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.