We had lunch at Borrego under the Palms.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Friday, June 03, 2005
June--Fair month
June has such a nice sound to it. Its soft and sounds warm and cozy. Schools get out. It's summer! There is less traffic. The water gets warmer at the beach and fishing seems to get better. There are lots of sand crabs to use for bait when surf fishing. Life seems easier.
Nancy always works at the county fair for the whole month of June. She likes to do it, but it changes our routine since she works alot of nights and generally long hours for the whole month and through July 4th. For the last 10 years or so I have spent July 4th at the fair, going to the concert and watching the fireworks by myself. I have got to the point where I even get one reserved seat for myself each year right down in front of the stage. Matt never goes with me, and even when Sara was around she worked the fair too. I need to find a date!
During June I eat alot of microwaved leftovers from whichever nights Nancy makes it home to cook during the week.
During June I spend to much time goofing off. I think I should change that this year. I have all ready been goofing off to much in May.
Nancy also gets free tickets to the fair, so whenever I want to see her I go. I have gotton pretty bored with it, but have tried to pick a few of the evening concerts to go to--alot of the time I find that the sound system is so loud I have to leave. I have to pick concerts I think will not be so loud. Rock is obviously out, and sometimes country, so I just hope that there is someone good who has a band that is not all bass guitar. I better get the list of concerts and see if I should get reservations for any besides the 4th of July concert by the Navy Band.
I always wonder if they are going to make any big changes at the fair, but it usually is the same old stuff. In a way, that is comforting. I bet there are people who go every year with certain expectations, and if something is missing would be disappointed. Even I have a certain routine of expectations for certain things to eat and exhibits to view each year. But it is a very short list.
It starts June 10.
Nancy always works at the county fair for the whole month of June. She likes to do it, but it changes our routine since she works alot of nights and generally long hours for the whole month and through July 4th. For the last 10 years or so I have spent July 4th at the fair, going to the concert and watching the fireworks by myself. I have got to the point where I even get one reserved seat for myself each year right down in front of the stage. Matt never goes with me, and even when Sara was around she worked the fair too. I need to find a date!
During June I eat alot of microwaved leftovers from whichever nights Nancy makes it home to cook during the week.
During June I spend to much time goofing off. I think I should change that this year. I have all ready been goofing off to much in May.
Nancy also gets free tickets to the fair, so whenever I want to see her I go. I have gotton pretty bored with it, but have tried to pick a few of the evening concerts to go to--alot of the time I find that the sound system is so loud I have to leave. I have to pick concerts I think will not be so loud. Rock is obviously out, and sometimes country, so I just hope that there is someone good who has a band that is not all bass guitar. I better get the list of concerts and see if I should get reservations for any besides the 4th of July concert by the Navy Band.
I always wonder if they are going to make any big changes at the fair, but it usually is the same old stuff. In a way, that is comforting. I bet there are people who go every year with certain expectations, and if something is missing would be disappointed. Even I have a certain routine of expectations for certain things to eat and exhibits to view each year. But it is a very short list.
It starts June 10.
4 Summer Haiku for June's bursting out
school doors tightly closed
tassels and robes
teenyboppers freedom
summer rays shimmer
at blue waters edge
seaside solstice
tan bodies strewn
with gee string bikinis
beaches in baja
limes sliced from trees
mate ala mexicana
santa ana cabana
m. worden
6/3/05
tassels and robes
teenyboppers freedom
summer rays shimmer
at blue waters edge
seaside solstice
tan bodies strewn
with gee string bikinis
beaches in baja
limes sliced from trees
mate ala mexicana
santa ana cabana
m. worden
6/3/05
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Whatsup in the world of Golf!
Last year when I decided to take my golf game more seriously, I joined a men's club at a fairly chaallenging privately owned but public play course called San Loius Rey Downs (slrd.com), and set some goals for 2005. One was to get my handicap down to a single digit, and another was to break 80. I actually took a couple of lessons to get me going on the right track. While I had been scoring in the high 80's and low 90's with regularity and had my index at about 13, my first lesson with the "pro" indicated to me that my grip was wrong, my posture was poor, my swing plane was way inside, and my alignment was askew! It was not that I was a poor golfer, it was just that I had developed some very bad moves over the years which limited my ability to improve. He showed me my swing on video, and compared it to Tiger's on the split screen.
I immediately knew why I was not on the pro tour!
No wonder I was so inconsistant and hitting balls right and left of my target so often. So, I changed my grip, stood up more erect, worked on my "takeaway", and developed a pre-shot routine to help me with alignment.
The first time I played with my new grip, I failed to break 100 for the first time I could remember. I hit all my shots dead right. By the third week of play I was back in the mid 90s, and with some extra work on the range finally got back to my normal scoring range in the high 80s most of the time.
But that would not do! Improving from a 13 index to a 9 index is alot more difficult than moving from a 25 index to a 15 index. The lower one's index, that harder it is to trim strokes. Since I turned in some high scores following the two lessons I took, my index actually went up a bit to about 13.5.
It is hard to make an index move downword playing only once a week, with an occassional practice bucket of balls at the range. However, I have seen some improvement the last few weeks.
