There and Therer - Tuesday 5/5/2009

Aah, too bad I don't have time to have breakfast on Braveheart's patio. It's a beautiful morning.


The view from her front porch...it's even more lovely in the evening. Her house is on the market. Sigh. Anyone want to buy a nice house in L.A.?


One of my other favorite buildings in L.A. This is on the corner of Hollywood and Highland, and you've seen it from other angles, if you've read this blog very long.


Hmm. So it used to be a bank building. Now there are vacant store front spaces available for rent.

Afternoon in the Arroyo Seco - Wednesday 3/25/2009

We'll get there. But first, have a look at these bronze baby shoes that Braveheart gave Tomasina this afternoon.

Braveheart's getting rid of a lot of the lovely things that have been a part of her home, because she's planning to move with The Doc to New York City in a few months. We're having a special writing group meeting tonight complete with a walk, hamburgers, fries, and mango mousse cakes from Porto's in celebration of Braveheart finishing up her coursework on the path to becoming a therapist.

She's going to be great at it.

But we're going to miss her terribly.

I think she should seriously weigh the psychic damage she's going to do to Tomasina and I against the helping a load of stressed out New Yorkers.


We started our walk at a different place from the last time I came here with Tomasina. Isn't this a cool table? It has a chess board inlayed on the top.

There was a fierce woman nearby practicing archery. I would have taken her picture but, as I say...she was fierce.

Big trail, little dog.

Once again, Bisquit sets a example. She's losing her sight, but she trots right along.




Braveheart and Tomasina wait for me while I snap some photos of this Ireland-worthy wall. There are no better friends than those who will say, as Tomasina did tonight, "Don't forget your camera!" when you're headed out for a hike.

Except maybe those who say, "Don't forget your notebook."


This is the portion of the Arroyo Seco where Tory the rescued chocolate lab was frolicking a few minutes ago. He doesn't like cameras, though, so he skedaddled out of the shot.


Tomasina points out the place where she saw the aftermath of a successful suicide a few weeks ago. She speculates that they can get around the barriers by climbing around the lamp post. Very sobering.



On the way back, Bisquit at lasts condescends to allow Braveheart to carry her for a while.

Just to make Braveheart feel useful, mind you.


If you invite me to your house enough times, I will eventually feel comfortable enough to start taking pictures. I love the things people treasure or find interesting.

The champagne top is from the bottle I just opened on the deck, because I'd left it in the fridge and there was some concern about a possible explosion. I must tell you, that I eased the cork out with utmost calm. All that spilled over the lip was a faint trail of champagne-scented mist.

If there's one thing Sundry is good at, it's opening champagne.

But that's another story.

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood - Monday 3/9/2009

They've restored the sign at Papoo's Hot Dog Show. Yay!

It's a gorgeous day. Sunny and cool. Perfect for walking during breaks.



Down the street at Trader Joe's it looks like a European market. Wow.



Later, at Braveheart's, I attempt to capture the drool of ecstasy on Jimmy's face. Didn't really capture it, darn it.


Settling in for the night in the guest bed. Braveheart has a keen sense of style and decor, but I wouldn't advise letting your kid spend the night in here.


Seriously.

Across Town - Monday 2/23/3009

The other building at the corner of Hollywood & Highland. It has gargoyles.

I have to make a special trip to get good shots of those. Maybe with the right lens, from the balcony of the shopping mall across the street. These photos were all taken with my Samsung cell phone camera.

The Academy Awards show was done about a half a block from here last night.


Barrels of olives at Monsieur Marcel, Farmer's Market at 3rd & Fairfax.


Samples of the teas I bought at the tea shop in the Farmer's Market, on Braveheart's windowsill. I'm leaving them for The Doc to try. A Keemun, a Yunnan and a Lapsong Suchong.


Hanging out in the kitchen while Braveheart takes The Doc to the airport under sad circumstances. After years of staying here after our bi-weekly writer's group meetings, I am very comfortable.

As you can see.

Prelude to a Bliss - Monday 12/22/2008

I went to Tomasina's house before our writing group's Christmas celebration and walked with her and her dogs in Arroyo Seco near her house. She tells me that California plein-air artists have been painting here for years.

