Tomoya Sushi & Izakaya

Above, inside of  Tomoya Sushi & Izakaya in Warner Center. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Jessica, my former roommate, has been after me for days to take her out to a sushi lunch. Well, I finally "capitulated" today and was going to take her to one of our favorite restaurants, Kabuki.

While on the way to Kabuki in Woodland Hills, it began to rain. Since the Mustang has been in the body shop, I've been driving The Beast and was a bit concerned about finding adequate parking.

As we neared Woodland Hills, we noticed a Japanese sushi restaurant that we had been eyeing for months (it is a parking lot away from El Torito Mexican Restaurant) but haven't tried. The parking situation there was much more favorable for The Beast. I suggested that maybe this is a good time we try it out. She agreed and we headed over.

It is the Tomoya Sushi & Izakaya in Warner Center.

We immediately were seated and we ordered our lunch. I decided to stick to basics and just had tuna and salmon rolls. Jess had something a little more elaborate (the "I'm Stuffed" plate). We both were quite impressed how good the sushi was and liked the decor of the restaurant. It reminded me of a sushi restaurant I tried in Honolulu.

We will be definitely going there again.

Tomoya Sushi & Izakaya
6020 Canoga Ave
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
(818) 703-0318
www.tomoyausa.com/

Lens Fixed

Above, the lens is back on. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's one thing (possibly others) that analog camera lenses have over today's digital lenses, they don't give you error messages or fail to focus. With analog lenses, with a twist of the wrist, what you see is what you get! Since digital lenses have electronics in them, they can and do sometimes go haywire.

I finally had the 50mm lens for my Canon T5i Rebel camera fixed after it started giving me error messages and wouldn't correctly focus.

The good folks at Woodland Hills Camera had it all repaired and ready for me within 2 weeks. Not too shabby! Plus, they threw in a new lens cap strap at no charge!

Before leaving the store, I tested it out with my camera and it works as good as new.

The Tamron 18 - 270mm lens I bought (as a replacement) before the Hawaii trip worked great, but I did notice that it is not as sharp as the Canon 55mm lens.

Everything is ready to go, camera-wise, for the Metropolis trip.

Nice Outing

Above, Jes at the Lamplighter Restaurant wearing the
necklace I got her in Hawaii. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today was a pleasant day as I was out with my former roomie Jessica.

We began the day by heading to the Lamplighter Restaurant for breakfast.

Following that, we made a stop or two before heading to the Topanga Promenade shopping mall in Woodland Hills where she picked up a few things.

Funny thing, I was getting bored while she shopped so I found a chair in Target's patio furniture department. While I relaxed, she shopped to her heart's content without me around to nag her to hurry up. (The only "nagging" I did was to try to get her to go back to her natural hair color, jet black. She likes to experiment with different colors.) I managed to doze off in the chair (glad I picked a comfortable one). I don't know for how long I dozed, but when I woke up, she was in the next chair over, asleep. She said she must have dozed off for five or ten minutes.

She finished up her shopping and we went to the checkstand and headed out.

It was refreshing to be out with a gal and not have any drama during the whole time. Jes has always been straightforward and true blue. Her loyalty is unquestioned. Plus, we have a similar sense of humor. We're planning to go to the Ventura Beach RV Resort in a couple of weeks.

Checking Out Mustangs

Above, a very tempting 2016 Mustang Coupe . Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, I had to go into Woodland Hills to pick up something from Best Buy and decided to drop in at Vista Ford to check out their used Mustangs.

Unfortunately, there were none to look at. The salesman told me that due to the recall of mid-2000s cars of many makes, including Ford Mustangs up to 2014, their supply of used cars is a bit meager. The recall is related to the Japanese airbag company, Takata Corp. Airbags in vehicles during the mid-2000s have safety problems such as shrapnel being shot out when an airbag deploys. People have already been injured and killed because of this. There's an enormous back order of replacement airbags for the cars affected and it is taking a long time to get and install them.

As my 1989 Mustang is getting on in years, available parts is becoming more difficult to find. It is currently running fine, but that could change at any moment. So, I am considering buying a newer model. Since I bought The Beast new last year, a used vehicle is less painless for my wallet.

