Thurs. Writers always begins with a brief conversational period while everyone gets there.
Today, I said, "The Lord moves in mysterious ways ... ("Amen!" said one irreverently) ) "Robin Williams, 63; Betty Bacall, 89: and then there's poor old ZsaZsa Gabor - she's got to be 98, down to one leg and still with us."
"I wouldn't be so sure Cooper said, sinisterly, "Prince-y stands to lose a lot when she dies. She may be on life support ... anything to keep her going."
Food for thought indeed.
On the way home, northbound on PCH where Catalina turns into PCH, Richie stopped for the light, but a black SUV barreled right on through. Richie honked his horn at him and when the light changed, he was exactly one lane over from us.
The SUV driver rolled down his back side window (the passenger window was already open so he must have been royally pissed.) And delivered a profanity laden diatribe at the end of which Richie gave him a genial goodbye("F--k you!" as I recall) as traffic moved forward. The guy wasn't thorough -- he yelled out the rear window again, "I'm gonna remember your car!"
Richie said, "Help yourself" and rolled up his window. I burst out laughing and said, "Does he have any idea whatsoever of the number of cars that look exactly like yours? Happy hunting, dude!"
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Requiescat In Pace
Betty Perske Bogart Robards Bacall
September 16, 1924 - August 12, 2014
Her career lit up age 20 and lasted nearly 70 years. She's earned her rest.
Godspeed.
September 16, 1924 - August 12, 2014
Her career lit up age 20 and lasted nearly 70 years. She's earned her rest.
Godspeed.
Requiescat In Pace
Robin Williams
Born 7/21/1951 (suddenly) 8/11/2014
Based on the media references to his frequent substance abuse, alcohol abuse and severe depression, I'd like to believe he is now (finally) serenely content.
In an interview (one of many now re-published) he said that cocaine slowed him down mentally. Having had some experience with this drug 40 years ago (strictly for scientific reasons) I found that Peruvian marching powder upped my verbal game considerably. In conclusion if that s--t calmed him down, please do not think about how fast he was going naturally. Scarier than a Stephen King novel.
Personally, I remember him expressing points of view I was able to adapt into my own life. Working NHRA for Pennzoil, every day as I walked into the press room for the first time of that day, I was thinking "Goooood morrrrrning Viet Nam" because it was a bastion of the Old Boys Network and they were much more often lecherous than honestly welcoming.
I always wanted to use this expression but never had the opportunity, so to paraphrase, "Robin I hope you didn't go to that place that's 'hotter than a snake's ass in a wagon rut.'"
Godspeed.
Born 7/21/1951 (suddenly) 8/11/2014
Based on the media references to his frequent substance abuse, alcohol abuse and severe depression, I'd like to believe he is now (finally) serenely content.
In an interview (one of many now re-published) he said that cocaine slowed him down mentally. Having had some experience with this drug 40 years ago (strictly for scientific reasons) I found that Peruvian marching powder upped my verbal game considerably. In conclusion if that s--t calmed him down, please do not think about how fast he was going naturally. Scarier than a Stephen King novel.
Personally, I remember him expressing points of view I was able to adapt into my own life. Working NHRA for Pennzoil, every day as I walked into the press room for the first time of that day, I was thinking "Goooood morrrrrning Viet Nam" because it was a bastion of the Old Boys Network and they were much more often lecherous than honestly welcoming.
I always wanted to use this expression but never had the opportunity, so to paraphrase, "Robin I hope you didn't go to that place that's 'hotter than a snake's ass in a wagon rut.'"
Godspeed.
Monday, August 11, 2014
I Have to Wonder What's In the Water...
The South Bay New Orleans Jazz Club has some really old members, which if you think about it, isn't so surprising because New Orleans jazz has been around for Quite A Long Time.
But: their mobility is amazing. Example: Sara and I were watching the dancing couples and the distaff half of one pair was a woman I have privately called "Plastic Spring-o-laters" because she is almost always wearing a pair. I once complimented her on a particular pair and she said that she really should be careful with them as her provider in downtown L.A. was getting quite old and will probably quit making them soon.
