Living on the pacific coast with over 800 miles of coastline in California makes for a lot of seaside towns. Each one offers something unique and charming in it's own right giving us lots of opportunity for exploration. It's a daunting task to visit them all but not impossible. Believe it or not we had never stopped to visit Ventura on any of our many trips up north. I read in the paper that Ventura was to host their annual art walk last weekend so off we went on Sunday. We arrived just about noon as the morning marine layer was rising from it's slumber over this quaint little town. Sure, Ventura is sprawling like every other southland town but the downtown area is a well-preserved slice of days gone by, flanked at either end with gorgeous parks and nestled in by the beach to the west and a stunning hilltop City Hall in the Beaux Arts architecture to the east.
We started the day at the Savory Cafe & Bakery. The ambiance itself could be described as sort of old world European furnished with antiques and other warm touches mashed with a laid back beachy vibe in an indoor-outdoor California style. We shared a large Tuscan table in the middle of the restaurant with other folks where they offer, amongst other savory dishes, create-your-own crepes with a litany of ingredients to choose from - I picked prosciutto, basil, caramelized garlic, and gruyere - and it was delish. Hand-cut pommes frites with a creamy garlic dipping sauce is sure to tantalize your palate.
As usual we didn't plan very well but it was all new and interesting to us so we just meandered around as we fancied. The Art Walk features stone-workers but other works like glass, paintings, photography, iron works, jewelry, wood-work and more were on display as well. Many of the downtown merchants use their shops and showrooms to host the artists' work and others open their studios for the event. There's a thrift store or antique mall on each block and Damon hit them all. It was late in the day when I decided to venture off on my own to discover the "art".
My favorite thing was a trio of metal works in a roots & branches nature series. At $1500.00 it was more than I was willing to invest at this time in history but I covet the simplistic design yet painstaking execution of the metal worker. I was also drawn to various stone carvings made from California materials in organic shapes. A wood carver was showing exquisite boxes he'd made from a variety of local woods beautifully constructed with precision. It was a wonderful day discovering new artists and another lovely California beach town.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Crisp, Clean, Green - Chicago!
I had the welcomed opportunity to visit Chicago to celebrate my dad's University graduation held at Navy Pier. I had been before many years ago and couldn't wait to return. But with so many places I haven't been and wish to go repeat visits require a compelling excuse.
A friend recommended a fantastic hotel in a perfect location right on the river at the Southern end of the Magnificent Mile. Vistas of the newly built Trump Tower and historic Wrigley and Chicago Tribune buildings filled the sight line from our room's window. As a destination city weekends are very busy and this was no exception since Chicago was hosting the marathon, one of the biggest worldwide because they do not limit the number of entrants. There were 45,000 runners just adjacent our hotel so we awoke to cheers audible 28 stories in the sky as they passed. And it seemed like every one of them was trying to get atop the (former) Sears Tower on the day that I was! Consequently, I didn't wait the 2 hours it would have been to view the city and Lake Michigan from the glass floor sky deck of the newly named Willis Building.
Unfortunately I arrived in Chitown with the flu. As the weekend progressed so did my cold. What misery being in a gastronomic mecca like Chicago with no taste buds! I did pig out on Chicago style pizza though and boy does it live up to its reputation. My dad wanted to see Jersey Boys, the musical story of the Four Seasons that's gaining accolades nationwide. In general I hate musicals but since the weekend was devoted to my dad I begrudgingly went along. The story itself was not captivating but the music was fantastic. Those songs were the soundtrack of my youth and it really took me down memory lane. The lead playing Frankie Valli was a replica of his distinctive, signature high-pitched voice.
The highlight of the weekend for me was the river architecture tour. It was a frigid 31 degrees on the uncovered vessel. Traveling along the Chicago river the guide gives a history of the skyscrapers that loom over the city putting into context the building, the era and the architect and the relationship they share with Chicago. It was a gorgeous sunny day, albeit cold, in this lovely lakeside town so my brother and I decided to venture down to museum park and visit the Aquarium. I thought it was a complete rip off, besides the fact that I have a problem with wild life held in captivity after having been in the wild. But we had an adventure anyway, met some really nice people and saw first hand why Chicago is considered one of the greenest cities in America.
Chicago has a public transportation system that's both efficient and effective- the metro, the "L" trains, buses and cabs - all reduce the carbon footprint in a city of nearly 3 million. In addition it takes top marks for being the best biking city in the US. Miles of lakefront bike paths equipped with bicycle cafes, repair centers, parking spaces, etc. really encourage this mode of transport/sport/exercise. One of the most obvious things I noticed was the flushers on toilets - up for water waste, down for solid - really cutting down on the amount of water used.
