Safe in LA

I am leading such a double life that it has become completely divided. When I am in LA it's hard to think about what's going on in Tucson and vice versa. I forget the entire to-do list, because life in LA is so absorbing and takes such complete focus, for me, then have to work really hard to get back in the right groove.

We had a really short weekend this time, arriving in Tucson about 8 PM Friday, then back to the airport at 4:00 this afternoon. All is well at home except we had such high winds that my back storage room door was blown open and is hanging open by its top hinge. My wonderful handyman will have someone on it ASAP. But the door probably needs to be replaced and painted so with labor I'm afraid there goes another $500.

And I lost another $25 leash. I think it fell out of Benji's carrier under the seat of the plane. That's the third one. We are averaging about one every two months. I hate losing money foolishly like that.

I am looking forward to the work week, though. The work with Infection Control is challenging and rewarding. I am feeling a lot better so am looking forward to working out in the pool this week.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wapping a Baby - Controversial?

Why isn't it OK to wap a baby? I have spent an entire flight listening to a baby shriek with pique or glee. And it's about ten rows back. The parent choruses 'Ssshhhhhhhh' after every shriek until it's almost a reinforcement. The kid's thinking, 'When I shriek, Mom goes shhhhhhhh. Fun.'

Why isn't ok to wap the kid? Its amazingly effective. Quick. You only have to do it once. Just a quick firm tap on the mouth. Not a hit even. Just a firm tap. They get the idea. And they shut up. It works. I know it does because I wapped my kid. And he is an excellent man now. What are parents afraid of that they abstain from a good effective wap?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Almost Starting to Like It Here

It's amazing what the absence of pain, both physical and emotional, does for a person. I really am starting to look around and see the nice people here, and they are reaching out to us.

I told you about the roses at work. Well, they brought more blessings. People stopped by to chat about them and I learned that two of my closest neighbors in cube-land at work, both Chinese, are recent transplants from the midwest to Los Angeles. Both are dealing with homes that aren't selling and family split in two cities, for now. I had not looked past my own nose to know these nice people, even to know that they are both new in LA. How much richer it is to know them!

I finished a major infection control milestone before leaving work yesterday, and went out with my new friend, Ellen, who is the infection control nurse pioneering the new ambulatory clinic program at Cedars. She is wonderfully friendly, has a brilliant mind, excellent values, and she grew up in rural Califormia, and even had a pig in 4-H! We get along excellently.

She came to the apartment, and went with me and Benji to walk and get dinner at Cravings. She told me lots of stars hang out there at Sunset Plaza but I still haven't seen any. We chatted and watched the crowd go by, enjoyed the warm air and "quiet" night (for LA).

When she left, Benji and I ran into friends from the building we had not seen in a while, Maggie and Billy (a Boston Terrier and a Toto-dog), and Chad. He works from home as a specialty travel agent arranging trips for high-end clients and their retinues, concert crews, stars, and such. His partner, Charlie, is in New York right now, just finishing his runway show for Bebe. He designs clothes for them, Ann Taylor and others. We see him leaving in the mornings in his vintage cream colored Mercedes, wearing his plaid scarf, looking very handsome and stylish.

Anyway, Chad is one of those boisterous people who has never seen a stranger, and he loves Benji. He wants to go out to Cravings with me next week sometime. Charlie doesn't like to dine out, but he does. And he gave me big bear-hugs! We had not seen each other for a while and had missed talking. They came up to the apartment and visited a bit, too.

So it feels like LA is embracing me, whether I wanted it or asked for it, or not. I am making friends.

Here is a photo of Cravings.


And here are some of the shops at Sunset Plaza. Meet the new vintage-style girdle-dress:


and their many-colored friends:


and the instruments of torture meant to be worn on the feet:



There is also a shop there that does nothing but "blow-outs" (hair styling) in various ways. And one that does nothing but apply makeup.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Just a Moment Ago

I was just now commiserating with Chris via text messages about being too empathetic for my own good (in relation to that last story).

As I wrote my message to Chris a woman who was so nice earlier in the week, asking me how I have been, brought me a dozen roses!!

Now I really could cry! What a sweet gesture! I hardly know her! But earlier in the week she was assuring me that I am not alone. I guess now she has shown it.

Wow. Wow. Tears again. I guess it's my day.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Crying Already This Morning

I had a really bad flare yesterday, for no reason I could pinpoint except that I did not get my usual massage last weekend and the weather here has been wet and gray. I did rest and get a massage and bath and am much better now.

But I cried already today. A very sweet young woman at work was telling me about meeting her parents at the airport yesterday. They were coming to visit from Indonesia and her mom has had cancer and she had not seen them in years. I cried just to think of their joy.

She said, "Oh, I'm so sorry, did I make you sad?"

"No", I said. "Just so happy for you!" And I was. Just to think of their joy on meeting again was overpowering.

I'm back to programming, of course, here at work, but it's really tough. I have this undercurrent of emotional electricity flowing now and it's hard to keep it in check.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:W 5th St,Los Angeles,United States

What does it mean, in Hollywood?

What does it mean, in Hollywood, when you see a black limousine followed by five white Escalades pulling into the Marriott?

Rappers.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Wilshire Blvd,Los Angeles,United States

Quote of the Day - from Robert Fulghum

I've been trying to get Chris cheered up a bit today.  Anyone want to help me?

It made me think of this quote from Robert Fulghum:

“One of life's best coping mechanisms is to know the difference between an inconvenience and a problem. If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you've got a problem. Everything else is an inconvenience. Life is inconvenient. Life is lumpy. A lump in the oatmeal, a lump in the throat and a lump in the breast are not the same kind of lump. One needs to learn the difference.”