Union Station

One of the finest pieces of architecture on the planet. Was there this morning watching all the Thanksgiving visitors make their way back home. 

The Cones Are Back In Town

My G4 Mac is in Apple heaven. Many of my unpublished cone pics as well. So I begin anew. The saga of cones continues.

Dum de dum dum Dummmm. This is The City

I can see my reflection!

It's Chinatown Jake!

Thanksgiving Truth

Can't cook worth a damn.  I like cooking but it's not a passion.  I do make a great spaghetti sauce, fine white clam chowder, and passable meatloaf but when the holidays arrive I slink into a funk wondering what will I ruin this year?  I'm being hard on myself as my most recent culinary endeavors have been well received but it's sad to know my skills in the kitchen are lacking.  The reality? Mom wasn't a good cook so nothing was shared with her only child.  One of my favorite "Mary" stories revolves around her Chinese Chicken Salad recipe that was chosen and included in an addition of St. Mary's Catholic Church's cookbook.  Not once, not ever, did she prepare that for Dad and I. NOT once! That and I'm still haunted by the smell of SPAM and pineapple simmering in the frying pan. Thankfully, here in the Land of La exists the mecca of food, Trader Joe's.  I've already purchased the half of precooked Turkey that only needs to be reheated to be served.  It can be nuked but I'll do the one hour toast in the 350 degree oven instead.  Need to baste with chicken stock in hopes of generating some drippings for the gravy I hope to make. Fingers will be crossed. Besides if all else fails, Bill and I will just have pie.  Not a pie I baked of course, but one he bought at the House of Pies. Truthfully, Thanksgiving dinner is simply a matter of perspective.

Sloth

A sin of endearment if you ask me.  Since my return from desert bleakness I've made sloth my daily ritual of choice. Heaven. Sadly, I've also witnessed the sudden but not unexpected passing of my iMac G4.  The faithful companion of six years was pronounced DOA following numerous resuscitation attempts at the Apple store genius bar. Now learning to live with a 13 inch MacBook Pro. And they say size doesn't matter. Ha. 


Rains are predicted for the weekend. Wonderful. Angelenos don't appreciate it but I sure do. Cleanses the city's filth. Back to my early morning reading. Nearly finished with Henning Mankell's Italian Shoes.  Love his writing style. Concise, informative sentences. "I always feel more lonely when it's cold. The cold outside my window reminds me of the cold emanating from my own body. I'm being attacked from two directions. But I'm constantly resisting." Brrrrrr.

Trona Pinnacles

It was a nice and sunny day (sorry Snoopy) so I took advantage and trundled 5 miles down a dusty dirt road to watch the sunset on the Pinnacles. Located 2.5 hours out of LA these unique tufa spires existed below a large lake on the planet long ago. The lake dried up and.....

That's salt lining the road.

I drove along the route that went to the backside of the formation.

Got out and was poking around hoping to find some unique gem or artifact.

Only a few rusted railroad spikes. The sky got bluer, the clouds fuller.

As the sun got lower the clouds were infused with color.  Very peaceful. Gorgeous comes to mind.

The mountains surrounding the basin glowed.

Mona watched as well.  Lovely end of a day.

Out of Town

Started a new gig outside Ridgecrest, CA last Friday.

Sony pictures shut it down today.

Ah show biz.

A Parade To Remember!

OH YES WE ARE

That my friends is the World Series trophy.

This SF Giant the Greatest Ballplayer EVER!

Notice the smiles and the cameras.

Fear The Beard!

My man Aubrey Huff!

Mad Bum

Orange, black and white never looked prettier.

Here's to next year on the corner of Montgomery and Sutter!

Am I Crazy Insane?

Depends on who you ask I suppose. Today has been joyful. Cannot explain the pure glee I feel now that the San Francisco Giants have won the World Series. One moment I can't stop smiling, the other I'm tearful. Am I in shock? All I know is that in the wee hours of tomorrow morning I will take myself to the dreadful LAX to board a Virgin America flight to San Francisco International. I will then take BART into The City By The Bay and join the masses converging to watch the victory ticker tape parade down Market Street. Christa bless her soul is taking BART under the Bay to join me.  Once in a life time opportunities like this are rare and isn't this why we have a credit cards?  San Francisco open your golden gate!

How Sweet It Is!

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!

Take that all you disbelievers and pundits who said it was going back to SF.

We ended it Texas. 

Holding My Breath

No, not in Arlington at the game. At home in LA but wanting this to end tonight! GO GIANTS!