Car-ma

Marco and I have been talking about replacing his 2002 Mitsubishi Montero for a few months (years, really, but he kept saying, “I think I can make it one more year with this car”) and we finally did it!  We test-drove a Prius and looked at some Kias, and walked around Carmax, but we finally decided on the Mazda 3, for the gas mileage.  We looked up local Mazda dealerships, and decided on Mazda of Orange, since the taxes would be cheaper in the OC than in Riverside County.

We went for a test-drive, and told ourselves we weren’t going to buy yet (famous last words), and we drove my car there.  Well, he decided he liked the hatchback, and our 22-year-old son-of-the-manager salesman awkwardly suggested that we buy it.  Actually, he was great, and we spent the whole test-drive talking about cameras.  After Marco parked the car and we got out, he hastily pointed out all the features one would normally discuss while on the drive.

Anyway, Marco picked the black one, and we sat down to see what kind of deal we could make.  We decided to lease it.  They ran our credit, because Mazda requires a 700 FICO score for a lease.  We passed!  Who would have guessed??  Apparently we have good credit!

We put $1,000 down, and told them we would trade in the old Montero.  They accepted our trade, sight-unseen.  Now, anyone with internet access can look up that car on the Kelley Blue Book site and see that it’s worth about $1400.  Marco told them he wanted $2000.  I almost choked, and he shot me a warning look.  They asked us to put down $1500, and I balked.  They said, no, $1000 down would be fine, and they would give us $1,000 on the trade (they hoped we weren’t offended), even though we had not brought the car in.  We tried to contain our joy, because we both knew we were getting more on the trade than the old Mitsu was worth.

After all the paperwork was done, our payment was $395.  On a lease?!?!  I was screaming inside, but I remained calm, and tried to tell myself that we would make a chunk of that back on the 40 MPG we’d get, compared to the 20 MPG he got in the Montero.

When we got home that night, I happened to look at the clock at 11:11.  I made a quick wish that we would be able to make the payments without too much trouble.

The next day, I took the Montero to the dealership, and they informed me we needed to sign the contract again, because they had made a mistake.  I nervously walked in, thinking they were going to add to the payment amount.  The finance guy (an Indian guy who believes in karma…more on that later) said our payment would now be $290.  What?  Really?  He pulled the contract back before I could sign it, said he needed to see his manager, and left the room with both the old and new contracts in his hands.  He returned a few minutes later, mumbled something about computer codes and confusion and too many managers in one business, and put the new one back down on the desk.

As he smoothed it out for me to sign, he said he had never seen this before.  He said Marco and I must be good people, and karma has brought that back to us, because nobody gets a new contract with a lower payment.

So here are my tips!

1. Don’t bring your trade with you…just get them to offer an amount, sight-unseen.

2. Don’t agree to anything higher…they will come back down to your highest price.  We said ours was $350, even though it was really $400.

3. If you are a good person, good comes back to you.  And I really believe that!

Here’s Marco with his new car.  He’s trying to get used to being so low to the ground, but he loves the ease of it.

The Continental Room

This is an exciting time of year for high school teachers!  We are winding down the year, finishing up the last tests and projects, and the seniors have graduated.  To celebrate, I met some teachers at The Continental Room in downtown Fullerton.  Fullerton is a great place to hang out.  It’s a little college-friendly (too young for me), but bars like The Continental Room and Bourbon Street cater to patrons in all stages of life (post 21!).   Marco loves this place for its Mad Men feel…every girl is Joan Harris and every guy is Don Draper.

Here’s Marco doing the “Draper:”

The Continental Room is a fun place!  It inspires one to order something like an Old Fashioned or a martini.

It was a much-needed break after a long school year!  Here I am trying not to show my annoyance after school when a 7th period student grabbed my camera:

And here we are as we begin the weekend!  Much better.

The Continental Room has great bartenders who specialize in remembering drinks for their regulars…there were three guys on the other side of the bar who are in there every day.  They also have awesome little details, like a direct taxi phone:

The only thing missing at The Continental is a kitchen.  We went around the corner to Heroes for some huge nachos:

Only two more weeks, and it’s summer vacation!

LA Hipster Day

Last Sunday was another LA day for us, but we weren’t just stopping on our way through town.  Sunday was normal at our house, with Marco editing photos and me working in the yard.  Then he suggested a drive to Los Angeles and visiting places we’ve never been.  Our first stop was the Brewery Arts Complex.  It’s downtown on Main Street, and it’s a live/work complex for artists.  Some studios are open to the public, but most of them are private residences.  Since we were there on Sunday, most were closed.  But it’s worth walking around anyway!  The area is a collection of old industrial buildings, including the old Pabst Blue Ribbon brewery, Paradox Iron, and the Edison building.

