An Afternoon at the Museum

Chris Burden's Urban Light Sculpture at LACMA.

Yesterday my good friend Mitch and I took advantage of a beautiful LA day to go to the museum. Neither one of us had seen the new Broad Contemporary Art Museum and we were eager to check it out.

It did not disappoint. My favorite pieces were Richard Serra's Band and Sequence. These large scale steel pieces are amazing/disorienting/powerful/sinuous/beautiful. You really get to experience these pieces. They are a must see. I also got to contemplate Michael Jackson and Bubbles. This is a very unique piece to say the least. The collection of contemporary art is astounding. Go and check it out.

We also saw two other exhibits
Shell-Shocked: Expressionism after the Great War: Selections from the Robert Gore Rifkind Center for German Expressionist Studies
Through April 19, 2009
This exhibit has some very powerful imagery.

and

Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913–2008
Through March 1, 2009
If you love portrait photography go and see this exhibit. It is worth it.

What's this?

This is the future site of the Resnick Pavilion.

Here is a view of Los Angeles from the BCAM



Lots of things are shaking over at LACMA. With the expansion and reorganization the exhibits seem more cohesive and organized. The parking situation is so much better. There was a quartet playing in the courtyard. It is a great way to spend the day.

Pure Love

This is what love looks like in my house

and I am truly grateful for it.

FOUR!!!

Today my adorable, counting down the days till official teenhood nephew, Tyler and I had a golf lesson. We had a lot of fun hitting balls on the range and practicing our putting. He has grown so much over the summer that he is about to inherit my clubs, as his clubs are just a bit too short.



Afterward we met my Mom and Tyler's mom for dinner.

Tyler & Grammy sat across from me.








I am really grateful for the love my family has for each other. We enjoy each others company. Can you tell? I am truly grateful that I have such a smart and loving nephew. I am very happy that Tyler likes to do things with me like play golf and video games. He gives me big bear hugs. I really can't get enough of those. I love helping him with his homework. He got straight A's last year and was really proud of himself. He is kind and considerate and he loves animals. Tyler is our personal pet sitter. He is really growing up to be a fine young man and I am really proud of him.

A Strange Day in LA

The temperature dropped 20 degrees since yesterday from 86 degrees to 66 degrees. There is a cold wind blowing. The skies are crystal clear and the sun is shining blindly bright. The really strange and wondrous thing today is the lack of traffic on the streets. I have been to Sherman Oaks, LAX, and the Westside today. Just zipping along the empty streets of LA. It took 22 minutes to get from Hollywood to LAX. This is only a 14 mile drive and in most places it probably takes 20 minutes or less to get across town. Not so here in LA. Even on a good traffic day it takes about a half hour to get to the airport and during high traffic hours it can take an hour. Today the streets were strangely empty and made for real Sunday driving. No rushing and no frustrations. No hurry to get anywhere.

I don't know if the stars aligned or the traffic lights were in sync or everyone was at home watching football, but I thank the powers that be for the ease with which I navigated through LA today. It was truly miraculous.

Remembrance

In the many years spent as a student you come across all kinds of teachers from the passionate to the burnt out. It has been my pleasure to have had a great teacher or two at every level of schooling. One of these amazing teachers was Mr. Lugo. He was my high school Spanish teacher. Two weeks ago, Mr. Lugo passed away at the young age of 61 years old. Mr. Lugo was more than a teacher. He was a coach and a mentor. For almost 40 years he taught and coached at Canoga Park High after he, himself, was a student at the school. He may sound familiar to you because he was in the LA Times twice in the past two weeks. His obituary ran on Thursday October 23 and yesterday he made the Sports Section.

Mr. Lugo was the cool teacher. He was even tempered and fair. He was energetic and he cared. Mr. Lugo was my brother's wrestling coach. My brother lacked a strong male figure in his life and Coach Lugo was someone he looked up to. I believe and know that Coach Lugo was that for many young men that he mentored throughout the many years he taught. That being said he was also a regular guy. He was a humble and respectful kind of guy. Through his simple, consistent, and dedicated actions he became an inspiration and a role model. The way Mr. Lugo lived his life made an extraordinary impact on those he taught and encountered.

A testament to his life and influence was shown when 4000 strong came to honor him last night at the Canoga High Homecoming Football game. The field was dedicated in his name and will forever be known as Rudy Lugo Field. It is a fitting tribute to a man who made such an impact on and off the field.

Thank you Mr. Lugo for all your years of dedicated and passionate teaching. Thank you for being the kind of teacher that inspires. Thank you for being the kind of man that boys want to emulate. Thank you for being you. You will be missed and never forgotten.

Rudy Lugo
1947 - 2008

Another cowl

I am just loving my yarn and how well my last cowl turned out. So I found another cowl pattern and kept going. This is the Ridged Lace Cowl. Again, I found the pattern on Ravelry. I love how the yarn is creating a totally different pattern than the last cowl. I love the surprise of how variegated yarn reveals itself.

The lace pattern is easy to remember, which is always a plus. I have two more pattern repeats to go and it's finished. This little elf is getting some knitting done. Those holidays are just sneaking up.


This is the next yarn pile to conquer. It's the same yarn and the color is called Limon. I am thinking of striping the two different yarns together and see what happens. It's nice when your little knitting projects offer some interest. How do you spice up your knitting when you are in a knit rut?

