Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Glad to See You

I hope the tourists arriving in Pasadena for the Tournament of Roses parade and the Rose Bowl game are enjoying themselves and finding lots to do. Although I'm glad they're here I admit, since the Rose Bowl is west of me and Colorado Blvd. is south, unless I'm forced in other directions I'm going only east and north until next Monday.

It's nothing personal. Some of my best friends are Texas Christians and cheeseheads. I'm just not one for crowds.

The Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia (east) is looking beautiful these days, and since it's so big there's room for a few extra people. Isn't that bench inviting? I sat on it.

I made the unfortunate mistake of putting my glasses in my back pocket before sitting down. Even my titanium frames couldn't survive the ordeal, so I was forced to take a drive down Lake Avenue yesterday (south). I would have waited until next week but my glasses were making me dizzy, so I stopped in at Moda Optique to have them adjusted. Hratch said business was good but the Texas and Wisconsin fans are not knocking down his doors. Apparently they brought their glasses from home and haven't sat on them yet.

25 comments:

J.J. in L.A. said...

I heard that Disneyland sold out yesterday. They approximate 80,000 people. I don't even like going when it's slow!

But I love the Arboretum! I never think to go in the Fall though.

Maybe next year...

Katie said...

Gorgeous photo. I think sitting on this bench to take in the amazing scenery sounds a bit more appealing that dealing with the parade crowds. Good luck with attempt to only go east and north for a few days.

Petrea Burchard said...

Oh I love Disneyland, but I have to be in the mood. It's never not crowded there. Super Bowl Sunday is a decent bet, though.

Katie, I think a lot of people find the crowds invigorating. A taste of New York, maybe, or Hong Kong? And I hear the New Year's Eve campout on Colorado Blvd. becomes a communal experience.

Steven said...

A very pretty photo. Nice. I hope the Pasadena bars are well stocked for the visitors from the Land of Cheese.

Petrea Burchard said...

We have plenty of beer, Steven, plenty of beer. And more beer. And we can bring in reinforcements.

BaysideLife said...

A very inviting bench. I'd bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the scenery until the crowds abate.

Anonymous said...

Hah! I didn't even know who was playing.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Too bad it's raining. It's been forever since I last visited the Arboretum. Love Ginkgos, and although it's considered heretical, I do much prefer the Ginkgos over the Ficus.

watch out for Huntington (the races and the mall)

Petrea Burchard said...

I hope I got enough groceries, Bayside, because I don't want to venture out again.

I had to look it up, Hiker.

Call me a heretic, PA.

TheChieftess said...

This week is the busiest week up here...funny thing, the traffic and parking is like any normal day in the Southland!!!

Mister Earl said...

We are being infested with horned frogs and badgers.

Speedway said...

How lucky can you guys get? Our trees passed their yellow leaf stage months ago and are now well into mulch, with bare branches reaching to the cold sky.

It's surprising the number of people here in Speedway who complain about the race traffic. The track has been here since 1909, well before the town. People CANNOT possibly have moved here without knowing of the Indy 500, the Brickyard 400 (NASCAR) or the AMA motorcycle races, yet they complain about the crowds. Oh, well. Others sell parking space to race-goers or run little concession stands, making enough money to pay their property taxes or for a winter vacation in Florida.

Me? I pack my sunscreen and a lunch, walk to the track, watch the races, then walk home, passing the stalled traffic on the way. I watch the Rose Bowl parade on HGTV.

Petrea Burchard said...

Speedway, you have a point. It's not like the Rose Bowl just popped up this year. I knew, I just didn't know. It's not really a complaint, more of a description of how I prepare. Most weeks of the year are not like this one. And like you said, we're lucky weather-wise. We have those yellow leaves, or at least we did before today's rain.

Steve Scauzillo said...

Petrea, now you are in my neck of the woods. I love the Arboretum, and I also like the neighborhoods around it. Nice shot. I, too, was "looking for fall" in October when I didn't realize fall happens here in December.

Dina said...

It IS a beautiful bench and now you will always it. Glad you didn't get any shrapnel.

pasadenapio said...

I love the contrast inherent in the photo: It's calm and peaceful and there's not a soul in sight, while Pasadena is filling up like crazy with the influx of visitors for the parade and the game.

Petrea Burchard said...

Yes, Steve, being from the Midwest I would call this weather "autumnal."

Shrapnel? Thank goodness no, Dina.

PIO, it's exciting, isn't it? If I were any kind of Pasadena blogger I'd be out taking pictures of everything Rose Bowl. I may have something up my sleeve.

Kate said...

A delightfully restful photo...the colours are terrific. As a former cheesehead, I'd enjoy going to the game, but since we're snowed in here, I guess I'll stay put.

Cafe Pasadena said...

? Are you doing a zen wednesday also now??

Bellis said...

Your poor glasses! Thank goodness you weren't in a distant country when you sat on them. As for the Rose Parade, I'm so lucky - I live right next to Orange Grove and can view the floats lined up at midnight stretching all the way from the Colorado Street Bridge to the border with South Pasadena. It's worth the effort to walk past them while they're fresh and fragrant.

Petrea Burchard said...

Kate, I was deliberately trying to provoke my cheesehead friends who check my blog on Facebook, and not one of them took the bait!

? CP

Bellis, that does sound fun!

Unknown said...

Wonderful pic!

Petrea Burchard said...

Hello, Nat. Welcome! Thank you very much for braving my Wisconsin jokes and saying something nice.

sandy said...

Beautiful photo~!

Petrea Burchard said...

Thank you!