bad things come in threes!!

On Saturday evening I was enjoying an early curry dinner with my nephew and son and a friend of my nephew's.  How fun for a lady of a certain age to be seated with three dashing young men all well under the age of 35!!  As we chatted Sean (nephew) and Nathaniel (son) exchanged stories of frustration - they had each gotten a $64 parking ticket earlier in the day!  I listened sympathetically and then reminded them that since they both possess a college education it might behoove them to READ the posted signs about metered parking.  They ruefully agreed.

Imagine my shock and dismay when I returned to my car after a quick shopping foray at Trader Joe's in Hollywood early on Sunday afternoon!  There it was - the ominous parking violation ticket stuck under my windshield wiper - $64!! Since when had metered parking on Sundays come into effect?  I was baffled.  I did some internet research when I got home and finished putting away the groceries which cost far less than the ticket!  This is what I learned:

Parking Meters

Parking meters are located on side streets and main streets throughout Hollywood in effort to provide those looking for convenient metered parking with a viable option. As of July 2008, parking meter rates and hours of operation were adjusted to better match the heavy demand for parking in Hollywood and throughout Los Angeles. Currently, the revenue generated by the estimated 40,000 city parking meters in $20 million. The net increase from the rate hike is estimated to generate an additional $18 million annually.

Please Note:  New overhead signs indicating the time limit and hours of operation will be posted, beginning on Saturday, March 28. Posting efforts will continue through April 12.

Rates
Parking meter rates throughout the city of Los Angeles have been adjusted to a minimum of $1-per hour, with some rates up to $2, $3 and $4–per–hour. Please note: In Hollywood, parking meter rates do not exceed $2-per-hour.

Hours of Operation
The parking meter hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. In entertainment and shopping districts, such as Hollywood, where the demand for parking extends even later into the night, parking meters operate from 8 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday nights; and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Variations from these hours are planned in observance of peak hour restrictions, valet services, religious services, etc.
 

I enjoy reading poetry so much and wish I could write it.  I can't.  I've tried.

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

From Blossoms

By Li-Young Lee
 

From blossoms comes

this brown paper bag of peaches

we bought from the boy

at the bend in the road where we turned toward   

signs painted Peaches.

From laden boughs, from hands,

from sweet fellowship in the bins,

comes nectar at the roadside, succulent

peaches we devour, dusty skin and all,

comes the familiar dust of summer, dust we eat.

O, to take what we love inside,

to carry within us an orchard, to eat

not only the skin, but the shade,

not only the sugar, but the days, to hold

the fruit in our hands, adore it, then bite into   

the round jubilance of peach.

There are days we live

as if death were nowhere

in the background; from joy

to joy to joy, from wing to wing,

from blossom to blossom to

impossible blossom, to sweet impossible blossom. 

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

This beautiful poem was read at Ed's Memorial Service - the one I mentioned last week.  I have read a lot of Li-Young Lee's work...but was not familiar with this one.  I think it is wonderful.

AMAZING

I read a lot of breast cancer blogs...just discovered this group of ladies are all breast cancer bloggers and they are ALL in LA!!



'REGROUNDING'

a suprising realization

Today I discovered that I am more tied to technology than I ever realized.  I think of myself as someone who can live without a computer (for a while at least), someone who can let the phone go to voice mail, someone who does not text or check messages while dining with another.  But I was surprised this morning!

I was en route to my appointment with the CPA who does my taxes.  I really like this guy - he is much like you might expect an accountant to be.  I enjoy his enthusiasm for his work,his expertise and quickness about getting the 'job done'!  I must think highly of him because I drive 48 miles each way to meet with him...all the way from North Hollywood to Costa Mesa in Orange County!!  I try to stay as far away from Orange County as possible but make an exception for this guy.

About 10 minutes into the drive I began to root around in my purse for my phone.  I had an hour's drive (each way - 48 miles!) and was looking forward to listening to one of my audible.com books.  NO PHONE!!  After a few moments of panic, I realized I had not lost my phone but had left it behind on the computer desk.

I was shocked at how nervous I felt without my phone. I wondered what I would do if I got lost - I couldn't call the CPA's office to let them know.  What if my car broke down?  How would I call AAA?  What if? What if? What if?

I well remember the days before cell phones, iPads, i Pods, etc...and I never thought I would come to depend on technology as much as I evidently have!

All went well...no disasters and I found I could live (fairly well) without my phone for a few hours!  Best news - I may even get a tiny refund from the Feds and the State this year!!  Best CPA ever!!

Matt Plaskoff is my HERO!!

http://www.oneweekbath.com/featured-bath-design.php


Check it out!!

this is lovely

I attended the Memorial Service for the stepfather of a dear friend last weekend.  It was a non religious event and usually I have a hard time with this sort of thing. I find so much solace in the ancient rhythms of the liturgy - be it my own tradition or another...they bring me comfort.  This 'celebration of life' was at a local place called the Sportsman's Lodge.  It was a beautiful setting - a large glass sided room surrounded by gorgeous plantings, little crisscrossing bridges and babbling brooks and streams. 

