Sunday, September 30, 2012

A Sunday walk through the park turned to yet again be an unexpected surprise. Last weekend was the "Strut Your Mutt" festival and this weekend, something entirely different.

I'm sure I wasn't the only one who saw it in all of Los Angeles since it was in the sky. It's not everyday you see a jet plane writing 'LOVE' in the air!!

We sat in the grass and saw this jet plane write 'LOVE' three separate times.

 

Spending much of the weekend in the valley of Sherman Oaks and Studio City while getting there through a couple different canyon routes, a new domesticated animal was met while meeting new people. 

A Tortoise! How fun!

Continuing the weekend, grocery shopping and whatnot, I am so shocked I can get a gallon of fat free milk for $2.99 while all other conventional grocers carry it for $5.99 - I'm all about those savings!

To top off the weekend, a nice end was a visit to this place while getting a burger and fry - 'Animal Style'  (thanks for the inspiration mr. tortoise).

(Picture taken day of)

 

Thursday, September 20, 2012

A day after my lovely mother's birthday, I celebrate as summer turns to fall this weekend.

Some of the best trees are sycamore's, oak's and sassafras for their varying leaf shapes and sizes. In the days of fall, their leaves sprinkle the ground with gentle touch and remind us again of nature's cycle.

In fact, the fall reminds me of great summers and all seasons at a splendid favorite family getaway.........

The rustic Lake- good for the soul.

Monday, September 17, 2012

I need to get something off my chest. With all of the uproar in the world regarding anti-American rants, protests and anger, it's a sad thing to see. I am through and through American. Born on a rural farm in the middle of the country it is impossible to deny the fact. 

What I appreciate most about the USA is freedom of religion, freedom of speech and our multicultural diversity. 

I don't pretend to expect other nations to understand our freedoms. I also don't pretend to not know about underlying issues of special interests which make up our global connections and allies. 

That said....

Hate is a horrible thing. Love as the answer is a bit naive. Peace is a great idea. Understanding really helps.

Starting this week, in the town of my Alma mater, is the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival. We all know music festivals happen all the time but as world music goes- this is a premiere showcase. Music of Madagascar, Czech Republic, Paris, China and you name it could be represented here in local venues like churches, a convention center, libraries or in the street.

The logo for this years festival. Right Now!

Other music I got from......

while at....

 

 was...

Der Kommissar

..then, I hopped in the car and heard this....

Love on the Line by Crazy P

...finally, I got the free Instagram app by Facebook...

 

...and took this picture....

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Where to start....

I could write about the last hurrahs of summer like the many hard lap swims I had at the city pool 200 free, 200 breast, 100 back + 200 kick- really hit my warm-up and cool down stroke with speed to close. Or about the awesome beach days I've had swimming in the surf at Santa Monica Beach. For a while I was wondering where my gills were. I may have to pick up surfing next summer.

Then again, I could mention the fantastic Korean Barbecue food at the LA Farmers Market with live jazz for summer nights while enjoying one of my favorite Asian dishes, Bibimbap! Perhaps the delicious food on the grill or all that seasonal fruit for the best smoothies, snacks and toppings of the summer. 

An eventful summer with friends and many changes while starting the fall in a new direction.

This year is the first year I did not pay my own personal tribute for the hero's or mourning of September 11, 2001. I've not forgotten but our nation is healing. However, I did take a moment of silence and recalled the few visits I had at ground zero and how I look forward to seeing the memorial.

Unfortunately, I woke up to the tragic news of a US Ambassador to Libya and three other Americans killed in Benghazi. The last time an American Ambassador was murdered was in 1979. I guess I just don't like hearing about Americans being killed in any way- no matter what.
This is my tribute to this incident and remembrance of 9/11.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Just saw Moonrise Kingdom, finally.

 

What a great cast, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton, Bruce Willis.

 

What a great scene with Jason Schwartzman and the two main characters, Jared Gilman & Kara Hayward.

Another theatrical piece by Wes Anderson already a cult classic.

Ran into actor Jeremy Sisto at the gift shop of LA's Arclight Cinerama and made small talk about an art book there. 

 

Star sighting, handsome Mr. Sisto

 

Eva Longoria at the screening for Moonrise Kingdom in all her stunning glamour.

And that's Hollywood folks.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Watched a program about deregulated FM radio by Ronald Reagan in the 80's which changed the law that no one in America could own more than 7 radio stations and suddenly corporations took over the artistry of the profession. This was evidently after marketing agents took the alternative music listening protesters of the 1960's and realized all these people listening to Bob Marley & Jefferson Airplane could be their target market. Problem was, as an example, focus groups were studied with an apparent outcome that people said they like Bob Marley "I shot the Sheriff" but focus group leaders alleged the listener didn't REALLY like Bob Marley, so, they played a more watered down Eric Clapton version. This kept radio mainstream and without controversy. Then MTV came on the scene.....and radio, well, we all know what it is today.....

This was AFTER I reminisced and wished I could be at a Grateful Dead concert this summer Saturday night more than anything. It's the first concert I ever went to (probably posted that before and might again...). Sugar Magnolia and Jerry Garcia- such a great scene from no matter what your walk of life, putting all things aside, seriously.

 

A fabulous album.

That's not to say this alternative music listener is not a fan of top of the pop charts. Listening to Mariah Carey + Whitney Houston's albums in the car the other day brought me back to my last two serious relationships. Each album came out at their demise. Pop music really takes hold because of their simple, everyday people, relateable lyrics. Of course, the hook is their simple repetition and fresh new sound.

We were just getting to know Mariah Carey on her debut self titled album back in 1990. Have you heard her vocals on this one? A far cry from the Grateful Dead yet a firm contribution to music for the diversified listener.

On another note, one of America's finest explorer's, Neil Armstrong has passed on August 25th, 2012.

 

  The first man to walk on the moon. An incredible feet at an incredible time in our history. An American Hero.

Tomorrow, an early morning run on the Santa Monica beach!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

A weekend full of R&R in some hot temperature comes to a close. City life brings joys and pleasure not found in nature. However, nature most definitely brings us fruitful necessities that sustain our lives on the planet. Summer is spectacular for the harvesting of seasonal berries and fruits. 

Going to a local farmers market or even a locally owned grocery store is a great way to pick up some of these edible delights. 

 A view of Vista House at Columbia River Gorge near Portland, OR 

I'll never forget a summer trip into the breathtaking land of Oregon with very good friend Corey, who I've known since early college. She took my brother, his girlfriend and I to this great Vista overlooking the Gorge. We happened upon a blueberry picking patch which I believe is named Kirby's Blueberry Patch. Picking buckets worth on the honor system, we took so many blueberry's we had to freeze bags of them. Amazing.

Buckets of blueberries, very similar to those we filled in Oregon.

Another joy of summer is boating. Pleasure boats such as a sailboat or faster mode of motor boating and even an adventure boat such as a whitewater raft for hitting a river of rapids are all fantastic ways to celebrate the season. 

I recommend a whitewater rafting adventure trip in Oregon on the White Salmon River for it's 14' drop, not for the faint of heart. I did this in the summer of 2009 and it's the best rapid I've ever gone over. 

The Class 4 river run has the tallest commercially raftable waterfall in the nation, 14-foot Class 5 Husum Falls. Such awesomeness!

Nature should not only be advocated to sustain our human necessities such as food, clothing and shelter but be maintained for the enjoyment it naturally has to offer. No matter what our world brings with technology greatness, not to be forgotten are nature's splendors.