By Princess B. Abuluyan
It doesn’t matter who the child’s parents are. Does it? And perhaps it really is no excuse either. When it comes to the kind of person a child grows up to be, whether a good person or a bad person, that child is responsible for his/her actions.
People who are parents—one of their most important jobs is guiding their child. Parents have the responsibility of teaching their child what is right as well as what is wrong.
However, making the ultimate decision to act right, well, that decision is all up to the child.
This is not to say that parents don’t influence their child’s decisions. “There are only two kinds of people in this world…good people and bad people,” is what my mom once said to me. And perhaps there really is no being in between the two kinds. My mom asked me, “Which kind of person do you want to be?” Without a doubt, “GOOD” is, and will always be, my number one answer.
Does it matter what a child’s parents do? Well, in some cases, a child’s parents may not be that child’s best role models. They may be alcoholics, or drug addicts, or young parents who don’t know the first things about raising a child. They may be parents who don’t act like parents. Like a single mother who acts like she’s her daughter’s older sister rather than her mother. Don’t be surprised if mother shops at “Forever 21” or wears her teenage daughter’s clothes. Hey, it happens.
In reality, no child asks to be born into the kind of family he/she is born into. And in some cases, no child asks to be put in the kinds of situations he/she has to face.
Like a child in the middle of parents who are constantly arguing. And then, a divorce. Imagine the toll it takes on the child who has to go through this—it’s unfortunate let alone heartbreaking. And what becomes of the child as a person? In all honesty, some children who come from a “broken” family turn bad. Perhaps they misbehave, act poorly in school or often get into fights with other students. Guidance is what they need, and emotional support too. It’s okay for a child to be upset or angry about their parents’ divorce. For crying out loud, how else could a child feel about that? However, a child makes the ultimate decision whether to act positively or negatively towards any given situation. Misbehaving is a negative response, and does no good for the child. Life will only become tougher.
Every person in this world has their own problems and struggles that they’re going through. It is how people choose to deal with their problems and struggles that can either make or break their lives.
It boggles my mind when young teenagers make poor decisions or do bad things in their lives. They steal from stores, or vandalize people’s property, or misbehave in school. Young girls think they’re in love, and oops, they get pregnant. The question is: “Is it their fault?” Where oh where is their common sense? Troubled is what these children are. But will that always be a valid reason, or is it an excuse?
• “Oh yeah, my parents divorced when I was young, and that really messed me up.”
• “Forget college! My parents don’t seem to care about my education anyway. They didn’t even go to college, so why do I have to?”
• “My mom had me when she was 18-years-old. So why does it matter that I’m 17 and pregnant? I can handle it!”
Grow up! If a child truly wants to be a good person, that child will strive to be a good person, despite problems and struggles.
One of my cousins—her mother gave birth to her at age 17. After my cousin, she gave birth to a boy, and after him, another girl. The father is out of the picture. And that’s a lot of struggle and hardship involved, being so young, already a mother, and having to raise three kids on her own. And my cousin was exposed to all the struggle and hardship. One may have thought that she’d grow to be a strong person and goal oriented. She even told me herself that she’d focus on school and would not turn out like her mother. So I was completely shocked when the news leaked out that she was pregnant. My cousin was only 18-years-old, and she had gotten pregnant. That changes her life forever. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be a negative change, depending on how she deals with it.
Every single person in this world has their own problems and struggles that they’re going through. It is how people choose to deal with their problems and struggles that can either make or break their lives.
Sometimes, it’s a matter of children understanding what they have as they’re growing up. A child doesn’t have to grow up to be exactly like his/her parents. Instead, a child could see the struggles their parents go through and want better than that. There is always that option, that decision to act right, for a child to become a better person and have a better life. It just takes a lot of hard work to get there. And despite the life struggles, who a child’s parents are or where a child comes from or what a child has been through, nothing is impossible when it comes to having a good life.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
John’s Incredible Pizza Company
By Princess B. Abuluyan
Looking for someplace fun to go with family? Perhaps someplace new? Well, look no more, because here is an incredible recommendation.
John’s Incredible Pizza Company is the place to go. This indoor amusement park is a new development in Roseville on the corner of Sunrise and Eureka. It opened this year on March 6.
If you’re someone who enjoys a place like Chuck E. Cheese’s, then chances are you’ll like John’s Incredible Pizza Co. just as much. Or perhaps even more.
Don’t get me wrong. Chuck E. Cheese’s has always been, and still is today, a popular place for families to go and have fun. Hooray for playing games that cost no more than 25 cents each, exchanging tickets for prizes, and eating pizza! I was just there a couple of weekends ago for my nephew’s birthday party. It was a lot of fun, definitely a good time spent with family. But on a Sunday afternoon, that place was overwhelmingly crowded left and right with toddlers, kids, teens, adults, and even elderly people. My niece lost her favorite Dora The Explorer slippers in the crowd and went home without them.
John’s Incredible Pizza Co. is, well, the place is incredible fun. Call it an upgrade. Enter an exciting world of entertainment where people of all ages can do more than just play games and exchange tickets for prizes. There’s a bowling alley in there! And what makes this particular amusement park unique from a place like Chuck E. Cheese’s? It has RIDES! And not just for kids. Teens and adults can ride too. For screaming out loud, take a trip on the Incredible Express Roller Coaster. Bump bumpers with other guests on the Boogie Bumper Cars. Feel the tickle in your stomach and let out a burst of laughter as the Frog Hopper will lift you up high off the ground and then drop you back down—hop, hop, and hop.
A 9-year-old boy, AJ Sales, who was at John’s Incredible Pizza Co. for his cousin’s birthday party, said the rides is what he likes most about the place. He said his favorite ride is the Twister because it twists around a lot.
What else has John’s Incredible Pizza Co. got to offer? Incredible food. So incredible, it’s all you can eat. Can’t argue with a buffet, right? There’s a salad bar, and a variety of soups, pastas, pizzas, and desserts to choose from. Clam chowder is a tasty choice of soup. Dress your pasta with your choice of sauce, whether marinara, meat or alfredo. There’s also macaroni and cheese, prepared regularly or as a topping on a slice of pizza. When it comes to pizza, there are so many kinds to choose from. Besides the traditional combination, veggie, cheese, or pepperoni pizzas, try the nacho cheese, fiesta, garlic and olive oil, cheeseburger, or BBQ chicken ranch and garlic pesto pizzas.
