Saturday at Nancy’s friend Annmarie’s party followed by the God Bless Americanna holiday slide show and commentary. Here’s the guy’s website. He calls himself a Kitch-Culture Histo-Tainer. It is definetly something entirely different!
And this place here! Faa-bulous. Annmarie’s boyfriend Larry made up an amazing loft space above his studio there in the heart of Hollywood Production Studio World.
November 14
Another quick catch-up!
Ruth’s daughter Judith and The Judge. Judith made a lovely birthday party for Ruth, a real grown-up affair with a yummy selection of hors d’oeurves served on silver trays by handsome young men. Didn’t stop us from hootin’ it up though.
From a very nice nursery on Sawtelle that used to be a total dump and was recently revived by a family the members of which are no doubt all working day and night to make a go of it.
To think that years go by and no one dies. In one of the lines we were chatting with some kids in front of us who allowed that the ride we were waiting for was just like Thunder Mountain at Disneyland except that this ride hadn’t killed anyone yet.
Magic Mountain definitely doesn’t have that fanatic commitment to cleanliness you like to see as you are about to be hurled through the air, on your head, 100 feet above the ground, and many of the rides could use a nice coat of paint, still it was great fun and I would not hesitate to go again.
July 11
Wow! Look who’s in LA!?! Ramon and Rodrigo from Chile! Paulina didn’t come but sent her best as did sweet Wilson. What a delightful surprise and what a great day out.
April 9
Cynthia came over Thursday to help and to keep me on the straight and narrow of Progress. We just took an itty-bitty break at the nail salon where they had recently installed shiatsu massage chairs. That’s us, in the chairs, luxuriating!
Mom to the rescue and Big Brother displaying his talents for The Kid’s amusments.
The Bay Bridge around sunrise.
We were due to arrive in San Francisco Bay at 4:30am and sail under the Golden Gate at 4:45 but it was foggy that night and there was a chance we wouldn’t be able to see anything. I set the alarm anyway and at exactly 4:45 I could see just the lights and one tower from our balcony.
‘Oooo ooooo get up get up quick, look out here quick quick.’ They dragged their weary bodies out to the balcony, saw the lights and one tower and immediately fell back to sleep. But they did see it, really.
At least it was Sunday and the usual Mogul Hordes of school groups were not around. There were however some kids and their families with plenty of pitiful whining and parents threatening if you don’t cool it right-this-second we’ll never Ever take you out of the house again Ever so cut it out now.
That afternoon I enjoyed a few hours at Gideon’s birthday. It was so hot out in Northridge that L*I*terally I could feel my body temperature rising so dangerously I feared my blood would boil up through the pours of my skin.
Steven is really struggling with his health which of course is a challange for Celina too and with actually no end in sight. Think encouraging thoughts for them.
At the entrance to Wild Animal Park we find their patriarch and symbol. The guides told us a long story of his history at the park – something about maybe the first of his kind to breed in captivity and he fathered 50 of this rarest rhino, or something…
The christening of their dream to sail the world in amazement and wonder and peace and joy.
Alex got this idea from something he read that christenings, (or is it re-christenings?), must be performed by a female virgin. Now where, he asks himself, can I possibly find such a woman? These three girls, 10, 8 and 3 – perhaps the only female virgins he knows…
This statue was meant to represent what the missions were meant to represent to the people who were already there when the missionaries built the missions. Notice the ‘father’ and ‘son’ imagery. Get it, get it.
Groovin’ on a sunny afternoon.
This segment, they call it ‘dinner hour’, the previous segment being ‘afternoon’ and the last segment being ‘prime-time’, was wonderfully lively and a dance-hall delight. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Pete Fountain Rocked and then the two Latin entries – Arturo Sandoval’s group and next a Cuban band named Maraca Kicked. Maraca seemed to play the same song for 20 minutes but the sometimes three, sometimes four guys in front looked Stunning and danced like the salsa-fa-cation of Angels.
Cheryl’s dad’s Big Birthday Fiesta. With my new hair, I fit right in, like a native.
Then I had dinner with Lona, Christa, and Eri after pitching in with the packing – Lona and Christa are going off for Three Weeks traveling around while Christa interviews for internships. They are going to have the Best Time!
This is my ?art from Rome’s birthday party. It seems once I get an idea the execution of that idea is pretty lame. Heartfelt though.
A tropical island with a palm tree and coconuts. A toadstool with a toad. A gnomish gargoyle.
Ingalill had me and the boys over tonight, five of the seven who travelled together in Sweden, for dinner and a picture party. It was fun!
July 19
Cali and the Pacific Ocean.
We had a fancy day – a tour of the Marion Davis house and then lunch with Lona and Evelyn at the Annenberg Beach Club, open and welcoming to all who can wait for a seat.
