’08 November

More of the pictures are here along with those from previous visits in a collection of photos at The Huntington.

Yum.

November 29

Wow! We got up at FIVE AM to make it out to the windmills in time for dawn…from the hood of the car.

How far-out cool is this?!

More, with a train passing through them.

So too much fun.

And here turning around to look away from the dawn to see her reflection.

And even More!

After I crashed back at the condo for an hour or so we went out for breakfast and then for a stroll up the street. Rome is managing the sun-in-your-face very cleverly.

The weather was specTAcular. Wow. November in the desert.

Here are some colors of Palm Springs, in the plants…

…and on the walls.

And then on the way back home – more fun with windmills.

Fun on top of fun. So much to be thankful for!

November 26-28

Thanksgiving Weekend! I got to Cynthia’s boss’s condo in Palm Springs Wednesday in time for a big meat dinner here in advance of our vegetarian Thanksgiving, and then had a good swim and a hot jacuzzi at the condo.

Cynthia and her boyfriend(!) Mark were there already too and I very much enjoyed the entire evening.

Thursday mid-morning the rest of the party arrived…OK, let’s get down to cookin’!

With a short break for Rome to have a nice run around the condo complex. Heloo heloooo.

We were Darryl, Angela, and Rome, Gary and Liz, and Cynthia and Mark. Rome was not inclined to be in this picture…

…but here she is with some of everything except the yummy quiche. She’s got stuffed squash, baked beets, potato and yam casserole, Aloo Gobhi casserole, corn casserole, broccoli au gratin, carrot-ginger salad, and Waldorf salad. And pies to come. Hurray! A Feast!

Next morning we’re off to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for more fun in the sun…and Snow!

Cynth and Mark. She was telling me about Mark several weeks ago. Mark…and then Mark…oh that’s Mark on the phone (he lives in Wisconsin).

Mark, I said, is sounding a whole lot like boyfriend material. Yes, Cynth replied, boyfriend material: 35-never married-no kids, thus eliminating the need for my first three inquiries. He’s a very sweet guy. And with a big family and dozens of first cousins most of them still in Wisconsin, we’re trying to win him over to the California Life Style.

Up up.

and looking down to the downward bound car.

and more up and up.

Yes! Snow!

Rome gets her first taste of playing in the snow. Her daddy makes her a nice big snowball!

Heading back, up the long switchback path to the tram station.

‘Tis the season for sure up here. A winter wonderland.

November 24

Leaving Palm Springs. With power and phone lines underground, small signs none higher than the very low-rise buildings, a sparkling, clear bright day, and you’ve got yourself some fabulous views.

November 22

Happy Thanksgiving party hosted by Lona and Hartley…

…at the gorgeous and gracious Shanghai Red’s in a big super fantastic windows-on-three-sides view of the marina private room. FAabulous!

Doing the set-ups. We brought place cards and name tags, the mixer game of ‘what am I?’, and a Thanksgiving word association game.

And a little jigsaw puzzle for the waiting times.

Ok! The kids are going to get ready for their skit!!

Rome, Anya

Betsy and Lucas put together this charming showcase and the crowd went wild.

Betsy, Arnav, Xander, Rome, Anya, Lucas.

They even had a few costume changes. It was SO cute!

The traditional Speaking of the Presidents and their Thanksgiving Day proclamations. L&H have been doing this little playlet for yeears now.

Then between extended passes at the buffet we had:

Readings and a song from the Sanos family.
Audience participation Thanksgiving Day jokes.
Music from the Danderand family.
Introductions from the crowd.

And a Grand time was had by all.

A sample of the group shots that formed as the guests shared their goodbyes.

Our second and third generations of Sardesais.

Windy’s hats got quite a work-out. EVeryone wanted their picture made in the Pilgrim hats.

I wonder now…I’m wondering if L&H have now so raised the bar that expectations will need to be met (say I in the passive voice having contributed a whole lot of not much)…I wonder.

Xander, Hartley, Lona, Anya

Yikes! I didn’t put my mind to getting the whole room. Too bad! I’m going to put a list of the attendees here, for memory’s sake: Anton, Shiela, Paulaine Sano; Liz Hale; Michael Cardarelli, Britney Furgeson; Jim, Joy Mainwaring; Vivian Weng; Jim Carter, Sandy Luo; Geraldine Mole; Hartley, Lona Brown; Jerry, Jan, Jenny, Julia, John, Kim, Dash, Euin Dandurand; Penny Kanouse; Cynthia Kanouse, Mark Smith; Darryl, Angela, Rome Kanouse; Marsha Wilhelm; Lucas, Betsy, Alexander, Anna-Lisa King; Bala, Bhanu, Vandana Sardesai; Sunjay, Archana, Arnav Bindra.

November 21

Nancy and I took Sandy to the Chinese massage place for her birthday and we all looved it! Here’s the scene a few steps from their front door.

November 20

I went with Susie to The Huntington today. It was as good a day for the Huntington as ever there was. Cool, bright, clear, even light and soft shadows. Hurray!

November 19

Strolling along the bike path, looking north…

…and south. Sigh.

This is the back patio of the place where Sharon and I usually enjoy our mid-walk repast. It’s an hour out, an hour break, and an hour back. Good and good for you!

November 18

All of a sudden, out of the blue, some strange combination of sun, machinery, and reflections caused this shadow to appear on Rome’s ceiling. ‘Rome Rome quick let’s take a picture!’ and so we did.

Her enthusiasm for taking this picture was quite delightful. We have been playing with shadows for some time now and this was yet another highlight.

Then dinner with the boys. The turkey not even in the oven and yet here we are all Christmas Tree-ed and Decking The Halls.

