Self Portrait

It's my birthday, so a little self-reflection is in order.

This isn't a "big one," though they do tend to get bigger as they go. But it's as good a time as any to check in with myself and see how I'm doing:

Never as well as I mean to.
Always better than I could be doing, I suppose.

If I compare my real self to my ideal self, I'll never be satisfied, so I'd best leave that alone. I try not to compare myself to other people because someone, somewhere, said that wasn't nice. But in my not-so-nice/a.k.a. normal human moments I know I do better than some people. I do worse than others.

Maybe comparisons aren't a good idea. Maybe they're irrelevant.

The question is, am I happy? The answer is, yes. Grateful? Yes, yes, yes.

Speaking of which, John turned me on to this song.

I know you guys and you're all going to say lovely things (okay, most a few of you are going to say lovely things) and wish me a happy birthday. Thank you! Please tell us, also, how you reflect on yourself, when you self-reflect.

Guest Author: Victoria Patterson and "This Vacant Paradise"

Today I'm honored to host guest author Victoria Patterson, the South Pasadena writer whose novel, This Vacant Paradise, was published March 4th. Victoria will be appearing at Vroman's this Thursday, March 24th at 7pm.

 

For the most part, my fiction takes place in Newport Beach, but I live and write in South Pasadena. A tour of the places in South Pasadena (and surrounding areas) where I’ve written, and where my story collection, Drift, and my novel, This Vacant Paradise, came to life, would take quite some time, especially considering the seventeen years we’ve lived in South Pasadena. 

           
For years I worked at the South Pasadena Library (and I still do at times).  I’ve staked out every quiet and isolated work area at S. Pasadena Library, my favorite being the upstairs conference room, although that didn’t last long, considering there was just solitary me. The downstairs partitioned workspace desks near the teen section are great—while said teens are at school—except during “Storytime”(which I used to take my kids to), when the massive avalanche of toddlers’ feet boom from overhead.

Buster’s Coffee on the corner of Meridian and Mission was a mainstay, though ultimately I knew too many people, and would end up visiting and talking rather than working.

For close to three years, I worked at the coffee shop at Vroman’s, and I actually wrote an essay about it.

Pasadena Library, check. Starbucks, check.

For a long time, I worked at Caltech library, on one of the upper floors, with its spectacular view of the mountains. But then it was discovered that a Hummer-graffiti-terrorist civilian was also taking advantage of the library, and Caltech became understandably more restrictive.

This is a small sampling—I could go on and on, because South Pasadena (and Pasadena, San Marino, Alhambra, Sierra Madre) is home to my writing, even if the writing takes place elsewhere. 

Zen Monday: #138

On Zen Monday, we experience the photo and share, in the comments, what we've learned.

Well, I don't. You hear from me all week. Monday is your turn.

(Your first Zen Monday? Tell us what the photo makes you think of. There's no right or wrong, no hidden secret, no prize. Just have fun.)

Doggie Tranq

Somebody's been getting all his sleeping done during the day.

At night he's up--tick-tick-ticking from room to room, tapping out his nighttime nerves on the floorboards until one of us comes to calm him, pet him, talk him to sleep.

Experts are consulted. Advanced technologies are researched. Wallets are opened and emptied. Tired humans are wrapped around little doggie toes.

This trend must be reversed.

In the meantime, who needs a rose window when life is heaven?

See You There

Spring.

Stuff was blooming all over the neighborhood yesterday. Those orange things that like the shade. And the flower bushes that come in pink and white. Little starry flowers that grow right up in peoples' lawns. Yellow bloomlets and bright, bright purple ones that are sort of fuzzy.

You will note I use the technical terms.

The San Gabriel Valley Blogger's potluck, "Primavera in Altadena 2011," is today. The Altadena bloggers put it together. How nice of them! If you're reading this, you're invited. It's at Farnsworth Park in Altadena. You can't miss Farnsworth Park. Just drive up Lake Avenue until forever, and it'll be on your left at Mount Curve Ave. Bring something to share--you know, food-wise.

Or you could bring a bouquet.

Pretty Pokey

 So. How was your St. Patrick's Day?

Luck and Lush

This is the closest I could find to shamrocks.

Americans love St. Patrick's day. Thousands of other world holidays don't get nearly as much attention here, but we like this one because we like beer and today we give ourselves permission to drink a lot of it. It gets a bit complicated in the Los Angeles area, what with strict drunk driving laws and a public transportation system that's seriously lacking. But Pasadena's got a decent bus system, so drink up!

