| Wednesday, September 03, 2008 |
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CHEAP EATS!
Since livin out here in the East Bay, i've been tryin to find good eats and lately i've been finding CHEAP EATS!
It's Wally's Cafe. Close to Pixar here in Emeryville!!! I loved this place so much that I went 3 times in 1 week!!! I had such a great experience. It's in a pretty interesting and developing neighborhood. It's right across from the Pak N Save on San Pablo Ave. And less than 5 minutes from IKEA.
It's located behind this funky bar filled w/ regulars, neighbors and maybe your occasional streetwalker. I guess they took up the kitchen of the bar or something like that. You definitely don't have to go thru the bar to get to Wally's. There's a side gate that leads you to a little patio w/ 3 picnic tables.
As we walked in, we were greeted by Angelica and Wally (the owners). They are so friendly and hospitable. My friend ordered the pomegranate chicken and I the chicken shawarma plate. As you wait for your order, they give you a bowl of their lentil soup! It's a bit on the spicy side but oh man! But I love it! I was almost afraid that i'd get full eating my soup before my dish came.
The pomegranate chicken is on the sweet side and it comes with some pita bread. My chicken shawarma was just as good and it comes w/ a side of this garlic sauce that is to die for. Unfortunately, that garlic dip leaves a taste in your mouth for awhile. hahahha Both dishes come w/ a side of salad which is very light and their yummy pilaf rice.
To end our meal, they gave us a sample of their baklava! YUMS!!!! I usually don't like baklava since it's usually too sweet and get's stuck in my molars. But not this one! Another YUMS!!
We left Wally's and told the owners that we'll definitely come back and spread the word! One thing, if you want to go there for lunch, it's peak time and all of Pixar is there and you may have to wait for your order a lot longer than usual. 45 minutes vs. 15 minutes. |
| posted by The Weekender @ 7:55 PM |
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| Sunday, August 17, 2008 |
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Goal for the Year
Wow! I really have been away from blogging. I know every time I do go out, I always tell myself... " oh i'm goin to blog about this...!"but for whatever reason, I have yet to sit down and write about it. So i'm trying to find the time now. I guess you can say i've been really preoccupied. Not only did I start a new job, but trying to get fit again this year. I have recently taken up jogging the Lake again!!! The Lake meaning, Lake Merritt, here in Oakland. Awsome has really got me goin on being outdoors instead of doing cardio machines in the gym, especially when I do get to the 24, all the ellipitcal machines are already taken and there's no time limit. So folks end up being on it sometimes for over an hour. So instead of waiting...sometimes even for 15 minutes, I've finally resorted to the outdoors....AND... going even when Awsome doesn't go to the gym. And I LOVE IT!
My latest accomplishment was making it all around the Lake!!! Usually, i'll jog for about 15 minutes (which is about 1/4 - 1/2 of the Lake) and then jog back to the 24. I realized...I think I can make it all the way around. So one Saturday morning, I had dropped my car off at the shop for an oil change and some repairs and decided to jog the WHOLE Lake, do some weights at the 24 Hour and then jog back to the car shop. I actually made it!!! And felt great!!! It was so nice seeing the Lake on a Saturday morning with a whole bunch of folks. Either they were jogging, walking or even doing yoga or tai chi on the grassy areas. I saw kids w/ their parents bicycling around the Lake as well. I do have to say I was very tempted to go by the Farmer's Market, but dared not to due to being side-tracked. hahahhaha
I finally got back to the car shop, and they weren't finished yet. So I decided to walk home going through Oakland Chinatown. Oh man..let's say I made a bunch of pitstops at my favorite dim sum bakeries, the demin boutique by my place and then I finally made it home. So you ask..where am I going w/ this. Well I decided to jog the whole Lake 2 more times later that week and flared up my left foot!!!! Possibly plantar fasciitis!!! UGH!!!!
So the past month i've been out of commision!!! WHICH SUCKS!!! Just when I was nearing my goal weight!!! Anyhow, so what have I been doing to treat myself..just in case some of you have had to deal w/ this. Massaging my foot and heel w/ a golf ball, STRETCHING my calves and achilles tendon ALOT, icing, taking motrin, changed out my old running shoes and inserted some insoles called Superfeet, and lastly using Kinesiotape on my feet. Yup that same tape that these Olympians like Kerry Walsh have been using.
