FrogBlog | Translating Los Angeles

It started a week ago with some cryptic markings on the sidewalks and the street. Yesterday a palm tree had to be taken out.

Then the men with the hard hats and the plans moved in.

Today the jack hammers went all day outside.

Do I grumble? No! Those jack hammers are music to my ears; finally, after years of petitioning from all neighbors, traffic lights are being put up at our corner.

It will take about two months until the lights will be up and running, the friendly engineers told me. Until then the sound of the jack hammers will be with us some more. But after the work is finished, one sound will be gone from the neighborhood for good: The screeching of brakes and the terrible moment afterwards when one is waiting for the scrunch of metal on metal of yet another horrible accident due to speeding cars.

Yes, work those jack hammers! A lovelier noise I have never heard.

Some mornings are just perfect: After a tasty breakfast one wanders over to the friendly neighborhood art gallery to feast some more on interesting art.

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).

This is the first time ever that I saw the Inka Terns at the Los Angeles Zoo from only a few feet away.

They were hopping around on the footpath leading through the aviary. Even when I crept nearer and nearer, they did not seem to mind at all and continued to circle each other in some kind of dance, which involved a lot of flashing of beaks.

I still don’t know – where they waiting for the lunch lady or courting? Anyway, I got some nice shots of them!

What is important in life is life, and not the result of life.
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

There… hiding out amongst some books.

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

With summer around the corner, it helps to know where to find those cool and shady places to spend whole days once temperatures rise. These are some examples from Descanso Gardens in Glendale:

Never had I imagined to find one of these classic British cars running around in Los Angeles:

This is a Riley Elf MK III, a variation of the Mini. These cars were only build for four years (1965 – 1969), the total output was 30.000 cars and today only 800 are believed to be still around.

And one of them lives right here in the neighborhood. Fantastic!

Lions and tigers can be tamed and made to perform. Then why not smaller cats?

Julchen has already learned to stand upright like a little tin soldier. It only took some patience and some special treats.

Iko-Chan is still resisting doing something as undignified as standing on her hind legs. Could Siamese cats have more willpower than lions and tigers?

Last night a mockingbird practiced his scales near the house – so loud that I woke up. A quick check of the time told me that it was just before 4 o’clock in the morning. Wow, I thought, that mockingbird seems to be wooing his mate along the lines of: “I’ll sing for you until the earth moves.”

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?

Six more days to go until the official beginning of spring. But who cares about dates?

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.