Anniversary

Summer, 2000

Before we got married, John and I had a date to the Huntington Library and Gardens. We asked a stranger to take our photo under the grapevine gazebo in the Shakespeare garden. That day, I knew we were going to get married when we bought a Huntington membership together. We married November 3, 2001, in the back yard of our rented house in Altadena.

Whenever we go to the Huntington we ask a stranger to take our picture at the gazebo.

Us 'neath the gazebo in 2010.

Once more, beneath the gazebo at the Huntington this year, 2014. That grapevine has really aged.

Happy anniversary, sweetie. These thirteen years can only be bettered by those to come.

Wiggle Waggle Walk

photo by John Sandel

Every year, the Pasadena Humane Society's Wiggle Waggle Walk unites families and dogs to raise funds in support of dogs that don't have families. There will be a fashion show and a look-alike contest.

I don't much resemble Wilma except in lounging posture, and neither of us is ready to be in such a big crowd. However, you can see by the photo above that Wilma wags in support of this cause. What you can't see is how her whole body wiggles when she wags. I've started wiggling and wagging right back at her. I think she gets it.

My friend Paula Johnson is heading up the Rose City Sisters team (a.k.a. pack) for the Walk. Here's what Paula says about the event:

I am thrilled to help support the animals at the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA by participating in the 16th Annual Wiggle Waggle Walk on Sunday, September 28, 2014 in Brookside Park in Pasadena. Your donation will help provide nourishing food, safe shelter and medical care to over 12,000 animals this year! Your contribution will also help fund the low cost spay/neuter program, the adoption program, wildlife services, humane education programs and more. Help the animals by making a gift today.

If you're looking for a team, you can join Paula's. If you can't make it on the 28th you can still donate money via her team, or anyone else's.

We have always had shelter dogs. They require dedication, just like any relationship, and like any relationship, the dedication is worth it. I suggest you don't make physical resemblance to you a requirement when adopting, but there's something for everyone.

Here are some photos from the 2013 Wiggle Waggle Walk. And check out this video, made by a favorite local celebrity in 2012.

Zen Monday #265

For today's Zen Monday, guest photographer Clifford Beshers adds his (more than) two cents. Many thanks, Cliff.

Bookmarks: Ludlum I'm Not

I approach the drop.

I steal a glimpse over my shoulder to make sure I'm not being followed by anyone except my camera crew.

"Little...free...liberry...dot..............org! This is the place."

I write an encoded note so my contact will know this is the right book. Or maybe I sign it.

You know, this Little Free Library's got a pretty good collection.

(all photos by John Sandel)

No need to be sneaky. Leave a book, take a book. It's free. This LFL is at 1614 Las Lunas Street, Pasadena.

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As the end of my daily posting looms I'm excited to have free time, but I don't want too much. I'd love to visit your book club and talk about Camelot & Vine, for example. Or if you're involved with anime cons, invite me! I'd love to come.

I keep a calendar on the main page of my website, so if I'm not here you can always check there.
Next up: tomorrow, Sunday April 28th, 2pm at Barnes and Noble in Old Town Pasadena, a group signing of Literary Pasadena: The Fiction Edition.
The following Sunday, May 5th, I'll be signing and selling books to benefit the Bloom Again Foundation at Lunafest, at Descanso Gardens. It starts at 12:30pm. Click the link to buy your tickets in advance.
Then Litfest! May 11, all day, at Central Park in Pasadena. Look for the Boz Books booth.

More on my website. I hope to see you at one or all of these events.

Zen Monday #238

BettyS sent this photo, saying she was sure I'd run across this in the neighborhood. I haven't found it, though, so please thank Betty for today's Zen Monday photo.

Bookmarks: Literaries Who Launch

photo by John Sandel

I went to a book launch party Thursday night and didn't think to take pictures because I was excited to be one of the book's authors. Thanks to John, we have this panorama of everyone's backs.

