Snappish

Actually, I don't know why she's carrying something on her head. I also am not sure why everything worked out in a red, white and blue palette. It was just a snap.

Decisive-ish

Went to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art today. Another snap is here on my other blog.

The thing about the endless "decisive moment" talk is that we really should be asking "why not a different walker? That's a fine moment for that one, but ... does it matter? Would it be any different with someone else?"

Pretty, Pretty Princess

Returned to the Los Angeles-ish area for some holiday festivities. I'm the one without a tiara.

Hazards of Suburbia, Part 6

It was 109 degrees in Los Angeles yesterday. If only there were some city, cooled by bay breezes, that I could visit.

Hazards of Suburbia, Part 5

In Southern California, you can't not go to the mall.

Hazards of Suburbia, Part 4

Storage: anything could be in those damn bins of stuff. To get to the family photographs (glad I found those) you might have to wade through thousands of CDs and DVDs. Above: snapshot from yesterday's grand clearing out.

Hazards of Suburbia, Part 3

Hey, remember that time when I was going to have cornflakes on the porch and the mantis came and hung upside down from the railing and just ... stared?

Hazards of Suburbia, Part 2

Hey, remember that time when we went swimming and realized there were really quite a few more bees than there should be, then the beekeeper guy had to come and seal them into the wall?

Hazards of Suburbia, Part 1

Hey, remember that time when we moved to the suburbs and I made my First New Friend?

Well, there have been ups, and downs.

Healdsburg, More or Less

Just returned from visiting family a bit north of Southern California. Way, way north. News soon.

Something Something Portraits

It's important to look ahead.

Struggle

Some things don't go as easily as one might hope.

Took

A car to a train. Then, a train to Los Angeles. Then, a bus to another train. Then, a train to Oakland. Then, another car.

Meanwhile, on the Other Side of the Country

To me, it's really disappointing when I have a film in a film festival and I don't get to attend. I really really want to go.

It's good to want things. (I still don't get to go.)

Our short documentary Hoop Springs Eternal will be screening Sunday, September 26th at 1 p.m. at the Coney Island Film Festival. The film shows in Program 12 with a number of fun films. You can buy advance tickets for just $6.

On the bright side: watch this space, as I'll be announcing an upcoming Los Angeles screening of another one of our docs.

His and Hers

In the past, I have taken an opportunity or maybe two to post photos of toilets on the streets of New York.

But don't think Southern California isn't a pretender to the throne.

Food in Southern California, Part Three

Look, sometimes you just want to smell like garlic.

Food In Southern California, Part Two

The toughest adjustment for me since moving back to Los Angeles, foodwise, has been accepting that there's great food in minimalls.

I grew up as LA turned into a sea of minimalls, and I'm inherently opposed to them. I associate them with uncomfortable chairs, eating while staring at the parking lot and a busy street, and bored employees waiting at a cash register.

All those things are present at My Vegan in Pasadena. The food is so good, however, that it's worth it.

No ambiance. We sat within ten feet of our car, and our view was terrible. The sate with peanut sauce, however, was fantastic. My recommendation: try the "Supreme Fried Rice" as a sort of sampler of their treats, and add a Thai Arnold Palmer.

Like Arizona, but with Fewer Imaginary Headless Bodies

I grew up in Southern California. The strange thing is that, since returning, 100 degrees fahrenheit doesn't seem as hot as I remember, but I also don't remember having to put so much effort into avoiding the sun or sunburn. Midday, the sun just seems ... blazing and unfiltered.

Food In Southern California, Part One

New York was a great city for food. Anything, anytime. Southern California requires a little more inside knowledge to do well. My best baked-goods snacking tip: go to a panaderia. Grab anything that looks like a jelly roll, and anything shaped like a shell. Inexpensive, fresh, tasty.

Like Texas, but with Palm Trees

Football. What would a hot Thursday in California be without it?

Corkscrew Optional

The best thing about the cars in California is that they come with a built-in wineholder.

Other Activities

One thing I've noticed about this part of Southern California is that there are no children outside. They are all indoors, playing video games. So I thought I'd give it a try.

Did I lose to a four-year-old?

No, of course not, I won 199 to something. Oh, you mean the first game? Wasn't that a warmup? It wasn't?

On the bright side, I did win at arm wrestling and the bookmakers currently have me as a 3:2 favorite for our upcoming boxing match.

Somewhat Less Classical

In theory, a sculpture is meant to be looked at from all angles.

That's just a theory, though.

Good Hans, Nice Arp

Made it out to Pasadena today for a quick stop at the Norton Simon. Above: "Classical Sculpture" from 1960, by Hans (Jean) Arp.

Two More Friends to the Good

Why yes, he is a wizard mistakenly turned into a dog. And yes, he does have questionable taste in wands. But look at it this way: at least he's not the dog cowering under the table.

Before you begin to think that all I've done here in Southern California is make friends with dogs, today I was able to get my editing computer going and get back to editing a short documentary I shot earlier in the year.

Combinatorics

It's possible I've exhausted the possibilities of my immediate environment.

Two Martinis and the Ghost of Richard Nixon

Attended a funeral on Friday. The end of the day was spent at The Mission Inn, an old haunt very familiar from my Riverside days. Saw the Centennial Steinway and the portrait of Nixon, then sat in the Taft chair.

First New Friend

So far, so good. Been in Los Angeles less than a week, and I already have a new buddy. I think our relationship may be a bit tennis-ball-centric, but I'm okay with that.

Los Angeles Portraits

In just a few days, we'll be moving to Southern California. So, I'll be shifting from blogging at New York Portraits to this blog. Details very soon.