Cajon Pass - Saturday 4/15/2006

We drove through the Cajon Pass on our way down for an early Easter dinner. I always get excited in places like this. It’s a major and historic pass through the mountains. Many lives funnel through here on any given day and have for a long time.

A toll road was built through this pass in 1961. Old Route 66 went through here. It’s still the shortest way to get from San Diego to Las Vegas (15.) Dozens of trains move through the pass every day. And it’s another impressive part of the San Andreas Fault system.

These bright carnations were on cousin V's coffee table when we arrived there. Cheery!

Scrunchy Sky - Friday 4/14/2006

The weather was confused. The clouds couldn’t decide to bunch together and do anything definitive.

Hmmm

What I learned yesterday was that the Department of Homeland Security wants script approval on any projects that mention it. There’s no legal requirement that a production has to comply, thank goodness.

I feel creepy about posting this, and considered not doing it.

But just the fact that it makes me feel creepy means that it’s important to at least say out loud. Really, most big agencies would like to exercise some spin control regarding how they are portrayed, it’s just that the DHS is spookier than most, to me.

I plan not to learn anything today, as I’m taking the day off.

See more progress on: Take note of the things I learn every day at work, for a month

#16 Cafe BBQ

I love this sign. It’s outside the Halfway House Cafe on Sierra Highway. This cafe has been used in a lot of TV shows and movies for a lot of years, and it still operates as a little roadside diner.

A couple of years ago I made a date with my husband to meet me here for fries and a Coke on the way home from work (it’s on his way, and on mine if I get off the freeway). Just wanted to see what it was like inside. The next night we were watching an old episode of Starsky & Hutch—personal research to find out just how much of a dork I was for having a huge crush on PMG in my teenhood—and they were in the Halfway House Cafe!!

It’s been remodeled since then, but not really improved. It needs to maintain a certain flavor.

There’s an old gas station next door that sometimes shows up on fim, too.

Thanks for trying - Thursday 4/14/2006

Of course, there’s a version of this photo in which I completely cut out the ugly industrial yard at the bottom. But really, what’s interesting about this is that they went to the trouble to put a pretty gorgeous fake palm tree (aka cell phone tower) in such a miserable place.

I’m guessing that there’s some sort of city ordinance in Burbank that led to this juxtiposition. It’s a good impulse.

Your Secret Is Safe

If you went to DePaul University, that is. Unlike most schools, DePaul will not confirm or deny the names of its alumni. Just like the CIA!

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Post Crossing - Wednesday 4/12/2006

I just joined Postcrossing. It’s a free website where you can go and find people to send postcards to. When you send one, you get in line to receive one!

This the first one I sent out. It’s a post card showing the rock deformation along the San Andreas Fault outside of Palmdale. This is about 8 miles from my house. Every time I go to town on the weekend to buy groceries, I cross over from the Pacific to the North American tectonic plate.

This card is going to Australia!

You can try it, too: www.postcrossing.com

Candle and Match Box - Tuesday 4/11/2006

I like to light a candle while I write.

I bought this little ceramic container in Oaxaca a couple of years ago, and I use it as a matchbox. The unglazed inside of the lid is a perfect striking service!

Racial Segregation Ended in the U.S. Military in 1948

...when Harry S. Truman issued an executive order to this effect.

I learned this because I was trying to find a source for the following quote:

“One of the surest ways to break down the morale of the Army and to destroy it’s efficiency” [is to integrate the races.]. Which shows up in a few places on the Internet and is attributed to a presumably former New York Times editor.

It usually shows up in comparison with this quote, regarding allowing gay servicement to serve openly: “I cannot think of a better way to destroy fighting spirit and gut U.S. combat effectiveness,” which is attributed to David Hackworth.

Verrry interesting.

I’m not sure if either of these attributions is correct, because there’s so little info on them, but they were compiled by David Ari Bianco in his “Echoes of Prejudice.”

Photo from the Internet: Vietnam War Memorial

See more progress on: Take note of the things I learn every day at work, for a month

Weekend Project - Bathroom Sink Replacement

I don't know why I am compelled to document this, but I am, so here it is.

We've wanted to replace this sink ever since we moved into the house. But it took a while to build up the courage to actually do it! Plumbing was involved!

Ours is a manufactured home, and the bathroom sinks are made of plastic or fiberglass. The one everyone sees when they come to the house was stained. I'm not ashamed of living in a manufactured home. It's very nice and it has great views. But I really was embarrassed that the sink didn't look clean.

