Daily Life 2013

March 31

One last shot from CM&K’s vacation – Hail Hail the Gang’s All Here!

The Hawaii Browns Trevor, Beth, Caleb, Charis (Christa is away at college), and Beth’s mom Janice, and the Minnesota Holdens Mike, Cynthia, and Kieran.

Windy signed up for a month of all-you-can-do exercise at Pure Barre on Wilshire near Barrington. I tried it for two minutes but it was S!O! L!!OUD!!! in there (oh the boom boom), wow, it was not for me.

But notice the foot massage place next door. Now that IS for me!

We had planned to walk at the Pepperdine track with Sharon this afternoon but we got rained out. Oh well.

I’ve had tickets with Nancy for weeks to see Van Dyke Parks and a couple of young people he has taken a fancy to: Inara George and Tom McDermott.

The show was at McCabe’s, which we love for its intimacy and wide selection of artists.

It was a great night not excepting the entire jumbo bag of Trader Joe’s Kettle Korn that I ate with great relish and zeal while we were waiting in line for about an hour.

(internet pix)

March 30

Katie and Jed hosted the Valley Kids Easter Party this year and a grand time was had by all.

Lovin’ The Moms!

When this group (and another 5-6 women) first got together with their kids there was one kid per mom. These days the kids move in such large packs we can’t count them all.

After the party Windy and I did a swing by Bergamot Station, always a pleasure.

March 29

Moving day for Liz and Gary and Dev so Windy and I went out there to lend some hands.

Windy did her magic on the kitchen cabinets and I wandered around with encouragement and nagging questions .. what about this what about this what about this. I did bring the lunch so that was good.

Checking out the current status of the Sportsman’s Lodge where a new restaurant and lounge finally opened in July 2012.

It’s also a Windy Weekend!

March 26

Lilly and I had a good outing today. We walked to the dog park, and then past the museums (they were closed), and on to the playground for some fun and a picnic.

Her greatest and happiest adventure was climbing up and down and up and down and again and again and again on this pile of rocks.

First let me say this pile is securely attached and meant for climbing…but still…she’s three… After a few times she called out ‘Look Granny I can hop!’ which of course I immediately inserted on the ‘oh let’s not do that’ list. Then she got faster and faster going up and down and then she wanted to jump off higher and higher rocks at which point I called it ‘one last time’.

On the way to pick up Rome we learned that a friend at Rome’s school was in the hospital with a potential concussion having tripped playing a game of tag. Once again I was overcome with relief that no calamity had befallen us today.

March 24

At 11am this morning in the two blocks of Westwood Blvd. in front of the Paris Bakery, where the Proust readers gather, we were greeted by preparations for the Iranian Happy New Year Extravaganza.

Most of the area for booths was still empty but YIKES the Iranian dance music was so Full Blast we couldn’t hear ourselves let alone one another, so we had to pass on our discussion of Reading Proust in Tehran.

A most handsome and fragrant decoration.

Some Wiki-Words:

“Originally being a Zoroastrian festival, and the holiest of them all, Nowruz is believed to have been invented by Zoroaster himself, although there is no clear date of origin.”

“Since the Achaemenid era the official year has begun with the New Day when the Sun leaves the zodiac of Pisces and enters the zodiacal sign of Aries, signifying the Spring Equinox. Nowruz is also a holy day for Sufis, Bektashis, Ismailis, Alawites, Alevis, Babis and adherents of the Bahá’í Faith.”

Eighty percent of these two blocks are signed in Farsi but Paris Bakery stands as it has since forever although they have changed hands a time or two.

Some of the displays and more shops, cafés and restaurants, book stores, hair salons, music and video offerings, hookah patios and more.

In the afternoon I met Nancy at the wonderful Guelaguetza for some killer mole and a chance to see the new…

…murals covering all the outside walls of the restaurant.

The following text I totally copied in its entirety from Los Angeles Magazine dated 3/14/13:

“Bricia Lopez and her family (owners of Guelaguetza) have already perfected the arts of simmering creamy moles and hand-brewing smoky mezcal.

“Their Koreatown restaurant, Guelaguetza, is a Los Angeles institution, appealing to locals with their vibrant Oaxacan cuisine. But the Lopez family has always believed that their mission runs a little deeper than just pleasing the palate.”

