Wednesday, April 9, 2014


December 19, 2013, left Atlanta Hartsfield airport bound for LAX.   I will be spending the Christmas and New Year's holidays with Todd in Venice, CA. 

When I left Atlanta is was sunny and warm. Arriving in LA, it was cloudy, damp and cold. What is wrong with this picture?  I was ready to hop back on the airplane for the return flight. After that day weather improved considerably. 

I have eaten at some wonderful places:  Public School, Fish Bar; Zinque and Pork Bellies on Abbott Kinney; and Wurstküche Restaurant.

On Dec 27, Darren and Allison joined the party. I moved out of Todd's place and we stayed at an apartment on Catamaran just two blocks off the beach. It was a great location, but the apartment could have used some improvements internally. However it was better than a hotel room.   It was time to check out the beach at sunset.

Sunset Meditation

Sunset beach walk

Beautiful day on Venice Beach

Darren contemplating the "V" sculpture at Venice Beach

Again Todd took us to some great watering holes:  Baja Cantina, Bin 26, and the roof top at Erwin Hotel where we watched the most spectacular sunset.  


Sunset on roof top of Erwin Hotel, Venice Beach

On the 28th Todd treated us to the James Turrell exhibit at the LACMA.  This is a fantastic exhibit on how light plays tricks with our brain and showing 50 years of his study in the California Light and Space movement in the 1960's.  Below is a picture of Chris Burden's Urban Lighting. Much more impressive in real life and at night. 

Allison lost in the street light forrest

On the 29th we went to Watts District to see the Watts Towers - a very unique piece of architecture/art.  
Here is Todd wondering how the artist did this. 

Then on to the Science Center to see the Endeavor. I think everyone that lived within a 200 mile radius had the same idea. We persevered the long wait, got our tickets only to find we had to wait in another line until our appointed time for the viewing. Todd, one to not like standing lines, took off. After about 10 minutes he had found a back way in and texted us on how to get in without standing in line. We followed his instructions and got in, however, he did not make it in, because I had his ticket. You had to show your ticket to get in the final door. I had to go out the exit, find Todd, give him his ticket and we both entered the exhibit. It, too, was very impressive.


The down side to our LA adventure was that Darren and Allison came down with the awful flue.   What a shame. Our New Year's Eve was very low key.   Darren and Allison had to board the big bird back to Atlanta on January 1. That was a long miserable ride for both of them.   They are still recuperating, but doing better.

Todd decided he wanted a small salad garden, so we set out for the nursery for dirt and veggie plants. They are looking good. Hopefully they will continue to grow and supply him with lettuce, carrots, asparagus, broccoli, basil and strawberries during the coming new year. 



In between all of our adventures we have managed to watch all the college bowl games and NFL play off games.













Friday, January 10, 2014

January 10, 2014. Good bye Venice Ca

Walked to the beach to drink in the motion of the ocean and store up sunshine for the trip back home tomorrow. Below are some new pictures to help remember the great time I had.


The pier to infinity


Waiting for the right ride


The beauty of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains

Some observations on the walk back to Todd's house



Mr. Drake waiting for his ride.



Wow what a wall to sit and contemplate. This was an awesome site as I walked down the street.


With Venice watching over my shoulder , I bid a fond Adieu!




















Thursday, January 9, 2014

January 9,2014 Shopping day

Around lunch time, I took off down Abbott Kinney for the day.  Stopped in at Lemonade for my lunch.  OMG, if this place were near my home I'd have lunch there every day.  I had 3 different salads.  I had a choice of 20 varieties, each one very different than anything I've ever had.  First selection was broccoli and Parmeasan cheese, second selection was golden beets with pomengranite seeds and cilantro with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing; third selection was quinoa with arugala, Fuji apples, sunflower seeds and pistachio nuts.  The picture does not do it justice.  It was great.



Next I headed to my favorite coffee shop, Intelligencia, to negate the whole lunch and have my favorite drink, an affogato.  That will keep me buzzing the rest of the afternoon.



Headed down Abbott Kinney to the shops to stock up on some quirky gifts for friends and family.  Sorry Ashville, NC, Venice has you beat when it comes to quirky shops.  Check out some of these places: 




These mud sloggers would dress up the gardner for sure.

OK, time to go home.  Three blocks from Todd's house this art work magically appeared between the time I left this morning and my return trip home.  You never know what is around the next corner in this city.

That is an old timey TV set with a rock through the screen.  Love your quirkiness Venice.


Sunday, January 5, 2014

January 5, 2014

Went to the Apple Store in Santa Monica this morning and got a key board for my Ipad and a card reader to down load my pictures I took with my camera onto the Ipad.  Just call me Technogeek!
I am posting a few more pictures I took on Venice Beach with my camera.  All previous pictures were taken with my Iphone.  The new phone almost makes it not worth dragging a heavy camera around.


Venice pier


No matter how cold, some must get their sunset fix

Lonely cold beach at sunrise