So if you haven't heard, and a lot of people haven't... T-mobile is coming out with this phone that's made by HTC (hardware) and Google (software). They're calling it the T-mobile G1. It's also been known as Android (which is actually the name of the operating system on it), Dream, Google Phone and many other things.
Here's my take on this thing...
T-mobile is a small company (relatively). So this seems like a HUGE deal. One of those times when people line up at the door hours before opening. Kinda like when the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and iPhone all came out. I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing these on eBay for way more than asking price.
A lot of people on the web think this thing looks ugly. And although I don't think it looks as good as an iPhone, it looks great in person. Although I can see what people mean, the pics on the websites aren't very flattering. No worries though, the phone feels solid when you hold it.
The screen. HTC thus far (and I know this because I work at T-mobile), has made crappy screens. Not in terms of brightness, color, size or anything... but they're weak and they crack easily. While I've never seen a cracked Blackberry screen in over 4 months there, I see a cracked Dash, Shadow, or Wing at least once a week.
Color. Everyone thinks this thing only comes in black. But it's also available in white and bronze. I'll take a black one though.
Ease of use. All my friends know that I used an iPhone for 6 months and hated it. I couldn't write an email or send a text with ease, and I'm often doing that from my phones. And when I switched to my Blackberry Curve, I missed the touch screen and missed having Youtube on my phone, but loved the ease of use with the trackball and full keyboard. Now, I can have everything!
When you first use this thing, you're like, "Wow, there's a keyboard AND a trackball... wait, I can touch the screen too?"
The things that'll annoy me about it (and this is getting realllllly picky);
1. I'm used to Blackberry's profiles, and how I can set it to "phone only" mode as I'm sleeping... so that every email and text won't wake me up. Only phone calls will. But there's no setting for that on a G1... yet.
2. I'll miss the tethering ability of Dash's and Curve's, where I can share my internet connection with my PC. But I rarely use that feature anyway.
3. No UMA calling. My Curve has the ability to make phone calls over a wi-fi internet connection. So if I'm in Ashford, Washington, where there's no cell service, I can log into my wireless network in order to make phone calls. And that feature has come in immensely handy during my trips out there.
4. No standard headphone jack. You need to use an adapter / dongle to connect to 3.5 mm headphones.
5. I've had bad luck with any phone that slides, pivots, rotates, flips. I like candybar phones with fewer moving parts.
6. This last one doesn't matter to me as much... but this phone ONLY works if you add the 3G internet feature to your account.
Anyway, I guess we'll have to wait and see how people respond to this phone! I know there are inevitably going to be those who think "It's just a phone, who cares? Mine works fine"... but if the goal of a phone is to make you more productive, and make it easier for you to stay in touch with your loved ones and even keep you entertained these days, then the G1 (at $179) is a great opportunity for T-mobile users to have an iPhone type phone.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Winter of 09... Bring it on!
I haven't looked forward to a snowboard season like this since 1999, when we had a record snowfall. But I may be even more excited this time around, because I'm a little older and wiser, but in a lot better shape. This is the first time I've ever worked out extensively and I'm hoping it will pay off on the mountain.
In addition, I'm also part of the Hump Sessions Crew, about 30 snowboarders who meet up at the park every Wednesday for some night boarding.
Which reminds me, though... my Acura with the summer tires is crap in the snow and on ice. And I sold my Audi earlier this year. So do I go get a cheap truck / SUV with 4 wheel drive and get nice winter tires on them? Or hope I can bum rides and pay for gas each time?
I definitely think Whistler and Mt Baker are destinations for me this winter. I'm already loading up my Zune!
In addition, I'm also part of the Hump Sessions Crew, about 30 snowboarders who meet up at the park every Wednesday for some night boarding.
Which reminds me, though... my Acura with the summer tires is crap in the snow and on ice. And I sold my Audi earlier this year. So do I go get a cheap truck / SUV with 4 wheel drive and get nice winter tires on them? Or hope I can bum rides and pay for gas each time?
