In His Own Words

I came across this when I clicked on a commenter's link to one of Will’s post. I couldn’t resist the cat meme and gave Bink a try. Here's what he had to say.

1. Your age?
I remember when I was a kitten and my mama came to pick me up, Achy Breaky Heart was playing on the radio. But I believe it was already a couple of years old or so at the time and the little girl that was singing along had a mullet. Gosh, I could be anywhere from about 10 to 13.

2. Your age when came to live with your people?
Yep, I was definitely a kitten, probably 8 weeks? Before my mama came to pick me up I lived in a cage and I had fleas.

3. What color is the collar you’re wearing right now?
I’ve tried them, but I usually lose them in poker.

4. Who is your favorite person other than the people you live with?
I like Tiffany. She’s sweet. I’ll come out from under the bed when she’s here.

5. How much do you weigh?
Well, before I got sick this year I was about the size of a good Thanksgiving Turkey. Now I’m a healthy weight.

6. Most expensive thing you’ve ever clawed?
I’ve clawed my share of sofa arms. I never went in for the drapes though.

7. Do you like other cats?
Not so much. Since my people added three more I let it be known loud and clear that my personal space is not to be breached.

8. Who is your best non-human friend?
Minnie was a good ol’ girl. She left us a long time ago, but we keep her picture on the side of the refrigerator.

9. Cat Nip Toys or Fake Mice?
Not much interest in toys and such. But toss a little catnip stuffed mouse at me and I’ll give it a real good roll.

10. Do you like to be brushed?
I like it. I like it a lot. I like it so much that sometimes it makes me roll over, belly up. I also like to be rubbed under my armpits.

11. Tuna or Milk?
Fancy Feast for me please.

12. Do your people cut your toenails?
Yeah. I’m pretty good with mama pocking and prodding and clipping and brushing, to a point, then watch out, man, ‘cause I’ll get ya.

13. Any formal education?
What does that mean? I know everything I need to know.

14. Couch potato or Energizer Bunny?
I like a good stroll outside and a roll in the dirt, but other than that I’m a real lay-down, loungey cat.

15. What are some nicknames your people call you?
My proper name is Stingo. But I mostly go by Bink. Also Binky, Binkamus, or “Hey Buddy”.

16. What is your best trick?
Unlike Jiggy who can leap tall building, I can roll over for a belly rub, when I want to.

17. Do you like doggies?
There are a couple of those in our home too. They’re not so bad, but I don’t really like them, no.

18. What did you have for breakfast?
A little Fancy Feast in juice and some kitty kibble.

19. Can you hunt (aka have you ever killed anything living)?
I used to be a big hunter in my youth. I especially enjoyed separating lizards from their tails. I’ll still eat mice if the opportunity presents itself, and I throw up their hands and entrails on the bedroom rug to show my people how awesome I am and how much I love them.

20. When & why was the last time you went to the V.E.T.?
Oh man. The last time I went to the vet man, I was really sick. I would have died if my people didn’t take such good care of me. It was this past March and I wasn’t eating and I lost so much weight and I was really wobbly and weak. The doctor did some blood work and took x-rays. Found an enlarged liver and a BB lodged in my thigh (which had nothing to do with my illness, but still). I was ready to give up, but my people wouldn’t let me, especially the tall one. It took me until the end of May before I started eating on my own. Then I gained back some weight and got my strength back. I don’t know what it was that made me so sick, but I’m back and rolling in the dirt.

21. Where do you sleep at night?
Duh, in the bed. I like to share my mama’s pillow or wedge myself against the tall one’s back. She says I'm "cuddly", he says I'm "cuddly like brick". But he likes it when I head-butt him, or walk on his head.

22. Do you like to swim?
What does that mean? I’m no fish.

23. Can you make kitties?
Nope. Never had the opportunity to do that.

24. Your favorite place to visit?
I like the club chair in the library. Before all the other animals came to live here I used to like the scratchy wool kilim rug in the dining room.

25. Do you purr?
I purr lots and lots. I’ve got a pretty good motor and I’m not afraid to turn it on.

Consider yourself tagged if you have an animal and are reading this!

Morning Sky & Dog Days

It's the dog days. Beautiful sky this morning though. But it's nearly 8:00 pm now and still in the 80s. Supposed to be scorching in 90s this long weekend too. We had "rain" last weekend. It evaporated before it even hit the ground. And I have a nice view of the thunder clouds topping the mountain range from my office window at work. It sure would be nice to have a downpour.

