miika "piika chu*" m.'s Profile

Call me old, ragged, and through the dating mill, but I don't trust men.

Well, at least the ones I end up getting into relationships with.  Reading about a thread that elicit snide remarks about Yelp-dating brought up acid up onto my palate.  I've definitely had my share of date inquiries here but when they involve someone who has been busy behind my back?  Don't try that move with me.  Especially since the chick they've been collaborating with is probably in my friends list.  Uh huh.  There is no one to blame except the man.  And that is only because he was dumb enough to leave his virtual flirtations visible.

In that respect, I've chosen to place some trust in AE.  Why?  Because they consistently produce, season after season, a great line of clothing separates.  Summer, Fall, Winter.  Perfect items for going to the beach and then hitting the slopes in style.  Granted a lot of their clothing is slightly too small for my non-typical Asian body (usually wear a size 6 but according to AE standards, I'm a large).  I've got girth.  And the muscles on my arms and butt to prove it.  In fact, my shoulders are pretty strong from doing shrugs with 25 pound free weights.  This all comes into play when dealing with shouldering the relationship BS I put up with  :p

This AE is a welcome location, especially since I thought this ho-hum mall was totally dead.  Wrong assumption again.  Stonestown Galleria has certainly expanded with new shops and I was impressed.  In fact, did anyone notice the "YELP" page coming on their website?  Hmmmmm.  ( http://www.stonestowng...)  I was immediately attracted to their collection of slub T's, which are perfect because they are slightly more meshy and stretch a lot (these are what I wear when I work out) and at an additional 30% off a $11.95 item, I could not refuse.

Everything from T's, jeans, sweaters to sweatshirts, hoodies, knits.....both for women and men.  An inexpensive alternative to Abercombie & Fitch and comparable to Hollister.  The staffer was attentive and told me to purchase the chocolate corduroy blazer, marked down to $39.95.  He said it was cute on me and those were the exact words I needed.  Clean store, good variety of clothing, efficient staff.

In AE, I trust.

Very warm day.

Very long hair.

Never makes for a good combination, since my hair is past my shoulders and I'm the worst company in that very manner.  After breakfast and walking back from 45 Ave (I always push for bipedalism) the environmental irritants had hit home and I decided to head into the Lucky Supermarket for some rubber bands to hold back my big poof of hair.

Lucky Market is one of the main stores holding this little strip square mall together and other than the Noah's that I usually get my toasty little panini for a quick bite.  In the middle of the Sunset district and perfect location for suburban housewives, SFSU students, and anyone else in the area.

Found my Goody Twisted Hairbands for $2.69, a 10pk Elastic bands for $3.79, and a pack of Wrigley Cinnamon gum for $1.49.  For necessary pantry items and anything else on the go (in addition to sandwiches from the Deli) this is the spot.  Free lot parking and even more along Sloat.  

What more could one ask for?

Dinner and a symphony.

My kind of date night, especially since I get to thrown on a simple dress, high heels, and after a yummy dinner, relax and listen to classical music performed at Davies Symphony Hall.

Since the fellow is quite aware of the fact that I enjoy trying out new places and spreading my culinary wings, he had made reservations prior here, which we highly recommend.  Why?  Because within the hour, the establishment was packed with other groups/couples dressed for the symphony and the host was apologetically turning people away.  Sometimes, being the first couple to be seated is a good thing.

The seats facing the street (Laguna) were quite comfy and an excellent location for people watching as they slowly began to sift in.  A nice basket of warm bread was brought over with a ceramic bowl brimming with lovely olive oil infused with sun dried tomatoes and herbs.

The menu is simple and rustic, with a nice variety of pastas (home made and organic), pizzas, and entrees for so inclined.  I've been craving meat lately, so elected the Pork Osso Bucco.  The fellow selected the Fulton Valley Chicken Breast.

Per their menu:  
Pork Osso Bucco aromatic vegetables, port and red wine sauce, potato pure and sautéed vegetables. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)

Fulton Valley Chicken Breast stuffed with prosciutto, roquefort cheese, rosemary, white wine and glazed with chicken jus. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)

My selection, Osso Bucco, is the perfect dish on a cool Autumn evening.  Traditionally made with veal, Café Altano does a superb job of presenting it with the other white meat: a pork shank.  It came out, presented large and assuming, amidst a nice offering of smashed potatoes and a colorful squash medley, lightly sautéed.  I've usually had Osso Bucco served on a bed of Risotto, but the savory whipped potatoes were equally competitive as the starchy accompaniment.  There is something romantic about a thick cut of tender meat that falls away from the bone at the touch of a fork.  I remembered to bathe each piece in the rich brick-colored sauce.

We followed the entrees with a simple cup of coffee for myself and the Crème brûlée.  The house special that evening?  Orange. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)

Presented perfectly on white ceramic, tapping away at the caramelized surface of this simple yet rich custard dessert has become a small tradition.  I usually attempt to break it within three light taps and this evening, success.  Not overly sweet and the delicate citrus tinge gave more zest to this comforting dessert.