There were other things I did to improve, as well.
Three weeks ago I played with someone who marked his ball with a line to assist him in lining up his putts. He showed me the little plastic gadget that was 1/2 a sphere with a slot in it that fit on the ball and made it easy to make a straight line with a marker pen about half way around the ball.! I marked my ball, and found it was a big help in aligning not only putts but also tee shots. Since getting one of those ball "line" gadgets and starting to mark my balls, I think that I have saved 2-3 shots a round. That is substantial! I note that Tiger also marks his ball the same way--must be something to it!
In addition, I recently upgraded my driver to a 460cc model which is a big as they can legally make these days. I thought a bigger "sweet spot" would provide better results on "misses" with the driver. I have played with it once, and had pretty good results. So that may be a plus. If that helps with a couple strokes, I am getting close.
Two weeks ago I posted an 82, and this week I posted an 83. I see light at the end of the tunnel!
This week I was playing with someone who was using a "belly" putter, and still missing a lot of very shot putts. He was pulling and pushing them and lipping out. I had him mark his ball with my gadget, and on the back nine he was holing out every putt within 5-6 ft and couldn't believe the difference. The first thing he did after the round was to head for the pro shop to buy one of the gadgets to mark his ball. That's good reinforcement!
I played golf for many years when I was younger and usually shot in the low to mid 80's consistantly. I think I remember breaking 80 only once in my life and that was at Torrey Pines North when I played there once a week in my 30's. Wouldn't it be great to play my best golf in my 60's.
On the other hand, this week I read an article that said that the average golfer's scores had not improved during the last 10-20 years. That, despite all the improvements in balls and equipment. The article stated that the golf manufacturers do not go out of their way to publicize that bit of information. But I also remember that even when woods were really made out of wood, and all the shafts were made of steel, every golfer out there was still a sucker for anything new that he thought might improve his game. Even if all the new technology in equipment hasn't helped the average golfer as much as might be expected, the quest for that bit of an "edge" would still drive the market to come up with new gadgets and clubs. Look at me with my new 460cc titanium driver with a composite graphite top, a titanium alloy face, and a lightweight Fujikura "stiff" graphite shaft for maximum accuracy and distance, my new Calloway X-18 Irons with cavity back design and low center of gravity for more forgiveness, my Calloway Steelhead 3 and 7 woods with "regular flex"graphite shaft for accuracy, and my Titlelist ProV1 ball at $40 a doz.
Wow! I am right up to date on equipment, but still playing at about the same level as I did when I was 30 yrs old, when I was swinging my old Wilson Staff woods and irons and hitting a cheap Top Flite ball with a BF Goodrich logo on it that I could buy 3 for $1 at the local tire store.
One thing about golfers, they always hope to hit it further and score better!
MW
I immediately knew why I was not on the pro tour!
No wonder I was so inconsistant and hitting balls right and left of my target so often. So, I changed my grip, stood up more erect, worked on my "takeaway", and developed a pre-shot routine to help me with alignment.
The first time I played with my new grip, I failed to break 100 for the first time I could remember. I hit all my shots dead right. By the third week of play I was back in the mid 90s, and with some extra work on the range finally got back to my normal scoring range in the high 80s most of the time.
But that would not do! Improving from a 13 index to a 9 index is alot more difficult than moving from a 25 index to a 15 index. The lower one's index, that harder it is to trim strokes. Since I turned in some high scores following the two lessons I took, my index actually went up a bit to about 13.5.
It is hard to make an index move downword playing only once a week, with an occassional practice bucket of balls at the range. However, I have seen some improvement the last few weeks.
There were other things I did to improve, as well.
Three weeks ago I played with someone who marked his ball with a line to assist him in lining up his putts. He showed me the little plastic gadget that was 1/2 a sphere with a slot in it that fit on the ball and made it easy to make a straight line with a marker pen about half way around the ball.! I marked my ball, and found it was a big help in aligning not only putts but also tee shots. Since getting one of those ball "line" gadgets and starting to mark my balls, I think that I have saved 2-3 shots a round. That is substantial! I note that Tiger also marks his ball the same way--must be something to it!
In addition, I recently upgraded my driver to a 460cc model which is a big as they can legally make these days. I thought a bigger "sweet spot" would provide better results on "misses" with the driver. I have played with it once, and had pretty good results. So that may be a plus. If that helps with a couple strokes, I am getting close.
Two weeks ago I posted an 82, and this week I posted an 83. I see light at the end of the tunnel!
This week I was playing with someone who was using a "belly" putter, and still missing a lot of very shot putts. He was pulling and pushing them and lipping out. I had him mark his ball with my gadget, and on the back nine he was holing out every putt within 5-6 ft and couldn't believe the difference. The first thing he did after the round was to head for the pro shop to buy one of the gadgets to mark his ball. That's good reinforcement!
I played golf for many years when I was younger and usually shot in the low to mid 80's consistantly. I think I remember breaking 80 only once in my life and that was at Torrey Pines North when I played there once a week in my 30's. Wouldn't it be great to play my best golf in my 60's.
