Impasse

I walked out onto the Colorado Street Bridge yesterday to see a memorial. I had driven by earlier and seen flowers and balloons, so I went back on foot. Knowing someone had jumped from the bridge on April 12th, I thought it might be a tribute for him.

But now I don't know. Near where the balloons had become stuck in the cement columns, someone had taped a piece of paper. On the paper were photos of a young man who jumped a year ago, and a poem, and words of love and sorrow.

I took pictures of the memorial, or memorials. Then I sat for a while looking out over the Arroyo.

I decided not to post the pictures. But you could go and spend a few moments with this small tribute.

Sweet

My life was profoundly changed when a friend brought me a bag of the famous Sea Salt Caramels from the Little Flower Candy Company. You may already know you can find a jaw-dropping variety of handmade candies there. But did you also know you can sit inside the charming shop and sip a cup of coffee or tea while you eat homemade soup or (and) a tasty tartine?

Now you know, and now you have a new favorite spot. Isn't that convenient? Just in time for the second biggest candy weekend of the year. (Do remember them come Halloween.)

I'll be going back soon. There were some marshmallow things that looked like ice cream bars and I haven't been able to sleep since I saw them.

Speaking of sweets: every so often, Postie checks in here From the Sidelines. In fact, one day he clicked the "follow" button and won a t-shirt. Here he is, modeling his prize. Thanks, Postie!

The Gamble House

photo of the Gamble House pond by John Sandel

Oh, gush gush gush.

After nearly six years of Pasadena living, John and I finally visited a Pasadena icon--thanks to the generous invitation of the Public Relations Manager at the Gamble House. We loved it. Our tour was so interesting I want to go back again and again.

In case you don't know, the 1908 Gamble House is one of America's finest examples of Arts and Crafts architecture and the crowning achievement of Pasadena architects Charles and Henry Greene. I especially loved how much of it (a lot) is intact. With the exception of the velvet ropes that keep one from bumbling about, catching one's heels on rare Persian rugs and knocking over the Steuben glass, the home is furnished as it might have been 100 years ago, with many original pieces. 15 watt bulbs glow softly in the custom light fixtures, thanks to the original wiring. It's dim! I guess in those days people had to depend on sunlight coming through the custom-made stained glass windows.

photo of the eaves by John Sandel

Thank goodness John came with me. His photos are inspired. Mine--enh. Some days you have it and some days you don't. But don't tell that to Greene and Greene. Real artists create whether they're inspired or not. That's how you make it your life's work.

The architects designed not only the home but every detail from light switches to furniture, with thematic motifs running through chair backs, window glass and mantelpieces. Even the piano was custom made.

I could go into further detail about the details, or you could take a tour of the Gamble House and stand in that famous foyer yourself while you learn things like:
Why is it called the Gamble House?
Who built the items that Greene & Greene designed?
Is there a ghost?
How old is that creeping fig out front?
Who owns the house now?
Who lives there? (Someone does!)

For information about tours, call the Gamble House at 626-793-3334. You can take a general tour like the one we took, or find out about more detailed tours. Check the website.

Then let us know what you thought. If you like Pasadena history, I think you will gush gush gush.

Here, Right Here

L.A. CO. F.D. Camp 2
To our brothers Art Ruezga and Chris Herman
who will always live in
our hearts and never be forgotten
August 20th 1993

Two firefighters died in the Glen Allen Fire on August 20th, 1993, in the steep canyon beneath the Altadena Crest Trail. Their colleagues are quoted in this LA Times article.

This memorial stands alongside the trail. If you look carefully, you can see a second cross in the canyon below where you're walking. The memorial is a heart-catching sight. It punctures the solitude hiking can create and makes you realize you're not alone.

The plaque (quoted above) doesn't lie; a couple of those fire station caps on the cross are brand new.

Sure, people have died here. People have died everywhere, we just don't always think about it. That's what a memorial is for.

Zen Monday: #142

It's the day you experience the photo and share in the comments what you've learned. We call it Zen Monday.

Is this your first Zen Monday? Tell us what comes to mind--what the photo makes you think of or how it makes you feel. It might be helpful to click on the photo to enlarge it.

There's no right or wrong, no secret, no prize. Just have fun.

Moving On

Before everything dries up, I want you to remember Pasadena's not always a desert. We do get moisty things here. We do get sylvan things, faerie things. In the heat of summer, when everything's the color of straw and it feels like if you light a match the very dirt will catch fire, think back: remember the rain that wouldn't stop; remember the clouds that rolled across the mountains to reveal snowy peaks; remember how depressed your pets were and how many umbrellas you went through and all the green, green green that resulted from the storms.