Last week was my first week trying to get back into jogging and walking and it was great!!! So where did I fail in my working out? Increasing my workout out too quickly and not stretching ENOUGH!!! So to all you folks out there... most of our ailments are due to lack of flexibility and an imbalance of strength. Don't blame age for your ailments ...hahhahahhaha...although I do have to say i'm at fault w/ that sometimes... But i've got 50-60 year-old patients who are in way better shape than I am.
So that's my goal this year! To get in better shape, eat healthier and to stick to my exercise routine! |
| posted by The Weekender @ 9:48 PM |
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| Sunday, March 02, 2008 |
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 Spring is Around the Corner
Before the snow melts, Awsome and I decided to head for the snow....FOR THE DAY! Yes...can you imagine...ugh... Talk about tiredness. We didn't want to spend money for a hotel nor use up our whole weekend, we used Awsome's truck. Thinking it was going to be a smooth ride up, uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh...not! Got stuck in the city for a little bit since they were doing work on the bridge...as always..... Finally on our way up, there were a lot more cars on the road than we expected. I guess everyone else had the same idea as us...to go up on a Saturday morning. So what were we going to do for just the day? SNOW MOBILING!!! Yes... since my last try at snowboarding wasn't so hot...DON'T TAKE LESSONS AT HEAVENLY...., we thought...well I can't get hurt snow mobiling right? Unless, i'm just one of those stubborn folks and doesn't listen to all the precautions that the instructor tells us. So if we didn't get to snow mobile...then we go sledding!!! After 3 hours on the road, we finally reached our destination. Lake Tahoe Adventures! They're located right before you hit South Lake Tahoe. If you remember seeing that weighing station on your left, well Lake Tahoe Adventures is on your right with 2 triangle roofs. That's the best way I can describe them, since I didn't remember what the street name is called. We decided to sign up for a tandem snow mobile, for fear I may not like it or just become really fearful of driving the damn thing. Remember peoples, you are out in the open, nothing surrounding you, just you and the road..well snow...and of course the cliffs on the side of the mountain. It costs $200 for tandem including insurance and a pair of goggles that I didn't even use. If you wanted your own snow mobile, it costs $120 plus $35 for insurance. So from that clubhouse, you get your helmet free of charge. I would totally recommend bringing your own gloves and a pair of shades, instead of renting their goggles. And it does get about 15-20 degrees colder up on the mountain and going about 15 - 20 miles an hour, so make sure you're in layers. It's a 2 hour ride, which includes a 10 minute training session and 2 breaks for picture taking and using a tree for the bathroom if you need to. Oh man..after 20 minutes of being on that thing, gripping the seat w/ my legs for fear of falling off, and holding onto Awsome like crazy, I finally started to relax. As we were driving up, oh man...it was so beautiful up there. Such a different experience from snow boarding. It's pretty quiet up there, when you turn your vehicle off. No crazy noise or folks screaming. Just you and mother nature. I finally got the nerve to take the controls, but since I was still warming up, the instructor said we had to switch cause I was too slow....and we had to catch our bus back down the mountain. Man.....if he would just let me be.... Oh well... next time and there will definitely be a next time on my own snow mobile!!! I can't wait!!! Btw...we lucked out it being a nice sunny day....I wouldn't advise it if it's snowing....
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| posted by The Weekender @ 9:38 PM |
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| Thursday, February 14, 2008 |
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Sushi Anyone?
So we hit up a new sushi place in the city called Mas Sake... Heard of it? You might have seen it driving down Lombard trying to find parking when hittin up the Triangle. It's located on Lombard and Fillmore.. Ring a bell folks... BOONES!
