I really should write a more in depth post about my trip to the Reagan Library but it’s late I’m tired and there’s other posts I haven’t made and I want to do them in order. But I will say that I learned this about Ronald Reagan that I did not know: The man loved his wife very much. The library has some of the most cornball telegrams you have ever read. That’s sweet…sweeter than jellybeans.
Author: David Yenoki
POO
POO: Pure Olive Oil
Your weather sucks, but mine is iced coffee
Winter ended a while ago. I wasn’t really paying attention to the when but since I live in Southern California, it really wasn’t a long harsh winter. And now during the day it’s lovely so it’s easy to say that it’s Spring, especially considering the first day of Spring passed a few days ago and I didn’t notice because its so nice outside anyways. Continue reading “Your weather sucks, but mine is iced coffee”
Catch Stephen Anthony — If You Can
Last Sunday I watched Catch Me If You Can at the Pantages. I really should have posted this earlier because the run ends on the 24th. So probably you won’t be able to catch it. Which is a shame, because Catch Me If You Can is a fun show.
In which I exchange words with Stephenie Meyer and stand in more line than I’ve ever stood in at the Grove*
The previous record long line I waited for at the Grove was for the iPhone 4. I believe that was the point in which I decided “no more” and decided that I would have my new iPhones shipped to me instead of picking them up at the store. That was the day I met Donald Glover and I think Adam Pally but that was before Adam Pally was Max Blum. And of course if you ask them they wouldn’t remember me because I didn’t introduce myself and also, not someone significant enough to remember. My words. 😉
Stephenie Meyer is an author, and this past Friday (the 15th of March in the year 2013 common era) she made an appearance at the Barnes & Noble bookstore at the Grove in sunny Southern California. I had hoped for a little discussion of the book or movie but I realize in hindsight with all of the people there for signing there would be no way that all of us could be held in one space short of an auditorium or the Hollywood Bowl. Her previous works are rather well known: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. These books involve Pacific Northwestern Vampires I believe and were made into successful movies. I haven’t seen the movies nor have I read any of those books.
She has also written a book called The Host which involves an invasion by extra terrestrial aliens who come and infiltrate human bodies. There’s a movie coming out in the very near future based on this book and the Barnes & Noble event was in support of the book and movie. I did not manage to finish the book before attending the event. Not only was Stephenie Meyer was there but also the films stars’ Max Irons, Jake Abel and Diane Kruger. Sadly I had hoped that Saoirse Ronan would be there (a previous Facebook post indicated such) but no such luck. I had even watched Saoirse’s Graham Norton interview to try and learn how to pronounce her name but … that was in vain.
I arrived in the morning shortly after Barnes & Noble opened and found myself in a very long line to buy books to get wristbands to come back later to get in a line that didn’t move for over an hour. There was a lot of waiting in line today. Multiple lines. I should have timed it all; but I can say I didn’t finish before 4:30pm (event was scheduled to start at 2pm).
Now the words I exchanged with Stephenie were very mild and I admit I wrote that headline to strike peoples interest more than the significance of words. They were a simple “hi” and “thanks” for signing my books. If wikipedia is correct and Mrs. Meyer is 39 she is very well preserved. (Perhaps her knowledge of vampires is drawn on personal experience? She’ll stay eternally young)
I also had one of the books I had signed by the cast because … really I came to see Max and Jake. They also signed a poster (the actors) and I got a free set of buttons.
I do wish though that I had a companion who waited in line with me. It’s so hard in these trying modern days to amuse myself only equipped with an iPod nano, an iPad, an iPhone 5 and a Sony Reader. They run out of batteries eventually … with people, you just add more candy and it seems to fuel them for a bit.
Speaking of Candy, the nice people at Dylan’s Candy Bar sampled us some gummy teeth and gave us a 10% coupon. Granted the last time I wandered in the prices were amusingly pricy but … I don’t really need to eat large amounts of candy. Candy is a treat to be enjoyed sparingly. Or at least that’s what I think.
I do fear that I was surrounded by girls half my age. Nobody seemed to think it unusual that I was there and I appreciate that in Hollywood even I seem to be acceptably normal. Anything else I can mention? Oh…I was slightly proud of the fact that I was civil to Mrs. Meyers as I cannot say that I enjoyed the very long wait (not her fault) nor have I enjoyed the book (probably her fault). I will say I respect her. I don’t have a body of work to speak of and even if I did, who is to say that my writing wouldn’t be poor, rife with characters that people find annoying and awful.
Oh I can’t write a review of The Host. I think I’m now over half way finished and color me shocked: I want to finish. So even given all the indications I’ve provided that I object, I still intend to finish the book (at least before I see the movie).
