Public Abstract

Somebody hung a nice-looking poster on the south face of this building on Raymond Avenue. I don't know who the artist is. It kinda looks like a Miro to me, but since I couldn't find this exact picture online I can't be sure. I was telling Pasadena Adjacent it reminds me of a picture my mother hung in our playroom when I was a kid. I was never much into abstract art.

This poster may be temporary. It isn't listed on the city website's public art walking art tours. (If you like that web page I suggest you bookmark it. The city's website is full of great information but it's organized by department - perfect if you think like a bureaucrat, but since I don't it's difficult for me to find what I need there. I tried searching the site for "public art." They're called "Public Art Walking Tours" after all. But I came up with nothing.)

But that's a minor complaint. The good thing is there's so much public art in Pasadena! To me, that's the mark of a world-class city. Paris, London, Chicago...I've never been to New York, but I hear...well, you've gotta have public art. In museums, sure, that's fine, but it's also got to be out there in the parks and on the streets as part of daily life! Life should be lived with beauty. Pasadena knows how to do that.

It's a nice surprise to see a big, cheerful poster on the side of a building! It's like a belly laugh in the middle of nowhere for no reason at all except the fun of it.

Bells & Vaughn Neon

I'm posting this because I like the sign. It says, "Bells & Vaughn Frame & Wheel Aligning." I don't know a thing about Bells & Vaughn, or about frame and wheel aligning for that matter. But get a load of that sign, willya?

I looked up Bells & Vaughn and they have a nice website. It's all about their collision repair facility on Allen Avenue. Thing is, this sign is at 1821 Walnut, a location not mentioned on the website, where they apparently don't do collision repair but frame and wheel aligning.

So I don't get it. But that's okay. Like I said, I don't understand frame and wheel aligning anyway, except to know it's necessary. In a car. I know that much at least.

Because

Because it's Wednesday.
Because sometimes I want to be someone else somewhere else, and because I'm glad to be me right here and right now.
Because there are adventures I will never have. And because I've had plenty.

Veterans Day

It was originally called Armistice Day, named for the armistice between the allied nations and Germany that went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, ending World War I. (Ah yes, "the war to end all wars.") President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Armistice Day a holiday in America the following year.

It's still celebrated in France as Armistice Day and in England both as Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day. In the United States it has morphed into Veterans Day. The change was made in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to commemorate the soldiers who fought in World War II. Since then, we've acquired more veterans to honor, and honor them we do.

Here's a good gloss on the history of Veterans Day. Eisenhower proclaimed that public buildings would display the American flag. Banks and government offices close at 11:00 a.m. Speeches are given. Wreaths are lain on graves.

But veterans are still with us, thank goodness, and today we honor the living. Business goes on as usual in lots of places. Maybe that's thanks to those vets.

Zen Monday: #24

On Zen Monday you experience the photo and tell us what it's about, rather than me telling you what to experience from viewing it.
There's no right or wrong. If the photo evokes something in you, that's all it is.

Boz's Close-Up

Yesterday's post got me to thinking. Although I have many shots of Boz demurely lowering his eyes, it's wrong to say he never looks at the camera. There are moments when he feels lordly enough to stare it down or, in this case, just look at it.

I love him madly. I love every wrinkle on his head. I love his hairless spots, his golden toes and the white hairs now sprouting on his muzzle. I love his sweet disposition and the way he smells. Mostly I love his friendship. Of course he's not the only love in my life.

When we got him from Boxer Rescue we thought we were rescuing a dog.

Bonus: our little family.

Picture Window

We don't have a cat because Boz, as gentle as he is, is intolerant of the feline set. But I love cats.

My experience photographing dogs is limited mainly to Boz and his pal Sprocket, both of whom are shy - Omega dogs, if you will. They're photogenic but not great at close-ups because they don't like to challenge the camera.

Cats are indifferent to the camera. Look at it, don't look at it, whatever. I have a nap to take, a bug to annoy, a glorious body to lick.

