Happy New Year

Here's wishing you a 2012 filled with good things: love, light and beauty--or whatever you think is good, maybe you don't like those things, maybe you want dissonance, piglets and toe shoes. I hope you get them. Maybe you want an arrogant boyfriend, a new haircut, guitar lessons, a trip to Australia.

I don't care what you want, I hope you get it in 2012, as long as it doesn't take advantage of anyone else, hurt anyone else or look down its nose at anyone else (which may preclude the arrogant boyfriend).

Thank you for your visits to Pasadena Daily Photo this year. And happy new year to you! Have fun (if that's what you want).

An America Thing

I took this photo last year in one of the Tournament of Roses float decorating tents in the Arroyo Seco. I never posted it because of its glaring imperfection--the large white barrier front and center. But while looking through last year's photos I came across it and found these girls so compelling I decided to go ahead and show it to you.

The girl's hand touches a fire hydrant that looks like it's seen better days, and that it has. The hydrant, called "the Heroes' Hydrant," was displayed near where the LA County Firemens Benefit and Welfare float was being decorated. The nearby sign said, "This is an actual hydrant removed from the World Trade Center rubble (near building 7) donated to the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association by our friends from FDNY" (Fire Department of New York).

The moment moved me and put me in mind of many things then, as it does now: how thoughtful these girls seemed to be, despite how young; how much I have to be grateful for; and how the Tournament of Roses Parade is not just a Pasadena thing but an America thing.

You can visit the Heroes' Hydrant and other artifacts of firefighter bravery at the Los Angeles County Fire Museum.

Entropy, 4

I haven't been able to get out much with my camera over the last couple of weeks, what with the holidays and Boz's surgery. So I hope you don't mind me digging into my (vast and growing) archives for this pair of pictures from the photo safari John and I took on Thanksgiving day.

If you pay for tickets to the Tournament of Roses Parade, and if your seats are along North Orange Grove Blvd., and if you're sitting near the top of the bleachers, you might be able to look behind you and see this curious view. In the foreground is a shallow and (at Thanksgiving it was, so I'm going to say it's still) empty pool, leading your eye to the empty Hulett C. Merritt mansion which is flanked by a pair of unfortunate (and hopefully empty) buildings that were added during the Ambassador College years.

It's hard to notice all this from the street because it's set back, but it's just south of where Orange Grove intersects with Colorado Blvd., right near the center of parade action in which, just FYI, our Pasadena PIO Ann Erdman will be sitting on a float this year!

In the picture you see John, doing pretty much what I was doing when I took the top picture.


11am:
Speaking of Ann Erdman, who is going to be IN THE PARADE, her office just sent out this press release. 

TRAFFIC SIGNALS TO BE ALTERED FOR 2012 ROSE PARADE

As an annual prelude to the Tournament of Roses Parade, 15 traffic signals will be altered so that tall floats needing clearance can make their way safely through Pasadena intersections. Alterations will begin this week.

Each year at this time signal mast arms extending over travel lanes are removed or replaced with shorter signal mast arms or with poles that have no mast arms.

Signals with left turn arrows will be removed at
·        Colorado Boulevard at Arroyo Parkway, eastbound and westbound approaches
·        Colorado Boulevard at Marengo Avenue, eastbound and westbound
·        Colorado Boulevard at Garfield Avenue, eastbound
·        Colorado Boulevard at Euclid Avenue, westbound
·        Colorado Boulevard at Lake Avenue, eastbound and westbound
·        Colorado Boulevard at Hill Avenue, eastbound and westbound
·        Colorado Boulevard at Sierra Madre Boulevard, eastbound

Long signal mast arms will be removed at
·        Orange Grove Boulevard at Green Street, northbound and southbound
·        Colorado and Orange Grove boulevards, eastbound
·        Sierra Madre Boulevard at Walnut Street, southbound
·        Sierra Madre Boulevard at Orange Grove Boulevard, southbound
·        Sierra Madre Boulevard at Pasadena High School student parking lot, westbound
·        Sierra Madre Boulevard at Washington Boulevard,  westbound and northbound
·        Washington Boulevard at PHS, administration parking lot, northbound
·        Orange Grove and Del Mar boulevards, northbound and southbound

The Pasadena Transportation Department urges motorists to drive safely during this period of traffic signal changes and increased pedestrian activity.

For more information call (626) 744-6900.


You might also find useful these safety tips sent out the other day by the Public Information Office.

PASADENA FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS ISSUE TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE ALONG ROSE PARADE ROUTE

As the 123nd Rose Parade approaches on Jan. 2, the Pasadena Fire Department and Pasadena Police Department are issuing safety tips for the thousands of overnight campers who will line the route on Jan. 1.

The parade route will be a safer place if everyone follows the rules and regulations intended for the safety of all parade-goers.

What You Can Do:

·        Overnight camping is permitted only on the night of Sunday, Jan. 1.