Anyways, you definitely need reservations for this place, especially weekends. It's not that big and it can get pretty tight, especially the bar area. I would say maybe 60 max for sitting and that's pushin it. They've got a couple of tables set up and since we were a party of 6 we thought we'd get a table. Instead we were seated at a coffee table w/ 6 ottomans. Um...we're eatin sushi folks..and this can get pretty messy and difficult when you're food is like 2 feet away from you and your dippin it in soy sauce. We asked if we could get a table since we saw a bunch free...but later found out those were set up for parties of 2, 4, 7 or more...funky seating arrangements. So I would definitely request a table if you plan on eating here.
As for the food, it wasn't bad. At least they didn't load up their rolls all in rice like some folks do. I tried their shrimp sushi taco which was a big mess to eat. You can't pick it up. You're pretty much eating it like a tostada salad. $16 for two tacos and I had one taco and a hand roll and was pretty much done for the night.
If you are a big sashimi fanatic, I don't know if i'd recommend this for you, but if you're feaning for sushi, the feel of Vegas, some loud dance music and wanting to looks at some feline eye candy, this would be the place to be. Looking around that night, I would say it was predominantly women in here. So for them single men out there, I would definitely check it out. Note it does get pretty crowded and warm in their little bar area, but hey..what a great opportunity to mingle and meet folks. Would I go again? Yeah, I actually would.... |
| posted by The Weekender @ 6:17 PM |
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| Sunday, February 03, 2008 |
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New Beginnings
It's is 2008 and it's a new year, another year that will just whiz on by. For those whom I have not seen in the past 2 months, i've finally made the move.... No...not the move to move back to SSF or the move to have a child....but the move to have my job closer to home!!!! YES!!! It is WONDERFUL!!!! I get a little more sleep now and I carpool w/ Awsome in the morning and after work, we meet up at the 24 Hour in Oakland.
So why did I opt finding a job in the East Bay. Well I loved my job in SSF and loved my co-workers, but after 1.5 years of commuting, it finally took it's toll. I was dozin at the wheel...either in the morning or after work driving home, hittin and pinching myself, trying to stay awake. I also realized that my skills have become stagnant as a therapist. I wasn't growing or learning anything new.... So, one day in October, I got a job post from Monster.com and I jumped on it. I sent my resume within 3 hours of the post and contacted a PT I had met earlier that I was applying to her hospital, but I think in a different department? The following week, I was asked for an interview, and then I was suppose to be in Paris, France.....UGH... Anyhow, weeks past and I hadn't heard anything. I finally followed through, and they told me I was their first choice! WOO HOO!!!
So here I am thinking I was going to start right away, and I get a call from HR asking me if I would take the offer??? Well didn't I just accept the offer from the person who interviewed me? WOW! This is totally different. So I had to go through an orientation and a physical and drug screening. I thought this was goin to be pretty smooth...OH HELL...no it wasn't... My physical/drug screening was on Friday, Dec. 28 and I was starting Wednesday, Jan. 2. So I answered my health questionairre and mentioned little things here and there...and oh man..RED FLAG!!! Because I stated that I couldn't lift no more than 30 pounds than the 50 pound requirement and I get minor fatigue after typing.... I had to get a letter from my primary M.D to release me that I can do the job!!! OMG!!! It's Friday, before NYE, my primary is w/ Kaiser and she won't be back in the office till Jan. 7 if I don't get in touch w/ her the same day!!! CRAPOLA!!! So luckily she squeezed me into her last appt. of the day. I got the letter and brought it back to Occupational Health and they still told me I couldn't start till I get cleared from HR's Disability Dept. Good grief! I just wanted to start my new job.
I finally did start on Jan. 3rd! And wow..can I say different. Different in a sense that I went from working w/ 3 therapists to 9 therapists, and that doesn't even include the support staff. And my patient population is totally different. I went from all workman's comp to Medicare and post-Op patients. A variety and a different way of working and treating my patients as well. Best of all I go home for lunch! Yes..tryin to save!
Welp, I'm almost done w/ my probationary period. 2 more months! Then BENEFITS!!!! WOO HOO! |
| posted by The Weekender @ 8:36 PM |
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| Friday, December 21, 2007 |
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 The Hard Nut
Now get your minds out of the gutter.... hee hee Awsome and I had a date night last weekend and he surprised me by taking me out to Adagia for dinner and to see The Hard Nut!