While I didn't get to do everything I wanted in Chicago, no matter what you do it's a good time in this vibrant, energetic city warmed by old fashioned mid-western hospitality.
A friend recommended a fantastic hotel in a perfect location right on the river at the Southern end of the Magnificent Mile. Vistas of the newly built Trump Tower and historic Wrigley and Chicago Tribune buildings filled the sight line from our room's window. As a destination city weekends are very busy and this was no exception since Chicago was hosting the marathon, one of the biggest worldwide because they do not limit the number of entrants. There were 45,000 runners just adjacent our hotel so we awoke to cheers audible 28 stories in the sky as they passed. And it seemed like every one of them was trying to get atop the (former) Sears Tower on the day that I was! Consequently, I didn't wait the 2 hours it would have been to view the city and Lake Michigan from the glass floor sky deck of the newly named Willis Building.
Unfortunately I arrived in Chitown with the flu. As the weekend progressed so did my cold. What misery being in a gastronomic mecca like Chicago with no taste buds! I did pig out on Chicago style pizza though and boy does it live up to its reputation. My dad wanted to see Jersey Boys, the musical story of the Four Seasons that's gaining accolades nationwide. In general I hate musicals but since the weekend was devoted to my dad I begrudgingly went along. The story itself was not captivating but the music was fantastic. Those songs were the soundtrack of my youth and it really took me down memory lane. The lead playing Frankie Valli was a replica of his distinctive, signature high-pitched voice.
The highlight of the weekend for me was the river architecture tour. It was a frigid 31 degrees on the uncovered vessel. Traveling along the Chicago river the guide gives a history of the skyscrapers that loom over the city putting into context the building, the era and the architect and the relationship they share with Chicago. It was a gorgeous sunny day, albeit cold, in this lovely lakeside town so my brother and I decided to venture down to museum park and visit the Aquarium. I thought it was a complete rip off, besides the fact that I have a problem with wild life held in captivity after having been in the wild. But we had an adventure anyway, met some really nice people and saw first hand why Chicago is considered one of the greenest cities in America.
Chicago has a public transportation system that's both efficient and effective- the metro, the "L" trains, buses and cabs - all reduce the carbon footprint in a city of nearly 3 million. In addition it takes top marks for being the best biking city in the US. Miles of lakefront bike paths equipped with bicycle cafes, repair centers, parking spaces, etc. really encourage this mode of transport/sport/exercise. One of the most obvious things I noticed was the flushers on toilets - up for water waste, down for solid - really cutting down on the amount of water used.
While I didn't get to do everything I wanted in Chicago, no matter what you do it's a good time in this vibrant, energetic city warmed by old fashioned mid-western hospitality.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Gross Polluter?
Have no fear Carbon Offset Kiosks coming soon to an airport near you to rescue you from the guilt of flying and leaving all that carbon emission in the atmosphere!
So what are you actually buying? You get a piece of paper that describes an offset project purportedly sanctified by the city as "real, quantifiable, and permanent greenhouse gas reductions". According to an environmental lawyer it's better than nothing, for awareness generation alone, but is unsure about the validity or value of the purchase. The kiosks cost $200,000 to install and are currently operating out of SFO where they charge about $34 per passenger for a 6000 mile trip, roughly 6 cents per mile. It has been reported, however, that San Francisco is charging 60 times the actual cost of the offset with a portion of the proceeds feeding the San Fransisco Carbon Fund.
The way I see it not traveling creates other environmental strains. What's next?
So what are you actually buying? You get a piece of paper that describes an offset project purportedly sanctified by the city as "real, quantifiable, and permanent greenhouse gas reductions". According to an environmental lawyer it's better than nothing, for awareness generation alone, but is unsure about the validity or value of the purchase. The kiosks cost $200,000 to install and are currently operating out of SFO where they charge about $34 per passenger for a 6000 mile trip, roughly 6 cents per mile. It has been reported, however, that San Francisco is charging 60 times the actual cost of the offset with a portion of the proceeds feeding the San Fransisco Carbon Fund.
The way I see it not traveling creates other environmental strains. What's next?
