California Fires

It breaks my heart to see these horrific images.

Many of you have seen it only as the far off background of the Rose Parade on the morning of a New Year, the area known as LaCanada-Flintridge, Altadena and the surounding areas. White capped San Gabriel Mountains, the Angeles National Forest stand sentinel against a pure blue Winter sky, with the green foothills of oak, sycamore and cedar lying at their feet.It is especially lovely that time of year, causing emigres to question why they ever moved.

The Northern San Gabriel Valley is home to Descanso Gardens, The Jet Propulsion Lab/ Cal.Tech, Mt.Wilson Observatory and many lovely upscale neighborhoods. It is, in my opinion, some of Southern California at its best.

I regret that I haven't visited in so long. I have so many memories...
The mountain view would greet me every morning, as I drove up San Gabriel Blvd. in my little Dodge dart on my way to P.C.C. and my first year of Junior College. In my high school years, Chantry Flats was the destination many a late night when, at a SPOOKS slumber party, we would decide to go looking for adolescent thrills. Switzer Falls was a fun hike to take with the kids from my church.
So far, only three homes have burned and countless acres. I hope there are no more.

Looking for new music?

You know my eclectic tastes, especially in music.
When my old friend, Bridgette Life in Red Shoes was my brand-new friend, she did not appreciate my fondness for rap. So I am careful to listen to something else when we are in the car.
My husband does not appreciate my opera, so again, it is not played while we are in the car. It is only played when I can turn it way up and lip-synch and get teary eyed.
So in the spirit of diversity, I offer you some of my new favorites.
I am only going to give you links, as so many do not imbed.
Enjoy...or not as your taste dictates.
*La,La,La by LMFAO. Oh I love these boyz, haha, this one has such a funny 80's vibe!
*2 Weeks by Grizzly Bear AMAZING video! 2weeks
*Julia, Julie Soundtrack Alexandre Desplat has other amazing soundtracks such as Benjamin Button

Fifty = "Towanda!!"

Suzanne, at The Farmer's Wife, recently wrote of women my age having "Towanda" moments! What is a Towanda moment?
It is a moment when you are not nice...like you always used to be.
It is a moment when you're not patient...like you always used to be.
It is a moment when you realize you won't spend time with people and activities unless they really mean something to you and make you happy.
It is a moment in which you buy something as a gift and then realize you reaalllly want it and YOU KEEP IT FOR YOURSELF!!!
"Towanda!!" Unheard of 10 years ago when I was still trying to please, always trying to please, everyone.
"Towanda!!"

Final Rock Creek Chronicle

The first trip to the outhouse is dreaded.
The cantaloupe sized hole at the base of the antique structure is the thing I always notice first, it's the entrance to some small animal's home. Dear Lord, what poor, dumb creature would choose to build their home next to the outhouse pit?
The outhouses at Rock Creek are not the sleek, sky-lighted outhouses seen at many newer campgrounds, the ones with an exhaust system designed by some engineering student at Stanford, with stainless steel toilets and no discernible odor. No, the outhouses at Rock Creek are made of brown stained wood. To offer some aeration and light, the perimeter of the ceiling is covered, between 2x4 studs, with 10" of ancient screening, adorned with occasional holes that look as if a fly attempted to gain entry with a tiny hack-saw. But most of them just enter by way of the squeaky door. One of my fears is, having settled my bare butt on the time worn toilet seat, a fly will actually land on my nether regions!
If the other campers would simply close the lid when they have finished their business, it would help with the smell and fly situation, but in order to do so, you must reach across the gaping maw of hideousness to reach the lid resting against the back wall and, much like a person attempting to scale a tall mountain, you must assiduously avoid looking down. "Whatever you do, don't look down!"
I try to "go" as quickly as possible because I can only hold my breath for so long. I guess I should practice my breath holding skills for a couple of weeks before our trip. I know that there are people in the world, much less fortunate than I, who would be grateful to have a reasonably clean, although smelly outhouse in which to do their business and I try to think of my lucky state, but it doesn't help much.
The locks on the doors, broken, have been replaced by hook and eye closures, also broken. So, to facilitate privacy, a big rock is provided to push up against the door. The rock, interestingly enough, resembles a giant, petrified, cow pie. Fitting, I think.

Humphrey Bogart Sandal Wearing Snafu

I feel my intent with the Humphrey Bogart sandal post has been misunderstood.

First, a little background on Humphrey Bogart. You might know him from Casablanca where he famously was supposed to have said, "Play it again, Sam" or the Jungle Queen with Katherine Hepburn.

He was not a homosexual, a word I used because the photo was set in the 40's or 50's, long before "gay". In fact, he had a long affair with Lauren Bacall when she was still a teen and he was a married 45 year old man! They finally married and had two children.

I just found the photo an hilarious caricature of some of the he-man icons of the day!
The sandals were just so incongruous! I would have thought they'd have him in some boots, or fly fishing waders, or wing tips...but not those sandals!

Oh, Mr. Bogart! hehe

"I am NOT a homosexual! Would a homosexual sit amongst wanton displays of the manly pursuit of hunting wild animals?! Look at these wild boars! And homosexuals do not have extremely large manly-type dogs such as Great Danes, they have tiny, fluffy dogs! Please notice all the trophies displaying my athletic prowess! Do homosexuals play sports? I think not!
And these sandals! Would a homosexual wear..... Well... I'm not a homosexual!"
Signed, Humphrey Bogart

Thanks to Nerdboyfriend! You know I jest! http://nerdboyfriend.com/

Rock Creek Chronicles 5

Having used a flush toilet, been mulled in the warm waters of Bass Lake, and picked up supplies to get us through another 2 days in the wilderness, we drove along the road, at a pretty good clip, back up to the campsite.
"This road is a lot straighter than the one on the south side of the lake" Don says to no one in particular.
I answer, "Well, back when they built the other road, they didn't have the technology for straight road building." The boys "get it" and I earn my deserved laugh.
A small, spotted fawn appears, skittishly making it's way down the steep bank on my side of the road. We must be traveling about 55 miles per hour and we are not slowing down. My brain can not fathom that we are not slowing down. With three small bounds, the fawn is across our lane, its little brown and white upright tail barely clearing the left bumper of the s.u.v. The entire time this drama was unfolding, lasting only about three seconds, all I could do was sputter an unintelligible squeal.
Short of breath, my right hand to my chest, I exclaim, "Oh my gosh! I thought we were going to hit it!"
"What?"
"The fawn! Didn't you see it?! I couldn't figure out why you weren't slowing down!"
"Where! What? A fawn?"
Don had been looking in the rear view mirror, the boys were looking out the left windows and playing electronic Solitaire.
Barry recalls "Oh geez, I did see a flash of some brown thing when I just looked out the front window but thought it was a bird!"
Ty said he just thought I was choking on something. Yeah, that's mom, always making some sort of weird noises.
It happened so fast! A near miss and no one saw it but me.
I am SO grateful we didn't hit it!