Sunday At the Beach with Dory

In a continuing episode of Adventures with Dori - scared, adorable Jindo dog extraordinaire -- currently being fostered by this Santa Monica resident, this photo essay is submitted. 

"I'm the best dog I know how to be..."

Sunday, March 4th, having made impressive progress facing fear and flinching in Santa Monica, I journeyed with bright-eyed and eager Dori through the loudest part of Santa Monica to its most congested and attractive part -- the beach.  Actually we only went to the Pacific Palisades park which overlooks the beach near Wilshire Blvd. 

"Meh..."

Regardless of the beautiful day, clear sky, low surf, Dori Dog was none too impressed, clearly turning his back on the ocean so it wouldn't scare him.  Earlier he had been seriously startled by his shadow so the ocean scene was a bit beyond his ability to face new fears for the day. 


Walks with Dori are studded with full-body flinches and crouching plus the occasional attempt to avoid or escape.  Dogs and those on the other end of the leash are supposed to enjoy and bond during walks but walking with a hyper-vigilant and nervous dog who turtles his tail with every city sound is challenging work (to be fair, for a dog whose previous 5 years was spent alone on the end of a long leash staked in a back yard in the quite Pasadena mountains, Santa Monica must sound like he's in the midst of blunderbuss hunting season for Jindo dogs). I thought a back pack would help Dori feel more confident on his walks. So, with the help of one of Mr. BoJindo's back packs, which arrived today, Dori got a new red bag! 

"Now what?"

Dori accepted the back pack (which, empty, is about the weight of a bath towel) without fear even though it required some fiddling under his chest where the straps connect with clasps that can sometimes pinch. Nevertheless, Dori stood still while I lowered the shoulder straps over his head, the bags across his back and clicked the chest straps together.  I had to cinch the chest straps a bit since Dori is probably 10 to 15 pounds lighter than Mr. BoJindo but Dori patiently tolerated -- or perhaps enjoyed -- all the handling and physical fuss.  The pockets are filled with his poop pick-up bags and some handi-wipes or me.  When he gets some of his weight back I may add a water bottle so he'll have water on longer walks.

The back pack seemed to help Mr. BoJindo focus when he walked or hiked so he wouldn't ramble and charge off to the end of his leash after a squirrel as much as he did without it  I hope it'll help Dori feel more secure when we walk.  We'll soon find out!

Once outside with his back pack, Dori met my neighbors who patiently introduced themselves and offered a gentle hand to scratch his neck. 

To be continued... 

Birthday in Santa Monica

My birthday snuck up on me again.  It always does.  One minute it's all "Happy New Year!  Who brought the champaign" and the next it's early morning Facebook chirps from my iPhone, delivering birthday greetings  to my FB wall. I have to say thank you to Facebook -- I had friends from all over the U.S. leaving delightful and appreciated birthday greetings.  And not one of them ask my age.  Good people.


I worked half a day opening trouble tickets for DSL behaving badly, answering questions about billing, and incorrectly answering questions about email behaving badly.  I love email but I still can't quite get a grip on all the variations and configuration algorithms (see previous post). I've been doing this for nearly 11 years.  It's pathetic -- inexcusable really -- that I still tell customers email is based wizardry and fairy dust.  Thank the internet Krakens for web email -- I don't have to deal with that.

Around noonish, I tidied up my little office, donned my Asics, wobbled off with my baseball cap and camera to take pics of what ever I saw.  My self-imposed mission: create a picture essay of my birthday. 

No many how many times I walk to the beach, I never tire of photographing the sparkling water, the track-stained sand and rippling waves and everything along the way.

What the?

Just beyond the barrier along Pacific Palisades park, I noticed more of he cliff had collapsed or eroded and now revealed what appears to be stone stairs.  In the early Twentieth Century, there was a long, steep wooden stairway leading from the cliff top to the beach.  However, that stairway was further north (where a high rise luxury condo building now stands guard) near Adelaide Drive and they're long gone, victim, as I recall, to a harsh storm.  These may not be steps -- they may be reinforcement from some earlier decade.  This is much further south, closer to Broadway Street.

Erosion

The pathway between the white wooden fence (above) and the cliff drop-off, used to be part of the original walkway along Pacific Palisades. 

Ocean Blvd. circa 1950s (?)

I've seen a number of postcards circa early 1900's depicting Pacific Palisades near Broadway and it's astonishing how much of the cliff has fallen away. Some members of City Hall blame the erosion squarely on squirrels (I kid you not), but I'm not convinced.  I think it's just cliffside giving up its battle with gravity.

Lazy Wednesday day on Santa Monica's beach

On Sunday's this part of the beach, just north of the Santa Monica Pier, is where Veteran's for Peace create a vivid reminder of the cost of war, with Arlington West.

End of the Road

This is at the end of the Santa Monica Pier, a display of Route 66 maps and trinkets. 

Santa Monica Feathered Sentinal

Penguin or Photographer's Shadow?

Making Friends.

On Second Street with a Downtown Ambassador

 On the way home, I saw a member of Santa Monica's "Downtown Ambassador" team wheeling along alone on a Segway on Second Street.  I asked if I could take a photo of him but was told he was not allowed to have his photo taken unless he was posing with someone.  Just then an obliging young man exited the adjacent building and cheerfully allowed himself to be photographed with the Ambassador.  Unfortunately, I did not ask either man for his name!  What's the matter with me?  Anyway, they're a fine example of the pleasant and helpful people in Santa Monica.  Despite the traffic, we know we live in paradise.

