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