Remember how glorious our winter was this year, and don't forget to enjoy our beautiful summer.

Are we going to have spring, or are we just going to plunge right in?

Unjust

I think today will be our final test of the translation software at the pirating website, Just Pocket Camera. If you're reading this post there, it was stolen from http://pasadenadailyphoto.blogspot.com/. Come on over and see the post in its original form!

After today, I'll update you when I hear news about the legal proceedings. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, check my posts of the last several days. We're messing with a pirate website that's stealing my posts, but this wild, wacky fun won't last forever 'cause that sucker's coming down.

Karin suggested Shakespeare. I couldn't resist one of my favorite Sonnets, number 152.

In loving thee thou know'st I am forsworn,
But thou art twice forsworn to me love swearing,
In act thy bed-vow broke and new faith torn
In vowing new hate after new love bearing.
But why of two oaths' breach do I accuse thee,
When I break twenty? I am perjured most,
For all my vows are oaths but to misuse thee,
And all my honest faith in thee is lost.
For I have sworn deep oaths of thy deep kindness,
Oaths of thy love, thy truth, thy constancy,
And to enlighten thee, gave eyes to blindness,
Or made them swear against the thing they see;
   For I have sworn thee fair: more perjured eye,
   To swear against the truth so foul a lie. 


I guess he was mad when he wrote that. 

Apologies to Lewis Carroll, and to Boz...

...but no apologies to Just Pocket Camera. (explanation after the poem)

JABBERWOCKY

by Lewis Carroll

(from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)   `Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
  Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
  And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
  The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
  The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
  Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
  And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
  The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
  And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
  The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
  He went galumphing back.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
  Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
  He chortled in his joy.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
  Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
  And the mome raths outgrabe.

In case you're just joining us, here's the deal: a site called Just Pocket Camera has been stealing my posts since January of this year. While I go through the legal channels to get the site taken down, we're having  fun messing with their translation software, which takes English to new levels. A few of you suggested "Jabberwocky" might be interesting, so today we're going to find out.

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

Well, bummer. It's not as weird as I'd hoped. Their software was flummoxed enough to give up and just re-print the words it didn't know. Here's a sample:



`Twas brillig, as well as a slithy toves
  Did movement as well as gimble in a wabe:
All mimsy were a borogoves,
  And a mome raths outgrabe.
“Beware a Jabberwock, my son!
  The jaws that bite, a nails that catch!
Beware a Jubjub bird, as well as shun
  The frumious Bandersnatch!”


He took his vorpal long knife in hand:
  Long time a manxome enemy he sought –
So complacent he by a Tumtum tree,
  And stood awhile in thought.

Et cetera. The final paragraph, though, returns us to the delightful strangeness we've come to expect:

"In box you’re only fasten us, here’s a deal: a site called Just Pocket Camera has been hidden my posts given Jan of this year. While we go by a authorised channels to get a site taken down, we’re having  fun messing with their interpretation software, that takes English to latest levels. A couple of of we referred to “Jabberwocky” competence be interesting, so currently we’re starting to find out."

Maybe we'll try some Shakespeare tomorrow. That's actual English, after all.

Just Trash

Is that a camera in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

If you visit Pasadena Daily Photo regularly you know that Just Pocket Camera, (http://www.justpocketcamera.com) has been stealing my posts (those that originated here at http://pasadenadailyphoto.blogspot.com). What they're doing is illegal, so I'm sending Cease and Desist letters and filling out AdSense complaint forms. I promise I won't do this every day, but while we wait for the offending site to be taken down, we're having fun with their translation software.

Yesterday, my post came out on their site like this:

"This pitch creates me prolonged for the packet julep as well as we do not even know what the packet julep tastes like.
It additionally creates me prolonged for Keds but socks, the ponytail as well as the beloved with the crappy car, even yet most times I’ve pronounced “I never wish to be which immature as well as foolish again!”
Still. There’s something honeyed about which swing. I’d dauntless burble gum, the scald upon my heel as well as even the smell of baby oil for the small bit of time with it."

(Then there were a bunch of Google ads, then a little more copy.)

38 people Liked it!

I'm eager to see how this re-translates today.

To those of you who've suggested solutions, I'm trying every one of them. Thank you. And thanks for the encouragement. I hope I'm not boring you with this. Intellectual property rights are important.

The photo? That's just a trash can.