Since I was there, I decided to take a look at the 2016 Mustangs. The prices ranged from around $27,000 to $42,000, depending on the model and options.

I did like the 2016 Mustang Coupe (pictured at top) its sticker price was $28,000. I sent Denise the photo of it and said, "I am soooo tempted!" That was somewhat an understatement!

I'll decide what I am going to do once I get back home from Hawaii.

New Camera Lens

Above, the new lens with the lens hood on. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One little problem did crop up during my recent trip to Yosemite National Park.

On my Canon EOS T5i camera, while shooting pictures at the Tunnel View viewpoint of Yosemite Valley, I was getting "Error 20" messages and the shutter would not work. I would be able to shut down the camera and turn it on again several times and get the camera to work. Then, after a few pictures, the error message would pop back on again.

I was checking out the camera this morning and the error message would again pop up. It would pop up around 25% of the time. That's one thing I miss about analog (or film) cameras, these kinds of problems never cropped up. But that's digital cameras for you!

I went online to see what this error message was all about. Mostly, it has something to do with the lens, according to what I was able to find out. But the only way to determine that is to put on another lens and see if the error message would come on.

After reading this, I put in my Canon telephoto lens and, just like the online troubleshooting guide said, the error message didn't come on. So, at least it's not the camera with the problem, but the 55-250mm lens (that came with the camera) was causing the problem.

I had two choices, get the lens to the Canon repairer or get another lens.

Since we're to go to Hawaii in a few weeks, I need a reliable lens to use. But, it is questionable that repairs would be done on time before we go.

I went to Woodland Hills Camera with my camera to see what they have available. I tried out several lenses and settled on a Tamron 18-270mm lens.

Above, the lens without the lens hood. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

They said to have the problem lens fixed, it would cost around $80. I could have left it there right then, but the main reason I didn't was that I didn't have its protective lens caps with me. So I decided to wait until the Hawaii trip was over.

I really like the new lens. Woodland Hills Camera allowed me to take it outside to try it out. It should provide some great shots, especially during our helicopter tour of the volcanic national park and waterfalls on the Big Island. I will try it out during the Clamp-out next week. It also came with a lens hood. Also, I bought a UV lens filter for it.

Dinosaurs For Sale

Above, a six-foot dinosaur for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While on my way today to pick up some Hawaiian shirts for Aiden at the re Aloha Shirts store in Westlake Village, I spotted a garden art store next to the freeway with some cool dinosaurs.

I made a mental note to stop in on the way back. So I later did.

Above, a rack of dinosaurs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Generally, the dinosaurs (they have six-foot ones and smaller ones) sell for about $2,500. But they are currently having a sale. The six-footers are on sale for $1,800. They are very tempting!

Above, yours truly with a 6-footer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As a joke, I sent a text to Denise (who is down in San Diego with her cousin):

Mommie, I want one of these! I don't have room at my apartment. Can we keep it in your yard until we get our own place? Pleezzze?

I figured she'd repond with, "You're kidding, right?" But she thought I was serious.

She replied that since she lives at her mom's house, her mom doesn't like other people's things there or anything on the grass. If it were put in the back yard, she said, "my dogs would piss all over it."

This continued on for a bit and I ramped up my "begging" and making it sound even more whiny and childish. Yet, she still thought I was serious.

Above, some smaller dinosaurs that are available. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Finally, she was getting exasperated and I told her I was kidding and said, "You need to learn when I'm pulling your leg!" She took it fine.

Still, I wouldn't mind having one. If I really wanted to get one, I'd just go ahead and buy it.

Above, a side view of the smaller dinosaurs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The business is called Fountains and Garden Art. The store is located in Woodland Hills, next to the U.S. 101 freeway at Fallbrook Ave. Their address is 23210 Ventura Blvd. Phone (818) 223-8ART.

Above, the store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Should I send this to Don Glut?

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Ah, it's the Christmas season again! It is where people scream and yell at each other and honk their horns in shopping mall parking lots.

I saw one lady give a "middle-finger" gesture to another in the lot. Could it be a new way to say "Merry Christmas"?

