What will the new year bring?!
September 13
Trevor was in town so I went over for a visit with the family and a friend of theirs was there too. The friend wanted to talk to Trevor about his thinking regarding the election.
I freaked out. NOOOOOO. We have it settled ok, we let it be, we don’t talk about religion or politics. But NOOOOO some sweet friend has to stir the pot. Because it was not going to end well. Better I should leave!
September 12
While the floor guys were cutting wood such that it sounded like a dentist’s office on the whole street, I went to Ikea to look for furnishings but no joy, unless maybe I go back there for a mattress and bedding which are very appealing.
I also went looking for countertops. I was thinking to have quartz on the sink side and butcher block on the oven side but it turns out in quartz you have to buy the whole slab (at this place anyway) and that would cover everything.
And then I filled my plate twice at the Monday potluck and ate a mountain of dessert.
September 11
Some parts of this house project are powering toward a big fat tick!.
All the trim is a pale cream and all the walls are a peachy cream, girly I know, but the floors are strong and with furnishings I’m not worried…say I to myself hourly. And notice the difference between the two rooms. And the ceilings are white but taking up the color of the walls.
It’s crazy how when you look in one light it’s one way and then you turn your head or…
…go into a different room, exact same paint, totally different color.
The floor trim isn’t on yet and we’re going to need a lot of touch-up on the paint.
My conclusion is that there is no entirely right answer for color since it’s always different and I took these pictures at the same time. At a different hour they are different again! So, as the screaming guitar player says, close enough for rock ‘n roll.
September 10
Happy Birthday Windy (in this picture for scale)! We took the train out to the National History Museum to see the ‘Pterosaurs – Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs’ exhibit.
It was really fun! You could stand on that glowing circle and flap your arms, lean side to side, look up and down, and the pterosaur would follow your movements which usually ended by crashing into the lake.
I don’t have a picture of the one with the impossibly long neck. These guys have just impossibly huge heads.
Then we got back on the train and went to Olvera Street for some of the taquitos of our youth followed by fresh, crisp, and delicious churros.
Standing in the doorway by the fridge, looking into the main room. Looking out the windows on both sides of the room the view is of trees.
The closet stays because it fits so well.
The daybed/twin mattress is against the back wall. A trundle would fit too.
The new silent ceiling fan works a trick and there’s air conditioning too.
Notice the chair in the lower right…
Aww kitty kitty! Sorry, no actual pets though!
$1500 per month.
1 year lease, 2 months rent security deposit.
Utilities included: gas, water, trash, you pay only for electricity.
Laundry on site $5/load for wash and dry.
Street parking by permit.
No Pet, really, no pets.
No smoking anywhere on the property.
The floor wood arrived and Leo was due to start the installation. Alex cleared all his tools out of the house. We were waiting. And waiting. He didn’t answer his phone, or voice message, or text. Nothing. Nada, just no Leo.
So I got in touch with his wife. She promised he would show up on Friday. Ok, fine.
I’m thinking about those knobs and handles for the kitchen. Choosing choosing.
Also last month when I went to Hiromi Paper and had a nice wander around Bergamot. I have been running around a lot of late.
And who knows how long the art village at Bergamot will be with us in its current form since it’s so low density and right at the 26th Street Expo Line station. Enjoy it while you can!
Roger and Sandy were down from SF and along with Nancy we ate lunch in my house…with lawn chairs, a fold-up table, and plywood floors.
NEWS: the floor guys will be here Wednesday to put in the real wood and by then, except for the kitchen and bathroom, all the inside painting will be done. Progress!
September 1
It was yesterday, but here are Angela’s pictures from the send-off to First Day of School! Lilly’s a First Grader and ate her first lunch at school. You go Lilly! And Rome is in the Fifth grade. A senior at Jefferson Elementary.
Lilly, Rome
ak.
I snagged this off facebook because I think it is one of the most adorable vacation selfies ever.
Lola, Alex, Zander, Lauretta, Roxi
August 27
Michi! I went up to Santa Barbara to spend the night at Michi’s place, enjoy the garden and her scrumptious food, and have dinner with Nancy. Thank you!
August 28
At Kathleen’s for dinner talking about hers and Caroline’s upcoming trip to Ireland. That’s Caroline and me with my photo-face which I wish I could manage every time.
ko.
August 26
I got a fan for where I am now to see how it did in 8′ ceilings and if it’s worth it for the front house. Oh yes it is worth it. Really worth it. The light looks bright in the picture but it can dim down to candle level too.
I also got this new shower head for the cramped little shower and it’s awesome in that the water pours down on the bather’s head and not into the room as the old one did.
August 25
No new pictures of Wednesday’s festival of fun but here are a few of Angela’s pictures from our wolf/dog outing.
Lilly, Lila, Anya, Nora, Rome
ak.
Lilly feeding the wolf/dog! After this excitement her hands were a bouquet of kielbasa and dog slobber.
ak.