I definitely think Whistler and Mt Baker are destinations for me this winter. I'm already loading up my Zune!
Monday, September 29, 2008
R.I.P. Extremely Board
It's always weird, and a little sad, when something you're used to seeing goes away. Unfortunately, that's what happened with Extremely Board. They closed their doors this week after over 15 years in Issaquah.
For those of you who aren't familiar, Extremely Board was a small shop that carried snowboard, wakeboard and skateboarding gear. I think everyone I grew up with bought their snowboarding gear from E.B.
I can't count how much money I've spent there over the years. Boots, jackets, bindings... I remember they used to carry Switch Bindings, which I loved as a beginning snowboarder. And I would usually get my boards tuned up and waxed there.
Then again, with huge chains like Joes, Sports Authority and REI to compete with, it seems like the small shops are facing an uphill battle. And with REI finally opening in Issaquah, and Joes next door, the days for Extremely Board were definitely limited.
Hopefully we'll see them again, perhaps in online form. Until then, R.I.P.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Rest In Peace Dad
It breaks my heart to report that my father has passed away.
I saw so many similarities between him and myself, and felt that I had so much more to learn from him, and to talk to him about. But he went so quickly. I remember constantly thinking he would figure a way out of this. I mean, everyone seems to be recovering from cancer these days. Lance Armstrong beat cancer and then won a record number of Tour De France's.
But in less than a month, he is gone. He was admitted to St Francis Hospital in late May and was told he has cancer that has metastasized (spread) to other parts of his body. He was told there was no treatment for it. Not happy, we tried to get him admitted to UW Hospital and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. They told us there was a wait, until June 30th, for the next available appointment. So he went back home to Mt Rainier after spending a night in my bedroom. He was better for a few days while resting at his house. But then he started feeling worse and was admitted to Overlake Hospital in Bellevue about a week ago.
I never thought this would be the last time he left his house, left his car, and all his belongings.
At 11:42 AM on Thursday, 06.19.2008, he took his final breath next to my mom, sister and myself. No one else. I think he wanted it that way.
All that time when he was in the hospital, I remember going to work, and then to the hospital afterwards. No matter how sick dad looked, I thought things would get better. But I first knew things were bad when I saw my dad cry for the first time.
What sucks the most about this, is when I see something that would appeal to my dad, "Sale at REI? Oh, sweet, I gotta tell da..." and then I realize I can't. When I went to his place to start packing some of his belongings, I remember looking in his car and wanting to cry. I'm sure the last time he got out of that car, he had no idea he would never get back in. He had left it as anyone else would have, like he had planned on driving it everyday. His hat sitting on the passenger side, water / food and other emergency stuff... and he always had to have a garbage bag hanging somewhere.
And up until that point, I had always wondered why he decided to trade in a newer Civic with 20K miles (that was paid off) for a brand new Toyota Sienna in January of 2008. Gas prices were soaring, and he would have to get a loan for the new car. Plus, no guy wants a minivan, right?
But not with my dad. His dream car has ALWAYS been a Sienna minivan. He loves Toyota, and loves going camping. So he always felt the Sienna would be perfect for him. And at least now I know that he got to drive his dream car for 5 months before he passed away and had no regrets.
It pains me to do some of the things required of me. Sorting through his belongings, making funeral / casket arrangements, paying some of his bills, deciding whether to keep things, sell things, or throw them out. But even the things I hadn't thought about before. Like... do I keep his cell phone number? He's had his cell number for 10 years now. Since 1998. To me, it's part of his identity.
I'm sure I just need some time to heal. I still expect him to be there when I call... and for him to be happy to hear from me. His love for his children was deep, and is what kept him here in Washington when the rest of his family was still in Korea.
