A digital travel diary. · WP v1.08 · Updated
Inna purchased the latest Apple MacBook Air M1 with 512GB SSD in silver from Costco.com for my delayed New Year's present. It was on sale for $1099 ($100 off) and was an excellent choice. . I asked her to delay the purchase as I hoped Apple would release their Apple 14" or 16" Macbook Pro with an M1X or M2 CPU, but the release of…
Read More: Review: Apple MacBook Air M1
With my Wavestorm 8' surfboard seriously damaged, I decided the new version might be beneficial. Since my local Costco did not have any available (either in-store or online), I decided to try ordering the Gerry Lopez 8' Foam Surfboard from Costco.com for $189.99. . The reviews at Costco.com seemed favorable, and the price (although higher than $99 for Wavestorm 8') seemed reasonable. After ordering on…
Read More: Review: Gerry Lopez 8′ Foam Surfboard
We intended to spend Spring Break in Punta Mita (Puerto Vallarta), Mexico. However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the required COVID-19 testing to return to the U.S.A., we postponed our international travel (yet again). We worried about getting stuck in Mexico (had we tested positive for COVID-19) and missing Alex's A.P. tests.. . Instead, we decided to return for a week to Southern California.…
Read More: Spring Break at La Jolla
One of our friends has a timeshare at Marriott's Newport Coast Villas but couldn't spend the time due to concerns about COVID-19. Another week at Newport might be fun since we stayed in nearby Laguna Beach in September. . . . . We reserved our 7 nights at Marriott from Saturday, February 27 to Saturday, March 6, 2021. Alex was excited, as it would allow…
Read More: Winter at Newport Beach
For Inna's birthday, I originally intended to treat her to a Japanese barbecue at Gyu-Kaku. However, as I developed a headache, I canceled the reservation. Later on, after taking some Tylenol, I felt much better, so we decided to drive to Los Gatos and find a nice restaurant with outdoor seating. . . . . At first, I thought about the recently opened Pastaria &…
Read More: Inna’s Birthday Dinner at North
For Inna's birthday, I surprised her with an iPhone 12 Pro Max. She used her iPhone 8 Plus a lot and wanted a larger screen and a better camera with more zoom options.. . Since my intended cellular provider was Google Fi, I ordered a sim-unlocked version directly from Apple, as Costco and Amazon only sold carrier-locked versions. . I scheduled a Enjoy delivery from…
Read More: Review: Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Thursday, February 10, 2021 . . My rear brake stopped working on my recent mountain bike ride at Almaden Quicksilver County Park. I was shocked, as I had my rear brake pads replaced by Michael at Silva Cycles recently. I thought my rear brake cable had broken, but that was not the case. . When I brought my bike to Silva Cycles, Michael found that…
Read More: Specialized Rear Brake Problems
For Valentine's Day, I made a reservation (via OpenTable) for 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, February 14th, at our favorite Palo Alto restaurant, Evvia. . Evvia serves authentic Greek entrees, and we really like the high-quality dishes. . When we arrived at 17:20, I was surprised by how easy it was to find parking. Usually, Palo Alto downtown is quite busy (especially on Valentine's Day). After…
Read More: Valentine’s Day at Evvia
For Valentine's Day, I surprised Inna with the latest Apple Series 6 Watch. Inna's Series 3 Apple Watch has been flaky lately, and the newer version, with EKG and blood oxygen sensors, might provide her with more insight into her activities. . . . . . . The Apple Watch Series 6 40mm was on sale at Costco for $349, so it was only about…
Read More: Review: Apple Watch Series 6
After my Aukey EP-B40P Bluetooth earbuds stopped working (the battery died), I started looking for suitable replacements. . My wife purchased the Apple AirPods initially, but I did not like the sound quality, which seemed lower than my $25 Aukey EP-B40P buds. I decided to try the Apple AirPods Pro next, but they did not impress me, even though they cost $200! . . My…