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Step Forward Day
In memoriam for the victims of September 11th that day is a nationally recognized day of service. The alumni association at Pepperdine University is actively involved in community improvement efforts and encourages all alum to participate. When I heard that my local chapter had partnered with Habitat for Humanity I was eager to sign up and see what the organization is all about. I confess, my volunteerism is auxiliary to my charitable giving and as a consequence I am not very well versed on the inner workings of many do-good-er operations. My favorite and most trusted organization, IMC, reduces me to a fund raiser and donor, since my skill set does not include that of a trained medical professional so I have to seek out other groups to volunteer with locally.
I have heard good things about Habitat. Their main mission, and a bold one, is to eradicate homelessness and poverty housing worldwide. Candidates are chosen on a need basis although the criteria is unclear. This is accomplished by offering a couple of different models. The overarching one that most people identify with is the new build whereby candidates make a nominal monetary investment and a whole lot of sweat equity in exchange for a interest-free 30 year mortgage. Building materials and supplies are donated as is the labor involved in the construction project. A program called A Brush With Kindness is a way to partner with community members to improve existing homes for those families in need.
Our project today was A Brush With Kindness in a Los Angeles residence. Like I said the selection process seems a little ambiguous and I am trying to refrain from being judgmental in any way but I was a little more than miffed about this particular project. The homeowner is an elderly lady who has owned the home for 23 year years. The house is a spacious, well-kept Spanish style with signature tile roof and original wood-frame paned windows. The Habitat staff made a big deal about how she works with seniors in her retirement. To me, it seems like an unbalanced pay back for contributions she's made to her community to have a collective of 15-20 volunteers from Habitat for Humanity, Americorps, and Pepperdine University repaint the exterior of the house while 2 able bodied young men sat watching football all day.
I hate myself for having these feelings and am sure I'm going straight to hell but how do I sign on for a such a gift? My house, certainly the landscaping, leaves much more to be desired than this so called needy homeowner. The saddest part is that most of this woman's neighbors could have benefited from the help offered by this organization. Many of the surrounding homes are in a state of ill-repair and dilapidation yet the target property was nothing more than an ugly color.
My excitement about doing something that significantly improves life for a deserving family has been somewhat tainted. I my search continues for a deserving organization committed in practice to their stated mission.
I have heard good things about Habitat. Their main mission, and a bold one, is to eradicate homelessness and poverty housing worldwide. Candidates are chosen on a need basis although the criteria is unclear. This is accomplished by offering a couple of different models. The overarching one that most people identify with is the new build whereby candidates make a nominal monetary investment and a whole lot of sweat equity in exchange for a interest-free 30 year mortgage. Building materials and supplies are donated as is the labor involved in the construction project. A program called A Brush With Kindness is a way to partner with community members to improve existing homes for those families in need.
Our project today was A Brush With Kindness in a Los Angeles residence. Like I said the selection process seems a little ambiguous and I am trying to refrain from being judgmental in any way but I was a little more than miffed about this particular project. The homeowner is an elderly lady who has owned the home for 23 year years. The house is a spacious, well-kept Spanish style with signature tile roof and original wood-frame paned windows. The Habitat staff made a big deal about how she works with seniors in her retirement. To me, it seems like an unbalanced pay back for contributions she's made to her community to have a collective of 15-20 volunteers from Habitat for Humanity, Americorps, and Pepperdine University repaint the exterior of the house while 2 able bodied young men sat watching football all day.
I hate myself for having these feelings and am sure I'm going straight to hell but how do I sign on for a such a gift? My house, certainly the landscaping, leaves much more to be desired than this so called needy homeowner. The saddest part is that most of this woman's neighbors could have benefited from the help offered by this organization. Many of the surrounding homes are in a state of ill-repair and dilapidation yet the target property was nothing more than an ugly color.
My excitement about doing something that significantly improves life for a deserving family has been somewhat tainted. I my search continues for a deserving organization committed in practice to their stated mission.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Idyllic Idyllwild
A gem in the Southern California landscape is the charming hilltop town of Idyllwild. Nestled at the summit of the San Jacinto mountains this art enclave is a throwback to simpler times. We first discovered Idyllwild on one of our trips to Palm Springs when we decided to take the mountain route. It is a picturesque drive up the winding road to an altitude of about 7000 feet. The surprise (for me anyway) at the top is a village committed to art and nature's beauty. I had no idea that there is a world-renowned art institute attended by artists world-wide in the heart of the community. Otherwise, it is a sleepy hollow where urbanites escape to in order to breathe some fresh air and reinvigorate on the numerous challenging hiking trails. The streets are littered with art galleries and artisans crafting their wares. Another delighful surprise is the gastronomic accomplishments. For such a teeny town there are some amazing restaurants. My favorite is the Cafe Aroma operated with life and precision by Frank Ferro who's one of those guys you just feel like you've known forever. Live entertainment all day turns this enchanting eclectic forest dining experience into a fun sing-along - especially since the wine list is enviable.
