You can make a difference

Dear Friends:

There are currently far too MANY bichons at all our local shelters -- and the Orange County shelter is just one of them.

We are also being asked to take bichons that owners are surrendering. In fact we had eight (8!) owner surrenders in two days last week. While it is easy to say it is the economy, or a death in the family, divorce or a variety of other reasons, the reality is the same. many sweet, happy, loving and mostly young bichons need homes and a chance at life. Attached are the photos of some of the little ones we WANT TO SAVE. To help them, we need YOUR help.

If you can look into their eyes and find a place in your heart, please let us know.Once they are in loving foster homes we know we can find forever families. The Orange shelter has seven fur kids in ages ranging from 6 months to 6 years available in the next several days.Can you help us save them? Is there a friend or family member, a neighbor or colleague who may want to help?We need fosters desperately! The average time frame for fostering is about two weeks and all expenses are paid. Can you help? If you can, you WILL be making a difference -- and we will be able to save another life.

Please think about the little ones that make you happy and bring joy to your lives – and help us.

www.bichonfurkids.org/

Making a Difference in a Dog's Life

Lobster Fest Goodness at Ports O' Call in San Pedro

Okay, I am not going to lie. Ever since my cousin Annalyn told me that they have Lobster Festivals at San Pedro every year - I kept a mental note of it, and specifically "googled it" and "calendared it" this year to make sure that I don't miss it. The event has been on my radar for awhile, and sure enough, as the date approaches - I was giddy about it. I mean, come on, it's the Lobster Festival!

I hardly eat (if at all) beef or pork - and my diet consists pretty much of seafood, chicken and vegetables. I particularly am fond of seafood especially shrimp, scallops, and lobster. My ears perk up, when you mention the words shrimp, scallop or lobster. I am weird like that - I know.

This year's Lobster Fest was held at Ports O'Call in San Pedro, September 19, 20 & 21. I was a little nervous knowing that my last lobster meal in May ended up in a 3 AM emergency room trip. I was wondering if my gallstones were going to be able to handle all that butter....but that was not going to stop me, and so we drove out to San Pedro, and headed out to the Lobster Festival.

We went at about 1 PM, and it was not as crowded yet. We walked around for a bit, then went straight to the lobster line in the back. We thought it was a long line, but it only took about 8 minutes. They were pretty efficient and well-organized.

The festival is sponsored by local businesses and civic leaders. They have a lot of booths with local vendors (selling key chains, winery trips, arts and craft, etc). They have a magician, a pirate show, and live entertainment out in the lawn (which hubby and I enjoyed), plus a bunch of kid friendly carnival rides.

The lobster was yummy - the meal was $17 for one lobster (about 1 pound and a half) and it came with bread, butter, and coleslaw. My hubby said it was not enough to fill a person - but it was just perfect for me. Some people bought two lobsters (for $32) but I could NOT have handled that. One buttery lobster was perfectly okay with one.

As we walked out of the festival, I lined up for some caramel kettle popcorn - and I was good to go - I was a happy girl. Until next year, lobster fest!!!

BCD Tofu House at Garden Grove

I had a craving for hot tofu soup Friday night. Hot tofu is a dish that my husband is not really fond of. He has never been satisfied on any of our other previous hot tofu runs - and so I was a bit hesitant when I told him, I was craving hot tofu. I knew it was more "my thing" than his - but of course, I told him, and we went (Thanks, hubby!) .

There is a BCD Tofu House about 10 minutes from our house, at the next city over (Garden Grove). BCD Tofu House is a Korean-restaurant chain that serves hot tofu soup, Kalbi, etc. Hot tofu soup is a stew with tofu (you can get it vegetarian or with meat). It comes with a side of little dishes like kimchi, mini pancake, seasoned bean sprouts, fish, and some others dishes unknown to me (which I still ate regardless). They give you a raw egg, which you crack into the boiling tofu pot to cook just before you eat it.

I enjoyed myself - the service was just okay (they never filled my glass with water), but the food was satisfactory - it did the job of satisfying my tofu craving.

Nice to see you, Mac!

I was so tired on Sunday morning - having had a full day on Saturday, starting from lunch with Terry (a former co-worker from Santa Clara) at Soup Plantation @12 PM; a BBQ at hubby's brother's house @ Northridge for his gf's bday @4 PM, and a bday party at Spike's bar @ 8 PM in Rosemead for my dear Angelica's bday. It was fun - but I felt like that bunny on the energizer commercial. I had to change outfits in the car, to go from one party to the other!!!