By the end of our meal, the small dining area was filled with happy diners, the verbal levels rising slowly to an audible hum.  Wine glasses clinking on the tables and the sounds of heels moving about the wood flooring.

7:00 had come and gone.  

Now it was time to depart to the symphony.

I just finished a discussion.

Feeling a lot better but still a little peeved.  I know this feeling and it usually gets worse and worse as the wound festers and all the other known elements (such as salt and alcohol) seem to aggravate the tear a bit more. The dude went scrambling to ensure he did not leave anything sordid or consequential lingering in the virtual world.  It was his third strike.

On top of this (read my review below) the blood pumping in the temples has disallowed me the right to sleep and I find myself typing away, relentless.  Slowly yet surely, this repetitious activity is dulling away the aggravations of the day. Type.  Type.  Type.

The first time I've heard of the term Kamei was the name of a person in Nihon.  Imagine my surprise to walk down Clement and see this restaurant supply chain sprawling out onto the sidewalk, with every bins/boxes/plastics known to man.  I crossed over, dragging the fellow with me.  There is nothing Japanese about this place.  When on Clement, expect the status quo.  I've been inundated with evites to dinner parties with the looming holidays and need the perfect plastic tray/large platter for my crowning achievements from the kitchen.

This is the dreamscape where the urbanite and restaurant staff flock to to aid their search for all things imaginable for their existence.  Everything, from the mini grater to the plastic to-go bento boxes complete with the cover to the over sized cookie trays above and out of our reach (be careful of the "You break, You Pay" signs littered about.  I found the perfect 13x13 white melamine-resin square platter for around $11.  Slightly more than what I wanted to spend, but doubtful I'd find it at a Walmart for cheaper.  In addition, since I've been baking away for movie nights, I found a plastic lined bag for piped icing, a steal at $1.99.

If you've just moved to this area and need something for your kitchen, this place has it all.  Dishes, utensils, tools, pots, pans, tupperware.........too many to name, too many to ignore.

I've been thinking too much.  That was what our conversation earlier had been about.  Afterwards I responded in the style of Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard from The Fugitive:

" Well, think me up a cup of coffee and a chocolate doughnut with some of those little sprinkles on top, while you're thinking. "

I've had my share of conversation starters, this for one:

"I've seen you before...," he mentions, tapping on the edge of the wine glass.  Cute.  He's tall, with dark brown hair.  A surfer from Santa Cruz, it so seems.

"Doubtful," I reply, turning to face this new enemy who did not approach with the usual generic salutation.

"No, I have.  Wait a second, I've seen you on Match!"

(x_x)  

I'm sure we've all gone through such an experience and here in the Bay Area, who hasn't been on a dating site.  Mine, of course, came several years late and at a most unexpected time.  Dinner parties are not where one wants to be recognized for virtual encounters labeled "Your matches for today."  Being remembered for an online profile from years ago is not too common.  Coming across the exploits of the past because the man is too stupid to cover up his tracks in the virtual world is, apparently, way too common.

If I was an alcoholic, such would have been the time to hit this little corner market for a bottle of stone cold gin or vodka.  Since I'm not, walking in and out with a very cold bottle of water was the very least I could do.  

This little market is usually manned by an elderly Asian lady who smiles at me between bites of her lunch and speaking into her telephone.  I don't have much to shop for since my pantry is usually stockpiled, but when I'm on the verge of caffeine overdose and need some water for the walk back, this is the perfect spot.  It lacks the dirty and sleazy feelings usually associated with corner liquor marts and when I walk out, no one is a judge.  A small selection of alcohol as well as sundry items such as chips and candy.  Prices?  Inexpensive.

79 cents.  

A cheap purchase.  

That's all the cost toward H2O inebriation.  The degrees of separation are becoming a bit too awkward when one comes across the photo of his past and actually recognize the chick in it.  A known floozy in the circles I run.  Great.

SF is getting too small.

Cali-PHO-nication

I don't have a tv (don't have the time or patience) so when I'm visiting friends and they are surfing cable, I'm constantly bombarded by new shows that I've never even heard of.  My most recent disturbance was seeing my crush on the X-Files (Spooky Mulder) emerge as a sexaholic writer on Showtime.  That was not good......since I've dated a sexaholic and talk about problems!  Every red flag in dating was made apparent on a daily basis.  That is never a good sign when trust and doubt are the tag team prescription for a serial monogamist.

Anyhow, it was another cool evening on Clement and all of a sudden, a craving for hot savory broth hit the both of us.  My fave spot is on Geary so I was already a bit biased the minute we walked in.  However, the environment was cozy, warm, and the wait staff right on us like wolves.  I never felt more welcomed.