“I would like to try the spicy peanut butter pizza,” said Sales.
Believe it or not, the spicy peanut butter is 1 out of the 2 pizzas that John’s Incredible Pizza Co. is famous for, according to their official website www.johnspizza.com. The number 2 pizza is the alfredo, which is my favorite choice. It’s delicious.
John’s Incredible Pizza Co. is huge inside, and the fun is inviting. There are different themed dining rooms that guests can choose to eat in. The games and rides are in a separate room just past the food area and dining rooms. It’s a fairly spacious place, so that even if there were a lot of families, the place wouldn’t be overwhelmingly crowded. It’s a “happy, have a good time” feeling being in there. Upbeat music is playing. Kids have a blast. And teens, or parents, can sure do the same and feel like a kid again. The smiles on people’s faces, and outbursts of laughter being heard says it all.
The buffet is affordable.
• Kids ages 3-6 pay $3.99, and ages 7-12 pay $4.99
• Adults pay $6.99 on weekdays, and $8.99 on evenings and weekends
Games and rides are paid for separately.
When asked if he would go to John’s Incredible Pizza Co. again, Sales said, “Yes, a million times. It has a lot of fun stuff to do.”
Looking for someplace fun to go with family? Perhaps someplace new? Well, look no more, because here is an incredible recommendation.
John’s Incredible Pizza Company is the place to go. This indoor amusement park is a new development in Roseville on the corner of Sunrise and Eureka. It opened this year on March 6.
If you’re someone who enjoys a place like Chuck E. Cheese’s, then chances are you’ll like John’s Incredible Pizza Co. just as much. Or perhaps even more.
Don’t get me wrong. Chuck E. Cheese’s has always been, and still is today, a popular place for families to go and have fun. Hooray for playing games that cost no more than 25 cents each, exchanging tickets for prizes, and eating pizza! I was just there a couple of weekends ago for my nephew’s birthday party. It was a lot of fun, definitely a good time spent with family. But on a Sunday afternoon, that place was overwhelmingly crowded left and right with toddlers, kids, teens, adults, and even elderly people. My niece lost her favorite Dora The Explorer slippers in the crowd and went home without them.
John’s Incredible Pizza Co. is, well, the place is incredible fun. Call it an upgrade. Enter an exciting world of entertainment where people of all ages can do more than just play games and exchange tickets for prizes. There’s a bowling alley in there! And what makes this particular amusement park unique from a place like Chuck E. Cheese’s? It has RIDES! And not just for kids. Teens and adults can ride too. For screaming out loud, take a trip on the Incredible Express Roller Coaster. Bump bumpers with other guests on the Boogie Bumper Cars. Feel the tickle in your stomach and let out a burst of laughter as the Frog Hopper will lift you up high off the ground and then drop you back down—hop, hop, and hop.
A 9-year-old boy, AJ Sales, who was at John’s Incredible Pizza Co. for his cousin’s birthday party, said the rides is what he likes most about the place. He said his favorite ride is the Twister because it twists around a lot.
What else has John’s Incredible Pizza Co. got to offer? Incredible food. So incredible, it’s all you can eat. Can’t argue with a buffet, right? There’s a salad bar, and a variety of soups, pastas, pizzas, and desserts to choose from. Clam chowder is a tasty choice of soup. Dress your pasta with your choice of sauce, whether marinara, meat or alfredo. There’s also macaroni and cheese, prepared regularly or as a topping on a slice of pizza. When it comes to pizza, there are so many kinds to choose from. Besides the traditional combination, veggie, cheese, or pepperoni pizzas, try the nacho cheese, fiesta, garlic and olive oil, cheeseburger, or BBQ chicken ranch and garlic pesto pizzas.
“I would like to try the spicy peanut butter pizza,” said Sales.
Believe it or not, the spicy peanut butter is 1 out of the 2 pizzas that John’s Incredible Pizza Co. is famous for, according to their official website www.johnspizza.com. The number 2 pizza is the alfredo, which is my favorite choice. It’s delicious.
John’s Incredible Pizza Co. is huge inside, and the fun is inviting. There are different themed dining rooms that guests can choose to eat in. The games and rides are in a separate room just past the food area and dining rooms. It’s a fairly spacious place, so that even if there were a lot of families, the place wouldn’t be overwhelmingly crowded. It’s a “happy, have a good time” feeling being in there. Upbeat music is playing. Kids have a blast. And teens, or parents, can sure do the same and feel like a kid again. The smiles on people’s faces, and outbursts of laughter being heard says it all.
The buffet is affordable.
• Kids ages 3-6 pay $3.99, and ages 7-12 pay $4.99
• Adults pay $6.99 on weekdays, and $8.99 on evenings and weekends
Games and rides are paid for separately.
When asked if he would go to John’s Incredible Pizza Co. again, Sales said, “Yes, a million times. It has a lot of fun stuff to do.”
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Quit pushing buttons…tune into Pushing Daisies instead
By Princess B. Abuluyan
Wednesday night rolls around. The clock strikes 8 and you’re pushing the channel buttons on the remote in search for something good to watch. Well, if your pushing leads to absolute boredom, perhaps you should direct yourself to Pushing Daisies, a new romantic drama on ABC.
Creator Bryan Fuller has viewers at the edge of their seats, and eyes glued to the screen—it’s that captivating. Move away from reality television and enter a world of “artsy-fartsy” fantasy, unraveling mysteries, blossoming romance, and a dash of good comedy here and there.
And a narrator does well to keep viewers engaged and on track of what’s going on. Reminds me of the narrator in the movie Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Both narrators have the same function—they keep viewers watching for more.
Meet Ned, the main character. He’s the owner and pie maker of the Pie Hole. But something about this pie maker makes him different from the rest. He’s got the magic touch. But not the “Midas touch,” because every thing he touches does not turn to gold. Instead, his touch brings the dead back to life.