August 24
I’ve left off taking pictures for a few days…but here’s something I’ve been thinking about.
August 22
Have a look at the only floor that has covered these rooms for more than 90 years. It so bouncy and squeaky in here it’s like walking on a trampoline made of rusty bed springs.
And look how clean and tidy it is under my house! I feel so clean and tidy just looking there.
August 21
Ingalill and I had plans to visit the Self-Realization Center in Malibu for some photo-photo. But no. The garden was closed due to services so we went up to Pepperdine instead and Lill got her first look at their chapel.
We went on in hopes the Weisman Museum there would be open. But no. The museum was closed for staging a new exhibit.
We then went on to the track. But no. There was a big event using the whole field.
We then went to another area down the hill where Lill remembered a nice walk. But no. The whole place was torn up for a new building project.
We then went to the cafeteria back on campus. YES! Food did not turn her back on us and we enjoyed a yummy lunch in a delightful setting.
Despite our setbacks it did turn into a very lovely day.
August 19
I saw this movie about an improv troupe with Nancy and Sharon for Nancy’s birthday, her Big Seven OMG. The movie was good and Nancy is determined to make a change upon being seventy. We don’t yet know what the change is going to be so that’s something exciting to have on the near horizon.
August 18
Caleb! We rode the Expo Line from Santa Monica to transfer at 7th Street station for…
…Union Station, and from here we wandered our way through downtown back to 7th for the ride home.
Luckily we got on the Expo Line at the beginning on the way out and on the way back because, even though we were far away from rush hours, it was crowded with people standing the entire time. Goodness!
More trains are due around the end of the year making a run every six minutes instead of the current twelve, and I couldn’t be more pleased. Wow.
…and the Cathedral, and all the greatest hits along Grand as well as Pershing Square and The Standard. DTLA, it’s the haps.
August 17
We had Kayla with us most of the day and what a good time we had. Busy Busy including lunch, the park, a frozen yogurt outing, a card game, a trip to the library, Rome’s soccer practice…and ETC.
Kayla, Rome, Lilly
August 16
It was Sister Day in that I saw both my sisters, morning and afternoon. Here are Bob and Caleb doing heavy labor over at the house to move a giant bookcase and boxes and boxes of books to the apartment.
Bob, Lona, Caleb
Our Cali May and Jack Black from Texas at an art museum. I hope we can all get together again soon!
lb.
out of order…
D&A had a date night on Saturday while the girls and I went to Akbar. Here are Lilly’s pictures including her three favorite things: mango lassi, note that hers is gone; samosas, I’m not eating samosas at this moment but I could have been; and the after-food anise seed sweet treat – good job Lilly!
lk.
The Malibu sign with the same font and colors as the Santa Monica Pier sign, after the walk with Sharon at Pepperdine across the street from where we had our after-walk meal.
One of those slots of time with the Hawaii Browns when I picked up food at the California Chicken Café. It’s amazing how hard this huge crowd works – fast and surprisingly cheerful.
August 12-15
Some miscellaneous Pictures from the last few days.
Sharon and I went up to Pepperdine for a walk and the wonderfully fit and handsome women’s soccer team was on the field.
My new floor, decided, ordered, paid for, and it’ll be here by September 9th. Yeee-HA, Giddy-up!
Nancy took this at the birthday soiree for Muriel with JoAnn and David too but the picture of ME turned out the Best. Bad party girl, I took not one shot.
nd.
August 11
Carol and I went out to Pershing Square today while Alex went hiking at Will Rogers.
This is distort-o but the best I could do to get the full end to end of Liquid Shard, a temporary public art piece by Patrick Shearn draping across Pershing Square.
It’s entirely mesmerizing. The breeze lifts and drops the piece and you can watch it as if it were waves in the sea, or a tornado, or as if you were shaking out the blanket while you make the bed – never the same from moment to moment.
This day, Thursday the 11th was supposed to be the last day but I also read that they might keep it on. My search of the internet is not revealing the answer.
Then Carol and I went to get Alex at Will Rogers after his go-go hike, and we enjoyed the ever-so-lovely picnic Carol made.
They brought everything! Food, chairs, a table, beverages, and sweet good cheer.
August 10 pm
After all that fun with the kids and wolf/dogs I went back to town to get Charis so we could have our outing of Chinese Foot Massage and Mani-Pedi on Main Street in Santa Monica.
We had an excellent time!
August 10
Shadowland Foundation out by Lake Hughes. From their website:
“Only Shadowland Foundation offers a once-in-a-lifetime-experience for individuals, families, school groups, youth organizations, corporations, social clubs, etc. to meet and play with our pack of ten Alaskan Timber Wolves in California.”
Here are most of the 25 participants and the 10 wolf/dogs up on the table for petting…
…as tame as if they were DOGS, and so they are according to a few internet websites.
I do believe they are much more dog than wolf but…
The guy, Paul Pondella, who started this project with the wolf/dogs and gets some pants-on-fire from the internet.
