Looking for the Dark Side

Today I'll be looking for the evil walmart. Surprise surprise, there isn't one within a 15 miles range of here. I could find a costco, but I don't need anything in those bulk quantities. I am a bachelor of sorts.

I was up at 6:00am today and worked on my computer to get it set up. But it does not connect to the Internet, which is driving me NUTS! All the neighbors have locked wireless networks. The downfall of living in a tech savvy area. No open "linksys" access points! I did see one with an SSID of "please work this time" indicating the painstaking setup process.

My only connection to the world is through this tiny iPhone screen. I gotta take a shower and get rolling. Maybe I can find a Starbucks (another evil place) to connect to the Internet and download the drivers I need for my computer.

First Day in CA

This is my first trip to CA without a return ticket. The flights were smooth. I got a first class upgrade for one of the three legs of my trip. Managed to get some sleeps and some reading and for the first time in my life, my luggage were the very first to arrive.

I took a cab to DAS and picked up my car. As usual, there were lots of autographed pictures of movie stars on the walls who apperently very happy shipping their cars using them. They seem to take the movie star validation very seriously here.

The apartment was ready, cool and clean. I made many trips bringing in my stuff from the car. Met an older Iranian lady in the elevator and asked for tips on where to shop for groceries. She gave me directions

to whole foods and other pricey places and closed by saying "if you are one of those who shops at Ralphs, there is one on such and such." In a snooty tone. I almost said "hey, the dude shops at Ralphs!"

I am having a bit of buyers remorse about moving to California tonight. Three plastic bags of grocery containing bananas, oranges, coffee, tomatoes, lettuce and such cost $35 bucks. I miss the family and feel a bit lonely, thinking to myself "what the heck were you thinking? What are you doing here? Should have just moved to Bloomfield Hills!"

Oh well. Let's see what the first day will bring.

Hanging out on Santa Monica Pier

These days, they make you a clay statue of you on the spot. The price
varies from $10 to $20, depending on your negotiating skills and the
opportunity cost of the vendor.

Hiking the Temescal Trail

It's a beautiful trail in the Topanga State Park. Took the Temescal Canyon Rd to the end, drove through some very high-rent neighborhoods of pacific palisades and picked up the trailhead. It was a 1 hour stroll through lush vegetation and breathtaking views of the oacen, Santa Monica, LA and beyond.

Ocean, Mountains, Ritzy Neighborhoods, all you need is lo... I mean Money

Surfing at the Manhattan Beach

Eyes burning, feet sore, nose, face and neck sun-burnt! We went surfing today, or something that invloved dragging around a surf board in cold waters and getting knocked around in big waves, fighting rip tides and undertoes. Lots of fun though, and we almost got the hang of it.

Sight Seeing Day

Drove to Hollywood yesterday. Passing through Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Redeo Drive, etc.
Beverly Hills is aperently 25% persians with an Iranian born mayor. I still don't think we'll be moving there anytime soon!

Here are some pics:

UCLA

Rodeo Drive

Outside the Graumans

Nice Wax

More Wax Dreams

Graumans the day after the Oscars

The best part was the wacky drive up to this point

Posting from iPhone

Just set up Carly with her own blog.
Had a decent Thai dinner last night. California Thai spring rolls look like this and taste like a delicious rolled up salad.

Maleki Goes West

Dipping my toes in the SoCal pacific waters. More later.