·        A permanent position on the sidewalk may be maintained along the parade route beginning at noon on Jan. 1.  The “Blue Line” is the honor line.  All persons and property such as blankets, chairs, etc., must remain on the curb until 11 p.m. on Jan 1.  At that time spectators may move out to the honor line.

·        Small, professionally manufactured barbeques elevated at least one foot off the ground are allowed on the parade route, 25 feet from buildings and other combustibles.  A fire extinguisher must be readily available.

·        Minors under the age of 18 may be on the parade route from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. only if they are under the supervision of adults.

·        Dress for cold weather.  Children and seniors may need extra layers of clothing to avoid hypothermia.

·        Drink healthy fluids and consume nourishing meals to avoid dehydration.

·        Report any suspicious activities and packages to emergency authorities along the parade route.

·        In case of emergency call (626) 744-4241 from a cellular phone or 9-1-1 from a landline phone and know the cross streets from which you are calling.


What You Can’t Do

·        Appearance in the parade is prohibited for any entries/marchers that have not been approved by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses.

·        Tents, sofas and boxes of any type that can be used as stools or seats are prohibited along the route.

·        Unoccupied chairs are not allowed.

·        Bonfires are strictly prohibited and considered illegal burns.

·        Fireworks are prohibited except as part of scheduled official events.

·        No items may be sold along the parade route without a permit.

·        No public areas – sidewalks, curbs, gutters, streets, ramps – may be cordoned or roped off.

·        No ladders or scaffolding may be used as elevation for viewing the activities.

·        It is illegal to buy, sell or give away horns on the parade route.

·        Pets are not recommended along the parade route because they are easily frightened with sudden, loud noises.

·        Selling space along the parade route, other than grandstand seating, is illegal.

·        Throwing any projectile into the parade, including seemingly harmless items such as tortillas, marshmallows, flowers, etc., is prohibited. Silly String and similar products are prohibited as well.

·        Vehicles obstructing emergency lanes will be towed.

·        Walking in the street is not permitted during the parade.

·        Open containers of alcohol are illegal on public streets, sidewalks and all other public areas.

·        Sale, possession and use of illegal drugs will not be tolerated.

Enhanced security measures will be in effect on the parade route and very evident. Because of large crowds, Pasadena police officers will resolve problems quickly and remove from the scene anyone who violates the law or disturbs the peace.

The Pasadena Fire Department responds to more than twice the number of calls on parade day than on average days. These calls include reports of hypothermia, illegal burning, miscellaneous medical issues, assaults and alcohol-related incidents.

For more information about safety along the Rose Parade route visit www.visitpasadena.com and click on Visitor Hotline, visit www.cityofpasadena.net/police or call the Pasadena Fire Department at (626) 744-7276.

 

Weirdly Good

That place in the Arroyo where we walk the dogs, go running, play soccer and ride our bikes is once again about to be out of commission for a few days. The time between Christmas and New Year's is prep time in Pasadena. Cafe Pasadena called it a "weird" period and I'm glad he did, because now I know I'm not the only one who feels that way.

It's not a bad thing, it's just a--well, a weird thing. It's actually nice, in a weird way, to know that all these folks are coming to town for the parade and the big game, and that places so familiar to us are places they've seen only on TV. I once knew them from TV as well, long ago.

If you're coming from out of town, don't get any weird ideas. I took the photo in September. It's colder now. Not Wisconsin cold. Oh god, no. Not even Oregon cold. We'll all be bundled up in our parkas but don't mind us. You guys might want a sweater.

Treasures

my friend's collection of beach finds

Do you collect stuff?

Our kitchen windowsill is lined with things we've found on our property: shapely sticks, pretty rocks, old pennies and other interesting artifacts of what and who used to be here.

My mother collected teapots of all sorts, and pretty china cups and saucers. She kept the cups and saucers in a cabinet but the teapots showed up in all sorts of surprising spots in her house.

My friend Paula collects Fiestaware pitchers. They have their own shelf, where they're lined up and ready for precision pouring. My sister-in-law Rebecca collects dishes, too, of all vintages. She mixes and matches for an artful table. Yesterday, Virginia posted a wonderful photo of her friend's collection of bells, beautifully posed in a glass-front cabinet.

When I was a kid I collected plastic horses. Later it was green glass. Now it's antique bottles. At the moment they're in a storage box, but I'll find a spot for them eventually. Or I'll collect something else.

John says he wants to collect vintage Hot Wheels, but I like to think he's kidding.

Zen Monday: #176

Zen Monday's the day you experience the photo and give us your thoughts rather than me telling you what I think the picture's about. There's no competition, no right or wrong. We're here to have fun.

Well. At least some of us are. 

Merriment

That's me in the foyer of Pasadena City Hall, reflected in an ornament on the city's official Christmas tree.

John and I have each other, our home, work we love and a host of friends and neighbors we're grateful for. Boz is healing. All is well.

Happy holidays to you from the entire staff at Pasadena Daily Photo (me)!