It's Worth the Extra Effort.

We went sledding yesterday.  We went sledding with about 1,000 other Angelinos excited about having snow all around us.
A few years back a Dad introduced me to Mt. Pinos, just above Frasier Park.  All my life I've lived here and never knew about Mt. Pinos.  The common direction for snow in my world had always been in the almost opposite direction, Lake Arrowhead or Big Bear.  We went a bit when I was a child and always I would have to ask my mom or brother-in-law or whomever was driving to please pull over because I had motion sickness.  THAT is one of the reasons why I love Mt. Pinos, the road is reasonable and not winding.
Mt. Pinos was closed because they got 8' to 10' of snow and they had not plowed it so they diverted every single car to go back or go park in "The Flying J" truck stop parking lot.  Which we did.  It always amazes me how many people will stop at the side of the road at the first sight of snow and that is where they will stay.  I have found if you're willing to go a little further, push a little harder the extra effort really pays off. I have not always known this.  This has really been something I have discovered tangibly since I've been a parent. I hope in my heart of hearts it is a pearl of wisdom my son will "get".  Back to the "Flying J" truck stop parking lot.  The kids were happy at first frolicking in the little field but I was scoping around and noticed there was a way to get through the barbed-wire fence and climb the mountain as there were a few people doing it.  Once the lower snow was beginning to turn to chocolate snow we all decided to take the chance and climb up the snowy mountain. Let me tell you, climb we did, like goats.  Careful steps to make sure we were following in each other's steps.  Once up there it was a whole other story.  Quite beautiful and quite worth the extra effort. Not many other sledders up there because it was a bit of a trek and it really required the right gear.  I must say on a scale of 1 to 10...it was a 10.  For sledding, no rocks or logs to look out for, quite magnificent.  Because it was such a hike and such a LONG run we didn't need our jackets either.  I was plenty warm, thank you very much.  Knowing my gluteus was getting the needed work-out whilst fun was being had.

Finally satiated in our frolic and fun we went down the hill. I could not believe how many people were down at the bottom of the hill.  I wanted to tell them all to go up, you made it through the fence now go just a little more.  I could tell many of them were having fun just where they were and I needed to be okay with that.  I can't help but wonder, you make the long drive, you bundle up, you go through the fence...why not take a tad more effort and find heaven.  I guess because we all have our own version, eh?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pinos

Gruesome Museum

Here in lovely Los Angeles it never rains.  Being a native I know this is not true.  Yet many people act like cat's in water when it does rain, you know a little prickly.  This past Monday, Martin Luther King Jr's birthday, it was pouring.  We were going to go sledding but it was too wet and I was determined not to stay home because I knew all my son would want to do is play with one of his electronic devices.  The Science Center was out as we had already seen all the exhibits and Connor, my son, was not interested.  I went on line and discovered that LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) was free for the holiday (thank you Dr. King).  I threw that out to Connor and he was luke warm, to say the least.  I knew I needed to make this more appealing.   I went to their website and there was a painting of a naked man in very rough seas (with his leg strategically placed for coverage) and a great white shark about ready to eat him while a small boat of men looked on in horror.  I called out to Connor to come take a look and he did and he was delighted-he is 10 and gruesome is really in.  That was all I needed. We grabbed our rain gear and took off to the museum.

Once at the museum we discover that the shark painting is in a new show that wasn't opened yet.  It is opening the end of February.  Not to be deterred, Connor and I make a pact; we will look for the most gruesome thing in the museum and draw it.  I had brought 2 sketch books and colored pencils.  This turned out to be a very fun exercise.  Georgia O'Keefe's cow skull almost won.  Then we went to the 3rd floor to the Latin American Art exhibit and low and behold we found the winner.

Isn't it wonderful! A skull decorated with turquoise AND it's missing two teeth.  We got out the sketch books and went to town. Know this, I am by no means an artist but I love to draw and so does my son. I think our sketches were even more gruesome than the actual skull. There was a tour going on at the same time so I got to learn a little whilst sketching away.

Next time at the museum look for the skull and give it our best.  Connor and I can't wait to see the shark painting at the end of February.  That will be a tougher one to draw.

Destruction and Nourishment

I've been watching the wrecking ball slowly plow down the very large bldg. on the corner of LaBrea and Wilshire for a few weeks now. The photo to your left was the first stage and the one on your right the final stages.  It's an entire block from Wilshire to 8th.  My sources tell me they are going to build an apartment complex, others think a subway station.  I suppose if I sniff around I could find out.  It's almost mesmerizing to watch the wrecking ball swing and I can't help but remember when my son was small we used to hang around construction sites and train yards watching the simplest of actions.  This time though we wonder why can't we use what is there?  Why do we destroy? Why can't we at least use some of the existing building? Granted it wasn't anything of substantial architectural substance (not that that matters look what happened to The Ambassador Hotel).  Yet, here I digress.  For those with little ones who like to watch the big equipment get it whilst it still stands.

The First Step

I am a social creature.  I am blessed with many friends with and without children.  I naturally share whenever I find a wonderful product, a cool place to camp or fun adventure in the city.  I have friends and friends of friends contact me asking for my suggestions or opinions of things to do. You might say I am a collector.  A collector of life's experiences.  It is a natural progression that I begin by sharing it and cataloguing my collections.  No need to hoard the wonderfulness of this city and the not so wonderfulness.

Los Angeles is physically a very big city yet at times smaller than you would think.  Being a native I have, at times, had a love hate relationship with this place. Before our son was born (over 10 years ago) my partner and I were contemplating leaving Los Angeles.  We gave ourself a year to re-discover all the things we loved and hated before we made our decision.  In that year I fell back in love with Los Angeles.  The Sunday Farmer's Market in Hollywood, Boogie Boarding at the beach, snow less than 2 hours away and lastly the culture; the diverse community-I would miss it.  Now my little Angelino son Boogie Boards, takes the bus with me to Olvera Street and loves his adventures.  It's time to share.