Progress?

A while ago, I posted a photo of a childhood picnic spot of mine; well, in the name of "progress" my little white wooden "picnic" rail has been removed and replaced with this heavy steel industrial guard rail. It saddened my heart a little yet I was reminded that I had taken the photo of my old rail and will have that to always remember it by and if not for this blog project, I might not have ever taken a photo of it and might have taken for granted that it would always be there and then have it gone and it be too late to do anything about it but now because I took notice, it sort of always will be there;at least in spirit and in my heart.

Chandeliers at the Train Station

I took D. to Union Station today, in downtown Los Angeles, to catch the red line subway to a friend's house. I walked inside with him so I could show him where to get his ticket, where to catch the train.

I've been in Union Station a million times, but I always forget . . . everything there is amazing, from the door handles, to the floor tiles, to the clocks on the walls. We came in the front entrance, and it struck me again. I stopped and made him sit in one of those huge wood and leather seats in the waiting area. He wasn't sure what I was getting at, but he obliged. He's used to his mom's strange and unusual requests. Then we leaned back and I told him to look up. 

"You will never, ever, see something like this built in Los Angeles again," I told him. I think he believed me.

 

A "snowdrift" of flower petals

I was shocked to see snow on the ground here in NYC today.

I was happy to see I was wrong:

It wasn't snow--

It was a "snowdrift" of flower petals--blossoms from a nearby tree

Blowing around just like snow on the sidewalks.

Beautiful.

Irony

This morning, this photo was taken because these palms stood out against the clear sky and then this evening I realized it was Palm Sunday so I thought that it was rather ironic.

Northeast L.A. and the Hollywood Sign

Can you see it? There, at the top of that furthest hill, near the center of the photo, way out on the horizon. Just a bit above the telephone pole. Maybe you can zoom in. Now, look really, really closely and you'll see it.

It's the Hollywood sign.

All my life I've lived just a few miles from Hollywood, and in my whole life I've been to Hollywood maybe three times. Hollywood has had such a huge impact on not just my native Los Angeles, but the whole world. As for me, I mostly just forget it exists - it remains a tiny speck in the distance.

But if I'm really honest, I have to admit that even that tiny speck of white letters on hill can still give me a little thrill when I catch a glimpse of it.

Red Peppers on sale at the local grocery store today.

Johnie and Bob

This is Johnie; for over 40 years he stood prominently atop "Johnie's Broiler" a restaurant located in Downey, California. Johnie's had been featured in several movies and TV shows because of it's authentic 50's style; sadly, in 2007, Johnie's Broiler was illegally demolished, however, Johnie himself refused to go and has remained and although he now stands at the back of the parking lot of the newly built Bob's Big Boy, he has no hard feelings; that's just the kind of cool cat Johnie is.

Bones Everywhere I Go

I'm not sure why, but it seems like everywhere I go I find small bones with teeth. I don't even have to be wandering in the vacant hills. Sometimes, I'm just walking down my street, I look down, and I find them in the corner of someone's front yard, near the driveway. A little freaky, to say the least. But I'm not complaining.

Refrigerator Collage

Massive wall of canned goods

this always causes me to stop and stare

(an outdoor wall at a latino grocery store in washington heights, nyc)

Poppies

Theses poppies are adding to the spring joy in my yard.

Spiked Wheels

What the?! This is a tow truck.  What do they do? Go around popping tires to drum up some towing business?

Greetings

As I descend from the freeway off ramp, from my morning commute, I am, on most mornings, greeted by the sun on the horizon....makes pulling in the parking lot a little easier.

Scary Statue

I was walking in Queens today

when I came upon this stone statue

(actually, there were 2 of them--one on each "pillar" at the house)

AND IT TOTALLY FREAKED ME OUT.

It made me wonder if the owners liked the image

Or if it was some kind of a memorial

A boy-angel and his puppy...

The Judge-a-Mood Meter

I can pretty accurately judge my mood just by looking at this small bookcase in my bedroom.

A.) Lousy Mood:  Does it look like a pile of dusty crap that should have been thrown out long ago?
Or
B.) Good Mood:  Does is look like a glorious pile of memories and inspiration?

