Sweet and Salty

Sorry Laura and Adin that this was not open when you were here!  I won't go on too long about this place but it is a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in The Grove.  It just opened and we missed the soft opening but finally made it for lunch the other day. 

I don't know much about this Ramsay guy but the food here was delicious!  I surely made my dad proud by ordering the shepherd's pie.  The decor and menu items were pretty British inspired, down to a new dessert that I learned about -  eton mess.  I had no idea.  And paleo wasn't looking so, I tried it!  It had berries in it, so I claim 80:20 here.  Just saying, gotta live a little.

Shepherd's pie with lamb meat, mac n cheese in the background

Eton mess, from the Internet because we inhaled it before I could snap a shot

Before we could slip into a food coma, we worked our way through the ever famous Dylan's Candy Bar and into the Farmer's Market area.  I strangely only first heard of Dylan's from Project Runway, so sometimes it DOES pay to watch television.  Goodbye teeth.

Over on the Farmer's Market side, they shape their meats, which I thought was really neat...s.  Love a good rhyme, c'mon.  Olive eyes...

Traffic on the way home reminded me of where I live, though it is starting to feel more like home (away from home, of course).

My travel company likes to remind me where I am also, in their control.  Must do this.  Need this paperwork.  Deadlines and risks of being removed from everything I benefit from and enjoy out here.  Thanks, buzzkillers.

My printer is out of ink.  My apartment building is surprisingly out of ink in their printer (as always is the case).  The office wasn't open, so I called on my friend Danielle to borrow her far superior computer room and printer.  It was so fancy in there! Yes, this is really the computer room!  The computers are stored in the wall on the sides where you can't see them.  Very posh...

Thanks Danielle!

If you haven't had a chance to listen to Ellie Goulding's new album, Halcyon, do it!  It has been my obsession since I gave up Florence recently.  I can't stop playing it and continue to fall in love with each song.  Just one more play...

She was, to my surprise, at The Grove this past week.  I made special arrangements to be there to see her and hopefully a song or a mini show.  I waited where I thought she would be (near the Extra stage for her interview) but there wasn't anything set up.  I made a few laps and a pit stop in Dylan's again (whoops!).  I passed Barnes and Noble.  I rechecked the schedule.  I went back to my car before traffic was about to get out of control.  Something must have happened...  When I got to my car, I checked The Grove's Facebook page.  Look at what they had posted three minutes earlier.  THREE MINUTES! 

Rage.

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I bought my tickets for home last night!  Unfortunately, it was significantly cheaper for me to leave Friday instead of Saturday so, we will have to hug it out for six and not seven days instead.  Let's make it count!

With such a big spend, I am trying to behave buuuuuuuuuuuuut.... This is my weekend off from work!  I had a really trying day at work yesterday, in which the charge nurse hugged me and thanked me for all of my efforts with this extremely difficult family and patient.  I left for the evening and she said "I will miss you and your care" so I guess my efforts were noticed.  I learned a lot about working on that unit so as much as it hurt, I grew as a nurse there. 

So on this, my first day to sleep in, I was naturally up bright and early, thank you dayshift.  Luckily for Max, this meant that I had time to make it a puppy spa day!  I went to buy food for him aka learn where the Petco is out here.  To my surprise, his regular food had an updated bag and the food is shaped a bit differently, but he liked it just the same.  As I was picking out his bag, making sure it was the same as before, I noticed a significant updated detail on the bag.  They gave age ranges!  Adult dog is now only 2-6 years old.  If this is true, Max, age 7.75, should be eating the Senior kibble.  What does that even mean!?  I was so flustered and in denial that I knocked the bag off the counter as I tried to quickly pay and escape the rude message that store was telling me.  My puppy who just ran a 5K with me the other day is no senior!

Then we made it to the self wash place, Tailwashers.  Oh boy!  He shivered and shook like he lived on the east coast for a minute ;)  The facility was nice enough, the price was right but the soap was pretty weak.  At least they had a blow dryer for him.  We both left that place covered in hair.  At least one of us smelled nice.  And for that, we thank you Hollywood.

See?  PUPPY.

 
Max can now boast to his fur friends that he gets his hair done at the same places as pets belonging to Rachel Bilson, Kristen Bell, Ellen Pompeo and, surprisingly, Olivia Wilde!  Neat-o!


On our drive there, we detoured through the Warner Brothers Studio Buildings.  So pretty, so famous, so my side streets.  