On the other hand, this week I read an article that said that the average golfer's scores had not improved during the last 10-20 years. That, despite all the improvements in balls and equipment. The article stated that the golf manufacturers do not go out of their way to publicize that bit of information. But I also remember that even when woods were really made out of wood, and all the shafts were made of steel, every golfer out there was still a sucker for anything new that he thought might improve his game. Even if all the new technology in equipment hasn't helped the average golfer as much as might be expected, the quest for that bit of an "edge" would still drive the market to come up with new gadgets and clubs. Look at me with my new 460cc titanium driver with a composite graphite top, a titanium alloy face, and a lightweight Fujikura "stiff" graphite shaft for maximum accuracy and distance, my new Calloway X-18 Irons with cavity back design and low center of gravity for more forgiveness, my Calloway Steelhead 3 and 7 woods with "regular flex"graphite shaft for accuracy, and my Titlelist ProV1 ball at $40 a doz.
Wow! I am right up to date on equipment, but still playing at about the same level as I did when I was 30 yrs old, when I was swinging my old Wilson Staff woods and irons and hitting a cheap Top Flite ball with a BF Goodrich logo on it that I could buy 3 for $1 at the local tire store.
One thing about golfers, they always hope to hit it further and score better!
MW
4 haiku for a 3 day weekend
mountain calls echo
down narrow canyons
cascading water
melodies fill the sky
feathers ruffle
spring's ritual dance
palm fronds shade
hot desert sands
dust devils in summer
tent poles uplift
temporary shelters
three day weekend
down narrow canyons
cascading water
melodies fill the sky
feathers ruffle
spring's ritual dance
palm fronds shade
hot desert sands
dust devils in summer
tent poles uplift
temporary shelters
three day weekend
Friday, April 22, 2005
Friday's 5 minute poem--04/22/05
In honor of all BMW drivers
"Beemers"
There is nothing like a Beemer
A real drive-ING machine!
It vrooms along the freeway,
So fast it makes you scream!
The clutch goes in, the shifter thrusts,
Directly up the gears,
As smooth as silk, the engine whines,
And allays all your fears,
That going fast is dangerous,
It seems so effortless.
Until you start to skid a bit,
And then you're in a mess!
Thank God the Beemer's built so well,
It skid and then it crashed!
It's fortunate your belt was on,
Your face could have been smashed!
It certainly was fun to know,
That Beemer was so fast!
But driving up to it's top speed,
Made it come in dead last!
Mark Worden
04/22/2005
"Beemers"
There is nothing like a Beemer
A real drive-ING machine!
It vrooms along the freeway,
So fast it makes you scream!
The clutch goes in, the shifter thrusts,
Directly up the gears,
As smooth as silk, the engine whines,
And allays all your fears,
That going fast is dangerous,
It seems so effortless.
Until you start to skid a bit,
And then you're in a mess!
Thank God the Beemer's built so well,
It skid and then it crashed!
It's fortunate your belt was on,
Your face could have been smashed!
It certainly was fun to know,
That Beemer was so fast!
But driving up to it's top speed,
Made it come in dead last!
Mark Worden
04/22/2005
Friday, April 15, 2005
Beware the "Ides of April"?--a poem
"March, July, October, May
The Nones are on the seventh day"
Anon. (Roman?)
Beware the Ides of April?
The fifteenth day of April,
Is not like March's "ides".
It's from the Roman Calendar,
Once used both far and wide.
"Beware the Ides of March!",
Warned Caesar of demise.
It's said he got his months mixed up,
Confusion proved unwise.
Rome ruled most all the ancient world.
Taught Latin, math, and such.
Yet counted dates most cumbersome,
Which proved to be to much!
The "kalends" fell upon the first,
The "nones" most on the fifth,
The "ides" fell eight days later,
Except the "nones" would shift!
In March, July, October, May,
The "nones" for some good reason,
Would fall upon the seventh day,
No matter what the season!
Eight days in March beyond the "nones",
Was "ides" to ancient Rome.
The fifteenth was the date to fear,
When Caesar left his home.
In April when the "nones" appeared,
Twas five days past day ones,
And "ides" fell on the thirteenth day,
Eight days beyond the "nones".
Well, I'm asea, perhaps it's so,
That Caesar was confused.
Forgot the little poem that kept,
The "nones" prop-er-ly used.
Mark Worden
April 15, 2005
The Nones are on the seventh day"
Anon. (Roman?)
Beware the Ides of April?
The fifteenth day of April,
Is not like March's "ides".
It's from the Roman Calendar,
Once used both far and wide.
"Beware the Ides of March!",
Warned Caesar of demise.
It's said he got his months mixed up,
Confusion proved unwise.
Rome ruled most all the ancient world.
Taught Latin, math, and such.
Yet counted dates most cumbersome,
Which proved to be to much!
The "kalends" fell upon the first,
The "nones" most on the fifth,
The "ides" fell eight days later,
Except the "nones" would shift!
In March, July, October, May,
The "nones" for some good reason,
Would fall upon the seventh day,
No matter what the season!
