The Kia Rio Scavenger is On in Los Angeles

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kia Rio for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Hey there.  Life's a journey, not a destination.  Sometimes we get a little too caught up on the fact that we need to be at certain places that we do not stop to smell the roses.  That couldn't be more true than in the city of Los Angeles.  We drive EVERYWHERE but we don't really enjoy that drive.  Mostly because we're so busy getting to and from work or we're simply stuck in one our congested highways.  But what if I said driving can be fun again?  That the journey will be awe inspiting and once you get to those destinations, a surprise can be waiting for you?  That is what Kia is doing with the Kia Rio Zip and Dash to Los Angeles Geocache Challenge!

Battle of Los Angeles - The Lakers Vs. The Clippers

Lakers 113  -  Clippers  108

Hey there.  Last night, there was a dog fight in Los Angeles.  The Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers, in the confines of The Staples Center, went all out to prove which team is the better team of Los Angeles.  There is definitely bad blood between them.  The Clippers, tired of being regarded as the little brother of the Lakers, went out and improved their team by acquiring star guard Chris Paul.  The same Chris Paul that the Lakers tried to acquire before the deal was struck down by the commissioner, David Stern.  The Clippers believing that they now have the superior team to take over Los Angeles, forgot that the Lakers have always been a formidable team.  Especially when the Kobe "The Black Mamba" Bryant refuses to lose.

Thoughts on... The Los Angeles Lakers Starting the 2011-2012 Season 0-2

Lakers star Kobe Bryant

Hey there.  The NBA is back!  After much anticipation, the season finally took off on Christmas Day.  Many of the top teams of the NBA were showcased to a national audience and while much rust was expected due to the lack of a preseason workout, there were still quite a few surprises during the first few games for many teams.  Even though I love to watch the NBA, I'm more concerned about the Lakers more than any other team.  Christmas Day saw the Lakers lose a close game to the Chicago Bulls and last night, they couldn't stop the Sacramento Kings from shooting 3 pointers.  Here are my thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers starting the season 0-2.

The State of the NBA

Chris Paul to the Lakers?!  I need to consult with my
Magic 8 ball first!

The NBA is back and it’s in full EFFECT!! Hours after the lockout was lifted, we had our first big move, New Orleans point guard to the Los Angeles Lakers in a 3 team trade, which included the Houston Rockets. Right off the bat, the NBA was top news because something major was about to happen merely an hour after the lockout was lifted. No more than 24 hours later??? A bigger bombshell struck! The trade was vetoed. Wait! WHAT!? VETOED!! What do you mean vetoed? What does that mean?

Orochon Ramen... I Fear No Noodles

Hey there.  I'm a man of food.  I love me all kinds of food.  People that really know me know that I can eat... and eat a lot.  So friends from time to time recommend places for me to try out.  The wife and I haven't had much of a chance to go out and try new places, her being in recovery mode and all, but pretty soon, that will be behind us and we will continue on our eating adventures!!!!  Well... actually, they'll be my eating adventures.  The wife will dine with me but I doubt she'll see any her meals as adventures or challenges.  lol  Me on the other hand, will definitely be up for foodie challenges everywhere (well... actually in the Southern California area since I'm not rich and can't travel "everywhere") and I've already have my first challenge in my sights.  The Orochon Ramen's #2 Special!

Spending a Day at the San Gabriel River

Hey there friends.  You know what the tough part of having a birthday on a holiday is?  It has to be better than just a regular birthday.  My daughter's birthday is July 4th, the same as America's birthday, and every year we try to make it just a little more interesting for her.  This year, we decided to take her and the kids to the San Gabriel River.  Just a short drive away from downtown Los Angeles, the San Gabriel River runs though the Los Angeles Forest.  The wife and I both went there as kids and thought that it would be great to go and take the kids to a spot that we visited back in the day.

Southern California! Help Women in Need with The Cinderella Fund by MeatHead Movers

Hey there.  I appreciate the aspect of getting things done on your own.  I came from a single parent home and it was tough to come by some extra cash for school and what not so when the student athlete brothers needed some cash for school, they did what their bodies could do best, move stuff around.  They decided to start a small moving company and named it MeatHead Movers, a comical name taken from the moniker for big athletes that love to hit the gym.  They didn't think that it would be as big as it is today.

AM2Con is This Weekend, July 1st - July 3rd

Hey there.  The Anime, Music, and Manga Convention is being hosted at the Anaheim Convention Center this weekend!  3 full days of nothing but put pre awesomeness.  If you guys are in the Los Angeles area this weekend, you should consider making the trip to Anaheim to check this out.  The convention is free to everyone but there are certain activities and shows that you will have to pay for.  Many of the exhibits, workshops, and events are free so there really isn't a reason why you wouldn't want to stop by.

