Glass of Win

OMG guess what, everybody?

It’s the September issue of The Place L.A. – Los Angeles County Visitor Guide where yours truly has a monthly feature talking about eating in the city of lost angels!

This month is special because it kicks off a new series I am delighted to host: Dining during the Golden Age of Hollywood! That’s right ~ for a few precious months I get to chow down at the still remaining eateries where celebrities from yesteryear used to frequent.

If you don’t have access to the physical magazine FEAR NOT for there is an equally adequate digital edition and you will find yours truly on page eight!

THE PLACE – LOS ANGELES digital edition

They say that laughter is the best medicine and, in fact, has been proven to help blood and stuff along with our general mental well-being. I’ve been under the weather for just under a week now and decided it is high time to break out my stand-up comedy DVDs and let the healing begin.

Ever since I was a little girl I was into comedy – first sketch comedy from The Carol Burnett Show reruns and then stand-up. Below is a list of my top ten favorite stand-up comedians, their shtick and links to where you can watch and/or purchase their material. Give ‘em a go and have a laugh.

1. Kathy Griffin
Shtick: Talks about her life as a D-list celebrity, social pariah and dishes up a healthy serving of Hollywood gossip. I’ve seen her live and am desperate to see her again.
Links: Watch/Rent via Netflix | Buy via Amazon | Watch on YouTube

2. Lewis Black
Shtick: Political and social rant-style ravings. Seen him three times – love love love Lew.
Links: Rent/Watch on Netflix | Buy on Amazon

3. Kathleen Madigan
Shtick: Personal and topical
Links: Buy on Amazon | Rent on Netflix

4. Louis C.K.
Shtick: Personal story form based with topical asides. Had me absolutely UNABLE TO BREATHE I was laughing so hard when I saw him live in 2009.
Links: Watch/Rent via Netflix | Buy via Amazon

5. Lisa Lampanelli
Shtick: Comedy’s Lovable Queen of Mean ~ insult comic extraordinaire, nobody is safe with Lisa rockin’ the mic!
Links: Watch/Rent on Netflix | Buy on Amazon

6. Bill Hicks
Shtick: Long live the late great Bill Hicks – a prophet amongst jokers. He told the truth, exposing quirks and realities in our bizarre world.
Links: Rent Sane Man Rent Bill Hicks Live | Buy on Amazon

7. Elvira Kurt
Shtick: Nostalgia and personal based story humor.
Links: Comedy Central Presents watch it or rent it via Netflix!

8. Eddie Izzard
Shtick: Stream of conscious topical and personal style. I saw him live once and it was, sad to say, abysmal. I am still a big fan of his earlier work and love to sing about mango juice.
Watch or Rent: Unrepeatable Definite Article, Glorious, Dress to Kill, Circle

9. Whoopi Goldberg
Shtick: Part sketch, part stand-up Whoopi embodies characters and uses them to express her generational, topical, political, emotional comedy.
Links: Rent on Netflix | Buy on Amazon | Watch on YouTube

10. Craig Ferguson
Shtick: Topical and personal humor.
Links: Rent from Netflix | Buy on Amazon

Aw, screw it, this is the one time in life where my list of who I dislike is infinitely shorter than those I do like so here is another 33 just for the hell of it:

11. Chris Rock
12. Roseanne
13. George Carlin
14. Brett Butler
15. John Pinette
16. Lynne Koplitz
17. Doug Stanhope
18. Margaret Cho
19. Richard Pryor
20. Sabrina Matthews
21. Dave Chappelle
22. Wanda Sykes
23. Bobcat Goldthwait
24. Janeane Garofalo
25. Katt Williams
26. Judy Gold
27. George Lopez
28. Vicki Shaw
29. Jamie Foxx
30. Adele Givens
31. Eddie Murphy
32. Dara Ó Briain
33. Bernie Mac
34. Phyllis Diller
35. Lee Evans
36. Patton Oswalt
37. Matt Kirshen
38. Chelsea Handler
39. Richard Jeni
40. Bill Cosby (early, pre-Jell-o years)
41. D.L. Hughley
42. Jeff Dunham
43. Rob Schimmel

Yes, I have listened to all of these wonderful comics. Extensively. I have a very wide taste in comedy; not everyone does, so I definitely recommend shopping around, as it were, and finding the stand-up comic that makes you laugh.

