A Wicked Night

Last Tuesday night, Alyson took me to see Wicked at the Pantages. It was an adventure in every sense. It started with Alyson not being able to find her car keys after we got off of work. She retraced all her steps with no success, so she called her next door neighbors, Sara and Pauly, to get her spare key. They were going to meet us for dinner and the show. They had a plan to take the train from North Hollywood and meet us at Vert. Sara called to tell us Pauly forgot Alyson's key in the car and missed the train. She also heard from another passenger that there was a bomb scare at the station at Hollywood and Vine, which is across the street from the theatre. Alyson tried to find out if that was true by calling some friends, asking them to check the news, but we couldn't get anymore information. Sara showed up at the restaurant and we waited for Pauly. He mistakenly took the train to Hollywood and Vine, but called to say that there was no scare, no police around. Who knows what that was about?? He arrived at the restaurant finally and gave Al her key. We ate and chatted and went down to the train station to take the train to the next stop -- Hollywood and Vine. We waited until 7:55 -- curtain is at 8 -- and....NO TRAIN. As we ran up the escalator to try to catch a cab, the train arrived. We ran back downstairs, caught the train and rode the 3 minute ride to the theatre. The tickets were at will call, we grabbed them and were shooed through the lobby and up the stairs. We sat, out of breath, just as the lights went down and the curtain went up. Whew!!!

We had great seats -- front row balcony in the middle -- and, I have to say, the show was fabulous. It's a real spectacle and very entertaining.


I hadn't been to the Pantages in years. It is a truly magnificent theatre. Sara knows one of the cast, Melissa Fahn, so we went backstage afterwards to say hi. Melissa is a beautiful, charming, talented actress, who graciously gave us an incredible backstage tour. We saw the set pieces, viewed the theatre from the stage, saw all the costumes set up for the fast changes, went downstairs to the orchestra pit and the wardrobe and wig areas. It really brought back memories (I have a BA in drama and spent part of my career in wardrobe). She was also in the original Broadway cast and told us lots of stories of her experiences. It was a magical evening.

I didn't get home until after 1AM and spent most of last week recovering, but it was definitely worth it.
And the Lost and Found at work had Al's keys. All's well...

Milestones

I knew I would miss the odometer on my car turning to 100,000. I didn't miss it by much. It still runs fine and hasn't cost me a fortune in repairs and I can't afford another car right now, so I will watch it pile on the miles.

I got a parking spot at work!! It only took 1 1/2 years to wait for it, but I got it. I think I got it...this is my name, isn't it?


Milestone #3 -- I got on Ravelry!!!! If you knit or crochet, you must check out this site. It represents a world wide community that you can look at what they are working on, what they have in their yarn stash and all the things others have made with a specific kind of yarn. It's amazing and I've only begun to explore it all. I'm in the process of putting all my yarn and needles on my account. It will take a long, long time. (It's all on my Flickr account, if you are interested...)

As far as projects go, I finally finished the sock I was making when I started this blog. Check out my blog from January(!) called Slow Socks.


Of course, I didn't realize that I would need more than 1 skein when I started, so I crossed my fingers and went back to Abuelita's. They have moved up the block on Mission to a bigger store and I hadn't been yet, so it was all perfect. They still had the yarn! So on to sock #2.

Another milestone: Bella actually sat on my lap! She took off when I tried to pick her up, but I'm encouraged by her progress.

What a weekend...

OK, it started on Friday night. Alyson and I went for drinks and manicure/pedicures at our favorite place, Polished in Burbank. The women in there are all wonderful and do a great job for not breaking the bank kind of money. The drinks were at Outback, which is across the patio and they were delicious.

Saturday was the The LA Library trip with Madge, Marie, Patty, Mary, ,Jillian , Annette and Barbara. It was a lecture by Stephanie Pearl McPhee, introduced by my bff, Ellen. She was great, Stephanie was great and all my pals from SnB West Hollywood and Pasadena were great. I bought some cat bookends in the gift shop (I love gift shops) and joined the Library Support Foundation. I hadn't been there since I was in high school (a long, long, long time ago) and hadn't seen the new incarnation. It is beautiful, much different than the homeless haven I remembered. Of course, there were homeless there, but I hope they are reading as they seek shelter from the heat or cold. I highly recommend a day trip to check it out. Since joining the foundation, I will now get newsletters and notices of upcoming events. Brit called while I was in the gift shop with Ellen and offered to pick me up in her little MG convertable. What a treat! It was so much fun to be zipping around LA in such a sexy car! We stopped at Pinot at the Library for drinks and a snack. It's a lovely restaurant facing the library's gardens. And the food and drinks were spectacular. We then took off for an art show on Sunset, which was pretty much a bust. Although we did get to visit her pal, Craig, at his tattoo shop. Always fun.

Today Brit and I were Cat Nippers. 100 feral cats spayed and neutered. I'm exhausted. I am her assistant with the vaccines. I did get to see a lot of people I haven't seen in a while. Love to Karn and Mark, who organize the whole thing. It's quite the operation, pardon the pun.

And, of course, the exquisite bella -- please pardon the mess. I told you I WAS BUSY ALL WEEKEND!!!

