Saturday, June 30, 2007

La Jolla, California


City of San Diego spreads across a wide area. I started my business from 10am, visiting some new customers in the east area of San Diego. In a shopping mall, people were shopping, walking with their family and talking, on the weekend, but I was just doing my business alone. That's OK, never mind, I'm very happy to be here in San Diego. I changed my plan and went to La Jolla this evening and stayed at Best Western Stradford Inn in Del Mar.

Friday, June 29, 2007

San Diego, California







I left Los Angeles for San Diego early this morning. It's only 100 miles but I took a break twice. Anyway, I arrived San Diego at around 9am. I visited Seaport Village, Downtown, and Coronado. I found Coronado was a piece of heaven. Coronado is a kind of marine resort, but I found a lot of business chances here. Yes, this is not my vacation, of course, it's a business trip. It seems nobody believes me.

I finished my business earlier than expected, and I went to Alesmith Brewing Company. It was unexpectedly very near to my hotel, Holiday Inn Select at North Miramar. I had 2 cups of Friday Specials Summer Yulesmith 2007 Double IPA and a cup of Yulesmith IPA. Oh my god!, What an ale! Oh! Ah! I can't stop it.....

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Pebble Beach Revisited





I revisited Pebble Beach. I drove for a while on 17-miles Drive and visited Lone Cypress and Pebble Beach Golf Links. I Played three times here, but I couldn't made 100. Oh my goodness, I want to come back again, but $475 play fee is too expensive now. Of course I didn't play here last week. Just a taking look at goods in pro shop, I found everything was expensive and got out of here with nothing. I went to Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Links instead. That's a good idea for poor tourist like me.

Pacific Grove, California





Pacific Grove is one of my favorite places in Northern California. Ocean View Blvd is something like 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Links is called municipal "Pebble Beach Golf Links". You don't need to pay toll like 17-Miles Drive and $475 play fee like Pebble Beach Golf Links. Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Links has a better ocean view than Pebble Beach GL. I believe this is the best municipal golf course in the U.S. with only $40 fee on weekend. Back nine has lots of picture-postcard scenery. The sea is at the same level of your eyes. Tourists is looking at your tee shots from Ocean View Blvd. Did I play here? Of course, yes. From white tees, only 5571 yards, par 70. Back nine is hard to place the ball on the fairways because of very strong, direct winds from Pacific ocean. I played much better on back nine, with 47 and 41.

Cabazon, Palm Springs, California





I visited my customers in Cabazon and Palm Springs, California last week. Photos are Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa, Palm Springs Visitors Center, and thousands of windmills in Palm Springs. It was very hot, 113F on that day. Palm Springs is in a desert, like Las Vegas, with sky, winds, sands and rocks only.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Pegi Young at the Henry Miller Library

You can see Neil's electric sitar here.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Neil Young

Neil Young played last three tunes on Pegi's stage.

Pegi Young at Attic:
San Jose Mercury
Pegi at Henry Miller Library:
rust
Pegi Young Debuts in Big Sur

Pegi is here!


Pegi and her band are here.

The Attic in Santa Cruz

The Attic in Santa Cruz, where Pegi Young will appear soon, is just a cafe & gallery. The hall has 200 seats only.

Sunset Inn at Pacific Grove

I called Sunset Inn. Judy, manager, said $159 for a night and I asked for discount. She said $125. I asked if any discount on AAA member. She said $109, finally. But she didn't ask me to show my AAA membership card at check in. I found this motel was really nice, only 20 small, but very comfortable rooms, with jet bath. It also takes only one minutes to Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Course and the beach.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Monterey Fisherman's Wharf

I dropped in at Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey. I have visited here several times before, but I can always enjoy here.

Pacific Grove, California

Am I crazy? I drove 360 miles today, just to see Pegi Young tomorrow. I went to my office this early morning and worked for a few hours, then left Los Angeles for Pacific Grove. I will go to see Pegi Young in Santa Cruz tomorrow. I decided to stay a night in Pacific Grove. Because it takse 6 hours, 360 miles from L.A. 360 miles a day is a piece of cake but 720 miles is too much. Photo is CA-68 from US-101 to Monterey Peninsula.