Then there’s Emerson Cod, a local private investigator who catches on to Ned’s secret ability.
He and Ned team up to solve crimes:
• Ned brings murder victims back to life
• Emerson and Ned ask who killed the murder victims
• and collect the rewards
But as always, there’s a curse to every blessing. A second touch will return the murder victims to their previous state, deceased…for eternity. But the people Ned revives can only stay alive for one minute, and if they exceed that limit, someone else will take their place among the dead. Sad, but true, there’s no escaping death!
“Charlotte Charles was laid to rest earlier today.”
She is Ned’s childhood crush who he knows as “Chuck.”
And Ned is Chuck’s first kiss.
He brings her back to life, but chooses to keep her alive. He loves her too much to let her go a second time. Love is definitely back in the air.
It’s a common thought that first love never dies...
Ain’t that the truth!
Ned tells Chuck his secret, and she joins the crew to help solve crimes. But that makes Ned’s life a little more complicated. He’s spending every day with the woman he believes is the only one for him. But no matter how close they are and how much in love they fall for each other, they can never ever touch. It’s a brilliant bittersweet twist in the story.
And interesting how they show their affection for one another. Like Emerson giving Chuck a hug that was from Ned.
Will their love survive?
Will Ned's ability remain a secret as he and the crew continues to solve crimes? Unraveling the mysteries is so suspenseful that viewers too will be taking note of the facts and trying to solve the crimes. But be surprised, because the murderers are far from predictable.
What will happen next?
Perhaps now on Wednesday nights, you’ll be dying to watch Pushing Daisies to find out!
Wednesday night rolls around. The clock strikes 8 and you’re pushing the channel buttons on the remote in search for something good to watch. Well, if your pushing leads to absolute boredom, perhaps you should direct yourself to Pushing Daisies, a new romantic drama on ABC.
Creator Bryan Fuller has viewers at the edge of their seats, and eyes glued to the screen—it’s that captivating. Move away from reality television and enter a world of “artsy-fartsy” fantasy, unraveling mysteries, blossoming romance, and a dash of good comedy here and there.
And a narrator does well to keep viewers engaged and on track of what’s going on. Reminds me of the narrator in the movie Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Both narrators have the same function—they keep viewers watching for more.
Meet Ned, the main character. He’s the owner and pie maker of the Pie Hole. But something about this pie maker makes him different from the rest. He’s got the magic touch. But not the “Midas touch,” because every thing he touches does not turn to gold. Instead, his touch brings the dead back to life.
Then there’s Emerson Cod, a local private investigator who catches on to Ned’s secret ability.
He and Ned team up to solve crimes:
• Ned brings murder victims back to life
• Emerson and Ned ask who killed the murder victims
• and collect the rewards
But as always, there’s a curse to every blessing. A second touch will return the murder victims to their previous state, deceased…for eternity. But the people Ned revives can only stay alive for one minute, and if they exceed that limit, someone else will take their place among the dead. Sad, but true, there’s no escaping death!
“Charlotte Charles was laid to rest earlier today.”
She is Ned’s childhood crush who he knows as “Chuck.”
And Ned is Chuck’s first kiss.
He brings her back to life, but chooses to keep her alive. He loves her too much to let her go a second time. Love is definitely back in the air.
It’s a common thought that first love never dies...
Ain’t that the truth!
Ned tells Chuck his secret, and she joins the crew to help solve crimes. But that makes Ned’s life a little more complicated. He’s spending every day with the woman he believes is the only one for him. But no matter how close they are and how much in love they fall for each other, they can never ever touch. It’s a brilliant bittersweet twist in the story.
And interesting how they show their affection for one another. Like Emerson giving Chuck a hug that was from Ned.
Will their love survive?
Will Ned's ability remain a secret as he and the crew continues to solve crimes? Unraveling the mysteries is so suspenseful that viewers too will be taking note of the facts and trying to solve the crimes. But be surprised, because the murderers are far from predictable.
What will happen next?
Perhaps now on Wednesday nights, you’ll be dying to watch Pushing Daisies to find out!
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Technology changes the student life…
By Princess B. Abuluyan
Watch “A Vision of Students Today” on YouTube, and if you’re a college student like me, you’d probably be nodding your head in agreement throughout the whole video.
Because it says a lot and a lot of it…well, IT’S TRUE!
Two hundred students surveyed themselves.
“What is it like being a student today?” That’s the question.
A simple question right? But being a student is not simple.
It may be hard to learn, or get assignments done. College life is definitely stressful at times. That’s inevitable. Reading assignments may be overwhelming. On school nights, it’s usually five or less hours of sleep for me. Sleepless nights spent writing a paper, or studying for an exam, been there done that. Perhaps juggling a full time job and being a full time student and paying bills, or students balancing their college lives and personal lives—it’s a real tough world.
Students probably question themselves often.
· “Why am I taking this class? I don’t understand the material.”
· “Am I even learning anything, or will I even remember any material after the semester is over?”
· “Why do I need this class? I don’t see the point.”
College is expensive. Students pay hundreds of dollars for college. And if students feel they aren’t learning anything in their classes, then what’s the point? It’s a waste of money, a waste of time. But students have to learn to deal with their problems.
“My average class size is 115,” is one of the captions a student displays in the video. That’s a lot of students in one class. It’s usually lectures and students note-taking the whole time. The quality of education is what matters, despite the crowded classrooms of students sitting beside each other almost elbow to elbow.
Technology has changed the classroom scene. Today, most instructors use PowerPoint when they present their lectures. It’s projected onto a big screen students can see, whether sitting in the front or in the far back. PowerPoint presentations are more engaging. Pictures or videos can be added. That makes learning more interesting, when it’s not just all text on the chalkboard or overhead slides and trying to jot all of that down on paper. Visual aids can give students a better understanding of what’s being taught. With today’s technology, instructors can kick their lectures up a notch and gain more attention in class. Find ways to make learning fun, because that’s the only way students may actually learn something and enjoy what’s being taught.