That was the scene when I arrived at the Topanga Promenade in Woodland Hills today to begin my Christmas shopping. It seems that people would rather sit in parking lot aisles to wait for a close parking spot and waste gasoline and block everyone else rather than go a few rows further out to find plenty of open spaces (which is what I do). Since they are going to walk around department stores and the mall itself, why not warm up by walking a few more yards?

Anyway, I got started on my shopping and the crowds inside the mall were manageable. I had no problems. It helps to know what you're going to buy ahead of time and just walk in, buy them and leave.

I still have more to do. I'll probably head out again tomorrow and brave the morons in the parking lots.

Ruby's Diner In Cabazon

Above, the Cabazon Ruby's Diner. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On the way home from the General Patton Memorial Museum and Joshua Tree National Park yesterday, I made another stop (besides the Cabazon dinosaurs) in Cabazon: Ruby's Diner.

On the way to the General Patton Museum, I noticed several billboards advertising Ruby's Diner in Cabazon. Ruby's Diner is a 1940s style restaurant chain named for the mother of the founder, Doug Cavanaugh. I decided to give them a try.

Above, a portrait of founder Doug Cavanaugh's mother Ruby on display behind the cashier's counter. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Cabazon Ruby's Diner is next door to Hadley's Fruit Orchards store, at which my family has stopped for date shakes since the 1960s. I stopped by Hadley's after Ruby's, but that will be the subject of another blog post.

Ruby's started in 1980 with the first restaurant to be opened in 1982 in Newport Beach, California. Now, there are several Ruby's Diner restaurants besides the one in Cabazon.

Above, vintage signs adorned the walls of Ruby's Diner. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I went to the Cabazon restaurant for breakfast. Fortunately, they had large parking spaces in their parking lot that are suitable for RVs and I got there early before the crowds. When I went inside, I immediately liked the "malt shop" look of the restaurant. In the section I was seated, there was an overhead oval track with a 1957 Chevrolet going around and vintage signs were displayed on the walls. I'm probably dating myself when I admit to remembering some of the signs on display.

Above, the 1957 Chevy revolving on an overhead oval track. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I ordered the corned beef and eggs and it was well-prepared. The waiter was dressed 1940s style and he seemed to enjoy his job. I was pleased that the food was good. I'd hate to go to a restaurant what was all decor, but with lousy food.

Above, the counter of Ruby's. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to their website, there's a Ruby's Diner at the nearby Woodland Hills Promenade Mall on Topanga Canyon Blvd. I'll have go there to try out their hamburgers.

Above, the cooks at work. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If I should be in the Cabazon area again, I will make it a point to stop in at Ruby's Diner.

For more on Ruby's Diner, go here.

Hot Topic Pop-Culture Store

Above, "Big Bang Theory" t-shirts.  Had I had the extra cash on me, I'd have bought one of these.

Today, I had an errand to do for my roomie.  I had to pick up some suspenders for her to wear for her new job.

The pop-culture store Hot Topic had what she wanted and I went to the local store at the Topanga Plaza mall in Woodland Hills.  Prior to this, I never heard of Hot Topic.  So I went there to pick up the item and found a really cool store.

I spotted goods for a number of pop-culture characters, including Superman, Batman, Hello Kitty and the television show, The Big Bang Theory.

According to Hot Topic's website:

The Birth of the Loudest Store in the Mall

It all started in 1988. A ton of teen retail accessory stores littered the malls, but there weren't any cool, music-inspired accessory destinations for both guys and girls. Enter Hot Topic. 

As 1990 rolled around, adding apparel seemed like a no-brainer, so we brought in the ultimate music fan essential: band T-shirts. Customers flipped when they walked into Hot Topic stores and saw Bauhaus, The Cure, TSOL, and Depeche Mode rock tees. Within a year, we offered about 50 different band titles, along with rock-inspired clothing lines like Lip Service and Serious. As we continued to expand, we discovered that our customers were also drawn to the underground cartoon, cult movie, and comic book scenes, so we brought the world of South Park, Care Bears, Superman, SpongeBob and tons of other pop icons right to them!   

In 1996, with about 60 teen retail stores, Hot Topic became a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ stock exchange, under the symbol HOTT.  

