No Animals Were Hurt During the Destruction of this Bowl - Monday 1/14/2008

No humans, either.

Dang it! I use this bowl almost every day to heat up our pampered birds' dinner.



I blame Barnes & Noble Cafe and their fine, fine handling of Starbuck's coffees, which led me to imagine that the bittersweet cup from which I drank was merely a taste treat and not an invitation to Lost Weekendesque jitters.

This is what the B&N Cafe looks like, by the way, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon on a Monday in January. Quiet. Except for the distant sound of scratching brought on by the dry winter air.


Is this Espresso Number 1, Espresso Number 2, or Espresso Number 3?

I defy even the lovely Carol Merrill to tell the difference after three of these babies.

The Photo Idea Index resting on the table here turned out to be a really cool browse. When the strike's over maybe I'll come back and purchase it.

Cool Thing
Thanks to Braveheart for forwarding this link to a funny, funny blog entry over at List of the Day.

Westside, Eastside, All Around the Town... - Sunday 1/13/2008

Ah, those Westside sophisticates. A bright and lively bunch.

But judging by this sign inside the unisex bathroom at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on the corner of Pico and Midvale, the management must have found some of them to be--shall we say?--lacking in mechanical skills.

Traffic was so good that I arrived for my lunch date with History and Cowgrrl about 25 minutes early and snagged a little coffee and writing time. Lunch at Jaipur was delicious and the literate conversation was even better.

Traffic remained reasonable and I hit every light green but one on way way towards downtown on Pico. It was a blessed day. Except.

Except that I stopped to get a truly brilliant photo of the Wiltern Theater when I cut over to Wilshire, and discovered that my trusty little Kodak camera was no longer trustworthy. The flash card was full after I took the photo above and the little knob that gives one control over deleting, etc. is fully broken now. It has been loosening up for a few months, but I don't use that camera much.

I was thinking I didn't want my Nikon confiscated at the door of the Murakami exhibit I went to at the Geffen Contemporary; nor did I want to leave it in the trunk of my car which I parked on the street about 6 blocks away (saving me a dollar a block in parking fees!)

Needless to say, for the rest of the day I saw fabulous photos begging to be taken, and me with a broken Kodak in my glove compartment. Sigh.

I love the old buildings in L.A. and stumbled across a very busy market area along 12th Street (due to faulty online directions from The Geffen itself. You turn onto 6th Street off of Flower, you don't wait to see if a 6th Avenue miraculously appears.)



The Murakami exhibit... I liked the three-dimensional pieces a lot better than the works on canvas and board. The latter felt kind of like computer art that someone had taken the time to hand-color. Very much enjoyed the KaiKai & Kiki short film. It was worth the short wait.

I heard a couple of what I presumed to be those West Side sophisticates wandering around complaining about the commercialism and, well, pretty much everything else. I've never thought that art for commercial reasons wasn't still art, myself. And it seems to be working well for Murakami. There was a line to get into the gift shop!

These last two images are from the MOCA website. No photography was allowed inside, but they weren't frisking people for cameras, either.

Made a stop at the Studio City Branch of LAPL on my way home, which is why I say I was all around town today. Good day for it.

When Life Gives You Old Apples, Make Old Apple Sauce - Saturday 1/12/2008

Or old-apple compote, as the case may be.

Then put it in a pretty bowl and photograph it.

It will make you feel as though you have done something constructive with your life, at least for a few minutes.

Just one of those pearls of wisdom that I am apt to throw your way now and again, free of charge.

#6 Atonement (2007)

Loved it, loved it, loved it. I also loved the book. Either they did a great adaptation, or they did one that will please people who read the book.

This is totally my kind of movie. Tragic romance. And an unconventional narrative style.

I would say that if you liked The English Patient you will like this movie.