Students also pay hundreds of dollars to buy books. Book requirements—if it’s not necessary, then say so. Some students have told me they’ve gone through some of their classes without the book and were able to pass just fine. Some regret buying books they never even opened, or only read a couple pages out of. Students will sell their books back and get money back—that’s great! But the buyback is half or less of the original cost. It’s ridiculous. The money, not after the buyback but all of it, could have been spent towards something more important. Oh yes, something like FOOD.
Some material is available online now. Instead of opening a book to learn about something, students can go online, search the material, and read about it there. Perhaps it’s more understandable too, format wise. Sometimes, text books don’t make clear sense to students. Long time-consuming chapters. Big words that students aren’t familiar with. It can be confusing. But the internet is just a click away. Dictionary.com? Or instructors can provide their students with links to helpful websites that cover the same material a book does. Hey, it saves money.
Nowadays, the internet bridges communication between instructor and student. If class is cancelled, instructors can send an email. Students are even asked to email their assignments and take quizzes online. But is that reliable? What happens if the email doesn’t go through, or the computer freezes while taking a quiz?
Some students also use their laptops in class to do work. But that’s not always the case. With internet access, laptops can easily be a distraction. Who knows? Students could be chatting away on AIM or exploring Myspace, Friendster, or FaceBook. It’s the same deal with cell phones. Students could be text messaging through class. That’s the downside of technology in a classroom.
Another downside—distance education. I took Mathematical Reasoning. The class and I would watch the instructor teach on TV. Sometimes the screen wasn’t clear, and the audio would skip. He wrote his notes too quickly, and if students wanted to tell him that or ask a question, they’d have to call him on the classroom phone. It was difficult to learn the material that way, and more than half of the class was failing. I got a D. But a year later, I took the course again in a regular classroom. I was able to understand everything more clearly, and the teacher was right there for me to ask questions. I passed with an A. Big difference? HUGE!
Technology is part of everyday life. It continues to change the student life, but hopefully for the best reasons—improving the quality of education.
Watch “A Vision of Students Today” on YouTube, and if you’re a college student like me, you’d probably be nodding your head in agreement throughout the whole video.
Because it says a lot and a lot of it…well, IT’S TRUE!
Two hundred students surveyed themselves.
“What is it like being a student today?” That’s the question.
A simple question right? But being a student is not simple.
It may be hard to learn, or get assignments done. College life is definitely stressful at times. That’s inevitable. Reading assignments may be overwhelming. On school nights, it’s usually five or less hours of sleep for me. Sleepless nights spent writing a paper, or studying for an exam, been there done that. Perhaps juggling a full time job and being a full time student and paying bills, or students balancing their college lives and personal lives—it’s a real tough world.
Students probably question themselves often.
· “Why am I taking this class? I don’t understand the material.”
· “Am I even learning anything, or will I even remember any material after the semester is over?”
· “Why do I need this class? I don’t see the point.”
College is expensive. Students pay hundreds of dollars for college. And if students feel they aren’t learning anything in their classes, then what’s the point? It’s a waste of money, a waste of time. But students have to learn to deal with their problems.
“My average class size is 115,” is one of the captions a student displays in the video. That’s a lot of students in one class. It’s usually lectures and students note-taking the whole time. The quality of education is what matters, despite the crowded classrooms of students sitting beside each other almost elbow to elbow.
Technology has changed the classroom scene. Today, most instructors use PowerPoint when they present their lectures. It’s projected onto a big screen students can see, whether sitting in the front or in the far back. PowerPoint presentations are more engaging. Pictures or videos can be added. That makes learning more interesting, when it’s not just all text on the chalkboard or overhead slides and trying to jot all of that down on paper. Visual aids can give students a better understanding of what’s being taught. With today’s technology, instructors can kick their lectures up a notch and gain more attention in class. Find ways to make learning fun, because that’s the only way students may actually learn something and enjoy what’s being taught.
Students also pay hundreds of dollars to buy books. Book requirements—if it’s not necessary, then say so. Some students have told me they’ve gone through some of their classes without the book and were able to pass just fine. Some regret buying books they never even opened, or only read a couple pages out of. Students will sell their books back and get money back—that’s great! But the buyback is half or less of the original cost. It’s ridiculous. The money, not after the buyback but all of it, could have been spent towards something more important. Oh yes, something like FOOD.
Some material is available online now. Instead of opening a book to learn about something, students can go online, search the material, and read about it there. Perhaps it’s more understandable too, format wise. Sometimes, text books don’t make clear sense to students. Long time-consuming chapters. Big words that students aren’t familiar with. It can be confusing. But the internet is just a click away. Dictionary.com? Or instructors can provide their students with links to helpful websites that cover the same material a book does. Hey, it saves money.
Nowadays, the internet bridges communication between instructor and student. If class is cancelled, instructors can send an email. Students are even asked to email their assignments and take quizzes online. But is that reliable? What happens if the email doesn’t go through, or the computer freezes while taking a quiz?
Some students also use their laptops in class to do work. But that’s not always the case. With internet access, laptops can easily be a distraction. Who knows? Students could be chatting away on AIM or exploring Myspace, Friendster, or FaceBook. It’s the same deal with cell phones. Students could be text messaging through class. That’s the downside of technology in a classroom.
Another downside—distance education. I took Mathematical Reasoning. The class and I would watch the instructor teach on TV. Sometimes the screen wasn’t clear, and the audio would skip. He wrote his notes too quickly, and if students wanted to tell him that or ask a question, they’d have to call him on the classroom phone. It was difficult to learn the material that way, and more than half of the class was failing. I got a D. But a year later, I took the course again in a regular classroom. I was able to understand everything more clearly, and the teacher was right there for me to ask questions. I passed with an A. Big difference? HUGE!
Technology is part of everyday life. It continues to change the student life, but hopefully for the best reasons—improving the quality of education.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Crush 29—check this place out!
By Princess B. Abuluyan
It’s Monday, a couple minutes after 6 p.m., and I’m driving on I-80 toward Roseville. Where exactly? 1480 Eureka Road is my destination, restaurant Crush 29. I’m running at least ten minutes late, and then, like out of nowhere, my car is HIT! Yes, I know! It’s crazy right? But no joke. I couldn’t believe it either. It happens underneath this huge grey cloud that stretches out at least a mile in the sky. Splat after splat after SPLAT! That’s right—loud heavy drops of rain is pouring on the windshield, minimizing visibility of the road ahead. A couple bursts of lightning flash in the gloomy sky—YIKES! The weather had me thinking, “Oh no, this isn’t happening.” Oh but yes, it is. Say hello to traffic and more delay!
