Signs

These signs adorn the Pasadena Furniture Company on Rosemead, south of the 210 freeway. I've posted at least one photo of this building before. (Where are these photos? Who knows? I didn't categorize them under "signs," "shopping" or "Pasadena Furniture Company" so it's anybody's guess.) I like the juxtaposition of signs here: old, newer, and so-new-it's-temporary. Plus the street sign.

The proprietor told us the building was once a dry cleaner's, probably built in the 1920's. Then, before Pasadena Furniture Company took it over, there was another furniture store in there. It's interesting inside, with a not-too-high warehouse ceiling.

Thank you all for your photo uploading advice yesterday. I deleted about 100 duplicates from Picasa (I have no idea why they were there, but hey, I had no idea I was using Picasa) and voila! A new picture. I hope I don't have to delete 100 pictures every day.

Deja Brew

Here's a fine kettle of caffeine (and more awnings for Susan):

I'm such a pro that although I've been blogging daily since 1/1/08 I didn't know until yesterday that Blogger saves my photos to Picasa. Sometimes it saves four or five copies, and now my Picasa album is so full I can't upload new photos to it. (I deleted about 40 photos, but that didn't help.)

Until I figure it out (or make the long-threatened move to Wordpress), here's a photo I posted January 15th, 2008 (my fifteenth day of blogging). I took the shot at Il Capo Restaurant on Green Street. Malbec Argentine restaurant occupies the location now.

Have you experienced this Picasa problem? Did you buy more space? Move to Wordpress? Delete old photos? I'd be grateful to hear your suggestions.

Zen Monday: #198

It's Zen Memorial Monday, so I'm not going to say anything about the photo. I'll leave that up to you.

It strikes me that in a couple of weeks, together we will have achieved our 200th Zen Monday. There will be prizes. More about that next week. For now, please say your piece/peas/peace in the comments.

Snore

Graduation party took over the block last night. The Pasadena Police cleared out a huge crowd in mere minutes. Excellent work.

I hope you have a tranquil Sunday. I'll be sleeping in.

Those Details the Devil Is In

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has completed its draft 20-year Sediment Management Strategic Plan for 2012-2032. The public comment period ends Wednesday, May 30th--which is vague, as they don't say if they mean 8am or 6pm or what--so I'd comment no later than the 29th if I were you at the first email address on this page. I understand the main document is over 500 pages, but a condensed version entitled "Community Meeting Boards" (second-to-last link at the right of the main Strategic Plan page) is said to give a good overview. 

Let's speak up. I understand the Devil's Gate Dam needs to be protected. I want to make sure Hahamongna is protected, too.  

A separate issue, but also important:

The Hahamongna Watershed Park Advisory Committee meets the fourth Tuesday of odd-numbered months--except this month, due to lack of a quorum. So the committee didn't get to talk about the upcoming community meetings to discuss the Environmental Impact Report schedule for the Hahamongna Multi-Benefit Project and the Hahamongna Basin Multi-Use Project.

But hey! We can talk about them here, regardless of the unfortunate mouthful of misleading names.

Because I want to get this right I'm going to quote Mary Barrie of Friends of Hahamongna, who has long been a tireless advocate for open space at Hahamongna Watershed Park. Mary's one of those heroes who reads the fine print, calls a lawyer, compares last year's map to this year's and helps the rest of us attempt to keep the city honest when it comes to Hahamongna:

"One of the important items on the agenda of last night's cancelled Hahamongna Advisory meeting was information concerning the Environmental Impact Report schedule for the Hahamongna Multi-Benefit Project and the Hahamongna Basin Multi-Use Project. Among the projects included within the Multi-Benefit Project are the much contested Sycamore Grove Sports Field and the expanded parking lot so please mark your calendars for these important meetings and pass this information on. The following information is from the city website.

Mary B"

Multi-Benefit - Multi-Use Project

EIR Schedule – the following has been scheduled:

Wednesday, June 27th, 6:30pm – Community Meeting
Pasadena City Yards, 2nd floor Large Conference Room
This meeting WILL NOT kick off the CEQA process. The purpose of the meeting is to provide information only.

Thursday, July 12th, 6:30pm – EIR Scoping Meeting #1
Salvation Army Fellowship Hall, 960 East Walnut, Pasadena, CA 91106
(Parking lot is entered from Mentor, south of Walnut)

Saturday, July 14th, 10:00am – EIR Scoping Meeting #2
Salvation Army Fellowship Hall, 960 East Walnut, Pasadena, CA 91106
(Parking lot is entered from Mentor, south of Walnut)

The Sycamore Grove Field is the same soccer field so many citizens have protested for so long. A couple of years ago we even organized a local blog day, where 23 bloggers posted their arguments for saving Hahamongna. At the ensuing city council meeting, hundreds of Pasadenish spoke out against athletic fields at Hahamongna. Not one person spoke in favor of them. Yet Sycamore Grove Field is still planned, even as the city cuts the budget in other areas.