"in 500 feet, make a right onto Olive" says GPS

Tis the season for holiday movies.  What are your favorite ones to watch?  I love watching these every year around Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I would recommend all of them!

1.  The Descent  2.  The Orphanage  3.  Home for the Holidays  4.  Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas


I am planning on a very Korean evening that starts with drinks on top of the Hollywood Tower Apartment Building overlooking the Hollywood sign.  Looking forward to my next update!  Should be a fun adventure with the girls.  

And there you have it. 

Happy Halloween everyone!

XO

**Down to 4 weeks before I'm home!

Food-Music-Fun-Repeat

In anticipation of the Florence and the Machine concert coming up, I was listening to everything I have on repeat.  Blasting it in the car on the way to work, while I showered and got ready for the day and also, while I made paleo foods, which is increasing in frequency now that I have cook books.  This time, I was making meat muffins.  That's right.  They may sound weird but they were delicious!  Meat, spinach and spices.  

The other day, one of the nurses I was working with got sent home early because he was sick so I was assigned to pick up one of his patients instead of getting an admission.  This was a welcomed treat!  The guy had already been settled in and I just had to technically babysit him until change of shift report for the oncoming nurse.  I went into his room and introduced myself, offered him something to eat or drink, a repositioning.  He was my favorite flavor of patients, a male octogenarian!  He was watching the news and muted it so we could talk (I love manners).  I asked if there was any good news yet, he relayed that they were reporting a 60% chance of rain this week.  ohmygosh!  I laughed and said that it sounded like everyday where I came from, which is hardly news.  He asked where I was from, "Pennsylvania" ... "Pittsburgh area"  then he said "Me too.  Grew up in New Kensington!"  Immediately, he was my favorite patient.  It was nice to chat with someone from home, even if he hadn't lived there in over 60 years. 

As I always tell my patients when they ask, "Are you back tomorrow too?" I relay that I am not (most of the time) and that I guess I will have to find some way to entertain myself in sunny California.  This time, I went biking in Santa Monica and Venice beach for the day.  It was another beautiful day and because it was a weekday, it wasn't horribly crowded. 

The views...

Pit stop to people watch

After some hours of terrifying traffic crossing/parallel riding with buses and speeding cars, we stopped for a break to watch the sunset.  Even though it was a crowded day, sunset never seems to be overpopulated.  Everyone finds their place and it becomes quiet for just a moment.  It never gets old to me.

No words.

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Though it took some preparing, this cookbook did not lie when it named this "The Best Chicken You Will Ever Eat"  It was so moist and flavorful.  I pat myself on the back for this one.  Go me!  I have actually been using the rooftop grill pretty frequently and wondered what bacon wrapped asparagus would turn out like and, duh, it was incredible! 

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FINALLY!!!!!!!

Waiting in traffic, I could hardly wait for the night to begin!  Florence and the Machine.  Finally!

We planned to park early-ish and grab dinner nearby before the show.  When we made it to the Hollywood Bowl, the second band was just about to start.  The place was PACKED.  The Weeknd started shortly after we were oriented and seated.  I had never heard of him before tonight.  I looked him up later and found out that he has worked with some pretty big names including Drake and Wiz Khalifa.  Pretty impressive.  If you get the chance to check him out, do it.  He put on a pretty good show, better than I was anticipating for an opener.   Currently addicted to his album and falling in love with one song at a time.  It's a mix of a lot of music I like and sounds Maxwell-ish. 

The Weeknd

Even though we were kind of far away (tickets sold out so quickly), the large screens let us see her up close

"Excuse me... Flo?" (name that movie)

 What an incredible night!

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Now that I am on day shift in the city and my friends are still on night shift in the beach cities, our hang out times are becoming more rare.  Luckily, my friend sent a spontaneous mid-day text saying he was near my place and invited me to lunch to catch up. 

We decided on downtown Burbank, which is right down the road from me.  I wanted to explore some places there so we aimlessly headed into downtown.  This little town reminds me a bit of Point Breeze.  It feels more like home and less like city.  I can't wait to explore more of it!

My friend recently started crossfit so he has also become more aware of his diet.  We stopped for lunch at an organic restaurant, Granville.  We were seated close to the edge of the outdoor patio and the hostess warned us about what eventually happened.  We were serenaded by a three boy band from Oregon who had vacationed here over a year ago and never left. 

Hey buskers, shouldn't you be in school today?