I finally get to Crush 29. My first time, so picture me excited. Parking is not a problem. Although there is a distinct row of restricted 30-minute-parking, regular parking should be fairly easy to find. But hey, if guests don’t have time to look, there’s always complimentary valet parking to turn to. That’s convenient.
At a first look, the place looks more like a club than a restaurant. Outside are a set of comfy couches to lounge on, and also an electric heater to provide warmth for guests on cold nights. Crush 29 doesn’t look like the rowdy teeny-bopper kind of club, but rather, a really nice, classy hang out spot for a mature crowd. It sparks an inviting curiosity as to what the restaurant looks like on the inside.
Guests will see a second set of comfy couches just past the entrance and before the check in stand. Staff and servers dressed in casual attire welcome guests with a bright smile.
I’m inside for the first time, and my reaction is, “Wow, this place is fancy.” A lit candle on every table and the wine glasses catches my eyes, romantic table setting to match the romantic lighting. But no need to worry, the menus are still readable.
Crush 29 offers a little bit of everything. Choose from a variety of appetizers, salads, pastas, specialties, stone hearth pizzas, sandwiches & burgers, desserts. What’s amazing is that each entrée is arranged in a creatively appealing way, and eyes will stare. Guests may wonder whether an entrée will taste as good as it looks. Guests will be surprised—not only does the food look good, but it also tastes…well, “it’s GOOD!” That’s the 2 words that came out of the mouths of everyone at my table, including me. Prices range reasonably from around $12 to $20 per plate.
I had the Wood Stone Half Chicken, for $14.95. It’s a new entrée to the menu, under “Specialties.” It was a fulfilling portion, and every bite was delicious. The chicken was full enough of sauce and flavor, and wasn’t dry. I really like the creamy and smooth smashed potatoes served underneath the chicken. There’s something extra tasty in its flavoring that’s not in the traditional recipe.
Care for some wine? Crush 29 offers over 200 different brands, 50 available by the glass and 150 by bottle. So wine and dine!
A real unique 9,000-spuare-foot restaurant, its known for its Napa Valley theme. Wood and stone interior, and wine lockers. The restaurant has got an autumn color scheme—a combination of beige, black, browns, greens, yellows and reds. It creates a calm and relaxing atmosphere. A look of class and pure elegance. “Wine country” themed murals blanket the upper walls of the center dining room showing soft green and yellow colors. In the center of this main dining room, is a round bar surrounded by high tables paired with tall chairs, and surrounding that kind of seating arrangement are comfortable booths.
A fireplace, one in each of the two side dining rooms, gives the restaurant a cozy feeling—guests can feel at home. Decorating the walls of those two dining rooms, are framed pictures showing liquid red and gold colors—something to marvel at, perhaps while waiting to eat. Freely open to interpretation, they look like portraits of wine. Wooden rectangle shaped tables fill the center of both rooms, and on the sides are half chair-half booth square shaped tables. Private dining rooms are also available upon reservation.
Surprisingly, for a romantic setting, Crush 29 plays loud up beat music. The place has got a fun club vibe to it. Perhaps to keep the crowd awake? Possibly so. A mixture of fast tempo classical, jazz, and acoustic guitar instrumentals. And also remix versions of pop songs like “This Way” by Jewel and “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” by Leann Rimes. That’s the music my ears heard during my dine-in at Crush 29. Loud volume, but Guests look alive, and raise their voices above the music in their conversations.
Curious to know how the restaurant got its name? Me too! So I emailed info@crash29.com for an answer. Vice President of Concept Development, Mark Platt, says the name came from them wanting to have a hip name that made people think of the wine country. The word CRUSH? “Crush is the term used in winemaking for the process of bringing grapes in from harvest and the beginning of the winemaking process.” And 29? “The 29 comes from the main highway through Napa Valley.” Oh! So there’s the answer to how Crush 29 became the name of the restaurant. It fits well! Thanks to Platt for the 411.
Whether a group of friends catching up, a group of coworkers having lunch, a family affair, or a couple on a date, Crush 29 is an awesome place to have a good time, exchange smiles and share laughs. The delicious quality of the food and wine go hand in hand with the overall happy atmosphere making Crush 29 a restaurant people will want to dine and hang out at.
Despite the weather, traffic, and 28 miles it took to get there, dining at Crush 29 was worth it, and definitely the highlight of that rainy Monday night.
It’s Monday, a couple minutes after 6 p.m., and I’m driving on I-80 toward Roseville. Where exactly? 1480 Eureka Road is my destination, restaurant Crush 29. I’m running at least ten minutes late, and then, like out of nowhere, my car is HIT! Yes, I know! It’s crazy right? But no joke. I couldn’t believe it either. It happens underneath this huge grey cloud that stretches out at least a mile in the sky. Splat after splat after SPLAT! That’s right—loud heavy drops of rain is pouring on the windshield, minimizing visibility of the road ahead. A couple bursts of lightning flash in the gloomy sky—YIKES! The weather had me thinking, “Oh no, this isn’t happening.” Oh but yes, it is. Say hello to traffic and more delay!
I finally get to Crush 29. My first time, so picture me excited. Parking is not a problem. Although there is a distinct row of restricted 30-minute-parking, regular parking should be fairly easy to find. But hey, if guests don’t have time to look, there’s always complimentary valet parking to turn to. That’s convenient.
At a first look, the place looks more like a club than a restaurant. Outside are a set of comfy couches to lounge on, and also an electric heater to provide warmth for guests on cold nights. Crush 29 doesn’t look like the rowdy teeny-bopper kind of club, but rather, a really nice, classy hang out spot for a mature crowd. It sparks an inviting curiosity as to what the restaurant looks like on the inside.
Guests will see a second set of comfy couches just past the entrance and before the check in stand. Staff and servers dressed in casual attire welcome guests with a bright smile.