The meetings listed above will cover other things too, some of which may be good for Hahamongna. It's always complicated, never easy, but it's ours and we do have a say.

Update 5/29: Altadena Hiker Karin Bugge writes about the planned Sycamore Grove Field in today's Patch.

We Mosey

Slow is the new normal for our walks with Boz. He's never been the fastest canine on a leash, but now his pace is positively regal.

He can spend a good deal of time with his nose in a bush, delicately licking its boughs. (Some things we don't allow him to lick.) He's always considerate enough to leave a little something for the next dog to sniff. His pleasures these days are as many as they've always been, but his tastes are more refined and he takes his time enjoying things. Sometimes he just stops and smells the air for a while.

Needless to say our walks are not what I'd call exertion for humans. A trip around the block can take nearly an hour. It is, however, time well spent in the very best company.

Commute, 5

If I take the right fork and continue on Beverly Blvd. I'll be in downtown Los Angeles in a few minutes. But I don't do that. I follow the straight arrow (straight arrow, that's me) onto Silver Lake Blvd. and head home.

Where these two roads meet I pass the Ambassador Dog and Cat Hospital, which has an interesting vintage sign. I've driven past this place many times and until yesterday I never saw anyone enter or leave the place. But sure enough, they had a customer. In fact, if you look at their reviews their average isn't great, but all their recent reviews (like, in the past year) are five-star. A change in staff, maybe?

It doesn't matter much to Boz because I don't take him to work with me very often. But sometimes I do. It's good to have a back-up plan.

Summer Gap

 

Another shadow shot, I realize. This one is more of the high noon variety than yesterday's expression of the eclipse. 

We're having warmer days, which I like. I've been barefoot several times already (atch-ootch-eetch); you can tell by looking at our bathtub. 

My favorite thing about summer besides the heat is the slowing of the pace of business. Fewer obligations. Around here, people don't seem to plan as much (maybe because it's hot?) and I have more time for my own work. 

What's your favorite thing about summer?

Partial Eclipse of the Tree

Surely you know about Sunday's solar eclipse. The internet was lit up with it and people all over the world took stunning photos. It was exciting here in Pasadena, too, where the eclipse was merely partial. When the moon got in the sun's way it altered our light, raking it low and gold across porches and lawns, and quieting the birds. Some of my neighbors took fine photos of the eclipse. I didn't manage one.

What cracks me up about this photo is the big shadows made by my ears.

Zen Monday: #197

I don't know.

That's why I post it on Monday. I'm hoping maybe you know.

A Day of One's Own

Today's the last day of the Renaissance Pleasure Faire so if you're going, read this later. Mornings are best. Afternoons get crowded. Though I admit, the crowds can be the best part.

I went again yesterday. You could say I like it a lot, and I'm just beginning to understand it. Many of the performers, if not most of them, are not paid. They rely on tips and the passing of the hat. They dress up and go out to Irwindale every weekend to participate in the atmosphere--to live in it--because they love to immerse themselves in another culture. It's not really the culture of the Renaissance. It's something else entirely.

What I wanted to do this time was experience it on my own terms, at my own pace. Sometimes when I'm with others, I know I'm holding them up so I don't take my time with the camera. I don't try different angles or settings, I don't watch for the right moment or search for the light or wait for the most interesting person to walk through a shot.

So yesterday I took my camera to the Faire, and no one else. The two of us had a wonderful time. There is an awful lot of smiling going on there.

As a younger woman I was much too self-conscious to do such a thing by myself, and even now I rarely get to spend a day wandering alone and taking photos. But I turned out to be pretty good company, and although I wasn't much of a conversationalist I had a wonderful time.

That and much, much dust up my nose.

Now Begin

From a sidewalk cafe at the Paseo Colorado on Thursday, I observed a crowd on the other side of Green Street. They were hard to miss with those banners. It was obvious what they were doing at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, but it wasn't obvious who they were. We have a lot of schools around here.

Because of the date and time, I figure these particular commencement exercises were for Western University of Health Sciences. I don't know much about Western University, but I think it's interesting that they had Temple Grandin as their commencement speaker. And they certainly chose a beautiful place for their ceremony.

Pacific Means Peaceful

Once in a while when I tell you something I'm afraid I'll regret it, because there's such a thing as best kept secret.

Every Thursday, from 12:30-1:30, I take a yoga class at the Pacific Asia Museum, a place with a fascinating history. I like the class for many reasons, not least of which is the walk through the serene courtyard, with its Koi pond and stone lions. At the far end of the courtyard I ascend the stairs and enter a treetop room with huge windows and a high ceiling, where for one hour I practice gentle yoga with a small, quiet group.