The score is brilliant. I won’t tell you why, but I think it is. Parts of it reminded me of Gabriel Yared, who scored a couple of Anthony Minghella’s movies (including The English Patient.) I was just wondering if Atonement was directed by Minghella, when he showed up as an actor at the end of the film!

I must know the story behind this. Guess Joe Wright (the actual director) was giving him a nod, at the very least.

Oh, and James McAvoy. Where has he been all my life?

DON'T say it, I know. Growing up. (But only for the last like, half of it. It's just mortifying.)

See more progress on: Keep Track of all the Movies I Watch in 2008

Artbucks - Friday 1/11/2008

Today I decided to read the so-called first draft of the novel I am working on. After a few hours I became very antsy and fled to a Starbucks in Palmdale, where I made this attempt at an artsy sunset shot. (What's going on up there lately?)

I spent another hour and a half letting my coffee go cold (dang, should have brought that tea light with me) and my blood cooled right along with it.

If you write, you have had this day. The one when you can't see for the life of you how you could have spent all this time working on this project that suddenly looks absolutely hollow.

I have a plot, I swear I do. It's in there somewhere, and there's more in my outline--what did I do with that? But it's also a lot of scenery and conversations.

Oh my god, it's like I've turned Death Valley (the setting of the novel) into one gigantic coffee house!

Fluorescent Dawn - 1/10/2008

No kidding, it was this crazy bright over Acton this morning.

If I hadn't stayed in bed so long with Steve Martin this morning I would have missed it.

My friend Diver and I used to watch lots of talk shows. Star-struck from the get-go, in the early seventies we were too young to stay up for the late night cream. We watched the stuff that was on when we got home from school: Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, Dinah Shore (it was fascinating when Burt Reynolds came on and we knew they were lovers!)

We were very into stand up comics and were always predicting who would move up to the Tonight Show (which we did see on weekends.) I remember seeing Steve Martin on the Merv Griffin show, I think, and calling Diver to claim him as one of my rising star predictions. The banjo, the arrow through the head. What the heck was happening!?

His King Tut spoof on Saturday Night Live is still one of the most astonishingly funny things I've ever seen. Everyone was Tut-crazed at the time, and it was perfectly kitchy and fabulous. Diver and I learned all the moves at the youth disco we went to every weekend.

I remember diving for the volume control as we listened to the "Cat Handcuffs" on his Wild and Crazy Guy LP in my bedroom. Stuff like that would get you banished in my house (I'd had to return my 45 of Spiders and Snakes a few years earlier, see.) And I wore out an 8 track tape of one of his albums in the truck I appropriated from my dad to drive to my freshman year of college.

He made it big and then bigger. He was my best call. To be fair, Diver called Jay Leno when she saw him live at a comedy club in Cleveland where she had her first nursing job. So we're even I guess.

So, anyway, you see that this Steve Martin thing is not new or fleeting. And of course, you see that I am just reading Steve's new autobiography Born Standing Up. I can't say the writing is great or that he's revealing anything much about his inner life, but it's interesting to a person who's followed him to understand a little about the philosophy of comedy he developed through his stand up.

Don't pick the book up if you're looking for buckets of laughs. It's about as funny as this post.

Sigh.

Self Indulgence - Wednesday 1/9/2008

I can talk myself into indulging in just about anything if I can convince myself that it will contribute to my writing life.

It keeps my tea hot while I write.

That's very important. Really.

Today in L.A. - Tuesday 1/8/2008

The bowls on display at New Stone Age on Third Street are really lovely.

But seriously, folks? Fifty-five dollars each? This just gives me a stomach ache. Who needs bowls that cost this much?

I window shopped and browsed along the street of brazen dreams for about 45 minutes this morning, waiting for Chado to open, so I could indulge in some good teas. Treated myself to two ounces each of a gold tipped Assam and a nice Darjeeling. A morning and an afternoon tea for my writing day tomorrow.

Overheard at The Cook's Library, regarding a customer's daughter's crush on Jake Gyllenhall: "Have her come in and sit on the couch. He's in here all the time."

