Birthday Month

Margaret Finnegan had a great idea. During February, her birthday month, she would do 50 good deeds. Not only did she think it up, she followed through, posting her results on Facebook.

I'd like to imitate Margaret but I'm not as nice as she is, so I've come up with something else for my birthday month in March. I'm going to have a minimum of one adventure each week and I'll tell you about my adventures here. I'm allowed to do this instead of good deeds because I'm older than Margaret, and by god, some adventure is in order.

For my current purposes, an adventure is something I haven't done before or somewhere I haven't been before, preferably inexpensive or free and not too far away. I've got Elizabeth Pomeroy's wonderful Lost and Found as my guide, and I'd be glad to have your suggestions, too.

I'll try to do some good deeds while I'm at it.

10 Things You Should Do If You Meet King Arthur In A Dark Forest

You have time-traveled to southwest Britain in 500AD. (You probably drank too much on the plane.) You've landed in the woods and there's this guy with a bloody sword. What do you do?

1.    Duck.
       (He has a sword.)

2.    Cover.
       (See item 1.)

3.    Speak in soothing tones like you would to an angry dog.
       (He doesn't speak English. He speaks something called Brythonic.)

4.    Keep your head lower than his and don't make eye contact.
       (Don't challenge him. He's not a tall guy and he gets defensive.)

5.    Allow him to smell you.
       (If you're still alive at this point, just be glad he inspects you in this way and not some other.)

6.    Maintain your dignity.
       (This may seem impossible after the man has sniffed your armpits, but you might need your dignity later so do what you can to hold on.)

7.    Give him your horse.
       (Or your bicycle or your roller skates or whatever you've got. Appease the man, for god's sake, he's a barbarian warlord and you're on his turf.)

8.    Be nice to his friends.
       (He has a lot of them. They wear metal outfits. You have no choice.)

9.    Go where he takes you.
       (It's dark. You're in the woods. It's 500AD. You have other plans?)

10.    Don't complain about the wagon ride even if they chain you.
         (It's a long walk to Camelot.)

Weekend

Traffic in downtown Pasadena is going to be seriously busy this weekend, because of Make Music Pasadena and the Grand Fondo Gira d'Italia bike ride.

Most of Make Music will be west of El Molino or so. Bikes, however, will be everywhere, so keep your eyes open and be careful!

I'm not much for crowds, so I'll probably head into the San Gabriels for a hike. But I think big events are great for Pasadena. And if you can get yourself over to Vroman's at 4pm on Saturday you can enjoy the launch of The Texas Twist by John Vorhaus. John and I both have stories in Literary Pasadena: The Fiction Edition.

I might even show up myself. I mean, hey, they have snacks.

Summer Cabin

It's been cloudy and Octoberish for a few days. I'm not a fan of cold weather. I tried to come up with a picture that would give you an idea of how it feels to me, but I changed my mind. I'd rather look at this.

Mood

Sometimes I don't know what to post. I can't find a single photo that would interest you. I have about 25,000 pictures on file, yet at times not one of them is the least bit intriguing.

The next day, I look at my files and I've got 25,000 photos to show you! That gorgeous shadow, that bright color, that angle! How will I ever post them all?

What's that about? Mood, maybe, but what makes or breaks mood? Is it what I had to eat the previous day, or how well I slept, or whether or not my jeans are too tight? Exercise. Money in the bank. Accomplishment. Cookies.

It's voodoo, I tell you.

How's your mood today? Why?

In a Cabin in the Canyon

What would I do in my remote canyon retreat? If I had one to retreat to, that is?

Not much. Not much at all.

What would you do in yours?

*******************

An informational meeting will be held tonight about the sports field, new trail and disk golf course at Hahamongna Watershed Park. 

I've just read a fascinating report by Hugh Bowles questioning the legitimacy of Pasadena's application for grant money for this field. I've attended a lot of meetings about Hahamongna and I, too, question the legitimacy of the city's application. It appears obvious that the application does not fulfill state requirements and that the state's granting of the money violates its own rules for doing so.

The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at Pasadena City Yards, 233 W. Mountain Ave., Pasadena, 2nd floor Large Conference Room. There's plenty of parking, so come on down!