Finally last weekend we decided to at least change out the fixtures. Here's the before photo:



Sorry to have to subject you to this. You see what I mean.

Remember, we were only going to replace the fixtures. But when we got to the point where we were unhooking the drain pipe, it just wouldn't budge. We couldn't even see how it had been put together in the first place.

The always inventive D got out the hacksaw and sawed off the pipe beneath the drain!

It was only after this that we looked closely at the replacement faucet we'd bought and realized it wouldn't work with our sink! Most sinks have this handy overflow feature and nice looking fixtures are made to work with these. The fixture has big holes in it that with our old sink would allow water to flow freely into the cabinet underneath. Grr.

Midway through the process, we can't just put things back because the pipe is sawed in two. It was 7:30 on Sunday night when we finally gave up in some disgust and left the sink basically like this.

But we were hot on the trail again early Saturday morning. After breakfast out, we went and picked out a new sink, using all sorts of measurments to try and predict whether the replacement would cover the hole in the top of the cabinet.

Back at the ranch, we slide the new sink in and--no, indeed--it does not completely fill the hole. So much for an oval sink.

Another trip to Lowe's in Palmdale, 12 miles away. We finally settle on a square sink. But of course the holes for the faucet are different than the replacement faucet we have at home. Sigh. The new sink and faucet cost considerably more than we'd planned on, but they are a big improvement.

D cuts the hole a little larger and voila! It works! We actually even decide we like it. In go the faucet connections, in goes the sink. We caulk. We find the leeks and tighten them. We get a little obsessed with making the Hot and Cold faucent handles line up properly.

I guess we spent about 16 hours on this project all together. Some heated discussions, yes. Frustration, yes. But all in all, I very much enjoy working on things like this with D. And we have the satisfaction not only of having it done, but of having a nice clean sink and a faucet we really like.

All we need to do now is replace the cabinet handles with brushed nickle to match the tub fixtures, towel racks, shower curtain rod, and lighting fixture we've put in since we've moved there.

The E.R.A. was first introduced to Congress in 1923.

Alice Paul (1885-1977), who was instrumental in the passage of the 19th Amendment—which gave women the right to vote in the U.S.—introduced the Equal Rights Amendment to Congress in 1923.

Hmm. Maybe I knew this at some point, but I think of it as a 1970s sort of battle. It was ratified by 35 of the 38 necessary states, but has not been passed to this day.

It was called the Lucretia Mott Amendment and it very simply reads:

Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

Pretty scary stuff.

See more progress on: Take note of the things I learn every day at work, for a month

Hatchling - Monday 4/10/2006

There’s a little chick nestled in the hen’s feathers.

(This one’s for Frannie Girl.)

See more progress on: Take a photo every day

Sunshine On Geraniums Makes Me Happy... Sunday 4/9/2006

Yes, this line is, as you may have suspected, from the first draft of the John Denver song. Just goes to show you how important the rewriting process is.

See more progress on: Take a photo every day

Sent Packing - Saturday 4/8/2006

This dieffenbachia is nice looking. I rescued it a few years ago when the office across from ours at work moved to a different building. It wasn’t doing well.

But it’s gotten big enough now, that it’s become tempting to Dodger and Rocky. Rocky landed in it a few weeks ago, and I caught Dodger trying to nip at it yesterday. That’s it. It’s known to be toxic to pet birds. It’s outta here.

We’ve found a good way to get rid of things is to set them next to the road with a sign, especially on a Saturday. By the time we got back from running our errands, our little problem tree was off to another home. Whew.

Bean Cleaning

I keep saying that one of the things I like about my job is that I learn something everyday. I think it's true, but I've decided to keep a log of these fabulous tidbits for a month just to see what sort of stuff is actually accumulating in my brain. A lot of it is really esoteric.

Like today’s thing: there is an SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) code for the business of “bean cleaning.” Which means there must be enough bean cleaners out there to make a difference in the business world. They’re listed under the general classification of “crop preparation services for market, except for cotton ginning.”

Not the sort of thing I plan to drop into casual conversation any time soon, but something I know today that I did not know yesterday. And which will probably come to mind along with the codes for “eating places” and “drinking places,” which I probably use dozens of times a week in coming up with fictional restaurant names.

I wonder, are there kids out there pining to one day become bean cleaners? Are you, perhaps, contemplating tossing in the towel of your complicated profession and even now considering the simple pleasures of bean cleaning?