"He's a cook?"

"More of a foodie."

Do tell.



Apparently having enough money to buy $50 bowls and $125 stemware doesn't instantly make you tactful. Signs like these were not uncommon.


In the thrift stores along Fairfax in Little Ethiopia, no one feels the need to tell you to mind your manners. Poking around the old stuff made me so happy. I picked up a couple of darling little 3 ounce glasses for fifty cents each.

Then I crossed the street for lunch at Merkato. I have eaten there probably four times and have always ordered the trout because it was recommended by the woman who introduced me to the place. Honestly, this is consistently the best trout ever. Crisp outside, tender and moist inside. And you get to eat it with your hands.

Sundry is one happy day-tripper.


And the beat goes on. On my way home, I had another opportunity to honk for the WGA. A lot's been going on, but none of what I've heard seems to be moving things any closer to a conclusion.

Kind of sad about the Golden Globes being canceled. That awards show always seems like so much fun. If I could get a ticket to an awards show (and a dress--it ain't no good being Cinderella in her home-duds), I'd choose this one... or the Independent Spirit Awards.

Cool Thing: Attention budding filmmakers: United Hollywood is sponsoring its First Annual Short Film Contest, where you can make a statement about issues related to the WGA strike. Paul Haggis, Marti Noxon and Callie Khouri will judge. Come on, you know you wanna!

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?

Being Home Makes Me Want to Bake - Sunday 1/6/2008

Which is dangerous on SO many levels.

But I love putting something in the oven and sitting down to write. The house starts smelling really fabulous right before the timer goes off. I'll bet that's how cooks knew it was done before thermometers and timers.


Oh, and I'd like to introduce you to the new (pre-seasoned!) cast iron fry pan I received from Cuz-P for Christmas. I think you'll be seeing more cast iron in future posts as I am falling in love with it as we speak.


Cuz-V gave me a copy of Cast Iron Cooking for Dummies, from which I took this recipe. Mmm. Good! (Though next time I think I'll use crushed pineapple and make a little more goop for the top.)

I Gotcher Weekend Job for Ya Right Here - Saturday 1/5/2008

It's 40 degrees in Acton. Do you know where your son is?

There are always a couple of high school students hanging out in the semi-trailers out back of Country Club feed store over on Sierra Highway. What kind of trouble are they getting up to?

You'll find out when you buy a 50 pound bag of horse chow or some bales of hay. You show your receipt to one of these guys and they load what you ordered in the back of your vehicle.

They were reattaching the tarp to this stack when we picked up 50 pounds of birdseed. We also get 50 pound bags of chicken scratch which only costs $8.50 and, as it turns out, attracts a wider variety of birds than just the seed.

Doesn't this look like FUN?

I didn't get a photo of him, but we now have a regular non-ground squirrel in our backyard. Perhaps drawn by the chicken scratch? Hydra speculates that he came from the forest. I dunno. But he sounded like a Labrador retriever when he ran across our roof a couple of time this weekend.

The Weather Service: Big Fat Lying Liars - Friday 1/4/2008

"Friday: Wind driven rain showers this morning with a steady, soaking rain during the afternoon hours. High 48F. Winds S at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch."

We're waiting. We're waiting...

Clouds blow in. Clouds blow out. I write, I clean, have lunch, take a walk, drop off the HOA fees, pick up the mail, and update my blog.

It's 3:46. Still no rain.



Bunny Alert!!

Dodger notified me (by tapping his beak against the glass rhythmically) that although there was still no precipitation, the bunny was on the deck again. What a watchbird.

Meanwhile, I am loving being home so much I can hardly believe it. I've cleaned, and donated things, and thrown things away. I've read. I've cooked.

But best of all, I have written between 2 and 5 hours a day for the past week at least!

I really don't understand how people get bored! There's so much to be interested in.