'Ed', in whose honor the service was being held, was a real character - in the best sense!  The ceremony was befitting him and I know he was chuckling with pleasure.  We all sang "The Red River Valley" together.  Ed was a well known and much respected character actor,in numerous films and commercials, a film director and an avid photographer.  I liked him very much.  One of the poems read at the service yesterday is one of my all time favorites by Pablo Neruda...I wanted to share it with you.  I think I would like someone to read this at my memorial service too.

When I die I want your hands on my eyes

When I die I want your hands on my eyes:
I want the light and the wheat of your beloved hands
to pass their freshness over me one more time
to feel the smoothness that changed my destiny.
I want you to live while I wait for you, asleep,
I want for your ears to go on hearing the wind,
for you to smell the sea that we loved together
and for you to go on walking the sand where we walked.
I want for what I love to go on living
and as for you I loved you and sang you above everything,
for that, go on flowering, flowery one,
so that you reach all that my love orders for you,
so that my shadow passes through your hair,
so that they know by this the reason for my song.

DIY Me!!

I did it!  I am loathe to take on what I deem as 'man chores' in my house.  One of the best reasons I can find for going on those dating web sites is to find someone who can do tasks around the house for me.  My dad seemed to know how to do anything (contrary to what my mother always told us) and both my brothers (in addition to being way better cooks than I)  seem to know how to do household maintenance stuff.  I did install the upstairs and downstairs ceiling fans after I bought this house, but I have no clue as to how I managed that!  I'm guessing that my kitchen remodel was completed 6 months ago because some light came on the refrigerator door telling me it was time to replace the water filter.  WHAT?? I have to replace stuff on this fancy machine that sings to me when I get ice?

I begged my son to do it for me...coaching and encouraging and challenging and teasing him along the way.  No go.  I had to take on the task myself.  And, after several false starts...I DID IT!!  I even remembered to save the box the filter came in so I would know what kind to order when I have to replace it in another 6 months!

Sunday - Soup Day!

The temperature is predicted to be around 80 today, but this morning is still crisp and cool so I am making a huge pot of soup.  It's a variation on the Tunisian Soup I made two weeks ago.  I'm still using the basic broth recipe with lots of chili powder and chili flakes for some heat.  The heat will be tamped down a bit by the addition of fresh lemon juices and the zest of two lemons.  I've added chard, onions, garlic, carrots, potatoes, a small rutabaga.  Later I will add green beans, mushrooms, cannelloni beans and finally some ditalini pasta!  YUM! This will last me throughout the week.

While the soup is simmering and filling the house with delicious scents...I am organizing all my tax paperwork for the visit to the CPA next weekend!  UGH!!

Son day

I had a great day on Saturday - which I deemed "son" day since I got to spend a large portion of it with Nathaniel - my best son!

I picked him up at his apartment in Culver City and we had a great lunch at PHO Show.  Nat enjoyed Pad Thai and I had crispy pan fried noodles with vegetables and tofu...YUMMY!

We walked around the neighborhood for awhile.  It's a fun and hip place.  I've never spent much time in Culver City but I like it!Found myself in front of the Museum of Jurassic Technology - a place that Jordan and Meredith took me to see several years back.

We wandered over to Nat's local frozen yogurt place.  It has about 10 different flavors and you can add any mixture of toppings you want.  So much fun and so delicious too.  I want to go back!

 

And,this is my little trick these days so I can remember where I parked my car in the garage....

 I snap a photo of the floor number or the space number if there is one!!

Househunters International

I am totally hooked on the House Hunters shows!  May fav is the International version!!  Today I have already watched three episodes and its not even 9AM yet.  I think I want to live in Tahiti on the second largest island called Moorea.  If I buy a house there will my children come and stay for a month or so with me each year?? And how about friends and other family?  Will everyone come?  I hope so...

Daily to Weekly

It seems, though no conscious decision or thought process occurred, that my blog has morphed from a nearly daily blog to more of a weekly blog.  That's OK.  It doesn't mean that my entries will be more witty, thought provoking or more special in any way...perhaps its simply a reflection of my 'poverty of thought'.  At any rate - the blog prompts me when it needs my attention.

My weekend was mostly quiet.  I enjoyed that.  Yesterday was a delightful treat - I had a belated birthday celebration with Olga - my dear friend and former secretary at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

We met in Pasadena and shared oysters, coconut shrimp, delicious filet mignon with baby carrots and haricots vert, followed by a bread bread pudding that was simply amazing!  We topped off the meal with a few espressos.  WOW!  After a nice stroll around and getting some glimpses of the Chinese New Year celebrations underway, I headed home to nap!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR OLGA!!