Women That Rock Weekend

Hey there.  We need a night out.  The wife and I have semi-survived the first week of summer vacation and we already need to reward ourselves with a night on the town.  Before we can start planning what we should do, the comadre sends us this:

The Rise of American Soccer in the United States

Hey there. I love sports. I'm also Mexican American. So when both countries end up going against each other, who should I root for? It's a common dilemma for many Mexican Americans out there. My parents were born in Mexico and I in the US.  I'm a first gen American in our family.  You want to root for both countries. You want to go show pride and acknowledge your roots but you also want to show pride for the country of opportunity. Why the question? Soccer. Yup. Soccer. lol

Nintendo Drops the Ball with Their New Console: Wii U

Hey there. I just wanted to get my initial reaction down before going in depth.  Nintendo really dropped the ball here.  Their new console, the Wii U, is meant for the more hard core gamers while retaining their youthful fans.  Most third party devolpers will provide games that are already available on PS3 and Xbox 360 for the Wii U but I cannot see how it will appeal to hardcore gamers.  Nintendo has the reputation of "child's play" and it will be difficult to shed that and if this was their asnwer for the hard core gamers, it is an epic fail.

The Joys of Knuffle Bunny

Hey there. You know, children are funny, little creatures. lol The most mundane of things will keep them entertained and happy. Me, being "funny daddy" and all, take advantage of that knowledge all the time by doing quirky little things around the house. With my youngest daughter, we have mini dance offs. We do the robot together all the time. With my oldest daughter, we've been having a "flinch contest" for the last week or so where we try to make each other flinch (I'm winning because I have awesome ninja focus!). lol With my oldest, well... he's kinda a preteen now and little quirky moments don't affect him as much as much as the younger kids. He does, however like it when I create absurd movie trailers and they usually begin with, "In a world..." lol Yeah, they definitely like that those.

Anyways, I bring up those little quirks because yesterday, I was reading a book to my daughter.  You know, they (or you) need to read a book every night for homework?  Yeah, that.  So I pulled out the book that was chosen and it's this book:

I recognized it from when my oldest daughter brought it for her "read at home" homework and she claims it's one of her favorite books.  I've read it a few times this year already since they keep sending it home to read so I decided to have a little fun with the reading.  It's an awesome little story of a young one that can't speak words yet and travels with her favorite stuffed toy, Knuffle Bunny.  The toy gets lost and the adventure begins.  It's definitely for the younger readers and the book has few words, as well as some baby babble.  When I read the book, I did voices for the characters.  The young one in the book had a "monster" voice, I did Bean's voice, from KROQ Kevin & Bean fame, and I just did a regular "mommy" voice for the mom.  The kids loved the Bean and monster voices.  lol  But I think it's because I ad lib some of the lines.  lol  Yeah, I'm cool like that.  The oldest, which was in his room watching Dragon Ball Z or something, came out and chuckled and said, "Dad, what are you doing?"  lol  So even my voices got his attention and the girls asked me to read it again cause he wasn't there from the beginning.  Kids...  lol

So, do you guys do anything of that sort with your kids?  Am I the only doofus that will change a story and make it their own for a few innocent laughs out of the kids?  Do you have any stare contest with the kids?  Dance offs?  Or any crazy, quirky things for a laugh.  Kids are awesome.  lol  I love my munchkins, cupcakes, and goofballs.  lmao!  Later!

The 5th Annual Walk for Lupus

5th Annual Walk for Lupus Now!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Los Angeles
Walk for Lupus Now

Hey there.  Help spread the word on the 5th annual Walk for Lupus!  The mother of a friend of mine suffers from Lupus and my friend has started her own fund raising team, Team Nancy, to walk and raise money for lupus research.  Let's help Team Nancy reach their humble goal of $100!  You can donate anywhere from $1 to infinity to help their cause and if you want to register to walk, or start your own team, you can find all the information here.  Thank for the donations, friends.  Every little bit helps!

Hiking in Escondido Falls

Hey there.  I've been meaning to post about our hiking trip to Escondido Falls for about 2 weeks now.  I've been caught up so many projects and family stuff that I just haven't had the time.  This is why I'm posting on a Saturday.  lol  It's been a long while since I've done some Saturday work.  Anyways let me tell you about our trip.

I've been wanting to take the family out to some sort of outdoor activity.  Living in Sourthern California definitely has it's perks when trying to decide something like that.  There's the beach, hiking trails, camping spots, mountain climbing, and many others and I wanted to do something that I, myself, haven't done.  Believe it or not, I've never been hiking so I decided that we're going to look for a trail and go for it.  That's when I hear about Escondido Falls and it's waterfall.  Whoa... a waterfall.  From what I read online, the trail itself is not that bad and is relatively easy to walk through and when you get to the end of it, there's a waterfall to bestow upon.  I thought it would be perfect to take the kids and check it out.