He would treasure the things my sister and I bought him. I see the Arc'Teryx outdoor gear he kept in pristine condition, even though I know he wore those items quite often. The high-end hiking boots I bought him from REI were still as good as new. I remember how he loved using my REI dividends when I received them. He never ran out of things to buy there.
He was so proud of everything my sister and I did. He wouldn't always say it but you could tell by his mannerisms. He was always extra difficult on me, hoping I would become better at everything and would never settle for anything (whether it was my driving, rock climbing ability, my Korean speaking ability or a million other things). I may not have liked this approach when I was in high school, but I've appreciated it ever since.
I remember how he would never let me buy cheap things. When I wanted to play tennis, he bought me a racket that I borrowed once from a coach and fell in love with. Except, I never thought I would get it, because it was a $200 racket that was only sold in Pro Shops. Then, one day I come home and it's sitting in the garage.
I remember my 3rd grade birthday, I had a bunch of friends over, like Tyler Miller and Zach Johns... and my dad said he was going somewhere. When he came back (from Toys R Us), he had a brand new Nintendo set with him and I remember Zach yelling at everyone, "Jin's dad got the new Nintendo!" Then we played on the PowerPad for hours.
I remember in 5th grade, my class was going on a field trip but we were one adult short. So I called home and dad said he would come along. I remember our group of friends would just run around all day at the zoo, because my dad was so laid back about keeping the group together.
He was always the 'cool' dad. The one who taught me how to ski, to golf, to roller blade (he was a speedskater in Korea)... He let me drive his Land Cruiser when I turned 16, so I felt pretty tough driving that around school and out to lunch. He was always well dressed and well groomed and would make comments when I wore baseball caps and sandals.
He lived a privileged, yet stressful existence. Life was unfair to him. And I still think (at 56), he left much too soon. I miss you pops, I love you, and I'll see you again one day. This Blog post does little justice to the influence you've had in my life... I will honor you through my actions and will make you even more proud.
I saw so many similarities between him and myself, and felt that I had so much more to learn from him, and to talk to him about. But he went so quickly. I remember constantly thinking he would figure a way out of this. I mean, everyone seems to be recovering from cancer these days. Lance Armstrong beat cancer and then won a record number of Tour De France's.
But in less than a month, he is gone. He was admitted to St Francis Hospital in late May and was told he has cancer that has metastasized (spread) to other parts of his body. He was told there was no treatment for it. Not happy, we tried to get him admitted to UW Hospital and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. They told us there was a wait, until June 30th, for the next available appointment. So he went back home to Mt Rainier after spending a night in my bedroom. He was better for a few days while resting at his house. But then he started feeling worse and was admitted to Overlake Hospital in Bellevue about a week ago.
I never thought this would be the last time he left his house, left his car, and all his belongings.
At 11:42 AM on Thursday, 06.19.2008, he took his final breath next to my mom, sister and myself. No one else. I think he wanted it that way.
All that time when he was in the hospital, I remember going to work, and then to the hospital afterwards. No matter how sick dad looked, I thought things would get better. But I first knew things were bad when I saw my dad cry for the first time.
What sucks the most about this, is when I see something that would appeal to my dad, "Sale at REI? Oh, sweet, I gotta tell da..." and then I realize I can't. When I went to his place to start packing some of his belongings, I remember looking in his car and wanting to cry. I'm sure the last time he got out of that car, he had no idea he would never get back in. He had left it as anyone else would have, like he had planned on driving it everyday. His hat sitting on the passenger side, water / food and other emergency stuff... and he always had to have a garbage bag hanging somewhere.
And up until that point, I had always wondered why he decided to trade in a newer Civic with 20K miles (that was paid off) for a brand new Toyota Sienna in January of 2008. Gas prices were soaring, and he would have to get a loan for the new car. Plus, no guy wants a minivan, right?
But not with my dad. His dream car has ALWAYS been a Sienna minivan. He loves Toyota, and loves going camping. So he always felt the Sienna would be perfect for him. And at least now I know that he got to drive his dream car for 5 months before he passed away and had no regrets.
