in my humble opinion

Ahoy,

In my humble opinion, I think you should bring a flashlight for a night hike. Even if the moon is full. 

I hope all those people dashing down the dusty, uneven, riddled with trip-points stairs made it out alive. My thoughts are with you. 

casually reflective,

jt

first real earthquake

Ahoy,

We awoke from the earthquake. I've been in CA for earthquakes before, but they were small. In one instance, we thought the boys upstairs were playing basketball, again. The boys upstairs played basketball in their quad room, so this is not an unreasonable assumption. In a second instance, I was in the shower and did not feel anything. So this was the first time it quaked long enough for me to realize it was an earthquake and enjoy the "ride." We both woke up, but neither of us moved. I didn't have earthquake drills in grade school, so I really can't be faulted for my inaction. The RRS just moved over me. We were watching the bookcase. He was ready to deflect it had it fallen on me. But I think we were supposed to be not near the fall zone of the bookcase.

incorrectly lowered,
jt

heat wave?

Ahoy,

The heat wave last weekend was hot for this time of year. But in the grand scheme of things I've experienced much worse. It is March. In Chicago the mercury would just be crawling above freezing. Everyone is rejoicing the coming of spring. In LA it seems summer came without spring. There are a lot of things out of whack about the weather here. When I think of heat waves, though, I think of the summer of 1995 in Chicago. That was a heat wave. And it always brings me back back to earth when I'm anticipating a "heat wave."

I biked on the Ballona Creek bike trail out to the ocean on Saturday. I probably left smack at high noon, but I wasn't about to wait for the sun to cool down to start my adventures. I stopped first at the MAC because my friend was teaching there that day, but mostly because there is a really sharp turn I'm too pansy to take on my bike right now so I went straight instead to the MAC. They had these 2 corgis there that day I think could be their new mascot given how much attention they received. I stopped by and went on to go check out the Marina Dey Rey library. I'll tell you right now it is really cool and overlooks the dock and boats. They also have a nautical wing full of books, model ships, and maps. All the things nautical you could want in your house. Who doesn't want a drawer full of sailing charts? I've been taking decorating ideas for my future home. I hope the RRS gets the hint that I want a library nautical wing in our house.

I returned to the MAC and my friend brought me out on the motorboat with her while her class did capsize drills. It was a lot of fun to watch and not participate, but I think I know how to upright a boat from a turtled position now. She also had me join her paddle-boarding with her at the end of the day. I fell in, which was refreshing.

Lucky for me my friend J disregarded the weather just as much as I did when she agreed to go on a bike ride Sunday. As I left Culver City, it felt like a max powered hair dryer was blowing on my face. I probably left at the worst time of day, again. I slathered on the sunblock, which I've found is a habit that is more than necessary to adopt daily.  Due to faulty instructions on my part, J biked right past the ice cream shop and had to turn around at the end. If the Ballona Creek Bike Path is missing anything - it's signage, and also a lot of other things, but that's a battle for another day. As we made our way closer to the ocean, the air got cooler. One could even ponder, "What heat wave?"

We spent the rest of the day at the farmer's market at the Grove because all the regular farmers' markets were closed by the time we got to Del Rey. It was a great (crowded) day of eating and shopping. Sunday is probably the worst day to go to the Grove. You have been warned.

pleadingly quaked,
jt

bicycle timeline

Ahoy,

Approx.

Before I met the RRS
First bike wheel gets stolen on campus. Second bike wheel gets stolen at apartment.

Summer 2011
The idea springs of reviving the lonely bike frame.

May 2013
Upon my nagging, we make a trip to the bikerowave to query how to make a bike. Order miscellaneous parts.

June 2013
Recruit our friend so we can get schooled on how to build a bike. Take apart, re-lube parts, also converted from a multi-speed to single speed. Build a bike. Notice wheels are not according to specifications (mine). Take apart bike.

July-September 2013
Pursue a seemingly endless search for THE bike wheels.

October 2013 - March 2014
Store bike wheels at home, collecting dust.

March 1, 2014
Take out spare tire in dinky car to fit in 2 bike wheels. Return to the bikerowave. Put together a complete set of wheels, popping a hole in only one tube.

March 2, 2014
Return to bikerowave to change the gear on the rear wheel because the number of teeth don't match. Futz with brakes for probably 3+ hours. Also the cable came out of the handle, so we know how that works now.

March 4, 2014
Ride bike for the first time. Didn't die. I'm as shocked as you.

deceivingly erect,
jt

bus the PCH

Ahoy,

We made a trip to the Getty Villa, and I learned that the bike racks on the front of the bus are not as sketchy as they seem. They are also a little narrow for the wide cruiser wheels; they are really snug in there. We made it to the Villa and back down to Santa Monica with the bikes on the bus rack. I'm as shocked as you. Every bump I'm sure is the one that my bike will bounce out and get run over.