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A moment of gratitude for the beauty of the sun light streaming through the window onto the kitchen floor, where a puppy basks in the light and the awareness to take the time to enjoy it too.

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Gocco Postcards

The Gocco postcards from the Gocco Postcard Swap have arrived. People made really amazing cards. They are all very creative and different.

This is my very first creation with my Print Gocco.



Of course, these were inspired by my wonder weiner Tank!

Here is the Gocco postcard parade































Now isn't that a big batch of creativeness? This swap was so much fun. Thanks Lisa for organizing this fab swap. If it wasn't for this swap, my Gocco machine would still be in the box!

After I printed my postcards I did some tags. It was an experiment to see how far the ink would last from my postcard application. It went on and on.

Not so much with the Gocco supplies, which are drying up as Riso is discontinuing its Print Gocco System. It's so sad as this is a great little product. Now things are really going to have to get creative.

A New Day Dawns

An electrifying election day.

Votes were cast.

A night filled with anxiety and anticipation.

Is the landslide real?

Can we believe our eyes?

Yes we can!

Barack Obama WINS!!!

Tears of joy.

Graceful conciliation.

Words of hope and the work to come.

A moment in history not to be forgotten.

Dancing in the streets.

I am grateful for the millions of voters that made it happen. It is a proud moment in American history. This is my proudest moment being an American. There is something in the air this morning. The sun is a little brighter. Hope springs eternal.

Your Vote Counts!

This has been the most exciting election of my life. I have never felt more passionate about a person running for President or some of the issues at stake on the ballot, you know, like basic equal rights. I feel there is a need for a more hopeful, well thought change/direction/leadership in this country and I believe with all my heart that Barack Obama can move the country in this direction. He inspires me to be a better American. I am tired of feeling like my vote doesn't count when I cast it. I am tired of feeling cynical about the politics of America and certain leaders greedy agendas. I am also tired of the politics of fear and the campaign tactics that incite people to vote in a certain direction due to playing to those fears. It makes me sad when people let such tactics determine their vote rather than their own minds with thoughtful consideration of the facts. This will always be the case, I guess, unless there is a big shift in the consciousness of the voting people. Maybe we should try and put more money into the educational system and, instead of teaching by rote, teach children to think for themselves. Scary...a country of people that think for themselves. That really doesn't make for a docile population to govern. It is your own mind to exercise, not any institution or affiliation. USE it! In the words of the United Negro College Fund, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste".

With that being said, I am still very grateful that I live in a country where I am able to vote and be a part of the process. There was a buzz in the air at my polling place. It was the first time I have ever stood in line to vote. (Only a half hour. Not bad at all. If I had to stand 6 hours I would have.) There was an extra precinct voting there too. Everyone was very excited about today from the volunteer workers to the voters. Even a couple of dogs were running around the hall and making the rounds sniffing out voters. They expressed no political opinions but were interesting in the volunteer snack table and scratches behind the ears.

My sample ballot was prepped and at the ready when I enter the booth to vote. I took a deep breath and very carefully made my votes. On certain votes I put extra energy, love and care into my casting. It can't hurt, right? I checked my work. I was always that kind of student and cast my ballot.


If you haven't already, get out there, vote, and take part of this amazing election.

Whatever world we wake up to on Wednesday, may we all find peace and the willingness to work to that end.

The mind is international and supra-national ... it ought to serve not war and annihilation, but peace and reconciliation.

HERMANN HESSE, letter read at Nobel banquet, Dec. 10, 1946

Om Shanti

A quickie knit

This is the Seaweed Cowl by Elizabeth at Trailing Yarns. The new hot to knit item for the holidays is the cowl. This one knits up beautifully and quickly.


This yarn is 100% Uruguayan Handpainted merino wool that I found here on ebay. The yarn has been in the stash for a while. The colors are the perfect seaweed colors with the greens and flashes of orange and turquoise. It reminds me of snorkling and the brilliance that lays just off the shore.


I have a deep appreciation for the genius that is Ravelry. This is the online community for those who love yarn and how I found this pattern. It is an enormous resource for patterns and connecting to a whole world of stitchers near and far. I am also very thankful in these times that my stash box, ahem, I mean boxes, runneth over. There is belt tightening these days but never fear the knits will still keep coming with a little creative thought, stash diving, and the help of Ravelry.

If you are on Ravelry and would like a new friend I'm Woolanthrope. Look me up. See you there!

Girls Day Out

Today I got together with the Sister-in-laws for shopping and drinks. We checked out the new Neiman Marcus at Topanga. It's very nice if you can afford it. Not a sale rack in sight.




These are translucent butterflies & mirrors hanging from the ceiling. From the pictures it looks like a scene from the birds, but it was very nice looking in person.

We were not too successful in stimulating the economy but we worked up a powerful thirst.

Off to Fleming's for martinis with bleu cheese stuffed olives. Yeah, a good martini after shopping, or during shopping. Hell, you really can't go wrong with a good martini anytime.


Plus, something crispy


With chipotle dipping sauce.


I am really grateful that I have such fantastic women as my SIL's. We always have a good time hanging out and catching up. There is always lots of support and love. It is pretty miraculous considering such a mix of diverse women thrown together as a family really like and enjoy each other's company. Cheers, girls! Love you!

Día de los muertos

Felicidades





I love the Day of the Dead. There is rarely a skull I can pass up. As I was planning our wedding I picked this piece up. Don't you love a mariachi band at a wedding?


Kisses!