that later). In the meantime, she would let us know if someone else wanted her for 9/18. Once we had the date set in place, we set an appt to meet with her. All this time, her calendar was clear for 9/18 (she was booked for 9/25 ,which is why we specifically booked for 9/18). Then I get this email today saying that one of her clients changed their wedding date from 9/11 to 9/18. Because they had placed a deposit, the couple had priority over us. Business is business.
I'm more annoyed b/c I just wasted nearly 2 months of not looking for another photog. Nowadays the best budget ones book more than 13 months in advance, so seeing that we're about 12 months and 4 days away, the pool to choose from had gotten a lot smaller. It's not really the end of the world, but I would have preferred to have locked down the photo vendor sooner than later and focused my time and energy on something else. Now we'll have to put our other DIY plans on the back burner for a while.
I am positive that we will find somebody else that matches our photography aesthetic. And I know that when we get our proofs back from that future wedding photographer, we'll look at each other and say, "it totally worked out for the best." This isn't something to go bridezilla over (although Jerry is REALLY pissed off right now) since wedding photogs are a dime a dozen, but for now, I'm going to be a little bit sad b/c I'll have to find another "the one". I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason, so back to the drawing board it is.
What wedding setbacks did you encounter? How would you have felt in my situation?
Saturday, September 12, 2009
NameThat Song
This is how I operate sometimes:
1. I think of how I want things to start.
2. Then I envision the ending.
3. Then I roll my sleeves up and figure out how to transition the in-betweens.
I find it much easier to do it in that order, I don't know why. Maybe b/c having an end in sight will be more directive for me. I kind of like to know where I'm going.
So the music we choose will really help us set the tone for the wedding. Jerry really likes Tupac. I heart Ingrid Michaelson. We both like Linkin Park. This should be interesting.
But we've agreed on three things so far: what my "walk-down-the-aisle" music will be (it's a secret :P), the first song to start off the dancing will be Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling", and we will end with "Closing Time" by Semisonic. We love all of those songs!
One of my BMs will help me with music- she has introduced me to so many great indie artists and songs over the years. I want to avoid the KOST 103.5 cheesy stuff and incorporate some indie into the mix, and she is the perfect person to help me! We'll need to choose the ceremony music since it'll be mostly be instrumental, have her help with the cocktail hour/background reception music (Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Hysteric" and some stuff from DCFC will definitely be in rotation), the bridal party will choose their own entrance music, and Jerry will mostly be in charge of the dance music. I think I want the dance music to be more recognizable since ppl dance to what they know, and have the cocktail/reception lull music be more varied. And somewhere in all that will be some 80s fun with The Cure, Journey, Bon Jovi and Modern English hehe. And maybe I can sneak in some fobby chinese songs. We have a ways to go, but it's a start!
What are songs/types of that you like to hear at weddings? And what are no-nos, if any?
1. I think of how I want things to start.
2. Then I envision the ending.
3. Then I roll my sleeves up and figure out how to transition the in-betweens.
I find it much easier to do it in that order, I don't know why. Maybe b/c having an end in sight will be more directive for me. I kind of like to know where I'm going.
So the music we choose will really help us set the tone for the wedding. Jerry really likes Tupac. I heart Ingrid Michaelson. We both like Linkin Park. This should be interesting.
But we've agreed on three things so far: what my "walk-down-the-aisle" music will be (it's a secret :P), the first song to start off the dancing will be Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling", and we will end with "Closing Time" by Semisonic. We love all of those songs!
One of my BMs will help me with music- she has introduced me to so many great indie artists and songs over the years. I want to avoid the KOST 103.5 cheesy stuff and incorporate some indie into the mix, and she is the perfect person to help me! We'll need to choose the ceremony music since it'll be mostly be instrumental, have her help with the cocktail hour/background reception music (Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Hysteric" and some stuff from DCFC will definitely be in rotation), the bridal party will choose their own entrance music, and Jerry will mostly be in charge of the dance music. I think I want the dance music to be more recognizable since ppl dance to what they know, and have the cocktail/reception lull music be more varied. And somewhere in all that will be some 80s fun with The Cure, Journey, Bon Jovi and Modern English hehe. And maybe I can sneak in some fobby chinese songs. We have a ways to go, but it's a start!
What are songs/types of that you like to hear at weddings? And what are no-nos, if any?
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Seafood Feast
Who doesn't love a seafood feast?
A couple months ago we had our spider crab virginity taken away courtesy of Liz.
We bought 4. No one was sharing.
As if 4 spider crabs weren't enough, we also got oysters and clams. That is John. Liz has known him since since she was 8. Crazy! Liz has a Quality Seafood frequent customer card. Crazy!
And uni.
These were all delicious. I was slurping them up.
Whoops Leo's eyes were closed. I was too hungry to re-take the picture though.
Uni "spooners"
Jerry had his uni virginity taken away. He did not quite enjoy it, but that's because this particular sea urchin was not as good. Next time!
Instead he ate all the spider crab.
Doesn't that look like a face??
Quality Seafood
Redondo Beach Pier
What's your idea of a seafood feast?
A couple months ago we had our spider crab virginity taken away courtesy of Liz.
We bought 4. No one was sharing.
As if 4 spider crabs weren't enough, we also got oysters and clams. That is John. Liz has known him since since she was 8. Crazy! Liz has a Quality Seafood frequent customer card. Crazy!
And uni.
These were all delicious. I was slurping them up.
Whoops Leo's eyes were closed. I was too hungry to re-take the picture though.
Uni "spooners"
Jerry had his uni virginity taken away. He did not quite enjoy it, but that's because this particular sea urchin was not as good. Next time!
Instead he ate all the spider crab.
Doesn't that look like a face??
Quality Seafood
Redondo Beach Pier
What's your idea of a seafood feast?
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