Last Day Of The Year

While hiking this morning bid Mom a Happy Birthday. Would have been her 89th.  It's Sir Tony's Bday as well. Think he's 80 this year. Yikes! Absolutely stellar final day of 2010.  Clear blue skies with a nice chill in the air and for Los Angeles 39 is freezing! Nice sojourn to the Griffith Park helipad. Ramona and I had the trail virtually to ourselves. Just the way we like it.  Spent a little time in repose looking out over the megalopolis as orange pinks hues colored the horizon while the sun rose in the East. Ramona was looking for coyotes.

As we walked back down we were relieved to see the 90 plus year old man 

on the trail.  Hadn't seen him in a week and one can't help but wonder.

Thankfully, he's still making his morning constitutional!

Once Ramona and I got back to the car it was time to go for some early morning shopping. Once we accomplished that I decided it was too beautiful of a morning to waste. Drove into downtown looking to see what people were doing on the last day of the year.

Mostly still doing what they need to do to make a living.

Headed over to East L.A. to a spot I shot for Numbers.

Great POV of the city. See, what did I tell you. Clear as a bell!

From the Land of La wishing all of you Happy New Year!

Mi Familia

As the year end one begins to tell themselves of the changes they need to make for the new year.  Weight loss, better eating habits, frugality, etc.  Why do we lie to ourselves? Are we fools? Don't really have an answer but I do think it's a collective moment of delusion we share.  What will 2011 bring? Besides a 60th birthday and a trip to Istanbul nothing is absolute. What I do hope it brings is happiness and good health to my cherished friends across the globe. Let our fraternity remained blessed.

Simple Pleasures

You know what I am talking about! Those little things that bring a smile to your face. Getting your back scratched, chocolate, or watching the antics of your animals. Discovered a wonderful Yardley of London hand soap at the 99 cent store called Vanilla Sugar. Fabulous. Love it, love it, love it. Perused the Yardley website and noticed it's not one of their staple soaps. Was a limited addition. A true find.  Bought out the store.

The Day After

 Climbing up the trail to the Observatory after the overnight rain cleanses

is worth pain to watch the sunrise! 

Okay, time for Sunday Football. 

Christmas Day

Sunny, not too warm. Quiet. Perfect.

Monday Monday

Miss Monie and I headed out early for a hike before the rain returned.

That's Glendale in the distance.

See the storm clouds hovering?

Heaven.  We have the trail back down all to ourselves.

It's pouring outside now. POURING!  Glad we got our lovely early morning sojourn in!

Rainy Day Sunday

I can't be happy.  Besides being pissed off at the Senate I am sad that one of my most cherished secret places has closed.

Tokyo 7-7 Cafe in Culver City.

A throw back to yesteryear where you could get inexpensive plates of home cooked food at reasonable prices. Sigh. 

It's been raining all night and is still going strong this morning.

Got up early to take a look.

Rainy day reflections are always great.

Photographer's dreams.

Time for hot chocolate and my new book.

A biography of Jessica Mitford. Perfect for a rainy day Sunday!

Cowards!!!

YES the Senate absolutely did the right thing yesterday in repealing the "Don't Ask Don't Tell," policy but then showed their true cowardice by not passing the Dream Act.  Are you telling me it's fine for children born to immigrants who came here illegally but who join the military and die on foreign soil defending those Senators rights to be millionaires cannot be granted citizenship?!!!! 5 votes short. Damn Republicans!!!! Cowards one and all.  The sense of injustice enrages me.

Seeing Red in Chinatown

Was in LA's Chinatown a week or so ago searching for fun

Xmas images. Snapped this POV on a red ornament on the very lovely tree

that decorates the square. This man liked the tree as much as I did.

Again With The Cones

Sushi?!? What The Hell Was I Thinking???

NightWatch

Horns Of A Dilemma

Up On The Roof

Happy Christmas

Took the one hour portal to portal Burbank to San Jose flight last weekend.

Annual gathering of San Jose State friends for the Holidays.

In reality those hours consist of eating, laughing, catching up, drinking, eating, shopping, laughing, and eating some more.  

And what is wrong with potato chips as a meal???

 

Especially with a dip like this?

 

Making mojitos is a FINE science.

 This years merriment included pedicures.

Always great fun but with that caveat that I must climb this

trail daily from now until eternity to work off all the calories!!!

If you look closely you can see the hound far ahead of me.

And look how pooped she gets from the climb....

Lastly, got to enjoy the new Terminal B at Norm Minetta International.

Quite nice and for the years it took to complete well worth the effort.

Nice to see progress in the world of aviation.

Relaxing with friends I've known for 40 years always makes me smile.

Wouldn't trade those moments for anything!!!

Cones Chapter 12

I'm Too Sexy For My Shirt

Yellow SUV? Laughed My Head Off!

Ben and Jerry's 2 for $5 Sale!!!!!

Born In The USA

We're Going To Philippes, Oh Yes We Are!

Diets To Donuts

Orange Cones, A New Dawn

Our House Is a Very, Very, Very Fine House.

Honestly, I Just Don't Know

I'm Not Worthy!

Courtney Love I Know You're In There!

Nightmares

I'd have them if I were a kid and Mom and Dad took me here to play. 

Watch out Ramona! Ah hell now I AM going to have them!

Who Is Happier?