Traveling (Flash back)

Today is the first day I’ve reconsidered traveling. I was told my apartment was suppose to be showed yesterday, so made a point to leave the house two hours early and head to a wine tasting. They showed up today at 5:30, I was still in my pjs working on my computer. Needless to say I don’t want to leave my house just yet but don’t want to awkwardly sit here while people wander through my home.

About my apartment

I have a gorgeous apartment in the Lyndale area of uptown Minneapolis. Uptown Minneapolis is gorgeous from March to November and my apartment is in the heart of it all. It’s a spacious modern one bedroom overlooking the street from the third floor. I get plenty of light and love the interior design. I can walk to Calhoun square from here within ten minutes. Basically this apartment is to die for and is fairly reasonably priced, it’s not suburb pricing but for the considering it’s pretty good. Plus it comes with one parking spot and street parking is free. It’s a gem on the edge of the nice neighborhoods and what I what consider the precipice of the ghetto. Any further East of my place and everyone only speaks Spanish or Somalian. To the West is Fujiya (the delicious little sushi spot) and more of the upscale living. For me it’s perfect, minus the fact that I hate winter and it’s in the middle of one of the coldest states in the United States.

If you’re interested in the apartment let me know. You can just leave a note in the comments and I’ll get ahold of you.

My Bike Arrived at Northtowne Cycling!

Kalkhoff Impulse

NorthTowne Cycling and Fitness

My Rating: 5 Stars

Des Moines has a fair sized biking community and multiple bikes shops. Unfortunately not very many of those bike shops carry electric bikes. So I called around. That is when I met Derek, the owner of NorthTowne Cycling in Cedar Rapids. NorthTowne does carry electric bikes.

Choosing a Bike

Derek is a busy guy, especially in the spring, but took a lot of time to correspond with me via email and multiple phone calls to discuss what I wanted in a bike. I did my research before ever calling Derek and had narrowed down my search by talking to a few California bike shops. In fact, by the time Derek and I spoke for the first time I'd probably called over twenty bike shops and watched dozens of videos on Electric Bike Review. At that point, Derek was my last hope before ordering the bike I wanted from California and hoping it fit.

I've been wanting an electric bike for over a year. My research began in ernest fall of 2014, but really ramped up after I discovered Electric Bike Review. That's when I realized everything I wanted in an electric bike would not really suit me. Highly recommend checking out the Electric Bike Review community before even considering an electric bike. My original top 2 picks where immediately squashed by bad reviews and the amazing competition.

JOURNAL DIARY ENTRY: Reconnecting with long lost friends + Inkly by Sincerely Review

The attached picture shows friends I met in first grade. My father has gone to Japan to see them. I traveled to Paris once and stayed with them. Thanks to Facebook, I can easily stay in touch with many, many people from around the world. Lately I've been trying to think of more ways to stay in touch with friends from around the world, to personalize it. Facebook is starting to become a lot like email, impersonal. Social media has introduced me to hundreds, if not thousands of people whose paths I may not have otherwise crossed. So I like it for that, but it's also addictive and impersonal.

VIDEO Diary: Bored, Cold, and Tired + Book Review of The Godling Chronicles & Trylle Series

F%$# Winter

I'm bored and tired. No sleep again. So blogging, yes that is what I do when I should be on the treadmill and don't want to go outside. I blog and wish I could be outside without freezing my face off, or losing a toe to frost bite. Bike/running/mud season where are you?

Yeah, I could take a nap but I have things I could do. They may not be fun things, but there is always something to do. I could probably go out, but truthfully my one night at the bar this week was probably enough to last me six months. I wouldn't mind listening to Jazz, going to see an art museum, or eating sushi but other than the sushi I can't thing of anywhere I could do that. The art center doesn't have an exhibit right now, I already know my own art inside out, and well a quiet music venue on my own.. I'm not sure I know of anything.

So yes, I'm being lame and pessimistic but I continue to miss spring/summer/fall. I hate winter.

