I’m am going to be SEVENTY YEARS OLD in 2017. SEVENTY.
May 7
I didn’t leave the house, I didn’t even change out of my jammies, but I did work on my Australia trip and I’m happy now with the whole itinerary and almost all the accommodations are set.
Now it’s just how much pre-arranging do I want to do for activities. For example there was one tour to a National Park I was particularly interested in that only runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays – good thing I looked it up!
Then I went to Marsha and Tom’s for a scrumptious pot roast dinner and to hear about Marsha and Kelly’s trip to NYNY. Wow, they had Such a time!
May 5
Windy and I had a nice walk down the meridian of San Vicente Blvd. in Santa Monica most well known for runners and giant trees whose giant root systems create an obstacle course for said runners.
We walked carefully!
(internet pic)
May 6
Louise put together a gathering of the old ‘hood. This is Louise and Lucy from across the street in Cheryl’s amazing room of seasonal collections…
Hail hail…Louise, Bill, Marija, Lucy’s mom, Lucy, Ljubica, Cheryl, Linda
The next day I went with Bonnie to the James Baldwin movie, I Am Not Your Negro, and I am very glad to have seen it.
I especially appreciated being reminded of James Baldwin’s world view and his contributions to a turbulent era. And I was again reminded that I am not a good sympathizer and I do not understand people.
((I still have two days to do from Kauai!))
May 2-4
On the way home from Kauai I didn’t take the direct flight because at the time I made the booking it was significantly more expensive than the connection through Honolulu.
So I did the connection and in Honolulu the flight to LA was overbooked. They were trying to buy people off to take the red-eye. I told them I’d let them buy me off if I could stay the night. They said cool. I called the Browns and then said Sold!
It worked out so well for me since I got to visit with Trevor, Beth, Charis, and Janice for the afternoon-evening-morning, and I got back at my expected time, just a day later.
The coffee table is off to a refinisher and my fingers are SO crossed for a satisfying outcome.
We had a girl train walking home so they could practice their Talent Show routine. One of the moms is a dance teacher and I had a blast watching it all happen.
In the evening we went to the Talent Show run through for timing, music, entrances, etc. That’s Rome up front of her team.
Finishing off some miscellanea from March. The first few days of April will come later, with May, because I’m in Kauai now.
The other one didn’t make it but this guy said “Termite poisoning? I scoff at termite poisoning.”
The Dentist. I’ve got a temporary crown to get me through the trip in Kauai. No Red Hots for me.
…and then we ate at the newly reopened Clifton’s Cafeteria. It really wasn’t very good and it wasn’t even retro-fun.
I’m very glad we went there because it’s been on my mind to check it out. The food wasn’t fun and the location is several blocks and many years away from the tentacles of gentrification that are sucking up the surrounding downtown.
March 30
I met Burt at the Cathedral this morning for a good afternoon of photophoto, a walk-about, and Food.
Catch the reflection of the Cathedral in the ball and the etched angels in the background at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
…and then we went to get the girls at school. Thanks for the lovely afternoon Pauli!
…and the dining room.
The bedroom still has paper taped to the panes…but progress!
March 28
After doing our business in Hesperia we spent the night in Barstow and the next morning hurried on up to Calico Ghost Town in Yermo.
It’s the Colonial Williamsburg of ghost towns though – basically, shopping, but we had a Lot of fun.
We think it was all rebuilt and Knott of Knott’s Berry Farm was involved at some point.
The town is set here at the home of the Maggie Mine, the area being once home to over fifty very active silver mines.
We read a most interesting geological description of this…
…and this. But I forgot!
What I do remember is that when the original miners came here they were thinking about a name for the town and one of the fellows remarked that the hills were ‘as pretty as a pretty lady’s calico dress’.
It was just the two of us, before the HORDES of children appeared, so we got the personal attentions of this grisly ol’ guy…
…for a tour of the house where water runs up hill. You’ve probably seen it before but despite that you might still get a little dizzy. We did!
Sherriff, Sherriff I called out. Will you have a picture with my sister?!
“Why sure maam it would be my pleasure.
…tons of these guys out of metal. The guys at the place told me what they were made of but I’ve forgotten already.
March 27
Windy and I made an over-nighter out to Hesperia to see the property in the Mojave desert that our father bought 60 years ago to make a killing in real estate.
