Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Aggressive drivers

OK - this doesn't pertain specifically to the IE, but it's something that I've been noticing a lot lately and wanted to get off my chest. Drivers are getting more and more aggressive. Just early this morning, someone got shot on the 210 Freeway near Azusa. It's crazy. First of all, why are people carrying guns in their cars? And secondly, what could make you so mad that you would shoot another driver?

About a week ago, I was trying to change lanes to get on the freeway. A driver saw me trying to change lanes, so she speeds up. She wasn't even trying to get on the freeway. She just wanted to prevent me from changing lanes. Why? Just to be nasty about it. When I tried to pass again, she sped up again. I finally get behind her and she slams on her brakes. WHY? It forced me to slam on my brakes, and I honked my horn. As I was approaching the onramp, she STOPPED her vehicle in her lane so she could sneer at me as I was passing. WHY? OK, so she's not having a good morning. And perhaps giving me a hard time gave her some satisfaction. But, come on. What was she really going to do??? Was she going to do? And was she going to get out of the car? And, if she had gotten out of the car, what would she have done?? And, with all the crazy people in the world, how do I know that she didn't have a gun? And how did she know that I didn't? For all she knew, I was a police officer. Lucky for her I wasn't. Come on. Let's all be courteous drivers. And no matter how rude someone is to you, it certainly isn't worth shooting someone or being shot yourself. It's driving! It's not a war!

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Winco Foods

Been to Winco Foods yet? They're new to the Inland Empire but have existed throughout the country for a while. The name sounds funny...for some reason, it makes me think of Food 4 Less. I was a little skeptical trying Winco Foods the first time, but let me say...I like it! Sure, you gotta bag your own groceries. Minor inconvenience. I always found that Food 4 Less was...well...kinda trashed. I've even seen customers just rip open bags of food and then leave them there. It's rude, disgusting and just plain unnecessary. For the most part, I've been a Stater Brothers shopper for a long time. The prices are good, they're locally based (I feel like I'm supporting local economy) and the people are friendly. Sort of a small town feel.

Then came Winco Foods, the mega mart of grocery stores. They're clean and Costco-sized. Prices are good and selection is good. You'll notice that the freezers and fridges are huge and well stocked. And you can buy a LOT of stuff in bulk. Even things like cheese sauce....you can pick them up in powdered form in bulk. Not that I would buy it, but it's there. I buy a lot of things like amonds in bulk. You can also buy fresh peanut butter - as much or as little as you want. You press a button and a machine makes it for you. My favorite is the almond butter. You can even buy things like dog food in bulk.

Take advantage of the bulk buying. Also, whatever they have on sale is typically a great bargain. I suggest scanning the aisles first to see what's on sale before you start loading your cart. Many things are even cheaper than Wal-mart when on sale. Now that's a good deal! Try it out. I think you might like it!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Asian Markets

When I lived in Orange County, there were Asian markets everywhere. Maybe there wasn't always one right around the corner, but they were always abundant and convenient. In fact, many ethnic markets of all varieties are easily found there. The Inland Empire is certainly a culturally diverse place to live, but there aren't as many places to shop for ethnic foods. The funny thing is that my friends often say that I'm the whitest Asian guy they've ever met. After all, I was born and raised in California and my dad's side of the family has been in Hawaii for generations. So, I'm a little detached from my roots. LOL. I digress...

Han Ma Eum World Market recently came to Rancho Cucamonga (right before Christmas 07 I think). This is a very large Asian market, with the core emphasis on Korean food. I see a very wide variety of shoppers frequenting this market, not just Asians. The prices on various ethnic foods is pretty decent, and the prices on produce is excellent. Also, the quality and freshness of the foods is hard to beat. I will do a more detailed review in the near future, but in the meantime, I highly recommend you visit if you haven't done so already. Right off the corner of Carnelian and 19th street in Rancho Cucamonga (just south of the 210 freeway).

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. I've lived in the Inland Empire for about 10 years now and love it. Sure, it gets really hot in the summer and it gets pretty cold in the winter, but it's home. There are many things to do and see; it has really grown in the short period of time I have lived here. Through my rambling posts, I'll discuss things that are happening in the Inland Empire, talk about some things to do or see, places I've shopped, etc. Enjoy your visit and leave some comments :)