Historic West Adams District

When I wrote out my 2010 goals, one is to have more fun. In keeping with that, I went on a fabulous bus tour of the Historic West Adams District of Los Angeles. The tour was offered through a local company called Esotouric. If you're in the LA area, I highly recommend them. This was the second tour they offer that I've taken. Well worth the time and the price. It was a beautiful, rain-free day (after nearly an entire week of rain) and just perfect for some photo ops.

We toured neighborhoods, viewing beautiful homes and beautiful architecture. Just amazing. We would also stop in front of various homes to hear tales of a murder or a crime that happened at those exact locations decades ago. We also stopped in front of the house where Marvin Gaye was shot to death by his father. A particularly disturbing fact was that during the 1920s, child abduction, molestation and murder, seemed quite prevalent. Made me think of the movie "The Changeling".

Near the end of the tour, we paid a visit to Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery. What a magnificent place! Founded in 1884, this is the resting place of many notable characters such as Louise Peete (convicted serial killer) and Fernando Lamas. The grounds are kept well and are peppered with flowers and tall palm trees.



What intrigued me the most about this cemetery was all the headstones and mausoleums. I felt like I was in New Orleans. I had no idea that a cemetery with so many headstones exists in LA. These became my photo op.

Massive headstones of winged angels and towering crosses with possible guardians on watch:





I can only imagine back at the turn of the last century these amazing sculptures were handmade and surely quite pricey. However, I haven't researched this and could totally be wrong and possibly molds were in existence. After all winged angels, guardians, crosses, and the like, surely was common cemetery decor. Of all the wonderful headstones, the one that mesmerized me was the one I call "The Mourner":



This is something I don't think I've ever seen. I have seen footage and photos of cemeteries, but none that contained anything quite like this "Mourner". It was as if I could feel her pain:



I think I shall have to make another trip there in the future for more photo ops and to see if I can find the graves of the notable "residents". This trip found me so caught up in photographing the cemetery "art" that I didn't think to look for the famous.

Song of the Week - 10

Music and song has always been a big part of my life. I grew up in a house where music was always on (or at least when the TV was off). My mom used to say that there was something wrong with people that did not like music. Probably true. Music is so vast and has made such a huge contribution to the world. No matter what your taste, there is surely something out there for you.

I have been doing a lot of reflecting lately. Not sure why. Maybe it's just normal. We get older, our lives change and take off in a direction that might be unfamiliar. I also believe that as we get older, we do get bolder. There's a sense of freedom to getting older. You can finally be OK with what you feel and think and not really be too concerned that your peers may find that odd. Actually, peers that are your friends, tend to be around for that ride, and can lend a great deal of support.

What I've learned over the years is that I (and most people really) are constantly changing and evolving. Oftentimes, that is good. Sometimes, it is a scary thing, and sometimes a sad thing. Losing what was once a part of you, can be both frightening and liberating. Our ideas and perspectives change. We sometimes even find that we don't recognize the person we once were. Is that really bad? Probably not, as being stagnant would be far worse, in my opinion.

What exactly does all this have to do with the song this week? I don't really know, other than I have spent a lot of time reflecting lately and feel this song addresses that. My reflection is evident in many aspects of my life. It plays a big part in my art, my thoughts, my journals and how I respond to things now compared to how I responded to things when I was in, say, my 20s. Shooting from the hip is much less a part of the current me. Sometimes I feel I'm less of a bitch than I used to be, but sometimes I feel I'm more of one. I completely embrace that, yet, when I was younger, the concept of changing seemed foreign to me. I'm glad that is no longer an issue. I think the inability to change and grow would truly be a drag. I can't even imagine now, being "stuck" where I was 20+ years ago. Could it be I've actually learned something about aging? Could it be that I'm handling the seasons of my life?

My song selection this week is one I love and one that I find haunting. I also think this one is timeless. When I was much younger, I loved many of Stevie Nicks' songs, but never really considered the person, or where these songs came from. Now that I've "grown up", I admire and respect her and in reflecting, am amazed at her ease of talent. Her ability to powerfully say things. Her gift of telling life stories so well through songs that you can't seem to get out of your head, I find amazing. If only more people had that gift (like myself, for one).