Eight days in March beyond the "nones",
Was "ides" to ancient Rome.
The fifteenth was the date to fear,
When Caesar left his home.
In April when the "nones" appeared,
Twas five days past day ones,
And "ides" fell on the thirteenth day,
Eight days beyond the "nones".
Well, I'm asea, perhaps it's so,
That Caesar was confused.
Forgot the little poem that kept,
The "nones" prop-er-ly used.
Mark Worden
April 15, 2005
Friday 4/15--the ides of April?
Thanks to Shakespeare, even most children know that Julius Caeser was not attentive to the warning he got regarding his predicted demise, "Beware the ides of March!". And we all know that the ides of March is the 15th!
Since today is the 15th of April, for some reason I wondered why no one ever calls the 15th of other months "The Ides" So I asked "Jeeves".
And of course, In Julius's world the Roman Calendar ruled the days and years, which was different that the Julian Calendar now used to mark the date.
In the Roman Calendar there were three dates which had names each month by which the calender was calculated:
1. The Kalends: always fell on the 1st of the month.
2. The Nones: always fell on the 5th of the month except--March, July, October, May
The Nones are on the 7th day.
3. The Ides: always fell 8 days after the Nones.
So since the Ides fall 8 days after the Nones and the Nones in March fall on the 7th day after the Kalends, then the 15th of March is the Ides. Simple, huh!
In April, the Nones is on the 5th day after the Kalends and the Ides is 8 days later or on the 13th.
The Romans expressed the date in accordance with its relationship before one of these three named days, e.g., April 15 is 16 days before the Kalends of May. March 14 is 1 day before the Ides of March. April 2nd is 3 days before the Nones of April.
No wonder the Roman Empire fell. They got confused and tangled up in their calendar, and ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm sure that is also why Latin is no longer the dominent language of the world.
So, happy 16 days before the Kalends of May!
Since today is the 15th of April, for some reason I wondered why no one ever calls the 15th of other months "The Ides" So I asked "Jeeves".
And of course, In Julius's world the Roman Calendar ruled the days and years, which was different that the Julian Calendar now used to mark the date.
In the Roman Calendar there were three dates which had names each month by which the calender was calculated:
1. The Kalends: always fell on the 1st of the month.
2. The Nones: always fell on the 5th of the month except--March, July, October, May
The Nones are on the 7th day.
3. The Ides: always fell 8 days after the Nones.
So since the Ides fall 8 days after the Nones and the Nones in March fall on the 7th day after the Kalends, then the 15th of March is the Ides. Simple, huh!
In April, the Nones is on the 5th day after the Kalends and the Ides is 8 days later or on the 13th.
The Romans expressed the date in accordance with its relationship before one of these three named days, e.g., April 15 is 16 days before the Kalends of May. March 14 is 1 day before the Ides of March. April 2nd is 3 days before the Nones of April.
No wonder the Roman Empire fell. They got confused and tangled up in their calendar, and ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm sure that is also why Latin is no longer the dominent language of the world.
So, happy 16 days before the Kalends of May!
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Biking haiku #9
mountain snows melting
spring loves building nests of twigs
ski lifts filled with bikes
spring loves building nests of twigs
ski lifts filled with bikes
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
3/25/05--An Easter Poem--Of Sorts
It's Easter Sunday!
Time to hunt for eggs!
Go to Church!
Wear funny hats!
A Christian celebration,
Like Christmas!
Commercialized,
By the Easter Bunny!
A holiday for everyone,
Who likes colored eggs,
Baskets full of jelly beans,
And honey baked ham!
Time to hunt for eggs!
Go to Church!
Wear funny hats!
A Christian celebration,
Like Christmas!
Commercialized,
By the Easter Bunny!
A holiday for everyone,
Who likes colored eggs,
Baskets full of jelly beans,
And honey baked ham!
Monday, March 21, 2005
Biking haiku #s 6-7-8
#6
bicycle dew
drips from pores
a summer day
#7
bike footprints
skid on clay
a mountain glen
#8
daring leaps
off mountain crags
knobby rubber
bicycle dew
drips from pores
a summer day
#7
bike footprints
skid on clay
a mountain glen
#8
daring leaps
off mountain crags
knobby rubber
Friday, March 18, 2005
3/18/05--Friday's 5 minute poem
Marching On
The ides of March
Have passed us by,
St. Patrick's too,
I would not lie!
March's lion roared,
And wet the sky,
Let's hope the lamb,
Ends March all dry!
The ides of March
Have passed us by,
St. Patrick's too,
I would not lie!
March's lion roared,
And wet the sky,
Let's hope the lamb,
Ends March all dry!
