If I get dropped off at the front of the Alameda Gate, on the Disney Lot, this is the view I see as I walk along the sidewalk.
It is (of course) the front of Disney Corporate and I have shown it off before.
The 7 dwarfs are huge and the thing I notice the most are their hands, holding up the front of the building.
I am not sure what I would think, having a window on that side of the building...again I say, LOOK AT THOSE HANDS!
Kind of creepy, if you ask me. :-)
We knew this information, but it was finally made public on Monday.
Michael Riley our President for the past 3 years, has moved on to be in charge of Digital Content for Ellen Digital Ventures.
He will continue to have contact with us and will be a member of the Board of Directors, moving forward.
You can read the entire article from Deadline, HERE.
First off, goodbye to the 2018 Winter Olympics. I am going to miss your hockey games between 1P and 3:30P, when we air Pledge Shows.
It kept me sane, for 2 weeks. Now back to what I normally have to watch.
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My Water Post For Today.
I once again went to Bridgeport's walkway, by the Bridge this time, on a lovely Sunday morning.
Similar to the ones I took at the clubhouse, there were Coots, swimming and two of them sleeping.
The water is turquoise and all is wonderful in their world.
My Son is moving to Michigan in July and since it is just across the Detroit River from Canada, I think both he and the two of us may want to cross that border into Windsor, Canada someday.
So I decided to start the Passport process.
Things I learned during a 2 1/2 hour excruciating wait:
Photocopies are not good enough for a birth certificate.
An "Abstract of Birth" is not good enough either, even though that is EXACTLY what they give you upon, the child's birth.
Don't have bangs that hide any of your eyebrows, for that important passport photo. Their facial recognition does not work with bangs. Don't mention to them that any photo they take of me, has bangs.
You can request a new birth certificate (since your photocopies are not good enough), but it costs much more in New York, then it does in Chicago.
Thanks New York, you are always the best...not.
I can't wait for round 2 of this process, since they are going to disqualify our first attempt, due to the several things mentioned above.
Did I mention that we are now several hundred dollars (each) poorer, just to get across a border that I successfully got over, back in 2006.
In case you care, the border crossing was made stricter to cross, in 2009.
My Van Pool passes by Universal City on some days.
When that happens, I marvel at the towers of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, off in the distance.
They are very tall and take up a good part of the back lot.
The other day I went looking, to see where exactly they put this new attraction.
What I found out is that they demolished the Universal Amphitheatre, back in September of 2013 (when I was in Upstate NY, at college). So I was not aware of the fact that I can no longer go to concerts at that very famous and wonderful venue.
As I keep meticulous records of my Steely Dan concert reviews, I know for a fact that I saw them play there in 2003 and 4 times in 2009. I saw the Moody Blues play there once, Dan Fogelberg in the 80's and Barry Manilow (free tickets) also in the mid 80's. He was surprisingly good. :-)
It was one of our best (and close in) concert venues for the Los Angeles area.
I am very sad now.
Sorry I am so late to this party.
I was recently watching this interesting show "Samantha Brown's Places To Love" (episode #107) that traveled to Texas Hill Country.
After the host frolicked in the bluebonnets, she visited a few back country towns.
One of those back country towns, was New Braunfels, TX.
There you can visit Naegelin's Bakery
One of the things that I learned is that they cook these wonderful strudels there.
I was impressed and checked out their website. That's when I found out that I could buy one of them and have it shipped to me.
They are 2 feet in length and it weighs approx. 4 1/2 pounds. The apple strudel costs $21.75, which considering the weight, does not seen outrageous.
If you are ever on I-35 between Austin and San Antonio Texas, it looks like a place that is worth a stop.
Naegelin's Bakery
South Seguin Avenue, New Braunfels, TX
You can order one, HERE.
I have worn hearing aids for the past (almost) 10 years.
I got them in 2008, because my company asked me to be a member of the Traffic Advisory Committee.
They work and all that, but over the years they have gotten a bit worn.
It ends up that the one on the left can't stay at a loud volume and so without me touching anything, I lose my hearing help.
Thankfully the right side stayed with me.
Being I was living on borrowed time, I decided to buy a new set this year, while I am still employed...and what a difference they make in my life.
They are so small and they do not hurt my ears at all.
I ended up paying just $100 more than the last set I bought.
A total win for me, since they are generally much more expensive now days.
Hopefully, they will last.
