A Day on the (Down)Town

This morning we were going to walk to downtown to attend the Los Angeles Concervancy's Saving Los Angeles Conference being held in the Los Angeles Theatre on Broadway, but being as it's Sunday, we thought it better to lollygag and rather than stroll out on to the road and trek downtown, we drove there.

The Los Angeles Theatre is wonderful. Man they built 'em grand back in the day. I liked that there weren't any apparent areas that were off limits, so we nosed behind curtains and through doorways, and onto balconies oohing and aahing and snapping away. Will even made his way to the rooftop.

After we had our fill there and enjoyed an exhibitor's extensive collection of vintage postcards and other printed gems, we wound our way down the block to Clifton's for lunch. The we traversed several blocks making our way to the Central Library enjoyed the art installation there and then meandered through the Biltmore and back to Pershing Square, below which the car was parked.There continues to be some very exciting things going on downtown. It's so walkable and there are so many beautiful buildings, and I wonder how long it will be before downtown really comes alive.

Soot Bull Jeep

For some reason I've had a strong desire for Korean BBQ. When Will and I decided to go see 300 last weekend we thought we'd wrap up the evening with some Korean BBQ. I googled Korean BBQ and decided that we would go to Soot Bull Jeep. It's very well known and the only remaining Korean BBQ that uses charcoal. All the others have converted to gas grills. Unfortunately we had a rather filling and late lunch so we rain-checked the Korean BBQ after the movie, which we both thoroughly enjoyed.

Now, my office building is right in the center of Korea Town on Wilshire Boulevard. And this past week as I get out and take a walk at lunch all of a sudden I'm noticing nothing but Korean BBQ restaurants. Of course, they're everywhere. And Soot Bull Jeep is only about 3 long blocks away.

So this weekend we ate very light and went for an early dinner at Soot Bull Jeep. We scored a parking spot in the tiny adjacent lot and are seated quickly at a table by the window. The old diner style formica tables have been outfitted with a center grill flush mounted with the metal housing underneath. All of the tables are topped by some pretty heavy duty vents dropping from the ceiling to control the smoke. Our server/waitress takes our order and returns to toss in some charcoal briquettes and set the grill on top.

She then promptly returns with our beers and a plate of whole leafy lettuce leaves and plates of raw beef (we ordered the marinated short ribs and the marinated rib eye). With that she very unceremoniously unstacks a variety of small dishes (what I believe are called banchan). The dishes contain several types of pickles, kimchee, and spinach as well as a clear broth soup with slices of turnip and scallion, a small green lettuce salad with a flavorful sesame dressing, and a pot of steamed rice. These were all fresh and crsip and perfectly seasoned. All of these things are good to either dip or top or roll up in a lettuce leaf with your beef and eat.

The waitress lays the first batch of sliced and marinated meat on the grill and with very utilitarian tongs we then turn them as they sizzle and spit on the grill. Ooooh, and there was a dish of garlic cloves that we tossed on the grill as well and the bean paste was excellent. It was all extremely delish-a-lishus. I'm glad I was wearing an inexpensive skirt because I sustained a couple of tiny singed holes from bits of flying hot coal.

I'd definitely like to return and maybe try some shrimp or squid on the grill...

Gimme an A

Since I bought and moved in to my house in the summer of 1999 I have seen many tenants move in and out of the rental house next door. And since the summer of 1999 I've long admired and coveted the large graphic A propped up against the run down shed in the back corner of the lot. And I've often been somewhat surprised that a tenant hasn't taken it with them when they've moved on. But there it stands still. And I hope it remains.

Funny/odd things sometimes come with rental houses. When I moved in to a rental house, once upon a time, and met the previous tenants who were moving out, they told me there was a cat, Minnie, that came with the house, and each tenant before me had fed her and taken care of her, though none ever let her in. Well, it wasn't long before I was letting her in and when I moved on she was coming with me. And she was with me until the day she died. Sweet Minnie.

