Three 500 GIG external hard drives and one keyboard. Offices are not boring places.
It all depends on the point of view.
My Favorite Gecko
…lives in a Cuban bar/restaurant called”Cuba Libre” on Vermont. Whenever one goes there, there he is, doing what geckos do – sitting still, looking interesting.
Right, it’s not a real gecko; somebody stuck him up on the wall for decoration. But I love going to the place because of it. The food is good, the drinks are up to the standard one expects from a “bordering on the serious” bar – but the gecko makes me smile.
Every time.
Which is probably the best reason to return again and again.
That Glorious California Sun
It turns even the most utilitarian structures into a delightful ensemble of light and shadow.
(Campus UCSD)
To New Shores
November 4th 2008 will forever stay in the history books as the day when the people of the US said “enough.” They went and voted for a change and won.
Yesterday was still too filled with emotions, with letting sink in this feeling that all will be well. No, there will be no manna raining from heaven, the cows won’t shit dollar bills and there will be no wine flowing in the rivers. Times ahead will be hard, even harder than they already are – but it will be worth it.
The country is on its way to new shores. Proud and willing to do what it takes. It is wonderful to be part of this effort.
After the nastiest election campaign imaginable, many souls will be filled with inner peace again, unfolding like a serene lotus flower.
Dia De Los Muertos
Old age and even more so death seem to be quite high on the taboo list of many Western societies. Somehow I have the feeling that many people assume that by simply never touching the subject they will never grow old or never die. Hmm. These people might be in for a surprise.
Then there are societies where such topics are not taboo, but part of life. The “Day of the Dead” in Mexico is one example. The whole family goes out to the cemetery, they clean the grave site of dead relatives, put up candles and flowers and have a picnic. Yes, the kids are there, too. They learn very early on that life and death are interwoven in an endless circle.
Another tradition is the building of private altars for the deceased in the family. These installations are very colorful and incorporate photos of the family members to be so honored, flowers, their favorite foods and skulls made of sugar.
This tradition has evolved into a form of art. At a local art gallery today we saw several of those altars; the most impressive one was this one:
Another quite striking modern interpretation was this installation:
Even the simple skulls made of sugar have evolved into something much more elaborate, like beautifully fashioned cakes, much too pretty to eat:
Lots of children were running around at the art gallery, having fun and munching little sugar skulls. One hopes so much that they will grow up with a healthy understanding that old age and death are part of life for all of us.
Happy Dance!
It is not a good photo and it only lasted for a few minutes – but it was the first rain!!!!
Thanks!
Still No Rain
With eight scorchers over 90 degrees this month, Los Angeles has been in the midst of the second-hottest October since 1877, according to climate records.
(http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-october28-2008oct28,0,4826642.story)
Yes, the outlook is bleak. Drought conditions are becoming more obvious.
On a hike in Griffith Park this enormous tumbleweed with a length of nearly four foot was a sharp reminder about weather conditions and the change in vegetation. Tumbleweed in the city? We are talking Los Angeles here, not a ghost town in the Mojave Desert.
After nearly eight months without rain it is time for some clouds to roll in.
Please!
Listen Up!
You got something wrong here:
Suitcases are for people to pack stuff in.
They are not meant for cats to travel in.
Sorry, ladies.
Ouch!
Poor mountain lions.
Poor rattlesnakes.
They do not deserve this.
And The Winner Is…
Filming goes on in Los Angeles every day, not only in studios and on back lots, but everywhere in the city. It is part of life around here. Sometimes one feels a bit annoyed when whole streets are blocked off and one has to take a detour; but then again, the film industry is one of the major employers in town and many, many people live with and from it – not only the stars which tourists hope to see when they do their Hollywood/Universal City/Santa Monica trip to Los Angeles.
Anyway, filming is going on everywhere. Even in front yards. Often these small set-ups are students from USC, one of the most prestigious film schools in the country. This bunch here are senior students filming “The Blue Heron,” a 10 minute short.
Maybe in a few years one of them will get up at the Oscar ceremonies when the well-known sentence rings out: “And the winner is…”
Good luck!