I ordered the small generic bowl of Pho that came with the tripe, meatballs, rare flank steak, and beef slices.  My little gripe with most of the Pho places is that the soup is not very hot.  Granted the amount of time it takes to leave the kitchen to the table is minute, but after adding the bean sprouts and basil leaves, I'm usually left with lukewarm soup.  Not very good.  Our bowls arrived hot and it was perfectly arranged with the slices of beef peeking out, the surface iridescent with ribbons of juicy oils from the meaty mixture.  The broth was good but lacked a strong base, which is something very damning in my eyes.  Otherwise, it was pretty good and for the price, I'm not complaining.  The man could not finish his and they were willing to pour it into the take-out styrofoam for him.   We had our waters filled quite consistently and they were nice to the foreigner sitting behind us, a definite Pho newbie.

Decent Pho, a nice environment, and efficient staff.  If I'm in the neighborhood, I won't mind stopping in.

Cool things:

Affordable trendy items
Cute guys
A good rare steak

Not cool at all, not in a thousand years:

People wearing skinny jeans when it is genetically impossible
A cute guy bringing an iPhone into the bed
A well done steak

I almost drop kicked a dude for making me think he sneaked his iPhone under the covers.  Oh, I'm sorry, is there a new glow-in-the-dark app I did not hear about it?  On top of that, I just had a French Dip sandwich where the beef slices were leathery and tough and they were turning in my stomach.  Made me not want to grow old at all.  And venturing out in the sudden cool weather in the city and not having any protection around my neck had me on edge.  No man was going to escape my wrath.

H&M to the rescue.

When I feel the need to just look around or lacking the correct threads for the weather, I slip in to grab that necessary t-shirt or inexpensive sweater when I'm on the go.  This most recent excursion netted me a very nice chunky cable knit scarf priced right at $14.99.  In addition, when I'm seeking lighter items, such as a rayon off the shoulder blouse or a slim pencil skirt, H&M delivers in terms of trendy and affordable.  I usually save the nicer skirts (worsted wool and with lining) at Banana Republic.

This store is slightly smaller than the larger one up on near Macy's but I do appreciate the ease of wandering for the window shopper.  I'm usually in/out within 20 minutes or so.  Checkout is usually quick and then I'm off to the other stores in the mall, usually the Borders up the escalator.

In regards to hand held devices, just keep it traditional without the touch screen.  If there is no mutual benefit in bringing it to bed, leave it on the frickin' counter.

Not bad.

I was in dire need of a haircut and since I knew that my usual stylist had my ex down for his appt (yup, another never never never share the same stylist) I requested the contact info from a friend of mine who has her hair cut here regularly.

Since I've been growing out my choppy layers for a year now, my hair was shaggy and long, way past the midpoint on my back.  The stylist, Sokha, greeted me at the entrance and whipped me to the back.  I told her I was trying to grow out my bangs but desired the length and to clean up my layers. I also let her know that I'm a minimalist when it comes to styling, so the less time spent, the better.  

She cleaned up my layers, all the while keeping up a lively conversation.  In regards to my bangs, she gave them a fringed cut rather than the heavy cut I was looking for.  That is my fault for not speaking up.  I did not ask for a wash or a blowout, so my total was $23.  My new cut came out well.  I can wash it, run a little product through, and let it air dry for some waves.  Or I can straighten it with an iron for a sleek look.  

Inexpensive, quick, and a quality cut offered right on the first floor of the Wells Fargo Center.  I scheduled an appointment but they take walk-ins too, based on availability.  Just give them a call to check.

My new go-to salon for trims and when I'm visiting Sactown.

Right where you need it.

When one is out of cash or water.

We had just taken the 38 up to Union Square to catch the Maurice Sendak flick at the Metreon and since I was damned to spend $3.00 for bottled water in the theater, I headed into this Walgreens.

Typical and with just the right amount of necessary items as warranted for locals such as myself or the standard tourist seeking supplies for their suitcase.  I went in, grabbed my .79 cent bottled water and a pack of gum for a total of less than $2.00.

Out in another 5 minutes.  Quick service and easy for the person on the fly.

A good place for late-night eats and avoiding run-ins with ex-dates.

Otherwise, be prepared for typical greasy spoon burgers and the such that comes associated with binge splurges after consuming too many drinks from the neighborhood bar scene.  Was in the neighborhood and since the fellow was more starved than I was (my metabolism mimics that of a hippo in hibernation) we stepped into the bubble that was Bill's Place.

Despite the service being quick and efficient for that hour AND the burgers being typical and not out of this world, I'd recommend sticking to the fatty and full obesity version of the menu.  When you go to a grease spoon, don't ask for coleslaw.  Stick with the fries.  I asked for the coleslaw and it lacked the slightly sweet vinegary taste and was bland as hell.  I left it to the side, disappointed in wasting it.  Otherwise, the burgers were not that bad, despite the Costco-like beef patties.  Good and greasy, perfect for stratifying your stomach before and after too many drinks.

Good place for families and kids.  There were several parents with the kiddos this late into the evening, which was a nice display.  I'd definitely try the milkshakes next time.  However, eating past 9:00 pm wreaks havoc on my mental state as well horndog episodes.  Apparently, I can stomp you out like an elephant sleepwalking.