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September 30th, 2008

How do you spell Mossletoff?

Michael Perrick and I have been friends for a long time. Almost as long as I've been in Los Angeles. We've been party buds, business partners and everyting in between. Michael brought this girl, Dee Dee to my 30th birthday party and introduced her to everyone. Since Michael never was a One-Girl kinda guy(no woman could stand him for that long) we all assumed Dee Dee was a temp, filling in until the next one.

12 years later, and he married her, tuxclad, in front of God and everyone, and it was a very touching ceremony (Michael "touched" just about everyone!)

Congtatulations Michael and Dee- all the best to you!

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September 22nd, 2008

Polly Wants a shotgun.

Here's a interesting new phenomonon going on these days. We have Parrots.
Not the cute chatty kind that sit in their cages proclaiming thier desire for snack foods, but the loud, squawking type that flies about the neighborhood at sunrise in a random, confused flocking as if to alert the entire neighborhood of the dangers of sun exposure. The racket I've learned comes from the fact that no two parrots make the same sound. On their own you might here a resemblance to any number of commmon household noises. One sounds like a cat crying, another- a rusty gate screaching closed. Still, many of them have the tell-tale songs of Car-alarms that were chirped off many years ago. You can almost tell their age by the sound, for we all know parrots have the propensity to live a long, long time. I've heard stories of a friend who found one sitting in a tree stating for the record that "I Am NOT a crook!" Unfortunately the charm ends there.

I'ts come to my conclusion that really smart animals can do many things, and impress us, but when we anthropamorphise these creatures,(put them in the intelligence category of humans- as if cartoons) one thing happens; we discover how really dumb they are. Specifically their behavior.

These big-brained birds that enchant us with their chatty conversation and witty well-timed humor in a cage are the same nusance that screeches me awake in the morning, encircling the block making more racket than an olympic-sized cat fight and leaves grape-sized calling-cards on my windshield, hood, sunroof and fender. Suddenly, and without warning, I discover I have a new cute thing to despise, and I come one step closer to understanding the general principals of the NRA, and the values of the average kermudgeon.

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September 19th, 2008

Humpty Dumpty references welcome

Tomorrow is the first day of Autumn, and with that starts our annual home-improvement season.
Technically, I dont have an annual season for home improvement, but looking over the last few years it seems that September is the time of year I typically get some whacky bug up my butt to do something that is difficult, expensive, time-consuming and threatens the welfare of every relationship I'm tied to. This week- it's the garden retaining wall.

As the last few splinters of the crumbling, termite infested railroad ties that are currently holding up our yard fall upon the sidewalk, I felt it was best to nip this issue in the bud before the city of Los Angeles decides for me. Though I'm aware it's going to be a pricey endeavor, I would much rather see the gleaming edges of a new white stucco wall than the white, sandy beaches of Maui anyway- so I'm putting my money here.

Today the blocks get delivered, the hole is dug, the rebar is wired in and I pray we can get this thing erected before any inspectors show up and tell me that even though they TOLD me on the PHONE I didn't need a permit, NOW they think I actually MIGHT need a permit, and since one of them has a kid starting college soon, a permit, a big expensive one, MIGHT actually be the best way to go, seeing as Loyola Marimont charges $1000 a week for a dorm room and . . .

OK, I'll stop now.

If you'd like to see the gallery of the wall construction and completion, click here :)

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September 16th, 2008

A Recurring Rhythm
Months ago I reported some issues with my heart rhythms. After the stingray incident I had some moments where my heart was skipping a beat. As of last December, it stopped altogether and I figured all was AOK- Until today.
My heart has been skipping weirdly all day, and not the usual way. I've called my cardiologists office to set up an appointment for a check-in. He set me up for next week but advised that if I feel these weird rhythms before I see him go directly to the emergency room and page him- he'll meet me there. It's best we have someone listen and diagnose early-he said, " oh and DON'T WORRY!"

Right- sure . . . Don't worry.

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September 17th, 2008

Waves to Wine tour

This past weekend I joined 2000 other riders for the 25th annniversary "waves to Wine" charity ride for Multiple Schlerosis.- (aka the MS 150) I had a great time, did 75 miles on day 1, and 75 on day 2. Had some issues with my bike that was taken care of within a few minutes of this very bridge- my front chain ring was about to fall off- EEK! The bike tech had the hardware to secure it to my cran and I rode the final 50 like the wind.

Since I had my bike tuned up I have had such a great time riding- no discomfort, no pain, strong rides and very little residual discomfort after- slight stiffness, that's all.

Just makes me want to ride and ride and ride. I can hardly express how happy this makes me after struggling through the first 50 miles of the ALC every day. If you ride, and havent had a tune up in a while, go in for a fitting, it makes all the differenc ein the world to get it "Dialed In!"

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