Celebrating our 30th Wedding Anniversary

.

We pledged our vows in the backyard of Gerry's brick house in Denver.

Thirty years ago, May 24th, 1986 was the best day of my life, our wedding day.  The day itself was spectacular, but what was most glorious to me, was the pledge we made, our promise to spend the rest of our lives together.  

We enjoyed out 30th wedding anniversary in  L.A. and began our day with a spectacular morning hike in our beloved Griffith Park.  It was the first time we ever walked from the west side of the park to the east.  Gerry had mapped out the route ahead of time.  He chose the most direct route from the west entrance at Wonder View Drive to the east side where we finished at the Ranger Station.

"Wanna make a bet on the  distance?" I asked him  half-way through the hike.  "I bet it's 8 miles."
Gerry responded, "No way. It's 7 miles at tops."  Of course he won the bet.  He was the one who planned the route, and knew the distance!  Silly me. It turned out to be 5.6 miles.  But it was a hike full of steep ups and downs, that followed the ridge line, which made it seem much longer (more like 8 miles.)

We're at the west perimeter, a few feet from the 101 Freeway at Cahuenga, the start of our hike.  

Luckily, we faced ideal weather, with temps in the 60s and overcast skies.  Most of the steep stuff was in the first few miles.  I played it cautiously, and was a bit slow as I made my way along the trail.  (This was the first challenging hike since my bike accident on March 10th  which resulted with a broken arm that required surgery.)    The last thing I needed was another fall!

Is it going to rain?  It looks threatening.

Gerry, taking a photo at a vista about an hour into the hike

Blossoms of the Nevins Barberry, a rare and endangered plant in Griffith Park

We finished our trek in roughly 2 1/2 hours.  I recorded it on my cyclemeter app, which shows the distance, elevation, maps, etc.  Isn't technology awesome?

We had worked up an appetite.  It was a bit of a blast from the past when we ate lunch at India Sweet & Spice on Los Feliz, (a few blocks away from where our business, RaceReady was located for 15 years.)   Their $5.49 veggie lunch special hit the spot.

Not the fanciest joint.  But huge portions of flavorful Indian cuisine at a bargain price.

Fully sated, I was in the mood for a nap when we arrived home, but I fought off the urge and instead I got busy and baked us a Santiago Cake.

I replicated the recipe of this delicious cake, which we discovered last year on our Camino.

We dined at Marino Ristorante later in the evening.  It was a splurge, (maybe a once-in-a-lifetime splurge since the prices were sky high.)  But, I justified it since it was a special occasion.

We started off with wine and a first course of phenomenal appetizers.

A  wonderful bottle of Italian wine. 

Polipo  - grilled octopus, bok choy, butternut squash sauce

Colossal shrimp, butterflied, with arugula and tomatoes

We savored our entrees, grilled halibut for Mary and roasted veal chops for Gerry, but we were so engaged with the dinner and our conversation, I neglected to take photos.   C'est la vie!

A Fun Weekend at Home

I haven't mused much recently.  The spirit hasn't moved me to do so.  I admit I have been down in the dumps with my broken arm, even though I realize my accident could have been much worse.  Anyway, I am feeling upbeat right now so I will muse about this  past weekend.  In today's parlance, it is a "stay cation", which translates (I think) to a quasi vacation at home.

Friday night Gerry and I attended a concert at the Greek Theater, our favorite concert venue, and our first concert of this season.   The amazing show featured singer song-write John Prine,  along with Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires.  Quite the night of music and melody.

Still strumming the guitar.

When we returned home and it was time for bed, John Prine tunes still strummed in my head.  It's the typical after-effect I have post concert.  Yet my alarm was set for 6:15 am so Gerry and I could arrive at the Crystal Springs area of Griffith Park well caffeinated at 7:30 am to set up for the FoGP sponsored Anza Event. 
The Anza Celebration, Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm was successful.  A good turn out for a first time event!  It featured performers dressed in colonial costumes, with live music, dancing and the reenactment of the arrival of the Anza brigade upon horseback.

President, Gerry Hans, gives his warm welcome.