The book we celebrated is Literary Pasadena: The Fiction Edition, published by Prospect Park Books. It's a collection of short stories and excerpts, produced as a companion to LitFest Pasadena, coming to Central Park May 11th.

I hope you'll read it. Everyone in this picture has a piece in it. I don't know who took this photo, but here are everyone's fronts. The shot was sent to us all by the book's editor, Patricia O'Sullivan, who looks happy. She's just in front of me and to my right. (I'm the only one wearing a yellow top. It's spring, right? I can wear yellow.)

I knew some of these people already, met more last night, and hope to meet still more at upcoming events for the book.*

Publisher Colleen Dunn Bates of Prospect Park Books wrote a post about the party here, and there are more pictures. I also wrote a post, comparing taking photos in and about Pasadena to writing stories here.

For me, this party was a milestone of sorts. I've had my works published before, and I've been paid to write before. But I've never had a book launch party where I was involved as a writer. Still hoping to have a launch party for Camelot & Vine. Not sure how I'm going to do it.

* This coming Thursday, 4/18, at 7pm will be the Vroman's launch. This will be a panel, not a group signing.
* There will be signings of Literary Pasadena at noon both Saturday 4/20 and Sunday 4/21 at the Prospect Park Books booth at the LA Times Festival of Books. I'm in the Saturday signing.
* Sunday, 4/28 at 2pm, there will be a group signing at Barnes & Noble in Old Town.
* Then of course there's Litfest May 11th in Central Park, where Prospect Park will of course have a booth, and so will Boz Books!
* On Thursday, June 13th at 7pm, I'll be participating in a panel about "writing Pasadena," at the Pasadena Museum of History.

Hahamongna Detail Week, Just One More

photo by John Sandel

Thanks for coming along on our Hahamongna details tour. There are a million more intriguing little bits to discover out there. To give you an idea of how varied and variable Hahamongna is, I never even noticed the sign here in John's picture, and I've walked in the park at least once a week for seven years.
The landscape changes with every season. Paths we learn in summer and fall are rearranged with the spring rains. It's a place where city dwellers can relax and let their lizard brains reach out and connect--with ancestors, with nature, with what was and with what is. Hell, you can even connect with lizards.

Yesterday On Colorado Blvd.

photo by Terry Griest

Sometimes, if we're lucky, Terry Griest checks the blog when I've posted a photo taken in Old Town Pasadena. You may remember Terry: she did an in-depth study of our historic, once-scary (now up-scale) shopping district at the beginning of its dramatic upheaval/restoration. What she created is a rare treasure, and I'm so grateful when she shares it with us.

Compare today's photo to yesterday's.

Terry says:
"I didn't have much in my little 1984 report and no oldy-old photos, just this one from '84 when you could buy 'meat for home freezers,' and 'select your own' 'beef bundles' (yum) from the Beef Baron where you can now buy leather goods. Hmm.

"Here's the only info I have:

"...we come to 33-45 West Colorado, another Spanish Colonial relating well to others on the block. This facade is actually a 1929 [the year they widened Colorado] unification of several small structures built in 1895. Typical Spanish elements are the central arched entrance, red tile roof, and wrought iron grille work which was, until recently, covered by signs. Once the first Pasadena telephone company in 1901, Bennett and Haskell once again offered their own baroque version of the Spanish colonial style."

This is a lot of information! And now, thanks to Terry Griest, it's available on the web.

Helping

Today, we're making chicken soup.

(photo by John Sandel)

Zen Monday: #221

guest photographer: Ginab's friend Tom

Weehee! It's Monday! And a Zen Monday photo is just that: a Zen Monday photo. It is what it is. I mean, what is it? You tell us.

Be Afraid

Happy Halloween. Get scared but not too scared. Have fun. And if I come trick-or-treating at your house, please don't give me any candy. Just admire my costume and send me home.


(Scary guest photographer John Sandel says, "ooga-booga marriage.")

