I don't get it really.. and the link, while an actual website, doesn't match the picture? But it got my attention, so I guess that's the gimic. And made me think of this blog.

Help Me.

As you may or may not know, I'm wildly in love with the Olympics. I'm not quite sure what it is about it, but I get the super warm fuzzies during the theme song, love watching opening ceremonies, and get so amped about the games and the competition. I have VHS tapes of games when I couldn't watch it (due to school/work/time zone differences) and consequently have applied to like 18 different positions for the 2010 Games in Vancouver. It would be so bad ass if I could work for the Olympics. The next best thing is going to the Olympics. I sort of had the opportunity a year ago (Whoa.. the last Olympics were only a little over a year ago!) when some of my family members were going. Except I was working like a crazy person and didn't get to go. Super. Freaking. Sad. Face. I even contemplated flying to China for a weekend just to go. *sigh.


Anyhoooooo... I know while I could go, Microsoft is having this contest for a student blogger and a female blogger to be on their blog team for the games. How neat would that be?!?! I debated telling you all about it, because I don't need any more competition than there already is - but hey - if you win, you totally have to bring me along. But before you enter, I need help. One of the things you can submit is a photo of yourself, in your blogging environment. I spent a few hours taking pictures of myself in my room (it is WAY harder than it looks) and don't "love" any of them, but kind of luke warm like. So, if you were a judge and the criteria was "featuring you in your home/personal blogging area. The photo will only be eligible for bonus points if it features the entrant (and no other people) AND is the environment where you traditionally blog." I also can't include any third party logos - so besides the Macs (which I'm sure Microsoft will love to see two of them in the wide shot pictures) if there is anything glaringly obvious let me know!

The picture above is just them arranged on my desktop. I uploaded them to a set in flickr so you can examine them closer. Which one do you like best? Which one should I enter?

Eating and Drinking our way through the City

Because I am entirely too far behind to write a single blog about everything that's been going on, here's a photo post with extended captions. This isn't everything, but just a sample of a few things Dre and I have been doing. Notice how most of it centers around food.

We were both craving dim sum and finally woke up early enough on Sunday to do it. We trekked to Sea Empress in Gardena because that's the place I like best. We ordered way too many dishes, like we always do at chinese restaurants, and happily ate mini plates of yummy yummy goodness.

Afterwards, we both needed a caffeine jolt and decided to head to Intelligentsia in Venice. Like many places, we talk about going there, but it takes awhile for both of us to get together to go there. In between our schedules, our random "not eating out" purges, and life, we make a little bit of time for our adventures.

It's cool and hip and coffees are $5, but it totally makes you want to be one of those people who just sit around in a coffee shop all day "working" on your laptop. I'm not quite sure I could afford to sit there all day, because I would just chug their drink and try every dessert in their dessert case, but maybe one day. Below is Dre's "excited to have coffee" face! Look at their cute sign in guest book and cakewiches? YUM.

When you want to keep in touch with people, it's all about "let's do lunch" or "let's grab drinks". In this case, lunch was Big Jo's. Big Jo's is a hole in the wall burger stand in Santa Monica with some of the best burgers and fries ever. It's not fancy or processed fast foody, but real grilled diner like burgers and you can put this amazing seasoning on their fries, which are so good. It's kind of like Steve's in the South Bay, but a tad bit different. But basically was an institution in Friday lunch plans when I used to work. Now it's a novelty for me. But my favorite is the bacon cheeseburger with mushrooms, french fries and a pepsi, because you know, if you're going to go down, you might as well go down in flames of glory.

With the total burst of food trucks, we've been trying to try as many as we can. That doesn't always work out so well because sometimes you aren't hungry or have time to stop when you pass by them on the street, and then when you really crave them, you're not near where they're at. And then since they're mobile, you say "oh, I can get that next time" Dre and I went to the "opening" of the Nom Nom truck - serving vietnamese sandwiches call Bahn Mi and the Fishlips Sushi truck. Both were super excellent, and although the wait was a little long, I think that's the benefit of parking at the Brig. You walk in and get a drink while you're waiting for your food, eat, get hammered, have more food. It's so simple, and so effective.

Another lunch date was set at the new cafeteria style place lemonade. There are a few other locations, but this location set on the corner of Venice & Abbot Kinney is hoppin'. There's always a line when I pass by, and I didn't get to actually try their various lemonade flavors, but I had the pot roast mac 'n cheese sandwich and it was kind of amazing. Also, the cream cheese brownie (not pictured) is to die for.

Last but not least, the Dodger game. (Go Doyers!) Friday nights in the summer, they let the crowd on to the field and shoot off fireworks. It's pretty cool and we all ran around like little kids once we got onto the grass. They cordon off the infield (of course), so I'll somehow in my lifetime find a way to play on that, but it was fun nonetheless. And you know, I pretty much love fireworks of any kind.

What's next? Likely a Halloween post, possibly a concert post, and hopefully at least some pictures from some more food trucks. And we still need to go on the Xiao Long Bao adventure. (Yes... more eating...)

Your Window Says What?

("Mommy" and her 2 dogs)

I love dogs. And I'm looking forward to my future as Crazy Lonely Puppy Lady. But this is taking it too far. Even for me.

Is this a Challenge that Needs to be Met? I think so.

Apparently October is Official Taco Month. Who knew? But I'm not going to complain. I'm sure there are different versions of this, but there are also rules for Tacoctober... Let's begin:

Official Tacotober Rules

These are the rules as dictated to me by the father of Tacotober, Brian K .

• 1.Any mixture of two or more traditional items in a folded tortilla constitutes a full taco.
• 2.Traditional items are: beans, meat, cheese, salsa, rice, avocado, guacamole, lettuce, cilantro etc. You know, taco stuff.
• 3.Choco Tacos count as a full taco
• 4.Mini tacos and taquitos only count as 1/2 a taco.
• 5.Fusion tacos (Tacos with ingredients like Daal, Korean BBQ, and haggis etc.) only count as 1/2 a taco.
• 6.You must eat 31 tacos during the month of October to be considered an official Tacotober member.
• 7.After the great taco shortage of 2007, it is no longer necessary to consume a taco at every meal. But, it is smiled upon by the great taco God, Cilantro the Conqueror.
• 8.Spread the word of Tacotober at work, with friends, at your house of worship and via your social network.
• 9.It is suggested that you create a “contest” with your friends and co-workers to determine who is most deserving of Cilantro the Conqueror's love by eating the most tacos during the month.

Who's in?

http://web.me.com/strngwys/Tacotober/Taco_Flavored_Kisses.html
(via Angelee)