We decided at the last minute that we'd like to go up for one night over the Labor day weekend. As luck would have it there was room at the inn and since Idyllwild is a pet friendly town we brought our pup up to wind down the summer in nature. We arrived around noon hour on Saturday and spent the afternoon meandering the galleries and thrift stores in town after a hearty and fresh lunch at Natures Health Food and Cafe - I had the Mediterranean platter - highly recommended. We had invited some friends to join us and they arrived around 5pm. Our dinner reservations were at 7:30. They only had an inside table but we have the dog. Frank in his most accommodating manner invited our sweet, well-behaved Jackson to sit inside. He didn't make a peep and most of the patrons didn't even know he was there. We had a beautiful meal, great conversation, and lively entertainment.
After a knock up on Sunday morning of gourmet coffee, freshly baked scones and homemade jam, Jackson and I set off on a nice brisk walk over to the Nature Center. Our friends wanted to get home early and since there is not too much to the town of Idyllwild we hadn't already explored we left after breakfast at Gnome (I recommend The Bread Basket). I was going to be attending a birthday party the next day and wanted to pick up a little trinket for the birthday girl so we popped in to a little shop on the way out of town. The shop is full of handmade finds from Nepal. It turns out the shopkeep imports good from his native Nepalese village to sell in Idyllwild in order to finance treks in Nepal with groups of Americans he gathers throughout the season. Nepal (along with Tibet) is my number one destination in this life. How serendipitous was this encounter! Idyllwild is truly a magical and surprising little gem.
We decided at the last minute that we'd like to go up for one night over the Labor day weekend. As luck would have it there was room at the inn and since Idyllwild is a pet friendly town we brought our pup up to wind down the summer in nature. We arrived around noon hour on Saturday and spent the afternoon meandering the galleries and thrift stores in town after a hearty and fresh lunch at Natures Health Food and Cafe - I had the Mediterranean platter - highly recommended. We had invited some friends to join us and they arrived around 5pm. Our dinner reservations were at 7:30. They only had an inside table but we have the dog. Frank in his most accommodating manner invited our sweet, well-behaved Jackson to sit inside. He didn't make a peep and most of the patrons didn't even know he was there. We had a beautiful meal, great conversation, and lively entertainment.
After a knock up on Sunday morning of gourmet coffee, freshly baked scones and homemade jam, Jackson and I set off on a nice brisk walk over to the Nature Center. Our friends wanted to get home early and since there is not too much to the town of Idyllwild we hadn't already explored we left after breakfast at Gnome (I recommend The Bread Basket). I was going to be attending a birthday party the next day and wanted to pick up a little trinket for the birthday girl so we popped in to a little shop on the way out of town. The shop is full of handmade finds from Nepal. It turns out the shopkeep imports good from his native Nepalese village to sell in Idyllwild in order to finance treks in Nepal with groups of Americans he gathers throughout the season. Nepal (along with Tibet) is my number one destination in this life. How serendipitous was this encounter! Idyllwild is truly a magical and surprising little gem.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Block Nine
I've got to give love to the Elephant Theater company and its subsidiaries. The cast and crew are so dedicated to the craft and aim to impact their audience every time. This in part because the audience could very well be planted with famous producers and directors. I've seen a few shows here - my neighbor is a company member - and have yet to be disappointed. Block Nine, written by Tom Stanczyk, pays homage to film-noir with his 30's gangster script, fraught with love scenes and themes. The clever part of the whole idea is that he has it acted by an all male cast. But wait. There's also an all female cast. I thought this was a really interesting way to present his work ignoring the gratuitous gayness imbedded just because. He had a female direct the "dames" and a male direct the "fellas". It was fascinating to see how the same script was interpreted ever so slightly and played out in such different ways. For the most part both shows - yes it was a 2 night commitment to view it this way - were brilliantly acted. There were some real stand outs in each performance. Unfortunately for the writer, the men accentuated how lousy the script really is. Fortunately for the rest of us, the women are so outstanding that the audience doesn't notice.