I’m inside for the first time, and my reaction is, “Wow, this place is fancy.” A lit candle on every table and the wine glasses catches my eyes, romantic table setting to match the romantic lighting. But no need to worry, the menus are still readable.
Crush 29 offers a little bit of everything. Choose from a variety of appetizers, salads, pastas, specialties, stone hearth pizzas, sandwiches & burgers, desserts. What’s amazing is that each entrée is arranged in a creatively appealing way, and eyes will stare. Guests may wonder whether an entrée will taste as good as it looks. Guests will be surprised—not only does the food look good, but it also tastes…well, “it’s GOOD!” That’s the 2 words that came out of the mouths of everyone at my table, including me. Prices range reasonably from around $12 to $20 per plate.
I had the Wood Stone Half Chicken, for $14.95. It’s a new entrée to the menu, under “Specialties.” It was a fulfilling portion, and every bite was delicious. The chicken was full enough of sauce and flavor, and wasn’t dry. I really like the creamy and smooth smashed potatoes served underneath the chicken. There’s something extra tasty in its flavoring that’s not in the traditional recipe.
Care for some wine? Crush 29 offers over 200 different brands, 50 available by the glass and 150 by bottle. So wine and dine!
A real unique 9,000-spuare-foot restaurant, its known for its Napa Valley theme. Wood and stone interior, and wine lockers. The restaurant has got an autumn color scheme—a combination of beige, black, browns, greens, yellows and reds. It creates a calm and relaxing atmosphere. A look of class and pure elegance. “Wine country” themed murals blanket the upper walls of the center dining room showing soft green and yellow colors. In the center of this main dining room, is a round bar surrounded by high tables paired with tall chairs, and surrounding that kind of seating arrangement are comfortable booths.
A fireplace, one in each of the two side dining rooms, gives the restaurant a cozy feeling—guests can feel at home. Decorating the walls of those two dining rooms, are framed pictures showing liquid red and gold colors—something to marvel at, perhaps while waiting to eat. Freely open to interpretation, they look like portraits of wine. Wooden rectangle shaped tables fill the center of both rooms, and on the sides are half chair-half booth square shaped tables. Private dining rooms are also available upon reservation.
Surprisingly, for a romantic setting, Crush 29 plays loud up beat music. The place has got a fun club vibe to it. Perhaps to keep the crowd awake? Possibly so. A mixture of fast tempo classical, jazz, and acoustic guitar instrumentals. And also remix versions of pop songs like “This Way” by Jewel and “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” by Leann Rimes. That’s the music my ears heard during my dine-in at Crush 29. Loud volume, but Guests look alive, and raise their voices above the music in their conversations.
Curious to know how the restaurant got its name? Me too! So I emailed info@crash29.com for an answer. Vice President of Concept Development, Mark Platt, says the name came from them wanting to have a hip name that made people think of the wine country. The word CRUSH? “Crush is the term used in winemaking for the process of bringing grapes in from harvest and the beginning of the winemaking process.” And 29? “The 29 comes from the main highway through Napa Valley.” Oh! So there’s the answer to how Crush 29 became the name of the restaurant. It fits well! Thanks to Platt for the 411.
Whether a group of friends catching up, a group of coworkers having lunch, a family affair, or a couple on a date, Crush 29 is an awesome place to have a good time, exchange smiles and share laughs. The delicious quality of the food and wine go hand in hand with the overall happy atmosphere making Crush 29 a restaurant people will want to dine and hang out at.
Despite the weather, traffic, and 28 miles it took to get there, dining at Crush 29 was worth it, and definitely the highlight of that rainy Monday night.
Monday, October 29, 2007
“Once a cheater, always a cheater!” Right?
By Princess B. Abuluyan
A mother cries every night since she found out the shocking news that caused a dose of pain to pierce into her heart. The children are tucked into their beds ready to go to sleep, but can hear their mother sobbing uncontrollably. They don’t know exactly what’s going on, but they do know their father hasn’t come home yet. And why is that?
A sister discovers a crinkled piece of paper in her husband’s pants pocket while she’s loading dirty clothes into the washer. There’s a phone number on it. And right above that, a name. What does this mean? And who’s Emma?!
A cousin is cleaning her bedroom. Her eyes spot a bra slightly peeking from underneath the bed. Normally, she’d toss it into the laundry basket. Except the only problem is, she takes a closer second look and realizes the bra isn’t hers. Well, who does it belong to then?
What do the women in the stories above have in common? Their man is cheating on them! And here’s the bottom line, “once a cheater, always a cheater.” Right? So tell the two timing Jack to “hit the road”—this relationship is over!
But it’s often not so easy to say goodbye.
A woman who has been cheated on can feel the biggest amount of pain she has ever had to feel in her life. A different kind of pain than getting physically wounded. It’s mental pain, internal and emotional. Unlike a cut or bruise that will eventually heal and be forgotten, the pain of being cheated on is a stab in the back remembered forever. It can hit a woman so hard, the pain can seem unbearable like life for her, as she knows it, is over. The moment she unravels the secret that is “the other woman,” she may feel as if she can’t breathe anymore and her heart has stopped beating.
“How could he do this to me?”
She can’t believe it. Perhaps she doesn’t want to.
“No, I must be out of my mind. He would never hurt me like that. He loves me.”
Okay, so she’s fighting the truth.
Of course, she still loves her man very deeply. After all, she’s not the one who cheated. Perhaps that’s why it can be difficult for a woman to be straight forward and easily say, “You cheated on me! It’s over between us.” Because she’s still holding on to what used to be—the happiness and love that used to be. She’s stuck—“blinded by love.”
Any story of a husband who cheats on his wife is upsetting. But it happens. A friend of my cousin had been with her husband for eleven years. She was pregnant with their second child when he left her for the woman he’d been having an affair with. Ouch! How could he do that? To his family? Did the other woman know he was a married man with 1 child and expecting another? She ought to be ashamed of herself right? Why would any woman want to be with a guy who cheats on his wife? He could do the same to her.