Guard Rail

After living on the same street for over 45 years, the city thought it now necessary for some reason to put up this guard rail; in all that time, I have never known of a car to go over the cliff; the only incident I remember was back in the 60's or early 70's when one of the neighbor kids who was walking along the edge fell and broke his leg but other than that it's been incident free. I wonder how long it will take before graffiti art covers it.

Roadwork Still Life

This scene/moment in time

reminded me of a time I was in Jeanie's classroom at Otis

A tableau of shapes, angles, curves, colors, textures.

Millard Sheets Library

This, of course, is a library, which, or course, makes me happy. But this library is filled with books about art. Art, art, art. Rows upon rows, stacks upon stacks of books all about art. This library, of course, makes me swoon.

What If...

I jumped on the Mega band wagon; I know the odds are crazy but half the fun of it is playing the "what if" game - What Would You Do?

Bountiful baskets

Today I walked by a supermarket in Washington Heights

and their outdoor display of nature's bounty was beautiful.

I got hungry looking at the baskets and all of the produce spilling out of 'em.

Vibrant colors, smells, textures.

Absent-minded

It wasn't until 6:21 am this morning when I went to get my purse to leave for work and noticed the strap to my camera hanging out of the side pocket did I realize that I had completely forgot to post my daily contribution to the blog; ugh! Well, this was a learning experience for me on how this simple blog has had an effect upon my life. Through this blog process, I have already become more observant well I shouldn't say more, I should say have become observant because really I have been told that I am not an observant person; I tend to be focused more on thoughts on the "what's next" then my own surroundings but through this blog, I have learned to stop and notice the here and now. And...through this as well, I have learned to forgive myself. So, instead of berating myself about how forgetful I am, I forgave myself and made a choice to accept that these things happen and it's ok; I look back at yesterday and think after working 10 hours in front of a computer screen, driving home in freeway traffic, cooking dinner for my family, bathing my 22 month old grandson and washing the dirty dinner dishes that I was in the "now" and that forgetting to post will happen maybe from time to time and that it is ok; so I move forward guilt free.

Street Chess at Union Square

These street chess games have always fascinated me.

One person sets up the game and then waits for someone to join them.

Maybe someone they've met before. Maybe a complete stranger.

United by their love of the game.

Cool.

Angel in the Fence

I've always known that I'm not the only one who visits the Trash Heap. But I figured it was mostly just kids, kicking things around, spilling out the contents of paint cans, breaking glass and mirrors. But today I was surprised to find that someone else sees this stuff as special.

When I first saw this cement head, it was in the dirt, amongst the broken bricks and scraps of wood. I wanted it, but decided to leave it be.

 Now I'm so glad I left it.  It has taken its place - an angel watching over my Trash Heap.

Hawaiian-style Pineapple Bread

'onolicious.

broke 'da mouth kine good.

true story.

All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go

I have boxes and boxes of old and broken jewelry. Last November, I met a nice woman who made new pieces out of old. I offered her a look-see through my boxes, to take whatever she thought she could use, and she agreed to make me something from my favorite broken brooch. I love the necklace she made for me, but the problem is that I've fallen out of the habit of wearing any jewelry at all. I was afraid that I would put down this nice piece and then forget about it, never remembering to put it on. So I hung it from my bedside lamp. I thought that it would be easy to spot, and easy to remove from the lamp and place around my neck. But then I noticed how great the lamp wore it, and I added the bow tie. I do notice it. It makes me smile every day. I smile remembering the new friend who made it for me, and smile seeing how happy my lamp looks wearing it.

Bird on a wire

Enjoying the dry weather before the storm.

No More Cold Noses

When the weather is cold I often mention (ok, I complain to anyone within earshot) that my nose gets cold. But I mean really cold. So cold that it gives me a headache. Everyone thinks it's pretty funny and many people have offered ideas. The most popular idea was sticking a hard boiled egg on my nose, yolk removed. I've considered trying the egg idea; I'm that miserable when my nose is freezing.

Now, there are many reasons why I think my sister is super. And today she made me think so again. Today she gave me a present:

My sister knitted a nose warmer for me!

Garden Godzilla

This guy happily posed while taking a sun bath on our stairs; actually, it just might be a female since this larger lizard kept trying to impress her by doing push ups on the stair and then would get real close and try to get frisky or so it seemed but she wasn't about to be bothered during her sun bathing except to pose for her close-up. 

typewriter #1

Garden Blooms

First signs of spring; oh, how happy these make me.