It pains me to do some of the things required of me. Sorting through his belongings, making funeral / casket arrangements, paying some of his bills, deciding whether to keep things, sell things, or throw them out. But even the things I hadn't thought about before. Like... do I keep his cell phone number? He's had his cell number for 10 years now. Since 1998. To me, it's part of his identity.
I'm sure I just need some time to heal. I still expect him to be there when I call... and for him to be happy to hear from me. His love for his children was deep, and is what kept him here in Washington when the rest of his family was still in Korea.
He would treasure the things my sister and I bought him. I see the Arc'Teryx outdoor gear he kept in pristine condition, even though I know he wore those items quite often. The high-end hiking boots I bought him from REI were still as good as new. I remember how he loved using my REI dividends when I received them. He never ran out of things to buy there.
He was so proud of everything my sister and I did. He wouldn't always say it but you could tell by his mannerisms. He was always extra difficult on me, hoping I would become better at everything and would never settle for anything (whether it was my driving, rock climbing ability, my Korean speaking ability or a million other things). I may not have liked this approach when I was in high school, but I've appreciated it ever since.
I remember how he would never let me buy cheap things. When I wanted to play tennis, he bought me a racket that I borrowed once from a coach and fell in love with. Except, I never thought I would get it, because it was a $200 racket that was only sold in Pro Shops. Then, one day I come home and it's sitting in the garage.
I remember my 3rd grade birthday, I had a bunch of friends over, like Tyler Miller and Zach Johns... and my dad said he was going somewhere. When he came back (from Toys R Us), he had a brand new Nintendo set with him and I remember Zach yelling at everyone, "Jin's dad got the new Nintendo!" Then we played on the PowerPad for hours.
I remember in 5th grade, my class was going on a field trip but we were one adult short. So I called home and dad said he would come along. I remember our group of friends would just run around all day at the zoo, because my dad was so laid back about keeping the group together.
He was always the 'cool' dad. The one who taught me how to ski, to golf, to roller blade (he was a speedskater in Korea)... He let me drive his Land Cruiser when I turned 16, so I felt pretty tough driving that around school and out to lunch. He was always well dressed and well groomed and would make comments when I wore baseball caps and sandals.
He lived a privileged, yet stressful existence. Life was unfair to him. And I still think (at 56), he left much too soon. I miss you pops, I love you, and I'll see you again one day. This Blog post does little justice to the influence you've had in my life... I will honor you through my actions and will make you even more proud.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
It's About Time : Free Wi-Fi at Starbucks
But there's a catch!
You have to buy, maintain, use / reload (when it runs low) and continue to use one of those Starbucks cards in order to get the free wi-fi. And it's for 2 hours a day, so you can't be using it all day long.
But still, for most people, this should be more than enough time. And it'll give customers more incentive to go to Starbucks now, instead of the competitors likes Tullys and other mom and pop coffee shops that already offer free wi-fi.
I would say, however, that the only deterrent I see is that it takes a couple steps just to set up (I have to go buy a gift card, register it online, create a username and password, and then I have to use the card at least once a month and remember to carry that card around)... but once the initial setup is done, I'm sure all I'll have to do is remember the username and password for that account, since I already go to Starbucks about once a week anyway.
And you get other benefits too, like free soy and other beverage customizations, refills on certain drinks, and even free drinks on occasion.
Alright, so for more information, visit the Starbucks website.
You have to buy, maintain, use / reload (when it runs low) and continue to use one of those Starbucks cards in order to get the free wi-fi. And it's for 2 hours a day, so you can't be using it all day long.
But still, for most people, this should be more than enough time. And it'll give customers more incentive to go to Starbucks now, instead of the competitors likes Tullys and other mom and pop coffee shops that already offer free wi-fi.