Today, Hot Topic offers band-related apparel and accessories, licensed merchandise, and fashion apparel and accessories, which you can find at more than 600 stores (check out our store locator  to find the location nearest you!) and online at www.hottopic.com. Nearly 25 years since our founding, you can still feel the passion for music and pop culture in everything we do: in our stores, at HQ, in our distribution centers and in our products. 

Hot Topic is a part of Hot Topic, Inc., based in Los Angeles, Calif. Read more about our company here.  

 Unfortunately, Hot Topic had nothing kaiju-related.  Still, it was a fun place to browse around in.  

Check them out!

Busy Day: The Icing Came Later

Today's been a busy day.

It started out early when I headed to the Superior Courts in Van Nuys for a mandatory settlement conference. Finding the right department, etc. was a chore and, surprisingly, we find that the conference was cancelled. Someone dropped the ball and failed to notify us. Things like this happen.

Next up, I had to go to the Woodland Hills office of the California Highway Patrol to pick up an accident report. That took place without any difficulty (no problem there, the officers at the front desk know me now).

Then, I scanned the report and sent it off to the boss in San Bernardino along with my billing sheet for this claim and for the one involving the cancelled settlement conference.

After this, I had to head off to the bank and get a bank check drawn for the first installment of the Nebraska farm's property tax. Glad that's out of the way. The final installment is due in early September.

To unwind, I finally created a separate page advertising/promoting the claims company I work for, Crittenden Claim Services. I've been meaning to do it for some time since Blogspot provides 10 separate pages for whatever subjects my heart desires. I just didn't know how to approach it. Then I decided to just scan the company's brochure and let the brochure's pages speak for the company.



So now, Crittenden Claim Services joins the pages for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan and Two Ladies In A Car. The links to each is just below this blog's masthead photo at top.

Once that was done, I had to do some grocery shopping (gotta eat, you know). When I got home, the mailman just left my apartment building, so I went to get my mail. Lo and behold, some orders for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan came in!

That was the icing on the cake for today.

Reminder: The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan is now available at a 20% discount through May 31! Go here for details!

Inconvenient Computer Troubles

Having computer problems never comes at a convenient time, and so it was this morning.

I have AOL (been with them for 11 years) and it was slower than molasses and messages couldn't be sent. At first I thought it was my old desktop PC, so I ran a virus scan to see if that would take care of the problem. Then I switched to my laptop. Same problem. So, I ran a virus scan there.

While that was going on, I went to the PC and the problem persisted. I then gave rebuilding the AOL adapter a try.

As I said, these things don't come at convenient times. I had to go to the local office of the California Highway Patrol in Woodland Hills to obtain a copy of a traffic report from the Victorville CHP. After this, I had to scan and create a PDF file to send it to the main office of the claims company I work for.

When I returned, I found the laptop was working somewhat normal. So, I scanned in the report and sent it off with no problem.

Then, I went to my PC and either the rebuilding of the AOL adapter did the trick or it was a problem throughout AOL that eventually got ironed out from AOL's end. From the PC, I was able to forward my billing sheet to the boss. Now I can get paid. Whew!

So here we are. At least things are now working normally (at least so far).

Meanwhile, At The CHP

Spent some time at the Woodland Hills office of the California Highway Patrol today. I had a new insurance claim assignment to pick up an accident report face sheet (this is the page that tells who the parties are in an accident).

Generally, this usually doesn't take longer than a half hour to do, but today the woman at the CHP office where the report originates from (they fax it to Woodland Hills) who handles sending the reports, went to lunch. So, after waiting in the Woodland Hills office for an hour and fifteen minutes, they asked if it would okay for them to take my number so they could call me when the report comes in, instead of having me waiting there. I told them that it would be okay.

So I left and proceeded to refuel my car (for the trek to Malibu for tonight's shift) and a stop at Henry's Farmers Market for some fruit (and to check in with Heather).

I got good prices on organic Valencia oranges (3 for $1.00) and bananas (almost two pounds for $1.35) at Henry's. After chatting a bit with Heather, I headed out and while doing so, I received the call from the Woodland Hills CHP that the face sheet was there for me.