This photo was one fun result of an ill-fated tea outing with friends in August (other fun results were good company and Miss Havisham's post).

Bean Town (#3 in a Quest)

As part of my quest for the ideal coffee shop, here's one for Karin, the Altadenahiker. Her favorite coffee shop in the Pasadena area isn't in Pasadena at all. It's Bean Town in Sierra Madre.

Our Karin has excellent taste. I'm not crazy about this photo; it doesn't convey the comfy, cozy homeyness of Bean Town. The decor is eclectic, with old signs, vintage furniture and exposed brick walls. The service is friendly and fun. The music playing the other day was orchestral, which I don't mind because it doesn't interfere with concentration (or conversation, if that's your preference). And the coffee is downright tasty.

When I first arrived Monday afternoon, though the outside tables were crowded, inside I had several tables to choose from. As the afternoon progressed, however, the place filled up. A woman approached and asked politely if she could share my table. I didn't want to be rude so I said yes, thinking "I'll never be able to concentrate with another person here." I was wrong. She sat down, we exchanged pleasantries, she opened her laptop and got to work. A perfectly workable situation.

I did ask her, "Is it often this crowded?"

"Usually lots of laptops," she said.

To sum up Bean Town: great coffee, great atmosphere. Free Wifi, though it was really slow at first and I gave up on it. I don't know if the speed picked up later. It's a bit far for me to drive on a regular basis so it probably won't become my daily grind. But I like Bean Town. And Sierra Madre loves it.

Pasadena Coffee Company (#2 in a Quest)

On election day I needed a break from the TV, radio and noise. I took my laptop out to continue my quest to find the perfect office/slash/coffee shop for me to write in. So here's installment number two:

I'd been wanting to check out the Pasadena Coffee Company, a.k.a. Caffe d'Amore, for a long time. It got glowing reviews on insiderpages.com.

My experience was different from that of the happy reviewers. I expected a charming hole-in-the-wall. It's not a bad spot, but charming it is not. The counter guy wasn't rude, nor was he particularly friendly. And the place is low on atmosphere. It's small, with fluorescent lighting and bright, white shelves with not much on them. There are about five tables with chairs inside. The tables at the front were occupied (lots of chatty folks and some kids) so I moved to the back where the tables needed wiping.

The Pasadena Coffee Company, based in Monrovia, has specialized in gourmet coffees since 1969. The latte I got tasted fine but not strong enough to suit my palate.

The chair was way too low for the table. Or was the table too high? I was like a little kid a the grown-ups' table. Bad bad bad for typing.

No wifi.

Conservative talk radio playing. Talk radio of any kind is not conducive to writing.

I wouldn't give the Pasadena Coffee Company a bad review. I think they're geared more toward retailers, though they do have a consumer product line. It's obvious from the insider pages reviews that the cafe has its fans, but it's not a spot for quiet communion with one's muse.

I soon left and continued my quest that very day. More exciting installments to come! Do you have a suggestion or request? What's the best spot in the Pasadena area to park one's butt and one's laptop? I will not stop until I've tried them all! Well, all the good ones at least...

Proud Again

Proud the voting went well - imperfect, but well. Proud so many people got out and voted. Proud of Senator McCain's gracious speech - last night he sounded like the McCain I remember. Proud we made history by electing the first African American president. Proud we elected the right president for our times.

Proud to be an American.

Barack and Wayne and You and Me

I thought about simply encouraging you all to get out and vote today. I thought about not mentioning my choice in a candidate, although anyone who reads this blog knows I'm voting for Barack Obama. Then I thought, if I can inspire one person to go vote, I've got to do it. And if I can't inspire you, maybe Wayne Nelson can.

Several months ago Mr. Nelson hired artist Harmon Mandigo to paint this mural on his Altadena clothing store, Wayne's Fashion. The Pasadena Star-News did a story about the mural and quoted Nelson as saying, "I figured I'd do whatever I can to help..." (I'd like to read the rest of the article but the charge for reading archived articles on the PSN website is unbelievable, outrageous, even despicable. But I digress...)