[photo from the Internet]

Pink Shirt - Friday 4/7/2006

This pink silk woman’s shirt was lying on the grassy strip between the sidewalk and Riverside Drive this morning as I walked to work from the shuttle stop. People might park here to go to the copy shop, the travel agent, the beauty salon, the acting studio, or the coffee house.

I can think of a lot of stories to go with this. How about you?

Back to Work - Thursday 4/6/2006

Sorry. Not too inspired. Still under the weather. Working all day contributed to neither my health nor my creativity.

Leaving Newhall Station on the way home.

Sick Day #2 - Wednesday 4/5/2006

I got up and made myself some soup. I was actually conscious enough to watch old movies on TCM.

These are the plants that are taking refuge in the master bathroom bathtub. We’re still having frost, so they’re not getting out to the porch again for another week or two.

Sick Day - Tuesday 4/4/2006

This was my view most of Tuesday. So very very ill with a nasty head and chest cold.

House Finch - Monday 4/3/2006

Admittedly, this photo is more about the scene effects than it is about the bird. I was beginning to come down with a cold.

This feeder hangs on the garage wall outside our kitchen window.

Bird In A Box - Sunday 4/2/2006

Dodger likes to play inside old wine boxes. They have enough room that we can put his big toys inside, so he has to push and pull them out.

He loves the blue plastic elephant watering can that he stole from me.

Hiking for Breakfast - Saturday 4/1/2006

No fooling!

We went to see Lily Tomlin at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center Friday night. Our friends, T & M came up for the event. The show was a lot of fun. Tomlin’s very personable and, of course, funny.

Saturday monrning, we hiked over the hill to get breakfast at Crazy Otto’s. This is M trying to get out of the picture. Too late!

I Know Why The Uncaged Bird Sings - Friday 3/31/2006

Because he's gorgeous and blue and he has figured out how to use his new swing. And his feet match the swing! And his favorite ball is right here!

What's not to sing about?

Everyone, this is Rocky.

Rocky, this is everyone.

Workin' At The Car Wash - Thursday 3/30/2006

Car wash, baby.

Are you singing along with me?

Her Carts - Wednesday 3/29/20066

There's a woman who lives on the streets of Toluca Lake, and she leaves these carts in a different place every night. I don't see her very often. I don't know where she sleeps.

This is her stuff.

Still Life Through Antenna - Tuesday 3/28/2006

Clearly, I spend too much time at my desk.

See more progress on: Take a photo every day

Clever Window Dressing - Monday 3/27/2006

Went with coworker T to feed coworker MS’s cats while she’s out of town. I like the way she just draped old-fashioned fruit print dishtowels over a rod for curtains in her kitchen nook.

See more progress on: Take a photo every day

Pattern Revealed Sunday 3/26/2006

I cut back the papyrus we grow in a big barrel in the back yard. Can you see the pattern of growth? Like a big spiral.

D and I both love the idea of having such an ancient and meaningful plant in our yard, and the barrel solved the problem of it’s being a water-craving plant in the high desert. I wonder if I could figure out how to make my own paper from it?

See more progress on: Take a photo every day

Dog Rescue - Saturday 3/25/2006 bonus #2

We were driving home after running errands and this dog was running in the middle of a busy road. A car had stopped ahead of us and seemed to have almost hit him, but they weren’t getting out. We stopped maybe 100 feet behind them and got out and wrangled this poor little dog. Another guy stopped his car in the next lane, giving us more room to work.

The dog was really wigged out and bared his teeth at us a little. D wrapped him in my denim shirt and I got some heavy gloves out of the back of the Tahoe because being bitten would just really complicate things. But I was finally able to pick him up and get him in the back seat of the SUV and he was fine after that.

He was very sweet and let me pet him while we drove the 15 or so miles to Animal Control. He’d lie down for a bit, then get back up to be in reach of my hand. I carried him into Animal Control, then we took pix to post near where we found him.

The woman who checked him in assured me that I could call to see if he was okay. We can’t have a dog becuase of the birds, but I don’t want to have ended this creature’s life. She said this one will have no trouble. He seems like the kind of dog some one will be looking for or would choose to take home.

See more progress on: Take a photo every day

Aliso Canyon Bridge - Saturday 3/25/2006

The cool looking old bridge on Aliso Canyon burned down almost two years ago. D noticed that the closed sign had been removed so we drove up there. Very exciting. This means we can get up to the snow line in about 10 minutes, and take visitors up there to look back at Acton from high above, rather than go the long way (about 25 minutes).

