Tea Time!

Lately, Marco and I have been drinking tea. We're big coffee drinkers, but we recently discovered tea. Well, Marco discovered it, I've been drinking it for awhile now.

My mom and I used to buy loose leaf tea at Cost Plus, trying different flavors each time and enjoying a nice hot cup during the winter evenings.

But in the past few years coffee took over my life. Starbucks and Coffee Bean were my favorite hang outs. My drink of choice, a nonfat latte. Sometimes I'd add some vanilla or toffee nut flavoring, but the straight stuff was what kept me going.

So a few weeks ago I was in Cost Plus browsing the coffees and came upon the tea section. I decided to buy some along with two coffee mugs. I convinced Marco to try it and he actually liked it! Now our evenings are spent in our study room, each one at our computers with our trusty cup of hot tea nearby.

No Doubt

Christmas 1995. My mom bought me one of my first cds, No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom and my brother got the latest cd from the Beastie Boys. She also bought us a cd player to share, one of those all-in-one stereos with cd, radio, and cassette. From what I remember, we were so excited to finally have our own cd player, we felt like such teenagers.

I loved listening to "Don't Speak" and feeling the anguish of lost love, and "I'm Just a Girl" was the girl power anthem with a sarcastic tone I could relate to. They combine the music, from ska to pop to rock, with read out of my diary lyrics that I love!

No Doubt is, undoubtedly, one of my most favorite groups. :)

13 years later, I’m still a big fan and have even followed the lead singer, Gwen Stefani, as she has branched out on her own. Although I have not loved all of her songs, I remain loyal to the group. So you can imagine my excitement when I heard the band was getting back together for a new cd. And, if that were not enough, I just found out they’re touring in 2009! I have never seen them live and I’m not going to miss it this time!

The Burrito

I love burritos. The soft flour tortilla holding inside a delicious blend of rice, beans, meat, cheese, and guacamole, all mixed in together, yet each flavor holding their own. At first, the burrito seems too big for you to consume in one sitting, but once you start eating it you realize you will definitely finish it. A burrito, I think, must be wrapped in foil. Not served on a plate, no sauce on top drowning the burrito, and definitely not eaten with a fork and knife.

Now what, you may ask, makes me such an expert. My only response to that is my love for the glorious burrito. And the fact that I have been eating them since I could remember. Give me a burrito over a taco or enchilada any day. I love them so much that if I were on death row and had to choose my last meal, a burrito would be among one of my top choices.

Growing up, The Super Burrito in Millbrae was my favorite. I always ordered mine with carnitas (pulled pork). The Super Burrito makes their burritos on the mushier side, which some say they don't like, but I think are amazing!
The Tapatia also makes a good burrito, but I'm not a fan of lettuce or sour cream in my burrito, so it's not one of my favorites.
Another place I recently discovered thanks to my dad is in the Mission in SF, La Taqueria. An awesome burrito! It is a little pricier, but so worth it. They use huge chunks of carne asada, yummy rice and beans, cheese, and pieces of avocado (not guacamole). Their burrito is fresh, yet simple. So good!

But all of the above mentioned places are in the Bay Area. Los Angeles, among its many flaws, has one unforgivable downside. The city could not make a decent burrito if the lives of its citizens depended on it! I'm not joking. I have tried several places and nothing comes close to a Bay Area burrito. Now, I'm not saying you can't get good Mexican food in LA, you can, just don't get the burrito.

The only decent burritos I've had here so far are from King Taco and Rubios. Yes, I said Rubios, the fast food "mexican" place you can find at your local strip mall.
I will give credit to King Taco, their burrito has good meat, rice, beans, cilantro, and onions, but it doesn't compare to my beloved burritos in the Bay.

And although I have not yet found a decent burrito in Los Angeles, I keep trying them. Maybe one day, in some small taqueria, the perfect burrito will be sitting there, waiting for me. But until then, the search continues.....

New Years came early....

As we heard the news and watched the crowds cheer in the streets, I wiped away a few tears and hugged Marco.

It felt like New Years. The hope of a new beginning, the start of something historic. I never thought I would see a black man as president and although this doesn’t mean racism and inequalities are gone, it does give us hope that change is possible.

A Change is Gonna Come
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUT1WgHat6I

I'm looking forward to what the future holds for us, and inspired to somehow play a small role.

Bulldog Play Date

Once a month, bulldogs from all around Los Angeles meet at a park in Westwood to play, run, and have fun like only bulldogs can. About 30 bullies come together, and it's quite a sight to see, and hear. Snorts and heavy breathing abound.


Vinnie always has a great time hanging out with his friends. Even though we don't attend every month, somehow Vinnie knows we're there as soon as we get out of the car. He gets so excited and starts pulling towards the other dogs. It's so much fun to see all of the bullies together.

But of course, Vinnie is the cutest, and I'm not just saying that as his mom :)