Back to Frogtown

Learning of the Frogtown Art Walk this weekend, Will and I went back to check out the art, the river, and the living spaces of this industrial/artist pocket of Elysian Valley.

We decided to bike over and I managed all of the grades well, except the steepest one leading up to the dog park at the Silver Lake reservoir where I had to hop off and walk the bike up. Other than that I was able to shift down to the "little" gears and pedal my way up the slopes in the road.We arrived in time to take the guided River Walk tour with Joe Linton, author of Down by the Los Angeles River.Then we met up with Stephen and Alice and walked through the artist's cool studio spaces and interesting and creative artwork.There was some really creative stuff as well as a monster "swing" that Will got some great footage of. Man how I wanted to take a swing at that contraption. But somehow my better sense prevailed, and I remained grounded. Next year perhaps?

Alice suggested we stop at Gingergrass for dinner. So heading through the quiet streets of Frog Town after dark we made our way to the restaurant. Being in our biking clothes and somewhat sweaty from the efforts of riding, the restaurant was very comfortable and casually low-key, and very busy. All of the dishes that passed our table looked really good. I settled on the special of Walnut Chicken that was just wonderful and Will had the yummy Shaking Beef.

With dinner done we hopped in the saddle and rolled over and around Silver Lake reservoir and home.

More on my Flicker and Will's.

Picture of Health

While having our coffee this monring in our kitchen cafe, Bink came out of the bedroom, gave us both a head butt, and sauntered outside where he hopped up onto a patio chair and made himself comfortable for a while. Long enough for me to grab the camera, stir the breakfast potatoes, and get his picture.
And a perfect picture of health he is. I've added him to my Animal Farm set on Flckr.

Frogtown River Ride

Will and I went on a bike ride through an area known as Frogtown along the Los Angeles River. More cool photos here and my Sweetie's here.

Larchmont Grill

Last night we let Larchmont Grill do the grillin'. My mission was to scope it out for this year's company holiday party. Sean greeted us as we entered the restaurant, which was a craftsman home once upon a time. The staff was very friendly, attentive and efficient. Makes a difference. It kind of does feel like you're a guest at someone's home for a dinner party. I had the recommended Chardonnay from Tom & Joes Very Fine Wines and Will a Red Stripe beer. Larchmont Grill has a nice American menu with dishes like Grilled Chicken, Flat Iron Steak and Baked Trout.

I started with the Endive Salad with candied walnuts, blue cheese, apples and vinaigrette. I don't usually care too much for the smelly cheeses, but this blue was really creamy and mild and the endive crisp and fresh. Excellent salad. Will had the fried calamari, a dish that is so easy to over cook and until it's rubbery, it was perfectly battered and really really tender. I eeny-meeny-miny-moe'd between the Baked Trout and the Pork Chop, and got the Pork Chop, which came with a fig sauce, scalloped potatoes and Swiss chard. The potatoes were super thinly sliced and tender while the Swiss chard was just a little underdone for me. Larchmont Grill certainly doesn't over-season its dishes and I could taste the freshness of the ingredients. It was crisp when it sould be, creamy where it was supposed to be, tender as it could get.

We ended the meal with a shared Lemon Meringue Cake and coffee. Then Sean showed us the upstairs room that can seat 35-40 people with a private balcony. Nice space, nice food, nice people. Looks like a good candidate for our holiday party this year.

Now we're off for a bike ride along the Los Angeles River.

Oh Dogamus

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Weekend Garden

Just a few shots from around the garden this weekend.* * *

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Life in Photographs

Denny Clark (friend, co-worker, photographer, partner in travels), had two photos accepted in the 4th annual alternative photography exhibit at the Julia Dean Gallery in Venice Beach. The opening reception last night was a great turn out. When I arrived Denny introduced me to the woman he was talking to named Barbara. We chatted for a couple of minutes and she moved along. Then Denny told me she was a photojournalist during the Vietnam War and about how her and her husband were on a bout going down the Mekong River until they came to a Vietcong village while on assignment for the N. Y. Times. Whoa!

Denny's photos were taken from a trip last year to Mexico's Copper Canyon. The first is called "Children of Copper Canyon", the second "Kids Calf Scramble", both taken with the infrared converter on his Canon Digital Rebel and printed on a silver metallic photo paper.

After stepping onto the Venice Beach Walk and taking a few photos of the ocean with cool cloud cover and a soft breeze, more of our co-workers arrived and we ate grapes and drank wine and talked about life and photographs. Small Flickr set here.