Timothy Rutt of Altadenablog was the first to post about Wayne Nelson's mural. I found it while tooling around Angela Odom's State & Lake. (I particularly like her photo.) I hurried on over to be third in line.

Nelson's small shop at 2808 N. Lincoln Avenue in Altadena is a busy place. The shelves are piled high with all things Obama. When I arrived the store was packed with customers buying Obama t-shirts, hats and buttons. People want to represent. But Nelson was able to take a minute to pose with his prized mural. He even took a picture of me with it.
We are excited, Wayne and I. We are two seemingly different people brought together by our hopes for America. We like Obama's message of hope and tolerance. We like his world view. We like the way he's taken the high road during his campaign, unlike the other candidate who degraded his own once-decent reputation by stooping to lies, insults and racial slurs.

We believe a President Obama can return America to decency in the eyes of the world and in our own, and lead America down the high road as a great nation once more.

Zen Monday: #23

On Zen Monday you experience the photo and tell me what it's about, rather than me telling you what to experience from viewing it.
There's no question or answer, no right or wrong. If the photo evokes something in you, that's all it is.

A Family Proposition

When I saw little Hannah Hernandez carrying her Vote No on Prop 8 sign at the Farmers' Market yesterday I trotted after her family to ask if I could take their photo. They were happy to pose, just as I'm happy to say I oppose Proposition 8.

Proposition 8 would amend the California state constitution, eliminating the right of same-sex couples to marry. Californians will be voting for or against Prop 8 Tuesday in the general election. If you're not from California you may think we're all fine with the idea of gays and lesbians marrying, but the issue has been hotly contested.

The Hernandez family of Altadena reminds me of another Altadena family I know, where both parents of beautiful children happen to be women. I don't see why those parents and children shouldn't have the same rights as others. Or what about the gay couple who lives down the street from us? They've been a couple longer than John and I have, they keep their place as nice as we do. Well. Nicer. America is where discrimination is supposed to be illegal, not legitimized. I think San Diego's Mayor Jerry Sanders said it best: "No matter how people feel about marriage, using our state constitution to discriminate is wrong..."

I thank the Hernandez family for standing up for their beliefs. Plus I really like Hannah's boots.

Theme Day: Books

Dianne Emley is not a book. You can probably tell from the picture.

Emley writes books, though, and I was honored when she agreed to be my theme day photo. Despite her decidedly ungritty appearance, she's the author of "gritty, intense and hard-edged" detective novels: the best-selling The First Cut, first published in 2006 and due out in paperback December 30th; Cut to the Quick, a paperback original on sale January 27th, and The Deepest Cut, the hardcover conclusion to "the Nan Vining trilogy," in stores February 24th. Together they're a thrillogy centered on detective Nan Vining of the Pasadena Police Department.

Like her heroine, Emley lives in Pasadena. I wanted to meet her because of that and because it's inspiring to meet a fellow writer who's achieved success. Plus I read the first chapter of The First Cut on Dianne's website, and it wowed me. Without a single wasted syllable, she makes every word move the story forward. The ability to do that is something many writers envy. Warning: this is not namby-pamby stuff. (Can we still say "namby-pamby" in the 21st Century?)

As Dianne and I walked in the Arroyo she told me she likens the work of a writer to that of an Olympic athlete. You have good days and bad, but you have to work every day. When you're defeated you get back to it. When you win, you know it's the work you've put in that gives you your power. "Writing is an obsession," she says, "and you have to bring a level of obsession to it to make the stories come alive."

Dianne gave me a copy of The First Cut (yay!). I'm not finished with it yet but I will be soon - I can't put it down, and I won't have to wait long for the next two. I've already marked my calendar for the launch of The Deepest Cut at Vroman's on February 25th.