November 17

Monday Night in the Valley. From top left: Marsha, Ann, Becky, Marija. bottom left: Ljubica, me, Happy Birthday Maryanne!, Happy Birthday Lourdes!, Alicia, Maxine. Nice one ladies.

jb.

Boban came out to Santa Monica so we could enjoy his birthday lunch together. We took a stroll over to the skating rink(!) they do up at 5th and Arizona every year. It was, like, 80 degrees or something out there.

I wanted to grab this shot real quick like a bunny before Boban changed his mind about a picture. Quick! Grab a click! And this is it. Cute, despite the full on lens flare right exactly in the center of his handsome sweet face, and the tree growing out of the top of his head. Cute despite all that…

November 16

Brigitte just got back from Dubai, now in day two of a 12 hour time change. But she hung in for a few hours to tell us about her adventures, there and in Abu Dhabi, and show us her wonderful pictures on Ingalill’s honkin’ big tv.

Brigitte also provided this feast of double cream cheeses, and wine, and fruit and bread and crackers and many sweet treats from the UAE. Perfect!

November 15

Fire! This shot is from out the car window in Beverly Hills around sunset.

I met Ken and his cousins for a nice dinner and re-aquainting conversation. Here’s from my last visit with them, Carol and Bill in 2005.

And here’s the whole group of Ken’s cousins from 2005. Notice my outfit. I Laughed Out Loud. Not at all surprising though, since this IS what I wear for Dress Up.

I didn’t want to miss a shot of that pink of the Beverly Hills Hotel where Carol and Bill are staying. There was a black-tie wedding going on in there, probably a few thousand guests. It was very elegante, the cost of which no doubt would have bought me a very nice house.

November 12

We started out at the same-time-same-place but turned left at Rose for a different snack – lunch at the Rose Cafe and then instead of walking back on the bike path we walked back on Main. A walkin’ change of pace!

November 13

This was fun! I went with Nancy to her ikebana class at Beverly Hills High School. All the students were very friendly and having a great time.

You can see the teacher Mrs Shohara behind Nancy’s right shoulder.

The teacher goes to each student’s finished project with her snippers in hand. A little nudge here, and a snip there and here too, and a relocation or two and voila, it’s better everyone agrees.

That is the teaching method: she passes out the materials, says a few words and makes gestures with her hands, and then leaves the students to give it a try. Then she pretty much changes everyone’s work and in so doing you are to learn.

I got to say a few farewell words in Japanese and she responded immediately and instinctively, not with that puzzled ‘I have no Idea what you’re talking about’ look you get sometime, which was tons of fun for me.

November 11

A night shot in the closet mirror. And mighty dang cute I’d say…the hats were prizes from the Yes We Can! election party.

November 9

Sunday morning and time for a Cynthia day down south. We had breakfast at our now regular breakfast palace and then hit the road.

First stop, the Orange County Great Park hoping we could use our ‘wind check’ flight coupon from last year on the balloon ride. But no, too much wind Again! The park wasn’t much changed except here we have a military timeline painted on what was an El Toro runway.

Then we went to an amazing pet shop full of hand raised birds all sitting free on these perches and all entirely delighted to ‘step up!’.

After their spritz bath. All the birds were getting their bath and they loveloveloved it.

And then… the Casa Romantica. From their website: “Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, the historic Spanish Colonial Revival estate of San Clemente founder Ole Hanson, embodies the Romance and Reality of the Southern California experience. Its stunning setting is a place for people of all ages to explore and understand Southern California history, architecture, ecology and culture.”

Located on the bluffs overlooking…

…the pier in San Clemente.

What a lovely day!

November 8

It was Marsha’s mom’s funeral today down in San Diego. She leaves four daughters and a son, a multitude of grandchildren and great-grandchildren and a church full of friends.

November 6

Another glorious beach-day with Sharon. It’s been 75 degrees and sparkling clear which is why the horizon line is so sharp. This is a super-tele-photo from up on the bluffs.

November 5

Nice, a walk with Sandy on the jetty with a convenient pit stop available along the way. It was a Gorgeous outing and a Spectacular November day at the beach.

In the evening I went with my little sister to Ikea where she guided me along in the purchase of several items with the intention to redouble my efforts to put away all my cr*p…every day…(what’s the big DEAL?!). I actually have plenty of room, plenty of desire, just not so much achievement.

November 4

Yes We Can!! A couple of the guests at Darryl and Angela’s Election Night Party, and a Grand time was had by all!

Before the party, here’s Rome filling out the quiz. It was a game of silly questions having to do with the events of the evening. The winners got FAbulous prizes…

November 2

Hilda and I are sitting at the counter eating hors d’ouervres and sipping wine while Merlyn makes us a faabulous dinner. Now that’s mighty cool.

November 1

Louise, my next door neighbor in Northridge, invites the neighbors over for her annual Halloween get-together. So once a year I get to hear all the news of my old street.

October 31

The end of October got so taken up with Halloween I’m putting this here – a Getty Villa outing with Sharon and her niece Amber and Amber’s husband Scott. What a couple of cuties.

When I clicked the shutter I thought this picture was straight. This happens All the time and I usually just fix it with photoshop. I learned a few days ago that I’ve got a cataract growing on my right eye and a nasty astigmatism. During the test I reached out to the test card in order to straighten it out…but it Was straight!

The optomistrist said it could be one year or ten years before it was bad enough for surgery. Now I have to get new glasses and maybe my eye will start to see straight!

BTW-This is the Jim Dine exhibit with no photos allowed in the room itself. It was so surprising and entertaining to walk into with no expectations. If you have a chance to get up here it’s well worth it just for 5 minutes of standing in there.