3 very different men standing on a corner in NYC's Greenwich Village

Seriously.

This is a REAL photo taken this afternoon of

3 very different men

(although maybe they're actually quite similar)

standing on street corner in NYC's Greenwich Village.

It's like

the Village People for the new millennium.

The Jolly Jug

I love old signs.

But this one makes me a little crazy. Besides being weather-beaten, broken and faded, nothing in it matches. Nothing makes sense.

Who is that goofy guy in the green bow tie with yellow polka dots. Is he Jolly Jug? And why is he wearing a crown? Because of the "honored sandwiches?" But a crown makes him majestic, not honored. Maybe he should have a gavel, like a judge (Your Honor Jolly Jug, sir).  My son says I over-think these things. Hmmm . . . perhaps he is right this time. But for sure, no over-thinking about it, this sign does not make me yearn for sandwiches from the Jolly Jug. Ugh.

But on the other hand, just imagine how fabulous this sign could be if someone restored it. Suddenly, all the inconsistencies would just make it that much more charming.

A Perfect Place

I had grand plans to go to the museum today. But instead these cool-looking cement blocks called out to me. So I spent the day in the yard with grand plans of trying to find the perfect place them. Never did find the perfect spot, but I did pull a million weeds, plant some sunflowers, rake up some leaves, trim some chili pepper plants, and generally enjoy a sunny day.

Emergency Precautions

Comforting to know that it's here at work just in case...

Superette in Washington Heights

Freeway clown

The end of the 710 freeway brings all sorts of "solicitors"; Orange vendors, peanut peddlers, flower sellers, homeless vets, real estate agents (yes, I've been handed a business card from a real estate agent) but today was my first freeway clown; did a little juggle for me; asked how his photo came out and was happy for my monetary thank you. Who knew the freeway could be so entertaining.

Just A Goofy Lemon

Just a goofy-looking lemon

Flavor of the month

I visited a coffee shop in Queens today.

The flavor of the month is Raspberry Mocha.

I prefer plain, unflavored coffee.

Straight up--no sugar, no milk.

Strong enough to rip the enamel off of my teeth.

True story.

Self expression

As I was coming home from my Tuesday evening pool night, around 8pm, I noticed this hand made sign posted expressing one neighbors frustration; that's one way to make your point.

What To Do With a Blue Rocking Horse?

I wish I could figure out a good enough excuse to drag this home from the trash heap!

Cubicle Guardian 2

A while back I posted  a photo of my cubicle guardian and all of a sudden he has a little companion; a trainee perhaps; where he came from, I have no idea; maybe my guardian is cloning himself.

The Trash Heap Returns

The trash heap makes its slow return.

I think if I recreated this in a gallery I could call it art.

Face in the stone

Today I walking thru

Manhattanʻs Upper West Side

And I was delighted to see all of the cool

architectural details

that adorn the buildings and staircases.

American gothic, for sure!

Dancing water

Part of the World of Color show at Disney's California Adventure; the colored water fascinates me.

Andy Warhol monument

Today we had such a great sky here in NYC

and I passed the newly-famous

Andy Warhol monument in Union Square.

The sky, the buildings, the monument

I had to snap a quick photo to share.

A Missed Post

I missed my daily post yesterday. I came home tired from teaching all day. And the cold rainy day just begged me to hibernate. I fell asleep early. Woke up before midnight. "You could still get that post in," I told myself then fell right back to sleep. This morning I woke up with a big smile on my face, even before I looked out and saw this beautiful day.

Later, I'm hoping to see the ocean out there. In the early afternoon the sun hits the water just right and if I'm lucky I can see a thin strip of gold on the horizon.

Open Up!

We hardly ever have days this gorgeous in L.A.  This house with big wide windows and wonderful views - Hey! Open up your curtains! Open up your shades! It's beautiful out here!

Abandoned lot

An abandoned lot

not too far from my apartment

Across the Harlem River--

where the boundary between Manhattan and the Bronx

becomes blurry.

Vet sculpture

As many times as I drive past this emergency pet center, I just noticed this beautiful wood sculpture; I thought it must be new but was told it wasn't, just new to me.