Pasadena boasts many published authors. Nonfiction writer Weston Dewalt recently made headlines when he helped LAPD detectives crack a child serial murder case. Kathleen Thorne-Thomsen creates wonderful books for kids. Katherine Shirek Doughtie writes about men, midlife and motherhood in her essay collection Aphrodite in Jeans. There are more. I hope to meet them all.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in the City Daily Photo Blogs theme day!

The Pumpkin God

There may be spookier decorations than those in the Orange Heights historic district, but no All Hallows' Eve display has ever captured my imagination like the Pumpkin God on Jackson Street.

That may not be his name, but surely he's some sort of pagan deity. In the darkness at the end of the road, he looms above his yard in all his ragged splendor.

Tonight, after the little ones have gotten their candy, I recommend a stroll down Jackson Street to give yourself a thrill.

Last Plug for Now

Tomorrow's Halloween, so I should post something on that topic, or at least something scary. Saturday's City Daily Photo blog theme day (the theme for November is "books"). So today's my last day before opening night (Saturday) to invite you to come see The Mystery Plays at the Stillspeaking Theatre. We've been working hard to bring you a thought-provoking evening of theatre, so I hope you'll come see it.

Those of you who don't live in Pasadena can go a long way toward enhancing your life and the life of your community by supporting local theatre. Don't have a local theatre? You've got local artists, sure you do. Support them, even if it's only with encouragement. Maybe you're an artist. Express yourself!

Sometimes, especially when money's tight, art may seem frivolous. But I think the toughest times are when we need art the most.

Happy Birthday, GinaB

GinaB comes by here every once in a while to say hello and post a comment. She can't come every day because she's got a lot on her plate, but I'm always glad to hear from her.

A few things about GinaB: she's a businesswoman with a frivolous streak, an artist, a generous and loving wife, friend to every kid she meets and somewhat of a genius in her career as a technical writer. Technical writing's like speaking a different language, and it brings her language count to four: English, Techspeak, Spanish and French.

GinaB is also a supportive big sister who goes to such extremes as having margarita parties when her little sister speaks a word or two on an obscure TV show--even when her sister's lines may or may not be cut. (At least you still get to have the party!) Speaking of which, GinaB's genius extends to her parties, and her annual cookie party is famous in the north Dallas suburbs.

Evidence of GinaB's frivolous streak is her extensive Barbie collection. She's got at least a hundred of them, all in their original boxes. She's already seen this photo. I took it in South Pasadena before Laurie started her Glimpses of South Pasadena blog, so for this special occasion I'm hoping Laurie will forgive me for treading on her turf. Some months ago, this display was in a shop across Mission Avenue from Buster's.

Happy Birthday, Gina.

Autumn Days

When I moved to the Los Angeles area twenty years ago, it seemed like we had summer here all year 'round. I was from Chicago, where the seasons are as clearly defined as the crunch of a boot in a pile of dry leaves, or the pang of a tailbone when it hits a patch of ice.

But we have all four unique seasons in southern California. Our winters bring gray skies and, hopefully, rain. Spring is green in the hills and valleys; the scrub reasserts itself and the air smells of sage. Summer is lazy, funky fun at the beach, glory in the mountains, hot treachery in the desert. And though our autumn may not have the colors of, say, New England, we still experience fall's bittersweet turn of light, its feel of simultaneous endings and beginnings.

Our autumn days are warm. They're shorter now, too. Good days for long walks...or long sits.

(Speaking of days, if I haven't been cut I'll be on Days of Our Lives today as the oncologist, Dr. Knapp. Since the weather's so nice and the scene is short, if you want to watch it I suggest recording it. How did you like my segue?)

Zen Monday: #22

On Zen Monday you experience the photo and tell me what it's about, rather than me telling you what to experience from viewing it.
There's no question or answer, no right or wrong. If the photo evokes something in you, that's all it is.

Corner

Just a corner. Any corner, anywhere.

Look how much the same we all are.