Adagia is a restaurant right across from the Berkeley campus off of Bancroft. It has a pretty homey feel actually and I would actually say that you can have a wedding reception there! Pretty good service and great food! Unfortunately, since i'm writing this review practically a month later...I wish I could remember the name of the appetizer and entree we had..but I would definitely go again. Let's just say 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and a glass of wine costs us about $50. Not too bad. There is a free parking log a building away if you can't find street parking.
Afterwards, we walked a block down to Zellerbach to watch The Hard Nut. OMG...I would totally recommend this to everyone who has an open mind... It's the same old story of the original Nutcracker, but if you remember the Sugar Plum Fairies...well you've got some "fairies" all right... And note....it does have adult content so be warned.... hee hee hee... So hopefully if you're ever out in the Berkeley area and during Christmas time..you can try both the restaurant and see The Hard Nut. I'm definitely planning on seeing again X-mas 2008! |
| posted by The Weekender @ 1:03 PM |
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| Sunday, December 09, 2007 |
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 Thanksgiving Weekend
Ok folks! If you know what this picture is, then you know where we went for Turkey weekend. If not...let me give you a hint..." The Wall of Gum." Does it ring a bell now? San Luis Obispo! And yes...that is gum!!! An ALLEY OF GUM! We didn't dare walk through it, but we've been told it doesn't smell the greatest when you walk through it. Pretty gross huh? But it surely is a sight. So why SLO? Well Awsome's relatives have been goin to SLO/Pismo for the past 12 years after Thanksgiving. They end up staying at a timeshare and do completely nothing...well not totally nothing, but bring their bikes, skateboards, laptops, XBOX what have you.... Since we're married now, it's been difficult to hang out w/ everyone for the holidays. So we decided to meet them half way. I've never driven to SLO so we thought it'd be a nice experience in renting a car and stopping at the Gilroy Outlets for a little bit before meeting them..since they always lag a bit anyways... We got up at 6am to pick up our rental from Avis at SFO and it was a Malibu...boooooooooooo... anyhow..after driving it for 10 minutes...the smoke smell got to me...UGH...I felt so nauseated.. So I went back and we got an upgrade to a Hyundai Sonata! Oh man....I know it's a Hyundai, but it was NICE! XM Radio...wood appliques, CD player....so on w/ our trip... We ended up at the Gilroy Outlet and was in/out in 2 hours..right before the madness of honking cars and folks fighting for a parking spot....pretty scary nowadays... We arrived in SLO at 12:30 and were starving. We decided to stay at The Peach Tree Inn which I would totally recommend. It's so cute and their continental breakfast is really good too. But since we hungry for lunch, we ate next door at Apple Farm. This is another good place to stay and they have a connecting restaurant which was really good as well. We finally met up w/ the relatives and pretty much chilled the whole weekend. Actually ran and worked out on our mini-vacation. It's pretty nice to jog and see the ocean glistening in the sun. It's not a site or activity that I do on a regular basis...so it was great to take it in. We saw the infamous sea lions of Avila Beach..and be careful..we got pretty close and those things are HUGE!!!! They can attack you... The weekend went pretty quick and it was already Sunday and we went to church together at Mission San Luis Obispo, which is the oldest mission in California...I was told... After mass we headed to eat at a Chinese Buffet place that our relatives always go too when they're in SLO, and I noticed there were a bunch of cute boutiques and stores and of course we didn't have the time to shop...we had to beat the traffic back to the Bay..but we had to make a stop at The House of Bread! They've got a jalapeno loaf and a parmesan basil that is to die for! They have in ROSEVILLE!!! That's a little closer and supposedly there's on in Fremont..but i'm not sure?? Oh and note..on the way back....ugly traffic!!!! Instead of 3 hours, it took us 4 1/2 hours...not cute.... at least we were able to stop at a Foster's Freeze and order a large vanilla chocolate dipped ice cream cone!!! :-)
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| posted by The Weekender @ 8:45 PM |
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| A report on the trends, the sights and weekend nights in San Francisco, now written from Oakland! |
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Name: The Weekender
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