My favorite part was when he’d have little kids put a piece of kielbasa between their teeth for a wolf/dog to take from them with their wolf/dog mouths. No problem.
Lilly and Rome up for the last photo-op of the day!
Then we all had lunch at The Historic Rock Inn which was a total kick.
August 8
Sharon and I went to Tongva Park today – a walk we enjoy that passes by Santa Monica City Hall and the water lilies were lookin’ good.
A very long distance view from one of the Tongva bridges.
Then we ate early lunch at the crepes place and I ate late dinner at the Monday Potluck dinner where dessert was chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. The chocolate cake was So Delicious I couldn’t stop eating it. SIGH!
August 7
A little corner of preparation for Trevor’s Big Five OHH surprise birthday party that Lona has been working on so diligently and that turned out so wonderfully well.
A group of old friends from all his school years and relatives too gathered in celebration of TREVOR.
I have pictures of all the attendees and many scenes from the event (my assignment!), maybe I’ll make a separate chapter…to save you, but hey, here’s ME and The GIRLS!
Thank you Angela!
ak.
August 5
It’s called Our Little Sister in English and I saw it with Lynn and it was really good, charming, sweet, delightful, and highlighting all the aspects I appreciate most about Japan.
Then Carl along with Lynn’s cousins joined us for a Japanese dinner. Omoshiroi!
August 4
I had dinner with Bill today. Here he is in his happy place with his Sun and Moon and Stars, sweet little Addie Rose!
I had a good outing with the Brown clan too but no photos so in a couple of weeks…it didn’t happen, like all the other this-and-that without a photo.
August 3
Kickin’ it with the neighbors for afternoon fun…
Finley, Roxi, Lilly, Avery, Rome
…and an evening at the picture show!
Pauli, Lauretta, Zander, Lola, Roxi, Lilly, Rome, Angela, me
August 2
I got my TSA-Pre/Global Entry certification today. It was so crazy easy, the biggest effort being getting in and out of the airport for the interview. Anyone who flies much might as well pony up. For me, it’s not the 20 minutes I’ll save maybe 2-3-4 times a year but more that any lessening of airport aggravation is a blessing.
And thanks to Windy for our healthy and happy morning!
August 1
Pauli and I had an downtown outing today. First we wandered around the LA Cathedral, The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
I am always entertained here and this time was no different but I was particularly struck by the monotone which is usually calming and I don’t know why, but today I missed color. The tapestries were as lovely as ever.
The garden behind Disney Hall with so many photo-ops it usually crawling photo sessions even mid-day on a Monday.
We ate a tasty dinner here across from the Broad and we then went to hear Frank Gehry, (age 87 although we both heard him introduced as “90+”), speak in Disney Hall. There was a lot of talk about the LA River which I was particularly interested to hear.
July 30
Sharon’s back patio…nice!
There’s a small tree in the background, in a big pot, the furthest to the right. It’s a kumquat tree full of fruit that you can’t see, and I want one of those trees, and I could have one too if I would just go get it.
July 29
Muriel brought me this pomelo from the farmer’s market today. We had a lovely visit and then I had fruit.
I took this picture with my phone as I have been increasingly doing, just snapping away because it’s so easy to take and easy to transfer into the computer with a quick email.
July 28
I went with Nancy and Sharon to see the new Star Trek movie today. It was fun! I’m a fan of the franchise in general and I like this new young cast.
I was wondering what it would be like to see one of these movies or tv shows as your first Star Trek experience, what it would be like not to have a 50 year backstory running in your head.
July 27
We made sushi rolls for dinner! We used the small sheets of nori the kids eat for snack, put some rice on one end and veggies and rolled those babies into delicious sushi roll treats.
And then we enjoyed dessert outside on the lawn.
I haven’t told about the reinstatement of our summer trips to the library. Too fun by twice.
July 26
Alex! Alex is melting off all the layers and layers of old paint on the window trim to reveal actual ridging – I’m so excited!
Rude birthdays card from everyone and our traditional cash-pot of 15 bucks from each! Flowers from Maxine’s bouquet! Thank you One and All!
July 25
It’s the Summer Festival of Birthdays, Ann and Becky and Me, birthday girls wearing our birthday girl crowns – too bad you can’t see mine but it’s so there.
Maxine once again Did it ALL! And thanks to Shirley for the photo.
Maxine, Lourdes Ljubica, Maryanne, Marsha, Alicia, Ann, Becky, Marija, me
July 24
One step forward, two steps back. Turns out part of the reason the shutters are broken is because they don’t have a frame. I must have previously chosen this option because without a frame they take up less window.
So do I go with the frames because all the shutter people I talked to said I should? Or do I get someone to re-make what I already have?
And the FLOORS. I think these pictures have confirmed I am going to have to wait until late September when the darker ones will be available. Look how in the different light the darker ones still look like the original floor but in the brighter light the lighter one looks like it belongs in Copenhagen.