Jennifer Crawford
If summer offically begins on Memorial Day weekend we kicked it off with a trip to the mountains. We spent a glorious Memorial weekend with our cousins in Big Bear. Friday night was spent relaxing, cooking and playing American Idol on Xbox. What a hoot. It was a little hard at first to get your bearings AND follow the backup singers AND read the words (if you didn't know every one of them by heart). It took us a while to figure out that I have a loud voice (big surprise) and that I was hearing myself too loudly and getting confused. Turning the mic down was a quick and easy remedy. It was really fun creating our idols and getting just the right funky edge that we all wanted our rock stars to have. We even had a competition and got the same criticisms the judges give contestants on the real idol. I think it was a run off between Damon and Jerry for the title.
Saturday morning we awoke to a cloudless day. The Millers have an east facing wrap-around veranda that looks out into a forest - the San Bernardino mountains as the backdrop - and the morning sun is generous with its warmth. It was so great just to be in a loving and carefree place with nothing to do but take in nature's beauty accompanied by a nice cup of chai tea, a good book, and Jackson. We spent an enjoyable day sitting around laughing, playing pingpong and poker, making cocktails, chasing bunnies in the forest and watching movies. Jerry took us on a wonderful 4X4 summit drive culminating in a hike to the top of the world on Sunday. We thought we'd beat the holiday traffic and drove home Sunday after a lovely lakeside drive.
The most memorable part of June was the trip to Lake Havasu (see earlier post for details). Damon may be going again with a few long lost high school buddies over the labor day weekend for which I was invited but have no interest in tagging along. Another family trip is planned for the following weekend but I have a prior commitment that Saturday.
June was also a very scary (and expensive) month for us where our animals are concerned. I've written extensive play by plays on that topic in real time. The rest of the month was spent in town enjoying Jackson's company, with friends, going to the theater and just savoring the cool weather. We needed the rest to gear up for what was to come in July.
Every weekend in July was booked. Forth of July occupied that first Saturday and we traditionally spend it with friends who have a pool party and fireworks every year. They are some of our favorite company and it's always a great time. The following Saturday we celebrated a friend's 40th birthday and had a bunch of fun. The living room was turned into a disco and we partied till the we hours, dancing and singing. Then the traveling starts.
Who in their right mind would go to Palm Springs in July? It can't be so bad as long as you have a pool and a cocktail, right? WRONG! We drove out Friday afternoon on the hottest weekend of the year. Temperatures soared way above 100 - 116 on the register Saturday. We made the best of it spending the bulk of the day and night in the pool skinny dipping since we basically had the place to ourselves. The main thing that made us all so miserable was the a/c in the condo couldn't keep up with the unbearable heat so we scarcely got any relief but we ate well restaurant hopping, got our drink on and kept entertained by shopping, gambling, and clubbing.
I vowed I would never do it again but I succommed to peer pressure after a couple of glasses of wine at a dinner party. We boarded another booze cruise on Friday afternoon a week after a woman turned up murdered on Carnival's "Fun Ship". I had few expectations but devoted to having a good time anyway. This time around we were a manageable 2 couples intent on relaxation and we did a whole lot of it. We slept when and where we felt like it and partied in the same fashion. Since we had all been up early on Friday morning and nurtured a nice afternoon buzz we collapsed early on Friday night after our formal dinner.
Saturday morning brought 6:30 am alarms about a missing person. For over 2 hours, a staffer with an indiscernible accent called every ten minutes for "wawawa - wawa" to contact the purser's office. Finally around 9am the cruise director intervened to prepare all 3000 passengers for a cabin to cabin physical search for Jennifer Crawford. Within minutes he was back over the airwaves to let us know that wouldn't be necessary as she had just announced her whereabouts. Of course, this starts rumor and innuendo about her morality. We were among the haters that said she had probably passed out drunk in some guy's room who didn't know her name! We later learned that she had been escorted to the California border when we docked in Ensenada for the disruption to ship safety.
We decided not to take a Mexican excursion, instead we would stay aboard and enjoy the pool. After breakfast we thought well maybe we should just walk to the 1st bar off the plank and get a cheap margarita. As it were we had 2 of the most amazing mango margaritas and guacamole for dirt cheap and then sauntered back to ship. I went directly to the pool where I waited for the next feeding. After dinner we caught part of the late night comedy show where the butt of almost all the jokes was Jennifer Crawford. Sunday was a similar day - napping in the sun for the better part of it. Damon and I did dance in the disco on Sunday night just so our muscles didn't atrophy for all the inactivity for 2 days! This cruise turned out to be a very nice and low key experience - one I probably won't be repeating any time soon - but enjoyable and much needed.