The Police Reunion Tour at Staples Center



Seats were full of middle aged fans. Opening tune was "Message in the bottle". I enjoyed about 2 hours concert. I like them. However my understanding is they are a pop group, something different from my classic rock heroes, such as Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, etc. So I'm sorry but I don't buy their Cds anymore.

Friday, June 22, 2007

Santa Barbara, California



Santa Barbara, California is one of the places to go in Pacific Coast. Beautiful town, nice street (State Street), and quiet pier, Stearns Wharf. The Stearns Wharf is made with woods and you can park your car at the pier. It took about 2 hours, 100 miles from Torrance, but you have to expect 3 hours going back to Los Angeles in the evening, very very heavy traffic. I tell you the truth, this is business trip, so I didn't go to golf course and didn't buy anything but a T-shirt at The Old Wharf Trading Company, gift shop at the pier.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Palm Springs---Another long day

I left my apartment at 6:30am for Palm Springs, 100 miles away from Los Angeles, this morning. First stop was at Cabazon, then Palm Springs. Cabazon has a large outlets and Morongo Casino, Palm Springs has a lot of golf courses, but of course I didn't play at both. This is my business trip. Wow!, today's Palm Springs highest temperature was 113F (45C). It took 4 hours back to L.A., I worked at my office until 10pm. It was another long day today. I have no power now. I will post Police Reunion Tour, pics I took in Santa Barbara and Palm Springs on this weekend.

The Police at Staples Center

I'm in the Staples Center now. The Police is not on the stage yet. My seat is at almost highest place, left and away from the stage. I don't mind because I'm not a fan of them.

Santa Barbara & The Police Reunion Tour

I visited my customer in Santa Barbara, 100 miles away from Los Angeles, and went to The Police's Reunion Tour today. It's a Lo---ng day today. I don't have enough power to report everything now. I will go to Palm Springs tomorrow, 100 miles away from LA again. Wait for new post until weekend.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Folding@Home Distributed Computing


Folding@Home Distributed Computing

I joined folding@home distributed Computing. My laptop is always on while I'm staying in my apartment. I can do something on my computer for human being. It's wonderful, isn't it?

Apple prepping a cheaper iPhone? Probably. - Engadget


Apple prepping a cheaper iPhone? Probably. - Engadget

This is funny, isn't it?

Monday, June 18, 2007

The Police


I will go to The Police's Reunion Tour on June 20th, this week at Staples Center, Los Angeles. BUT!, to be honest, I don't have any CDs of them and know few songs of The Police. So I went to Best Buy this evening and bought " Every Breath You Take". I took some comfort from the fact that I had actually heard some songs, and remembered, such as, "Roxanne", "Message In The Bottle", "Don't Stand So Close To Me", "Do DO DO, De Da Da Da", "Every Breath You Take". I always hear Classic Rock XM Radio/FM, so it seems those songs stick in my head.

iPhone Delivers Up to Eight Hours of Talk Time


iPhone Delivers Up to Eight Hours of Talk Time, Apple released today. I have a Samsung Black Jack, which I bought just last month, so I don't buy iPhone, but it seems very good.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Neil Young News: The Archives Released Delayed

Neil Young News: The Archives Released Delayed

It's OK. Yes, I can wait. No problem. I got a ticket of Pegi Young at The Attic in Santa Cruz on June 24. I hope Young will be on the stage.

Happy Father's Day!

"Cabrera Conquers At Oakmont
Oakmont, Pa. – It came down to Tiger Woods and a mere foot.
Woods was the only player standing in the way of Angel Cabrera’s first major. Surely the odds were in Woods’ favor, winner of 12 majors against Cabrera’s resume of three European Tour victories. In fact, Cabrera had never won in the United States.
But in the end, having three holes in his pocket to reach Cabrera, Woods came up short. Cabrera held off Jim Furyk and Woods to win the 107th U.S. Open. More", says USGA. I'm very happy to be a member of USGA, support the organization, and find international player won U.S.Open.

