I am officially mandolin stupid.

[dyviness]

I'm not sure why, but it took me about two hours to restring my mandolin. An E string broke, and I got the brilliant idea that I wanted to replace the whole set. RIGHT AWAY. After running out and getting the strings, while dragging my mother and my husband with me, it took me another 2 hrs to figure it out for the second time how to get these wires wrapped around the appropriate peg. I guess its a little better than the first time, which I think took me about 3+ hrs. I just can't quite figure out how to turn the little pegs in the right direction with the strings going the right way. Its MUCH easier on the cello. You just put the string through the hole, and turn. ALL IN THE SAME DIRECTION. And you don't need to find yourself a pair of wire cutters either. I've never had a cello string pop off the peg or snap either. Dang mandolins. #@$@#$!#@

Other non related blogness:
Things I like about LA (in no particular order)!

1. Cheap ethnic food. (SF/Bay Area, you suck at cheap food in general). This includes reasonably priced dim sum!
   
2. I don't have to pay for parking (in most places, until I get a $50 parking ticket, as I did)
   
3. People use Aardvark in LA! Helped me find a place to buy mandolin strings
   
4. The winter weather is clear, moderately warm, and gorgeous. I honestly don't see any smog! Yay!
   
5. Its a BIG city! For example, UCLA is only 30 min away from my home town, but its a totally different place! You could live here 18 years and not know anything about it (18 yrs = me growing up in LA in my lonely Northeastern corner)! Leaves much for future exploration!
   
6. Playing video games with my brother
   
7. Eating home cooked dinners by my mother
   
8. Listening to fascinating family politics. Lesson learned -- don't EVER mess with my mother!
   
9. Reconnecting with old friends (only one so far!). But I got to see them in concert! Yay!
   
10. Having time to catch up on missed entertainment
    

Things I don't like about LA:

1. $50 parking tickets.
   
2. traffic, but honestly, could it be any worse than THE MAZE?? @#$?@"#*$&%$
   
3. Working from home. In Los Angeles.
   
4. eh... can't think of anymore at the moment. g'night!