We were supposed to go camping with some friends in Yosemite the first weekend of August and I was really looking forward to it since a) we could bring our dog, b) I've never been to the sequoias, and c) I love it and haven't done much camping this year. But our plans were snarled when our friend fell down the stairs, tweaking his knee and faced surgery. Turns out he doesn't need surgery after all but he isn't walking too well.
The change in plans turned out for the best since our niece and nephew were coming into town with their Mom from Oregon. Saturday we hung out at the water park all day - did I mention that this is THE best fun ever? - and Sunday played at the beach followed by an outdoor concert.
August is a month to recuperate and replenish the bank account from an expensive summer. I went on a couple of invigorating local hikes, attended a live polo match, bowled (for real) for the first time since I was a child, wined and dined and had a whole lot of fun. We hosted a very fun weekend with our nephew, which I've previously recounted and had an interesting week of live theater - I'll talk about this in a separate post. Damon has been fly-fishing in Montana for the last 5 days, living like the president, while I man the fort at home and enjoy time with Jackson and the last of my summer reading. I cherish the time I have by myself and use it wisely.
As fall rapidly approaches I prepare for a couple of Autumn trips - Big Sur in Sept. and Chicago in Oct. We usually enjoy an Indian summer in the southland at least through September and often into October. I've been wanting to go to San Diego for a weekend so with luck we'll work that in soon. Sadly, we are currently bogged down by ferocious fires burning all around us a little earlier than usual as we've been in a furnace of a heat wave all week.
Saturday morning we awoke to a cloudless day. The Millers have an east facing wrap-around veranda that looks out into a forest - the San Bernardino mountains as the backdrop - and the morning sun is generous with its warmth. It was so great just to be in a loving and carefree place with nothing to do but take in nature's beauty accompanied by a nice cup of chai tea, a good book, and Jackson. We spent an enjoyable day sitting around laughing, playing pingpong and poker, making cocktails, chasing bunnies in the forest and watching movies. Jerry took us on a wonderful 4X4 summit drive culminating in a hike to the top of the world on Sunday. We thought we'd beat the holiday traffic and drove home Sunday after a lovely lakeside drive.
The most memorable part of June was the trip to Lake Havasu (see earlier post for details). Damon may be going again with a few long lost high school buddies over the labor day weekend for which I was invited but have no interest in tagging along. Another family trip is planned for the following weekend but I have a prior commitment that Saturday.
June was also a very scary (and expensive) month for us where our animals are concerned. I've written extensive play by plays on that topic in real time. The rest of the month was spent in town enjoying Jackson's company, with friends, going to the theater and just savoring the cool weather. We needed the rest to gear up for what was to come in July.
Every weekend in July was booked. Forth of July occupied that first Saturday and we traditionally spend it with friends who have a pool party and fireworks every year. They are some of our favorite company and it's always a great time. The following Saturday we celebrated a friend's 40th birthday and had a bunch of fun. The living room was turned into a disco and we partied till the we hours, dancing and singing. Then the traveling starts.
Who in their right mind would go to Palm Springs in July? It can't be so bad as long as you have a pool and a cocktail, right? WRONG! We drove out Friday afternoon on the hottest weekend of the year. Temperatures soared way above 100 - 116 on the register Saturday. We made the best of it spending the bulk of the day and night in the pool skinny dipping since we basically had the place to ourselves. The main thing that made us all so miserable was the a/c in the condo couldn't keep up with the unbearable heat so we scarcely got any relief but we ate well restaurant hopping, got our drink on and kept entertained by shopping, gambling, and clubbing.
I vowed I would never do it again but I succommed to peer pressure after a couple of glasses of wine at a dinner party. We boarded another booze cruise on Friday afternoon a week after a woman turned up murdered on Carnival's "Fun Ship". I had few expectations but devoted to having a good time anyway. This time around we were a manageable 2 couples intent on relaxation and we did a whole lot of it. We slept when and where we felt like it and partied in the same fashion. Since we had all been up early on Friday morning and nurtured a nice afternoon buzz we collapsed early on Friday night after our formal dinner.
Saturday morning brought 6:30 am alarms about a missing person. For over 2 hours, a staffer with an indiscernible accent called every ten minutes for "wawawa - wawa" to contact the purser's office. Finally around 9am the cruise director intervened to prepare all 3000 passengers for a cabin to cabin physical search for Jennifer Crawford. Within minutes he was back over the airwaves to let us know that wouldn't be necessary as she had just announced her whereabouts. Of course, this starts rumor and innuendo about her morality. We were among the haters that said she had probably passed out drunk in some guy's room who didn't know her name! We later learned that she had been escorted to the California border when we docked in Ensenada for the disruption to ship safety.