Our main route to the south through the Newhall Pass, is Interstate 5 (aka I-5).
They have been replacing the concrete coming out of the Newhall Pass for the past 6 months or so and thus, we have bad traffic...every morning.
It is not fun, but we put up with it, since we have no choice.
This is the current place where they split the traffic and put us on either side of the work zone.
We lose no lanes, they are just moved to the right or left.
In spite of no loss, it takes about 15 minutes to get through this zone.
It always amazes me at the incompetence of the driving public, who don't know what to do.
We keep hoping it clears up, soon...but don't hold your breath.
What a weird day.
It suddenly got very cold here in LA and on top of that, clouds moved in.
I saw one cloud out my back yard and decided to run to the front with my camera.
I swear, I thought we had a fire going on out to the west.
Look at how the sun outlined the mountains! I have no clue how it did that.
The sunset was just outrageous and I am glad I got some of it.
My Water Post For Today.
I was working on taxes last night and so I didn't have much time to deal with a water post.
In my mind, there is only one place that takes me out of depression (taxes always make me depressed, though they were not too bad this year).
That place is The Golden Gate Bridge in beautiful San Francisco Bay.
This was 2011 and with the rocks, the waves and the bridge, there is nothing finer.
In good news, the taxes are done, we are getting back more than we are paying and now I can enjoy.
I hope you do, too.
Ansel Faraj was named after Ansel Adams and maybe that ultimately had something to do with his career choice.
He is a year younger than my son and related to a cousin of my Husband, thus many a Hanukkah party was celebrated with both him and my Son.
He has been directing movies for years and when he invited me to a screening of his latest, Will & Liz, I decided to attend.
The screening was at The Los Feliz 3 Theater right down the street from my old stomping ground at KCET's Lot (now owned by the Church of Scientology).
I knew the area, I wanted to see the film and so off I went on the first day of the President's Day weekend.
The movie is promoted as a love story in 4 seasons. It was shot in Venice and so I felt like it might be similar to La La Land, except in Venice.
To a certain degree, I think I was probably right.
It is a sweet movie of an LA transplant from Eugene OR and a native Angeleno who is an artist in Venice.
They meet by chance in a park and so the story begins. You follow the seasons (which correspond with the start and end of the relationships stages). Spring being the first one, of course.
You watch their romance bloom and then grow and eventually the cracks start to appear. By winter, she is gone.
It was interesting to watch how the movie ends (add in a repeat season to make that happen), since it did say it was a love story...
I had my son's car and so I left as soon as the movie was done. I did manage to get this one photo with Ansel and two people.
They are original cast members from the 60's Soap Opera Dark Shadows.
David Selby (Quentin Collins) and Kathryn L. Scott (Maggie Evans). He has done a couple of Dark Shadows spin off movies called Doctor Mabuse and Doctor Mabuse: Etiopomar, which starred several of the cast of Dark Shadows.
All in all, a worth it morning.
Every year St. Clare's Catholic Church has a Lenten Fish Fry for the 6 weeks of Lent.
We normally skip the first week, because everyone is dying to have the yummy fish they serve.
I had an appointment on the east side of town and it dovetailed nicely with the Fish Fry...so I volunteered to make the trip for my family.
I had not been there for years and was quite happy to see 2 lines set up. One for the people who would be eating in and the other line for those (like me) who were getting the fish to go.
Once it started going, it went very fast and they are extremely efficient at it.
It is a major fundraiser for the poor in the Santa Clarita community and I fully support it.
As I was waiting, I went looking for people who I knew.
First up was Kevin my Iconography teacher and his wife, Susan. If you click the top photo, you may see his green shirt at the very front of the line. Seriously, you couldn't miss them.
Next I found the two women in my aquafit class, who I sometimes go to dinner with.
I found out later that I missed my Aquafit teacher, but you can't catch everyone.
Our City can be so small town.
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Happy Chinese New Year!
This year is the Year of the Dog, so if you are a dog person, this year's for you. :-)
Starbucks had a cool red card this year, with Happy Chinese New Year on it. I bought one for my waiter at Grand Panda and when I went back, they were all gone.
Too bad, I would have liked to give one to my Vietnamese "Son".
May your year bring happiness and lots of money.
I have been a part of Twitter for almost 3 years.
In all that time, I hardly Tweet. Current count is 185 tweets.
To say the least, it is not a big priority to me, but since I went to a class, I was asked to make an account and so I have.