More on that after we have a little look at a fantastic roadside attraction.
Our across the street neighbor.
There were houses on every plot on our side of the street so that was a surprise too. Not a killing I should add, very far from it, but still it’s a reminder that dreams can have a long life.
March 24
It’s broken, you can’t tell. What you can tell is that it’s in pretty desperate need of refinishing since it spent decades surviving a rough and well-used life.
Also it was made by my children’s great-grandfather and their children’s great-great-grandfather. (I hope I’ve got that right!)
March 22
The older girls were over to work on their talent show routine and the younger girls were the roadies handling the music, logistics, and hurrahs.
March 25
Whenever I go to The Grove I hope to remember to get this shot of downtown.
Burt was the first and by very very faaar and away the best speaker. He wrote such a tender, loving, truthful, and hysterically funny story of his and his brother’s relationship. And the crowd went wild.
March 26
Burt’s brother Barry passed away recently and the family held this beautiful memorial in his honor.
There were several of these photo boards available for the guests as we entered the venue.
March 20
It was Lona’s birthday last week and what she wanted was for her sisters to take her on a quick little Road Trip. Hartley’s not so up for a road trip these days and Lona wanted to drive drive drive.
We decided to go to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Park, 1 1/2 hours north. Here’s a stop at an LADWP pumping station.
We decided to go anyway even though it was cold and windy and rain was in the forecast.
But like magic it didn’t rain on us but started raining exactly as we drove away.
And the walking trails were totally fabulous. We could have gone on for miles more but we had a short-ish day and couldn’t take the longer loops.
The poppies were all tucked up tight because of the cold, wind, and impending rain but…
…fantastic anyway.
Go for it, it should be just getting better for the next many weeks! Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Park, 1 1/2 – 2 hours north from Santa Monica, $9 parking.
March 19
I drove up to Santa Barbara today for a visit at Michi’s and Nancy joined us for lunch.
Michi is my ukulele idol and I’m getting new strings just like hers.
March 15
Lilly had to do a softball make-up picture today. They do the regular bat on the shoulder shot and then if you want them to photoshop the kid into the team picture they take a standing shot and a kneeling one over in the same area where they shoot the teams. Clever.
March 18
Happy Birthday Uncle Dev! Liz treated us all to see the Lego Batman movie.
I liked the first Lego movie a lot for being witty and charming although I don’t remember the story. This story was right out of My Little Pony but still witty and charming.
March 16
It was March Madness: The Miserable Mailing that I do for Lona every year. This year I worked for a few hours and turned all the rest of it over to Lona’s assistant Cindi. WOW, that was easy!
Pictures from Kat. She’s passing through on her way home from Thailand and India back to South Carolina.
Bill, Kat, Ann
kl.
March 10
Windy and I went down to City Hall to get the Senior Beach Parking Permit but we both failed because I didn’t notice that we had to bring our car registration. ACK!
It was nice anyway and here’s City Hall reflected…
We had lunch at Chez Jay, established in the very building it still occupies having been established in 1959. Such prime real estate it’s hard to imagine that this little dive bar is still as it was.
March 11
What FUN! I went to a House Concert which is when they have a concert in someone’s house. It was AWESOME thanks to Richard again for knowing the what’s what in music.
Sorry, the picture really doesn’t do them justice.
Here we are in Colman Dekay’s home in mid-city to hear…
…Paul Sanchez, who wiki calls a New Orleans Troubadour and he’s wonderful. He also has Wonderful friends…
(internet pix)
…including members of Vaud and the Villains. That’s the same trumpet and trombone players and those two guys were fantastic and teeth achingly adorable with Hollywood smiles to…Beat the Band.
(internet pix)
In the house of the house concert, an Elvis lamp, you know you want one. There were maybe 50 people in attendance and you were supposed to donate $20.
Food and beverage was piled high for your enjoyment.
March 9
The pillow likes the chair and it likes the couch so I went looking for a rug that liked the pillow…
Lilly and I did a homework assignment that included going for a walk and playing in the park. Good assignment!
March 5
Lill and I walked up early, before the trams had disgorged their contents. Wow, it was fun.
The not-so-secret fountain that I always introduce as The Secret Fountain is in full bubble as well as all the other fountains, all spouting and bubbling and shimmering and reflecting and Happy.
