Parking lot view

Makes me happy to come out from work and still have some daylight.

Self portrait in a mirror

A self portrait taken in a mirror

A photo of my reflection

(Like a portal into an alternate universe.)

Manhattan, Upper West Side

Snails and Shells and Puppy Dog Tails

Today Donkey and I went for a walk in the amazing Debs Park. It is one of our best kept secrets here in northeast Los Angeles. At the park, walk up the road to the pond. Stand in the shade and check out the view, then keep on going. The paved road follows the crest of the hills northward and soon leaves the graffiti behind while many small hiking trails wind their way along through the trees and brush giving spectacular views of the San Gabriel Mountains, the Arroyo Seco, and downtown Los Angeles. Its my new favorite place.

After another fabulous walk, we left the park and I desperately needed something cold to drink. I found a little burger joint and went in to get a soda. Donkey waited outside. I hurriedly reached into my pocket for some crumpled dollar bills. And I laughed at myself, feeling like a little kid just coming in from playing all day on the hillside.

Ouch

I painfully had to fill my gas tank today; my pocketbook is bruised.

NYC wakes up

This morning, I sat in a coffee shop in Hell's Kitchen

and sipped coffee

and watched the city wake up.

I could get used to that.

Be Happy

This little chalkboard slate hangs by my front door.

Every December we have a party: Christmas Game Day. It's a big deal around here. Last December I wrote on my chalkboard "HAPPY! !!GAME DAY!!"

That message stayed until about Valentines Day when I finally erased the GAME DAY!! part of the message. But I was in a hurry (and not in the greatest mood) and couldn't decide what to put in its place. So I left it.

Today I noticed it again. And instead of the grumpy mood of that day, I'm in a great mood on this day. And I realized: why do I need to be told to be happy about some specific thing or event?

"!HAPPY!!" is enough for me.

Street Lights and Mocking Birds

When I was growing up, all the street lights looked like this one. I didn't think there were any left around here.

A few years ago the city replaced all our street lights with super bright ones. The one in front of our house can make my bedroom look like midday. The same year they put the new street lights in, a mocking bird started hanging out there. I love mocking birds. They are my absolute favorite. They make me laugh every single time I hear them. But this mocking bird was hanging out between 1 and 3 am. Every night singing his heart out. We decided it was because of the street light, making the middle of the night seem like midday. We lay in bed and listened since there's no going back to sleep when a crazy mocking bird practices his repertoire outside your bedroom window. And we chuckle through the late night hours.

Found Treasure

This treasure had been unintentionally put aside years ago and sadly forgotten until my grandson emerged from one of his exploration adventures dragging it with him. Apparently, he knows valuable art when he sees it and knows it should be displayed with pride.

New seats on the subway!

We got some new seats on the subway!

See the orange and yellow seats in the top left corner?

Those are the old seats.

But see this shiny seat that is almost the same color as Eeyore?

That's the new seat!

New color. Slightly uncomfortable in the current color scheme.

And, as always, slightly uncomfortable to sit on.

Circus Cage

Old Circus Cage; located at Travvel Town in Griffith Park.

Tonight at hula class...

Tonight at hula class

the dancers danced

and the musicians made music.

And for a short while,

all seemed to be OK in the world.

L.A. Snowflakes

Looking around the house, wondering what I might stop and notice today, I glanced up and ..... Oopps. The last of the Christmas decorations. How long is too long to leave up snowflakes?

Siamese Vegies

I've never seen double squash before. But now I've got two.

Breakfast at the Inn at Sweet Water Farm

The breakfast table at one of my favorite places on the planet:

The Inn at Sweet Water Farm.

The only thing missing? You!

(I'm homesick for it already!)

Bunnies

While waiting at a red light, I glanced over to my left and saw these two bunnies enjoying the afternoon sun.

Socks Can't Make Me Smile

I wish the piles of dirty socks in the living room could make me smile the way that the fluff from Donkey's pillow can.

Inspector Penny

Inspecting the new fence for any possible escape routes, Penny was satisfied with the job and gave it a paws up.

Dance Hall

Back in the 60's I used to take ballet lessons at the local park; I remember performing in the Nutcracker, I think I was a sugar plum fairy...anyway, it saddens me to see the hall where I took those lessons in such disarray; a new gym at the park has been built but this building remains abandoned, vandalized and forgotten.. but not by all.

Power Lines

I guess I'm not supposed to like these - they are urban blight. But I love telephone poles and the wires that criss-cross past them. I love how they divide up the space. I love remembering long car rides and silently watching the power lines zip along the side of the road next to us - a slight dip, then a rise to meet the next pole - keeping time.

Writing with friends

This weekend, a small group of people

are gathering at a bed and breakfast in Massachusetts

to celebrate our friend's birthday.

I've been asked to share some writing exercises with the group

(and that ALWAYS makes me smile!)

So I've prepared a Weekend Writing Kit to share with everyone.

Let the scribbling begin!