I loved the Paradox Iron building because it’s so rusted…it fits its name.

We thought the old buildings were so cool!  We had to pose.

The complex has been refurbished by the artists who live and work there.    There is a small park in the middle, with decor fashioned from old parts of machines.  I am amazed at how artists can take everyday objects and turn them into things of beauty.

It was very nice to walk around and see how the artists have turned a barren, forgotten space into individual homes.  The majority of them have brilliant gardens and gates serving as their entrances.

After our look around the Brewery, we stopped at the nearby San Antonio Winery.  We picked up a bottle of their Cardinale for my mom…it’s a very sweet red made from Concord grapes.  We found out that the winery’s grapes come from Napa, Monterey, and Paso Robles (my hometown).  They recently opened a new tasting room in Paso, too.

After looking around their tasting room, we made our way through downtown, and we noticed some very cool bridges.  We had to stop and take some photos.

From downtown, we headed to Silverlake.  We  love the little shops in this area, and one of Marco’s favorite Mexican seafood restaurants, 7 Mares, is there on Sunset.  We stopped for some shrimp tacos.

We continued on down Sunset and turned onto Hollywood Boulevard, and I introduced Marco to Wacko/Soap Plant.  This is a crazy store with books, toys, gifts, accessories, and work by many artists.  On Sunday, they had a taxidermy display.  Definitely worth a visit, and we’ll have to go back.  They closed shortly after we walked in, but it was enough to see how fun it is.

Loving LA

The song “I Love LA” may sound silly, but it is true.  When you have lived in LA, you know the love someone can feel for the city.  Like a west coast disciple of Carrie Bradshaw, I spend time in the city whenever I get the chance.  In the last couple of weeks, Marco and I made a few stops around LA, and we have a renewed excitement for being tourists in our own corner of the world.  One interesting place we stopped was a consignment store called Nick Metropolis.  It’s a vintage Hollywood store, and they have tons of furniture and accessories that all look like movie props.  They rent out their merchandise for films and parties, also.

Some of my favorite items were the neon letters.  They had so many!

Marco and I also liked a couple of quirky things, like the shoe chairs and the bike mower.

This place is a lot of fun.  We asked about buying some furniture, but everything we liked was a little too expensive.  I’ve read that other people found great deals, though.  It’s definitely worth a stop to have a look around!  Places like this reinforce what a fun city this is.

If you feel like exploring, wander down the alley behind the store.  Nick’s is on La Brea near Wilshire, which is a great place to shop.  There are some wonderful furniture and accessory shops with a modern, urban feel.

We also wandered into a restaurant and decided to eat there.  It’s called Tinga, and it’s on the same block as Nick’s.

We went in the back way, but the restaurant is gorgeous inside.  It’s simple and artistic.  And they served wonderful food!  We shared a plate of pork loin tacos, cooked with peppers and in a wonderful sauce, served in hand made tortillas.  So yummy!  Marco had a watermelon juice, and I had a Mexican Coke.

Marco told me I had to see the bathroom, and he was right!  Unfortunately, I didn’t take a picture, but the bathroom is all black and white murals, almost like Shel Silverstein.  I looked it up, and the urban dictionary says that the word “tinga” means toilet or urinal in the Shamananalan language.  So maybe this is why their bathrooms are so special!  However, the closest thing Google can find to Shamananalan is M. Night Shyamalan.  So maybe it’s a language created by the quirky director.  Hollywood, again!  Gotta love LA.

A Quick Stop at Pyramid Lake

Anyone who drives on I5 north of Los Angeles has probably noticed Pyramid Lake.  Just as a weary driver begins to be hypnotized by the barren hills of the Grapevine (even though it’s called Angeles National Forest!), a glimpse of blue water appears on the west side, and a pyramid seems to be carved out of the mountain on the far side.  After 17 years of driving along I5, I finally visited this landmark when we were on our way back from Bakersfield last weekend.  Marco and I debated about spending the $11 to park, but we saved so much money on our Bakersfield trip that we felt comfortable with it.  And what a nice excursion!  The lake winds around and looks different from different angles.  We parked near a narrow portion of the lake and walked along it taking photos.

I had my little red Canon, but Marco brought out the big camera to capture the scenery.  Here he is taking a picture of me from up above.  You can see the gazebos behind him for barbecues.

The lake has some nice features.  There is a big, open boat launch area (bigger than other lakes), and it was very busy on this sunny day.