May 4
Since I got back from Kauai on the 1st I’ve been sleeping late and going to bed early and tossing around for hours in the middle of the night. I also got to see the grandgirls and go out for a welcome home dinner, and Alex and Carol came by to visit and finish up some work in the vacant rental…a job that I’ll be fussing with for who knows how long.
Then today I met Marsha at the Underground Museum for a day around town.
This picture is from google maps and it’s the front of the The Underground Museum on Washington Blvd.
March 25
I went with Nancy to LACMA today, her home-away-from-home. Here is one of the Park La Brea Towers where Nancy lives and it’s a five minute stroll to the museum.
February 13
Windy and I did some chores and then to congratulate ourselves we went to the Hammer Museum for a quick visit.
Angela took this picture of Gary and Liz and Lilly. Awww. It’s true, I cut my huge looming huge-headed body out of the picture.
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“The Greystone Mansion, also known as the Doheny Mansion, is a Tudor Revival mansion on a landscaped estate with distinctive formal English gardens, located in Beverly Hills, California. Architect Gordon Kaufmann designed the residence and ancillary structures, and construction was completed in 1928.”
August 6
No helper to take this picture and unprepared as I was without a tripod, still, everyone was there so we tried for a photo anyway. I went a little old timey on the look because the colors were so uneven.
Happy Birthday Ann and Becky! Maxine, Ann, Becky, Maryanne, Marsha, Ljubica, Marija, Alicia, Lourdes, me
July 25
First hair cut in seven months and that time was a trim-up. It’s been more than a year since my hair was short-ish and curly. Now it’s supposed to be long enough for an off-the-face off-the-neck pony and still be curly and cute when it’s down. Not sure yet if this guy is going to be my guy but I can walk there.
Lime, the Bird competitor, and a cutie-pie kid rolling by. If you want to get a feeling for the homeless situation in Santa Monica just stroll down Palisades Park at dusk.
March 24
Dev, Gary, and Liz hadn’t been over since I got my stove so I fixed us a late lunch on said stove and we had a lovely time.
I forgot to take a picture(!) so Liz got the gang together for a selfie. Thank you Liz!
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“Talking to Action: Art, Pedagogy, and Activism in the Americas”
My favorite collection was a bunch of piñatas with one of the action points being to sell piñata kits so you can make your own. I liked that idea because who keeps all those supplies on hand in our increasingly smaller homes.
This is an altar piece with a lot of symbolism that Pauli is reading about but I haven’t got to yet.
Several of the works were LA-Latin America crossovers which is also my favorites themes among the works on offer.
August 17
Leaving Shoreline Village aboard the recently re-deployed…
June 2
The original Scottish Rite Masonic Temple and just now reopened as The Marciano Art Foundation, and thanks to Carol for having her ear to the rail she, Alex, and I went to check it out.
Lill is the one with the massively wonderful succulent garden and now she wants this.
It was a basically parent-free event except for the troupe leaders. The Daisy and Brownie troupes were guests and they had a fantastic time.
The inset picture is Lilly at the door taking in the scene, excited to hit Every Single Table and that’s another picture of her half way through.
Darryl wore his museum shoes made with a design from Andy Warhol’s soup cans.
The day before Kailin and her BFFs got together for their Secret Santa party.
All by themselves they decided to do Secret Santa. They drew names, had a budget, and they made such thoughtful gifts for each other.
These two events have made me feel all warm and fuzzy for the Holiday Season. Thank you for doing that!
Emma, Finley, Leila, Nicole, Rome
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…or stove or range hood or shelves. But drawers with paper pulls where I can Put Things!
…and the Cathedral, and all the greatest hits along Grand as well as Pershing Square and The Standard. DTLA, it’s the haps.
He likes to stay at this AirBNB in Santa Monica on 4th. I want that hanging drape of wonderful sounds.
Kelly and Marsha. They were both with me in Paris, the meaning of which will be known later.
February 24
Angelus Paving Stones: I drove out to OXNARD today to look at pavers since it’s looking better that my project for the patio might get off the ground. (A little funny…)
The place was great because they had nice sized patches of each type. I brought home three small samples that together weight about 300 pounds.
January 16
Walk and a lunch with Muriel today. Muriel just got back from Cuba and had a wonderful time. Tomorrow I’m going to see Lynn who got back from Cuba a few months ago. Let’s all go to Cuba!
December 17
I drove up from Bakersfield to get to San Rafael in time to spend a couple of hours with the Flower Power Brigade putting together all the many many vases and bouquets and boutonnieres and etc. required in a wedding with eight bridesmaids and 250 guests.
Then I headed back to SF for dinner with Roger and Sandy and spent the night at Ocean Park Motel, a nicely refurbished 1936 art deco motel.