I will close with my giggle from this week.  My sister has been blasting me with similar pictures that keep me smiling but this one was sent in perfect timing.  I was boarding the elevator to take Max out and I read this. 

so..  stressed..   out

Have a good weekend!

XO

"Dress Classy, Dance Cheesy"

I love it!  

Look out weddings, this may be my new move.  He blew up overnight and was all over Ellen and SNL.  Have you seen it?  Catchy!

 Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey, sexy la-day...

In addition to being asked if I am married, have a boyfriend or kids, I was recently told that I look Asian, so maybe I have something in me to pick this up easily.  I'll let you know.

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So what else has been up?

Sometimes, did you ever verify that you've made the right decision for yourself?  I have made so much time for reading since I've moved here.  Usually my reading time is paired with pool time.  Thankfully, no one ever really uses the pool at my place so it is very relaxing.

I also get to try different pools, such a rough life, I know, but it has yet to get old for me.  My friends, Danielle and Amanda, live in Hollywood.  They have a fancy lobby with some Alice in Wonderland-esque chairs and Baywatch babes near the pool.  We spent one Sunday afternoon catching up there, pretending we fit in, "borrowing" ice, etc in the middle of a birthday party.  Happy Birthday, China.  Or Jade?  Or Diamond?  What WAS her real name again???  Her outfit and "plastic" were too distracting...

Her pool is a little more used and crowded than mine.  They hung a movie screen over the pool and played the Emmy Awards that night.  Pretty, pretty cool and pretty, pretty Hollywood of them.

I am surprised the homeless haven't uncovered these outdoor beds!

Shhh, don't tell anyone but that guy to the left is one of the original Geico cavemen from the commericals

Just two travel nurses living a dream in Hollywood

Today was a good day.

Back to my place.  There was a filming of Parks and Recreation near my building.   How cool!  I saw none of it.  They post notifications which is kinda cool to be alerted beforehand.  They filmed part of The Office down the road from me.  Dexter was filmed not far from where I used to live, when I still lived there.  Lots going on, just have to keep my eyes open.  Seriously, where are you Amy Poehler?

I created a new challenge (enemy) at home.  See below.

1... 2...

We are barely speaking right now.  

At first, I could barely do one pull up.  I continued to try throughout the day.  My maximum right now is two.  I am getting there!  

When I first started and was having such trouble and was asking other nurses what they do to work out.  One girl, who does some pretty heavy work outs, reassured me saying that you are strong if you are a girl and are able to do a pull up.   Most guys can do them without a problem because all of their weight is in their upper body, girls carry most of their weight (unless you are Jade/Diamond/China) in their hips and thighs and have to pull all of that weight up to do one pull up.  That made me feel better and I tried again when I got home.  That day I did two pull ups consecutively.  Just checked right now and I can STILL do two, woot!  

Oktoberfest 8 never really got itself together.  There is too much exploring to do here!  It's also really hard to coordinate to guarantee guests.  And it's a lot of cooking too.  I haven't even had time to find any Paleo German recipes yet.  Instead, we went to a highly rated German restaurant to celebrate Oktoberfest.   The place was pretty dated but that was part of the charm, minus the cigarette vending machine (really?).  

 Sehr Gut, or something!

Laura and Adin, friends from Pittsburgh, were in town this weekend for a wedding.  They spent every waking minute buzzing around the Hollywood area and made it to me on Monday evening, exhausted.  Being the good sports they are, we were going to try a local place for dinner - closed Mondays.  We then were going to try a new place a little drive away at The Grove - also, closed early.  We ended up at an Italian restaurant across the street which was not terrible luck after all.  Third time was a charm!  I quickly gave a tour of the area we were in before bedtime, showing off Rodeo Drive and some of Beverly Hills and a CVS that surprised them with bottles of booze.  Weird, I know!  We woke up in time for brunch and they headed to the airport.  Though quick, it was nice having a piece of home with me.

Thanks yinz guys for being my first east coast visitors! 

Coming up this week and hopefully soon to be crossed off the to-do list:

• Florence and the Machine in concert next week, cannot wait!

•  Dinner at Gordon Ramsay's new restaurant in The Grove 

• Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios (though I wouldn't mind if this didn't happen)

• Crossfit.  I am really trying to work my way up to this one before I embarrass myself (see pull ups and insanity and paleo) but Adin recently shared some interesting information with me, so we will see where I go with this goal.  

I'll be sure to keep you posted on all of the above.  Thanks for reading!


XO