first weekend in August

How about I check in on things from a week ago?  Sounds about right for the way this blog goes most of the time lately, right?  It's been a very easy, lazy Saturday, and even then, I've only just found the wherewithal to get some things written and posted.  Nicely done, Peter!

Alright then, a week ago yesterday.  Starting out with a good long walk since I didn't have a morning commute to be mindful of.  Over 11 miles that morning.  Yep, a great way to end my July step count.  I was pretty pleased with that.

The workday at home proved uneventful, and before we knew it, it was done.  We weren't at Maestro right at opening as we sometimes are, but we were seated at the bar not long afterward. 

I haven't been indulging in Mezcal Campfires much lately, but I did have one that evening. 

Calamari

and the chicken mole

for me and Conrad to share.  Nice, easy evening, and home after that to watch a little television and wind down.

Saturday was a little fuller.  The middle part of the day included housework and errands, but we also made time to go see a condo at an open house.  A really good and promising unit were we in a position to buy right away.  But we aren't.  Still, that was impetus for us to begin getting financial ducks in a row.

Framing the midday activities were the morning walk and breakfast at Amara (shared burrito for us)

to start the day, and then a jaunt down to San Pedro early in the evening.  We were invited over to Lessa and Christian's home for drinks

before heading to dinner with them at Trani's Dockside Station. 

It was nice to come down their way - they've come up this way a few times now, and it really is a drive.  Plus, how nice to see their home (I love to see what books people have on their shelves) and meet their chickens. 

Van is such an animal lover!

Dinner was a great recommendation.  I struggled with the menu because there was a lot I wanted to try.  Lessa, Conrad, and I shared oysters, and then I had a swordfish special. 

Lightly breaded, which was interesting, and I liked it.  Some greens on the side. 

The chocolate gelato dessert was fine

- I preferred the brown butter cake that landed at the other end of the table and that I couldn't readily finish.  The restaurant had a good bar as well, and the Saging Grace cocktail was refreshing. 

A nice night with local friends as the highlight of the weekend.

As is often the case, I have no Sunday photos.  I recall spending a very good deal of the day reading old XMen comics on my iPad, and what a delight that was.  Such an easy day.  I put together a board of easy nibbles for dinner so as not to cook on a hot day.  Television, to bed, and then... Monday. 

playing hooky on a Wednesday

Ah, Friday night.  We've been to Maestro, we've come home and done some shopping online (thank you, gift cards!), and now, before I head to bed, I should get a blog entry posted.  Why not?  Should be fun!

The reduction in my workload to 90% has meant a lower salary, yes, but it also means more time off.  Given how summer is so so so so so very quiet at work, it was an easy thing to play hooky on an August Wednesday because Van had nothing planned.  Hooray!  A chance to go out and see the city somewhere and do something fun.  Conrad, by the way, was in Chicago, else we would have included him.  Anyway, even after 13 (13!!!!) years in SoCal, there is still so much I haven't seen, and one major attraction on that list was Griffith Park and the observatory.

So it was that very late on Wednesday morning, this handsome chap

and I

were in a car heading into LA and up into the hills separating the coastal bowl from the San Fernando Valley.  Past the Greek Theatre

(I'd love to get to a show there) and climbing up.  Parking was a small trek from our destination, but think of the step count!

Anyway, we enjoyed the observatory itself,

the fine structure inside and out, the Art Deco aspects of it,

the landscaping around it. 

We admired the views of the city on a hazy (not smoggy) day

and even of the Hollywood sign. 

I thought it was pretty cool to see.  We were struck by the variety of languages heard around us, which we took as a healthy sign of not just the diversity of LA but also of the tourism to the city.  I'd like to get back up there, especially now that I know that Conrad hasn't been.  One day!

We drove back down the backside, the north side, and found ourselves in the Toluca Lake neighbourhood for lunch, sitting in a corner booth at Paty's. 

A classic feel to the place, and if the food wasn't anything new or exciting, it certainly was satisfying.  The Trousdale sandwich for me,

turkey and Swiss with cole slaw on it, grilled.  Yum!

I still have some time unaccounted for this year, and that's good.  I'd like another hooky day or two, with Van or with Conrad or with both.  We shall see.  But what a nice summer midweek that was!

Stephan Moccio at Blue Note

I asked Conrad this a short time ago this evening:  why did we never go to see live music when we lived in Chicago.  It happened, but oh so rarely.  If I think hard, I can come up with maybe ten shows that weren't music in Grant Park.  Not great.

But since moving to LA and especially since having Van in our lives, we go out and see and hear so much more.  We were talking on the drive home tonight about how it was the Hollywood Bowl two months ago, and I know that there are two or three local shows to come later this year.  Hardly a lot, but it sure feels great!

The three of us took ourselves over to Hollywood this evening for a show (and dinner and drinks!) at the Blue Note. 

Conrad and I had been there earlier this year, enjoying Samara Joy in performance, a show that Van had to miss.  That informed us on what to do this evening:  arrive early to get good seats.  And so we did. 

We had a nice dinner (shared a salad

and olives, a hamburger for me, Last Words all around) and a terrific waitress (Pie, she said, just like the dessert), and good seats.  By show time the venue was far from full, but that's ok.  Stephan came on shortly after 7, taking the stage alone at his piano, and we settled in to enjoy the show.

Not familiar with Stephan Moccio?  Ever heard Miley Cyrus' Wrecking Ball?  That's one of his co-writes. He is the co-writer of a big Celine Dion song.  And there is more.  That songwriting success has enabled him to put out music that is jazzier, lounge-ier.  I've enjoyed his stuff for at least a few years now.  It's kind of background, but I like it just the same.  On stage, though, he tells great stories, and there is oomph to his playing, real vigour.  Not at all background.  He was a great time.

Oh, and bonus:  Allison went to school with him!  She remembers him, perhaps not well.

What a fine night, though.  And not a late one either, happily.  I have to wrap this up and get upstairs to bed.  Conrad is off to Chicago in the morning, and I am his ride to LAX.  5:00 will come soon! 

last reminder of the month

She may be slowing down - we definitely are noticing more and more that she's not the young dog she once was (are any of us?) - but she's still the cutest, prettiest little girl.  Television date night at Van's last night, and when I arrived, there was much time spent on the Couch of Love, as we call it.  She jumps up and demands (and gives!) affection until she is done with us, and last night that was a goodly long time of making sure Olive was given the love she deserves.

Happy August ahead!  I look forward to spending time next month taking care of her while Van and Conrad go on a road trip.