u r mine o'shuffle
february 14, 2007
each and every year, i say "no presents + no flowers". without taking much heed to my request, TGILW usually ends up getting me something, while i look like a dork being completely empty handed. in the beginning of our courtship and marriage, i can't really recall what he gave me (how bad is that?) but typically it wasn't much. i don't even like it when he sends me flowers to the office because it probably costs more than the wee little iPod shuffle above and i'd much rather have something fun and interesting like that. but for the past few years though he has been giving me presents every valentine's day even though i still say "no presents please". it partially has to do with the fact that valentine's is only a couple weeks before my birthday and that would mean he would have to get me two things in such a short amount of time. and if you know the kind of girl i am, i do have a pretty particular taste in things.
although i've been secretly wanting the iPod gen 2 shuffle, i really thought he was going to get it for me for my birthday but he surprised me (again) with it on valentine's day. and i'm so glad that i held out for the green one because i was so tempted to get the silver one for myself when it first came out. anyway, i was thoroughly surprised to find a nice red gift bag on my computer table when i woke up today. inside was of course the iPod shuffle but also an iPod gift card, a chocolate candy rose (what the?) and also a really nice card.
needless to say, i absolutely love the little iPod shuffle. i've been wanting one to take to the park, on walks with snowbie, listen to while knitting, cooking, doing chores around the house, waiting at the doctor's office. why, i even used it today to work on DOMO so i wouldn't be so lonely. love it.
although valentine's day is one of those days that i don't really think much about...it's obviously so in your face. i guess it has to do with being single for so so so so many years. i don't think i've ever celebrated valentine's day with anyone before TGILW. kind of pathetic really but i got accustomed to not really paying much attention to this day. so really i always find valentine's day the same as any other because really, valentine's day should be every day.
^ okra with spicy mentaiko
TGILW and i went out the night before valentine's day to try out a new place i passed by when i was in hacienda heights. i was pretty elated when i saw that they were going to be opening an izakaya and yakitori place there called ojiya. i believe ojiya has an initial store in chino hills serving traditional japanese fare but the one in hacienda heights serves up all those amazing yakitori skewers along with a ton of traditional izakaya dishes. and OMG, i think this is going to be my new hangout! i am absolutely in love with it and everything they served. the prices are pretty decent but it certainly adds up after ordering a good 10 dishes. LOL if you live in the SGV, you should definitely drop in to try it out. the neighborhood isn't the greatest and it's tucked away in a strip mall but you will not regret it. the wait staff is very helpful and you can sit at the yakitori bar or one of their tables that is nicely separated by a bamboo curtain.
if you see me there...come by and say hi! :) i'll wear my aiyah sweatshirt so you'll recognize me. haha. or i'm sure you'll notice the tattoos.
ojiya yakitori bar + dining
15904 e. gale ave.
hacienda heights, ca 91745
626.855.3500
opened tues thru sun from 5pm - 11pm (except sun, they close at 10pm)
in the strip mall adjacent to the 99 cents store
^ huge! amazing! fresh oysters! $2.20 each. yes, only!
^ deep fried nasu (eggplant) with yamakake (mountain yam) and served in a
shoyu broth with roasted peppers.
^ a very light batter on the tempura that resulted in tasting the actual foods
instead of the batter. scrummy. the ebi (shrimp) was a nice large size served
with tempura shiso leaf, shitake mushrooms, eggplant and kabocha.
^ kobe beef yakitori. need any more reason to explain this? :P~~~~
^ genki yamakake: mountain yam with natto, uni and maguro. omg. sooooo good
if you like all that stuff.
^ one of the best yaki-onigiri i've ever had and their takuan is so so so
good.
^ salted chicken wings yakitori plus several other types of yakitori in the
background: garlic chicken and chicken with green onion. their house salad
is also shown - delicious! they serve it with a great onion dressing and with
plenty of greens.
^ sake ochazuke - probably one of the best i've ever had. flavorful without
being too salty. a very generous serving as well. perfect to share. add a
dollop of wasabi and i'm good to go.
^ bacon wrapped asparagus. need i say more?
now....who wants to sit at the yakitori bar with me? any takers? looking for good yakitoriests. ;)
^ my preciousssssssssss.....
:: ::
thanks to those who were so kind to gift me from my amazon wishlist. i've already started receiving some of the packages but i think i'll be good this year and not open them until my birthday. every year, i always open them so early and end up with nothing to open. this way, i'll have lots of goodies to look forward to! thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity. :)
currently listening to: bic runga, get some sleep