And they still are! Check out the work of Paul Chamberlain and others here.


This is Biscuit the wire-haired Dachshund. She toddles along behind while Tory the rescued chocolate lab surges forward. But when tomasina offers to pick her up, the fifteen-year-old scampers along like a pup.

"Uh-uh. You're not carrying me. I can do it!"


The hillside is insanely green after the recent rains.



Tory would like to be immortalized in a plein air painting, but all I have with me is this Nikon D80.


Biscuit finally allows Tomasina the pleasure of escorting her along part of the trail. I got to carry her a little, too. She's a sweet dog, even if she is a little opinionated.

We met up with Braveheart at Tomasina's nearby home, and then went to Burke-Williams where Tomasina treated us to relaxation massages! We enjoyed the steam room and whirlpool prior to the massages. I was barely able to walk after my rub down. It really gets me out of my head.

We picked up Thai food from the fabulous Saladang on the way home. Chili beef, yellow curry chicken, green curry eggplant, pad Thai and Thai BBQ chicken. Yum. We know how to order a mean meal.

Back at T's place, we enjoyed the meal, exchanged gifts, I read a little of something I'm working on, and we made commitments for 2009.

Lucky us!

Me Too, Lulu - Monday 11/24/2008

Lulu relaxes on the couch after monitoring the writing group--she's a herder by nature and she keeps us in line--and a late night toddle around the block.

Whew. It was a good night and I'm glad to stay the night in Braveheart's artsy home, but I feel like I've been on the road for a month at this point.

How to Read in Bed - Monday 8/4/2008

I had a rough day at work on Monday. Eleven hours straight--except for walking to El Torito to pick up a salad--with clients questioning all kinds of things and me having to explain to them how and why I do my job the way I do. Aaagh.

Tomasina had kindly offered to pick up Thai food and a banana meringue pie for Braveheart's writing group birthday dinner, so when I got there, I just enjoyed myself. We dished up curry and egglpant and beef and pad thai and checked in. We wrote a little from a prompt. I read them some of my current project. We had pie. Braveheart opened presents.

Where was my camera in all of this? Mostly in my back pack.

After calling Hydra from Braveheart's lovely front patio, I was happy to roll into bed with a book that's destined to be a favorite (So Brave, Young and Handsome by Leif Enger.)

Do you like my book light?

If you get one like this, you can play War of the Worlds with your sweetie.

Sneaking Out - Tuesday 7/22/2008

Stone steps outside Braveheart's house.



There is so much unexpected beauty in the world.

Sometimes it just stops me in my tracks.


The stone dove checks me out.

Come Git Yer Coffee! - Tuesday 7/8/2008

Dang, this photo's blurry.

Maybe it's because we haven't drunk the coffee yet.

Gift from Braveheart from her trip to Iowa. There's also a Paw mug for Hydra!

I love the vintage stuff. I love coffee cups and tea cups and glassware. It's stupid, but I do. I do!

Writing Group - Monday 7/7/2008

Writing group meeting last night was as perfect as this vase of flowers on Braveheart's dining room table. It was so good to be in Tomasina and Braveheart's company again after a three-week hiatus.

We each read for about 20 minutes. We like each other's work, and we agree that we all have good taste. Their respect helps me take myself more seriously.

I'm so lucky!

I stepped barefoot onto the wide steps leading from the dining room to the patio. Cool air moved across the the yard to me, but the stone beneath my feet retained the sun's heat. It was the perfect Mediterranean moment.



Jimmy agreed, wriggling seductively in front of me till I stooped and scratched his belly. Braveheart only suspects the depths of our affection for one another...

Sneaking Out - Tuesday 6/17/2008

Wow, now it's light when I leave Braveheart's house the morning after the writing group.


I guess these are trumpet vines.


So gorgeous.


It almost doesn't look real.

More of Braveheart's Stuff - Wednesday 5/14/2008

The Doc's dog, Lulu, is all worn out after a flea treatment. Even royalty tires of its luxuries sometimes.



In my defense, this glass is commenting on whiskey. I drank wine from it, so that's a modest serving.