Kathleen had a Girls Night dinner and movie. We, being me and Kathleen and her friends Dittany and Christie, ate a super dinner and watched Mustang, a newly released social-consciousness film from Turkey.
The picture is from the movie, it’s not us.
June 24
I went with the cousins to a movie at the Landmark and a lovely luncheon for ladies who lunch at Nordstrom’s. It’s good to be Sixty-EIGHT.
Here they are, Sharon and Nancy, in 2006 singing me the Happy Birthday song. Then I was fifty-nine. So young.
Happy Hour dinner with the boys in the lounge of the Hotel Angeleno.
Bill, me, Ken
It was a lot of fun with a surprisingly large cast and they even had a five piece band as part of the production.
Windy, me, Geri’s friend, Geri
Everyone was welcome to place an incense stick here before entering the temple.
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The guests gathered and after playing some games and eating pizza…The Princess Superhero arrived!
August 16
Happy sixteenth Birthday Gideon! Whenever I’m in town I get to celebrate Gideon’s birthday for the last sixteen years!
…I had another great walk with my sister Lona at the jetty.
I got home on the 1st and here it is the morning of the 21st and I’m just now actually feeling rather normal. So that’s three weeks to full recovery from a six week trip. I’m old!
Here’s Bill and Cheryl and their girls Mindy and Kim, Mindy of my Peace Corps stay in Zambia and Kim of my wedding trip to Fort Myers.
Girl Scout Cookies! Want some? Let me know! That’s Rome in her uniform on the poster that is on the window of Darryl’s office.
What it says: Come by and place your order for Girl Scout Cookies between January 24 – February 5. 1 box $4.00 5 boxes $20.00. You can buy Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-si-dos, Trefoils, Savannah Smiles.
Sure! Have some, In Remembrance of Things Past!
(photos by D&A)
The Order of Things: we sleep over on Christmas Eve so we can be there to get right up to see what Santa brought. I was with Rome and we checked our clocks several times through the night, I falling directly back to sleep, Rome waiting quietly. Finally, at 6:16 YES, let’s walk up the rest of the house!
We take turns seeing what Santa brought and then we mess around with our stuff and have a fabulous breakfast.
November 17
It was another Pepperdine morning with Sharon. Eight laps around the track and lunch.
This time we added a swing by the Weisman Museum on campus. I was taken by this work. It’s a collage the size of a Garage Door, called Darkhorse by Brian Porray (born in 1979, working in LA) who’s done a ton of projects in a similar vein.
October 5
The Venice Canals – a nice walking venue for an outing with Muriel. She hadn’t ever taken a daytime stroll through here so that was particularly fun.
September 20-22
Click here if you want to have a little run-through of my gorgeous weekend in Santa Ynez.
That’s Lill there on the right. She took this picture of the three guys but she really wanted to be in it. So I put her there!
Rome has been running an Art Club on Tuesday nights and sometimes on other nights too. She’s done it twice when I’ve been there and it is So Much Fun!
Both times she has designed a project for us to do. Tonight we made self-portraits and displayed them as you see here. It’s so delightful I’m just grinning the whole time. Rome made the plan, she passed out the materials, she encouraged and praised all efforts. I am already looking forward to my next chance to attend Art Club!
Thanks to Ken and Susie I got to see David Mamet’s American Buffalo at the Geffen. What a treat!
In the afternoon I met Nancy at the wonderful Guelaguetza for some killer mole and a chance to see the new…
The we enjoyed a delightful late afternoon-early evening of Happy Hour Hopping. First Shutters, then Casa del Mar, then Enterprise Fish with a stop-off at the Viceroy because Ken had never seen it.
January 20
Relatives from far away Australia!
Here’s the direct line not to mention sooo many siblings not included: My father had a brother Walter, Walter had a son Bill, Bill had a daughter Susan and this is Susan and her husband Michael and their four adorable and incredibly sweet children Madeleine, Linea, William, and Esther ages 21-19-17-15.
From Lona around ..Lona, Jerri, Susan, William, Windy, Jeff, (behind Jeff) Linea, Madeleine, Esther, then Hartley, Michael, Geraldine, Titi.
November 13
Time to change out the ‘refrigerator door’. I take everything down, put it in a one quart baggie, and stack the baggies out in the garage.
From the top left: an origami crane that I always have some of around, a strip of DKA&L photos from 2011, a Levitated Potato from my Road Trip with Sharon, the charms from Istanbul-Jerusalem-Rome, crafts from Rome. Top right: another of the great flying pig cards from N Donald, a hula girl from my yearly trip to the land of Aloha, bills from my trips to Africa, China, and Vietnam, a gift from my host in Rome, one of my mother’s turtles, the chair I’m lusting after, the corsage from Cynthia’s wedding, the cranes that I can’t give up (I see they’ve been there since at least 2008).