So many books to read, so little time. This post may be long and not sense making which is symptomatic of me being very tired. I didn’t sleep a lot the previous night because I was so excited about seeing Mrs. Meyers (and Max and Jake).
If for some reason Stephenie Meyer reads this and I hope you know better than to read blog posts regarding yourself, thank you for coming. It’s very nice of you to make time to come out and see the hundreds if not thousands of fans.
Happy Pi Day Everybody!
Well I know I wouldn’t have remembered it but those nice people at O’Reilly Media sent me a reminder email and also offering to sell me math and science ebooks. Today is Pi day, celebrated approximately on March 14th. Oooo maybe we could celebrate it at March 14th at 1:59 am….
Anyways I think I’ll celebrate by watching Back to the Future on the big screen!
And by eating pie, naturally.
The world looks strange through new glasses
Confession: I had been using the same pair of glasses for over five years.
Of all the equipment I use it seems the one I use the most I paid the least amount of attention to. I’ve been wearing glasses for several years and I’m ok with that. I grew up knowing I would wear glasses because I figured that since both of my parents had glasses it was expected and natural that I would inherit their myopia.
At the same time I may be afraid of going blind. Neither parent is blind — at least they have not informed me in conversation — so it may just be a personal fear of mine. And every time I go to the optometrist my prescription gets stronger and stronger and I figure it’s only a matter of time before the inevitable. Note: I found out today that it’s not necessarily true as my maternal grandfather’s eyes actually got better.
Anyhow I ordered a pair of glasses from Warby Parker and today they were delivered. I believe I ordered last Monday so it took a week for them to arrive. Not too long, but not amazingly quick. (Newegg spoiled me by getting me equipment next day with no additional charge). I like the frames but I’m adjusting to the lenses. Looking straight ahead is fine but if I look through the sides, it’s not clear and I don’t exactly know why that is. I’ll be moving my head around more I suppose.
Driving was an odd experience. Being able to see the texture of asphalt is something I haven’t noticed from behind the wheel in … who knows how long. Tonight I could see individual blades of grass as if somebody applied a drop shadow to make each blade stand out. So odd.
The world has so much more detail and texture. Sadly that seems to be dirt, scratches, cracks and pores. I really want to go to Disneyland to see what that actually looks like. I would have seen a movie today but I didn’t see any listings for something I would go see. I guess I could try Oz in 3D … I think the 3D effect on my Nintendo 3DS has been improved with these glasses too.
YABC the Young Adult Book Council
I am a member of a book club. The Young Adult Book Council or YABC meets monthly and we’ve been meeting for over five years. I think that’s pretty impressive. I will admit that I haven’t been the best member … back in 2008 I didn’t read five of the selections. In 2009 I didn’t finish two of the books and in 2011 I missed one of those as well. I’m getting better but then again I also think the book selections are getting better.
One of the five books I didn’t read in 2008 was Breaking Dawn. I haven’t read any of the twilight books and I didn’t want to read them out of order and I didn’t want to read all of them. There’s always that one chance that I might actually enjoy them and then I would just feel awful about having been so harsh on my prejudgements. This is one of those circumstances where I have a comfortable ignorance about Twilight and so forth. However next week I just might get the opportunity to meet Stephanie Meyer and I’m going to try and read The Host before then. Fingers crossed I don’t regret that plan.
On my iPad I keep a document in Pages containing the previous book selections in month and who picked it. I have not always been especially proud of my selections. At one point I selected Ned Vizinni’s Be More Chill and I finished it early realized that it was awful so I went to a challenged classic I had never read: The Giver.
Next weekend we’re doing a book swap. I’ve been trying to find appropriate titles to use for the book swap. It’s kind of hard because most of the books in my library I haven’t read so I don’t know if I want to get rid of them. Also, I figured I should stay in an age appropriate realm. You know, teenagers nervous about sex, not sex hounds dripping with fluids. (And so forth) Through the various boxes of books I have I did come across some of the old selections from those early years in the group and I don’t know if I should get rid of them…some of them I think I should read first 🙂
Tower? Oh.
So this is like a review I posted on Goodreads and I’m reposting here, but with spoilers.
Tower? Oh.
Once upon a time…a few years ago I came across a book called the James Deans and I read this book that was not about a boy band with a 1950s theme. This was my first introduction to Reed Farrel Coleman and he’s on my list of “mystery genre authors I will read.” Sadly, that’s a small list but what you can do with a finite amount of life to read with. I think the only other authors on the list are Don Winslow and Charlie Huston.
Tower is a book that was written by Ken Bruen and Reed Farrel Coleman about Nicky and Todd, two young men from Brooklyn and their lives and stuff. Nicky is a violent sort filled with rage. Todd loves Nicky but isn’t in love with Nicky, it’s not that kind of a book where two boys have their hearts broken by each other. Nah, there’s women for that. Continue reading “Tower? Oh.”