Michael, a native Tongva, serenades the audience as he plays his flute.

Minutes later, the"expedition" arrives on horseback!

Festive costumes; happy to relive history of 240 years ago

Dancing and music followed.

All in all, it was a glorious day.  Next year will be even better, I am sure.

This morning, Sunday,  I hiked approx 7 miles with my dear friend Kiki.  We always engage in stimulating conversations as we walk and talk.

Kiki, at a recently installed trail marker sign, thanks to the efforts of Gerry and many others.

 

EASTER with FAMILY

Even though it was a bit more of a challenge to travel with a heavily bandaged left arm, we still made our trip back to Southern Illinois to spend Easter with Gerry's family.

I brought along the photo of my arm with the metal plate and screws, just in case I got stopped by security.

My left elbow - I'm still not used to having the metal as part of me!

 
We had a record crowd for the Easter Celebration.  40 of us (27 adults and 13 children) gathered in Decatur, IL at the home of Allan and Kathy, Gerry's brother and sister-in-law.  They have a beautiful, spacious house, which accommodated us all in style.  We feasted on Easter ham, turkey, potatoes, green beans, pasta salads, green salads, jello and bread.  Everything was delicious.

One of the five tables where we sat down to eat.

The youngest of the clan, Hayden, born Oct 19, 2015

After we ate, it was time for the traditional Easter Egg Hunt, in the front yard.  It was a cool, breezy afternoon, perfect weather for the kids to scamper around and find the eggs.

See what you can find when you look underneath the bushes?

Easter eggs everywhere - far and wide. 

What a score!

What a bunch of cute great nieces and nephews!

I had my share of candy, as well as Gerry's mom's famous homemade Easter egg cookies, with the colorful decorative icing, and Kathy's moist coconut cake.  The sugar buzz kept me going on the two hour evening drive back to Gerry's mother's house where we were staying.

Monday Gerry and I took a walk along the bike path near Gerry's mother's house.  We walked a little over 3 miles, which  under normal circumstances doesn't seem far.  However, when you haven't been sleeping well because of a bulky and sore arm, a 3 mile walk seems long...

I'm standing beneath a colorful flowering apricot tree Monday morning at the end of our walk.

Gerry's sister Ginny gave us a tour of the custom house she is building, about 10 minutes away from  historic downtown Alton.  It will be completed in May.  She plans to host Thanksgiving in her new house.  Hopefully we'll make it back....

We enjoyed lunch with Gerry's mom at My Just Desserts, a cute restaurant and bakery in downtown Alton.  Homemade quilts cover the walls and are offered for sale.  It's a quaint cafe and a step back in time.

Gerry and his mother Ann (who turns 89 next month.) 

We flew home on Tuesday afternoon, grateful that we made the trip this Spring. 

Glad I am Right Handed

Thursday morning I went on a bike ride on a gorgeous morning, with plenty of sunshine. Spring was in the air, with the birds chirping, and the flowers and plants in blossom.  I was 8.5 miles into the ride when I went over a speed bump near a grille that was covered with leaves and loose gravel.  I swerved, and lost control of my bike and went down hard on the pavement.  My left arm took the brunt of the fall. 

The accident happened only a mile from my home, near a western entrance to the park.  Two hikers came to my rescue.  They offered to call 911, but I had them call Gerry at home instead.  He came to my rescue within minutes.  We went home, and I spent the next few hours with an ice pack on my arm.  Mid afternoon Gerry drove me to have it x-rayed.  I was 99 percent certain it was broken, and sure enough, I have an olecranon fracture which requires surgery. 

Friday afternoon I scheduled an appointment  with Dr. Brian Dierckman at the Southern California Orthopedic Institute in Van Nuys.  They are trying to work me in for surgery Tuesday (if not Tues, it will be Thurs.)

Arm heavily bandaged and wrapped from shoulder to wrist

I am on anti-biotics, (last thing I need is an infection) and I'm taking plenty of ibuprofen.  Still, my arm is severely swollen.

If my hand is this big and ugly, maybe it's a good thing I can't view my arm!