I would say, however, that the only deterrent I see is that it takes a couple steps just to set up (I have to go buy a gift card, register it online, create a username and password, and then I have to use the card at least once a month and remember to carry that card around)... but once the initial setup is done, I'm sure all I'll have to do is remember the username and password for that account, since I already go to Starbucks about once a week anyway.
And you get other benefits too, like free soy and other beverage customizations, refills on certain drinks, and even free drinks on occasion.
Alright, so for more information, visit the Starbucks website.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Gadget Review - T-Mobile (HTC) Dash vs Blackberry Curve
So last summer, I compared the (new at the time) Apple iPhone to my T-Mobile Dash. I ended up keeping the Dash. I felt their uses were identical (both play video, music, navigate the internet on the EDGE network, and sync up with Outlook), but to me, the Dash was WAY easier to use. Even after 3 months of using the iPhone, I would get frustrated at attempting to type on the touch-keyboard.
So here I am now, comparing the Blackberry Curve to the Dash.
The verdict? They're pretty much the same phone! Now, you can say one is Windows-based, one has a trackball, one has Blackberry Messenger, and so on. But they're pretty much the same phones.
The Curve is a tiny bit thicker and wider. But it's a better looking phone. The Dash has a softer feel to it with a better grip, which is the reason I never dropped it. Both are equally easy to type on. And both sync up with Outlook, and can be used as 'tethered modems' connected to a PC (you would use this feature if you wanted to connect your laptop to the internet, but wasn't around a wi-fi internet connection... you could use either of these phones as 'modems' that are connected to the laptop).
My main gripe about both these phones is that they are like mini-computers. So you'll probably end up rebooting (taking out the battery and restarting the phone) about once a day. Both tend to crash if you're attempting to multi-task. I thought the Dash took a long time to reboot (about a minute), but the Curve can take up to 3 minutes to reboot. A little ridiculous if you ask me.
And the Dash has a 'task manager', much like your Windows XP PC does, so you can close programs you aren't using to free up memory. So far, I haven't been able to find that feature on the Curve.
The breakdown?
Looks : The Curve
Ease of use : It's a tie
The Interface : The Dash's is more familiar and intuitive, but the Curve's looks better
Battery Life : This is where the Dash still dominates. I can go 2 days without a charge, even with all the emailing, texting and talking that I do. I wouldn't feel comfortable going into a 2nd day without a charge on the Curve. But the good news is that the Curve charges up in no-time.
Value : The Curve is $450 + tax. The Dash is $250 + tax. For 2 phones with nearly identical uses, that seems like a huge difference. Of course, these days, you can get both for around $100-$150 with a 2-year contract.
Which One Will I Keep? : The Curve this time. Because it's a UMA phone. Which means that I can connect to wi-fi networks to make phone calls in areas where T-Mobile's signal isn't as strong. This is a great feature, and even in that little area on Front Street where I get NO cell signal, I can still connect using a wi-fi network.
So here I am now, comparing the Blackberry Curve to the Dash.
The verdict? They're pretty much the same phone! Now, you can say one is Windows-based, one has a trackball, one has Blackberry Messenger, and so on. But they're pretty much the same phones.
The Curve is a tiny bit thicker and wider. But it's a better looking phone. The Dash has a softer feel to it with a better grip, which is the reason I never dropped it. Both are equally easy to type on. And both sync up with Outlook, and can be used as 'tethered modems' connected to a PC (you would use this feature if you wanted to connect your laptop to the internet, but wasn't around a wi-fi internet connection... you could use either of these phones as 'modems' that are connected to the laptop).
My main gripe about both these phones is that they are like mini-computers. So you'll probably end up rebooting (taking out the battery and restarting the phone) about once a day. Both tend to crash if you're attempting to multi-task. I thought the Dash took a long time to reboot (about a minute), but the Curve can take up to 3 minutes to reboot. A little ridiculous if you ask me.