Journal Diary Entry: Running Away From Snow by @desaraev

West Glen, West Des Moines

Don't tempt me with mentions of your life living where it never snows. Running away from snow sounds excellent, right now. I just want to bike, run outside, garden, see the beach, or not have my face and fingers freeze off when I go outdoors.

I miss the sunshine. My poor pale skin has only been tanned by computer bulbs and overhead lights for too long. Not that I mind being pale and unwrinkled.

DIARY: PART 2: IS VICTORIA'S SECRET TOO SEXY FOR THEIR OWN GOOD?

Does Sex Sell?

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: IS VICTORIA'S SECRET TOO SEXY FOR THEIR OWN GOOD?

"We've so much gotten off our heritage ... too sexy, and we use the word sexy a lot and really have forgotten the ultra feminine," said Sharen Turney, Victoria's Secret's chief executive, in a call with industry analysts. -- ABC NEWS

We all have heard the term: "Sex Sells."  It's true that sex garners attention, but does it sell? Some would say no. That in many cases it just gives women a bad name or makes a brand look bad. Others might say, "Who doesn't like looking at 'attractive' people, and what does it mean to be attractive?" In this article let's explore the idea of beauty, how it relates to society, international standards, and build a baseline for a deeper conversation. For the purposes of this article let's set aside any discussion of weight as a factor, plenty of other authors have beat this topic into the ground, and it would too easy to lose focus on the deeper discussion points.

We tend to Clammer toward our own preferences for attraction: well-groomed, healthy, and or well-dressed people. A Clammer is a marine crustacean that burrows into the depths, which is also how we got the term clammer, or to dig. So let's dig into this topic, shall we?

REVIEW: Zombie Burger + Drink Lab

"Tastes Delicious and Filling + Checkout the ART!"

This place is amazing. Highly recommend visiting Zombie Burger if you come to Des Moines. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is one-of-a-kind. Walk around the restaurant and check out the zombie themed art which extends throughout the restaurant, even to the restroom signs.

The menu is a zombie themed newspaper with zombie themed menu items. My favorite burger is the Undead Elvis. It sounds weird, but the Undead Elvis is great, it's a small burger with an egg, fried bananas, and peanut butter. Yes, Zombie Burger sometimes has a short wait but it's well worth it. Sit down in the back and have alcoholic smoothies or stay up front and stand in line, the choice is yours.

Video + Business Review: Jacksons Coffee and Gelato Making Gelato and a quick tour

Jacksons Coffee and Gelato

I'm so sad to hear this place is closing. When I lived in Minnesota, it was my favorite place to hang out. Delicious coffee and gelato. It was extremely close to my house and the cutest little place. I could spend the whole day sitting there. At one point I even built them a website and had a friend do a photoshoot for them. The photos in this video are by Tae Kim. I'm sorry about the video quality. I made this video when I was still new to YouTube and not a Partner. So they limited my upload time and quality. It looked a lot better before and I do not think I have the original now to redo it.

Business Review: Capos Italian speakeasy in Las Vegas being Serenaded & Vegas Tips @desaraev #travel

Capos Italian Speakeasy

I highly recommend visiting this lovely steakhouse if you are in Vegas. It is off the beaten path and a reservation is recommended but not required. The setup is just like an old fashioned speakeasy and the door requires buzzing (yes they are open even if you can't figure out the door). Once inside the lighting is extremely dark and they give you keychain lights to read the menu. The food is amazing. If you want a rare steak, make sure to say you want it extra bloody. The food is filling and comes in very large portions. Check it out, you will not regret it. From food to music this place is a hit.

TRAVEL JOURNAL (DIARY) ENTRY: Some of the best music at Dublin's Oldest Pub - The Brazenhead

I love Irish music and culture. This is live music in Dublin, Ireland. The bar is known as the Brazenhead and is the OLDEST pub (bar) in Ireland. They serve Guinness and other great drinks, have nightly live music, a lively courtyard. Its a hidden gem just barely off the beaten path. This place will make you fall in love with Ireland and never want to leave.

They also offer a dinner and storytelling event. It's a 4 course meal with live music and a genuine Irish storyteller!

Sorry about the video quality but the music is amazing and of good quality.