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Monday, March 14, 2005
Biking Haiku # 3&4
#3
hard-rock thighs
chained gears churn
high windy roads
#4
peloton at speed
flashing colors blurred
saturday a.m.
hard-rock thighs
chained gears churn
high windy roads
#4
peloton at speed
flashing colors blurred
saturday a.m.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
3/11/05--Friday's 5 minute poem--Haiku for Health
swells crest at swami's
frothy longboards cascade
black clad ho-dads
frothy longboards cascade
black clad ho-dads
Friday, March 04, 2005
3/04/05--Fridays 5 min poem--a Haiku
soft mists fall on roads
cars crawl toward dusky skies
whimpers at week's end
cars crawl toward dusky skies
whimpers at week's end
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Saturday in L.A.--Part II--Museum of Natural History
It had been awhile since we had been to Exposition Park. On the way we wanted to drive by the new Walt Disney Concert Hall at the Music Center, now home to the L.A. Philharmonic, so we decided to drive through the downtown area rather than jumping back on the Harbor freeway and heading south. We drove past what is probably the most famous city hall in the U.S.. I still remember that old 50's TV program called "Mr. District Attorney" and remember that the city hall was front and center in the credits. When it was built it was probably the tallest building in the L.A. skyline. Today it sits in a forest of newer taller buildings, but is still a distinctive and a powerful image of L.A.
The new Disney Hall is an ultra modern design by Frank Gehry, the Los Angeles architect who also designed the spectacular Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. The "Disney" is also a spectacular building, but the location lacks the appropriate "setting" to really appreciate it as a work of art. It sits across from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and is surrounded with streets and buildings--an island in a sea of cement!! How nice it would have been to have space for a large plaza or park as a grand entry area to the site and building. But I guess space is a problem in the middle of downtown L.A.!
We drove around it and said wow, but didn't stop.
We headed south through the downtown area. Since it was Saturday, there wasn't much traffic. Considering all the streets we could have picked, we managed to pick one that had work going on, and one of the lanes was coned off. I didn't see anyone working on anything, but there were some trucks parked in a couple spots indicating the intent to repair something. Our main competition for the single lane were buses as they darted through the cones making their stops. None of us were sure exactly how to get to Exposition Park from where we were. All we knew was that we were headed in the right direction. When I came to Olympic Blvd, I decided that since Exposition Park was built for the 1930's Olympics, the Blvd had to lead us there, and made a right turn going west. We passed near the location where Nancy had worked as a designer back in the 1970's and she wanted to detour to see if the building was still there as she remembered it. It was right near the Transamerica Tower. A quick left and we were driving by the Staples Center, where the Lakers and Clippers shoot hoops, with the Convention center in the background. We found her old one story office building. Most of it was still there, although some of it had been demolished to make a parking lot. The design firm had moved long ago.
We headed west again on Olympic, through Korea town with all its Korean signage, and up to Alvarado with it's Black/Mexican/Korean mix. I knew that we needed to be south of I-10 which was still to the south, so that's the direction I headed. The neighborhood was busier than downtown and traffic was stop and go, but we soon saw I-10. A block south of that was the USC Campus. A block south of that was Exposition Park and the Coliseum.
Our target for the afternoon was the Museum of Natural History, which was like going to a zoo honoring dead animals and civilizations. It is housed in a great classically styled building just north of the Coliseum, and was a favorite of both Bert and Nancy when they were children.
I got a senior discount on my ticket, and we all put the little orange stickers on our chests showing we were paid up, and headed out to the exhibit areas. Burt, Nancy, and Kris wanted to start with the Mammals of North America Exhibit, which has been there forever. I walked around and was done looking about the time there were at the second diarama, so I decided to head out on my own and let them do their own thing. I cruised the dinosours, the bird exhibits, the insects, the Indians and South American pre-Columbians, The marine/ocean exhibit, and the African Mammal diaramas. There was a discovery center filled with 2-7 year olds making all kinds of things and sitting on the floor being "lectured" by a curater with real snakes in a show and tell session. It was a real "active" place on this Saturday afternoon.
When I re-emerged into the area near the gift shop, there was Nancy. They still had things to see and Burt and Kris were "shopping". I told her I was going to be sitting outside when they were done, so found a perch next to the entrance and plopped myself down.
There was a wide grassy area in front of the building,( it was a park!) and there was a spirited soccer game going on, with some spectators on the sideline. These were older boys or young men who were quite proficient, and I followed the ball up and down the field until a goal was scored on the south end of the field by a kick from near the sideline. A great shot! The game broke up after that!
A young Asian family came out of the museum. He was toting a camera, and she was toting two young boys, one about 4 and another about 2 years old. They sat on the steps in front of me. She pulled a couple of oranges out of her bag, and I watched as he peeled one and she the other. He ate one slice by slice, and then got his camera out and walked about 20 ft away to take some pictures while she fed slices to the boys. They were not speaking English, so I wondered if they were tourists, or were one of many families who were transferred to L.A. for a "tour of duty" working for an Asian based company. One thing for sure, they liked California oranges! It was an international family day at the museum! Dinasaurs speak all languages!
Nancy didn't find the postcard she was looking for in the gift shop. It was close to the 5 pm closing when they came out the door and saw me sitting off to the side, an old guy on a bench!! The old Mercedes made it home in time for a bottle of cheap wine from Trader Joes, and a take- out pizza from Olyo's. We called our son Matt by cell phone on the way to ensure him that we would have food for him. He was glad to see us!! So was the cat!