"Plastic" and her husband, a longtime member of the Hyperion Outfall Serenaders were jiving about the dance floor with considerable enthusiasm. Sara said, "Did you know she was 90 on her last birthday?" and I was, as they say, gob smacked. I would have said 60 or 65.
While we were discussing this in awed tones, the lady who sells the raffle tickets came up to us and we told her what we'd been discussing and she said, "I'll be 89 in three weeks." Double gob smack.
Side bar: Three different people approached me and told me they had read my (very brief) Letter to the Editor the other day and that they agreed with me where upon followed torrents of abuse about greedy politicians, impracticalness of a bullet train to San Francisco and more.
I urged each of them to write to the Editor, telling them to write short to fill in spaces in the page. That writing short improves their odds of having their say in an area of the paper that is clearly popular and well-read.
Before we ever got to the jazz club however, we had breakfast. I'd wanted to see how this works - Corned Beef Machacas - and I have to say, "Well."
Two or three slices of the "heart healthy" corned beef, coarsely chopped
1/3 of a green pepper, chopped
2 slices of onion, chopped
3 T chopped pickled jalapenos
2 eggs
slice of Velveeta
Butter too cook it all.
Start by frying the chopped ingredients. Beat up the eggs and add them to the pan. Cook until eggs are done, lay the cheese over the whole thing and serve on a warmed tortilla.
But: their mobility is amazing. Example: Sara and I were watching the dancing couples and the distaff half of one pair was a woman I have privately called "Plastic Spring-o-laters" because she is almost always wearing a pair. I once complimented her on a particular pair and she said that she really should be careful with them as her provider in downtown L.A. was getting quite old and will probably quit making them soon.
"Plastic" and her husband, a longtime member of the Hyperion Outfall Serenaders were jiving about the dance floor with considerable enthusiasm. Sara said, "Did you know she was 90 on her last birthday?" and I was, as they say, gob smacked. I would have said 60 or 65.
While we were discussing this in awed tones, the lady who sells the raffle tickets came up to us and we told her what we'd been discussing and she said, "I'll be 89 in three weeks." Double gob smack.
Side bar: Three different people approached me and told me they had read my (very brief) Letter to the Editor the other day and that they agreed with me where upon followed torrents of abuse about greedy politicians, impracticalness of a bullet train to San Francisco and more.
I urged each of them to write to the Editor, telling them to write short to fill in spaces in the page. That writing short improves their odds of having their say in an area of the paper that is clearly popular and well-read.
Before we ever got to the jazz club however, we had breakfast. I'd wanted to see how this works - Corned Beef Machacas - and I have to say, "Well."
Two or three slices of the "heart healthy" corned beef, coarsely chopped
1/3 of a green pepper, chopped
2 slices of onion, chopped
3 T chopped pickled jalapenos
2 eggs
slice of Velveeta
Butter too cook it all.
Start by frying the chopped ingredients. Beat up the eggs and add them to the pan. Cook until eggs are done, lay the cheese over the whole thing and serve on a warmed tortilla.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Sunday, August 10th
This afternoon is the jazz club and am looking forward to any funny tidbits I may glean.
After a long conversation with the new cat, Richie tells me that her name is "Annabel." She announced her readiness for breakfast this morning by meowing right underneath our bedroom window. She's never been in this house; how the hell did she know that?
After a long conversation with the new cat, Richie tells me that her name is "Annabel." She announced her readiness for breakfast this morning by meowing right underneath our bedroom window. She's never been in this house; how the hell did she know that?
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Richie Is Courting Another!
I've seen it for myself. He brings her choice tidbits to eat; he put together a lavish bed for her! He uses every chance he can grab to talk softly to her, all the while inching closer to her.
And I think it's funny to see a grown man trying to tame a feral cat.
Our balcony overlooks a concrete pad that serves as our patio. It's stacked with empty pots, an old small table and a blue plastic crate on its side with a soft towel in a pad inside. That's her new home.
Her appetite is good. She went through a bowl of kibbles yesterday afternoon like Grant took Richmond. Richie reports that this morning she tore through a small can of cat food and about 1/2 cup of kibbles. In return (what a whore!) she allowed him to pet her briefly and he told me he could easily feel her ribs. Since I estimate that she's about a year old, this is not unusual in a maturing animal.
