Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Ch -Ch- Changes

I have re-worked my blog a bit. I noticed that there were links in my blog that people didn't even know were there because they were the same color as the rest of the text. Let me know what you think.

eyemheer2@yahoo.com

Take a look to see if any of the links are easier to read.

Sunday, May 27, 2007

"Strange things are afoot at the circle K"

I forgot that on my way to Utah, I learned were San Dimas was. (Made famous by the iconic Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure)

Tonight I went to see Vertigo in the Hollywood Cemetery.

Every Saturday during the summer in Los Angeles a group called Cinespia hosts movie in the same place were Charlie Chaplan and Douglas Fairbanks are buried.

I had a great time.

A picnic
cupcakes
and one of my favorite movies ever
What more could you ask for?

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Best Birthday 2006

The best Birthday of 2006 award goes my Grandfather.

Here is his story:
My grandfather has always been an adventurous person. When he was a young boy in Waukegan, IL he was constantly dragged back to the house by his brothers, by the ear in fact, because he always wanted to see what was beyond the next block. At age 5 he spent the night at the Waukegan Water Tower. After being rescued his only thought was...

"Next time I will bring a peanut butter sandwich"

At age seven armed with a pack full of sandwiches of many sorts he built himself a raft and set his sights on crossing the Michigan, just to see if it actually led to this mystical land called Michigan.

When he got there, Michigan proved not to be as magical as he'd imagined.

He would escape any chance he'd get. At age 12 he worked as a tour guide in the Patagonia. Tourists that he still keeps in touch with comment to me about how at first they were apprehensive about having a 12 year old with a Chicago accent as their tour guide, but he did in fact prove to be quite knowledgeable about the Patagonian flora and fauna, or lack there of. He was just going to start a guide business with his friend, Jose De La Cruz Perez Schnieder, but his name was recognized by the American consulate and he was brought home, by the ear in fact.

It was in the Patagonia though that he learned from Jose De La Cruz Perez Schnieder about the mysterious and elusive Fuente de la Eterna Juventud.

"What is a Fuente de la Eterna Juventud?" He asked Jose.

Jose could not tell him because it was so mysterious and elusive. My grandfather could not speak Spanish.

Under strict orders from his mother he could not do anymore escaping, due to it giving her a heart attack.

His adventures took a hiatus, instead he started a list. This list was his steps in finding la fuente de la juventud eterna.

Step 1) learn spanish to find out what la fuente de la juventud eterna in fact was
Step 2) Read about the Fuente
Step 3) Triangulate where it was
Step 4) find Jose De la Cruz Perez Schnieder
Step 5) Find the Fuente de la Juventud Eterna

Having accomplished step 1, 2 and 3 by his 32 birthday all that was left was to find Jose. This proved to be the hardest. Not only was Jose not in Patagonia where he left him, but he as well was on a quest to find la fuente.

He only allowed himself to feel discouraged for a day, when he decided that step 4 was just as important as step 5 and thus began his search for Jose.

Did he find Jose?
I often as myself that every once in a while, one thing I know for sure is that he did find La Fuente de la juventud Eterna, (The fountain of youth) because he never stops turning 39 and I still get carded for R rated movies even though I am 31.

Happy 39th birthday!!!!!

I have wanted to write his story for a very long time. Cursed technology.

What have I been up to? the literary edition.

Well, basically a lot of reading. Currently I am in two book clubs. (I know great idea, for all of the free time I have) This month they are meeting just a couple weeks apart and one was 514 pages so I have been busy.

What have I been reading:

Special Topics in Calamity Physics- Marisha Pessl
I know the title sounds like nerd fest 2007, but it really isn't as scientific as the title makes it sounds. It is a coming of age literary mystery. Think Nancy Drew with a lot less camp and a lot more time alone reading every book on the planet.

Timbuktu- Paul Auster
The story of the plight of the American homeless through the eyes of a dog. Sometimes goes on a few tangents, but the dog's owner is Schizophrenic after all.

Between book clubs I started Kitchen Confidential-by Anthony Bourdain and am eager to finish it.

So that is what I have been up to.

On another note, the Simpsons turns 400 tonight. Can you believe it has been on the air 18 years.

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day Mom! Happy 1st Mother's Day Mandu!

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Belated return from Utah post

I made it back from Utah safe and sound. A lot of people have asked me about Polygamy since I have returned, shows you how popular Big Love has gotten. To be factual, the custom of polygamy is not as common amongst the later day saints as it once was. (See "Under the Banner of Heaven" by John Krakauer)

I sent out a link to my photos via email. If you didn't get it email me here eyemheer2@yahoo.com I wish that there was a way that I could narrate the photos some way on snapfish but I don't think that there is a way to do that. I am so happy that I have a new camera, it takes really great photos. My favorite is



If you have any questions about any of the photos shoot me an email.

I had a wonderful time in Utah, I didn't realize how beautiful it is. From the I- 15 Utah doesn't look too impressive, but once you get off of the interstate and go west about 20 minutes it is like you are in a completely different world. I think the tag line for Utah should be

"If you want to see what Mars looks like, just go east from the I-15."

We tried to visit as much a we could in 4 days Bryce Canyon, Kolob Canyon, Zion National Monument and The Hoover Dam. This is actually quite a feat. There were definitely places that I would have liked to stay longer like Zion, which I think is one of the most phenomenal places I have ever seen in my life.

Here is what I learned about myself:
1) I have a very intense crippling fear of heights.
2) I have a great boyfriend who did not tease me and helped me out quite a bit and helped me to see places that I wouldn't have seen.
3) The next vacation I take will have to be something that is located at a much lower altitude
4) Eventhough I really wanted to, I will never go to Macchu Pichu.

Correction

I heard many different reports about how many acres are in Griffith Park. I guess there are two to four time as many as I had previously reported. It keeps changing every article I read.

Fire pics

Here are some pictures from the fire that is currently still burning in Griffith Park. 600 + acres are destroyed out of the 740 acre park. These are pictures taken from a neighbors roof.






Although it looks like the newly restored Observatory is in danger, we are told that it in fact is not.

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Fire in Los Angeles

Currently the biggest park in Los Angeles, Griffith Park is on fire threatening many Los Angeles landmarks, including the Los Angeles Zoo and the Observatory. You can see many pictures of the fire at the blogsite www.laist.com



So far 200 plus acres have burned. They started to evacuate homes an hour or so ago.


This is about 7 miles from where I live, I am not in danger, but I am worried that this is the second fire in the park in less than two months. In the last year it has rained only 3 or 4 times.

I am here's tips for not burning down Los Angeles.
  • Do not smoke in grassy areas-today's fire was started by a homeless man who fell asleep while smoking
  • Do not set fires at any campground or park in the state of California
  • Keep an eye on your children the 1st fire that burned 150 acres was started by a couple of teenagers who wanted to see what happened if they lit a patch of brush on fire
  • Do not throw cigarettes out a car window.
  • Listen to people when they threaten to burn down Los Angeles, I am learning more and more that there are people who will do crazy destructive stuff. (Turn on the news, another college shooting in California)
Please I really like this city, please don't burn it down.