Cold is Relative

How cold does it get where you are?

It got up to 61 degrees Fahrenheit here yesterday, and I know that's warm for this time of year if you live in, say, Fairbanks, or Antarctica, or Norwich. But that's not counting the wind-chill factor. It was so breezy it felt like 55! It gets into the low 40's by the wee hours. Brrr.

There's a pay-off: clear, blue skies and white clouds. Fast clouds, speeding across the mountaintops like puffy space invaders.

Okay, I'm ready to hear about the snow now.

I Love a Grainy Night

Christmas isn't over 'til everyone takes down their lights. A stroll in the neighborhood last night told us that's not going to happen soon. I like the nostalgic glow, but I think it's lost on Boz.

Post-Prandial Perambulation

Our Christmas day walk on the upper path, east side of Hahamongna Watershed Park.

I did not saturate the colors in this photo. When we get rain, we get green.

Considering how we've been eating, it's going to take a lot more walking.

Christmas Wishes

Peace, serenity, tolerance, beauty, prosperity for all...just a wish list. Much like yours, I imagine. May Christmas day and every day hold all of these for you and yours.

Zen Monday: #226

It's Christmas Eve and Zen Monday. What to do? If I must choose (and I must, because I don't have a Zen Christmas Eve photo), then I choose Zen Monday.

Wreath

I like walking in Bungalow Heaven because:
It's quiet (no main drags);
It's got big trees;
It's nicely-groomed, for the most part;
It's historic;
Folks are friendly, if and when you see folks;
It's not far from my neighborhood, but far enough that I feel like I went somewhere.

Twenty years ago I was happy to live in Hollywood near Fairfax and Beverly, close to a TV studio and a popular shopping district. Now I crave quiet, serene calm.

Welcome to middle age.

Revival

I took this photo from my car Thursday, while sitting in traffic on south Fair Oaks Avenue.

Old Town Pasadena was stopped up like my Aunt Tildy used to get after eating too much of Uncle Rory's Christmas cake. ("I can't help myself," she'd say, "it's the sprinkles!")

I got stuck in the middle of Old Town, then found my way out, then drove around instead of through it, to get to south Fair Oaks for more of the same. Most of the time Pasadena's an easygoing place, but this time of year along with Christmas and New Year's, we have the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl game, and everything is packed. It's fine, really. Really. It's fine.

So I got to sit in traffic and take this picture of the outdoor display area of Revival Antiques. It's a beautiful store, with gorgeous furniture, art and lamps inside. Outside, the unique pieces that can hold up to the weather wait to be visited. It might be chilly for us natives right now, but I'll bet at least our Wisconsin visitors will find the weather refreshing, and probably those from northern California, too. I just hope they don't mind the traffic.

'Bye

Seeing as the world is ending today, I thought I'd say goodbye, and thanks. It's been fun. As I write this (I pre-post) I figure Australia's already gone, though I haven't heard anything on the news. Asia, India, Russia and Europe, too. Bummer.

Or maybe everybody just gets raptured and the land masses themselves are still there? I'm not sure how this works. Does anybody know what time it's supposed to happen? John, Boz and I are going to wait in the car. We would like very much to go as a family unit.

Anyway, it's not like it's the end of the world. Well, it is, but at least Boz won't have to go to the vet this afternoon, and I can leave the dust bunnies under the bed where they so desperately want to be. And maybe we can finally save some frickin' money, for god's sake, because we won't have to pay the mortgage in January.

Just trying to look on the bright side.

I'm kind of disappointed because John was going to start teaching screenwriting in January, and now that's not going to happen, unless maybe we end up on a friendly planet where they have movies. And I've been excited about my book launch but I guess I didn't time it very well.

It's been nice sharing the internet with you all, and...oh geez...I'm going to miss the internet! C'est la vie. Or, I guess, c'est la mort.

Holiday Time

I've thought of all sorts of things to ask Santa for this Christmas, but I don't really need anything except more time. I'm one of those people who always wants to get more done. It seems there aren't enough hours in the day. 