There’s no excuse for infidelity. Cheating is wrong. You women who have been cheated on, your eyes could cry an endless stream of tears for days. Take that pain you’re going through and let it strengthen you. Forgive and move on to a better life. It’s his loss. Don’t blame yourself for something you didn’t do and had no control over. He cheated, he and only he is responsible for that. Don’t focus all your anger at the other woman, because he had just as much to do with it as she did. Confront him, not her. And fight every urge to seek revenge on the couple, be the better person.
What if he apologizes and still wants to be with you? Do you open your heart back up to him? Could you ever trust him? Could you go through another round of pain if he cheats a second time? Don’t tolerate a man who cheats. Yes it’s hard to say goodbye to someone you love. But a man who sacrifices his wife and kids to be with another woman? Is that love? Seriously, you deserve better than that! And so do the kids!
The same goes for man, if it’s woman who cheats.
A mother cries every night since she found out the shocking news that caused a dose of pain to pierce into her heart. The children are tucked into their beds ready to go to sleep, but can hear their mother sobbing uncontrollably. They don’t know exactly what’s going on, but they do know their father hasn’t come home yet. And why is that?
A sister discovers a crinkled piece of paper in her husband’s pants pocket while she’s loading dirty clothes into the washer. There’s a phone number on it. And right above that, a name. What does this mean? And who’s Emma?!
A cousin is cleaning her bedroom. Her eyes spot a bra slightly peeking from underneath the bed. Normally, she’d toss it into the laundry basket. Except the only problem is, she takes a closer second look and realizes the bra isn’t hers. Well, who does it belong to then?
What do the women in the stories above have in common? Their man is cheating on them! And here’s the bottom line, “once a cheater, always a cheater.” Right? So tell the two timing Jack to “hit the road”—this relationship is over!
But it’s often not so easy to say goodbye.
A woman who has been cheated on can feel the biggest amount of pain she has ever had to feel in her life. A different kind of pain than getting physically wounded. It’s mental pain, internal and emotional. Unlike a cut or bruise that will eventually heal and be forgotten, the pain of being cheated on is a stab in the back remembered forever. It can hit a woman so hard, the pain can seem unbearable like life for her, as she knows it, is over. The moment she unravels the secret that is “the other woman,” she may feel as if she can’t breathe anymore and her heart has stopped beating.
“How could he do this to me?”
She can’t believe it. Perhaps she doesn’t want to.
“No, I must be out of my mind. He would never hurt me like that. He loves me.”
Okay, so she’s fighting the truth.
Of course, she still loves her man very deeply. After all, she’s not the one who cheated. Perhaps that’s why it can be difficult for a woman to be straight forward and easily say, “You cheated on me! It’s over between us.” Because she’s still holding on to what used to be—the happiness and love that used to be. She’s stuck—“blinded by love.”
Any story of a husband who cheats on his wife is upsetting. But it happens. A friend of my cousin had been with her husband for eleven years. She was pregnant with their second child when he left her for the woman he’d been having an affair with. Ouch! How could he do that? To his family? Did the other woman know he was a married man with 1 child and expecting another? She ought to be ashamed of herself right? Why would any woman want to be with a guy who cheats on his wife? He could do the same to her.
There’s no excuse for infidelity. Cheating is wrong. You women who have been cheated on, your eyes could cry an endless stream of tears for days. Take that pain you’re going through and let it strengthen you. Forgive and move on to a better life. It’s his loss. Don’t blame yourself for something you didn’t do and had no control over. He cheated, he and only he is responsible for that. Don’t focus all your anger at the other woman, because he had just as much to do with it as she did. Confront him, not her. And fight every urge to seek revenge on the couple, be the better person.
What if he apologizes and still wants to be with you? Do you open your heart back up to him? Could you ever trust him? Could you go through another round of pain if he cheats a second time? Don’t tolerate a man who cheats. Yes it’s hard to say goodbye to someone you love. But a man who sacrifices his wife and kids to be with another woman? Is that love? Seriously, you deserve better than that! And so do the kids!
The same goes for man, if it’s woman who cheats.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Be careful what you say, and who you say it to.
By Princess B. Abuluyan
It was 2004, my senior year of high school, and Senior Ball was coming up.
Sacramento had been experiencing several inches of heavy rain for the past couple of days.
With Senior Ball just twenty-three days away, seniors never expected something like this to happen. Students had walked into the classroom drizzled wet from rain, and were getting settled in their seats. The intercom turns on—morning announcements.
“Awful news for seniors…,” says the school’s activities director.
Eyes grew big and jaws dropped open, faces suddenly looking shocked. Seniors couldn’t believe their ears. Even I couldn’t believe my ears.
The intercom turns off.
What happened? Rain had flooded the Lincoln Plaza where Senior Ball was scheduled to be at. Perhaps one huge leak in the roof. Or, in this case, probably 5 or more. Damages were so severe; repairs to fix them would take time, twenty-two days was not enough to have the place fixed by Senior Ball. And it was too late to make reservations elsewhere. So, Senior Ball would be in the school’s gymnasium.
“This can’t be real! I didn’t pay $65 to have Senior Ball here at school.”
Unbelievable! But true. Or at least that’s what seniors thought.
The intercom turns back on.
“Seniors…,” says the activities director. He pauses for a moment to spark their curiosity, and then says, “…have a HAPPY, April Fool’s Day! Senior Ball will be at Lincoln Plaza in Downtown Sacramento. See you there!”
Relief! But stupid April Fool’s Day, you got me!
How did it ever become a holiday anyway? Well, there’s no exact answer, it’s lost in history. But the most common answer is that it started in sixteenth-century France when April first was regarded as the start of a new year.
A new year was celebrated the same way it is today with parties and dancing into the late hours of the night, according to Mary Bellis’ article “The History of April Fool’s Day.”
Then Pope Gregory presented a new calendar in 1562—January first is the start of a new year. “Some people hadn’t heard or didn’t believe the change in the date, so they continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on April first,” says Bellis. “April fools,” is what others would call them.
That’s the story. Well, 1 explanation.
So April first—people play jokes or tricks on other people, try to make them believe that something false is true.