I went to my office this morning and found the fuckin' door was still locked. I came back to my apartment and watched U.S.Open from 10am to 4:30pm, when Tiger Woods missed the birdie putt on 18th hole at Oakmont. congratulations! Cabrera. The first victory in the U.S., the first major title, and the first Argentine U.S.Open Champion.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

I'm here at MySpace

I'm here at MySpace.

The Companion® 2 Series II multimedia speaker system by BOSE



I got The Companion® 2 Series II multimedia speaker system by BOSE today. BOSE doesn't sell at discount. I bought it at Best Buy, but it was a suggested retail price itself. They are clever.

I was shut out from my office this morning. My office is an Executive Suite, so I can access my suite 24 hours, 7 days. But the door from the elevator hall to the suites was closed and locked. I don't know why, it should be opened. Anyway, I can't work in my office today, maybe tomorrow too. It could be a trouble for me, because I went home earlier on Friday, you know, it's TGIF (Thank God It's Friday). I have something to finish before Monday. Anyway I can't help it. I went to Best Buy and got speakers.

I'm alone in my office, listening to music every hour, everyday, when I'm in. I usually listen to Deep Tracks, 40 Ch of XM Radio or Concert Vault. I have to listen better sound.

I had a lunch at Yoshinoya, Japanese beef bowl restaurant, then went back to my office. But the door was still closed. Oh my goodness! Now, I had no option but to go to golf course. My game improved significantly at Alondra GC. Just 15 minutes from my office and weekend fee is only $28, very flat course without waters. I didn't keep my score but I remember it was 44, 40. The course is very flat, but it's hard to hit greens in regulation with 6729 yards from blue tees.

For dinner, I went to Inaba, Japanese restaurant, with my old friend with his family again. I had a glass of Sapporo draft beer and Suishin、Japanese sake. Torrance is really nice place to stay for Japanese people. I can live here very conveniently, as almost same or better than in Japan.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Naughty, Bawdy and Blue by Maria Muldaur




I got "Naughty, Bawdy and Blue" by Maria Muldaur today. New release in May. Good blues album. Bonnie Raitt joined with vocal on track 3, "Separation Blues". Raitt said "How great to hear these classic blues again, done up right by one of my favorite singers and the incredible James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band. I loved joining in on Sippie Wallaces's Separation Blues".

Pics are album jacket. Signiture of Muldaur, she has her own liner of 4 pages. Muldaur in around 1960, from Bob Dylan's "No Direction Home".

PS: I met Muldaur in early 1990 in Jazz Club in Hong Kong, very small club with only around 50 seats.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Temecula, California


I visited my customer in Temecula, California today. Before visiting them, I visited Pala Casino Spa Resort, one of Indian casinos in California, which was also my customer. It took about one and half hours from my office in Torrance. 100 miles!, but that's a piece of cake for me now. I also visited Pechanga Casino in Temecula to see what's happening in Indian casinos in California. Picture is the entrance to Old Town Temecula. Temecula is the site of one of the oldest wineries in California. I couldn't visit winery here but I bought one bottle in a wine shop in Old Town. I can show you at next post.

PS: You don't believe me, do you? But, I didn't play any slot machines. This is a business trip. What's business am I in!? It's a secret.

Ropeless Jump Rope "Jump Snap"/100SHIKI.COM


Ropeless Jump Rope "Jump Snap"/100SHIKI.COM

I like this site, "100SHIKI.COM" and watch everyday. But only in Japanese. They're introducing an interesting dot.com website everyday. I found this is a fun, Ropeless Jump Rope. "Jump Snap".

