Aloha

This is a photo from Miles and Lisa's luau-style reception the weekend before last. I think it's a nice picture of my sis and me.

I'm wearing my one and only Hawaiian shirt, purchased especially for the party. It's funny- I have always kind of liked Hawaiian shirts, but I've never worn one. I think it's because I usually associate them with tourists or old guys.

In other news...my car is in the shop, where they're replacing all the interior parts that were damaged when someone broke into it last month. They also have to paint one door, which I'm not really happy about. I just want it to all look like it did before this occurred.

So, I'm taking the bus to and from work for the second time this year (the first time was due my broken arm). It's not too bad, really. I'm told my car will take a week to repair, so it's not a big deal.

A few weeks ago I switched my work schedule to a 4/10 schedule- four ten-hour days per week with Fridays off. The work days are long, but having a 3-day weekend every week is pretty great. They actually feel like weekends now, and I enjoy them so much more. I've been going to the beach nearly every Friday, which has been such a pleasure. I'm not sure how long I'll stay with this schedule, but it's definitely working out nicely this summer.

My friends Cory and Farah have finally made it into their new place in Santa Ana. They've got a nice new apartment in a great part of town, right in the middle of the Artists Village. It's going to be cool having them so close by after years of seeing them only occasionally.

I guess that's about it for now. Until next time...

Fricase de Pollo

The above photo is of a recent meal I had at Felix Continental Cafe in the Orange Plaza. It's called Fricase de Pollo, and it's my favorite item on their menu. Felix is a very popular Cuban restaurant with a lot of other very good items, and it's probably my favorite restuarant in Old Towne. For the value, atmosphere, and most importantly, the food- it's hard to beat.

A number of new restaurants have opened in Old Towne in recent months- Cafe Lucca, Aldo's Italian Ristorante, Mustard Cafe and Gabbi's Mexican Kitchen. I've had a couple of very nice sandwiches at Mustard and some gelati at Cafe Lucca, but I've yet to try Aldo's or Gabbi's yet. Each place seems to be doing extremely well, and they are a welcome addition to an area in need of some new choices in cuisine. Orange is getting to be just a little more interesting, and it's becoming a nicer place in which to hang out. Now, if we could get a hip late night book and CD shop here, that would be really cool.

If you've visited this blog before, you'll notice a new look. It seems five months with the same template is about enough for me. I still might make a few little changes to it, but this is what I'll be going with for awhile.

With all the craziness that continues in the Middle East, I thought I'd end this with a quote from former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir:

"We will have peace with the Arabs when they will love their children more than they hate us."