We will take pictures of this cat and put them around the neighborhood as well as copies for the veterinarian hospital just in case she does belong to someone. But given her wary alertness and quick ability to disappear, I don't think it's likely.
And I think it's funny to see a grown man trying to tame a feral cat.
Our balcony overlooks a concrete pad that serves as our patio. It's stacked with empty pots, an old small table and a blue plastic crate on its side with a soft towel in a pad inside. That's her new home.
Her appetite is good. She went through a bowl of kibbles yesterday afternoon like Grant took Richmond. Richie reports that this morning she tore through a small can of cat food and about 1/2 cup of kibbles. In return (what a whore!) she allowed him to pet her briefly and he told me he could easily feel her ribs. Since I estimate that she's about a year old, this is not unusual in a maturing animal.
We will take pictures of this cat and put them around the neighborhood as well as copies for the veterinarian hospital just in case she does belong to someone. But given her wary alertness and quick ability to disappear, I don't think it's likely.
Friday, August 8, 2014
Psst - Quick Household Tips
Cook's Illustrated is now in. I appreciate ways to make things easier and am going to assume that you do, too. Here's tricks...
If you bake your own bread, when it's ready to be put on the rack, steamy and driving you mad with the aroma, put the loaf on it's side on a rack for a moment or two and viola! Exactly how to slice evenly. The rack will leave a mark.
Useful for red wine drinkers - spill a bit? No worries. Combine equal parts hydrogen peroxide and dish detergent and saturate the stain which should disappear in about an hour. My old remedy for carpet was to dump a bunch of salt on it. The salt pulls the stain right up. Or douse the stain in club soda. If all that doesn't work, switch to a white or beer.
Like soft-poached eggs? Serve the finished egg in a shot glass and you can easily decapitate it because the shell sticks up Just Right.
Going to strain something fine and just realized your colander has big enough holes for lima beans? Slap a paper coffee filter in the colander and strain away. I would leave it too long ... you are dealing with paper...
We have 13-gal. trash baskets and shaking the plastic sack into them leaves billowy gusts of bag flapping in the basket. One-time solution: drill three holes close to the ground and one midline. The liners will stay flat and you only have to drill these holes once for on-going good results.
Tired of seeing what everyone in the house had for lunch after they brush their teeth? Put a plastic scrubber with a knob handle next to the bathroom sink and point out to family members its use.
Finally - got an almost empty mayonnaise jar? Add a judicious amount of rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar to the jar, lid it and shake vigorously. Instant cole slaw dressing.
Now we all curtsy in unison and murmur, "Thank you, Cook's Illustrated."
If you bake your own bread, when it's ready to be put on the rack, steamy and driving you mad with the aroma, put the loaf on it's side on a rack for a moment or two and viola! Exactly how to slice evenly. The rack will leave a mark.
Useful for red wine drinkers - spill a bit? No worries. Combine equal parts hydrogen peroxide and dish detergent and saturate the stain which should disappear in about an hour. My old remedy for carpet was to dump a bunch of salt on it. The salt pulls the stain right up. Or douse the stain in club soda. If all that doesn't work, switch to a white or beer.
Like soft-poached eggs? Serve the finished egg in a shot glass and you can easily decapitate it because the shell sticks up Just Right.
Going to strain something fine and just realized your colander has big enough holes for lima beans? Slap a paper coffee filter in the colander and strain away. I would leave it too long ... you are dealing with paper...
We have 13-gal. trash baskets and shaking the plastic sack into them leaves billowy gusts of bag flapping in the basket. One-time solution: drill three holes close to the ground and one midline. The liners will stay flat and you only have to drill these holes once for on-going good results.
Tired of seeing what everyone in the house had for lunch after they brush their teeth? Put a plastic scrubber with a knob handle next to the bathroom sink and point out to family members its use.
Finally - got an almost empty mayonnaise jar? Add a judicious amount of rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar to the jar, lid it and shake vigorously. Instant cole slaw dressing.
Now we all curtsy in unison and murmur, "Thank you, Cook's Illustrated."
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