Bink on the Mend

Bink hasn't been feeling well. We took him in for a check up last weekend and (besides the BB in his flank) found out that his liver isn't healthy. The first treatment: force feed him so he gets the nutrients he needs. The goal being that he doesn't throw it up and that in a couple of days he starts eating on his own. Well, he didn't throw it up and on Thursday he began eating on his own. He seems to be feeling much better. I got him some kitty grass to help with his digestion. The other cats don't want much to do with it, but when I put it under Bink's nose he nuzzled it and chomped away. Good kitty.

My Dog Ate Your Rent Check

Joe rents the attic apartment of my house. He's very prompt in delivering his rent check to my door on the 1st of the month. So this morning when I was preparing the bank deposit I realized that I didn't have Joe's rent. Being the 3rd of the month I gave Joe a call. "Joe, while I was preparing the bank deposit I realized I don't have your rent check for the month." Joe says "I slid it under the door on the 1st. Maybe the dog ate it". I told Joe that I did remember coming home one evening and seeing chewed up paper on the floor. It was nothing discernible but it was white and envelope-like. Ranger has been known to chew up papers. I thought it was something she pulled out of the trash can in the library or something. I just picked up the scraps without thinking about it and threw them away.

Joe promptly wrote another check for the rent and brought it down.

Before I left to run my errands I found a scrap of the paper on the floor near the piano in the living room. I pulled the little corner and there it was, the remnants of a check, just three of the pre-printed numbers along the bottom of the check, but definitely a check.

Spa Treatment

After Ranger got skunked this morning before the sun was even up , Will made a trip to the market to get de-skunking ingredients and rubber gloves. Ranger getting scrubbed down in a mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide, Baking Soda and Dish Soap. She sat perfectly still and trusting as we drenched her and rubbed her and dried her off. She was quarantined to the kitchen until her coat dried and is now happily, if not somewhat warily, romping in the back yard in the sunshine. Just another day at the spa for her.

Feels Like Kirurumu

All of the windows and doors in the house are open and the breeze is blowing in. The weekend has been warm and sunny and we walked to Cliff's Edge for dinner last night for our belated Valentine's date. Walking off of Sunset into a rustic outdoor dining hall straight out of Africa. I don't know if that's what they were going for, but that's what it evokes for me. Feels like the Kirurumu tented camp on the ridge of the Great Rift Valley and the Serengeti. We started with a couple of Mojitos and French Fries with a gorgonzola dipping sauce. My warm seafood salad was wonderful. A mound of fresh mussels, clams, calamari and shrimp with red peppers, olive oil and lemon on a bed of peppery arugula. For desert, Red Velvet Cake and Espresso. Then the nice walk home wrapped in the warmth of a balmy evening.

Breakfast & Muddy Dogs

After driving downtown with Will early Saturday morning for breakfast at Phillipe's, a pre-Sunset Boulevard 24 miler for him, I came back home and did some stuff around the house, booked a hotel in Paris, went to the salon, then to the market. I took some snaps of Ranger, cutie-pie.
We woke up Sunday morning to some pretty heavy rain. Which meant we had a muddy dog running into the house throughout the day. She got to where she would sit still and let me wipe the mud off of her feet without getting all squirmy.

Shoes Past and Present

I wouldn't say that I love shoes. But I've always liked shoes. I have plenty of them. And usually when I find a pair that I really do love, I wear them constantly and hate to throw them out when I've worn them out. Then wish that I had ordered two or three pair when I got them. But you never know which shoes are going to turn out to be your favorite shoes. I have recently bought a few new pairs of shoes. Although I'm a very economical shopper, you get what you pay for in a shoe. And quality and comfort cost more. I like the Merrell Performance Footwear and recently bought Sketchers that are super cushiony and comfy. So in an effort to find space for my new shoes, I decided to purge my closet of my old shoes. Yes, I actually used to wear these platform crazy-ass healed pumps. How long ago? A long, long time ago. Those are getting tossed in the yard-sale bin to make room for my new Sketchers.