And wouldn’t you know it – Netflix just released all of Comedy Central Presents on Instant Watch. Well, I know where I’ll be hanging around for a while.

My friend Ariana is conducting research for her grad student studies and she needs females 18 and older to take her survey.

All participants remain completely confidential!

Purpose of This Study
The purpose of this research is to study attitudes towards female genital cosmetic surgery. This study will research the factors which contribute to a woman’s decision to seek female genital cosmetic surgery, and how these factors interact.

This is a very intriguing and highly taboo subject. I honestly had no idea that women around the globe are undergoing elective genital cosmetic surgery. I figured it was purely for those women who suffered great atrocities – such as a clitoridectomy.

My friend is extraordinarily intelligent and I wish her to succeed in every avenue of her life. Please take the 10-20 minutes out of your life to fill out this survey.

I don’t write too much about personal, everyday kind of stuff on this blog but I don’t entirely know why…I guess because I feel like I’ll come off as an attention-seeking, unprofessional, whining bore. I think too much too often is a no-no but then again, it let dooce quit her day job, run a business, get on HGTV and buy a freakin’ house, so why the hell not?

Anyway, I guess this is a “checking in” sort of post. I’m checking in with my readers and letting them know what’s going on in my life. I think the most publicized kind of goings on are found on Twitter, where I have to restrain myself daily from being all TMI and people going, “Good Lord this crazy lady Tweets a lot, I gotta de-friend her ass!”

So, my life this summer so far:

Ireland – Was amazing. I know that it has been very slow going getting posts up and such, but I haven’t really been home or had time to myself for that matter to get properly organized. Slowly, but surely, everything I want to blog about in regards to Ireland will trickle out. You can, however, check out all of (the good) my pictures on Flickr (link in sidebar).

Being a Bridesmaid part III – I am such a pro at being a bridesmaid and frankly, I don’t know why the hell there is a stigma about being a bridesmaid because I LOVE IT. You know why?
1) Nothing says “A+” in being a friend like being asked to participate in this special occasion for a friend
2) I get to help my bride(s) out when/where needed
3) I am in the first group to hit up the buffet at the reception!

The wedding was gorgeous and I am SO happy for my friend Liz (who reads this blog when she has the chance – HEY, MRS. P!)

The only downfall about the wedding (and this is purely me and my fault) is that it came at the tail end of my vacation…meaning….

Vacation Weight – Oh, yeah. I packed it on and my doctor gave me his best stern You-Know-Better-Than-This gaze. Let’s just say I really enjoyed the food in Ireland, ate my fill in Washington and never bothered looking at my gym membership card during the month between my two trips. REGRETS? I HAS NONE! (Except perhaps not looking my absolute best in my bridesmaid dress)

I am going to cut back on the sweets, happy hours and start minding my exercise a bit more. Luckily, I have had a great start and since coming back on Monday afternoon, I have gone for walks, worked out with a Susan Powter DVD, and gone to the gym twice – which included finally making the acquaintance of the gym pool. I used the pool at our hotel in Seattle and can you believe it, I had forgotten how much I adore swimming! Such excellent exercise PLUS, unlike regular gym machine work outs, my brain is actively engaged (’cause you know, otherwise I’ll drown!)
I am very determined to get into a better habit. I think if I talk about it a little bit more I’d be more inclined to keep it up.
Have you ever put on vacation weight? How did you work it off?

