Goldilocks arrives in L.A.

I asked Kiki this morning, "Does this kind of stuff only happen to me?" She just laughed, which is a yes, I think. We arrived here late Tuesday night. We went to bed around midnight, which was about 3 a.m. in Miami. The next morning I tried frantically to get my tax return papers filled out and submitted, which was not so easy from our hotel. But it worked out (YAY!) and I have officially applied for financial aid at seminary (not so YAY, but still necessary). Good thing I don't procrastinate...
In just one day, we went to Long Beach, I saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time in my life, and had breakfast at Schooner or Later, a restaurant at the marina that was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on Food Network. I had cinnamon roll french toast (amazing) and tried Kiki's 'The Mess' which really was a mess.
We drove from there to Chinatown and Olvera Street (like 'Mexico-town'), visited a missionary appointee who is going to Peru later this year, and then came to Biola University, where we are for the whole week. Today we had a Philippino lunch, which could have been much worse. I actually liked their 'salad' if you can call cilantro slaw a 'salad' and mango ginger tea. I think I'll have to try real Philippino food at some point.

But on to the reason I called this Goldilocks...
Last night we decided to try something we could only get here (no T.G.I. Friday's or Panda Express allowed). We've had Red Robin burgers... which are amazing, and In-N-Out burgers which you just have to try. They keep it simple, where Red Robin really elaborates on the 'hamburger.' There's something to be admired in both attempts.
Anywho, last night we found a place called Mimi's cafe. I try to get drinks that aren't normal, like raspberry tea. It's just better to save coke or sprite for a rainy day, I think. At Mimi's cafe I saw they sold Strawberry Lemonade. Sounds good enough, right. Ech. It was gross. Tart, bitter, pool-water. I asked the server if I could get something else, so she brought me Raspberry Tea. It was also devoid of goodness. Just strong, pink water. No sugar. No raspberry. Precious little tea. So after 20 minutes or so of shocking myself with pool water, and then numbing my senses with purple water, I asked if I could have Sprite. She must've thought I was Goldilocks (I sure felt like it) but for once, I was grateful for my Sprite.