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

California Driver License


I got my California Driver License today. I thought it would take a month to be mailed, but I got it today. In United States, form of the license is different in each state. California's is above and Georgia's is below in the pic. It's so strange to have two photo IDs in the U.S. What will happen? I can still drive a car if I lose one of the licenses. Georgia's will expire on August 2009, which is my visa's expiry date, but California's expiry date is the first birth date in 5 years, which is April 6, 2012. My last California license expired in 2003. DVD of California renewed my license very easily, without driving test, even if I haven't had a license for more than 4 years. Anyway, I am a California boy now, officially.

PS: Georgia didn't ask me to provide my fingerprint but California asked me. Georgia didn't ask me to take my glasses off when taking photo, but California asked me to take them off.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Memphis, Tennessee T shirt

I'm buying T shirts in every state I visit. This is it from
Memphis, Tennessee.

Trump National Golf Club

From Black tee on the 18th hole

That's Black tee on the 18th hole, from the green side of 17th hole

1st hole



I was in my office from 8am to 2:30pm today, Sunday. I have no day off recently, but I need work out, you know, on the green, at least on the weekend. I arrived Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes at 3pm. It takes 20-30 minutes only from my apartment. The course hosted LPGA's Office Depot Championship in October 2005. I teed off alone from blue tees, front nine has 3346 yards, at 3:20pm, the first start of twilight rate, $194.99. Wow! It seems too expensive, BUT I found there was a great worth in it. I can see the sea from all 18 holes. I think the view itself can be same as or better than Pebble Beach Golf Links or Spanish Bay in Monterey Peninsula. Don't ask my score. I gave up to keep my score after 8th hole, where I hit 3 balls into the water. Fairways are narrow, no safety zone, rough has more than 3 inches. On the back nine, I teed up on the white tee, 2738 yards. I didn't keep my score any more, but I lost more than 10 balls out here. So don't imagine that. Black tee on the 18th hole is a kind of fear. Of course I teed up at white tee, because I was almost running out my balls.

Saturday, June 09, 2007

Teppan KAZAMIDORI

I went to my office at around 10am today, Saturday. I have finished my expenses report for these 2 months, report of business trip to Las Vegas last week, and report of this week activities. I'm a workaholic now, completely different from myself when I have been in California last time. It's true. Believe me. But I have to work out on weekend, because I don't do any exercise everyday, driving my car, that's all. So I went to work out at around 4pm. Of course it's on the green, you know.

A friend of mine, he has been in California for almost 10 years, invited me to a dinner with his family this evening, at Teppan KAZAMIDORI in Torrance. It's a fan to have a drink and Yakitori with my old friend and his family. I used to have too much drink in his home in Redwood City in Northern California. That's back to 1999-2002. His children are now 8 and 10 years old. They don't remember me, but it seems they like me. I miss my family.

At Hawthorne Blvd and Carson Street

I drive Hawthorne Blvd to my office at Carson Street. This photo is on Hawthorne north just in front of Carson. Del Amo Fashion Center on the right, my office on the left. It takes just 2-3 minutes from my apartment to my office. Now I can't believe it took more than 2 hours in Japan.

PS: Wikipedia says "Del Amo Fashion Center is a two-level regional shopping mall in Torrance, California, USA.

With a current gross leasable area (GLA) of 2.5 million ft², it is one of the largest shopping malls in the United States. The mall features three food courts, seven anchors stores, including three Macy's locations, JCPenney & Sears, more than 300 retailers, multiple full-service restaurants, a new fitness center and a new AMC Theatres multiplex. It is currently managed and co-owned by The Mills Corporation."

Friday, June 08, 2007

The Police Reunion Tour



I got a ticket of The Police Reunion Tour at Staples Center, Los Angeles on June 20. I bought it from a fan at $123.20 including fee, in Ticketmaster market place, because I could find $250 something seat, official ticket only. I'm not a fan of The Police, so $250 is a bit expensive for me even if it's a good location. If it's Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison or J.J.Cale, I would buy it. I don't know very well about The Police and Sting, but, anyway, it's a historic concert, isn't it? Better to go, right?