++++++++++++

I've just been to look, so you don't have to. I'm thrilled that my first three paragraphs appear before the fold. Next comes this:

“This representation creates me enlarged for the parcel julep as good as we do not even know what the parcel julep tastes like.
It in addition creates me enlarged for Keds though socks, the ponytail as good as the dear with the crappy car, even nonetheless many times I’ve conspicuous “I never instruct to be that juvenile as good as ridiculous again!”
Still. There’s something saccharine about that swing. I’d fearless gurgle gum, the singe on my heel as good as even the smell of baby oil for the tiny bit of time with it.”
(Then there were the garland of Google ads, afterwards the small some-more copy.)
38 people Liked it!
I’m fervent to see how this re-translates today.
To those of we who’ve referred to solutions, I’m perplexing each the single of them. Thank you. And interjection for the encouragement. we goal I’m not tedious we with this. Intellectual skill rights have been important.

The photo? That’s only the rabble can."

Swing Time

This swing makes me long for a mint julep and I don't even know what a mint julep tastes like.

It also makes me long for Keds without socks, a ponytail and a boyfriend with a crappy car, even though many times I've said "I never want to be that young and stupid again!"

Still. There's something sweet about that swing. I'd brave bubble gum, a blister on my heel and even the smell of baby oil for a little bit of time with it.

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

If you've already read about Just Pocket Camera, the website that steals blog posts, you can skip this part. Or not.

http://www.justpocketcamera.com/ has been stealing my posts and those of other bloggers, and while I wait for my cease and desist letter to have the effect I desire, I'm messing with their translation software. Let's see what it does with the following sentence:

Just Pocket Camera recommends that you visit the original post at http://pasadenadailyphoto.blogspot.com/, and tell Petrea what a nice person she is.

Unruly Posse

Sunday my friends and I traipsed about Pasadena and Altadena for the annual Theodore Payne Foundation Native Plant Garden Tour. I loved poking around the exquisite, private, drought-tolerant gardens.

It was educational. It was gorgeous. It was inspiring. And it was frustrating, because I can't show you any of it. At every garden we visited, photos were either not allowed or allowed for personal use only. I of course took photos for my personal use, but I'm much to chicken scrupulous to post them.

On the way back to our cars we stopped to peer at one last garden, which wasn't on the tour. Is that a great gate or what? It reminded me how glad I am not to live in a gated community tyrannized by muted colors or a homeowners association. The San Gabriel Valley is full of undiscovered Edens, tour or no tour. I hope the owner didn't mind us peeking in because we'd been nosy all day and we just weren't ready to stop.

*

By the way, thanks to the Restless Chef for alerting me to the fact that my posts and those of other bloggers are being stolen by http://www.justpocketcamera.com. I'm trying to have a good attitude about it. justpocketcamera is one of those blogs where they steal content to try to get you to click on ads. I hold the copyright to my posts, which are published at http://pasadenadailyphoto.blogspot.com before http://www.justpocketcamera.com steals them. That's against the law, but try getting a sheriff and a posse on this here wild, wild internet.

If you'd like to be my posse, c'mon and join up. I'm not sure how to get them to stop, but maybe I'll see if I can come up with more bizarre word combinations than theirs. Your suggestions for messing with them are welcome. In the meantime, it's worth a look just to see their weird translations of the copy.

Zen Monday: #141

It's Zen Monday, the day you experience the photo and share in the comments what you've learned.

Is this your first Zen Monday? Tell us what comes to mind--what the photo makes you think of or how it makes you feel. There's no right or wrong, no secret, no prize. Just have fun.

Email me if you want the phone number to inquire about buying this bus. I'm happy to be helpful to the seller, just don't want to invade privacy.

Fast Friends

I hope you had a chance to get out in the spectacularity that was yesterday in Pasadena.

I took Boz over to the northwest side of Hahamongna Watershed Park, not our usual trail. It's good to shake things up. Boz met Freckles, a La Canada Flintridge dog, and the two of them hit it off. I also hit it off with Freckles's people, and the five of us spent a pleasant hour together in the urban wild.

Freckles is an afficionado of sticks. He made several additions to his collection. Boz likes to bite the water. A few yards west there was a tamer stream for him to bite.

Say, are those rapids?

For our purposes, those are rapids.



In related news, the Pasadena City Council will meet tomorrow, Monday, April 11, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber (S249) at Pasadena City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Avenue.
Agenda items include:
* Update on Devil’s Gate Dam sediment removal project by L.A. County Department of Public Works
* Proposed landmark designation for 1175 La Loma Rd.
* Recommended bond sales to help fund Rose Bowl Stadium renovation
The full agenda is here.
Thanks, Ann Erdman, for keeping me/us informed.

Work Perk

I almost posted more muted grays and I thought, "enough already!" It's time we had some color around this here blog! So here it is, apropos of nothing.

If you work at PCN, the Pasadena Community Network, with studios at Hen's Teeth Square, you have regular access to these jawbreakers. If you don't work there, maybe you need to come up with some programming.