Bella's behind

Bella's behind, originally uploaded by mjl4952.

Not very attractive, but here she is...

Last Night

This is a farewell to my Pilates studio that I've been going to for at least 8 years. My favorite trainer, Amanda, is leaving and I need to take a financial break from private lessons. It was just me, Amanda and Heather last night -- we've been together (with Jackie) for about 5 years. Bye, bye for now...

We had our second Bollywood night at Jackie's on Friday. We saw Krrish with the gorgeous Hrithik Roshan. (He is really worth checking out.)




Next time we are planning a day trip to Artesia to see a film in a Bollywood theatre. And have lots of food. And (maybe) buy some more saris.

I chased Bella around the house, but she refused to pose. I only got a very blurry, dark photo of her behind. Maybe tomorrow.

Remember me?

I realized I had only posted once in August and I've a lot to catch up on. I'll start with the most recent first. Yesterday Brit stopped by to take me with her to King's Western Wear on Lankershim. She likes the shirts and boots and I came along for the ride.


Of course, she didn't find anything and I found an amazing deal on a pair of ankle boots. Originally $98, on sale 75% off!! They cost me 25 bucks! And aren't they the cutest?


Brit has great boots, too.


I talked to Rosalie over the weekend. She asked if I could make a baby hat for one of her co-workers. Whether it is a boy or girl she doesn't know yet, so I made it out of some yarn Estelle gave me -- it didn't have a label so I don't know what it is. It's multicolored blue, purple, green shiny stuff and I think it turned out pretty good. I got the pattern from One Skein. First I used my hand as a model...


Then I found another model hanging around the house...


I also finished my Clapotis shawl and found another willing model...


I'm still working on a baby blanket -- really a big spa cloth! --but it is pretty boring and the perfect thing to bring to SnB on Thursday. I brought it last week, but forgot to pack another skein and ran out of yarn. Ellen just happened to have a couple of projects in her bag to keep me busy. I should do that, too! The whole Tom Sawyer and the fence thing.

Brit couldn't resist taking some portraits with my new camera, a Sony Cyber-shot, bright blue! I love it. Here is her work...



Today I bit the bullet and ordered a new computer. Mine is about 8 years old and is getting very slow. I got an iMac and can't wait!! I also went out with Alyson and bought more shoes...it's a sickness, I know. (But aren't they worth it?)


Alyson and I wrapped up the day eating green tamales and drinking pomagranate magharitas at El Cholo in Pasadena. What a weekend!

Bella is being very shy tonight, so her photo will have to wait.

Catching up

I've been so busy crafting that I haven't blogged! I got a bug to embroider a tote bag for my BFF Ellen's birthday. Of course, I forgot to take a photo of it, so you can see in in Ellen's blog in the slide show of her little party. It's the Tiki bag. I had so much fun making that!! I used a transfer pattern from Sublime Stitching. What a great company!! They have tons of terrific patterns to iron on. I have now bought several -- I'm hooked.

I also crocheted some Spa Cloths from a pattern Ellen gave me and gave them in a Market Bag I made from the Sugar'n Cream pattern to my next door neighbor, Charles, for his birthday. I modified the bag to have two straps, one on each side. I used Cream for the Main Color and crocheted a stripe of Shades of Green on the body of the bag. I also failed to take a photo of it before I gave it to him. I should get the camera glued to my hip. And use it. He loved it.

Last Friday I hosted a Bollywood party for some of my friends. We are getting together to watch Indian movies and eat and drink. We're trying to do it on a semi regular basis. It's a lot of fun. We watched Koi... Mil Gaya. If you ever get a chance to see a Bollywood movie, DO IT!! They are a hoot. And the dance numbers are too much. It is the first in a series and we are planning to see the number two,Krrish, next. Jackie made chicken curry, Heather brought hummus and pita and they both brought bottles of wine. I provided bindis. Amanda was sick and couldn't make it, which is a shame because she knows all the movies and tells us back stories about the performers. She has seen tons of Bollywood movies and owns the ones we see. Here is a very blurry photo of Heather and Jackie, wearing their bindis.


I'm cruising along on my Clapotis shawl. My favorite part of the pattern is where she tells you to "eat a croissant". It's coming along very well, but I'm getting a little bored. It may be time to start something else.


I like the color changes and it's so soft!

Bella hid for the party. She is not very sociable yet, but I have hope. Here she is in her new favorite spot -- under my bed.

A Quick Note

I went to Ellen's art show last night at Future Studio and, to quote Ellen, it was faboooo! I met Madge, her husband, Tom and Marie for dinner at El Cholo Cafe in Pasadena, ate waaay too much (Green Corn Tamales!!!). shared a pitcher of delicious margharitas, then waddled over to Highland Park for the art show. There was quite a big crowd there and it looked like she had sold a lot of her pieces. I love Ellen's art and wanted them all, but finally picked this one because of my fondness for old LA and the Batchelder tile in the corner. I can't have it for a couple of weeks, but I've already scoped out the perfect spot so I can look at it every day.

