Classic cars – simply gorgeous.

One TV commentator called the German soccer team the “bright young things.” I agree with him – that game today against Australia was action packed and pure delight.

Congratulations for a well-deserved 4:0. Now keep it up, will you, please?

How about eating less junk and sugar and saving the $12,000 – $25,000 for the procedure for something rather more fun than an operation?

But then again, maybe this common-sense attitude re. food and weight-gain is just a bit less fashionable than the “quick fix” advertised on bill boards.

Elizabeth McGrath "The Squirrel with the Golden Hatchet"

Sarina Brewer / "Franken-Pussy"

These are just two examples from the “Rouge Taxidermy Show” at the La Luz de Jesus Gallery (May 7 – 30, 2010).

I could not resist this little toy. Why should only kids have fun with friendly ghosts moonlighting as lamps?

And then the earth did move… At 4.04 this morning we had a 4.4 earthquake!

No more sleep after that; I always feel a bit uncomfortable for several hours after a “shaker.” Instead we had an early breakfast and then took a walk – and who did I see still doing his little song and dance act on a telephone pole near the house?

Bingo! Our friend the mockingbird.

Young man, as much as I admire your efforts to attract a mate, don’t overdo it again, right?

With clocks switched over, the air outside like silk, freesias and orange blossoms scenting the air and mockingbirds starting to practice their scales, spring is already in full swing.

After the rush to the stores to stock up on chips, dips, beer, wings, pizza and related foodstuff essential for a Superbowl Sunday the streets emptied out and the town was all ours.

Unamerican? No, nice!

Breaking Waves in San Pedro

Yes, yes, the rains have arrived – finally! That’s the good news.

The bad news is that the rains came on the wings of some quite remarkable storms; we’re just through the second wave of winds with gusts of over 72 miles per hour and two more storm waves are expected until Friday of this week.

Down at the coast jetties and piers are closed, a sensible precaution in the face of 15-foot waves. There was some flooding of streets, an urban and small stream flood advisory plus a coastal flood watch is out.

The most damage is expected from mudslides in the areas which burned down last summer. Hopefully it won’t come to that…

Station Streetside

This building, which replaced an earlier structure, was officially opened in 1918.

Station Trackside

At that time this was the largest and finest train station west of the Mississippi. As the former station building had burned down, the new structure was build to withstand fires, using mostly bricks and glazed tiles for the roof and interior decoration.

Glazed tiles and stucco

The Santa Fe Depot was extremely busy until the 1950s, when the general decline of rail travel began all over the United States. With the decline in travel came the decline of the building. This changed in 1992, when efforts to restore the historic building where started. Restoration began in 2002; a few years and $ 15 Mio. later the station was reopened in 2008.

Restored and still in use

Today the Santa Fe Depot is serviced by Amtrak (once a day) and by three Metrolink lines. The building also houses a small museum (open on Saturdays) and office space is for lease. Just imagine – sitting in an office where one is reminded every day of the long and amazing history of train travel in the West.

Just for good measure I’ll throw in another of my favorite winter motif.

SoCal Winter - Palms and Snow