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?