Roadside Memorial, Southbound Sierra Highway - Thursday1/3/2008

This memorial has been up for quite some time. I think it was there in some form before the fire that blackened the inside of this tree.


The arch is of some sort of masonry.



A favorite CD.




Messages from friends and family.

I was on my way down to It's A Grind coffee house in Canyon Country when I finally stopped to photograph this. Usually I pass it in the dark or going the other way.

Nick's IN! - Wednesday 1/2/2008

After posting notices in the area, running a Found ad in the local paper for three weeks and crossing our fingers, we've decided Nick's a part of the flock. We found a very good deal on a good sized cage and he seems really happy with us.


Here's the new line-up. Gus, Rocky and Nick.

Nick has integrated amazingly well. In fact, there seems to be less squabbling in general now that he's here. Rocky and Gus, to be honest, spent a lot of their time stepping on each other's tails before Nick arrived. (This is a no-no in budgiedom.)

Nick's a puzzle. We're still surprised someone didn't claim him, because he has obviously spent time with people and is finger tame. He's learning to accept being kissed on the belly (Rocky echoed my kiss noise this morning!), which is just one of the costs of living here.

He seems to really appreciate the fresh lettuce or parsley they get every night along with cooked grains, veggies and fruits. Keeps looking at the other birds and us like, "Oh, you don't know how good you've had it."

(Thanks for asking, Deb in FW!)

I Am What I Am, and I Always Have Been - Tuesday 1/1/2008

I have been an animal lover since at least Christmas Day, 1962. This is me and Kitty Fritz. I turned two a few weeks later.

We were going through things yesterday looking for pictures of Hydra's family, and I found a packet of photographs my mom sent me years ago and which I thought I had accidentally thrown away. I mean, I tore apart every box in our garage and in my studio closet over the course of a couple of days a while back and couldn't find them.

Where were they? In a box in the pantry marked "Photos."

It always takes me by surprise when my sporadic attempts to become organized actually work.

Anyway, in looking through these photos, it struck me that there are all sorts of hints of the person I was to become...


I have enjoyed camping since I was 2 1/2. This is Daddy and me at Clifty Falls State Park in Madison, Indiana in 1963. That's our converted school bus/camper, "The Ramblin' Wreck" in the background. That was so cool!


Although I don't have any photos of myself writing or reading, the arts have always been a big part of my life. My sister Pegerty and I try out my new paint book on my 3rd birthday. She's almost 12.

I think this is one of those books that you just brush water over and the color pops up. I'm not saying I was a prodigy.


I have been a tree-hugger all my life. (This is when I was barely three years old. There's an even earlier photo expressing my affinity for the tree.)



I have always had a flare for the dramatic.

According to the notes on the back of this snapshot, I am showing off my missing teeth. But it looks like I am launching into the "To be or not to be" soliloquy from Hamlet.

"June 1967, 6 years, 5 months."



I've always had an appreciation for nature. Mom took some really fun shots when we went walking in the woods on a day in May. I had forgotten about my "pet worm" but I remember this day so well. Just me and Mom, and her telling me things and answering my questions.




I like to travel. I get a kick out of big cities. I like to hang out with stylish people.

This was taken in front of our hotel on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. I think our camper had broken down and so we went to the city for a few days. May 10th or 11th, 1969. Me (8), Mom, Brains (16) and Pegerty (17.)

I love Pegerty's sporty stance in this shot!! She subscribed to Ingenue magazine, don't you know!



I understand the value of friendship. Diver and I had been friends for almost 2 1/2 years by the time this photo was taken at my house in December of 1968. We met in kindergarten and we are still in touch today, even though we started going to different schools in 4th grade, and we live on opposite coasts now.

It was terrific to have a best friend from another school all through middle school and high school, especially. Kept us from feeling like our individual schools were the whole universe. And we had some life-building experiences together.


I have always liked spending time alone. Well, but animals are always welcome. (I'm ten in this one.)