The new Disney Hall is an ultra modern design by Frank Gehry, the Los Angeles architect who also designed the spectacular Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. The "Disney" is also a spectacular building, but the location lacks the appropriate "setting" to really appreciate it as a work of art. It sits across from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and is surrounded with streets and buildings--an island in a sea of cement!! How nice it would have been to have space for a large plaza or park as a grand entry area to the site and building. But I guess space is a problem in the middle of downtown L.A.!
We drove around it and said wow, but didn't stop.
We headed south through the downtown area. Since it was Saturday, there wasn't much traffic. Considering all the streets we could have picked, we managed to pick one that had work going on, and one of the lanes was coned off. I didn't see anyone working on anything, but there were some trucks parked in a couple spots indicating the intent to repair something. Our main competition for the single lane were buses as they darted through the cones making their stops. None of us were sure exactly how to get to Exposition Park from where we were. All we knew was that we were headed in the right direction. When I came to Olympic Blvd, I decided that since Exposition Park was built for the 1930's Olympics, the Blvd had to lead us there, and made a right turn going west. We passed near the location where Nancy had worked as a designer back in the 1970's and she wanted to detour to see if the building was still there as she remembered it. It was right near the Transamerica Tower. A quick left and we were driving by the Staples Center, where the Lakers and Clippers shoot hoops, with the Convention center in the background. We found her old one story office building. Most of it was still there, although some of it had been demolished to make a parking lot. The design firm had moved long ago.
We headed west again on Olympic, through Korea town with all its Korean signage, and up to Alvarado with it's Black/Mexican/Korean mix. I knew that we needed to be south of I-10 which was still to the south, so that's the direction I headed. The neighborhood was busier than downtown and traffic was stop and go, but we soon saw I-10. A block south of that was the USC Campus. A block south of that was Exposition Park and the Coliseum.
Our target for the afternoon was the Museum of Natural History, which was like going to a zoo honoring dead animals and civilizations. It is housed in a great classically styled building just north of the Coliseum, and was a favorite of both Bert and Nancy when they were children.
I got a senior discount on my ticket, and we all put the little orange stickers on our chests showing we were paid up, and headed out to the exhibit areas. Burt, Nancy, and Kris wanted to start with the Mammals of North America Exhibit, which has been there forever. I walked around and was done looking about the time there were at the second diarama, so I decided to head out on my own and let them do their own thing. I cruised the dinosours, the bird exhibits, the insects, the Indians and South American pre-Columbians, The marine/ocean exhibit, and the African Mammal diaramas. There was a discovery center filled with 2-7 year olds making all kinds of things and sitting on the floor being "lectured" by a curater with real snakes in a show and tell session. It was a real "active" place on this Saturday afternoon.
When I re-emerged into the area near the gift shop, there was Nancy. They still had things to see and Burt and Kris were "shopping". I told her I was going to be sitting outside when they were done, so found a perch next to the entrance and plopped myself down.
There was a wide grassy area in front of the building,( it was a park!) and there was a spirited soccer game going on, with some spectators on the sideline. These were older boys or young men who were quite proficient, and I followed the ball up and down the field until a goal was scored on the south end of the field by a kick from near the sideline. A great shot! The game broke up after that!
A young Asian family came out of the museum. He was toting a camera, and she was toting two young boys, one about 4 and another about 2 years old. They sat on the steps in front of me. She pulled a couple of oranges out of her bag, and I watched as he peeled one and she the other. He ate one slice by slice, and then got his camera out and walked about 20 ft away to take some pictures while she fed slices to the boys. They were not speaking English, so I wondered if they were tourists, or were one of many families who were transferred to L.A. for a "tour of duty" working for an Asian based company. One thing for sure, they liked California oranges! It was an international family day at the museum! Dinasaurs speak all languages!
Nancy didn't find the postcard she was looking for in the gift shop. It was close to the 5 pm closing when they came out the door and saw me sitting off to the side, an old guy on a bench!! The old Mercedes made it home in time for a bottle of cheap wine from Trader Joes, and a take- out pizza from Olyo's. We called our son Matt by cell phone on the way to ensure him that we would have food for him. He was glad to see us!! So was the cat!
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Saturday in L.A.--Part One--Alvera Street
Last Saturday Nancy and I drove up to the big city, L.A. to visit her brother Bert and his wife Kris. We usually just see them at family gatherings, and Nancy thought it would be great if we drove up to spent a day together and play tourist. We stopped at Pipe's cafe in Cardiff at about 9 am to stock up on caffiene for the trip, and we were off! The old Mercedes cruised along at 75 most of the way on an open freeway, so we made good time and were in Hawthorne just before 11 am.
After picking them up at their apartment in Hawthorne, our first stop of the day was to be lunch and shopping at Alvera street in the Spanish/Mexican historical center of L.A.. It had been 18 years since we had lived in the L.A. area, and while we remembered all the great places around town, we always didn't remember the most direct route to where they were, so when we got off the Harbor freeway downtown, we were almost amazed to find that we had picked the right exit, and were just a block or so from the central plaza in the historical district. We found parking near the plaza just across the street from the old Pio Pico hotel, which was now used as a historical society museum, and headed for Bert's favorite taco stand on Alvera Street.