It’s really supposed to be fun and entertaining—no hard feelings, no offense intended. But if an April fool’s joke doesn’t have people laughing at the end, something must have been done wrong. Such experiences can make April Fool’s Day someone’s least favorite holiday for the remainder of the year.
Here’s a tip. Be careful with playing jokes and tricks on people. Take my experiences for it.
In middle school, a best friend told me she had been diagnosed with cancer. It didn’t occur to me that the date that day was April first. But hearing those words come out of my friend’s mouth, her shaky voice along with the sad face she displayed—my heart was crushed, and my mouth speechless. And then she tells me, “Oh no, don’t cry, I’m only joking. Today’s April Fool’s Day.”
“Are you serious,” I said hysterically. We laughed. But shortly after, I didn’t feel like laughing anymore. I turned to her and angrily said, “Oh my gosh Amber, you scared the crap out of me! You can’t joke about something like having cancer, that’s serious stuff!” She realized it was wrong, and apologized. We just hope now that it doesn’t come true. “Knock on wood.”
Another friend once told me his grandmother died. Feeling sympathy, I said, “That’s awful. I’m sorry.” And then he said, “April Fools!” I told him he was crazy. Okay, who jokes about someone dying? That’s a bit cruel right? Again, “knock on wood.”
There’s also the time my 13-year-old cousin, Valore, said her older sister was pregnant. Boy did that story quickly spread around to relatives like a disease. She was sorry she said it. “No, it’s not true. I was only joking. I thought you knew. It’s April Fool’s Day,” she said hours later. Not everyone recognizes April Fool’s Day. Some people wake up and it’s just like any other regular day to them.
Some pranks could have consequences. Like turning a friend’s watch forward an hour. The next day, she’s late to class and gets lectured by the teacher about the importance of arriving to class on time. Ouch! Embarrassed? Yes. Upset at prankster? Yes.
Be careful which pranks or jokes to play, and which people to play it on. Have some sense what the outcome will be, because it could be a joke taken seriously. Like another person’s junk is another person’s treasure, a joke to one person may not be a joke to another. As fun as joking around can get, try not to ruin April Fool’s Day for people.
It was 2004, my senior year of high school, and Senior Ball was coming up.
Sacramento had been experiencing several inches of heavy rain for the past couple of days.
With Senior Ball just twenty-three days away, seniors never expected something like this to happen. Students had walked into the classroom drizzled wet from rain, and were getting settled in their seats. The intercom turns on—morning announcements.
“Awful news for seniors…,” says the school’s activities director.
Eyes grew big and jaws dropped open, faces suddenly looking shocked. Seniors couldn’t believe their ears. Even I couldn’t believe my ears.
The intercom turns off.
What happened? Rain had flooded the Lincoln Plaza where Senior Ball was scheduled to be at. Perhaps one huge leak in the roof. Or, in this case, probably 5 or more. Damages were so severe; repairs to fix them would take time, twenty-two days was not enough to have the place fixed by Senior Ball. And it was too late to make reservations elsewhere. So, Senior Ball would be in the school’s gymnasium.
“This can’t be real! I didn’t pay $65 to have Senior Ball here at school.”
Unbelievable! But true. Or at least that’s what seniors thought.
The intercom turns back on.
“Seniors…,” says the activities director. He pauses for a moment to spark their curiosity, and then says, “…have a HAPPY, April Fool’s Day! Senior Ball will be at Lincoln Plaza in Downtown Sacramento. See you there!”
Relief! But stupid April Fool’s Day, you got me!
How did it ever become a holiday anyway? Well, there’s no exact answer, it’s lost in history. But the most common answer is that it started in sixteenth-century France when April first was regarded as the start of a new year.
A new year was celebrated the same way it is today with parties and dancing into the late hours of the night, according to Mary Bellis’ article “The History of April Fool’s Day.”
Then Pope Gregory presented a new calendar in 1562—January first is the start of a new year. “Some people hadn’t heard or didn’t believe the change in the date, so they continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on April first,” says Bellis. “April fools,” is what others would call them.
That’s the story. Well, 1 explanation.
So April first—people play jokes or tricks on other people, try to make them believe that something false is true.
It’s really supposed to be fun and entertaining—no hard feelings, no offense intended. But if an April fool’s joke doesn’t have people laughing at the end, something must have been done wrong. Such experiences can make April Fool’s Day someone’s least favorite holiday for the remainder of the year.
Here’s a tip. Be careful with playing jokes and tricks on people. Take my experiences for it.
In middle school, a best friend told me she had been diagnosed with cancer. It didn’t occur to me that the date that day was April first. But hearing those words come out of my friend’s mouth, her shaky voice along with the sad face she displayed—my heart was crushed, and my mouth speechless. And then she tells me, “Oh no, don’t cry, I’m only joking. Today’s April Fool’s Day.”
“Are you serious,” I said hysterically. We laughed. But shortly after, I didn’t feel like laughing anymore. I turned to her and angrily said, “Oh my gosh Amber, you scared the crap out of me! You can’t joke about something like having cancer, that’s serious stuff!” She realized it was wrong, and apologized. We just hope now that it doesn’t come true. “Knock on wood.”
Another friend once told me his grandmother died. Feeling sympathy, I said, “That’s awful. I’m sorry.” And then he said, “April Fools!” I told him he was crazy. Okay, who jokes about someone dying? That’s a bit cruel right? Again, “knock on wood.”
There’s also the time my 13-year-old cousin, Valore, said her older sister was pregnant. Boy did that story quickly spread around to relatives like a disease. She was sorry she said it. “No, it’s not true. I was only joking. I thought you knew. It’s April Fool’s Day,” she said hours later. Not everyone recognizes April Fool’s Day. Some people wake up and it’s just like any other regular day to them.
Some pranks could have consequences. Like turning a friend’s watch forward an hour. The next day, she’s late to class and gets lectured by the teacher about the importance of arriving to class on time. Ouch! Embarrassed? Yes. Upset at prankster? Yes.
Be careful which pranks or jokes to play, and which people to play it on. Have some sense what the outcome will be, because it could be a joke taken seriously. Like another person’s junk is another person’s treasure, a joke to one person may not be a joke to another. As fun as joking around can get, try not to ruin April Fool’s Day for people.
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