February - Around Here

As I write this, we are riding out the tail end of what giddily panicked local reporters have dubbed Rainpocalypse and the Liquid Vortex. In other words, we have had a couple of rainy days.

Despite requiring a cap to keep the sun out of her eyes, Joy Benedict assured us that this is a storm not to be trifled with.

This intrepid journalist reported, "The raindrops started falling a little over an hour ago, and they haven't let up." Not even kidding - watch Kimmel's bit on LA's weather coverage.

As ridiculously overblown as the coverage of this "weather event" has been, I am quite enjoying the storminess and the associated coziness. Prior to holing up with a Tom, a bottle of wine, and Netflix on Friday night, I took my rain boots and bright red umbrella for their yearly outing to document the destruction.

 

 

 

As for the rest of February, here's a quick recap... 

We saw Fitz and the Tantrums at the Ace Hotel. These guys are always amazing live, and they did not disappoint. The Artists Den is an organization that hosts intimate free concerts in historic venues that are recorded and then aired on Live from the Artists Den on PBS. We actually got to see Mayer Hawthorne in his Artists Den show at the Park Plaza Hotel last year - also awesome. I am, however, rather partial to Fitz and his Tantrums, particularly the amazing Noelle Scaggs who can work a tambourine like nobody's business and who is basically my best friend since she made my day by liking my Instagram picture of their show. Seriously though, she is a badass.

 

I made a light box, bought some ranuculous, and took pictures of them.

 

  
I went to Coronado where I enjoyed: an empty beach, family time, a fabulous brunch courtesy of Jaime, and finally getting to meet Gomez, Meghan's special friend. Apparently, I also saw a hummingbird.

I had just told Gomez a most hilarious anecdote.

One Saturday morning, Tom and I took advantage of pre-rainpocalypse weather to get in an outdoor workout at the Baldwin Park Stairs. Amazing views, but I think a weekday morning might be a better time to visit since I barely tolerate traffic when comfortably ensconced in my car, so dealing with it on foot while my quads are screaming is not ideal.

 I was treated to a Valentine's feast.

I went on a lot of walks.

 Apparently, Mother Nature is on board with the ombre thing...

 My parents came to visit. We ate well, went to see the National Geographic exhibition at the Annenberg, and I finally forced them to watch About Time, a very sweet movie for which I have a surprising amount of affection. Sadly, the only part of the weekend that I documented was the ten minutes we spent at LACMA's Urban Lights display.

And last but not least - I collected on my birthday gift. We giggled and cringed (in a good way) through The Book of Mormon, and I was reminded how very much I enjoy watching someone just belt out a song - even when the lyrics to said song are...probably banned in Mississippi.

And now - March.

Week 21: New Camera and Week 22: The Troubadour

I'm having that problem again - the one where I am so far behind on the ol' blog that I avoid it entirely because even thinking about it just makes me feel guilty and overwhelmed, which is too bad really because I really enjoy it when I'm doing it well, which is not now. Obviously. Anyway, these "new" things are now several months past and not so new anymore, so I'd just like to get caught up and move on, real quick and dirty like.

On the 21st week of the year, way back in early May, I bought myself my first serious camera, one I have been eyeing for over a year now. The Olympus that my parents gave my for my 29th birthday was the best gift I have ever received since it started me on what I hope will be a lifetime of hobby.  I had gotten to a point with my photography, however, where I felt like I wanted to make a step up from the entry level camera. I lusted after this Nikon for at least a year before I finally pulled the trigger and bought myself this little present.

My new thing for the 22nd week of the year was a visit to the Troubadour, the iconic music venue where Elton John, the Eagles, James Taylor, Carole King, Fleetwood Mac, and countless others paid their dues.

We went to see Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers. I have no idea what a grambler is, but the show was fantastic. Sadly, my new camera was not allowed in, so my only evidence of my inaugural visit to the Troubadour comes courtesy of Luella (that's my phone's name, in case you've forgotten).

Ms. Bluhm and her Gramblers are not only great musicians, they also seem like great people. I am basing this solely on the fact that they do fun things like record covers of Faith while driving around in a van...

                         
In fact, they also recorded cover's of Hit Me with Your Best Shot, Material Girl, and Islands in the Stream, and myriad other easy listening classics. I really want to ride in that van.

Happiness - According to Ms. Luella Bates Washington Jones

I find a lot of joy in the little things. In fact, I find joy in finding joy in the little things, so I try to document those layers of joyfulness whenever possible. Usually, they sneak up on me so my phone serves as my means of documentation. Here are some of the happy things Ms. Luella Bates Washington Jones has captured lately.

{It is absurd how happy a new set of colored pens can make me. My love of school supplies goes way back and was a significant factor in my decision to become a teacher. Then I learned that the students had a tendency to abscond with them.}

{Now that I'm not teaching, it's easier to keep awesome colored pens around, but it's slightly more difficult to justify their purchase. Let's just say my to-do lists are very pretty.}

{This is from a while ago, but the combination of Tom, Lucy, and a healthy glass of Zin makes for a very happy time indeed.}

{Tom and I were very late to the party on this one, but seriously? I love these characters so much that I am willing to believe all the crazy-ass nonsense that they get into.}

{Hi there.}

{Mom busting a move}

{Lucy wanted in.}

{the succulent wreath in action}

Around the Neighborhood with Ms. Luella Bates Washington Jones

Working at home is great, but it has it's hazards, not the least of which is the close proximity of both the couch and the kitchen. In an effort to combat the temptation to nap and/or make baked goods that seems to strike around 3:30 every day, I've been taking a lot of late afternoon walks.

The other day, I walked by a house where a cat was keeping watch from the front step. As soon as he saw me pass his walkway, he ran out and started walking next to me. He walked with me for the rest of the block and then went on his merry way.

Cats are weird.

Window shopping is more like window admiring around here since the shops in my 'hood are on the high end of the spectrum. Sadly, Vera Wang and Carolina Herrera are not exactly in the budget at the moment. But, oh aren't the windows pretty?

This particular store, Neil Lane to be precise, comes with it's own security... I'm assuming that part of his job involves checking your credit score before he lets you in.

This guy doesn't live in my neighborhood, but I couldn't leave him out. His home is the window of a boxing studio (boxing club?) next door to the salon manly haircut place where Tom gets his hair done cut in San Diego.

So the moral of the story is: walking is fun and less likely to lead to a mirror-induced panic disorder come bikini shopping season than mid-afternoon bingeing.