Zen Monday #268

Welcome to Zen Monday! It's our chance to be creative, to let it flow, to, uh...Say something. The comments section is yours.

Commute, again

While I waited for the light to change, I wondered: How did that little old building get stuck between those two monsters of bland? Was the teeny building always teeny, or did it get cut, or smooshed? Who builds a building that small, and why? What was it back then, when it was new?

This is my second "little kid running by" series. Total accident. Or possibly because I keep getting stuck in traffic.



New book review is up at Hometown Pasadena: Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs.

Commute, Hollywood

Bookmarks: Follow Me

One of my "commute" shots, at Cahuenga Blvd. and Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles

When I started using Twitter, I immediately followed writers because writers are known to be witty and entertaining. Thus my Twitter stream would be a cocktail party of constant twit-wit. But at least half the writers I've followed tweet nothing but advertisements for their books. My stream becomes more difficult to read (not to mention more dull) with each new link-laden pitch.

Will #Harry meet #Sally? find out at www.afghk;l
My friends love #an'orhw39i3 !
Nominated for two #SelfNom awards!...? http://nr[0hW
Click here! www. 1t09483t7
#FFpqt49ei Buy www.apgohw4g http://=50 this!

I unfollow these people. I'm sure they unfollow me, too, because they're on Twitter to collect followers, not to make contacts. They might think they're on Twitter to make sales, though I doubt that's going to happen. It's like they're hitting people over the head repeatedly with bus stop benches.

I'm on Twitter mostly so people can find me if that's where they happen to look. Do you use Twitter? What do you use it for? What does it take for you to buy a product from someone you meet on Twitter? I would imagine you would at least have to like them first, but I'm guessing.

I like Twitter, or at least my Utopian idea of it, but I rarely think of anything witty to say in 140 characters. (Ha! And I expected other writers to be witty.)

It's okay to advertise, just not every minute of every day. By the way, Camelot & Vine is nominated for five SelfNom awards! Wish me luck.

Commute, 14

I take "commute" pictures only when the traffic comes to a complete stop. I point the iPhone out the window and snap away, pretty much without knowing what I'm getting, because I'm watching what's ahead of me. I don't want to be the creep who holds up traffic when the light turns green. I dislike that person in the car in front of me, texting away about nothing that can't wait while I'm trying to get somewhere.

Accident waiting to happen: her texting, me freaking out.

And we all know I'm no better than she is. Taking pictures at the light. Who am I kidding?

Commute, 13

Trying to raise my head above the proverbial water and catch a breath! I've been snowed under lately--proverbially, of course. It's actually warm and dry in Pasadena, and I don't believe there's been any snow here in the flatlands since the 1940's.

I took this shot in Los Angeles, along Beverly Blvd., on my way home from a recording session. There's no good freeway route, but I prefer the surface streets anyway. It's not far and there's so much to see.

Sometimes I'm pretty tired at the end of a work day, but mostly I feel satisfied. I'm fortunate to work at what I love. And when I'm as tired as I was yesterday, I'm happy to take my time on the way home and just wander.

Commute, 12

I am soothed when traffic slows at this spot on Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles. I see this on the way to work. On the way back, I rarely notice it. You'd think I wouldn't miss it either way. Maybe it's all about what the sun is doing, or, more likely, what the traffic is doing.

I left the little corner of my car window in the photo because I like it.

I should mention that I take photos from the car only when traffic is stopped. I mean stopped.

Say, I wonder why there's no graffiti on the plain part of the wall? Someone must be taking care of the place.

Commute, 11

You can't take the freeway all the way from Pasadena to Hollywood. You've got to take surface streets a good part of the time.

Sometimes I take Santa Monica Blvd. instead of Beverly Blvd. Santa Monica is not all like this. It has interesting stretches, though Beverly is more lively more of the time.

I'm told Santa Monica is faster than Beverly, but I prefer Beverly. Go figure.

Commute, 10

It wasn't the first time I'd recognized one of Kevin McCollister's stark visions of night-time Los Angeles, but it was the first time I could place it, and the first time I had in my possession the day-time version.

Don't stop at one picture on Kevin's blog (as if you could). His is a wicked, daring eye, addicted to LA's particular brand of noir.

Commute, 9

I don't usually stop on the way to or from Bell Sound Studios in Hollywood for my weekly recording session. This isn't because the possible stops don't tempt me. It's because I'm on my way to work and I haven't included browsing time in my commute.

So I haven't tried Jollibee. Looks like it's a chain but I've never seen another one besides this one on Beverly Blvd.

Anybody?

Yahoo reviews say Jollibee is a Filipino fast food chain. After reading the reviews I might not end up going to Jollibee but I might seek out some Filipino food. It sounds pretty good.