Sit back, listen, reflect and enjoy. Maybe this song will somehow talk to you, too.

Lazy Weekend

A lazy weekend indeed. I think it was necessary after the stress of the holidays! Did some of my on-line class, talked to my mom and one of my friends. Read a lot! Slept in. Nice.

That was yesterday. Today, I slept in and ventured out to go on a spending spree. Started with Borders Books. Love that place. I get these fun discount coupons weekly and, being a book junkie, I find it nearly impossible to pass the discounts up. So, at Borders, searching through the Arts and Crafts books, I came across an obviously misplaced book. Surely this must have been meant for me to find. It fits right in with my 2010 goal of being a better housekeeper. Plus, the graphics in this book and on the cover are just so fab! The book I picked up is called "No-Hassle House Cleaning". I can't wait to dive into that. I really need to do some house cleaning as I have friends coming next weekend. We will be going on a scandal-filled bus tour of the West Adams district of LA. This will be followed by food, fun and revelry at my hopefully clean house.



I also went to Fresh & Easy, Trader Joe's and Target to spend even more money. Since all the local weather reports said the upcoming week of pretty much non-stop rain was not starting until tonight, I ventured out on this spending spree without my umbrella or raincoat. It's a damn good thing I don't bother spending lots of time blow drying my hair into a straight style of some sort since the clouds opened up early and the drops of rain began to fall!

When I got home I decided I wanted to make not one, but two dishes. New vegetarian recipes I came across. Both recipes contain red lentils. I should add that the house smells really good.

One is a red lentil and barley casserole



and the other is a red lentil and artichoke stew



Funny (or maybe sad) how the weekends just fly by. Tomorrow, I begin a new work schedule at the day job. It's called the 9/80 work week. This basically means, you work 9 hour days Monday through Thursday, 8 hours on Friday, repeat Monday through Thursday the following week, and then have that Friday off! I can't wait. I think my first assignment for the off Friday will be to have the landlord replace my archaic electric stove top. Said stove top, completely shut off while I was sauteeing onions and carrots for the casserole. A cooks worst nightmare. Who's idea was it to make electric stove tops anyway? Surely, not a cook.

Relief and Aid for Haiti

Like so many people, I have been touched by the devastation of the recent earthquake in Haiti. I am also touched by all the outpouring of support from the people of the world. Humanitarian is defined as concern for human welfare, especially as manifested through philanthropy and the belief that the sole moral obligation of humankind is the improvement of human welfare. To me, being a humanitarian has nothing to do with politics or religion. It's beyond that - it's human (humane).

If you are inspired to donate, there are many avenues available that should suit any political or religious viewpoint.

You can also contribute by participating in an art auction. A local Southern California mixed-media artist, Shari Beaubien, is auctioning off an original painting. Starting bid is $60. The bidding will be open until midnight, Friday, January 22, 2010. What's cool about this auction is that the total donation will be made through her husband's employer, Warner Bros, to one of the following charities: American Red Cross, International Rescue Committee, CARE, and/or UNICEF (all established relief organizations currently on the ground in Haiti) and that Warner Bros will match whatever donations they get dollar for dollar. So, not only can you help, but you might just get a cool piece of original art.

If you're a creative-type, you can also take an on-line workshop. Another Southern California artist, Mary Ann Moss, is offering a workshop and if you enroll between January 16 -31st, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to The Red Cross Haitian Relief Fund. The cool thing here is not only are you helping out, you are going to get a fun and inspiring stenciling workshop!

Coincidence or Divine Timing?

Does coincidence really exist? According to dictionaries, coincidence is the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection; also : any of these occurrences; a striking occurrence of two or more events at one time apparently by mere chance: Our meeting in Venice was pure coincidence.