You might also want to get your lawn soused one more time today, and your outdoor potted plants, too, because tomorrow we begin our ten days of no outdoor watering. This isn't just a warning to save water for the heck of it. We'll have 40% less water beginning Friday, March 18th through 8am March 28th. So please be nice and give up your share. It's only ten days and we even have rain predicted.

Here's more information.

It's a darned good thing we don't have a beer shortage.

Reminder

Last time I posted about the Hahamongna Watershed Park Advisory Committee meeting, folks asked me to remind them about the next one. Thanks to Rosa Laveaga, I have the info:

The next meeting of the HWPAC will be
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 @ 6:00 p.m.

Meeting Location:
Flintridge Retreat Center, Room 117
236 W. Mountain Street
Pasadena, CA 91103
(across from Pasadena City Yards)

The committee meets the fourth Tuesday of every other month at 6pm. The location varies. But you can mark your calendars for next week as well as for May 24th, and put a little reminder on your smart phone or whatever you use. Close to meeting time, you can also check the city's HWPAC page for info, including location and agenda.

I like this picture but it reminds me of black lace. Unfortunately black lace reminds me of a bad boyfriend; fortunately he's long gone.

Sunlight Through Poo Bag

I hesitate to tell you my husband was the inspiration for this photo, lest you get the wrong impression. But John sees things, and teaches me to see things, from an artist's perspective and not as my preconceived notions expect them to be.

John holds up the dog poo bag to the sun and suggests I take a picture. This is the result of our collaboration.

Zen Monday: #137

On Zen Monday, I ask you to experience the photo and tell us, in the comments, what you've learned.

(Your first Zen Monday? Tell us what the photo makes you think of. There's no right or wrong, no hidden secret, no prize. Just have fun.)

Who Is It?

Who ran up and down the fence until we were past?

Who barked at Boz until he had a Mohawk?

Who (apparently) had his way with a slipper?

Who growled viciously to let me know what fer?

Who got all cuddly and waggy when the camera pointed his way?

Gate, 1

I keep passing this gate on my walks with Boz and finally I caught it in the right light. I love that wisteria. I'm not crazy about the security company sign, but I guess when you have an entryway this pretty you have to protect it from people who just can't resist inviting themselves in.

A Piece of My Mind

Blah.

Blah, blah, blah. Blahbeddy-blahbeddy. Biddle iddle oops, et cetera.

But mainly just blah.

I've thought about it, and I mean it.

Water Rules

Don't freak out, but Pasadena's outdoor watering rules are about to change for the remainder of March.

I know, I know, it gets complicated. But Pasadena's Public Information Office (PIO Ann Erdman, Assistant PIO Linda Centell and Graphic Designer Zack Stromberg) has me on a mailing list so I've got the poop.

Beginning tomorrow (Friday, March 11th) you can water your lawn any day you want to, as much as you want to, for a week--because for ten days after that, from March 18th-27th, you are not allowed to water your lawn at all.

It's only ten days, and it's only March, so like I said, don't freak out. I haven't watered my back yard for over a year and I still haven't been able to kill it.

On February 28th, the Pasadena City Council declared a Level 4 Water Shortage Emergency during the temporary shutdown of a major regional water pipeline from March 18th-27th. "The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), which supplies about 60 percent of Pasadena’s water, is planning a seismic retrofit of the F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant in LaVerne and will stop all water deliveries to Pasadena and neighboring cities through its upper feeder pipeline during the project. For those 10 days, Pasadena must rely solely on its groundwater and reserves."

Those reserves (about 150 million gallons) are sufficient if everyone does their part. Outdoor watering is Pasadena's largest use of water. Under normal circumstances we use about 250 million gallons under normal circumstances. It shouldn't be too hard to cut that back. Established plants can go a good ten days or more without water (especially now, when it's not too hot), but horticulturalists recommend waiting to plant anything new until after the watering ban.

More information here, including tips about pre-watering, storing water ahead of time for hand-watering and how the ban will be enforced.

I hope this won't be a problem for you. It doesn't change a thing for me. I'll water the front yard once or twice this coming week, and I've got a couple of jugs of water set aside for the potted plants. The back yard will thrive, even if I take a flame thrower to it.

Perry's Joint

I have sought hot dog heaven, and I have found it.

The first time I went to Perry's Joint at 2051 Lincoln Avenue (just south of Woodbury), I had the Chicago dog and a chocolate shake. For the next two weeks I didn't stop thinking about the dog or the shake, so I went back and ordered the same thing. I loved it just as much the second time.

I'm sure the other things on the menu are good but I may never try them. For my money, Perry's Chicago dog is the best hot dog in Pasadena.