“They’ve taken their cultural evangelism to the next level and delved into the art world by commissioning a mural at their Olympic Boulevard location.

“Street artists Rosario Martinez and Roberto Vega of the Mexican art group Colectivo LaPiztola (a combination of “lapiz,” or pencil, and “piztola,” pistol—a succinct commentary on their take-no-prisoners approach) made their L.A. debut yesterday…”

“LaPiztola’s distinctive style includes pairing stenciled figures with radiant bursts of color, like the stunning samples on display here. The new work should be an eye-catching addition to the area…”

I wonder how they light this at night? I’ll need to go back! And you can’t miss with the food. Order anything.

March 23

Cynthia, Kieran, and Mike looking over Diamond Head and the beautiful blue Pacific. They had a great time in Hawaii and pictures to prove it.

Here’s what I wrote to Cynthia: “Will you send me your favorite of the three of you together? You know I’m going to use it for my ‘historical record’. Every time I say that, ‘historical record’ I think of Galaxy Quest and say to myself ‘oh, I could watch it again!’. You know that movie .. and if by chance not it is such a winner. Sometimes I say ‘permanent record’ and think of Jr High but that’s something different altogether…”

cb (probably Caleb or Charis?).

March 22

We finished up the March Madness Mailing for L&H and then I came home to Not eat. It’s very time consuming, not eating.

So I decided to amuse myself with old episodes of Star Trek on netflix streaming video. Which I must have thought of because Hulu is offering them all for free for a while but with commercials, so netflix it is.

March 21

Lona took this picture with her phone .. me in thrall to a cookie.

We were working on the March Madness project, a big paperwork extravaganza that we do every year around this time for their business. We’ll have a few more hours tomorrow and then done! done!

March 20

I am LingMAO… I spent hours today ‘shopping’ for a bathing suit. HOURS. At least I could reject them all from the comfort of my chair.

March 19

All the girls in Lilly’s class and their cute-as-pie moms. I’m standing on the stairs. I’m calling out, look at me. Look at meeee…

…and now on three, Ta DAH.

And a grand time was had by all. Good Job Angela!

March 15-17

You can click here for the celebratory weekend in honor of Les and Viva! Las Vegas!!

…and Oz Noy himself and his foot pedals rivaling those of a cathedral organ.

From his bio: ““It’s Jazz. It just doesn’t sound like it.” This is how virtuoso guitarist Oz Noy describes his intoxicating blend of jazz, funk, rock, blues, and r&b.” Virtuoso and intoxicating is right.

Would I play his music in my little house? Probably not. Would I go to another show? In a heartbeat!

(internet pix)

March 13

Here I am with Ken and Susie at the Catalina Jazz Club (Bar and Grill) at Sunset and Highland. I’d never been here before! Wow, a Jazz Club, just like in the movies.

We saw Oz Noy with these guys, the drummer Dave Weckl with his 40k$ kit and his mad skills. Yikes. And the six string bassman Anthony Jackson who was aaa-MAYzing…

(internet pix)

March 12

Last week was my last week giving Rome a bath! She decided around Friday that she wanted to give herself a big-girl shower now.

So it was just Lilly tonight and we practiced leg parts – thigh, calf, shin. She’s already good on the joints – knee, elbow, wrist, ankle, and for a long time now has been on to my bath time favorite Arm Pits. And in a few short years .. it’ll be big-girl shower for Lilly too, and Rome will be older yet, and the fun just goes ON.

March 11

It’s our matriarch’s birthday, Happy Birthday Lona! We, Windy and I, have been taking her to the Korean Scrub and Spa for her birthday and we all are SO happy. Then we had a really tasty late lunch at Mitsuwa where Lona and Windy had never been. It’s good on your birthday to do at least one thing you’ve never done before.

Look how cute we are all matchy-matchy in purple, like we called each other .. but we didn’t!

Monday night at Marija’s was lovely as ever. Usually the hostess makes dessert but since Marija has given up sweets for Lent Becky made the brownie cake with peanut butter frosting dessert that is the crack cocaine of desserts. Resistance is futile.

March 10

Proust again, meeting at Paris Bakery on Westwood. We were five this week and it was good fun. I’ll read the next section.

