Appreciate Nature

Korean Karaoke

I don't understand karaoke. Why would anyone want to be subjected to horrible singers belting out songs when you can just stick an ice pick in your ear? For this reason, when my friends suggested we all go to Korea Town for karaoke, I gotta say ... was not thrilled.  I knew immediately this meant the day after would be one spent incredibly hung over -- really, the only way to survive karaoke night.

And for those of you who are not familiar with Korea Town karaoke -- this is the kind of karaoke where you rent a room and for 5 hours straight friends sing songs ... one after the next, no stopping. No place to go. No other random patrons, like in a bar, to be distracted by. Just singing. Lots and lots of very very loud singing, crazy strobe lights, flashing tambourines and insane Korean-produced videos, which accompany each song. It's like an epilepsy-victim's worst nightmare.

It's pretty insane. So, I went. I drank. I drank some more. And then ... the anti-Karaoke queen ... SANG!!!!! Okay, so, I did sing with my bf Steve, but I did get up there and do it and ... I am pissed that no one took a picture. So, I can't even prove it! But I did -- I sang Outkast's "Hey Ya" and Seal's "Kiss from a Rose." Two stellar picks, in my opinion.

Two highlights from the evening. #1) Mike singing "Bootilicious" and 2) A closing group perfmance of "We are the World." Upon leaving someone mentioned going back next month. No way. This is the kind of thing you can only handle once every 3 years.

And yes, the day after did include much-needed carbs and milkshakes.

Grocery Shopping Sans Diet Coke

See anything missing from this grocery shopping cart?
Hell yeah, you do.

Ugh. No. Diet. Coke.

You have no idea. Normally when at the check-out, I see my favorite treat ...

 ... an ice cold D.C. -- perfect for an instant check-out buzz. Instead, I just stared. Long. And hard.

Oh, the sweet nectar going down my throat. The flirty bubbles tickling my nose.  The rush of caffeine straight to my head.

I went home and drank a bottle of wine instead.

Go Metro

New York is known for its subway system but did you know Los Angeles has an underground transit system too? It's exists and I took it.

Not quite as busy as the New York subway.

Diet Coke Detox [DAY 2]

Happy to report -- I am still clean!

I am tired as all hell, but ... the Diet Coke in my blood stream has decreased (or at least I would hope so).

Today my stomach was killing me all day. So, my feeling is, it was either the cheese I ate for my mid-morning snack or my bowels not knowing what is going on. Sorry, that was gross. But really, the internal organs are screaming for help.

I was asked what I have replaced the caffeine in my life with -- I said nothing (although, thank you everyone for the green tea recommendations). Yup, no caffeine -- well, okay, I did have a chai tea from Coffee Bean today ... but I dunno, does that have caffeine?

Okay, I gotta go now ... my eye lids are barely able to stay open at this point.

Oh wait -- one more major occurrence of the day. At lunch I opened a bottle of flavored, carbonated water and it EXPLODED all over my desk and keyboard (don't tell the IT guy) and everything! WTH?! My precious Diet Coke would never have treated me that way.