Free Bag! Food Trucks! Big ‘Cap Day at Santa Anita
I received a text from my friend Jason that the Lobsta Truck was at Santa Anita and he was coming out so I ended up going as well. The weather today was unbelievably lovely and it would have been a terrible shame to stay indoors. Doing what I had thought I’d do. Laundry and internet. Some general reading.
Here we have a lovely sunny day in the mid 80s and people are walking about in shorts and whatnot. And Chicago? I believe your high was 30. New York’s high was 45. Baltimore 43. But enough about you, let’s talk about ladies in hats and white people who are dressed like … white people.
I was standing in line for Kogi behind these lovely white people dressed in pastels. I had to share with everyone the way this guy was dressed because ordinarily I would have assumed it was done ironically in costume but he didn’t seem to be putting on an affectation of any sort. Apparently it’s perfectly normal for him to wear pastels. There were the docksiders on his feet. A blue polo shirt, ray bans and what amused me to no end….yellow shorts with tiny sailboats on them. Sir, if by some random fortune you manage to read this I don’t mean this post as a critique, it’s just been so long since I’ve seen anyone dress like you.
Perhaps this gentlemen attended a prep school and summered on the cape and belongs in one of my favorite Edward Hopper paintings (Ground Swell)
Back to food trucks.
I did not go to the Grilled Cheese Truck but I always like the Grilled Cheese Truck. I’m trying to eat better and fatty melty dairy between two bits of carb that’s been buttered…not the best meal. But if you ever find yourselves where the Grilled Cheese Truck is an option, I recommend trying them. Don’t forget the tater tots!
Can you believe this was my first time at a Kogi BBQ Truck? I know there’s like four trucks that roam around and I always credit them with being behind the LA Food Truck scene. Just somehow I’ve never found myself at the same place as a Kogi Truck or if I was, I was actually there for another truck and didn’t get around to trying it. Since I was hoping to eat at more than just one truck I limited my order to just a short rib taco and a chicken taco. You know the kind, a small little soft tortilla with a bunch of chopped meat and lettuce on top. I probably could have eaten five? Maybe more? I’m going to recommend you try Kogi.
The Lobsta Truck was there and I had a lobsta roll with mayo and it was good as always. The Lobsta Truck is reliable for having good lobster and I have to stay true to my vow: I will not go out of my way to go to the Lobsta Truck. I never want to get to the point where I have it so much it becomes less magical. The Lobsta Truck is my absolute favorite source of lobster rolls and as I like to say they often are better than seafood I get at restaurants.
Now I did get a sample from the nice man at the Ragin’ Cajun truck. Tried the garlic sauce. Was pretty good, but I was still getting a feel for what was out there and I didn’t really want to fill my stomach with a helping of gumbolaya. And I don’t think I could stop from ordering a fried shrimp po boy… and I just have this weakness for cajun and it would have ended up with me at the gym trying to work it all off. Instead I see on their website that not only are they looking to open a new restaurant out in Hermosa Beach but they also are going to launch a quickserve restaurant. Hopefully that will be closer to me. Because really the only restaurant I drive out that far for is Lahaina…
Also I had a black cherry sorbetto at Palazzolo’s Artisan Gelato & Sorbetto truck. Yes, it contained bits of cherry. No it wasn’t creamy … because I’m lactose intolerant and I can choose food that doesn’t lead to regret. It was nice on this very sunny Saturday.
I will also mention the My Delight CupCakery truck. I did not try this, but I do want to try their breakfast cupcake. It’s like a pancake cupcake with bacon. Bacon inside of it and bacon on top and it kinda sounds brilliant so hopefully at some point I will get the chance to try this.
And then I also saw Nonna’s Kitchenette and I didn’t try it but heaven knows I have a fondness for italian food. Something tells me the hand rolled risotta balls are great. And I’m not sure but a peanut butter, raspberry and prosciutto sandwich sounds like something I have to try. Afterwards I will either herald it as a revelation or …not.
Lastly I want to say it was nice seeing Youngblood Hawke there. I managed to go hours without mentioning to anyone that the band is named after a Herman Wouk book that I started but is very thick and unavailable on my Sony Reader (well I haven’t checked this month). Soon they’re going to hear the sound the sound as we come running….
I got a free bag with admission. I left it in the trunk of my car. I came to the realization that even though I don’t really need a bag, sometimes I do. I live in Pasadena where stores don’t give out plastic bags and I never remember to have sufficient bags with me when I go to the market. I’m hoping that I will be able to use this for groceries and it will be helpful and useful and I don’t forget to bring it with me. If wishes were horses…