We decided not to take a Mexican excursion, instead we would stay aboard and enjoy the pool. After breakfast we thought well maybe we should just walk to the 1st bar off the plank and get a cheap margarita. As it were we had 2 of the most amazing mango margaritas and guacamole for dirt cheap and then sauntered back to ship. I went directly to the pool where I waited for the next feeding. After dinner we caught part of the late night comedy show where the butt of almost all the jokes was Jennifer Crawford. Sunday was a similar day - napping in the sun for the better part of it. Damon and I did dance in the disco on Sunday night just so our muscles didn't atrophy for all the inactivity for 2 days! This cruise turned out to be a very nice and low key experience - one I probably won't be repeating any time soon - but enjoyable and much needed.
We were supposed to go camping with some friends in Yosemite the first weekend of August and I was really looking forward to it since a) we could bring our dog, b) I've never been to the sequoias, and c) I love it and haven't done much camping this year. But our plans were snarled when our friend fell down the stairs, tweaking his knee and faced surgery. Turns out he doesn't need surgery after all but he isn't walking too well.
The change in plans turned out for the best since our niece and nephew were coming into town with their Mom from Oregon. Saturday we hung out at the water park all day - did I mention that this is THE best fun ever? - and Sunday played at the beach followed by an outdoor concert.
August is a month to recuperate and replenish the bank account from an expensive summer. I went on a couple of invigorating local hikes, attended a live polo match, bowled (for real) for the first time since I was a child, wined and dined and had a whole lot of fun. We hosted a very fun weekend with our nephew, which I've previously recounted and had an interesting week of live theater - I'll talk about this in a separate post. Damon has been fly-fishing in Montana for the last 5 days, living like the president, while I man the fort at home and enjoy time with Jackson and the last of my summer reading. I cherish the time I have by myself and use it wisely.
As fall rapidly approaches I prepare for a couple of Autumn trips - Big Sur in Sept. and Chicago in Oct. We usually enjoy an Indian summer in the southland at least through September and often into October. I've been wanting to go to San Diego for a weekend so with luck we'll work that in soon. Sadly, we are currently bogged down by ferocious fires burning all around us a little earlier than usual as we've been in a furnace of a heat wave all week.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Who says kids have more fun?
Wow. What a weekend! We had the rare privilege of a weekend visit from our 15 year old nephew. Friday night was spent out at the ball game cheering on the Dodgers as they managed to defend against the Cubs in a 2-1 match. It was such a display of athleticism to see Manny whack the ball into the outfield for what should have been out of the park but the Cubbie outfielder leaped and stretched and bounced on the ground with ball in hand. Out! The game went on like that all night. They celebrated afterward with the most incredible fireworks display I've ever seen.
I'm not much for theme parks. I've been to all the local ones more times than I ever cared to so I can easily forgo them and usually do, but, the kid wanted to go to Universal Studios so off we went. I haven't been in about 20 years and it's quite a bit different overall. The back lot tour is virtually unchanged but they've added many new attractions, including a few roller coaster type rides, and refreshed some of the older ones throughout the park. We had a wonderful fun-filled day in the land of make believe. The park closes early so we had plenty of time to roam around the City Walk which is a promenade of shops, restaurants and street performers. Our curiosity was piqued when we saw the Zen Zone. It's a sort of on the spot spa catering to the dog tired and weary following a day of action. We assuaged our sensory longings starting with a water massage. You lie face down in a capsule like a tanning bed and the water starts gently jetting over the plastic lining between you and the water. Afterward we settled in to the oxygen bar. It's an aromatherapy treatment whereby you breathe in essential oils through tubes inserted in your nose. It's Hollywood after all- anything can (and does) happen.
As if we didn't have enough fun already we decided to hang out at the water park on Sunday afternoon. Now this kind of activity is the best fun I've had in memorable history and a great stress relief. It's a great way to cool off and have thrilling rides on tubes, rafts, mats, or very near your birthday suit.
Top it off with a nice Korean BBQ dinner et wallah! another weekend to chalk up as funtastic!