So, this will be a test of my patience....a good opportunity to read books, magazines and newspapers.  I'll miss playing the piano, and of course I'll miss riding my bike.  But I expect to be up and walking around within a week.  I plan to resume hiking, but will stick with the easy trails for a while.  Last thing I need is another fall!

I'm looking at 2 to 3 months pf physical therapy.  Supposedly, it takes 6 months to fully recover from this.  Looking at the bright side, if I had to break an appendage, I'm glad it is my left arm.   It is far preferable than my right arm, left leg, or right leg. 

Hey, I'm getting the hang of this one-handed typing!

OLYMPIC MARATHON TRIALS in LOS ANGELES!

What a thrill to be an official volunteer for the Olympic Trials!  The fastest men and women in the United States ran their hearts out on the streets of downtown L.A.  All athletes who participated are the cream of the crop, but only the top three finishers today will represent USA in Rio de Janeiro this summer at the 2016 Olympics.

It proved to be one of the hotter Trials. (I wonder who came up with the brilliant (literally) idea of a 10:00 am start time?)  Men started a little after 10:00 am and the separate women's race gun fired about 20 minutes later.   I can empathize.  I thought back to the year 2000 when I ran the Trials and the temperature soared to over 80 degrees.

My friend MaryJane and I were stationed on the USC (University of Southern California) campus right in front of the popular Campus Bookstore.  A block away from us, a group of spirited USC students gathered to cheer on the runners.

Getting pumped for the coming runners

Maryjane and I were assigned the job of making sure the marathon route on the street in front of us was kept clear for the runners.  You would be surprised how many people think they can just ignore the yellow "Do Not Cross" tape.  We had to tell several students that, "Yes, we realize the bookstore is right across the street, but you can't go there from here right now.  Sorry."  Most people understood.

The runners ran by us four times, on this multiple loop course, which is ideal for spectators, but is kind of crappy for runners, most of whom prefer a single circular course with varied scenery and terrain.

We were excited when the first pack of elite male runners ran by.

A press truck first appeared, and then this pack of runners.

All of these talented runners, living their dreams.

 And then we saw the women...It brought back fond memories for me.  I was privileged to run in the 2000 Olympic Trials in Columbia, SC.  I wore bib #91 and finished 87th overall.  I was 40 years old, and the 12th of the 16 Master Athletes (age over 40) to finish the race.    One of my proudest moments.

The women came by.

What a group of strong fast women.  Hats off to all of them.

Everyone is a winner in my mind, even if they are not in the lead pack.

It got more exciting as the runners did their third and fourth loops.  They became more spread out.  A few of the faster women and slower men ran in a pack.  We saw more stragglers and solo runners.

Woman on left, slightly behind the guy on the right.  They are in this together. 

Here is Meb on his final round  (He finished 2nd in 2:12:20.)  YEAH!!!

The women runners that whipped by us were to me like poetry in motion.

The blonde is Shalane Flanagan, who finished 3rd with a time of  2:29:26.

I respect all the athletes and their work and sacrifices that got them here.  I know it takes much dedication and hard training to make it to  the Trials.  But once you arrive at the Olympic Trials, you ARE a hero / heroine whether or not you make the team.  The difficult work occurred months before, when you ran hundreds of miles, trained and qualified.  I view (and viewed 16 years ago) the Trials as a wonderful Celebration.  It's the icing on the cake!

Congratulations to each and every one of the athletes. It was my pleasure to do my part to make your marathon a safe experience.

Maryjane and me.  We're a bit tired, but happy and loved working together.

The Hollywood Sign - More Popular Than Ever !

It's become a bitter pill,
those letters on the hill.
They come from near and far,
and mostly in their car
while they get their perfect shot,
our Park has gone to pot.

The "Sign" viewed from a hiking trail.

The Sign is below Beachwood Drive
whose residents did certainly strive
to do all that they possibly could
to rid the tourists from their "hood."

Living where they do has its perks,
so why do they behave like jerks?
New Yorkers must grapple
with life in the "Big Apple"
Those who live in Paris are not dour
because they live near the Eifel Tower...

So our city came up with a "Traffic Plan",
(which is not entirely in the can)
Citizens can weigh in on the MND,
and they certainly should, believe me!