We wandered along the lake until we found the swimming beach.  It is protected from the boats, and it’s not too long of a walk, but it’s better to drive there.  The walk was hot in the bright sun!

This little guy climbed the stairs in front of us, jumping up each step.  He finally found his way onto the railing and out of danger.

The stairs took us up to more barbecue areas, and a great view of the lake.  The swimming beach is tucked in a corner on the left side of the photo.

The swimming beach is a bit small, but roomy enough for a family to take a swim.

As we wandered back along the lake, we noticed fishermen perched on rocks.  It was such an idyllic setting!  Absolutely beautiful.

I love his hat!

There were some beautiful natural elements all along the lake.  I loved the pattern and texture of these roots.

There was a great tree along the bank.  We took a rest in its shade, and I crawled down to water’s edge to dip my feet.

I took this picture of us!  So proud of my smile, instead of the apprehensive look I usually have when I’m holding the camera. 

If you’re in Southern California, this is a fun day trip!  Pack a lunch and bring your swimwear.

Weekend in Bakersfield

Our busy month of May continues!  Last weekend we headed to lovely Bakersfield for a wedding.

The groom is a friend of Marco’s from USC, and during the reception, the USC fans cheered the groom with Trojan football signs and the fight song.  It’s always a bit awkward for me, being the lone Bruin in the room, but Marco loves it.  This time, he was the voice leading the “Southern California” cheer.  “A house divided” is a theme in our lives together, and it’s one we have fun with.

Bakersfield turned out to be pretty fun!  Our Best Western Hotel was next to the Buck Owens Crystal Palace, and the first night, there were horses in a corral outside.  There is a bar near our house with a corral, and locals ride their horses there and back.  I wonder if that’s what the corral was for at the Palace?

The bar in our hotel was a lot of fun, but a bit too well-lit, as I mentioned in an earlier post.  But the karaoke was a very fun mix.  Some classic country songs, and some Michael Jackson songs were among the ones we heard.

  

The hotel was on Buck Owens Boulevard, and it had a very central location.  Also, it had a diner attached that served complimentary full breakfasts to the guests.  It was a great classic diner, and a very nice surprise.

  

On the wall behind the cash register (which seemed unnecessary, as all the food was complimentary!) were photos of celebrities who had dined there.  I would assume these are people who performed at the Crystal Palace.  I found a picture of Buck Owens on an old episode of “Hee Haw.”  If you’ve never seen the show, you should check it out!  It’s a mix of music and sketch comedy, with a country theme.

  

We (of course) forgot the invitation at home, so we had to rely on my faulty memory for the address of the church.  Thank goodness for GPS!  The church was located at 1515 Baker Street in Bakersfield, which I only remembered because it reminded me of 15 Yemen Road, Yemen, from “Friends.”  Anybody else remember that episode?

The church was St. Joseph Catholic church, where the groom attended as a child.  It was beautiful inside and out.

  

I think it’s fun to look at what people wear to weddings.  I loved this girl’s hair and dress.

And doesn’t Marco look cute with his new hair cut and blue shirt?  

I saw him taking this photo of himself from across the room.

The drive to Bakersfield only took about two hours from Corona, and even though we left home after 8, we made it to the hotel before 11.  We made some stops on the way home, which made it a full, fun weekend.  But all this travel has made us pretty tired!  It will be nice to spend some time at home this weekend.

Best Western in Bakersfield

Marco and I are more than willing to stay in old, funky hotels.  So this weekend we are in Bakersfield for a wedding, and we got a great price on a room at the Best Western. But what a surprise! The room is big!

And the bathroom has two dressing areas.

Downstairs is the Junction, which is a funny bar with too much lighting, but the karaoke is great! It’s a combination of classic country, disco, 80s and 90s.

Not a bad place, and it’s next to the Buck Owens Crystal Palace.

RAW Artists Riverside

Last night Marco and I attended the RAW Artists event in downtown Riverside.  We were on a list, so we got in free, but admission costs $15.  It was at a very cool bar called Sevilla.  It was  a collection of different types of artists, including photographers, painters, sculptors, and jewelry makers.

These drawings caught my eye, and I loved that she added flowers to her display.

I love paintings, and I know how hard it is, because I have tried it and failed…and these were so great!

A cute way to display photos.

Marco behind his camera.

Marco had a lot of fun taking photos, because the setting, colors, and displays were all so perfect!  One girl had a display of sculptures she had made out of scavenged manzanita wood from a burned tree.

She makes walking sticks, canes, and mobiles.

