Wonton Soup

Tight Budget Daycation

While I'm still looking for a 'real' job, the temp gigs haven't been coming in as often as they used to; thus I've been made to live below an even lower means.  I spend a lot of my time searching the latest job postings, applying to postings in area/industries I hadn't before and writing up cover letters for these applications.  It's true what they say: looking for a job is like a full-time job.  And like a full-time job, it can rack your brain - so some time out and semi-away is needed every now and then just to refresh, recharge and breathe in some non-computer-exhaust air.  

One of the benefits of living where I do in SoCal, despite the lack of nightlife options, is the convenience of daytime options.  The main one being close enough to drive to the beach on whim.  Just a few miles and minutes away, I can easily be anywhere from San Clemente/Dana Point to Newport/Huntington Beach.  Usually, I opt for the more chill spots instead of the crowded tourist attractions, so I'll head to Strands or Crescent Bay.  

The other day, it was a chill afternoon for the main beach at Laguna, so I figured I'd just chill there for a bit.  Besides the beach, there's also a Nike store there (225 Forest) that's one of their active sports stores (6.0, Hurley, Converse) and they usually have a pretty dope art piece in the center of the store.  This time around it was the new Dalek piece.  

I'm tempted to just go to the beach all the time, but then how will I ever actually get a job??  With the forecast of rain looming this week, I should have a lot of job search time to put in, so.... great.  I'm definitely thankful for my tax refund (I usually file really early) and FYI for you Conservatives: I'm not on (f)Unemployment, living it up on taxpayer dime.

Here are some pics:

piano for anyone to play

sunset x beach x piano x pch

another sunset shot

On the way back, there was an accident passing by the toll road offramp, so it backed traffic up leaving the beach.  I hit a red light when I got to the intersection where the accident was and busted out  my camera.  This old dude on a motorcycle got hit by some chick in a Civic.  By the time I got there, his motorcycle was laying on the street while he was kicking back on the hood of her car, talking on his cellphone.  If you look closely, you can see her chilling in her driver seat, too.

Travel Theme #1: W Hotels

So, as I mentally formulate the list(s) of places that I would like to travel to, I have a nagging propensity for putting them together in relation to different themes.  If it doesn't fit a particular theme, then it won't make it onto that specific list - no matter how many recommendations and raving reviews I hear/read.  Of course, it may make another, but then that would require another theme in itself - and not some cop-out theme like "Other" or "Get Around to It".

I'll jot down some of these themes as they come to mind and perhaps edit them as additional locations spring into contention.

My first theme, as the title reveals, is W Hotels.

How can you look at the above image of the W in Barcelona and not want to go there?  If you read a previous entry of mine that included my dream companies to work for, you might have a hint now as to why I listed W Hotels as one of them.  I figure working for a company that has locations in most places I'll ever want to go would be a great benefit for my travel ambitions.

That aside, the hotels themselves are nice.  They aren't those motels you have to crash at when everywhere else is full so you lay the comforter down on the floor because you don't trust the carpet and don't want to walk around in shoes all night.  Their designs and interiors are bolder than the normal neutral/pleasant hotels frequented by business travelers or families.  They have a bit of flair and they're fun.  They're not cheap, but from their pictures alone, they look to be experiences in themselves.  It would definitely be a fun list to check off items on.  Too bad there isn't one in the Philippines; I might even consider trying to work there if it ever opened up.

Here are a few snaps from the Washington DC location I went to:

[Photos taken by me except the Barcelona image (obviously) and the J&G signage, both from the W Hotels site]