Off to Mexico!

Greetings from the Mexican lounge at LAX. Check-in and security was a breeze...which is a refreshing change from all the other airport experiences over the last 6 years! A restless sleep worrying that I would oversleep came to fruition...my alarm clock did not buzz and so when I felt the sun streaming in my bedroom - I knew I was late. 20 minutes later I was out the door and acted like one of the impatient LA drivers!

VACATION!

This is going to be awesome. I cashed in my miles for a first class seat and am already enjoying a first class experience. Time to explore the lounge and enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee!

Prices in Los Angeles

For my international readers who may be interested to know the price of neccesities in Los Angeles...

Gas - has surpassed $4 a gallon. In LA that is tough because it take an hour to get anywhere and if you are a commuter, most of the time you are sitting on the freeway. I am definately glad I do not own a big gas guzzling SUV or a big engine in my car. I am a lot more careful about where I go...

Eggs - Now this shocked me. Eggs were a cheap staple. Not at $3.39 a dozen - not so cheap. The gal at Trader Joe's said she could remember they were only a dollar last year.

Daffodils - Remember those daffodils I waxed on about? They were orignally 99 cents a bunch - in a couple of weeks - the price has gone up to $1.29

Rice - The news reported a 160% increase. Someone is stock piling rice.

Wheat - The Eqyptian gal at Trader Joe's was telling me their is a wheat shortage in her country and that everyone is fighting over pita bread. Someone is stock piling wheat.

Milk - nearly $4 a gallon - the same price as gas. Is this crazy or what?

Best bargains in town can be found at:

1. The International Store on Hawthorne - lots of reasonably priced produce, bread and cheese.
2. Farmer's Market - lot of veggies and fruit for a dollar or more
3. COSTCO - obvious right? Tonight I was wishing for a big hunk of cake from the Cheesecake Factory. 1) it was off my driving route 2) I couldn't justify $8 or $10 for a piece of dessert. On my COSTCO run I discoverd chocolate covered ice cream that is covered in big chunks of yummy almonds. It was so big - my hand was literally getting tired holding the end of the wooden stick. It was amazing and for $1.62 it was the most enjoyable and best value. I will probably have to walk from here to AZ to burn off the calories. YUM

Rock N Fish - Manhattan Beach

After a spectacular day at the beach, complete with a yummy picnic, good conversation and 5 hours of hot sunny weather, my friend and I were....PARCHED.

In our post-beach attire, we felt very comforable at Rock N Fish and ordered a large, cold, very perfect beer - Widmer Hefenweizen. It came with a wedge of lemon and was the color of peach juice, opaque and so, so, so very delicious.

Ah...happiness is... a fun day at the beach
...with the company of someone you enjoy
...and a nice impromptu surprise in the form of more good company over a cold icy beer on a steamy hot, sun-blazing day.

The food looked great. We vowed we'd come back for dinner. For their menu: check it out at
http://rocknfishmb.com/menu.html

In praise of daffodils Part II

Here are some more photos...they looked so pretty on my dining room table and the shadows against the pink table cloth. It reminded me of a book I read about 25 years ago called, "In Praise of Shadows". I also admired the stems - all uniform in their shape - and I thought they were beautiful and made an interesting picture.

Daffodils from Trader Joe's

I love these daffodils. They are magical. I bought these at Trader Joe's for a little more than a dollar. I snipped off the ends, put them in a vase of water and 20 minutes later, rounded the corner to see that they had gone from closed little buds to cheerful blossoms. It was better than any recent show I have scene. Pure and natural. Absolutely beautiful.

The weather in Palos Verdes has been fantastic. Spectacular. Amazing. I wish I had my camera today and could show you the cheery bird perched on a bush - chirping happily over an ocean view...or the little cottontail hopping across the path to eat a little din-din. This is why I love Palos Verdes.

More to come.

Don't Cry Over Spilled Water

Last night I was working on an article at 11:30 and had just completed about an hours worth of word-smithing and finesing. I hit save and reached for a glass of refreshing water. It happened so quickly (I must have been tired) that it spilled over my laptop and although I tried to turn whole lapside upside down. Fizzle Fizzle. Snap, crackle and pop. There went the screen and the motherboard and the laptop. For some reason it didn't seem to faze me. Odd. So...oh well, it gave me good service every day for 5 years and I took it will me on many trips for business and pleasure. What can you do. I found myself standing in line at COSTCO at 10 a.m. with an unanticpated purchase. Life is too short to cry over spilled water.