Camelot Where You Are #26, Margaret

"What says Camelot more than Legos, a girl, and an imagination?"

So says Margaret of her daughter Mary's latest castle.

I agree. I built my Camelot with different materials, but the girl and the imagination were indispensable parts.

Thank you, Margaret (and Mary!).


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Thanks for playing this week, everyone! Here's the latest poop:

Be sure to vote this weekend for your favorite Camelot Where You Are entry from this week. The poll will appear at the upper left side of the blog tonight (as late as I can manage to stay up) and will remain there until midnight Sunday night.

I have two more entries for the contest so far, so while we await a full complement we'll have a regular blog week next week. Is there a bit of Camelot where you are? Take a photo and enter it! The details are here. Each weekly winner receives a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, IF AND WHEN I EVER GET THE THING PUBLISHED.

And I will! It's just taking a little longer than I'd hoped. That, my friends, simply means more winners and more free books. So send in your entry!

Camelot Where You Are #25, Speedway

"I finally got to my Camelot," says Speedway, "a White Castle fast food hamburger stand at the corner of 16th and Illinois in downtown Indy. It's one of those regional chains that's been around for many years. Many people who've moved away from Indy get a hankerin' for the little sliders and have relatives send them a box. It was such a phenomenon that White Castle has made cartons of the frozen burgers available for purchase in many groceries.

"I can't stand them myself and don't ever buy them. The little beef patties are square, with holes punctured in them. They're grilled then steamed (the reason for the holes) with chopped onions on a small steamed roll.

"White Castle is, I found out, the oldest hamburger chain in the country, having been founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas. As you no doubt will notice, my 'castle' comes complete with crenelations." Speedway mentions the dumpsters have crenelations, too.

We had White Castle in my Illinois hometown. You?

Thanks for entering, Speedway!


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Camelot & Vine updates here!
Camelot Where You Are contest details here!

Voting this weekend, so stick around!

Camelot Where You Are #24, Susan

Susan and Tommy did some research for their entry.

"Forbes considers Silver Lake America’s hippest hipster neighborhood," says Susan. "So perhaps it’s no surprise that’s where you’ll find Camelot Kids preschool.

"I moved away from this area a few years ago, but I still use my Silver Lake mechanic. When I picked up my car a few weeks ago, I drove right past Camelot Kids. I felt like I was witnessing a miracle, I was so excited to see it! I didn’t have time to take a photo, so I went back with my model, Tommy, who’ll do anything for a treat and the Camelot cause."

Thank you, Susan, and thank you, Tommy, for believing this is a cause!


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Camelot & Vine updates here!
Camelot Where You Are contest details here!

Voting this weekend, so stick around!

Camelot Where You Are #23, Julie

I'm all for a trip to London, aren't you?

Julie sent in her entry, saying, "I was in London this summer for the Olympics and when I saw your photo contest I just knew I had to have at least one picture from my trip that fit the bill.

"Since the Tower of London was already entered, I decided to go a different route. I can't remember where exactly this picture was taken (my friend actually snapped the picture, must give credit where it's due!), but attached you'll find a picture of a dragon statuette somewhere in downtown London.

"A dragon in the middle of Britain? What's more Camelot than that!?"

I'm not going to quibble. If I remember correctly (and I may or may not), there's a dragon or two in Le Morte d'Artur, or at least the Mabinogion. No? Yes? It matters not a whit.

Thank you, Julie!

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Camelot & Vine updates here!

Camelot Where You Are contest details here!

Voting this weekend!

Exclamation points!

Boz by Request

photo by John Sandel

Yesterday, Dive gave me license to indulge when, regarding the blog, he commented, "As long as Boz appears on a regular basis it definitely has the right stuff in it."

So here is your Weekend Pupdate:

These days, our old pooper gets pooped a lot easier than he used to. Some days he seems "tetched in the haid," as my country relatives used to say. I don't think he's senile. I think he just needs to take his time to ponder things, like whether to walk all the way to the curb, or which way to turn at the end of the sidewalk. Maybe no turn. Maybe just stay right there.