According to metaphysics, nothing happens by mere chance. There is a reason for everything and a "divine" timing. Oddly enough, I can relate to the Divine timing theory, even though I'm not what you'd call a "religious" person. In fact, I'm turned off by a lot of the religious dogma. I am comfortable with the concept of a time for things to manifest, although, I'm have never been comfortable when that time doesn't jive with what I want. I was not raised to believe that there is a God and a Devil out there, both trying to get your soul. I am so thankful for that, BTW. I was raised to believe that the "Devil" is a sort of fable; not a horned creature hiding in the shadows, waiting to steal my soul, but rather a concept of the negative aspects that we can attach ourselves to and buy into.

I was raised with the idea that things will happen when we are ready for them and that "God" (or whatever you wish to call it) gives us what we can handle when we can handle it. All is in a "divine" order. Again, I was not raised to believe in traditional religious dogma, and am very, very thankful for that.

So, where am I going with this? I'll tell you. As I've mentioned here many times, I'm searching for my grandmother, Lola. A few odd chain of events occurred over the past two days.

Yesterday, one of my co-workers was telling me that all the information available on ancestry.com (a pay-for vehicle for genealogical research) is available for free at the LA City Library's website. She promised to send me that link. Then today, my PI friend sent me a message that she spoke with a woman from the State hospital where Lola was incarcerated and that this woman was gathering information to send, per our request. My PI friend had sent the original request before Thanksgiving and followed up today due to lack of communication from the hospital. Within minutes of receiving this message from my PI friend, another co-worker started to tell me about the LA City Library's site.

Well, how's that for timing? When my PI friend sent me her message, I was definitely choked up. Maybe they will be able to answer my many questions about Lola - did she die there? Was she released to anyone in particular? What were the dates of her time there? Since I cannot find anything to date about Lola after the 1930 census, this possibility is exciting.

Song of the Week - 9

I had two fabulous best friends during my teen years and am happy to say that one of these friendships is still going strong. If you've had a friend that has been a part of your life for so long, you know just how great that is. Someone that you can always count on. Someone that let's you know when you're out of control (and doesn't offend you because of your history). Someone that has been there for you and you've been there for when deaths, births, marriages, divorces, drama touched your life.

My two friends and I were Stones freaks! We loved the Rolling Stones, and I still do. As a long time fan, I must admit that I am partial to the older stuff, though. If you will, flashback to 1975. The Stones were touring. They were going to be in Los Angeles at the Forum. The girls and I HAD to go. We couldn't let the fact that none of us had a drivers license stop us. The recollection is dim here on some facts. How we learned of a ticket agency selling the tickets that we bought, I can't tell you. Our concert going experience up to that point was at a venue called The Swing Auditorium. The Swing was local and one of the parents would drive us to the box office to purchase concert tickets. Now the Forum, in Los Angeles, was a different story.

I don't remember when the concert was announced or when we bought the tickets. I do remember that I had the HUGEST crush on the guitarist, Mick Taylor. In December of 1974, he told the band he was leaving. I was devastated. A true teenage "Catch-22". See your fav band but without your major crush. Oh, the inhumanity.

We were dropped off at the Forum on that spectacular day in July of 1975 for the show. We paid the agency $25 a ticket and had really great seats. Third row! We snuck our Instamatic cameras in and snapped pictures. I'll have to see if I can find any of them. They weren't that good because Instamatic cameras didn't have zoom lenses, plus the flash bulbs didn't provide the best lighting.

After the show, we were picked up by our parental ride. They were accompanied by Johnny Walker! Obviously, we made it home safely. That was not a short commute either (about 2 hours).

This week's song is by that fab band, The Rolling Stones, is a song that was released on the Goats Head Soup album, and that my crush, MT, played on. It is also a powerful song addressing social issues, not only at the time, but social issues still relevant today. Really, when I hear some of the modern song lyrics, I am always amazed at just how NOT important they are and how stupid many are. "I kissed a girl and I like it" or "my lovely lady lumps" - who really gives a shit? If there is any social value to that, please feel free to let me know because I just don't have the desire to reach them at this time. I should confess that I've never listened to these songs in their entirety. Maybe there is something of value, or maybe these are songs trying to capitalize on the unfortunate popularity of "reality" TV shows. I just find all of that a sad commentary on our current society. How will we really look 30 years in the future?

