The LA River

The story of the LA River is a long and varied one.

IMG_0829-river blog.jpg

The good news is – what once was a river and then became a sewer in a concrete bed is (at least in parts) being reclaimed by Nature.

On a stroll yesterday along a 2 mile stretch there was not only the usual lot of mallards, killdeers, moorhens, geese and cinnamon teals to be seen (the black necked stilts live in and at another stretch of the river), but also a white and a great blue heron.

The white heron was very happily engaged with fishing his late lunch out of the water (I assume his lunch was less happy being fished out of the river), the great blue one did what great blue herons are best at: he stood on a rock, not moving one little bit, letting life and the river float by.

A perfect afternoon was had by everyone (apart from lunch, I suppose.)

Space Adventures

You want to feel like Captain Kirk in “Arena”? Nothing easier than that – a few miles outside of LA you’ll find this:

IMG_0543-rock for blog.jpg

Vasquez Rocks.

This amazing rock formation has been used for the filming of many, many movies and TV series. To name just a few:

  • The Duel at Silver Creek (1952)
  • Radar Men from the Moon (1952)
  • Star Trek Original Series (Episodes 19 & 20) (1967) (plus other episodes)
  • Parasite (1981)
  • Amazon Women on the Moon (1987)
  • Alien Nation (1988)
  • Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991)
  • Army of Darkness (U.S. Theatrical Version) (1992)
  • The Flintstones (1994)
  • Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
  • Hybrid (1997)
  • Free Enterprise (1998)
  • Roswell Season 1 (1999)
  • The Scorpion King (2002)
  • Tonight is The Night

    It looks like a good crowd will be at the Vinoteca tonight.  There is food (Italian and Brazilian) available along with a large assortment of wine and one or two good beers.  I had to bring my own Heifeweizen glass a few months ago, but now they use it whenever I arrive.

    They are very upset about the results of the Brazilian team in the World Cup, so stay away from the subject.  Petra is not so broken up about Germany’s last second loss to Italy, but really…Italy’s entire team should get a nomination for Best Actresses.

    Presents are not necessary and there’s no real need to dress up.  If you’re lucky you can throw down for one of the two glasses of wine that Petra will drink on any given night.

    Birthday Gathering – July 5

    I know, I know, you’re going to be out of town, or just getting back to town, or some such thing, but it’s Petra’s Birthday!! Really! What could be more important than that!

    We’ll be at Vinoteca at 1968 Hillhurst Ave (Hillhurst and Finley) from 6:30 on. Have a wine, a beer, some Brazilian food. Hang out with us at our favorite place.

    RSVP or call when you get lost: Bill @ 323-359-0454

    Surprises

    How I love surprises.
    Now I have my very own frogpond.

    To muse about … oh, well … everything. Thoughts jumping like little green frogs into the water. (splish, splash) Now and then one of them might rest on a waterlily leaf – those are the ones to be published.