Here's Perry, scooping up the chocolate ice cream for my shake (ice cream and milk are the only ingredients). You can get a better look at Perry in this Youtube video by John Muir students.

To give you an idea of the kind of guy Perry is, last time I was there he was donating 65% of the day's proceeds--sixty-five percent--to a local girl who needs an operation. I asked if she was a relative. "No, she just needs the operation," he said.

Perry and Melanie Bennett have been running Perry's Joint for six years, regularly getting raves at online review sites. The place is bright and comfortable, the music smooth, and the service so friendly you'd come back even if you didn't like the food.

Talk About the Walkabout

You'd think that, after all my talk about the Hahamongna Walkabout last Saturday, I'd be showing you pictures of the park. But I've posted many, many, many pictures of Hahamongna Watershed Park and for me, the Walkabout turned out to be about the people.

I led a group of at least 900 wonderful people (okay, maybe 35, but still wonderful) through the old Oak Grove Park area and across the Devil's Gate Dam. We made stops to learn from experts about the park, its history and the critters who live there. The presenters were fascinating and so well-informed we could have spent our whole morning with each of them.

Tim Martinez (above) charmed the crowd with his talk about the different habitats at Hahamongna. Tequila does not grow there (I knew that), but sage does, and when you soak sage in tequila you get a soothing ointment for sore muscles. Tim knew a lot of other cool stuff, but for some reason the tequila sticks in my mind.

Laura Garrett of the Pasadena Audubon Society had 'em riveted as well. She knew everything about the Hahamongna birds and spoke knowledgeably of species after species, playing their calls on the stuffed animals you see in the center of the photo (not dead--plush). How many species of birds live at Hahamongna? A lot! You can see photos of some of them taken by local treasure Denis Callet at his pbase site.

Other presenters included Tim Brick of the Arroyo Seco Foundation (sponsor of the event) on the scope of the Arroyo Seco, Michele Zack on history and how the Tongva people lived in the Arroyo, Brad Boman from Pasadena Water and Power on water (he took my group under the dam to see the devil!), and our very own Barbara Ellis speaking about the wildlife that thrives at Hahamongna. I was so busy listening to Bellis that I forgot to take her picture! Luckily, Debbi Swanson Patrick of Altadena Above It All was in my group and she got plenty of great shots. She got a good one of Bellis. If you were on my tour, she probably got a good one of you, too.

For a detailed run-down of the day's activities, check out Laura Monteros's informative article on Altadena Patch.

Big thanks to Wilson Lau and Tim Brick of the Arroyo Seco Foundation for putting it all together. It was a great day.

Okay. I'm not going to talk about Hahamongna now for at least a week, maybe more, at which time I'll remind you about the meeting of the Hahamongna Watershed Park Advisory Committee on March 22nd at 6pm. You can wait 'til then or you can mark your calendars now.

Update: thanks to countrynmore, here are videos of some of the presenters, posted on Seeds of Change, the blog of the PCC club.

Zen Monday: #136

On Zen Monday, I ask you to experience the photo and tell us, in the comments, what you've learned.

(Your first Zen Monday? Tell us what the photo makes you think of. There's no right or wrong, no hidden secret, no prizes. Just have fun.)

Jackson Pollock's Back Yard

Hmm. There must be a reason to post this photo:

because I'm having trouble concentrating;

because I only have 15,649 other photos and this is the best one of the bunch;

because I like it;

because I lost an earring in there....

...what else?

Arbor

If you're not joining us for the Hahamongna Walkabout today, you might head on over to Linda Vista and plant a tree.

Arbor Day is April 29th. Pasadena is celebrating early by planting 50 new trees today along Linda Vista Avenue, with volunteers staging from the corner of El Mirador Drive. The trees (coast live oak, jacaranda, American sweet gum, sawtooth elm and one of my favorites, Chinese elm) were donated by the Pasadena Beautiful Foundation, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Pasadena has about as many trees as it has people. Such a friendly and diverse population.

Bribe

I can no longer contain myself. I want 500 followers, dammit. Click the button already! Puhleeeze.

...zzz...

I'll give you a prize. I've got a brand new, size medium, navy blue Pasadena t-shirt right here.

Whaddaya mean, it's not your size? What kind of excuse is that? You've got a loved one who deserves a nice gift, don't you? Go ahead. Be number 500.

...sigh...

Now, I don't have a plan if you end up being number 501 or 502. Hey, who do you think I am, some kind of moneybags? Like I'm Oprah or somebody, I can give everyone a t-shirt?

Oh. Wait. I won Mystery History a couple of weeks ago. I'll tell you what: if you're number 505 you can have my fabulous prize.