I'm not much for theme parks. I've been to all the local ones more times than I ever cared to so I can easily forgo them and usually do, but, the kid wanted to go to Universal Studios so off we went. I haven't been in about 20 years and it's quite a bit different overall. The back lot tour is virtually unchanged but they've added many new attractions, including a few roller coaster type rides, and refreshed some of the older ones throughout the park. We had a wonderful fun-filled day in the land of make believe. The park closes early so we had plenty of time to roam around the City Walk which is a promenade of shops, restaurants and street performers. Our curiosity was piqued when we saw the Zen Zone. It's a sort of on the spot spa catering to the dog tired and weary following a day of action. We assuaged our sensory longings starting with a water massage. You lie face down in a capsule like a tanning bed and the water starts gently jetting over the plastic lining between you and the water. Afterward we settled in to the oxygen bar. It's an aromatherapy treatment whereby you breathe in essential oils through tubes inserted in your nose. It's Hollywood after all- anything can (and does) happen.
As if we didn't have enough fun already we decided to hang out at the water park on Sunday afternoon. Now this kind of activity is the best fun I've had in memorable history and a great stress relief. It's a great way to cool off and have thrilling rides on tubes, rafts, mats, or very near your birthday suit.
Top it off with a nice Korean BBQ dinner et wallah! another weekend to chalk up as funtastic!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Homeowners Beware
I think I mentioned before that California is busted... flat broke and defunct! And so is the City of Los Angeles. Part of it is because of the economic mess of the state and the nation at large. But much of it has to do with the incompetence of the city council and voter ignorance. I heard about this latest ruse and went hunting for the story. It appeared in Saturday's LA Times August 15th. "Hundreds of thousands" homeowners will have their property taxes increased because LA Unified School district can't pay the interest on bonds issued to build more schools.
As pissed off as I am, especially since I don't even have kids and if I did I probably wouldn't send them to a LA Unified school, I feel as though the voters deserve it for not paying attention. They just sign off on millions of dollars as though someone else is paying for it.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
S.O.S.
Save Our State parks!
California is broke and experiencing a budget crisis. The governor has proposed to close some 220 of California's 271 state parks to help close the enormous deficit. This is one of the many inane recommendations on the table to inflict the least amount of pain on Californians during this difficult time. The way I see it is there are consequences to bad governance. And many of the proposals I support like State worker reductions and furloughs. The last thing we need is more lazy state employees sucking off the tit of it's citizenry. California is one of only 2 states in the Union where the legislature is in session full time. Too bad they didn't have work furlough days - like ALL of them. I digress.
One of the draws to California for visitors is our natural beauty and the many gorgeous, accessible and affordable state parks. Closing the parks impacts its surrounding communities in very real ways as often they are remote and far removed from other opportunities to earn a living. Family restaurants, gas stations, recreation shops, etc. could face potentially devastating losses. Besides, it would cost us almost as much to close the parks as it does to keep them open. Unruly brush still needs to be cleared of fire danger, lawns still need to be watered, and buildings maintained. The parks could become a haven for squatters and other riffraff if they are not patrolled.
I encourage you to take a hike. And while you're at it make a donation - any size will do - to keep our parks open. Many of our local parks in LA county are on the chopping block. I read the other day that the public response to the closures has amassed a 30% increase in sum revenue. Visit the California State Parks Foundation to learn how you can intervene to keep our incredible natural lands for all to enjoy. And visit your Ca parks!
California is broke and experiencing a budget crisis. The governor has proposed to close some 220 of California's 271 state parks to help close the enormous deficit. This is one of the many inane recommendations on the table to inflict the least amount of pain on Californians during this difficult time. The way I see it is there are consequences to bad governance. And many of the proposals I support like State worker reductions and furloughs. The last thing we need is more lazy state employees sucking off the tit of it's citizenry. California is one of only 2 states in the Union where the legislature is in session full time. Too bad they didn't have work furlough days - like ALL of them. I digress.
One of the draws to California for visitors is our natural beauty and the many gorgeous, accessible and affordable state parks. Closing the parks impacts its surrounding communities in very real ways as often they are remote and far removed from other opportunities to earn a living. Family restaurants, gas stations, recreation shops, etc. could face potentially devastating losses. Besides, it would cost us almost as much to close the parks as it does to keep them open. Unruly brush still needs to be cleared of fire danger, lawns still need to be watered, and buildings maintained. The parks could become a haven for squatters and other riffraff if they are not patrolled.
I encourage you to take a hike. And while you're at it make a donation - any size will do - to keep our parks open. Many of our local parks in LA county are on the chopping block. I read the other day that the public response to the closures has amassed a 30% increase in sum revenue. Visit the California State Parks Foundation to learn how you can intervene to keep our incredible natural lands for all to enjoy. And visit your Ca parks!
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