Some would complain about being kept waiting, but since I was on the clock, it was fine with me. I really didn't charge for the return trip to the CHP.

All in all, it worked out pretty good!

UPDATE: Just had one of the oranges. Verdict: Excellent!

Errands, Etc.

Above, Henry's Farmers Market.

Sometimes it's funny how running errands can turn out unexpectedly good.

Today, I had to go to the Promenade mall in Woodland Hills to pay a department store bill that's due today. I was almost at the mall when someone yelled my name from the street and saw that it was Patti, with whom I worked with at Western General Insurance Co.

We met up at the Promenade's parking lot and caught up on a few things. It's been a while since I've seen her and it was good seeing her again. She works for an insurance company across the street from the Promenade mall, so I gave her one of my business cards and a brochure of the independent adjusting company I work for. Maybe we'll get some business from them. (When I got home, I notified the boss of this little p.r. thing and she'll follow up with Patti in a week or two.)

After paying my bill, I headed to Ventura Blvd. At Ventura Blvd. and Topanga Canyon Blvd. is Henry's Farmers Market. I've never been to Henry's before and a friend, Heather, started working there about a couple of weeks ago. I needed some eggs anyway, so I figured I'd stop in and surprise her. I met Heather out in Malibu a few months ago and we've become good friends.

I was immediately impressed with the store when I walked in. They have a huge stock of produce, meats, dairy and other products. And, their prices were good. I bought a dozen large eggs for $1.19. Not bad!

When I called my boss when I got home, I mentioned Henry's and she said she loves shopping at the nearest one to her (somewhere near Rancho Cucamonga). She said she knows people who would travel 30 miles just to shop at Henry's out there.

When I got to the checkstands, I located Heather at one of them and got in line. She was preoccupied with customers ahead of me, and I stood behind a sign that would block my face from her view. When she finished with the customer just ahead of me, I stepped up and she didn't notice me at first, but she flashed a big smile when she saw me and grabbed my hand.

I told her that the store was very impressive and liked it. Before I left, she said she'd text me later.

If you have a Henry's Farmers Market near you, you should stop in. And, if you shop at the one in Woodland Hills, look up Heather and tell her I sent you!

Wuz Up?

Yesterday was a busy day. I had to do some claims work in the late-morning/early-afternoon.

I had to go to Santa Fe Springs, which was about an hour's drive each way and then wrapping things up in Woodland Hills. For about 3 1/2 hours of work, I made more money doing that (which includes drive time and mileage) than a whole shift of security patrolling in Malibu. I just wish the claims work wasn't so sporadic.

Speaking of Malibu, caught two more teens (a boy and girl, both about 15-17) in one of the community's women's shower room yesterday. I spotted him going in while patrolling the community's clubhouse. Nothing hilarious to warrant a full "Tales of Adventure In Malibu." He fussed about it, but I pointed to the "Women" sign on the door and asked him, "What part of the word women do you not understand?" Before this happened yesterday, I was told by one of the office ladies at the community that once school ends (college and high school) things will get wild there. I asked, "Even more so than what I've already experienced?" She said yes. At least I'll be able glean some more material to entertain Rancho readers with.

This morning, I shipped copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan to a dealer so they can be sold at the Monster Bash convention and got myself a much-needed haircut.

The insurer for my mom's doctor and Axminster Medical Group sent me a medical records authorization form for completion, so they can obtain my mom's medical records and investigate our claim for medical malpractice. This will take a while, but I am familiar at how the claims process works. It is our contention that she was misdiagnosed and her doctor failed to timely have a MRI done as requested by my mom's oncologist. He requested an urgent MRI. Several days elapsed before one was even scheduled. Had she had the MRI on the urgent basis, they would have been able to find the problem and she'd be alive today. There are other issues involved including non-responses to my telephone calls. I have the telephone records during the weeks preceding my mom's death.

My daughter Amber sent me several emails detailing my mom's problems before her hospitalization. Thank goodness she is a biology major and understands the terminology and was able to refresh my memory. Due to the stress I was going through then, I had forgotten a lot of it. I told her to save her emails, we may need them later when or if we are statementized during the investigation.

Well, that's it from here.