The Plan wants to foolishly anoint
One singular "Viewing Point."
Let our voices be heard,
That this is absurd!

It gives me indigestion,
when I think of the congestion,
There is no saving grace
to bring all to ONE place!

Many tourists smoke,
and this is no joke,
The danger of a fire,
revs up much more ire...

But opportunity knocks,
If we think outside the box,
Rec and Parks should concentrate and look hard,
For a site south of Los Feliz Boulevard.

The view would be better,
To see every letter
It's a far better solution
With lesser pollution.

I could go on and on and scream
but instead I won't, I'll dream
that an answer is close and near
to this great Park I hold dear.


Please weigh in and submit your comments for the record on the Traffic Plan.  

HOLIDAYS, DECEMBER 2015

Happy New Year!

It was a memorable holiday season.  My mother spent a full week with us, Sunday Dec 20th through Sunday Dec 27th.  It was her first visit to our newly remodeled home.  I think she had a good time.  We certainly did. 

We kept a busy, but fun schedule.  We toured multiple museums, played many games of scrabble, shared laughs and meals together.

Monday we toured the Natural History Museum as well as the Museum of Tolerance. 

The Natural History Museum featured a special exhibit, Mummies, New Secrets from the Tombs.

We viewed hundreds of ancient mummies, mostly from Egypt and Peru.

We didn't allow enough time to see everything the museum had to offer, but we did take a tour of the gardens.

My mom, after a brief stroll of the NHM Garden

Tuesday, we returned to the west part of L.A., near UCLA to visit the Hammer Museum.  It was a cold and drizzly day, perfect to spend a few hours looking at Armand Hammer's fabulous art collection, which included the works of  van Gogh, Rembrandt, Goya, Renoir, Cezanne, Degas and others.

A unique chair was also on display.  Gerry couldn't resist a "spin."

 

Later, he was reprimanded by Nideha Akunyili Crosby, the Nigerian-born artist with a temporary exhibit in one of the galleries.

"Gotcha", she seems to scold.

Wednesday was a picture-perfect day, ideal for a visit to the Getty Villa.  We took advantage of two 45-minute docent-led tours:  the architecture tour and the garden tour.  We also attended the spotlight tour, a 30-minute talk with an in depth focus on one specific piece of art.

Harpist, early Cycladic II (ca. 2500 BC)
This was our focus piece on the spotlight tour 

The villa is a reconstruction and adaptation of the ancient Roman Villa dei Papiri, built outside the walls of the city of Herculaneum on the Bay of Naples.  It is believed to be one of the largest villas ever built in the Roman Empire.  It was buried when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in AD 79.

The gorgeous details in the ceilings and floors were pointed out on the architecture tour

My favorite tour was the Garden Tour.  We were fortunate to have a well-versed exceptional docent, as well as a beautiful day to enjoy the lovely grounds.

Mom stands at the side of this spectacular fountain in the garden.

I join her on the marble bench for a few minutes.

Christmas Day we walked from our backyard over to Fern Dell, (Griffith Park.)  It was a 3 mile walk, and a good way to kick off the holiday.

The three musketeers - Coors Light, the Silver Bullet, and Coors Beer - enjoy Fern Dell

After our walk we exchanged gifts and ate a delicious brunch.

A festive egg bake, with tomatoes, spinach and cheese and roasted potatoes, plus english muffins.

We took a few more pictures to record the day later in the afternoon, shortly before sunset.

In front of our house, with the focus on us.

In front of our house, with the focus on the house!

In the downstairs patio in front of our prolific orange tree.
Fresh picked oranges with breakfast each day.

Chef Gerry roasted a small turkey on the Weber Grill for Christmas Dinner.  The feast included rosemary roasted potatoes, green beans, and cranberry-orange relish.  It was delicious!!!

We are about to begin a very tasty meal. 

It was a fine week.  Plenty of museum visits along with many games of scrabble.  In the photo above, the red box on the chair at the top left is a scrabble game.  Below it is a scrabble dictionary.  I think we used them both every day.

Happy New Year to my dear family and friends.