yum yum dim sum
Weekly Update:
Lately there have been quiet a few visitors coming to So Cali and with more still to come! I've been pretty busy hanging out, picking folks up, dropping others off and then just the normal day-to-day stuff, I'm tired. But recently it was a co-worker and his wife but then over-lapping that was my neighbor's family and then on top of that another friend from Florida and their family. But wait, there is more! So in a couple of weeks another co-worker from Florida will arrive and the day they leave, another co-worker arrives! Then in September another co-worker arrives and then later on in that month, another friend. So far, I have an break in October but then in November, another co-worker is visiting (who I haven't in person yet). I wonder if anyone will plan something for December! It is a revolving door of visitors here!
At the movies:
New at #1 this weekend is The Fantastic Four: First Steps with a solid 118 million to open. Word-of-mouth is fair on this one and 2nd week will definitely tell us more. Drop down to #2 is Superman with 24.9 mil as it quickly approaches 300 mil for domestic cume and should get it end of this week. Holding ground at #3 is Jurassic World: Rebirth with 13 mil as it just barely crosses the 300 mil mark. Hanging on to #4 is F1: The Movie as it earns 6.2 mil extra and continues to race along for another week. Rounding off the top 5 is Smurfs with 5.4 mil and this will probably vanish after this week.
Quote of the week:
"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock." - Will Rogers
Facts & Tips:
The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.
In '89, our leadership knew that American submarines were
testing the limits of Chinese territorial waters. We laid mines all along the
coast. Figuring if one of our subs hit a mine, it would be forced to surface
and America would be forced to admit they violated Chinese waters. We'd hold
your crew for a few weeks as a show of outrage But really we would be tearing
your submarine apart and stealing all the technology. In fairness, it's a good
plan. Except we didn't account for the weather. One bad storm, and over 50
mines broke free and drifted out into the open ocean directly towards your war
games. One of those mines sank the "Tampa." And if the currents had
been stronger, they would have drifted toward your fleet and started World War
III. We got lucky in '89, Magic. Let's hope that never happens again. - Kelvin Yee Han as Liu Wei in Quantum Leap (2023).
Which half??
On Saturday I went to the OC Fair! I have not been since pre-Covid and even longer before that. I just lost interest in going but I had some friends from out-of-town in and thought it might be fun to go again. It was fun but everything was still expensive. I guess you kind of expect that when going to something like this. They have the regular stuff you see at the fair; rides, games, animals and of course the food. I would never trust going on a ride at the fair. Those rickety things and you can hear the screeching and metal sounds when they are going or being idle! Nope, no thank you! Games are ok, designed for you to lose more money than what you can get in prizes and I honestly do not need anymore things. Animals are fun to see but I didn't see a lot of them. The ones I did see, they kept repeating in each barn. Goats in one and goats in another and the more goats... ok, I saw the goats already so why am I seeing them again? Now the foods... prices were crazy but they are still good. Always have to get the funnel cake and I felt like they were almost double the thickness since I last went. This felt like the best value to me, worst value with the brisket sandwich. It was just over $20 for a regular sized sandwich. It was good but come on, make it a combo for that price. Overall had a fun time but just have to be prepared to spend a lot of money. Definitely something you only do once a year or maybe every other year unless they lower some pricing. Maybe $10 a ticket instead of $15 if you order in advance and $15 at the window. Parking maybe start at $10 (instead of $15) and go up from there. Just make some element a bit less so the other stuff feels better.
Do you typically get a bagel, cut it in half and toast it or at least cut in half, maybe put a spread or just butter on it and enjoy? And then did you think oh, I got an everything bagel or an asiago bagel to then realize wait... I got one everything (or asiago) and one plain bagel? When you cut it in half, all the seasoning or toppings is just on one side. Why is that, why don't they put the seasoning on both ends? Not a huge deal but I get a bagel for the seasoning (unless of course it's plain then it doesn't matter) but if I eat the half with the everything seasoning on it, then the next bagel half is plain. Same with a jalapeno bagel or the asiago one... I now feel like I am paying full price for half a bagel (at least the kind I wanted) so in theory I am getting one plain and one whatever the topping is. Now there is another interesting thing, toppings... with bagels they don't say toppings, just say what it is. I guess if they say a topped everything bagel that would be different but, they don't. I think bagels should be 75% less expensive now if you get one with a topping, just saying.
At the movies:
Keeping it's spot at #1 for a 2nd weekend is Superman with another 57.3 million and now over 200 mil. On a steady track to hit 300 mil in no time. Also holding on to #2 is Jurassic World Rebirth with 23.4 mil extra and closing in on 300 mil, should be there probably by end of next weekend. New at #3 is I Know What You Did Last Summer with 13 mil and not a great number, will probably fade out quickly. Also new at #4 is Smurfs with only 11 mil and this franchise seems to be tapped out. Holding at #5 is F1 The Movie with another 9.6 mil and quickly coming to the finish line under 200 mil.