There are lots of photos of me with my dog Ginger. If you know what it's like to grow up with a dog as a best friend, you'll know how much I still miss her.


I have always liked rocks. I carried this one home from the gravel pit at least a half a mile away just because I liked it. It was pinkish. I used it as a doorstop. I think it might still be somewhere in my mom's house. (She still lives where I grew up.)

Mom said that I could keep it if I brought it home myself but that she wouldn't help me carry it. I think there was a good lesson nestled in that afternoon, about working for something that you really desire. I am almost 11 in this shot.



I have always had impeccable fashion sense.

Hey. Kaftan's were very cool in 1972. (My 11th birthday.)

Is it my imagination, or does Ginger look embarrassed for me?


I have had a distorted body image since high school, probably since I heard Bob Mackie say on some talk show that Cher had perfect armpits.

I thought I was fat in this photo taken when I was 20, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.


(My body-type role model. Yeah, the one on the left.)

[Photo by Ulvis Alberts.]




I love my family. This is us in 1971 and 1981. In the first one, Joe had just come back from Vietnam. I was completely happy and completely oblivious.

Oh, and as you can see from these shots, I'm willing to make a fool of myself.

But you probably already knew that from reading this blog.

This is, coincidentally, my 1,000th blog post, and a satisfying way to spend New Year's Day (for me, anyway.)

Thanks Mom, for sending me the photos in the first place and for your wonderful captions on the back of them!

Getting Our Priorities Straight - Monday 12/31/2007

Okay, right after you call 911, call the Media.

I noticed this handy guide at Walmart and thought we all might do well to memorize the color codes. Jeez!

Back at the homestead we don't need any signs posted to tell us how to proceed. We had our friends History and Cowgirl up for a New Year's Eve dinner and over-night. I think we've been doing this for five or six years.

This year I got smart and opened the champagne at the beginning of dinner. After a glass of wine with dinner, we're usually not up for opening the champagne, in spite of the festive occasion.

We had a nice Veuve Clicquot that had been loitering around the back of our fridge for a while.

I enjoyed putting together a veggie feast to end the year with: portobello mushroom caps stuffed with goat cheese, pine nuts and basil served on a bed of homemade tomato/olive sauce, caprese salad, TJ's garlic eggplant spread on filo dough, and bread dipped in the fabulous olive oil that Tomasina gave me for Christmas. Finished up with another apple pie, topped with ice cream.

No pictures. We were kind of into eating it all.

Didn't quite make it to Zero Hour, but that's okay. Good company and good conversation made for a good ushering out of 2007.

Photoshopped and Ready to Roll - Sunday 12/30/2007

Realizing that she needs to take a photograph every day, she snaps a shot of herself leaving for a hike around the fireroad at dusk. It takes a lot of bundling to face sub-fifty-degree weather in Southern California!

Scarf was a gift from Peaches for Christmas this year. Jacket was a gift from me to Hydra a couple of years ago. Turns out I wear it more. I'm such a lumberjack.

Tamale Day 2007 - Saturday 12/29/2007

If this cow shows up on our Christmas card next year, will you remember that it was on the outskirts of Palmdale? I think not.



We have not had a tamale day since February 2006! But yay, we were invited to help Cuz-P, her mom and Cuz-V make pork and turkey tamales. Due to a bit of misunderstanding and a bit of an inability to do simple math, we arrived pretty late and I only helped assemble the sweet tamales. (So easy!)



Gracie kept watch over Hydra, who was worn out just thinking about making tamales. He missed the tamale feast.


Beautiful sunset along Highway 138 between Mormon Rocks and Palmdale.

Live from Downtown Acton - Friday 12/28/2007

I like this lady's bumper stickers. I also like the three dogs in the cab.

This truck was parked outside the Acton Post Office when we went down to mail a package to Truman in Michigan. No, not a late Christmas present, or even a late birthday present. I think these gifts have been riding around in the truck of my car since early 2007!