Or you could check out their weekly meetings about citizen journalism. Citizen journalists chew gum. I prefer Smarties but I'm not a journalist.

Well I Love That Dirty Water

photo by John Sandel

Here's another local construction project: the Casting Pond is getting a facelift. I love John's iPhone shot; we're looking south, viewing the pond along its western flank.

Boz was disappointed to see the empty pond in the Lower Arroyo yesterday, partly because there's no more stinky water and especially because no one was casting. He enjoys fly casting, for those fleeting moments of his canine attention span. (I think cats would really enjoy this sport.)

Funding is provided by 1992 Proposition A Los Angeles County Park Bond funds "and a generous donation from the Pasadena Casting Club," according to this 2008 document from the Pasadena Department of Public Works. The project is a little behind schedule, but other than that it appears they're sticking to the plan. They've put a new seal on the surface and are replacing outdated materials with more progressive, environmentally friendly ones. The water will never be stinky again.

Neither Boz nor the Standells approve.

The Pasadena Casting Club is open to the community. If you want to learn how to cast for fish, the pond should be ready in a few weeks and the club will welcome you. In the meantime, check out the website or give a call. There's probably someone there who'll invite you to come by and learn how to tie a fly, or just talk fishing. I suggest you leave your pets at home.

A New Noise

The theater for A Noise Within, the classical theater company soon to be moving to Pasadena from faraway Glendale, is rising atop the Stuart Pharmaceuticals Building like a new layer on a concrete cake. A rendering of what the interior will look like accompanies William Goldstein's article on Hometown Pasadena. In fact, HtP's been covering the move particularly well.

The 1928 Masonic Temple Building ANW leaves behind in Glendale is a lovely old has-been. My guess is she was tough to heat on cold days, impossibly hot in the summer and they probably had to incorporate her plumbing noises into their sound design. But she's an old beauty all the same. I don't know what's in the building's future, but keep an eye on Cinema Treasures. They usually have good info and the best pictures of these faded dames.

Goldstein's article is about ANW's final show in their old space. Right now the nights are neither cold nor impossibly hot. A good time to see a play.

Nudge

I don't know what I initially meant to photograph here--the flowers, probably.

Boz, who often accompanies me when I'm shooting, is never coy about his feelings. He's patient, but he lets me know when he thinks I have enough shots and it's time to move on. He's usually right.

Cut Your Grass

Apparently I'm not the only one in Pasadena who wants to kill my grass. The big room at the Pasadena Convention Center was packed last Saturday for Pasadena Water and Power's "Cut Your Grass" workshop. The morning was led by the energetic Tim Wheeler, horticulturalist extraordinaire, who I remembered from an irrigation workshop I attended a couple of years ago.

Well, damn. Two years. It's been that long and I still have the most terrifying back yard on the block.

Tim can keep a crowd interested for three full hours. He's knowledgeable, dynamic and fun. He can answer almost any (relevant) question you put to him. It was a fascinating workshop and they're going to have another one August 20th (keep your eyes on Pasadena In Focus). And watch PWP's website August first for information about financial incentives for killing your grass.

But I'll never make it by August first. I'm beginning to think I won't make it at all. Yes, I want to kill my grass--which is not grass, but weeds--but once I do that I have to remove the dead stuff, and once I do that I can't just leave the dirt, I have to plant something, or put in a hardscape or a pergola or something, and it's a big yard, and all that takes planning and effort and labor and moneymoneymoney and I'm just overwhelmed. I have no idea where to start.

I want someone else to do it.

Zen Monday: #140

It's Zen Monday, the day you experience the photo and share in the comments what you've learned.

Your first Zen Monday? Tell us what comes to mind--what the photo makes you think of or how it makes you feel. There's no right or wrong, no secret, no prize. Just have fun.

Mondays are your turn. I enjoy Mondays very much.

Castaways

Yesterday, my friend of 23 years took me out for a belated birthday lunch at the Castaway in Burbank. This is a place where you go for the views.

The view here is to the southwest overlooking Burbank, Forest Lawn and Griffith Park (the hills in the distance). At night it's all lit up (not the hills) and if you look more west than south you can pick out Disney, Warner Brothers and Universal studios. The 101 freeway is easy to spot, flowing like red and white water.

But you'll have to imagine all that. Our two-day heat wave is over and yesterday was cool and misty. The hills were like description in a story--not central to the action but complimentary, a setting or a mood. If it's true, as the Irish author Anne Enright says, that "all description is an opinion about the world," then yesterday those hills looked like they hadn't changed in 23 years, except after all this time they're even more green.