Puerto Vallarta Update

The condo is better that I expected it to be...a gorgous bathtub which I'll post so you can see. PV seems a lot like being in America. Great restaurants, events like celbrating John Lennon. Also There is the PV Film festival which Id like to get involved wtih. Met lots of fun people, went dancing, played Mah Jongg with the locals. Met with my realtor and discovered an old PayPal friend (Norm) is the cousin of Franklin (my realtors partner). I've see Norm twice since being in LA. Susan loved the place--I think it is going to be a great decision or so I hope.Lots of details to get through and I'll write about those later. I have a lot of businsess travel this year so hope I'll have some time to go back a few times.

Have a great holiday--whichever you celebrate!

Saving Money

It's almost the holidays and I have decided on a few things:

1. All shopping is on line and done by the end of November
2. I will not overspend on gifts
3. I will put lots of thoughts in to what I send people
4. I will always look for the best price (with free shipping if possible and gift wrapping too!)

My friend, Kerry turned me on to a site that's been around a l-o-n-g time and that I have somehow managed to not find (go figure!). It's called eBates and has all the stores I would normally shop at either on or off line (Nordstroms, Origins, Zappos, you name it--it's there)

Now comes the best part! They give you a rebate on your purchase price and right now they are offering free shipping on many things. Tonight I ordered some Origins body cream that I would normally buy at Macy's...I bought the $30 jar of cream right from the Origins on line store, I'll get free shipping and free giftwrapping plus a sample of another product---AND a 7% rebate off the price!!!

The way it works is you join eBates (click on this link and we'll both get some $$$ when you make your first purchase). I signed up when Kerry told me about it and we each got $5 or $10. They will either send the rebate to you as a check or put it in your PayPal account....isn't that great. Once you join you can just go to ebates.com and sign in....if you use the search box for what you want you will be given a list of stores with the best prices and rebates for that item--then just click and you will be taken to that store to make the purchase. In a couple of days you can see the eBate credit appear.

Purchases I've made so far: Havanista flip-flops from Nordstroms and Origins body cream. Kerry got some great DVD's at teriffic prices with free shipping form Best Buy last week. She's racked up some really nice rebates....so that's my recommendation for today!

OK....I give up!

I give up....I am resigning myself to occasional blogs instead of more frequent ones...there I've said it...so don't email me complaining.

Here are my current recommendations:

Book: The Kite Runner
Movie: Things We Lost in the Fire
Gadget: RoboForm2Go (it saves all your passwords on a USB stick that you can carry with you--it keeps them private, safe and secure--you'll need one single password that you must remember but that's it--with all the passwords I have this is my #1 cool gadget!
Best Easy Camera: I have gone crazy with picture taking for Facebook and Geni. I have been creating a chronicle of 2007 online. I'm using the Canon SD600 Digital Elph and it is awesome (and easy)- there is a new model out now so maybe you can get the SD600 at a discount.
Cartoon that cracks me up--really!: Angry Little Girls. A hilarious cartoon is posted there each week and the book is a riot.

Have a happy week

It's August now--can't believe that 4 months have gone by and I've ignored this blog...but...I'm baaaacccckkkk!

Still lovin' LA. Surprise Birthday (Toga theme) party for David. Team Geni took a huge limo to the Magic Castle for another night out of dining and fun. In June we celebrated our first Birthday at a rockin' party. Some of the team headed out for gelato at Charlton's new place one sunny afternoon, Caffe Primo, (mentioned last week on HBO's Entourage)...thanks Charlton--looking forward to dinner or lunch with you once your foot recovers and you are back in LA. On a more serious side, I've been getting established with doctors & dentists--not fun but necessary.

Star sightings (that I can remember): Warren Beaty, Nelly, Michael Jackson's brother, Matthew Perry, Sandra Oh, the cast of General Hospital, the finalists on "So You Think You Can Dance" (saw them last night at Subway Sandwich on Melrose) and Bob Barker.

Those are the highlights.