Winter Greens & Chickpea Soup

It's raining today and a perfect day for making soup. I tore out a soup recipe from last week's Food Section of the Los Angeles Times and asked the dogs if they wanted to go to the kitchen. They followed me there flopping on the floor. Will strolled in a few minutes later and then went and cozied up to the window seat listening to the rain and reading a book. I poured a glass of wine and sipped it as I diced and minced and rinsed.
Soup with winter greens and chickpeas:1/4 Cup Olive Oil
2 carrots, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1 onion, diced
1 turnip, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound chopped mixed greens (mustard, kale, turnip, etc)
1/2 teaspoon minced rosemary
1 16oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup grated Parmigiano
1 baguette sliced and toasted

In heavy soup pot, warm the olive oil and add the carrots, celery, onion and turnip. Cover and cook until softened, about 20 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, 2 or 3 minute.
Add the mixed greens a handful at a time, stirring and giving them time to soften and shrink before adding the next handful. When all the greens have cooked, add 8 cups of water, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, the rosemary and chickpeas. Bring to a simmer , cover and maintain a simmer. Cook until the broth is deeply flavored, 45 minutes to 1 hour.When ready to serve, stir in 1/3 cup Parmigiano cheese and season to taste with pepper. Arrange two toasted slices of baguette in the bottom of each warm soup bowl and ladle the soup over the top. Sprinkle with more cheese to taste.

Serves 8
235 calories

We're going to head downtown to see Pan's Labyrinth and we'll come home to the soup for dinner.

Getting Outdoors

It's certainly been a while since I've been outdoors. Not that I haven't gone outside. That I do every day. But "outdoors" is different. It's really getting outdoors, out in the fresh air and in a pair of good walking shoes, on a trail up a mountain. It's been soooo chilly lately and I've just had other things to do post-holidays. But this afternoon we got our gear on and hit the trail at Ferndell and trekked on up to the Observatory. My lungs were telling me that I needed to do this more often. And man I wish I could. Oh well, I'll do it when I can.Because the renovations are done and the trail is open clear up to the observatory we exited the trail onto the front lawn of the observatory and at the top of the trail was this sign directing us to additional parking. Funny. Will says "You mean we coulda brought the car?"We walked up around the top deck and then went inside. When we came during it's grand re-opening weekend it was much much more crowded, and so it was nice to be able to get to some of the exhibits that we couldn't get to the first time. We went down to the sub-level and weighed ourselves on all the planets and created our own earthquake at the display with its seismic roll and the little red pen making great jiggly lines as we laugh and jump up and down enthusiastically in front of it.

Ranger and Jiggimus

Best buds sitting at the window, watching the world go by.

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A Crate of Sunshine

Will and I went on a late afternoon Costco run yesterday and stocked up on animal supplies, and picked out a couple of books each, along with a crate of oranges. So this morning I'm searching the cupboards for my glass juicer and finally finding it in a plastic storage container under the blue colander in the back of the lower cupboard I began splitting oranges and twisting the juice out of them. On queue, the sun streamed in through the kitchen window.

This Year I Resolve

A year ago I made a resolution to get control of my weight. And I controlled it, for six full months. Then it took control of me. I struggled, and even won a few, but then I gave in. In the six months of the year that I won the battles, I lost 25 pounds. In the six months that I lost the struggles, I gained back 8.

Now another New Year is approaching.

I feel my motivation re-igniting, and my will power gaining strength. I see myself on the trail with my husband and two dogs. I can clearly see myself rising out of bed in the early morning light getting in a two mile walk with said husband and two dogs. And as the days lengthen I see myself lighten. And I look forward to it.

One more weekend of indulgence. Chocolates, wine, rich and robust meals. Then healthful eating can resume, with appropriately portioned, nutritious meals with lots of fruits and vegis.