It is one of those places which hasn't changed much in the last 30 years. Bert and Nancy's parents always took them there on outings when they were kids. It was almost like going on a trip to Mexico. Although the "street" is only about a half block long, it is packed with colorful shops and restaurants and has always reminded me of the touristy alleys in the "Rosa" district of Tijuana.
It seems to exist only for the tourists! But even for those who live in L.A., a visit now and then is fun! Most of the stuff in the shops is leather goods made in Mexico, with lots of colorful serapes, blankets, and trinkets that get the kids all excited.
Our first stop had to take care of the growls and give us a blood sugar bounce before attacking the shopping stalls. So we stood in line at Juanita's taco shop and waited for a table. When one opened up, Nancy made a beeline for it, but was cut off at the aisle by an older lady who had just arrived. Nancy had a word, and she stepped aside! When it comes to Mexican food, get out of Nancy's way!! We all ordered combination plates, which were delivered within about 5 minutos.
Nancy says the tacos and taquitos on Alvera Street are the best because they crisp them up a bit in hot lard! They were crispy, and I'm sure they were lardy too! It seemed like it only took about 5 minutes for us all to down the tacos and beans, and the small bit of salad which made up the "combo"!! Just what they like at restaurant with only 5-6 tables, fast turnover!!
As we walked down to the end of the street after our quick but tasty lunch, we passed Nancy's favorite taquito stand. She had been telling me about the taquitos there all week, so as we walked by, I suggested that she should order a small plate there or she would regret it! So she and Bert each had a chaser of taquitos swimming in green chile sauce. Kris and I just stood by while they overate!
Now to shopping!!
Kris bought a nice bag to carry her books and "stuff", and Bert bought a small leather coin purse. Nancy saw some things she liked, but knew she didn't really need, so passed on them.
While all this shopping was going on, I spent time just sitting in the sun watching all the people saunter by. I am always amazed at all the different shapes, sizes and colors that people come in!
Sitting on a bench on Alvera street on a Saturday is like going to a free form play, with the street as a stage, and an international cast that ever changes.
I sat on a ledge next to a shop which sold mostly tourist trinkets. There was a big basket of wooden articulated snakes right next to me, painted only as they would be in Mexico! One five year old boy came up to me and asked how much they were. I told him I would sell him one for a quarter!! His dad was right behind him, and of course, he knew I was not the one his son should be talking with, and grabbed him by the hand to remove him from the temptation provided by the snake! We shared a smile! I do think he would have bought one for a quarter, though. I thought that was about what they were worth!
Older people shuffled by, some looked very frail, and I thought that they must be on a tour bus from somewhere out of town, and just had to see as much as they could in the time they had left on this earth. I wondered if they had bought a colorful shirt that said Los Angelos on it, or a big straw sombrero with Mexico stitched on the brim as reminders of the fun they had on their visit.
To the kiddie set running between the small shops on the street, it must have looked and felt like a carnival filled with colorful prizes for knocking down a bottle with a ball, or popping a balloon with a dart. There were no games to play, but the prizes were all there to be purchased!
And at the end of the street near the plaza there was a "fake" donkey on which to sit to have your picture taken with a sombrero jauntily flopped on top of your head!
Roaming the restaurants on the street were two small mariachi groups who sang outside the patios and then passed the hat. They looked experienced but not prosperous! On a good day they must have made a few hundred dollars to share. They got a small contribution from me!
As we escaped from the shops and entered the plaza area, there was a girl in a clown costume selling balloons just across from the fake donkey, and an amplified trio of musicians was about to start a small concert and were setting up their equipment and microphones. It was almost 2 pm but looked to be alot of action ahead for the rest of the afternoon and evening at Old Los Angeles on Alvera Street.
A large banner which hung on the old hotel showed a fully bearded Pio Pico dressed in a wainscoat and fancy tie. He had welcomed us when we came in, and now he bade us adios as we walked back to the car to head for our next adventure at Exposition Park.
After picking them up at their apartment in Hawthorne, our first stop of the day was to be lunch and shopping at Alvera street in the Spanish/Mexican historical center of L.A.. It had been 18 years since we had lived in the L.A. area, and while we remembered all the great places around town, we always didn't remember the most direct route to where they were, so when we got off the Harbor freeway downtown, we were almost amazed to find that we had picked the right exit, and were just a block or so from the central plaza in the historical district. We found parking near the plaza just across the street from the old Pio Pico hotel, which was now used as a historical society museum, and headed for Bert's favorite taco stand on Alvera Street.
It is one of those places which hasn't changed much in the last 30 years. Bert and Nancy's parents always took them there on outings when they were kids. It was almost like going on a trip to Mexico. Although the "street" is only about a half block long, it is packed with colorful shops and restaurants and has always reminded me of the touristy alleys in the "Rosa" district of Tijuana.
It seems to exist only for the tourists! But even for those who live in L.A., a visit now and then is fun! Most of the stuff in the shops is leather goods made in Mexico, with lots of colorful serapes, blankets, and trinkets that get the kids all excited.