The trail was difficult to find.  The parking space for the trail is small space and it's right off the famous pacific coast highway.  The problem is that there is no sign that says, "trail this way" or anything of that sort so as you're driving, you're swiveling your head keeping an eye out for a sign showing you the way.  Naturally, we missed the entrance, and on our second pass, we see it.  We parked on the gravel and walked towards the trail.  It's weird at first because you are walking near a residential area so there are houses around you.  Once you go further into that residential community, the trail begins.

No guys, the houses are not part of the trail!

 The trail is simple enough and there is nothing too difficult to overcome.  There were a few small creeks that you get to jump and walk over so that was pretty cool and after about a 3 mile hike or so, you reach the waterfall.  The kids loved it.  We gazed at it for a bit and took some pictures.  It would have been great to take some lunch and have a picnic there.  The scenery would have been perfect.

Jump!

You're gonna fall!!!  Oh wait... you already did!  D'oh!

Mr. Cool Guy over here makes it look easy.

Look ma!  We made it to the waterfall!

Time for our hero pose!

The wife and I enjoying our hike.

Shortly after, the boy and I decided to climb a litter higher to check out the top of the falls.  That hike is for more adventure seekers and is a difficult climb.  After using a rope to get up a steep uphill trail and walked around a small narrow cliff edge like path, we managed to reach the second waterfall.  Not too shabby, but there's more climbing to do.  The third waterfall blew the first 2 away.  It was definitely worth the climb.  The whole area was misty because of the force that the water was hitting the small pond.  It was simply breath taking.

The Rocky theme song would have made this moment perfect!

We did it dad, we did it!

All in all, an awesome time.  If you're in the Southern California area, I highly recommend the hike.  Again, the main trail itself is not a difficult hike so it's not a strenuous walk, but to reach the other waterfalls near the end is definitely more difficult.  Only the boy and I went up since I didn't think he ladies would have been able to do it.  Well, let me rephrase, I think they would have been able to do it if they took their time, but because there's a lot of hikers going up and down and you literally have to stand in line or move out of their way, the chances of slipping and falling rise.

I also wanted to bring this picture to your attention.  Can somebody tell me what that thing in the sky is?

Is that a UFO?!?!?!

We didn't notice that thing when we first took the picture and my wife claims that it's a bird.  I don't know...  I think it's a UFO.  She just doesn't believe.  lol  In my opinion, it seems to far away to be a bird.  There would be more clarity to the "bird" if it was close by but it's pretty damn fuzzy, which tells me that it's off in the distance.  What do you think?  Later!

Axis of Awesome: 4 Chord Song

Hey there.  This musical comedy act was recently a part of the annual April Foolishness comedy show that is presented by the local radio station, KROQ.  They had these guys on their show to do a part of their act and these guys are simply hilarious!  Check out this bit from one of their shows.  Funny, funny stuff!!!!  Enjoy!

Looking for Great NBA Ticket Prices

Hey there.  I am looking for a great price on Los Angeles Lakers Tickets. I've been a fan of the Lakers for as long as I can remember. My brother and I would watch NBA basketball for long periods of time in our youth. Actually, we'll do that now. lol Especially after the All-Star break, since this is the time where teams get serious and start vying for playoff positioning.  Now, my son is getting sucked into the games.  He started watching the Laker games with me and, I believe, is now a fan for life.  This is why I'm looking for tickets to a game.  It'll be his first NBA game and I want it to be a good one.

The Staples Center is an awesome venue and I haven't been there in about a year now.  They recently unveiled a Jerry West statue outside the arena.  The NBA logo himself. I'm sure the boy wouldn't mind walking around seeing the statues and maybe even have a few seconds of air time on TV if we're lucky enough to pass by LA Live while they're filming.  You go in for a great NBA game and you come home with an experience.

If you're a fan and have not been to an NBA game, you need to definitely consider it.  Whether you're looking for Boston Celtics Tickets (to see the "Big 3"), Chicago Bulls Tickets, (to see Derrick Rose, Luol Deng and recently acquired Carlos Boozer.), Dallas Mavericks Tickets (To see Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd), or Houston Rockets Tickets (to see Kevin Martin and a cast of young talent), the NBA always delivers when it comes to a great game.  You should pick up tickets for when the Lakers are in town and witness Kobe Bryant, the Mamba himself, in all his awesomeness.  Man, am I looking forward to the game!  Later!