Commute, 8

We're heading east on Silverlake Blvd. in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, approaching the corner of Reservoir St. This mural is on the back of what I think is still Tom's Burgers. Tom's is on a corner-shaped spit because really, where Silverlake meets Reservoir it also meets Parkman Avenue which, if we turn left on it, takes us behind ourselves to Sunset Blvd, under which we've just driven.

I love that sentence, even if you don't.

I didn't find out the name of the artist, but I did find Jubilee.


Update:
Thanks to Adele for discovering the name of the artist: Dcypher CBS. 

Commute, 7

Last week Karin asked to see where I work. (Her exact words were, "Can we see the innards?") So this isn't really commuting. It's being there.

There are several rooms at Bell Sound Studios. This is Studio B. Sound engineer Aaron sits at the console. Aaron's moved to Australia since I took the photo; now I work with Alfredo. Behind where the engineer sits is an area with a sofa and a desk for the client (should the client wish to attend the recording session). Through the door at the left of the picture is the booth, where I stand at the microphone to record. I almost never sit when I record. Something about staying on my feet keeps my vocal energy up. I need that, because the commercials I record are upbeat.

Each week I record voice-overs for Stater Bros. Markets. If you're local, you know about Stater Bros. In case you're not from around here, I'll tell you: Stater Bros. is a chain of grocery stores here in Southern California. They're located mostly in the Inland Empire and Orange County. The nearest store to Pasadena is in Santa Clarita--that's a bit of a drive. One has to cross a mountain or two to get there. I've made the drive and I'm glad I have, because I found that what I advertise (high quality at low prices) is actually the case. (When John and I picked up a deli lunch there before visiting Vasquez Rocks, we were goggle-eyed at what we got for our ten bucks.)

Actors perform in commercials all the time. It's part of what we do. When I get up to the microphone, nothing makes me more enthusiastic than touting a business I actually feel good about. I only wish they had a store in Pasadena.

Commute, 6

This alley in Hollywood runs north and south, between and parallel to Highland and Citrus Avenues. I've just turned north from Willoughby. I believe the address of the big, white building in the background is 1025 N. Highland, at the corner of Highland and Romaine. It houses film industry-type of businesses, including a film archive company.

Surrounding us in the alley are the backsides of recording studios, dubbing companies, photo labs and such. Some of the buildings, like the big one in the background, date to the 1920's. Filmmakers and recording artists have been coming through here since Hollywood's beginnings, getting the work done.

I like these buildings and their day-to-day workings of Hollywood. There's not much glamour here (though it passes through from time to time), but there is history.

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.

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.

Commute, 3

This view of downtown Los Angeles isn't exactly on my commute, but I like the picture so here you go.

We're looking down an alley near 2nd and Vignes. I used to drive to that area years ago because my headshot photographer had a studio there. Space was cheap and the light was good, but it was an iffy neighborhood and I always made sure to park where I could see my car from the big, bright studio windows. Now the area is artist lofts and condos.

John and I drove there (and parked safely) last weekend to see a play called The Last Day, written by Christina Joy Howard and directed by Tiger Reel. While exploring her relationship with her father, a daughter tells the story of her dad's experiences aiding the American exodus from Saigon during the last days of U.S. occupation. As with any brand new play, there are minor rough spots. But I do recommend this baby/puppy/sucker/world premiere.

I was young in 1975, but I remember those days. I attended protest marches not only with my friends but with my parents and teachers as well. Nobody I knew was happy about our occupation of Viet Nam. Now, with a more mature perspective, my emotions are more complex. Those were not good days, not proud days.

The author plays herself in the play. The night we attended, her father was in the audience. As emotional an experience as it was for me, I can only imagine what it was like for the two of them.

Commute, 2

We didn't get to do our Commute post yesterday so, just like my work sometimes gets rescheduled, I rescheduled the post. I'm the boss and I can do that. At least, here on the blog I can do that.

But this is what's weird: I can see the number 2773 above the door on the blue building. I cannot find this address anywhere on my commute. I can't remember where I took this picture. I thought it was on Beverly Boulevard but not this week it wasn't, and I can't find it on Google Maps. I must have taken a detour, not only of car, but of brain.

Where did I go? Do you have any ideas? How did I get to work?

It hardly matters. I got the picture, and I'm going to do our front yard flamingos in these colors.

Commute, 1

Last week folks reacted positively to the Anawalt elephant. I see a lot of interesting things on my Wednesday commute to Hollywood. I don't get to photograph all of them because I'm driving, but if and when traffic stops (and it does, oh yes it does), I pass my wait time taking pictures of the good stuff. So perhaps Thursday is a good time to post the shots I get on the Wednesday drive.

I took this one on Santa Monica Blvd. somewhere around the junction of Hollywood and Silverlake (the areas, not the boulevards). I haven't been down Santa Monica Blvd. lately so I'm not sure if it's still there. I'm glad I got it when I did.

I had this photo for a while before I noticed what was extra special about this artwork.