Three flights to make Marrakesh only reinforced my theory that flying against the sun's east-to-west path is much harder on the body and its ability to adapt. Otherwise flights were fine - mostly empty with lots of room to stretch out. Tracy's experience was worse.
Slept through much of my first 36 hours here in our enormous, cold, three-toileted apartment apart from some trekking and wandering through the nouvelle ville in search of supplies and sustenance.
Apparently these Internets do not recognize me anymore. Every site I visit offers me the French or European version.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Event Photos: Todd and Ms. Vanity Farewell at Bar Celona
Todd sported velvet. Ms. Vanity, a polka dot halter dress. Family and friends gathered last night at Bar Celona to bid farewell to the dark and sexy couple as they pack their bags for Marrakesh. Guests, enjoying Obama drink specials, included Todd's Mom and Dad, as well as current and former staffers from the Pasadena Star-News, Pasadena Weekly, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily Journal and The Orange County Register. I arrived with my sweetie after Public Editor Larry Wilson left, and snapped these photos.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Be Seeing You
Doing up a little a going away thing for our Pasadena friends @ Bar Celona tomorrow night, Tuesday ~7 p.m.
Was too busy last week to lament the death of Patrick McGoohan, best known for creating, writing, directing and starring in The Prisoner, a show blog fans no doubt have heard referenced before. Tracy and I had just finished watching the entire series on DVD two days before he died here in Los Angeles.
AMC, which just completed production of a "reimagining" of the series set to broadcast next year, has made all of the original episodes available online in full. Can't say I'm interested in an unnecessary remake when the original still stands up so well. Chocked full of valuable life lessons. I picked up the box set last year at Interact! for $40.
Was too busy last week to lament the death of Patrick McGoohan, best known for creating, writing, directing and starring in The Prisoner, a show blog fans no doubt have heard referenced before. Tracy and I had just finished watching the entire series on DVD two days before he died here in Los Angeles.AMC, which just completed production of a "reimagining" of the series set to broadcast next year, has made all of the original episodes available online in full. Can't say I'm interested in an unnecessary remake when the original still stands up so well. Chocked full of valuable life lessons. I picked up the box set last year at Interact! for $40.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
All the Doo Dah the day
When I last looked for an apartment about two years ago it was survival of the fittest. After a few weeks of fail, I realized it meant waking early and being the first person at the newest listings. And, ultimately, paying dumb money to live in the Playhouse District.
Today, my manager held an open house after pleading with me for days. She bought balloons and flew them. A handful of people came with an attitude of disdain. And they'd already lowered the price about $200 below what I'm paying.
That said, Doo Dah Paraders won't want to miss watching Ann Lau, bulldog in chief of human rights champs The Visual Artists Guild preside as the Thorny Rose over a much bolder parade entry than that which they fought - and were denied - to have in last year's Rose Parade. It should prove theater of the absurd,according to her release:
Today, my manager held an open house after pleading with me for days. She bought balloons and flew them. A handful of people came with an attitude of disdain. And they'd already lowered the price about $200 below what I'm paying.
That said, Doo Dah Paraders won't want to miss watching Ann Lau, bulldog in chief of human rights champs The Visual Artists Guild preside as the Thorny Rose over a much bolder parade entry than that which they fought - and were denied - to have in last year's Rose Parade. It should prove theater of the absurd,according to her release:
The Great Firewall of China Marching Brigade to appear in the 2009 Pasadena Doo-Dah Parade
WHEN: Sunday, January 18, 2009 11:30AM
WHERE: Pasadena Old Town, Raymond and Colorado
MARCHING BRIGADE: A Great Firewall of China Marching Brigade will follow a vintage car carrying Ann Lau, Chair of the Visual Artists Guild and recipient of the 2009 Thorny Rose Award. The Brigade will highlight the internet censorship in China and the continuous imprisonment of internet writers, journalists, religious persons, etc.
...