Belle's Bake Shop

Hey there. Yesterday I found out that a classmate (and band mate) of mine has recently decided to go into the bakery business, specializing in cakes. She's been doing it for years and family has finally convinced her of becoming her own boss and selling her cakes. Just check out some of the masterpieces she's created!

Cake is a white cake with strawberries and whipped cream filling.
Car is all rice crispies and covered in fondant.
Perfect for birthday parties.

Monkey and base (not pedestal) are made from rice crispies and covered in fondant.
Cupcakes are banana nut with buttercream frosting with a flower on top (made out of fondant) as decoration.
Perfect for baby shower themed parties

Doll's skirt is vanilla cake (this one doesn't have a filling).
Doll's entire dress is fondant.
Perfect for Sweet 16 or Quinceañeras

Pretty awesome, no?  She's not nationwide (yet) but if you're anywhere in the Los Angeles/San Pedro area, feel free to check it out.  She makes all her cakes from scratch and she's flexible when it comes to decorations.  She's very artistic and seems to be a master with fondant.  lol  Here's a personal message from the owner:

I make sweet treats to satisfy that sweet tooth!  All of my cakes are made with lots of care and love.  Any character or idea you may have I try my very best to mold it into a beautiful cake, cookie, or cupcake.  All orders are taken only by email please or messaged here. Prices do range on size and quantity, but I guarantee that I have the lowest prices you will find!!  Email orders to:  cuteyummycakes@hotmail.com

If you want to check out more from Belle's Bake Shop check out her Facebook page here.  Tell her Metallman sent ya!  Later!

The NFL is Coming Back to Los Angeles

Hey there.  It's been too long.  Way way too long.  The NFL announced this morning that a deal is in place for a new football stadium to be built in Los Angeles.  That can only mean one thing... THE NEFL IS BACK IN LA, BABY!  Here is a glimpse of what the stadium may look like:

The proposed deal is estimated to be worth approx. $700 Million over 30 years and AEG us at the helm of backing this thing up.  AEG is proving to be one of the powerhouses for Los Angeles.  They were involved in building the Staples Center and now they are involved in building what would be known as Farmers Field. 

Now this begs the question:  Are we getting a new franchise?  Or is an existing team coming in?  The Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers are extremely popular in the Los Angeles area.  I would even say that the fan base in Los Angeles is split 50/50 between those 2 teams.  Considering that those two franchises are close by, it wouldn't surprise me if one or both come to Los Angeles.  The Minnesota Vikings and the Jacksonville Jaguars have also been in the running to come to Los Angeles so those are two more teams that would be considered.

I would love for the Raiders to come back to Los Angeles.  Being a fan, I would love to not be have to drive for hours to catch them in San Diego or fly to Oakland.  It's exciting that the NFL is coming back to Los Angeles.  Now, we're in suspense as to which team will have the label, Los Angeles, in front of it.  Later!

Do You Rate Local Busniesses?

Hey there.  Do you guys rate businesses in your area?  I mean, by going to some website online and providing some kind of ranking to show your displeasure or satisfaction to a service or business that you recently visited?  I ask because not too long ago, I started seeing these suckers on drive thru windows:

Now this is interesting.  Usually great burger joints are passed on through word of mouth but now I'm seeing that more and more are being looked at online.  My problem with Yelp.com is that it's mainly a rating system and is new to the "search for" world so I wonder if Local.com is the way to go.  I did a quick local search find that it's more of a hybrid of several rating and search systems.  Find a business and rate it, all in one location.

I say that Local.com would be a better place to go to search and rate.  I'm not knocking on Yelp.com.  I think that what they're doing is great.  I'm just saying that Local.com is doing it better.  Do a quick local search yourself and let me know what you think.  Who knows, maybe we'll start seeing more decals across business windows with the below logo.  Later!

Great Jackets From Zappos.com

Hey there.  It's been a fairly cold autumn here in Los Angeles.  In my opinion, it's a welcome surprise.  We're usually sitting in high 70 degree weather and the sun is still shining down, warming up our city.  But recently, we've been in low 60 degree temperatures coupled with cloudy skies and low 40 degree temperatures at night.  That's pretty nippy, if you ask this home grown California guy, so I started to look around for a jacket to buy and that's when I stumbled upon these north face jackets from Zappos.

I don't own many jackets but I wouldn't mind owning something like this.  It's not bulky, it doesn't look heavy, and it seems like I would be able to wear it during some not so cold days.  Seems perfect for a guy like me.  And the price is not bad either.

I'll admit that I used to associate Zappos.com with shoes.  I'm not the shopper of the family so it's pretty obvious that I didn't know any better.  I can pretty much score some Zappos jackets for the wife and kids as well.  It just comes to show you that you need to live in extremely cold weather to find some pretty awesome and affordable jackets.  Just in time for the holidays too.  Later!