Another Beautiful Day in PV

After a jaunt to the P.V. Farmer's Market, and a work-out at the Spectrum Health Club, the afternoon was time to enjoy a picnic with a friend. Off to Malaga Cove Plaza to pick up a few things...hummus, tabouli, stuffed grape leaves, pita chips and from my lovely kitchen I whipped up baked chicken, roasted tomatos, and a roasted purple cabbage and onion salad with a little cheese and cherry tomatos. My friend brought the blue cheese and chardonnay. He couldn't believe how beautiful our pre-picnic trek was, along the P.V. Coastline. Incredible. I love it. I consider myself one lucky duck living in a place as naturally awe-inspiring as my own neighborhood.

Opting out of pre-approved credit cards

After many years of receiving way to many pre-approved credit card offers, I stumbled upon an article on how to opt out. I tried it. It was easy. It lasts for 5 years. Hallelujah!

Call 888-567-8688.

Try it, you'll like it!

Just for Fun

Here's a video on youtube that is bound to put a smile on your face.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5KMRwLfaj4

Dolphins Surfing off Redondo Beach

While walking along the Esplanade this afternoon, I spotted the outline of a dolphin surfing just as the wave crested and it's form was back lit by the greenish blue clear water. It was a stellar shot. No camera but one for the memory banks of the mind. I stopped to enjoy the sights, sun and light breeze and was amazed to count up to 13 pods having one heck of a time swimming both north and south.

For those of you who might be interested in learning more about the local dolphin population or donate to this cause, here's the link:http://www.oceanconservation.org/

While looking for great sites on dolphins to pass on, I sadly came upon this recent article in the LA Times about a deep diving dolphin that died most likely as a result of a Navy sonar research program. Call me a softy but this makes me sick to my stomach. How would you like to be merrily swimming along and have a sonar blast the life out of you? If you want to read it, here it is: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-dolphin22feb22,1,6511399.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

This reminded me that swimming with dolphins is in my must-do living-life-to-the-fullest list. There is a family vacation coming up in Mexico and so to end on a happier note: http://travel.latimes.com/destinations/mexico/puerto-vallarta/clm/active-pursuits/swimming-with-dolphins


Call it a 2-fer day. After blogging about those beautiful elegantly plumed peacocks, there was one crossing the road today.

Peacocks in Palos Verdes

I feel like I am in some strange, exotic place as I hear the distinct call of the peacock. For those of you that don't know, Palos Verdes peninsula in L.A. County is home to these technicolor dreamcoats. You could be driving your car past the library in Malaga Cove and their is one strutting it's stuff on the side (or the middle) of the road. One was outside my living room window much to my surprise (and delight!) as I discovered after checking out why my two cats had their heads butted into the window screen and their tales were flicking back and forth with intensity. Peacock spottings don't occur as often as I would like in my neighborhood and that is why I welcome that exotic call so early in the morning.

The sun has just risen. Pink horizontal bands across the sky. It is so quiet, I can hear a plane off in the distance making it's U-turn from the Pacific to an Eastern heading. Ahh. The serenity of Palos Verdes. I love P.V. because it feels so "un-L.A." To me, withit's European with its Spanish and Italianite homes, city fountains, wonderful hilly, curvy roads with stellar views of the cliffs and ocean and expanses of limitless - sky - it feels like Europe. Every day can be a Calgon-take-me-away-day.

I digress about my beloved bird. A google search with keywords of peacock and Palos Verdes results in bevy of interesting websites. Among my favorites are:

The FOTP’s (The Friends of the Peacock) purpose is to protect, promote, and ensure the preservation of the wild peafowl in PVE for future generations of property owners to enjoy as part of the natural character of our semi-rural coastal city.
http://avocado.forest.net/marysalpaca/fotp/index.lasso

Taken from the L.A. Business Journal, the link below focuses on the 90274 zip code and description of property values, affluence and briefly describes the flocks of wild peacocks were imported decades ago and have flourished.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5072/is_21_26/ai_n6056224

Here's a different point of view on the virtues of peacocks. This one is from a real estate agent who brings to light the "pooping peacock disclosure". Funny and fascinating all the same time. As my 4 year old nephew would ask, "Tall tale or true?" True.

http://kellyandlaurablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/how-the-errant-golf-ball-disclosure-came-into-existence/

Well, the day has begun, morning commutes have started along with the morning walkers and the peacock calls have subsided and my coffee cup is empty. My cue for moving on with the day.

Guessing Game

Can you guess the word defined below?

- Parted with; gone out of someone's possession

- That has ceased to be known or practiced

- Unable to find the way

- Absorbed, as in lost in thought

- Not gained or won

- Taken from posession or denied to the efforts of

If you have guessed "LOST" you are right. Call me a total nerd but after losing most of today and most of the week in my effort to be cast as an extra - I thought it was ironic, kind of funny and somewhat interesting that the very thing I sought in name was - well, er, lost!

LOST extra casting: Middle Eastern persons needed

While waiting for a connecting flight from Honolulu to L.A., I read an article in the Honolulu Advertiser about a LOST casting call for Middle Eastern appearing people of all ages. I showed it to my mother and asked what she thought. Do I look Middle Eastern? Yes was the answer. For the next 4 days I found myself excited about the possibility. What a kick it would be. I love that show. And I would be in Hawaii. And it would be a great life experience and I would have fun stories to tell. And finally - my non-WASP, non-California-blonde look would be marketable. Even an asset.

Off went the pictures sent express. And off I was on a quest. I called the journalist from the paper to get the casting number. Surprisingly, it was the casting director who picked up the phone! They needed over 100 people for two days. I was told I had a job and that I would get a call firming up the details. Hurray! I was excited and started making arrangements but held off until plans were solidified. The next day, the casting director called and suggested it wasn't worth the time and money since the shoot would be next Friday and wardrobe would be on Monday. I would be part of the set of a funeral set in Tunisia shot from above and have a covering over my face. I accept! I accept! I'll call you later was the response from the director. She forgot I was in L.A. Ut-oh. Not sounding so good. A couple hours later I thought it was best to call and indicate I had purchased my airfare and would be arriving on Sunday afternoon but the director was in a production meeting and her assistant said it would be a couple of hours. Sinking feeling. At 6:30 PST, I saw the day passing - and with it the opportunity - one last call. I hope I am not bugging them but damn! I would really like a confirmation! The sinking feeling called intuition was right. I was told that they had downsized the pool of extras and my services would not be needed. Can you say: Dissapointed? I did. Maybe I was too assertive, impatient or maybe they just didn't need the as many extras as they had originally planned. Whatever it was - the end result was the end result. I was left frustrated and dissapointed and wondering what I could have done differently. But maybe they just didn't need someone to fly in from LA for a $70 day and being so eager.

Sometimes you just have to accept what is out of your control and remember to do it with grace. I forget sometimes, to be honest, and graciousness flies out the window. There have been several instances this past week where things didn't turn out the way I would like - and I found myself objecting and sputtering - sometimes internally and sometimes externally. I guess the main thing to practice is the perverbial "letting go", of being ok with dissapointment even after you have made a herculean effort to achieve, obtain or secure something. Of saying "I did my best" at the time. And not blaming others. And after all this is said and done, you can move on to something else that excites you and catches your fancy. The main thing is take risks even knowing there is a high likelihood of them not panning out. Life is full of surprises