Our first stop had to take care of the growls and give us a blood sugar bounce before attacking the shopping stalls. So we stood in line at Juanita's taco shop and waited for a table. When one opened up, Nancy made a beeline for it, but was cut off at the aisle by an older lady who had just arrived. Nancy had a word, and she stepped aside! When it comes to Mexican food, get out of Nancy's way!! We all ordered combination plates, which were delivered within about 5 minutos.
Nancy says the tacos and taquitos on Alvera Street are the best because they crisp them up a bit in hot lard! They were crispy, and I'm sure they were lardy too! It seemed like it only took about 5 minutes for us all to down the tacos and beans, and the small bit of salad which made up the "combo"!! Just what they like at restaurant with only 5-6 tables, fast turnover!!
As we walked down to the end of the street after our quick but tasty lunch, we passed Nancy's favorite taquito stand. She had been telling me about the taquitos there all week, so as we walked by, I suggested that she should order a small plate there or she would regret it! So she and Bert each had a chaser of taquitos swimming in green chile sauce. Kris and I just stood by while they overate!
Now to shopping!!
Kris bought a nice bag to carry her books and "stuff", and Bert bought a small leather coin purse. Nancy saw some things she liked, but knew she didn't really need, so passed on them.
While all this shopping was going on, I spent time just sitting in the sun watching all the people saunter by. I am always amazed at all the different shapes, sizes and colors that people come in!
Sitting on a bench on Alvera street on a Saturday is like going to a free form play, with the street as a stage, and an international cast that ever changes.
I sat on a ledge next to a shop which sold mostly tourist trinkets. There was a big basket of wooden articulated snakes right next to me, painted only as they would be in Mexico! One five year old boy came up to me and asked how much they were. I told him I would sell him one for a quarter!! His dad was right behind him, and of course, he knew I was not the one his son should be talking with, and grabbed him by the hand to remove him from the temptation provided by the snake! We shared a smile! I do think he would have bought one for a quarter, though. I thought that was about what they were worth!
Older people shuffled by, some looked very frail, and I thought that they must be on a tour bus from somewhere out of town, and just had to see as much as they could in the time they had left on this earth. I wondered if they had bought a colorful shirt that said Los Angelos on it, or a big straw sombrero with Mexico stitched on the brim as reminders of the fun they had on their visit.
To the kiddie set running between the small shops on the street, it must have looked and felt like a carnival filled with colorful prizes for knocking down a bottle with a ball, or popping a balloon with a dart. There were no games to play, but the prizes were all there to be purchased!
And at the end of the street near the plaza there was a "fake" donkey on which to sit to have your picture taken with a sombrero jauntily flopped on top of your head!
Roaming the restaurants on the street were two small mariachi groups who sang outside the patios and then passed the hat. They looked experienced but not prosperous! On a good day they must have made a few hundred dollars to share. They got a small contribution from me!
As we escaped from the shops and entered the plaza area, there was a girl in a clown costume selling balloons just across from the fake donkey, and an amplified trio of musicians was about to start a small concert and were setting up their equipment and microphones. It was almost 2 pm but looked to be alot of action ahead for the rest of the afternoon and evening at Old Los Angeles on Alvera Street.
A large banner which hung on the old hotel showed a fully bearded Pio Pico dressed in a wainscoat and fancy tie. He had welcomed us when we came in, and now he bade us adios as we walked back to the car to head for our next adventure at Exposition Park.
Haiku--#s 1,2,&3
Bicycle magazine has a haiku contest going on for the next couple of months. First prize is a choice of bicycles up to $4999 in their March issue. Wow! what a great way to get started with the Zen of Ku! There is no limit on the number of Kus which can be entered by any individual. So I have entered a couple:
Bike Haiku #1:
Bicycle spokes
taut sinews spin
black spandex
Bike Haiku # 2:
Puffs of breath
leggings warming
frosty morns
And Haiku for lovers #1:
Love croaks aloud
spring ripples widen
lilies in bloom
Bike Haiku #1:
Bicycle spokes
taut sinews spin
black spandex
Bike Haiku # 2:
Puffs of breath
leggings warming
frosty morns
And Haiku for lovers #1:
Love croaks aloud
spring ripples widen
lilies in bloom
Friday, February 25, 2005
02/25/05--Friday's 5 minute poem--Weeklies
weeklies
friday p.m.,
a time to reflect,
on five days past,
and what to expect,
with tommorows.
goals marked done,
or rolled over in pain,
in a box next week,
to attempt once again,
or face sorrows.
friday p.m.,
a time to reflect,
on five days past,
and what to expect,
with tommorows.
goals marked done,
or rolled over in pain,
in a box next week,
to attempt once again,
or face sorrows.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Friday's 5 minute poem-2/18/04
rainy rays
the sun is gone,
grey clouds scud by,
all moisture laden,
a restless sky!
a dull bleak friday,
does not bode well,
that a 3 day weekend,
will turn out swell!
the sun is gone,
grey clouds scud by,
all moisture laden,
a restless sky!
a dull bleak friday,
does not bode well,
that a 3 day weekend,
will turn out swell!
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