The song this week is (Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo) Heartbreaker. Too bad kids today aren't hearing songs like this on the radio and/or on their iPods. I have now stepped off my soapbox.

Hello 2010

Happy New Year! So now is the time to list some goals for the new year. I may have to be accountable to them the minute I hit "publish post".

Take art workshops
I'm happy to say that I've signed up already for two! Currently enrolled in a fab mixed media drawing/painting class at Suzi Blu Les Petite Academy (on-line) and will be taking an etched metal workshop next Thursday at the Pasadena Bead and Design Show. I will also take a workshop at the end of January in Santa Monica. This workshop is all about The Yudu Screen Printer. I bought this last year when I became fearful of my "precious" Gocco supplies becoming obsolete and have never touched it. I must now take the workshop and break it out.

Travel to Iowa and Illinois for family research
I hope to do this in the spring as the Mid-West is in the midst of insane weather. This has been on my list for many months now. I do use Ancestry.com and Rootsweb.com as means of this research. Several months ago, I found a thread of messages on Rootsweb that addressed my family. I replied to this, but have yet to hear back. I plan to pursue this contact and make a trip. His/her grandfather was my grandfather's (Lola's husband) brother. Apparently, he/she is from a larger segment of the family than I. He/she may have information that I would benefit from. Now I just must convince myself that this new and very scary full body scan crap at airports is NOT really a personal violation and that the TSA screeners are REALLY professional. I traveled to Virginia in November of 2008. Not being a seasoned business traveler, I was devastated when the TSA screener threw away my newly opened toothpaste tube and facial cleanser. I don't REALLY think that my background or look presents a threat, but I lost money that I spent to buy items, yet the "underpants" bomber has no problem boarding planes. I'm having a hard time with that, so maybe I'll drive.

Start exercising again:
Break out those DVDs I bought in 2009 and use them. The fact that you feel so much better, both physically and mentally when you exercise is no mystery! I grew up with a mom that practiced (off and on) yoga, and I do that too - yoga practitioner off and on. I just love yoga and need to bring it back into my life. Flexibility is one key to maintaining "youth".

Start building Etsy site
I have created the Etsy shop and have been "writing" the shop policy. Now, I just need to finalize that and list items! Really, the items to list do exist. Time to stop lolly gagging!

Keep blog current and interesting
Yes! Mandatory. Wish me luck here.

Have more fun
Indeed. This is a milestone year for me. A birthday I could never imagine as a teenager! The big 5-0. I plan to have a fun party, go to art exhibits, other things, and just have fun.

Volunteer
I have always wanted to do this but my life seems to get in the way. I plan to volunteer at the holidays - serving food possibly. I have also wanted to volunteer with animal rescue organizations, but have always thought that would be hard. You see, I love animals and become attached. Also, I really struggle with the kill option attached to some of the rescue organizations. I need help with this. Can I really volunteer and be a part of the life of a cat or dog, only to learn that maybe because the animal was NOT a baby, no one wanted it, therefore, euthanasia? Don't think we treat people that way. Oh, no. We actually seem to cheer for women that take drugs to have unnatural multiple births that they can't afford. Octomom is a fine example. What's up with that? (Oops, soapbox made an appearance here).

Stay in touch with family and friends
I really don't think any day job out weighs this and I need to make this a priority. I must say goodbye to the "old me". I pretty much missed my nieces and nephews growing up and really don't want to miss their kids growing up. What does anyone have to show for that, really?

Do something creative daily
No comment necessary here.

Be a better housekeeper
OMG yes! I have had to fire way too many imaginary "cleaning ladies"! Must get that under control.

Get a gas stove
Hell yes. I have always cooked with gas. Sadly though, I have had an electric stove for the past four years that is older than I am. It is just hideous. I feel I have suddenly lost my ability to cook. I even had the landlord send out a repairman last year. The obviously "talented" repairman said nothing was wrong with my stove! Yeah right. I don't know about you, but, stove completely shutting off in the midst of cooking is not normal in my opinion.

I think I will need to revisit the goals on a quarterly basis in order to track what I have done as well as add to the list.