For a while he was getting me up in the wee hours to go outside. But he sleeps through most nights now, and through most days, too. He's tired.

Getting old wears a person out. 

Zen Monday: #216

photo by John Sandel

Here is your Monday Zen.

Now you say something.

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We're taking a break from the Camelot Where You Are photo contest this week but we'll get back to it next week. Details are here.

Last week's winner is (drumroll)
Ann Erdman, with #19, the Knight in Shining Armor at Avalon Lake!
Here's how it all shook out:

 

Thank you all for participating. The winner gets a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, when it comes out (more on that this week). 

I want to come up with a prize for everyone who enters. I'm wracking my brains but bookmarks just don't cut it. Any ideas?

Idylls are the Thing

It's not that I haven't been taking photos, but I couldn't resist posting another shot by a guest photographer: my husband, John Sandel. I wish I were tall enough to photograph such a view; luckily, John is.

While you're here today, please vote for your favorite photo from this week's entries in the Camelot Where You Are photo contest. The poll is at the upper left of the blog and will be available until midnight Sunday night. It should work; I believe I've got the time zone thing figured out.

I can't tell you how much I've been enjoying the contest. I've received so many great entries that we're going to skip Zen Monday this coming week and do Camelot for five days straight.

In case you're wondering why: it's because I've written a novel and it's being published this fall. Camelot & Vine is about an actress who, on the day before her 40th birthday, loses everything she never cared about, flees Hollywood for England, falls through a gap in time and accidentally saves King Arthur's life. A lot more happens after that. Think 6th century Britain, chain mail, love triangles and Saxon invaders.

Each weekly winner receives a free copy of Camelot & Vine upon publication, about which I will have more details soon. Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day for entries. 

Send in your pic now! It's easy to enter and anyone can do it. Entry details are here. And be sure to vote for your favorite! Thanks.

Camelot Where You Are, #8

Here's the entry from Jo, of A View of Sydney. I posted the photo as large as I could. If you'll forgive the pixellation, I'll let Jo explain:

"I quickly saw your post re Camelot before we had a few days away. So while driving up the highway at 110klms I grabbed my iphone and snapped this guy...I hope this is what you are after.

"I have just had Carpal Tunnel surgery on my main hand so my camera has been having a rest. I would have liked to have stopped but we had car trouble and were already 48 hours behind schedule. Sorry for bad quality. This is roughly 750klm from my home."

It's the Macadamia Castle! Thank you, Jo!

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I can't figure out how to pre-post the poll, so it's up! Be sure to vote for your favorite of this week's entries in the Camelot Where you Are photo contest! We've been having a blast and we've got more photos coming next week.

Each weekly winner receives a free copy of Camelot & Vine upon publication, which I plan/hope/expect will be in October. Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day for entries. 

Send in your pic now! It's easy to enter and anyone can do it.  

Entry details are here.

Camelot Where You Are, #7

Here's what Susan Z of San Diego Daily Photo says about her entry:

"If we had a Camelot here in San Diego, it would be the idyllic village of Coronado, and of course we have the castle 'Hotel Del Coronado'!

Hope you enjoy San Diego's Camelot!"

For those who don't know the Hotel Del, Wikipedia's got the story. This historic beachfront resort has been the backdrop for several movies, most notably Some Like It Hot. We can add an American Camelot reference by noting that John F. Kennedy stayed there, as did many other presidents.

Thanks for your entry, Susan!

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Be sure to return during the remainder of the week to see more entries in the Camelot Where You Are photo contest. And stay tuned!
Over the weekend we'll vote for this week's favorite. 

Each weekly winner receives a free copy of Camelot & Vine upon publication, which I plan/hope/expect will be in October.
Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day for entries. 

Send in your pic now! It's easy to enter and anyone can do it.  

Entry details are here.