One make-up artist was there with her Renaissance zombie models.   

These are really fun events!  There was a band playing when we got there.  At one point, there were models walking the catwalk wearing hand-made jewelry.  

All the art was displayed on easy-to-assemble racks made out of pipes, and they were just as easily torn down at the end of the night.  I think this is an excellent idea for showing off Marco’s work at future events.  The only funny thing was that the invitation asked everyone to dress fashionably, and it was painfully obvious that everyone was doing their best, but the girls seemed to be more in costumes than in comfortable artsy clothes.  I went 80s for the night.

Another fun night in So Cal with my hubby!

Big Bear Lake

Marco and I attended a wedding in Big Bear last weekend.  I haven’t been to Big Bear since I was a child, and I was so happy to be there as an adult!  The mountains are always beautiful, but if you’re like me, you don’t think of going there in the spring or summer.  I love the snow, and I only think of visiting the mountains for skiing and sledding.  But last weekend, the weather was gorgeous, and the mountains were the perfect setting for a great couple to tie the knot.

The ceremony took place overlooking the lake, and there was a lovely breeze to cool us down from the warm sun.

The wedding was a lot of fun, but the best part was hearing the bride’s three kids speak about their love for their mom and their new stepfather.  There wasn’t a dry eye in the place!

We enjoyed some “after-party” time at Chad’s Place in Big Bear, which was walking distance from our hotel.  Chad’s Place is a fun bar with a dance floor, and there was a great band playing that night.  The band is called Slingshot, and they cover a lot of fun classic rock songs.  I highly recommend it, if you’re looking for some small-town fun up in Big Bear!

We stayed at the Robinhood Resort, which is across the street from the lake.

Our section was called the Wishing Well.

It’s a funky, old place that looks like it is a collection of 3 or 4 motels.  We had the upstairs corner room right behind the tree in the photo.  It was a typical motel, with old, used furniture and carpet that feels full of chemicals.  But we’ve definitely stayed in worse places, and it was a short walk to the wedding and to the bar, for a very good price!  I think we paid around $90 for the night on Hotels.com.

One of the best things about our room was the room key.  I love an old-fashioned key!

When we checked in, we were delighted by the lobby.  It’s very rustic, with some funny twists.

This little outhouse/go-cart sits in front of the hotel.

The San Miguel Mission

My family lives in central California.  That means they’re halfway between San Francisco and LA.  When my childhood best friend and I started at UCLA, an announcer at one of the myriad welcoming assemblies asked for cheers from people hailing from Southern California, Northern California, other states, and other countries.  We sat, silently, waiting for the acknowledgement that would not come.  That was our first clue that we were from “nowhere.”

http://activerain.com/abraham

But the central coast of California is one of the most perfect places in the world.  Beautiful, temperate, and not too crowded (yet).  With beaches, farmland, wineries, and cattle ranches, it is a mediterranean lifestyle that inspires art and innovation.

http://www.elcolibrihotel.com/index.php?/blog/post/nature-walks-through-the-central-coast/

Last weekend, Marco and I ventured to my family’s ranch to attend my niece’s 5th birthday party.  While we were there, we decided to go for a walk around the San Miguel Mission.

Mission San Miguel Arcangel is just off Highway 101 in San Miguel, CA. Very easy to find!

It’s one of the original missions in California, and it has recently been restored.  All the California missions are beautiful, and very photogenic.  Marco has done many shoots here, including family photos for my sister.

A view of the church from across the street. It was recently restored, thanks to huge local fundraising efforts. The state does not maintain it, because it is an active Catholic church.

Inside the mission’s Catholic church. The altar came from Spain in the 1800s, and the frescoes are recently restored.

Less than a mile away is another historic landmark, called Rios Caledonia.  It’s an old adobe hotel and stagecoach stop.

The sign reads “Caledonia Hotel, Stage Stop and Saloon”

I picked up a brochure, and we learned that it was purchased illegally from Governor Pio Pico, who later had to flee the area, by a man named Rios.  It was then purchased by a man named Blanchart, who decided to call it the Caledonia Hotel, because of his love for Scotland (called Caledonia by the Romans).  And thus, a little outpost in California came to use an ancient Roman name.  Incidentally, Pico Boulevard in LA is named after Governor Pio Pico.  Love history!

The front of the two story hotel, from down on the street. It was originally a residence for the Rios family.

So if you’re headed to the central coast, or just driving up Highway 101,

“Be sure to visit the mission, 1/2 block ahead. Visitors welcome.”

I couldn’t say it better myself!