So glad Braveheart doesn't mind my taking photos of the cool stuff in her house. I love her aesthetic.





Light falling across the vintage tablecloth on the kitchen table.



It's Jimmy's world, the rest of us just live in it.



Later in the evening, Braveheart hosted a very interesting and well-attended event at A Different Light Bookstore. The discussion, based on readings from Leash by Jane DeLynn, Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde, and Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson, was really successful. People were standing around talking after we packed up the wine and cheese and went next door to a little bar to celebrate.

Great evening. Braveheart's friends are as cool as her decor.

Daylight - Tuesday 5/6/2008

I set my alarm for 6:00 a.m. (heaven on a weekday for the likes of me) but woke up at 5:40 and went ahead and got ready. It was already light by the time I left Braveheart's house.




Braveheart roses.



Yeah, okay, I walked around the front yard a bit on my way out.

Squeak! - Tuesday 4/8/2008

Even the cats have it good at Bravehart's house. Cute kitty pillow, huh?

Sleepy Little Piggy - Tuesday 3/11/2008

This was me at 5:08 this morning when Mom called.

Usually I call her while I commute to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting around 4:30 a.m. It should be safe for her to call and leave a message on my cell phone, which I would leave off if I were staying home sick or otherwise sleeping in. But I forgot to shut it off when I turned in at Braveheart's house last night.

While she was off gallivanting around the state of Oaxaca, Mexico for two months, my writing group meetings changed from Tuesday nights to Monday nights. I forgot to tell her I'd be calling later.

Surprises continued this morning when, after showering, I toweled off and was wiping down the inside of the stall. All's well until I knocked the handle with my hand and sprayed myself in the forehead with a blast of water.

I couldn't stop giggling. It's nice when one has this spontaneous response rather than anger, but I think it was compounded by the fact that I was trying to get out of the house without waking up Braveheart and the Doc.

No one yelled at me to shut up. Maybe I made it!

Oh, and. Before I forget....

In the spirit of full disclosure--not wishing to follow in the heavy footsteps of Margaret Seltzer or other faux memorists--this is not actually me.

This is a stand in. I noticed her nestled in a pot of Jade plant on Braveheart's front porch as I snuck out this morning.

Whew. I feel so much better for having admitted that.

I'm not going to engage in a whole rant here about how aggravated it makes me that writers who could be good novelists have trashed their careers because they and so much of the reading public seem to think that memoir is somehow more valid than literary fiction.

Good News Arrives with the Soap - Tuesday 2/12/2008

Good news! The strike is over and we're ready for a clean start.

Sort of ready. It's unclear how things will unfold at work. Will we be inundated with scripts? Will they trickle in? Which shows will continue and which will fold either for the rest of the season or forever?

We are pretty certain that the CSIs will be back. I work on CSI: Miami. But rumor has it that Bionic Woman is down for the count. And shows whose episodes are not so self-contained, that have a 22 to 24-episode plot arc (like, say, Desperate Housewives) will have to decide whether they can do the same in an abbreviated number of episodes or if they will wait until fall to continue.

I think most of us at work have mixed feelings. We're glad it's over and glad that the business remained viable. But also a little sad to see the end of our days of personal freedom and low stress.

Now the goal will be to not become completely stressed out.

In honor of the passing of Roy Scheider (1932-2008), please enjoy a 30-second reenactment of Jaws performed by bunnies. [Thanks for the tip, Toronto!]

The clown lives above Braveheart's kitchen sink. I stayed over after last night's much-needed writing group meeting. We wrote together. There's little that satisfies more than delighting people you respect, and we all did that for each other with last night's timed writing.

It's a Wonder I Can Sleep at All - Monday 1/7/2008

I took a lot of photos yesterday and I thought that several of them would be the photo of the day. But then when I looked back at them, I noticed that the day took a dark turn.

When? After dark.

Mannequins in waiting, Washington Boulevard.



Just one of the decorations in Braveheart's office cum guest room.



Another guest room denizen.

Make yourself right at home.

Braveheart's always talking about dreams and how important they are. I wonder, is she trying to influence mine?