If 2 people "like" my tweet, it is a BIG deal.
On Sunday evening I had a photo of the Olympic Arts Flag that I started flying and it was taken at sunset.
Being I had already posted a photo of the flag on Facebook, I thought to myself, "Why not post it over on Twitter?"
So I did and didn't think anything of it.
For the next 2 days I would wake up in the morning with a whole bunch of hearts at the top of my phone, telling me that people were "liking" my Tweet.
If you can read the photo, it has 3 retweets and 19 "Likes".
This was a BIG DEAL to me.
Glad to know that a flag from 34 years back, can bring in a few numbers. :-)
First off, a very Happy Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday to all who celebrate either or both of these holidays. :-)
We actually had a bit of rain Monday night.
I came into work and was stunned by the beauty of the hills and buildings outside the 6th floor windows.
It is cold, too. That has been almost nonexistent this winter.
Most of all...I love the fact that some people on our floor open their shades WIDE!
I would if I could.
Saturday night and I am watching the first evening of the Olympics from my bed.
The cat decides that a blankie is a perfect place to make some biscuits.
At first I ignore her and watch the ice skating.
Then I decide that I have a camera near me and try to take a photo or two.
Of course, she stops kneading, but she still has that far away look in her eyes.
I have seen cats who drool, when the do their kneading, but mine doesn't...thankfully.
Cats...I love them.
My Water Post For Today.
Not much water around here, so during my Sunday errands, I took a detour to Bridgeport.
No Ducks are around the water, but there are many Coots this year.
I have mentioned that the residents are not fond of Coots, but they did not bother me, as I walked around the area.
The bright blue sky, the green grass, the white clubhouse and the black Coots.
Very lovely on this beautiful California day.
I hope you enjoy.
I had an Iconography Workshop yesterday and I began to write the St. Edith Stein Icon.
Being I had recently finished St. JunÃpero Serra last month, I had no real problem remembering what needed to be done.
I traced the image of Edith Stein onto my icon board and then only had time to cut into the gesso (which is the white and chalky surface of the board) just around her nimbus, with my etching tool.
Since there were several people who were at that particular stage, there was the paint for the nimbus already mixed and so I grabbed it and quickly painted it on.
Now it will have 2 months to dry and then I can begin to start adding the gold leaf onto the nimbus.
Yes, due to Easter being at the end of next month, we will be making Psanky Eggs, once more.
In case you wondered, I found this explanation about why I am writing an icon and not painting it.
"In the Orthodox Christian tradition, icons are said to be written, not painted. The Orthodox consider making icons more a form of prayer than art, and they believe the iconographer's hand is guided by God."
Interesting.
It is that time, once again.
The Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang Korea.
It was much as you would expect, though the drones were pretty cool toward the end.
I felt for the athletes, since it was so cold, but they seemed to make it through OK...even the flag bearer from Tonga (who stole the show).
I plan on flying my Olympic Flag today.
It was good to see the many countries where I have friends and family. Holland, Belgium, Sweden, New Zealand, England and (my families heritage) Lithuania, Italy and Israel.
My best to the Country of my birth...the U.S.A.
(Photo by USA Today)
It has been all the rage at Starbucks. The new Blonde Expresso coffee.
I happen to think it is great and get it quite often.
For some reason, Starbucks has a Blonde Truck and they are going around to workplaces to show off their new coffee.
It is probably akin to trying to get a new audience and I know for a fact that my husband feels that Starbucks coffee is way too dark.
So if he ever got the nerve to try it, I bet he would like it.
Me...give me a Blonde Soy Latte and I am happy.
Thus, I found myself at parking level 4 the other day, for a free tall Blonde. Note, they had to hide the truck from the people in the area, because the Starbucks next door at the hospital, got upset.
Thankfully, I missed that little scene.
This is around 11AM. Still quite a crowd.
I don't know if they gained any new coffee drinkers, but for me it was perfect.
I wrote extensively about Reporter Val Zavala, back when I was working on a KCET 50th Anniversary final project for my Integrated Medial and Social Networks degree.
4 years later, the day has come. Vice President Val Zavala has decided that 30 years of working at KCET, is long enough.
She is out of here and we will be having a going away party for her on Friday.
I have worked with her for all those 30 years. Keeping her shows on the air (as any Traffic and Operations person would do).
I thought I would bring us back to those article I wrote 4 years ago and also to a NEW article written by Elson Trinidad.