And the Dash has a 'task manager', much like your Windows XP PC does, so you can close programs you aren't using to free up memory. So far, I haven't been able to find that feature on the Curve.
The breakdown?
Looks : The Curve
Ease of use : It's a tie
The Interface : The Dash's is more familiar and intuitive, but the Curve's looks better
Battery Life : This is where the Dash still dominates. I can go 2 days without a charge, even with all the emailing, texting and talking that I do. I wouldn't feel comfortable going into a 2nd day without a charge on the Curve. But the good news is that the Curve charges up in no-time.
Value : The Curve is $450 + tax. The Dash is $250 + tax. For 2 phones with nearly identical uses, that seems like a huge difference. Of course, these days, you can get both for around $100-$150 with a 2-year contract.
Which One Will I Keep? : The Curve this time. Because it's a UMA phone. Which means that I can connect to wi-fi networks to make phone calls in areas where T-Mobile's signal isn't as strong. This is a great feature, and even in that little area on Front Street where I get NO cell signal, I can still connect using a wi-fi network.
Monday, May 19, 2008
T-Mobile
So this may be news to many of my friends, but I now work for T-Mobile, in addition to my career in Real Estate. It's no secret that the housing industry has been slow... but even in a weaker economy, people need to stay in touch, so I felt that the cell phone industry would be a strong one to be a part of. And so far, T-Mobile seems like a great company.
And in other news, Seattle finally saw 3 consecutive days with no rain. I think it was the first time that's happened in 2008. It's funny how Seattleites react to sunshine... all the nice sunglasses come out, as well as sunblock. And everyone washes their cars, gets out their convertibles and motorcycles, and spend a lot of time outside.
But the funniest thing to me, is that when the weather is overcast and dreary, traffic tends to be normal. But when it's either raining hard / snowing, or on any sunny day, traffic is TERRIBLE! It's like we can only drive when there are absolutely no distractions. No rain, no sun, nothing.
I'm happy though, I rode a bike for the first time in a long time, as well as played tennis for the first time in years. And I finally got some color on my skin (although not so much on my legs). As much as I miss winter, and snowboarding... I hope there are more weekends like this coming up.
And in other news, Seattle finally saw 3 consecutive days with no rain. I think it was the first time that's happened in 2008. It's funny how Seattleites react to sunshine... all the nice sunglasses come out, as well as sunblock. And everyone washes their cars, gets out their convertibles and motorcycles, and spend a lot of time outside.
But the funniest thing to me, is that when the weather is overcast and dreary, traffic tends to be normal. But when it's either raining hard / snowing, or on any sunny day, traffic is TERRIBLE! It's like we can only drive when there are absolutely no distractions. No rain, no sun, nothing.
I'm happy though, I rode a bike for the first time in a long time, as well as played tennis for the first time in years. And I finally got some color on my skin (although not so much on my legs). As much as I miss winter, and snowboarding... I hope there are more weekends like this coming up.
Friday, April 04, 2008
It was a great season!
As I was cleaning up and putting away all my snowboard gear for the season, I reflected on what a great season 2007-2008 was. Two trips to Whistler, got to go to all the ski areas in Washington at least once, and on at least 5 occasions, I got to ride for absolutely free. The snow was great, but what really made it special was all the people I ended up meeting.
This friend started a group entitled "Hump Sessions Crew" and about 25 (yes, 25!!!) of us went up every Wednesday after work until night boarding at Snoqualmie ended in mid-March.
It reminds me of when you're little, and you're hanging out with your friends after school. Except we get a little more freedom from the parents and we get to go snowboarding instead.
It also reminds me of how Reaction Snowboards started out almost 10 YEARS AGO!!! In 1999, my friends and I just started out as "Team Reaction"... so being part of another group of passionate snowboarders all season was awesome. Especially since the past 2 years, my enthusiasm had waned when I had trouble finding people to go ride with.
So, thanks Hump Sessions, Alan Vu, Tera, and everyone else for making this season unforgettable.
