a new life in SD

yet again, yet again, it's been months and months since my last posting. it'd be a surprise if anyone were still reading this! :( if you are, i applaud you! (and virtually hug you!) :)

i only have about 20 minutes before i have to get to work, but life in SD has been good to me. VERY good. needless to say, it's been a blessing and a curse that i can't drive in the suburbs. while i don't have easy access to, well, just about anything, it's amazing how much work i've been able to get done w/o the distractions of LA life. i miss my friends though, so thank goodness for facebook and gchat and the modern miracles of technology.

since i've linked my blog accounts, i'll direct any interested (and worthy) individuals to my other blog (http://lilmissdissertation.blogspot.com/) for dissertation-related commentary. (and yes, folks, i know it's empty. i can only do so much! or else risk getting comments that i'm not directing enough time to my dissertation -- which i hate, btw, so if you've done it or you've thought about doing it, don't.)

for now, i'll just jot down a few notes of worth re: movies & munches in SD....

1. the time traveler's wife - overrated. i love rachel mcadams and i'll watch anything she's in. but i don't think eric bana is cute AT ALL. there was a reason i couldn't get through the book. and it's possibly the same reason that i'm thinking my movie ticket was a waste of non-existent funds. (FYI that i have no income for this academic year! though i'll try to minimize regular comments re: my super tight purse strings.) there was just no real PLOT. i know, i know, some movies/stories are more about character development. but honestly, i need PLOT. and yes, i did tear up during some parts of the movie. but as most of you know, i cry at EVERYTHING. so this isn't really a reflection of movie quality. sorry, new line, for the first time in a long time, you disappointed. (sorry, dani! i really thought that i thought the movie was ok. until i didn't.) :(

2. royal india restaurant (http://www.royalindia.com/index.html) - pretty decent. i'm a sucker for a good indian buffet -- and now so are my students! :) i must admit that the lunch buffet selection was small compared to our last group excursion to jaipur (http://www.jaipurcuisineofindia.com/). that being said, what the restaurant did offer was pretty darn scrumptious. the naan (both garlic and regular) had a pleasant chewiness, the meats were nice and moist, and the sauces were flavorful (as melissa knows gail simmons likes to say) w/o being overwhelmingly weighted down by butter (which apparently many indian sauces tend to be).

3. la jolla beach (http://www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches/cove.shtml) - too crowded. enough said. but FYI that i hate beaches. sand = dirt.

4. the first wives club at the old globe (http://www.theoldglobe.org/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=6950) - AMAZING. thanks to a work connection, jerry & teresa have been able to usher shows at the old globe -- a lovely and intimate venue situated w/in the confines of balboa park. i got the chance to sub one week and watch a performance of the broadway-bound musical, the first wives club. not only did we get great seats (only a few rows back!), but the show was absolutely AMAZING. it's been a while since i've seen a musical, but the voices were wonderful. some movies don't work out when turned into musicals (ahem, dirty dancing, ahem), but i had no complaints about this one. in fact, i think i might've liked it even more than the movie! bravo, bravo.

5. rancho family YMCA (http://www.rancho.ymca.org/english/) - RP's saving grace. this is one of the few places w/in walking distance of the fortress that is known as my brother's house. FYI that this area is WAY hilly and that this house has close-to-zero sprint reception. thank goodness for: a) internet, b) cable, and c) the local Y. i have to admit that i had reservations when teresa told me this was the local gym. jerry & i grew up in the projects, and i have absolutely heinous memories of the uber crowded flushing Y & the super annoying swim classes in the heated pool (despite a hot, red-headed swim instructor). that being said, i can't be w/o a gym, so i was thrilled when my reduced-fee membership (given my current financial status) finally got approved. even though this process required documentation of every penny to my name (what little there is! ok, ok, i'll stop.), it's worth it to pay only $15 a month for a pretty decent gym. i'll admit that Y's always seem to have way too many kids little running around them (FYI that i hate kids -- yes, yes, it's true). but the cardio/strength room has never been too crowded during my workout times, and i can easily get an hour (plus, even!) on the treadmill w/o interruption. while some of the instructors leave a lot to be desired (one of them took calls DURING class! another one was 10 minutes late, didn't have her sneakers on, & didn't think the participant who set up her step for her!) and the music is usually too fast (as an instructor myself, i must be critical!), i've had success w/one step instructor, a kickboxing class, a bootcamp class, and a zumba class. the last one is a recent addition to the repertoire, but the instructor is just so peppy that you can't resist wanting to get your hips moving. i can't wait to start volunteer teaching (first aid certification -- check!), but it looks like the schedule may not change till early october. bummer. well, fingers crossed that i can sub soon! also, i signed up for a potential Y running group. so hopefully that'll get me motivated for half-marathon training. woohoo!