BLOOD! – I normally keep new health maladies under wraps unless it’s heart related (because then it’s like BRING IT ON) but as I mentioned earlier I was at the doctor’s this week and a blood culture showed low white, red and platelet blood cells. My GP referred me to a hematologist, who I will be seeing next Thursday afternoon. Between now and then I am going to be trying my DAMNEDEST not to flip out. I stress out and go to that dark place that exists in all of our minds when the frightening unknown rears its head in my life. The only way I am not going to completely turn into a nervous wreck is if I talk about it rationally and keep it an open topic with people. I’ve already exhausted Mister J (who is also on vacation and therefore not here to calm me down in person but did a smashing job this morning after I first found out) and my mom (who is already sick of answering, “But you don’t think it’s leukemia, right?”). I can’t be Scarlett O’Hara and “think about it tomorrow”; when I worry, I W-O-R-R-Y. It totally consumes me and I can’t think about anything else. I stress eat, zone out to shit television and sleep all day. I am determined to NOT do this. I did a good job with keeping to my schedule today and going to de-stress at the pool before hanging out with a friend, buying make up and doing some housework.
I DID NOT DOWN A PINT OF ICE CREAM AND A BOTTLE OF JAMESON!

I don’t want any sympathy for sharing this – no frowny faces, please, just happy thoughts aimed in my direction!

Anyway, this is what is going on right now. Around the corner is CAMP! and I am too excited for words ~ I’ll blog about it after it happens anyway.

So, I have a question for you:

Do you like bloggers posting about their life outside of the internet, even if it isn’t always marvelously wonderful things?

header image credit

My 30 Before 30 is officially underway and if you want to learn more about it check out my list here.

I knew I’d be headed to Washington state and what more ideal place can I find fresh seafood on the west side of the USA? Southern California does have some decent places, but if you’re going to eat out of the Pacific, make sure it’s up north.

In my minimal time spent in Washington, I was able to squeeze in seafood from three very different locations.

C’est Si Bon in Port Angeles

Crab Souffle so light and fluffy it melted right in my mouth. The owners are a jovial French couple who left the Hollywood area to build a restaurant up in the laid back town of Port Angeles. This dish was hands down my favorite of my entire trip, complimented with a starter of French Onion soup (which is only matched by my local French joint, Bistro de la Gare.) Norbert and Michele are so personable and lovely, I could not have asked for a more pleasurable time and tasty meal.

C’est Si Bon website

Etta’s in Seattle
Founded by famed chef Tom Douglas, Etta’s was enjoyable but a little too much haute and not enough cuisine for my liking. The Kusshi oysters small but plump, smooth and creamy. I only wish it had come with more.


The same can be said of the clam chowder – more clams. However, the fennel crackers were a nice touch.

Etta’s website

The Crab Pot at Pier 57 in Seattle

Easily my least favorite and the biggest disappointment as I gave into the hype led by Adam Richman from Man vs. Food. Note to self: Adam is a viable source of entertainment only; strictly reserve all recommendations from TV to Anthony Bourdain. My biggest complaints are the weak cocktail, the fact that I am paying good money for seafood and they can’t be bothered to
1) devein the shrimp
2) Either use a shot glass for their “oyster shooter” or keep it in its shell because seriously, look at this atrocity:


An oyster drowned in beer, hot sauce and shame in a pathetic plastic cup not unlike those administered at medication time in the hospital.

Good crab, corn and clams, decent mussels but sketchy shrimp and potatoes only there to add weight

I am ashamed at myself for not having done my homework properly, as I probably would have had a better experience with seafood directly in Seattle if I went out for sushi and visited a well-established oyster bar. I only had a couple of days with only a morning completely to myself and I used that to take full advantage of my hotel’s pool (can you blame me?) so I suppose I will use this as a lesson well learned and take this opportunity to vow to return to Seattle and have some proper seafood.

Today I woke up with a serious case of the BLAH’S that were threatening to worsen and ruin my weekend. I decided to take this bout of depression by the throat and give it a good throttle; I was not going to let it take me over and make me climb back into my bed and be miserable. So I got dolled up, grabbed a blanket, my boyfriend, some lunch and headed to our local park.

Bow: H&M
Dress: Dunnes (Ireland)

Teapot & Teacup necklace from Top Shop

This was a great time to test out some colors I ordered from Aromaleigh.
I used: Tamarind (base color), First Kiss (second) & Dragonfly (top). They’re shiny without being too flashy, the perfect daytime colors.