See more progress on: Take a photo every day

Ambitious vine Friday 3/24/2006 - bonus

It has places to go, people to see.

Buyer Beware Friday 3/24/2006

This is not the Holiday Lodge.

This is the Holiday Lodge sign and the building next to it. The Holiday Lodge is a somewhat shabby two-story white-and-aqua motel.

But as I was walking down the street this morning looking for today’s picture, I thought of my friend G’s oft-repeated story of booking a hotel on the Internet only to find out that the photo had been very carefully and flatteringly set up.

Probably a comparison shot of the real hotel would be interesting, here, huh?

Igloo Cafe

They serve something called Carbo-Lite. No carbs. No calories. Apparently, it’s whipped plastic.

I don’t mock. I have eaten it and I know where of I speak.

Giant Bunny Head!!! Thursday 3/23/2006

I can’t express how happy it made me to see this giant bunny head on the counter of the dry cleaners’ across from my office.

Will it be a Donny Darko kind of day?

It's the berries! Wednesday 3/22/2006

Berries on the Heavenly Bamboo plant outside the door of the building I work in.

Raspberry Mousse - Tuesday 3/21/2006

Before.

From Portos Bakery in Burbank. This little number has a thin layer of cake on the bottom, with a layer of chocolate mousse, topped by a layer of raspberry mousse, overlaid with a tart raspberry gelatin, wrapped in a thin sheath of white chocolate onto which the design was stamped. (With a chocolate curl and a leaf on top...half of the chocolate curl was gone before I thought to take the picture.)

I went there to get a Cuban cake for a celebration in my writing group tonight. One of our members is quitting her 9-to-5 to write for at least a year! So we’re feting her tonight.

Now anyone in my writing group who reads this will see that I had raspberry mousse on the same day that I shared in the Cuban cake with custard and pineapple in the middle, soaked in rum, with buttercream frosting.

Or maybe they will know from the size of my behind as I sidle through the door tonight.

Is it kind of pathetic that the most I have written on my blog in a week is about a dessert?

Moony for Luna - Monday 3/20/2006

Our office manager’s new puppy came for a visit!

Luna is a chi-poodle. We think they’re lucky she’s not being called a poo-huahua.

It was hard to get a good shot, because she’s so wiggly! (Um, Luna, not the office manager.)

Someone Else's Mountain - Sunday 3/19/2006

It was just gorgeous off and on all weekend. The campground we went to is nestled in the middle of orange groves, and it smelled just fabulous…especially went we arrived and when we were on our way home. Clean rain-scrubbed air overlaid with delicate orange blossom scent. Wow.

It was a good weekend. Sat around campfires from about 8pm-12:30 Saturday night/Sunday morning singing and harmonizing with friends. Good stuff.

Ram's Head - Saturday 3/18/2006

The woman who runs the campground we went to pointed this ram’s head out to me. She met her husband under this tree 20-something years ago!

Industriousness - Friday 3/17/2006

The gopher went right through the railroad ties at our campsite!

Good to go - Thursday 3/16/2006

As soon as I got out his travel cage, Dodger was ready to go. He likes car trips. He seems to even like camping in our trailer. Better than being left behind at home or in a boarding place!

It's his 13th birthday. He's just a kid, though. African Greys are expected to live 40-60 years.

Palm Tree Wednesday 3/15/2006

Thank goodness for the palm trees at the Burbank Metrolink station. I had SUCH a stressful day yesterday getting ready for a four-day weekend.

Took the early train (leaves Acton at 4:20) am and caught a later one than usual home (arrives Acton 6:30). I had to RUN to the shuttle stop and if I hadn’t I would have missed it.

So it was wonderful to tilt my head back and see this beauty above me while I waited for the train. Sigh.

I did manage to write on the train both coming and going. So, ultimately, I win!

Workload du Jour Tuesday 3/14/2006

You understand now why I’m stressed and sleepless?

See more progress on: Take a photo every day

Onion From Another Planet - Monday 3/13/2006

I swear it didn’t look anything like this when I bought it!

Development - Sunday 3/12/2006

It just breaks my heart, the way they are cutting down the mountains along the 14 freeway between where I live and the San Fernando Valley. This area looks nothing like it did before the earthmovers arrived.

Maybe the worst part about it is that when I look at the beautiful mountains surrounding my home, I can see how they could be destroyed and overpopulated. I just try to appreciate what I have right now.