This friend started a group entitled "Hump Sessions Crew" and about 25 (yes, 25!!!) of us went up every Wednesday after work until night boarding at Snoqualmie ended in mid-March.
It reminds me of when you're little, and you're hanging out with your friends after school. Except we get a little more freedom from the parents and we get to go snowboarding instead.
It also reminds me of how Reaction Snowboards started out almost 10 YEARS AGO!!! In 1999, my friends and I just started out as "Team Reaction"... so being part of another group of passionate snowboarders all season was awesome. Especially since the past 2 years, my enthusiasm had waned when I had trouble finding people to go ride with.
So, thanks Hump Sessions, Alan Vu, Tera, and everyone else for making this season unforgettable.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
I Love This House
Recently, Francie and Joe purchased this house up in the Highlands. It's in the Brighton community, and the complex is listed by Nick Pallis of Windermere.
What a great complex. For under $600K, you get 4 bedrooms, and Energy Star / Built Green construction. You also get a live / work unit on the ground floor, that can be used for certain commercial purposes. And since these buildings face the main road with plenty of foot traffic, you can get a pretty successful business going with a lot of exposure.
Here is David Nguyen, my loan officer, relaxing while watching some TV at their house warming party.
What a great complex. For under $600K, you get 4 bedrooms, and Energy Star / Built Green construction. You also get a live / work unit on the ground floor, that can be used for certain commercial purposes. And since these buildings face the main road with plenty of foot traffic, you can get a pretty successful business going with a lot of exposure.
Here is David Nguyen, my loan officer, relaxing while watching some TV at their house warming party.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Finally! A Papa John's in Issaquah
Once every week, my friends and I meet up for a little snowboarding after work. Last week, we met over by Fred Meyers in Issaquah. Now, these are friends of mine that I grew up with, almost all being from Issaquah or the Eastside.
We like Issaquah, it's got a nice mix of old shops / restaurants and newer big chain stores. You won't find places like Olive Garden, Best Buy, Frys, Circuit City or Papa John's... or will you? We looked over towards Jamba Juice and noticed a familiar red, green and white sign.
Is it? It is! A Papa John's has opened up in Issaquah. I love pizza, but was tired of paying the prices at Extreme Pizza, Round Table, and Flying Pie, and I'm just sick of Dominos. So I'm excited to know I can order Papa Johns now. What took them so long?!
And speaking of that little area... it's sad to see how far Krispy Kremes has fallen. I remember when that parking lot resembled a ferry line, with hired security directing traffic. Now, it's rare to see cars lined up at all.
We like Issaquah, it's got a nice mix of old shops / restaurants and newer big chain stores. You won't find places like Olive Garden, Best Buy, Frys, Circuit City or Papa John's... or will you? We looked over towards Jamba Juice and noticed a familiar red, green and white sign.
Is it? It is! A Papa John's has opened up in Issaquah. I love pizza, but was tired of paying the prices at Extreme Pizza, Round Table, and Flying Pie, and I'm just sick of Dominos. So I'm excited to know I can order Papa Johns now. What took them so long?!
And speaking of that little area... it's sad to see how far Krispy Kremes has fallen. I remember when that parking lot resembled a ferry line, with hired security directing traffic. Now, it's rare to see cars lined up at all.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Seattle Magazine December 2007
This is probably my proudest achievement as a real estate agent... I was nominated by readers of Seattle Magazine as a Five Star Real Estate Agent for 2007. This is my profile from the December 2007 issue of Seattle Magazine... it was their annual "Best Of..." issue.
I figured most other agents would have taken this honor very seriously with pictures in front of nice houses, in their office, or in front of waterfront properties... so I wanted to go the opposite route and have a lot of fun with it.
The photographer even commented, "I like these photos a lot... but you just look TOO young to be a real estate agent in all of them."
And I just said, "That's cool, we'll go with it."