I’m sorry that Aromaleigh has decided to close shop; you can still grab some of their nifty mineral makeup with a 35% coupon code at the website.

Without flash

With flash

I made us some sandwiches, homemade natural lemonade, and packed up some snacks & fruits. After we ate, we laid on the picnic blanket and watched the clouds drift by:

taken by me

We took a leisure stroll back home, weaving in and out of the beautiful neighborhoods near our park, pointing out which houses we liked best. I remembered to stop and smell the roses:

taken by me

It’s amazing what some sunshine, cloud gazing and time away from the indoors (especially the computer) can do for the human spirit.

Earlier this week Glass of Win was bestowed with the One Lovely Blog Award from SR from How Can I Explain It To You? The Life of a Grad Student with Lupus

As acceptance of this award, the following criteria should be met:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

There are so many great blogs out there, and only a handful are new to me but these are the 16 I read the most (aside from a couple of blogs that were already given the award, though I am unsure if any of my friends below have also been awarded). I’m sorry for not better describing these blogs ~ trust me, they’re all filled with life, love, and humor. Please give some of your blog reading time to these wonderful blogs:

1. Milk Glass Mao – My BFF. History nerd, archeologist, cravat enthusiast and cat lady extraordinaire.
2. Modern Renaissance – Dreams, inspiration, style & wit.
3. Gothique – The best mainstream & independent beauty/bath reviews on the internet written by Grey, a lovely, personable individual with a keen sense of style.
4. Yes and Yes – My travel and inspirational GO GET LIFE! guru.
5. Indy Grrrl – Movie reviews, personal style & humor with a fab Etsy store (or two!)
6. Wicked Whimsy – Sharp intelligence & strong style; I always learn something new from Michelle.
7. Frock and Roll – Corrine posts like she is only talking to me; she always knows to address the topics that matter in life & is always there to provide much needed inspiration.
8. The Margarita Glass is Half Full – Hilarious randomness; a relatively new blog in my Reader and I’m loving every post.
9. Trixie Fantastic – Fabulous advice, artistic eye and wonderful human being.
10. Defective Geeks – My pal Dianne and her adventures being a geek in & around Los Angeles. Great event reports!
11. Agent Lover – The HILARIOUS Marie and her blog of nonstop entertainment. Seriously, you can spend a whole day reading the AL archives. Not that I have…or…anything.
12. Adventures of a Funky Heart – Steve, my fellow adult with a congenital heart defect, with his seemingly endless sunny disposition and crusade to bring us heart warriors together.
13. The Glamorous Grad Student A. ~ Ireland-based grad student with lovely style & advice. I’m in the process of going back and reading her older posts!
14. Unicorns for Socialism – Newest blog in my Reader ~ funny, witty, sharp & totally awesome.
15. Miseducated – The collective started by artist Amber Renee, a virtual candy colored cornucopia of love & wonderment.
BONUS! 16. Being Tazim – The world and life of Tazim, a lady who just keeps inspiring me to always do what I love.

Thank you fellow bloggers for providing me with inspiration, advice and much needed kinship. I love you all.

Hello, dear readers. I returned from Ireland last night and I have been enjoying a low-key day of rest. I kept a travel journal that I plan to divide into several posts to use for reviews and reports of places I went. First, though I’d like to announce that Glass of Win is going to go under a revamp with design and material. Flashback Friday and Weekly Toast Wednesday will no longer be featured and Music Monday is still being debated.

The focus of Glass of Win will be aimed at food, traveling, product reviews, event reporting and personal reflections with emphasis on congenital heart defect including sharing interviews that I’ve conducted with fellow CHD-ers.

Randomness is bound to pop up every now and then (Sunday Style/Shopaholic Saturday – but I’ll probably try to encourage more guest bloggers for those topics) but being away from my website has given me time to reflect what I really want to share with the internet and how to use my time more wisely.

Glass of Win will be on a temporary hiatus while I try to figure out a new design (feel free to email me if you’re interested in helping or have a web designer you’d like to suggest)

I’m also very curious to hear your input, so please let me know what you enjoy about Glass of Win.