This year I resolve to win more than struggle. Not to gain weight but to gain control of my weight. To be active in my pursuit of good health.

*Note: In the self-photo taken Christmas morning in my jammys and with my glassses on, I'm wearing a string of black pearls and pearl earrings, given to me for Christmas by my wonderful husband. On some evening, I don't even remember when, I made some mention of liking black pearls. Not even said in the "what I want for Christmas" way, at all. Just a comment. And do you know what, he went and remembered that.

The Historic Mission Inn, Riverside

Just back from a wonderful outing to Riverside. Riverside you say? Yeah, nice place to visit ...

But this was for what has become an annual Christmas (or in this case Christmas Eve) dinner with my husband and Mother-in-law. We had early reservations so we hit the long road to Riverside at about 3:30 this afternoon, and only hitting a smidgen of traffic around Montebelo, I believe, arrived at the Historic Mission Inn before 5:00. I wanted to have a drink in the Presidential Lounge but the place was packed so we took a couple of photos and ogled the beautiful old place then found our way to the Mission Inn Restaurant for our dining pleasure.

We were led to a courtyard table and once out there ogled some more. The place was dripping in holiday lights and there were gilded, animated characters situated at all of the little balconies. The fountain was topped with boughs and a gold deer and holiday music was playing softly.The Mojio, sorry to say, was very disappointing, arriving sans muddled mint and tasting more Margarita-y. The food however was awesome, even though the service was not the greatest. Then, between the main course (I had the Lamb Osso Buco) and desert (a Carrot Cake Pyramid) we were treated to a couple of lovely carols sung a capella by a young strolling quartet dressed in period clothes. In fact during the second song their voices rang so true and beautiful that, yes, I cried. It was truly beautiful.

Chirstmas Tree Trimming

We motored on over to the local Delancey Street Tree Lot and picked out a stately Noble Fir. Once back home and inside we set the tree up mostly straight in it's water pan. With the help of our most helpful pup, Ranger, and the football game on and a couple of Egg Nogs we trimmed the tree while a batch of Tex-Mex Chile simmered in the slow cooker.

Merry Christmas to all!

By My Side

I realized last night during our company holiday dinner, held this year at Off Vine in Hollywood, that this was the 4th that my husband has escorted me to. The first time was only about a month after we had met, and when I invited him I was really shocked that he said yes. I think at the top of anyone's list of least favorite things to do would be to attend the spouse's company holiday dinner. And even more so the woman you've only been dating a month. But he said yes, and has been there by my side every year. Even though I know its definitely not his favorite thing to do. That is love. That is being a companion and a caring husband. That is being a good man. Besides, he was the best looking husband there, tall and handsome in his suit and tie, he's interesting, funny and just so wonderful. It's a good feeling.

Signs of Christmas Spirit

There's a little run-down house I pass on London Street on my way to and from work every day. At this time of year like everyone else with Christmas spirit they put their holiday decorations out. Every year it's the same ensemble on the little patch of lawn, including inflatable Santa, Snowman and Penguin. On my way home from work they are plump and jolly as I make my way around the bend.
And every morning they are puddles of vinyl like snowballs melted by the Southern California sunshine.
But I know that by the day's end as I come around the bend they will be plump and jolly again.

A Good Year

I have a Flickr account set up. Yay! It's a work in progress. I'll probably be selecting some of our travels to put up there. It'll be a lot better than plopping them in to the posts here.

December

Almost the end of the year. It's been a good one. A spectacular and wonderful road trip. Took care of some stuff around the house, like getting it painted. Hiked some new trails. Found good homes for our Navajo Nation pups. Visited family.

What's in store for the next year? Can't say right now. I know there will by things to achieve, to accomplish, to see, to do. Travel? You bet. Home improvement? There's always something. Get back on the FitDay track? Definitely.

And as always with my husband at my side we'll ride into our future embracing every moment of it. Man I love him so.