Can I tell now that I will get through the seven volumes? Not yet, we’ll see, one page at a time…

In the evening Windy and I went to El Cid for one of their legendary Flamenco performances.

You can see our whole troop in this picture (many different groups perform)…

…and in this one. The guitar player, the flutist, and the two incredible dancers. It was quite fantastic and we’d both happily go again.

You can see the one hour show for $15 with no minimum required. They make their money on the pretty good tapas and good enough beverages available all day and into the night.

March 9

The Getty Center is getting their wisteria too.

More.

Nancy and I enjoyed the beautiful day and saw the hot-ticket traveling Vermeer. Back in 2009 we drove out to the Norton-Simon to see a Vermeer, the ‘A Lady Writing’. This one is called ‘Woman in Blue Reading a Letter’. Nice symmetry I think.

I just read that there are only 35-36 Vermeer paintings left in the world. There’s an excellent website essentialvermeer.com that tells about them (click on the image and then click around in it) and where they are.

Outside the café, so lovely.

More Vermeer – ‘The Girl with the Pearl Earing’ was being installed at the de Young just when I was there, but not yet ready to see. It’s there through June in case you happen to be around the Bay area.

March 8

Elaina came by this morning and we were testing my ‘tips’ on her real-life situation of wanting to plan a trip to France for herself and her mom.

It was great – I could see so many areas that could use a lot of attention, and I’ll be getting to that very soon, right after I finish my Proust assignment for Sunday. But mostly I need to fix the way that banner works. Baaad.

We cut our visit just a little short so I could get to the airport in time for a nice visit with Cynthia, Mike, and Kieran who had a long-enough layover on their way to Hawaii. Many Thanks to Lona and Hartley who made this happen!

ALOHA!

From my backyard looking west waiting for the next rain. Ah weather, we so rarely get weather.

Then later in the afternoon Les picked me up and since the rain that had been threatening all day had still not come we walked from his place to the beach and along the boardwalk for awhile…

March 7

The wisteria blooms began to appear on March 1, exactly on schedule, and by the end of the month they will all be gone. They are so rich and fragrant, you can smell them from the sidewalk.

This is the track at Pepperdine I speak of so often. I went with Sharon today and we walked around and around for an hour.

…and shared some gor$eous food at Piccolo, an Italian place (it gets a 28 for food from Zagat) just off the boardwalk that I’d wanted to try for ages but never had mostly because it isn’t open for lunch and it’s such an ev$nt place for dinner.

March 6

Nancy’s down from Santa Barbara touching base with her doctor, her accountant, her attorney .. and some friends, yay! although these pop-into-LA visits are too short to catch up with everyone .. so many friends, so little time.

David and Joann hosted a delightful and delicious soirée including Nancy, Muriel, and me. Missing from Nancy’s photos is the calamari salad, the lasagna, and the designer wine. Those pictures on the table are David’s drawings laid out as gifts for the guests. What a good time we had!

Have I been eating too much YUM these days? Oh my goodness yes.

nd.

March 4

Happy Birthday Les! We are here at Zengo in Santa Monica Place eating two hours worth of all you can eat deliciousness. The dishes are all cooked to order, and although the place was packed our food and beverages came right away, and everything was umm-ummm-good.

The weather was lovely and all the playgrounds at the beach were well in use including every space for volleyball being full.

But it wasn’t so much for sun bathers, I don’t know why.

Between staying with friends for his three weeks in LA, Les got this place from airbnb three blocks from Main Street in Santa Monica and four blocks from the beach. He’s a happy guy.

Roger and Sandy sent these pictures from an outing they did up in San Francisco. Sandy’s deep brain stimulation surgeries are over now and everything is going well.

re/sc

March 2

Nancy and Sharon and I went to LACMA today. Gotta hit the lamp posts, Chris Burden’s Urban Light, installed in February 2008 and a must-stop-by ever since.

I can’t believe I got so distracted by this and that that I forgot to spend a minute with Levitated Mass. Grrr.

They were putting on a one day only piece of performance art called Laughing Hole here’s what it says in the write-up:

Spanish artist and choreographer La Ribot has gathered elements from dance, avant-garde theater and performance art to create a controlled situation where language and expression are dislodged…