Read More: Review: AUKEY True Wireless Earbuds Sports EP-T32
Today, January 12, 2021, I canceled many of my social media accounts. . . . . I didn't like all the censorship imposed by Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and decided I didn't need these social media accounts. They sell my personal information to advertisers in exchange for algorithm-curated news, headlines, and photos. No, thanks!. . Twitter - deleted my account on January 12, 2021. Instagram…
Read More: Cancelling Social Media
On Saturday, January 9, 2021, on a beautiful but chilly winter day, Inna and I decided to hike the trails of the nearby Sanborn County Park in Saratoga, CA. We drove to the Costanoan Group Area parking lot and parked there. . . . . As it was a cold winter's day, we chose a shorter version of our average hike (about 2 miles) that…
Read More: Hiking Sanborn County Park
As a 2021 New Year's present, Inna surprised me with an Apple AirPods from Apple. She engraved them with "sea sloth" as a charming moniker. While they sounded clear, I realized she had overpaid for them, as Amazon was selling the Airpods Pro model for the same price. . . . . We proceeded to return the original Airpods and replace them with Airpods Pro.…
Read More: Review: Apple Airpods Pro
For the New Year, I purchased a new Apple MacBook Pro 13' M1 512 GB SSD laptop for Inna, as her 2013 MacBook Pro was starting to misbehave (rebooting often). . . . Initially, I was leaning toward the new MacBook Air 13' M1, but the MacBook Pro M1 512 GB SSD/8 GB RAM was offered on sale at Costco.com, and the difference between the…
Read More: Review: Apple Macbook Pro 13′ M1
I decided that he needed a surf skateboard to improve Alex's surfing technique - maneuvers such as cutbacks, bottom turns, and slashes. . Alex already owns a 43" Cardboard, but it's not as maneuverable as an actual surfboard. After researching, I found that a Florida company called Swelltech specializes in manufacturing surf skates that closely mimic surfing.. . On October 21, 2020, I pre-ordered the…
Read More: Riding Swelltech J.O.B. Banzai Surfskate
Ah, 2020 be gone! . With COVID-19 changing our lives (mainly for the worse), we are happy to move into 2021! I look forward to a time when wearing masks is no longer required, when lines to Whole Foods are a distant memory, and when I can sip my Philharmonic coffee at Philz and enjoy my freshly baked croissants at Fleur de Cocoa. . Despite…
Read More: Welcoming 2021!
. . How was 2020 in Sports? With COVID-19 raging, it turned out quite different, with much more surfing and mountain biking than in previous years. . 77 days of playing tennis (Sunnyvale Tennis Center) before Covid-19 closed it. I really miss playing tennis!. . 14 days of working out in the gym (City Sports) before COVID-19 locked it down. . 46 days of surfing…
Read More: The Year in Sports 2020
Which are the best restaurants, spas, and travel destinations? . At the end of 2020, I am rating the following (from best to worst) based on my personal experience. . . . Restaurants. . Even though Michelin has not rated it, Mama's Fish House on Maui is our favorite restaurant worldwide. Mama's Fish House combines an authentic Hawaiian atmosphere with exceptional cooking and a magnificent…
Read More: Best of the Best 2020
This year, unlike most previous years, our neighbors spent lavishly decorating for Christmas and the upcoming New Year, and the results speak for themselves. . . As we strolled through the Almaden Winery neighborhood along our usual walking path, we enjoyed the fancy decorations and beautiful illuminations. . . . . After wrapping all our presents and putting them under the Christmas tree, we went…
Read More: Enjoying Christmas
Is human knowledge only to be found in books?. As wonderful as books represent, document, and express human thoughts, they are not a substitute for direct, personal contact that comes from seeing, hearing, feeling, and experiencing things for oneself.. . Can any book truly capture the exhilaration of windsurfing on Maui, snowboarding on freshly fallen powder at Whistler, piloting a Cessna single-engine aircraft, swimming with…
Read More: The Bucket List 2020