6. point loma seafoods (http://www.pointlomaseafoods.com/) - super affordable and fresh seafood. part seafood purveyor, part seafood restaurant, this place offers delicious and fresh seafood at great prices. thanks to my brother's (continuing) generosity, i got to try a super simple yet yummy crab sandwich. literally, it was nothing more than chunks of fresh crabmeat & a bit of tartar sauce slapped in b/w two slices of sourdough bread. BUT BOY WAS IT GOOD. my SIL had the same thing, and we were both quite pleased. i thought it could've used slightly more salt, but she thought it was missing something else. my brother got a cod plate w/fries, but needed an extra order of sushi to get full. i think the fam was a bit underwhelmed (they're pretty picky), but i was perfectly happy w/my sammy. i do have to say that there were a bit too many pigeons (and babies) hanging around the indoor space for my tastes. sitting outside under the umbrellas would've been much preferred.

7. cupcakes squared (http://www.cupcakessquared.com/) - totally worth the trek. after staring longingly at their cupcake calendar, i was super excited when the fam suggested that we go out for a seafood and cupcake adventure. after a light seafood meal, a decadent cupcake is surely the best ending. while neither my brother nor SIL were planning to have any (pfft!), neither of them could resist after we walked into the shop. not only does this place have regular-sized cupcakes, but mini-sized cupcakes as well. and all in unique square shapes! (even now i'm annoyed at myself for not "getting it" sooner -- cupcakes squared, as in, cupcakes SQUARED. right? RIIIIIIIGHT. eeeeeeeeee-diot!!! *sigh*) while it was a bit annoying that they didn't have all their sunday flavors in mini version, they had a nice enough selection for us to choose from. and samples of the peanut butter berry (which totally tasted like a PB&J sandwich) and the not so red velvet (which was totally light brown and not red at all). we went w/the regular-sized lillikoi (jerry's pick), the regular-sized mocha squared (my pick), and a mini vanilla chai (which just happened to be available). flavor-wise, my brother & i really enjoyed the lillikoi frosting over the vanilla cupcake. teresa's not a fan (your loss, lady), but the ngai's really dig the passionfruit -- nice sweetness w/just enough tang. jerry doesn't like chocolate (which is ridiculous, if you ask me), so i pretty much inhaled the mocha squared on my own. a great coffee/chocolate blend. the mini cupcake totally tasted like a vanilla chai latte. overall, the fam enjoyed CS much more than sprinkles, particularly the cake to frosting ratio. (this kinda makes me sad, only b/c i really REALLY love sprinkles.) they find sprinkles frosting way too rich -- and think there's too much of it. i have to agree w/the latter point, but i definitely prefer the decadence of sprinkles frosting. i found CS frosting to be a bit too fluffy, a bit too whipped. i prefer buttercream to taste like BUTTERcream, not WHIPPED cream. cake-wise, it's a tie. both are nice and moist, w/CS cake being slightly lighter. that being said, i must admit that i do prefer the size & price of CS cupcakes. i'll inhale sprinkles cupcakes, but i'll inevitably feel gross after b/c they're just so big. plus, cupcakes aren't really meant to be stored, so it's no use trying to make the experience last over a few days. w/CS cupcakes, i can have just one and be satiated but not feel fat. always a plus.

8. SD farmers markets (http://www.sdfarmbureau.org/BuyLocal/Farmers-Markets.php) - YAY! thank goodness for family members who love food -- and shopping for food! if you're ever looking for us, we can be regularly spotted at Vons, Henry's, or one of many local farmers markets. the fam prefers poway, and i love seeing everyone & their dogs winding their way around the stalls. upon request, jerry picked me up a scottish egg and i devoured it quickly upon completion of my regular 2-hour saturday workout. not the most healthy thing i suppose (an egg wrapped in sausage meat and covered in breadcrumbs), but unique and filling nevertheless. we'll be getting started with a bi-weekly CSA box soon, so i'm excited to cook up some yummy veggies. i've been really into *themed* meals recently (linked to the never-ending stream of season premieres), and my brother & i did a really nice job w/gossip girl -- new york strip w/blue cheese butter, roasted beets w/olive oil & sea salt, and sauteed beet greens. DEE-LISH. i baked up a pear upside down cake, though the two hot tamales recipe may need a bit of tweaking. next up is grey's anatomy, which may require a bit more thought. we'll be attempting a chicken with figs in ras-el-hanout and couscous recipe (c/o epicurious.com) this week, and possibly some glazed/roasted figs for dessert. fingers crossed!

9. seeing as this blog entry has already taken away two hours of my precious sunday, i'll end w/a quick list of final thoughts. royal pains - oh how i can't believe i need to wait till next summer to see you again. GLEE - great first episode, great second episode, mediocre third episode (meaning: get your act together before you lose your audience). eragon - great story that i'm sad i don't have time for every single night. wired - so engaging, so interesting, i'm so glad you only come monthly or else i'd never get any work done. FB/gchat - thanks for keeping me sane. friends of all sorts - i miss you and i'm happy that you're always willing to call me back on my home phone b/c of really bad sprint reception in the boonies.

for now, i bid you all adieu! btw, we have stairs in the house and i *totally* started singing the "so long, farewell" song from the sound of music. (eri, i know you hate it, but i was good -- totally karaoke-worthy.)