Groovy Wheels

I love this bike.  It was locked to a parking meeter in front of Real Food Daily on Santa Monica Blvd., a casual restaurant with a vegetarian menu.  Hallalujah!

End of a Beautiful Day

The final delight was to meet Steve and Taylor for dinner and a long awaited get together at Bistro of Santa Monica -- which accommodates the vegan in me and my friend's taste for wild salmon.  The other attractive thing about Bistro of Santa Monica, is that they don't pump loud music at the dinners.  I love me some rock and roll but not when I'm trying to hear my friends talk.  Instead they have a pianist who tinkled quiet arrangements of pop music with an easy listening twist.  Sean was our delightful and handsome young waiter who tended to our every need flawlessly although we constantly teased him.  At one point we all were laughing so loud the gentle and pleasant owner ambled back to our table.  He was smiling but I had the sneaking suspicion he was about to make us eat at separate tables.  We must have quieted down enough so he didn't make us move. I had Insalata Contadina (tomatoes, roasted bell pepper, baby onion, grilled eggplant, celery heart and fresh basil) that was huge and perfectly delicious.  For dessert I had a luscious Raspberry sorbet, Taylor had the warm bread pudding and Steve had an sinful chocolate item. I don't know about them but my food was great.

It was a beautiful day. 

Santa Monica all a GLOW

I am extremely delinquent, nearly 5 months, in posting this but here goes GLOW anyway. 

Santa Monica hosted a half-day art event on Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 7pm to 3am or dawn, which ever showed up first.  This is the second bi-annual Santa Monica GLOW art event and is located along Pacific Avenue (pier adjacent), the Santa Monica Pier and along beach path areas to the north and south of the pier. I had missed the first GLOW but was determined to be part of the 2010 variation.  


Due to my inability to comprehend and explain "GLOW", beyond, "I'm not sure what it is but it'll be cool, `cause, trust me, everything in Santa Monica is cool except the impenetrable traffic" surprisingly, all of my friends had to either a) wash their cat/budgie/neighbor's gerbil, b) go visit their great grand-daddy's Civil War era untended grave site or c) paint the carport and would not be available to penetrate the traffic, battle for a parking spot or walk around at night to view something that sounds like a candy bar.  I invited friends to see "GLOW" with me, sweetening the invite with an offer of my free parking via my guest parking permit and got no takers. Nevertheless, I walked the nine-tenths of a mile to the installation solo -- observing and chortling at the horrific traffic jam of cars along Broadway, Lincoln, and every cross street all the way to the beach. 

SUV running the red light at the corner of 4th and Broadway.

Maybe it's just me but this event should be seen with a companion (preferably a friend, family member with whom you're on speaking terms or a crowd-friendly pet).  

Soft and fuzzy companion -- apparently I couldn't be bothered to photograph the leash-holding human. 

I happen to think Santa Monica always glows -- at night -- particularly between 4th St. and the Santa Monica Pier. 

A View from the bluffs along Pacific Ave., overlooking the pier all dressed up by the GLOW event

here was a nearly full moon that night which served to heighten the FX glow. 

The "1" globe tries to compete with the moon.

Moon in the upper left.

Holiday Inn sign reads "TASTE"

Then is changes to "HEAT"

Sitting, dancing and/or drinking in the street.

Strangers with iPhones

I realized I was standing next to 6 or 7 other visitors also iPhone-photo-ing the same installation I was, at the intersection of Colorado and Pacific Ave. (entrance to the Santa Monica Pier).  I thought it'd be ironic and or funny if we all took iPhotos of each other with our iPhones and made the spontaneous request.  I thought I caught sight of a quizzical look on each of their faces as the entire iPhone group vaporized in my iPhone iPhoto view finder.  

I know.  My inner child often scares young adults when she comes out to play. 

More of the changing, glowing views projected on the Holiday Inn:

Green Giant says, "Think"

Multiple blue Marilyn Monroes

Full moon over the Santa Monica Pier

Yalla Truck offers healthy vegetarian food

 Unfortunately, YallaTruck.com doesn't work any more, but you can follow their daily schedule on Twitter and Facebook.

Tunnel under the Pier

The Georgian Hotel 

 Thought to be haunted, The elegant Georgian Hotel  alit in blue on Pacific Ave.

I just like this sign (hanging in the information kiosk)

Just enjoy - I have no idea what it is (other than art).

Pretty Blue glowy octopus-like light art.

Teenagers with Glow headgear.

The walk home along Broadway

Glow was just glowing.  I loved walking around the Santa Monica Pier, the beach, Pacific Palisades, and Broadway at night -- and I didn't have to worry about parking!

Sunday in Santa Monica

I love Sundays -- especially when I'm in Santa Monica.  It's quiet, little traffic noise, I walk to the local grocery store to get my copy of the Los Angeles Times, and often walk around the neighborhood for a few pictures.  There's always something to photograph in Santa Monica. 

Happy Poppies

Under the Vons sign at Lincoln Blvd. and Broadway, the poppies bloom.  One poppy has a green wriggly guest lounging in the warm sunshine.

Shimmering Calla Lily

Along Broadway, east of Lincoln Blvd. there are quietly stunning flowers and greenery.

Sunday afternoon in the park.
 Pacific Palisades park overlooks the beach. 

Spring starts early in Santa Monica

Content

Catalina from Santa Monica beach. 

Catalina Island, where so many movies have been filmed (especially in the early decades of cinema), is usually only visible from Santa Monica in December when there's no marine layer to shroud it from view.  It was a delight to see the island (just a background shadow behind the roller coaster) especially on the same day as the Academy Awards ceremony this year.  Seemed appropriate.