There was no way anyone could have pushed me out of bed Sunday morning - unless it was for something or someone really special. Well - someone very special called. My brother, who is back packing from Hawaii, to LAX, to Texas, then to Portugal and Morocco - called at around 5:30 AM so that we could meet for breakfast during his 5 hour stop over at LAX. I was sleepy but I forced myself out of bed (after snoozing my alarm clock about half a dozen times), and drove out to pick him up. It was so nice to see him. I rarely get a chance to see him - he grew his hair out. He is so lean, and was sporting two new tattoos (which he proudly showed).

We went to Coffee and Co. @ La Tijera and Sepulveda - just a few miles from the airport. My sister, Peter and Aiden came to meet us as well - to say hello to Mac. We had a big breakfast. Mac and I both had French Toasts, Eggs, and Turkey Sausage. My sis had a Spinach Omelette and Peter had a breakfast burrito. No wonder the place was packed - the food was oh so yummy. Much better than your bigger chain breakfast places. I just totally enjoy hole-in-the-wall, mom- and-pop type of eatery places - and this was a gem of a find!

Of course, Mac wasn't going to meet us empty handed (even though I told him not to buy us anything). He gave out cookies, coffee, and some wasabi chips, among others).

It was nice to see you, Mac! Have fun at Portugal and Morocco - enjoy your three week trip! Send me pictures. Please be careful and take care of yourself. Have a great and grand adventure (once again!).

Date Night @ Joe's Sushi - La Mirada

Hubby and I were so tired after getting off from work Friday night. I came home late from work, after a stop over at the store to look for a present for my friend, Angelica's bday. Hubby came home tired from work. He has been working a lot of hours, and has been quite stressed from a few complex engineering projects he has been assigned to do.

We were tired and could have just stayed home, but we don't stay home on Friday nights!!! We picked up our hungry selves (well, me more than him), and headed out the door to get some sushi.

We went to this sushi place in La Mirada (there is one in Cerritos too but La Mirada is closer to home) called "Joe's Sushi." They received 4 1/2 stars (out of 5) at Yelp. You can order off the menu, or have all you can eat sushi - and of course, being the fatso that I am decided on the "all you can eat special."

Walking in, we were greated with random shouting (it's their way of saying hi). The place was very lively, very young and hip, and I had a great time. We had about six sushi roll dishes - and although it was eat all you can - I was pretty much full to the brim, on sushi #6 and happily decided to stop eating. We had sushi rolls like "shrimp lover", "viva lake", "spider roll", and "lobster roll". Each one was yummy.

The lady sitting next to our table was celebrating her bday. The owner set her aside, gave her a cake, everyone sang happy bday. It was cute. He jokingly asked her for a lap dance, and she half-drunkenly obliged for a minute! Her table got free beers!!

I was sooo full! I'll be back, and maybe bring family, or friends - sometime soon. Great friday night. Thanks, hubby!

Labor Day Weekend Fun

The long weekend has been relaxing. On Saturday, we went to a 2nd Birthday Party for my co-worker's kid named Bajia (it was an Arabian nights themed party). Very Cute. Then we went to MHB's BBQ party at Los Nietos - he is one of the Partners at my firm. Beautiful house - great pool, excellent view.

Sunday, we had brunch at TAPS Fish House and Brewery. It was reviewed very well at Yelp. However, hubby and I have been to a lot of Sunday brunches, and this one was just okay - good, but not spectacular. It was $32 per adult - they had a lot of seafood - oysters in particular, but I am not really a fan of oysters - so I guess I did not enjoy the experience as much as others did. The dessert selection was not a lot but what they did have was excellent. The tiramisu was homemade, not too sweet - but one of the best I have ever had (and I've had a lot!). It would have been nice to see more selection on the hot food section. Our waitress was very nice, very knowledgeable, and pleasant. Sushi was good - real crab meat (which is a plus - others use imitation crab). They had a create your own pasta station - which was just okay I think - nothing I or hubby couldn't cook up at home. The afternoon was spent at Old Towne Orange's International Festival.

Labor day was spent at Salt Creek Beach at Dana Point. I can't believe I have never been here before. I am so glad we ended up going here. The beach sits at the bottom of a park like location, surrounded by the Ritz Carlton Hotel and St. Regis. We hiked up and up the walking trail with Rascal and Teddy. I am coming back here next time, with a blanket, a book and a bag of chips.