It's still a tremendous honor to be chosen, and it completely caught me off guard. To be mentioned in the same category as some of the other agents on the list is something that I still can't believe.
Thank you to all my clients who voted me in!
I figured most other agents would have taken this honor very seriously with pictures in front of nice houses, in their office, or in front of waterfront properties... so I wanted to go the opposite route and have a lot of fun with it.
The photographer even commented, "I like these photos a lot... but you just look TOO young to be a real estate agent in all of them."
And I just said, "That's cool, we'll go with it."
It's still a tremendous honor to be chosen, and it completely caught me off guard. To be mentioned in the same category as some of the other agents on the list is something that I still can't believe.
Thank you to all my clients who voted me in!
Monday, January 07, 2008
Lucky Strike at Bellevue's Lincoln Square
Lucky Strike Bowling finally opened in Bellevue, a couple days behind schedule. I went there with some friends last night to check out the scene, venue, food, and to do a little bowling. And we also got to see Sokhom in Bellevue again! She was one of our favorite servers from the Bellevue Joeys.
The atmosphere at Lucky Strike is extremely casual, even though the place is really upscale (cherry hardwoods, nice couches and TVs, etc). I kinda felt like we were in some rich person's home. I also expected a snooty staff and clientele, kind of like you get at the Parlor. But for the most part, we were walking around in socks and bowling shoes and having a lot of fun. I love the lounge there, and even if I'm not going to bowl, I wouldn't mind meeting some friends there for dinner and drinks.
Understandably, it was a little slow last night. But so was every other place in Bellevue. It was the Sunday after the holidays, and a lot of people are probably just relaxing, or trying to keep their New Years Resolutions.
The private room apparently is $4,000 for 3 hours. But you could throw one hell of a party in there. There are 4 private lanes, your own bar, and seating for probably about 50 people (comfortably), or maybe up to 100 if everyone's standing around.
There were still a few kinks to work out last night (like problems with the bowling lanes), but we had a great time. The only thing I thought was weird, is that every lane allows up to 8 bowlers. However, there is only seating for 3. Once the place starts getting busy, there are gonna be a lot of people standing around.
The 9 or 10 people in our group ended up spending just around $350 total. That included a food / drinks tab around $230 and a bowling tab around $100 (for 100 minutes). Which sounds about right since we each had a couple rounds of drinks.
It looks like the night life in Bellevue is getting crowded now, with the Parlor, Joeys, Vertigo and Lucky Strike all vying for your attention and money.
The atmosphere at Lucky Strike is extremely casual, even though the place is really upscale (cherry hardwoods, nice couches and TVs, etc). I kinda felt like we were in some rich person's home. I also expected a snooty staff and clientele, kind of like you get at the Parlor. But for the most part, we were walking around in socks and bowling shoes and having a lot of fun. I love the lounge there, and even if I'm not going to bowl, I wouldn't mind meeting some friends there for dinner and drinks.
Understandably, it was a little slow last night. But so was every other place in Bellevue. It was the Sunday after the holidays, and a lot of people are probably just relaxing, or trying to keep their New Years Resolutions.
The private room apparently is $4,000 for 3 hours. But you could throw one hell of a party in there. There are 4 private lanes, your own bar, and seating for probably about 50 people (comfortably), or maybe up to 100 if everyone's standing around.
There were still a few kinks to work out last night (like problems with the bowling lanes), but we had a great time. The only thing I thought was weird, is that every lane allows up to 8 bowlers. However, there is only seating for 3. Once the place starts getting busy, there are gonna be a lot of people standing around.
The 9 or 10 people in our group ended up spending just around $350 total. That included a food / drinks tab around $230 and a bowling tab around $100 (for 100 minutes). Which sounds about right since we each had a couple rounds of drinks.
It looks like the night life in Bellevue is getting crowded now, with the Parlor, Joeys, Vertigo and Lucky Strike all vying for your attention and money.
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