Here are the three posts, which I was amazed to find were still on the KCET Website. I had plans to send you over to a private blog of mine, with all the 50th Anniversary posts archived. :-)
Enjoy a look back at some of the best journalism that KCET has produced, with one heck of a great reporter/producer and Vice President at the helm.
Good luck Val and enjoy your retirement.
My Son returned from his trip to Ohio on Tuesday...and boy were we glad to see him.
The EcoCar was tested on a dynamometer at a test facility in Ohio, that is owned by Honda.
My Son said that it went better than expected (whatever that means) and he came home in a good mood.
He also took a trip with the team, to Michigan.
He wanted to talk to his potential housemates, to start getting ready for the big move in July.
July 16th is his starting date.
ACK!
Photo was taken at LAX, showing off the new construction going on there.
Our pond has been giving us trouble, which seems to happen about every 10 years or so.
So my Husband decided to get a new pump and set it up.
It is never an easy thing to do, because the plug goes under the sidewalk via a piece of pvc pipe.
As he was getting ready to send it through the pipe he called me to give him a hand.
That is why there is a photo. :-)
We fed it via a blue piece of edging line and managed to get it through.
Then we had to reattach the plug to the cord.
What fun...not
All in all, it works and we hope to get the frog spitter to work again.
First off...Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles.
My Water Post For Today.
Watching the pregame of the Superbowl, you see many video pieces shot in Minneapolis/St. Paul.
This brought back memories of our trip across the top of the Country, with our 3 day stop in St. Paul.
I went looking back to 2012 and found one of the photos I took at that time.
I did show off a similar photo from the park we are standing in, but this one is different.
Showing off a Municipal Elevator (no idea what that does) and a bridge over the river.
I hope you enjoy.
I fully intend to make these wings for today's game...unless my Husband overrides me. :-)
Thank you Cook's Country from America's Test Kitchen.
Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
4 pounds chicken wings, halved at joints, wingtips discarded
2 tablespoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
1 recipe wing sauce (see related content)
If you buy chicken wings that are already split, with the tips removed, you will need only 3 1/2 pounds.
Instructions
1. Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 250 degrees. Set wire rack in aluminum foil–lined rimmed baking sheet. Pat wings dry with paper towels and transfer to 1-gallon zipper-lock bag. Combine baking powder and salt, add to wings, seal bag, and toss to evenly coat.
2. Arrange wings, skin side up, in single layer on prepared wire rack. Bake wings on lower-middle oven rack for 30 minutes. Move wings to upper-middle rack, increase oven temperature to 425 degrees, and roast until wings are golden brown and crispy, 40 to 50 minutes longer, rotating sheet halfway through baking. Remove sheet from oven and let stand for 5 minutes.
3. Transfer wings to bowl with wing sauce of your choice (we use Anchor Bar Sauce), toss to coat, and serve.
It is official, they are putting Southern California back into drought conditions.
Trust me on this, I am not surprised at all.
The only rain we have seen this winter was the small amount that fell the day that Monticito had it's incredible mudslides.
I am not currently praying for rain, because I feel so bad for them.
We in Santa Clarita were so lucky. This photo is taken at my Husband's former place of employment...The Walmart that is just 3 miles from our home.
You are looking at the flashpoint of The Rye Fire.
If the wind had traveled East, instead of West, it would have come our way.
Thankfully, it did blow West, away from us.
I get the feeling that we will have another bad fire season in 2018.
It was 3 days after my Birthday, but since my Son was flying out to Ohio for the last part of competition for EcoCar3 (the May Competition is in Yuma, Arizona and then Southern California) we decided to go to our favorite dinner spot.
It was empty when we arrived and so I asked our waiter, Eric, if he would be so kind as to take our photo.
He did so and I thought he did a nice job on the three of us.
After that, things got going and the place was jammed up. Eric was so busy, but I had something for him and just when he gave us the bill, I got it out and gave it to him.
It was a Chinese New Year card with a Starbuck's gift card in it.
The man was truly stunned. He has been very nice to us and so I wanted to pay him back, for that.
Next thing I know we have fried bananas and ice cream!
He is just too much. Seriously.
I am just going to leave this ARTICLE up on my blog.
I can't comment (similar to several others who were not quoted in the article).
But as they say, onward we go.
With some decent money in the bank this year, let's hope things look up.
I like the photo that accompanied the article, by the way.
It's the back side of our former Sunset Lot.