At the Pacific Asia, which is a museum of culture and not a yoga studio, instructor Jill Zepezauer teaches a gentle, accessible form of Hatha yoga. Her style is perfect for beginners and older people (I'll acquiesce to being an older person when I'm ninety), and for folks like me making a comeback from an injury. If you're looking for power yoga, well no, not here. Jill's instructions are detailed and soft-spoken but don't be lulled; you don't want to miss the little jokes she tosses in now and then. "Okay, raise your arm," she sing-songs. "It doesn't matter which one. No, not that one."
The price is amazing. I won't even tell you, just look at the first link above. The only place you can get a cheaper yoga class around here is the South Pasadena Senior Center. And that's a decent class. It's just crowded.

I hope the Pacific Asia class will never be crowded. But best kept secrets can only be kept for so long.

Update: I found a free yoga class in Pasadena. It's every Sunday morning at Lululemon. They suggest you arrive early. I haven't tried it but it sounds like fun.

Commute, 4

I don't know what my commute looks like to you. I suppose it depends on whether or not you're used to city life. I love driving along Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles between Silverlake and Hollywood. It's colorful and busy. People are always out.

Beverly is not exemplary of the entire commute. I have freeway driving (no photos until I get a chauffeur) and some hills. I drive alongside the Silverlake reservoir. I pass beautiful old architecture, pretty parks and graffiti-covered bridges.

Traffic doesn't always stop at those places so I might never get a picture of them, at least not while commuting. And if traffic moves like it did yesterday, I won't be getting a lot of photos of Beverly Blvd. either.

Generic Tissues, Pocket Size

Am I the only one having sneezing fits?

Around here the mowing, trimming and planting continue all year 'round. We've got the weather for it. But it looks like there won't be any more rain for a few months. As mud turns to dust and we kick it up, my nose reacts with snorty violence.

In spite of the nasal wars, I choose to live here. Wish I had a secret weapon.

You Can Call It JPL

I haven't taken you to Hahamongna Watershed Park in a while. I suppose I've mentioned this before: nobody I know actually calls it that. We call it "JPL." For some reason we don't confuse the park with the aerospace research center. When someone asks if I want to walk dogs together at JPL I am not confused. I know they don't expect to wander among research labs and allow the dogs to pee on the telescopes. They mean Hahamongna Watershed Park.

Can you blame us? JPL is so much easier to say.

The reason for the nickname is obvious if you look at a map. The real JPL (NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab) sits perched sideways atop Hahamongna rather like a jaunty beret. And calling the park JPL isn't wrong; some of the earliest rocket experiments were launched there and even later ones have been tried on its sandy acres.

This view is closer to the Devil's Gate Dam than to NASA's JPL. The dam is close to the bottom of your map view, near the 210 freeway. (You can see it if you use the zoom in satellite view.) You can't see where I took this photo; it's off to the right, under cover of trees. But the Google shot of the dam looks relatively recent.

Zen Monday: #196

Here's how I choose the Zen Monday photo: if I have no idea what to say about it, it works.

Zen Monday is the day you tell us what the photo's about, rather than me telling you. Please do leave us your thoughts in the Comments.

Litfest 2012

Happy crowds.
Dedicated volunteers.
Diverse authors, publishers and booksellers.
Entertaining speakers and panels.
Good food.
Fun.
Expanding horizons.

Reading. This is what it's all about.

Yesterday's Litfest Pasadena was a smashing success. Can't wait for next year!

Saturdays Are For Fun

 

As usual, I'm intrigued by the window display at Pink Plum Antiques and Collectibles on East Colorado Blvd. I can identify most of the items here but what are those colorful little fluff-mice thingies? It matters not. I need them.

Stop by Litfest today if you have a chance. It's free, it's at Central Park just south of Castle Green and I will be there at least until 1:00--longer, if I'm still standing. I'm a Litfest volunteer so I might even have a name tag. Say hello!

Eye Care for Humans

I know. I am just that brave.

I don't usually blog about national chain businesses, but I had such a nice experience at LensCrafters yesterday--yes, the one in the Paseo Colorado--plus I took this bizarre, yet strangely attractive photo of a photo of myself, so I thought I'd post about the experience.

When I arrived, only one employee was on the premises and I was the only customer. The guy answered my questions and directed me to what I needed. When another employee showed up (returning from a quick break) she took over and waited on me hand and foot, showing me frames, answering questions, etc.

By the time I'd selected my finalists the store had filled with customers and the other employees had returned from lunch. My technician, Mary, was waiting on several people at once but I never felt neglected. Mary was efficient. And funny! We made eye jokes. I wish I could remember them. Any of them. You'll just have to trust me; eyes are hilarious.

It turns out the guy who greeted me when I first came in was the eye doctor. He was covering the store while the employees had stepped away. I am so impressed that he did that.

This is completely opposite to my recent experience at another Pasadena business. I prefer not to write negative reviews; I'd rather not give a bad businesses any coverage whatsoever. But it was such a relief to receive great customer service at LensCrafters that I left there practically euphoric.

Plus they gave me $150 off my total because I "donated" a pair of old glasses. Yeesh.

Speaking of bizarre, yet strangely attractive. Either that or oddly euphoric. Badly pixelated? Widely misunderstood? Unfortunately dressed! We can go on.