I gave up on a top I was knitting -- it wasn't turning out the way I thought it would -- and started a Clapotis shawl with Caron Simply Soft Shadows in Pearl Frost. Here it is, so far:



It's pretty easy going. I'm doing only things I can work on at SnB while chatting or something to work on while watching all my Tivo'd programs. This is perfect.

Little Miss Bella has been a good companion while I've been on vacation. Here she was today in her favorite spot:

Fourth of July on the Beach

I spent most of last week up in Northern California, visiting Rosalie, my sister. I arrived Monday afternoon and stayed until Friday morning. She had Tuesday through Thursday off, so we got to spend a lot of time together. It was a great trip, starting with mud baths and massages at Indian Springs in Calistoga. It's an older spa and hotel all the way at the end of the main street and it is WONDERFUL!! The mud bath is a real bath -- you sink into volcanic mud. It's like being wrapped up in hot pudding. After showering off, you soak in an old fashioned claw tub with a glass of ice water on a tray in front of you. Then it's into the sauna for a while before the massage. Have I said yet what a sensualist I am? After being turned into noodles, we had a terrific lunch in town and then I went a little crazy over the some Southwest jewelry at Calistoga Jewels and Gallery. I blame noodleness for my lack of control. I bought a couple of beautiful rings that are being sized now. Pictures will accompany when I have them.

On Independence Day, we were off to a lovely party at a condo/golf course in Bodega Bay. It is one of the prettiest beaches I've ever seen -- the views are amazing.


It was a block party with lots of food and good company. We went off for a walk on the beach, where we saw a kite flyer


and some boats on the water.


It was a gorgeous day, almost too chilly on the beach, but we left the party to take a stroll around Schollenberger Park in Petaluma. Rosalie is a bird enthusiast and it is a good place to find egrets, Canadian geese and more. It's quite beautiful, too -- a large pond with all sorts of wild life.



My stay ended with a scrumptous dinner at West County Grill in Sebastopol on Thursday night. We both had the catch of the day -- halibut -- and the service, food and atmosphere were perfect for my last night in the North.

I do have a error to report on my last blog. The yarn I'm using for the cartigan is Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick in Charcoal and Plum. Here is is, so far:

It's amazing how much I can get done when I do nothing else... Still haven't tackled those boxes of books yet, but I've got another weeks' vacation left. Tomorrow I'm taking the sweater to work on while I meet Madge and her friends in Monrovia for some stichin' and bitchin'.


It seems I also forgot to post the beautiful Bella, so here goes:
First the Sphinx

And then the beauty shot

Isn't she plushy?

Angela and Ari

Last week I met my good friend, Angela, at the Farmer's Market. I was there to meet her new baby, Ari. He was the perfect baby -- he was adorable and slept the whole time. He got much attention; I don't think I've ever been so noticed at the Farmer's Market. Angela is also a terrific knitter and chomping at the bit to get back.


Speaking of knitting... I finished the Lacey Vee Tee! It just needs blocking, but I thought it turned out pretty well. Here I am in the new bathroom, trying to take my own photo.

After blocking, I will ask someone else to take the photo, but this gives a good idea. I've now started a sweater -- insane idea in this weather! -- from Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel. I'm knitting in in the designated yarn, which I hardly ever do. I'm using Lion Brand Jiffy Yarn in Oxford Grey. I'm proud to say it was from my stash!!! Something else I hardly ever do.

Santa Catalina

Just 2 days in Catalina seems like a vacation. It's hard to believe that something so close can seem like a place so far away. Alyson and I took the ferry over on Wednesday. We popped the extra money for the Commodore Lounge -- I highly recommend it.

You get a free beverage (that includes alcohol!), the seats are comfortable and it is air conditioned!! And I got a "Senior Discount". (Note to Ellen: evidently, 55 is considered a senior in Catalina.) I have to say, vanity took a back seat to the discount.

We stayed at the Pavilion Lodge -- a great place close to everything and suprisingly quiet -- and each got a great massage from Massages by Michelle. We had BBQ for lunch and fish for dinner and then went to the movie at the old 1932 Avalon Theatre. It's a beautiful place with original art deco murals covering the walls. The movie was Evan Almighty. Not the best movie I've ever seen, but I got the "Senior Discount" which made it a bit more palatable. The next morning we had waffles, rented a golf cart and rode up to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Gardens. Wow. It's very impressive with beautiful tile work.


Here are Alyson and me in the memorial and the view from the tower.


Alyson did all the driving in the lucky #13 cart. We stopped to take photos of the most beautiful bouganvilla. It was eye popping.




I had never taken the tour of the Casino, so that's what we did. It's an amazing place that hasn't been changed much in the last 70 years. We started outside learning about the murals -- all original art work.
We went into the movie theatre and saw a little film about the history of the Casino -- a famous spot for a lot of Big Bands -- and then went up the ramps to the ballroom.





















Here is the chandelier.

Again, all art deco and all original.

We also got to see the Casino bar, which only served soda pop when the casino opened. It seems that Wrigley was a staunch teetotaler. It now serves all sort of beverages, but is much reduced from its original design.


After the tour, we boarded the ferry and headed home. It's really weird; I felt as if we had been gone for a while.

And, in case you were wondering, Bella didn't miss me at all.