We spent the day at the Villa, and I packed lunch to have up there. I didn't really care for the art, so mostly steered us around the gardens and ocean views.

We hopped back on the bus with our bikes because I could see myself falling on the side of the PCH and promptly getting run over by all the million dollar speed racers on the road. We continued along the ocean bike path a little closer to Santa Monica, stopping along the way for slack-lining, snack-eating, and skate-boarding.

We raced against the ever beating clock of sunset and for once, weather, looking for the Ballona Creek Bike Trail. Getting to the actual trail involves a winding series of paths, roads, parking lots, sharp turns, etc. It's not so intuitive and you definitely have to pay attention to the signs. I can't say I'm always attentive, but we made it back. I'm as shocked as you. It started raining just as we rolled into home base.

successfully snacked,
jt

best friends

Ahoy,

I recently received the honor of hosting my best friend in LA. She came from the tundra-like depths of Chicago and was delighted to risk the possibility of sunburn here. Upon landing, we made our way to USC for salads. Lemonade is one of the places I think about going to all the time, waiting for the opportune moment to stick it into my schedule. And immediately after leaving, I think about the next time again. We ate among the students outdoors because we blend right in and also, it was not 7 degrees. I showed her the rose gardens featured in the stock shots of Bones, which she had never seen.

Our final destination was the Halliwell manor, because we watched a lot of tv in our youth and now have odd attachments to television memorabilia. The gloriousness of this abode was totally lost on my previous companion to this locale. In Echo Park, I discovered I'm not a fan of Daiya cheese. It's weird and gummy and sticky.

We were also able to jam a show at the Second City into our schedule for the night. You can still do things in LA without a car.

spookily charmed,
jt

easy breezy LA

Ahoy,

Many folks would argue the best thing about LA is the sun and the surf. It's always a delight to entertain folks who have come from more lackluster climates. They are always thrilled to see the sun and bask in a gentler climate. There's something to be said of a weekend spent engaging in the simpler joys of life.

A likes to talk up Abbott Kinney in Venice because it was rated very highly by his favorite magazine, GQ, much to the chagrin of neighborhood residents. I think it's a fun and interesting neighborhood, but I'll admit any label like that is like an instant move to gentrify. However, I'm more than glad to eat at lemonade over there, or anywhere. This place is amazing and sunny and bright and colorful and delicious! As we were entertaining our favorite curly haired, jewish Texan - we had to go climbing. Unfortunately, we weren't aware and appalled at the early closing time, so we climbed for all of a hot second before getting deposited back outside.

Later that evening, we picked up slices at what I think is now my favorite pizza place in LA. We also got boba at my favorite boba place. At this point you're beginning to wonder if we were entertaining our friends or going everywhere I like. I'm sure we were all wondering that too. I also picked the bar later. And now you're beginning to wonder if I'm actually any fun to hang out with if I'm so bossy as to select all our activities for the day. Sometimes I wonder that too.

The following day was on deck to be another casual day of bumming around. We leapt out the door without much speed and stopped at our neighborhood coffee shop where they take coffee too seriously, just like how the RRS likes it. It so happened that we were just in time for their weekly cupping and got a very educational session on coffee. To see some surf, we made our way to Venice. But not before visiting our ailing friend and have some taco truck fare in her yard. The sun was glimmering splendidly that day and hitting her garden just the perfect way to make you regret leaving this city. After thoroughly bothering her day of being sick, we walked to the beach to bother some beachgoers, and watch the sunset with beer and pretzel in hand. O's visit ended with a rather casual feast of fire-in-your-mouth himalayan food.

This weekend was one of the less adventurous, but more relaxing ways to enjoy LA. We skipped around to many of my favorite spots. I'm sorry if you did not enjoy those things. Next time you can be the boss.

regrettably gone,
jt

Japanese garden

Ahoy,

After our trip through Japan and all of its gardens, I convinced the RRS to take me to another Japanese garden in the States. This was on my to-do list for a while. Coincidentally, he used to live near here and we passed by so many times. I have memories of torture running in the desert around this recreation area. It's walled up so you'd never notice if you weren't looking for it.

Admission is incredibly reasonable so you should check it out sometime too. The garden is immaculate. It is maintained down to such excruciating detail. There is such a definitive amount of control used on every branch and stone. We found this to be just as authentic, if not more so than any garden we found in Japan. Although, the toilet seats were not heated, so there's that. The garden is a nice size to spend an hour or two. I'm sure your parents would enjoy this excursion as well.

Water from the garden is made possible by the water reclamation facility it's attached to. You can walk over a bridge and see the garden to one side and the water plant on the other side. It's pretty cool if you're unabashedly nerdy like us.

We also like to stop at the hipster gathering place of the Valley when we are out there. And to top it all off, A felt like we needed more vigorous recreation so he took me for a walk in the desert at sunset. I'm sure you could compare the responsibilities of caring for a child or dog similar to those for me.

rapturedly rexed,
jt