Upon notification, Ann Lau stated: “I am honored to be the recipient of the 2009 Thorny Rose Award. When I told my daughters, they said that their mother rocks. This must certainly be the closest I will ever get to receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. (smile)
Shining a light on the issues of international human rights in the City of Pasadena has been a most rewarding experience. How else would Mayor Bill Bogaard have indicated that he discovered the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the same time he rejected the recommendations of his own Commission on Human Relations to make a strong statement about human rights abuses in China? Indeed, it was a one giant step for the Mayor to host the City of Pasadena's first ever celebration of the Universal Declaration this past December.
Without the deep compassion and tremendous support of an untold number of fine citizens of the City of Pasadena, the issue of human rights in China might have been ignored. I thank them for their support and encourage them to continue to raise their voices.”
All are welcome!
What fun! Attendees should wash down the day's wackiness with perusing - and purchasing - some Relics of Todd at the Kenneth Todd Ruiz and Tracy Vanity Estate Sale from Noon to 4 p.m.
283 S. El Molino Ave. #1, yo.
Monday, January 5, 2009
The Pasadena Expat
Much like The Prisoner's No. 6, I'm often asked why I resigned from my last gig at the newspaper.
Not nearly of the same Kafkaesque dimensions, my motives were driven by a happy convergence of imperatives. Push and pulse of the same restlessness that keeps me moving and reluctant to root. Also had planned a two-yearish lifespan there. And certainly in part the erosion of the profession as expressed in daily print form running up against my ideas of standards for doing a thing. More than erosion; corrosion at the hands of very smart MBA holders with the hubris to believe they're the first to "treat it like a real business." Despite the fact it's always been about profit. By being about product. That thinking has reached irreversible tipping point and all your blogs can't put Humpty's democracy back together again.
That said, it was in no way the crew at 911 E Colorado - they were more or less family (good and bad implications intended) nor the onerous leakage of testosterone and misplaced hostility from the Home Office in West Covina. They just made things churn unnecessarily and unhelpfully.
For me, it proved the right time to leave and pursue the next thing. In a macro-sense, turned out not to be the best time to make a big career move, such as realizing my long-held desire to join National Public Radio. But it is the right time to execute the alternative plan. My initial motive for returning school at 27 after a couple years of outstanding adventure.
So before the month is out, I'm moving to Marrakesh. With Ms. Vanity. Should make for compelling blog fodder.
No extra credit for Crosby, Stills and Nash references in the comments.
Not nearly of the same Kafkaesque dimensions, my motives were driven by a happy convergence of imperatives. Push and pulse of the same restlessness that keeps me moving and reluctant to root. Also had planned a two-yearish lifespan there. And certainly in part the erosion of the profession as expressed in daily print form running up against my ideas of standards for doing a thing. More than erosion; corrosion at the hands of very smart MBA holders with the hubris to believe they're the first to "treat it like a real business." Despite the fact it's always been about profit. By being about product. That thinking has reached irreversible tipping point and all your blogs can't put Humpty's democracy back together again.
That said, it was in no way the crew at 911 E Colorado - they were more or less family (good and bad implications intended) nor the onerous leakage of testosterone and misplaced hostility from the Home Office in West Covina. They just made things churn unnecessarily and unhelpfully.
For me, it proved the right time to leave and pursue the next thing. In a macro-sense, turned out not to be the best time to make a big career move, such as realizing my long-held desire to join National Public Radio. But it is the right time to execute the alternative plan. My initial motive for returning school at 27 after a couple years of outstanding adventure.
So before the month is out, I'm moving to Marrakesh. With Ms. Vanity. Should make for compelling blog fodder.
No extra credit for Crosby, Stills and Nash references in the comments.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Rose Parade Photos - Views From the Playhouse District
These Rose Parade photos shot tiptoeing above parade watchers on the corner of El Molino Ave. and Colorado Blvd. The sky was blue. Temperatures climbed into the 70s. Still, southern Californians(below) watched the parade in ski hats, jackets and scarves.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Monica