I'm not going to get more time, though, and more time wouldn't help me anyway. My problem isn't time. It's my attitude toward time and how I use it. 

I could look at it this way: I will get more time if I take time. If I take time to smell the roses, as they say, or the pine needles, or the underbrush, or the cheese, I will have more time. Or at least I'll feel like I do.

Ack. There's a reason I never studied philosophy.

Santa, maybe you could just please bring me a tripod. Thanks.

Christmas Cheerubs

Guess who went with us when we walked Boz yesterday?

It was faster than a walk at times.

Santa should have such elves. And such reindeer!

Oh My Darlins

My neighbors already know this picture is an old one. Our clementine tree is dormant this year. We've got about a dozen of the little orange fruits, if that.

It happens. We don't like it much, but we manage. For the first time since we moved here, I bought clementines at the grocery store. I didn't know what to expect. People have always told me ours are the best. But the store-bought ones weren't bad at all.

That burst my bubble.

Zen Monday: #225

It's Zen Monday, your turn to tell us what the photo's about. There's no competition. Just say what comes to mind.

Favorite

Yesterday we talked about light, and also about coffee shops. I got to thinking: if I had to choose, what would be my favorite coffee shop in Pasadena?

That's an easy one. I mean, if I had to choose, which I don't.

I love Penny For Your Thoughts for the beautiful clothes, unusual gifts (antique, handmade and/or new) and just plain wonderful atmosphere. It's also a sweet little coffee shop. Everyone who's ever been there loves the place. Yet it never feels crowded.

This photo shows the rear entrance from the parking lot, where there's plenty of room for our cars. We should meet there one of these days! You can get your Christmas shopping done in one fell swoop.

I should have saved this post because they're not open Sundays. Stop by and see Millie soon, but not today.

Southern Light

He's at Europane on Colorado Blvd. near the Paseo. (We have to distinguish, because there are two Europanes on Colorado.) The window faces south, and at this time of year our sun stays low in the southern sky.

I just like the light.

Break

Let's take a break today. Get an early start on the weekend, what do you say? At least in our minds.

If you could take any break you desire, what would it be?

Okay, so, the impromptu flight to Paris is out of the question. What's possible, then? What is within reason?

A mid-afternoon cookie. Wait--no--think big! Something between Paris and a cookie. A trip to the post office doesn't count. Neither does a dog walk. I do that every day.

What would you do for your break?

Sign Up

This one made me late for work. I didn't have my camera when Boz and I took our morning perambulation, so I had to go back home and get it. That'll teach me.

Parlez Vous?

My friend Linda invited a few of us over yesterday to speak French.

Well. I mean, alors.

There was stumbling, mumbling, and...how do you say...? Rust. Rusty tongues, rusty minds, rusty French. But that was just me.

But it was fun. J'ai m'amuse bien. I hope that's right, or at least close to it.

The photo above is of an alley in Old Town Pasadena where you'll find the entrance to the Alliance Française de Pasadena. Step south off of Union Street or north from Exchange Alley into Kendall Alley, just west of Raymond Avenue, and you'll see the blue sign.

Pasadena's alleys are pretty tame. In fact, I may have just proven they're downright classy.

More from OldPasadena.org.

Feetsies

 

photo by John Sandel

SOMEbody's been at the trash.

Zen Monday: #224

Monday is the day I ask you to write the caption for the photo. Sometimes I choose the Zen Monday shot because I think it'll be fun, and sometimes I choose it because I don't know what to say.

Discernment

Our little pooper is just as excited about the holiday season as--well, as your little pooper is. And he is a most discerning shopper.

I tell him it's okay to smell the merchandise, but "no licking." He learned the "no licking" command for an entirely different situation, but it comes in handy.

He hardly looked at the lions or the hedgehogs. I'd have chosen one of those, but I didn't say so. If we don't allow Boz to make his own decisions about how to spend his allowance, how is he going to learn about the value of money?