ugh!

Can I take a moment to express how NOT happy I am with the Dodgers/Red Sox/Pirates deal?  Though I’m not originally from LA, my father is and therefore I was raised with Dodger blue blood running through my veins.  I admit, Manny Ramirez is a great player.  But he’s also a hack.  I’m sorry, but anyone who takes a swing at his own teammate is somebody I don’t want playing for my team.  If any of you don’t know what I’m talking about, go to http://soxanddawgs.com/?p=4459 and watch a clip of Ramirez and Youkilis getting into a scuffle in their own dugout on June 5th while playing Tampa Bay.  As a reminder, this happened shortly after Coco Crisp charged the mound and started a huge brawl.  Sounds to me like Ramirez belongs in Boston.  So while I am really excited that I may be going to the Dodgers/Diamondbacks game this weekend, after that it will be difficult for me to whole-heartedly care about their success while this dude is on the team.  If they can convince him to wear a uniform two or three sizes smaller and actually fits him, then maybe I will reconsider.  Maybe.

sorry Eeyore

In honor of the soon approaching Olympics, Travel Channel has dubbed this China Week.  What a treat for me!  The most entertaining episode I’ve caught so far is Andrew Zimmern’s “Bizarre Foods” in Beijing.  If you are the host of such a show, making a living by eating the craziest things around the globe, one would think your tummy and taste buds can tolerate much more than the average person.  So when Zimmern doesn’t like something I feel like I should take his word for it.  After seeing him cringe twice, once with a cicada in his mouth and once while chewing on a seahorse, I’ve decided these are two items I won’t be purchasing on the streets of China.

Now on the flip side, if Zimmern really enjoys a meal, then you know it has got to be good.  I don’t watch his show often, but I’ve never seen him so genuinely rave about something as much as he did while feasting on donkey.  His eyes were glowing as he gushed about each animal part he tried.  Not only does it apparently taste amazing but it is also high in protein, low in fat, AND good for your skin!  Sorry Eeyore, I will be seeing you on my plate soon.

public transportation… LA style

Yesterday was an eventful day as I finally sold my car and became a metro rider!  (I actually rode the metro all last week while my car was in the shop, but that isn’t the point.)  For those of you who don’t know about the LA metro, it works on what we call the honor system.  What this means is that there is nothing to stop you from boarding a train without paying first.  The catch is that there is always a possibility of a random ticket/pass check during the train ride.  Get caught without one and it is a $250 fine!  From what I had heard, these random checks seemed to be pure myth used to frighten people into following the rules.  Luckily I have a wonderful boyfriend who convinced me this was one risk that just wasn’t worth taking.  Without him I would be about $250 poorer because, guess what, not a myth.  Yup, last night two officers came aboard our car asking to see everyone’s tickets or passes.  Two people were caught, asked to step off the train, and fined.

So in summary, just pay the $1.25 it costs per train.  As an added bonus, it is a great way to accumulate quarters a.k.a. laundry money.  Unless of course the guy at the ticket machine next to you asks if you can spare 75 cents.  Can’t exactly tell him no when he just saw you scoop it out of the change dispenser.  Well played Sir, well played.

Oh, and I took the picture above after getting off the train at “rush hour” this morning.  Yeah… I’m gonna be in for a shock when trying out China’s public transportation for the first time!

when the earth quakes

Wow, just started blogging and within minutes something exciting!  Yes, we just had an earthquake.  Yes, I felt it.  Yes, I am okay.  5.4 on the Richter… not bad I say.

why blog?

That’s right, I caved. I am invisible from internet stalkers no more. Instead, anybody and everybody can keep tabs on my daily life. Why the change of heart?

First came a long lost friend of mine by the name of Amanda who had been working on a blog and sent me the link shortly after we reconnected. Pretty soon I find myself checking out her site at least once a day and getting very annoyed when there is nothing new for a week.

And then while web surfing one day I found a blog called SHE in China (http://sheinchina.blogspot.com). The author has been writing since 2007 and within 24 hours of discovering the blog I had read every post and every (english) comment! Simple yet insightful, I feel more prepared and excited for my journey because of her. Thanks again, Jonna.

So there you have it, my inspiration. I promise nothing profound in this blog, just my daily life. Could be a bit boring at the beginning as I wrap things up in Los Angeles and then hang out in Seattle for a month. But stay with me as things hopefully will get more entertaining once I land in Beijing!