New movies that did not make the top 5:
Just one this week at #7 is Eddington earning only 4.3 mil and on a wide release pattern.
Quote of the week:
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - Confucius
Facts & Tips:
Hot water will turn into ice faster than cold water.
"It is the labor that makes us who we are, not the fruit that it yields." - Abraham Benrubi as Arlo in the TV series Once Upon a Time.
(Boba) tea time?
Weekly Update:
I'm not sure if I mentioned this before but there is a new boba tea place that took over a previous boba tea spot which they took over the previous boba tea location. So... I'm confused, why does it keep closing and reopening as a new and different boba brand? One thing I am happy about is they continue to offer the spicy Taiwanese popcorn chicken which is my favorite but the drinks are kind of different but the same, if that makes sense. But again, why would you open a boba place after the previous boba place closed? Here is another funny thing, there is a boba place across the street from it in an opposite shopping center and awhile ago there was another boba place diagonally across the street (but I think that has since closed but not 100% sure). I know we are in a collage city/town but do we need that many boba places in a one block radius? I mean maybe we do but I haven't really seen any one location packed or lines for days yet.
At the movies:
Soaring into #1 this weekend is Superman with a hefty 122 million. A very solid number for a non-holiday Summer release and overall reviews are good for the film. Hopefully it holds over strong for a 2nd weekend. Drop down to #2 is Jurassic World Rebirth with 40 mil but now just over the 200 mil mark and well on it's way to 300. Hanging on to #3 is F1 The Movie with an extra 13 mil as it starts to slow down a bit. Still flying high at #4 is How to Train Your Dragon (live version) with 7.8 mil and will end up very far from 300 mil but still broke the 200 mark! Rounding off the top 5 is Elio with 3.9 mil and likely the last time we see this one on the charts.
Quote of the week:
"We first make our habits, and then our habits make us." - John Dryden
Facts & Tips:
Bees can fly higher than Mount Everest.
"Do I have to state the obvious? I was never here." - Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut in the TV series Breaking Bad.
Matcha mean by that?
This past Friday was 4th of July and as always, fireworks going off all night long. As I've said in the past, no longer a fan of the holiday and fireworks in general and mainly due to having pets. Even though I don't have dogs at the moment, it's still the memory of poor Orion every holiday that had fireworks (4th, Labor Day, New Year's) and how scared the poor pup was every single time. Since having dogs (again) and how it affected one of them, just lost my love or like for fireworks and I know thousands of dogs suffer from fear of fireworks and they have no idea what is going on and what to do. Even if you are holding them, they are still scared. It's like someone with PTSD after being in a warzone of some kind be it military or civilian, it affects humans just the same. I know they are used for celebration but it's too bad that sound is as big as it is instead of just seeing the lights. I think I am starting to like drone shows more now because you don't hear a thing.
Weekly Update:
I realized recently I'm not a matcha person... it taste too herbie? Is that a word? But it tastes too much like a herb to me which I'm used to herbs being more accenting a dish rather than be the main dish. I recently got another croffle (croissant and waffle combo) with matcha on it and it was over-powering in flavor of herbs from the matcha. I guess all the other times I have things with matcha it was subtle or a hint of it, but not a full cream of it on top of the croffle. So a lot of matcha is just not for me, it really is a strong flavor and takes away from everything unless it's a small dose or amount of it in something like a drink or a powder sprinkle on top of a cake or other dessert. But I have had match ice cream, I guess it's mixed with more cream than matcha for something like that.
At the movies:
Roaring it's way to #1 is Jurassic World Rebirth with a holiday weekend box office of 147.3 million to open (91.5 mil for the weekend). Very good number as we are in mid-Summer season already but reviews have not been so good on this film despite a solid box office. Time will tell on this one how it will do overall. Drop down to #2 is F1 The Movie with an extra 26.1 mil as it breaks the 100 mil mark. Also falling down a spot to #3 is How to Train Your Dragon (live version) with 11 mil as this one is starting to lose it's wind. Holding on to #4 is Elio with 5.7 mil and this one is quickly tapping out for a Disney/Pixar film and under-performing. Rounding off the top 5 is 28 Years Later with 4.6 mil and the dead is, well dead.
Quote of the week:
"It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues." - Abraham Lincoln
Facts & Tips:
Lemons float in water, but limes sink.
"Hey, Shannon. Look, I'm just gonna cut to the chase here, okay? Would you like to go to the dance on Friday?" - Neil Grayston as Jordon Rosen in the TV series Edgemont.