Now to the present: This week was a busy one for me beginning with a visit from Susan M. who came in to town to do a Marie Callendar's commerical(s). Then another visit to the Magic Castle and a tour of the set of General Hospital with Peter and Kirstin (who also came for an LA visit this week). Thursday had Korean BBQ as a going away party for Juney. Saturday night went to The Groundlings and after theatre had dinner at Cantor's Famous Deli. Mel & Susan surprised me with a visit at The Grove and BBQ dinner today--they were visiting from Monterey--I love unexpected treats like this.

I'm pooped after this busy week and am looking forward to a quiet 3 days in Morro Bay next weekend. Then it's off to Indiana for a genealogy convention.

Puerto Vallarta Update: Construction has begun and I've decided on the marble tile size for the floor. Added some more square footage by adding a third bedroom. Hope to get down there in early December to pick out granite & cabinets. Completion date scheduled for October 2008.

There, my friends, I've brought you semi up-to-date. I'm sure there was more happening but I'll try to keep you posted a little more regularly. Keep me posted with your updates too....ciao for now, J.

Furniture, Glorious Furniture

Finally got a desk set up, wireless, etc. Also, thanks to Jennifer moving to LA, got a couple more things from my house added to her moving van--now I have my wonderful tansu chest here in LA. Yeah...things are looking good!

Time Flys...etc

I'm getting settled in 'the apartment'. I am actually lovin' not having to worry about 'things' for a change. I miss the jacuzzi tub and fireplace but otherwise I don't miss the work of the house. It's nice starting over with all new things that I've picked out all by myself. Life is good.

The office just got a Wii and I built my avatar today...will be trying out boxing or bowling on it tomorrow. The chef has turned out to be pretty good and the food is healthly so I usually bring extra veggies for later. Haven't found a gym yet--mostly due to having to go to Monterey almost every weekend. This weekend I will be joining one absolutely, for sure. A one hour walk around Beverly Hills doesn't count as adequate exercise although I wish it did :-)

LA moments: #1 After my TV got hooked up to cable and they tested it...the very first thing I saw was a prolonged car chase....apparantly this is very LA-ish. #2 On my way into my apartment I saw what looked like a bum complete with long hair, torn clothing and blood dripping down his shirt...he was accompanied by two younger folks which I though might be children entertaining their ex-hippie-bum dad...as we entered the elevator I noted that the boy had blood all over his shirt along with bullet holes in the 'Dad's' shirt...turns out they were returning from doing a western for tv or movies...I guess I'm not in Kansas anymore.

Check out http://forum.geni.com there's a photo next to my 'posts'

Best part of LA: the weather...love it!

Moving to LA - Fun in the Warm California Sun!!!!

Things have been changing and changing fast!! After saying all those nice things about Geni.com guess where I am working now--yes, it's www.geni.com!!!

I'm back with some of my old PayPal friends working in West Hollywood right on the edge of Beverly Hills. The adventure is still unfolding and I'll give you some of the LA moments that I've experienced in the 3 weeks I've been here but you'll need to stay tuned for a future blog to hear of these moments.

The office Chef starts next week and the menus look great--I'm back on Jenny Craig trying to get back in shape after the holiday festivities and attending The Blue Elephant Cooking School (Christmas Bangkok trip)---this means I will most likely not be enjoying the desserts the new chef whips up. I'm missing my treadmill so need to find a good gym that is convenient and has crazy hours--real crazy hours.....stay tuned.

I'm going to give up my tickets to the Monterey Blues Festival so if you are interested in two awesome season tickets let me know before I let my tixs expire. Also will probably be giving up the Infinity. Ain't moving fun :-)

New Discoveries

Wow! Did I discover some cool things this weekend.

Check out the merchandise at www.redeyetraders.com for some very interesting stuff

Also take a look at a new website that is very cool...it makes keeping track of your family tree fun and was started by David Sacks who I worked with at PayPal a few years ago...check it out at
www.geni.com It's in "Beta" now which means there are going to be glitches so don't be too hard on him yet but send in your suggestions and they will work as fast as possible to get the best ones incorporated first and the others later...I've heard they are burning the midnight oil to get this site perfected.