blah blah blog

What I Did Over My Holiday Weekend

I worked.
I watched some baseball.
I watched some tennis.
I watched a couple movies.
I drank a couple beers.
I went blonde.

Remembering the 70's & Not Remembering Tomorrow

May 27, 1978
Went to the funeral.
It was the saddest thing I've ever done in my life.
I'll never forget it &
I'll never forget Michael Coronado.
**************************************
Author's note:
I can't help ponder now about our selective memories. True, I haven't forgotten the funeral of said Michael, at least I have a moving photographic image of about 30 seconds of it. I also remember what I wore and that we girls went to a quarry afterwards to swim and almost got arrested. (Well, at least whoever the guard or cop was that showed up "threatened" us with arrest so we cowered and left.)

Alas, I don't remember the wake, of which I wrote the day before. But I do remember Michael and I remember me and him having a conversation only a few weeks before he died; he was asking me the ironic but proverbial question - "What would you want to do before you die?" At 17, for lack of a better answer, I told him I'd like to jump out of a plane. He agreed that would be on his list too. Instead he flew from a motorcycle outside the very place we had that conversation.

...I got an email just the other day from someone who'd found himself at the blog after doing an internet search on my friend. He was trying to find evidence of a routine the friend's comedy duo had allegedly done on TV about fifteen years ago. The emailer gave me a version of it, as he remembered it. I kindly asked my friend about it. He had "no fucking idea" when or where or if they'd delivered such lines. The other half of the duo thought it rang a familiar bell. So, the actual sources of the performance can't remember and the audience has their own interpretation of alleged performance which probably stems from fifteen years of playing "telephone" with himself over what he thought they said. If a tree falls in a forest...

...And then today I found myself face to face with another bad boy from my past and oh, big time ALAS, he didn't remember me. Ouch. The events surrounding our alleged past bear heavy in my history and zilch in his. I guess that's how it works. My memories are not the same as someone else's even though the events existed -real for me, buried for someone else, as buried as Michael Coronado.

...I think one of the things I try no longer to think of is yesterday. I'm not talking about decades yesterday, I mean yesterday like Thursday. Decades yesterday are full enough for me to cringe over, let alone 24 hours ago. A lifetime of building up a resistance over what you've done in the past makes the day-to-day easier to survive, just ask Robert Blake...

Life goes on and things change - I no longer have the desire to jump out of a plane. Maybe I never did, I'm not sure, I don't remember.

Happy Birthday, Pilgrim

The best thing to do on John Wayne's birthday is to stop at Tin Horn Flats after a trip to Lowe's and Target and have a pitcher of beer and a basket of really good fries. Oh, and then -go to Rocky's where you know the bartender is going to say EXACTLY what you want him to say when you tell him that it's The Duke's birthday. "Shots of Commemorativo!!!" I couldn't actually go Commemorativo, I had to go Irish, but I did, after ten minutes of Duke praise flying in obsessiontia, fly the shit against the fan and ask the Cogs of the Cogburn, "Hey, so who do you think would win - John Wayne or Clint Eastwood?" Oh.............................................

I've never seen a mood go off in such a way. Oh, the testosterone, oh, the betrayel, oh, the analyzing of fists versus guns versus quips ( that's where I strongly weighed in that Clint the Squint would be in the winner's circle on one-liners and unforgetable uglies.)

After 45 minutes of this hysteria, the vision of this place in another hour featured to be the same but uglier.

The tally, before we could take it no longer, was fairly even amongst patrons.
The Duke wins bare knuckel
Clint wins pistols (especially compounded with blanket poncho and cigar)

All I know is - there are hundreds of Duke movies on TV at any given moment when you don't want them, but the time when you come home on John Wayne's birthday with enough time to watch a movie, there isn't one.

I'll Take A Case

ASPEN, Colo. - Plans for a public ceremony celebrating the life of Hunter S. Thompson have been canceled in favor of a private memorial service.....

.......George Stranahan, said details of how Thompson's ashes will be scattered were being worked out.

Among the suggestions: firing the ashes out of a cannon from a 100-foot pillar topped by a 53-foot statue of the journalist's "gonzo fist" emblem.

Flying Dog Brewery, which is creating a new beer in Thompson's honor, said sales of Gonzo Imperial Porter will help fund construction of the "gonzo fist" tower.

At 9.5 percent, the Gonzo beer has nearly double the alcohol content of average brews.

"We tried to make everything about this beer Gonzo," brewery President Eric Warner said in a statement.

Recalling Bad Boys In The 70's

May 26, 1977
Had to march today in Band.
What a bore.
Went out with Lisa at night.
And Elaine, too.
Talked to Steve Zephron.
Haven't seen him for ages.

May 26, 1978
Went to the park with Joy then
we all went to Michael's wake.
It was so sad.
Went to a couple parties w/Debbie, Robin & Leigh.
Later went to The Office.
It was upsetting.

My Wednesday Hike

This Runyon Canyon Crew joins me every Wednesday for a hike. "Are they all yours?" I hear that all the time.

I call them large, medium small & tiny. Smallest=2.5lbs Largest=80lbs (maybe more - I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt)

But they are really "Missouri", "Peyton", "Oscar", "Oodles" & "Missy". A motley but cute (and very well behaved) crew.

While we were on our morning outing I got another call from a client who called me his dog's "Stepmom". Weep, sniffle, sniffle.
Oh, and we passed Tyne Daly on the trail, who doesn't look so bad actually, especially when she smiles and says "hi". Maybe she's on a new regimen.

The Boys Of Summer

My computer wallpaper for the last two months.
This may be the only movie this summer that gets me to the theater on opening weekend.
And I'm going to wear my Vans and my Hang Ten t-shirt.
Sith Schmith.

Its So Hot

Even Winnie Can't Believe It.

Summer In The City

I'm walking down Ventura Blvd. this afternoon in the 100 degree heat and I hear and see three girls coming in my direction. I notice immediately, even though they all look extremely similar, that the middle one is Rachel Bilson (Summer) of The OC. Just as they pass me she screams at her friends, "Don't fucking call me that! I'm not a fucking Diva! Fucking don't say that!"

Not fifty feet later I pass Laura Prepon (Donna) of That 70's Show. She's saying to her friend, "Dude, they've got some awesome stuff there, Dude."
By the way, Dude was a girl.

You can take the girl out of the 70's but you can't take the 70's out of the girl.
And I guess you can take the OC out of the Diva but you can't take the Diva to the Valley.

Another year older, another year...

...cool.
Post birthday dinner at Vitello's, sans gun, sans grifter wife.

You've Got To Be Kidding Me

From The Hometown Rag:

The Gospel according to Lucas
BEACON NEWS STAFF

AURORA — With the stories and characters of the nearly three-decade-old Star Wars saga deeply ingrained in modern American culture, even churches have begun to make references to the science-fiction phenomenon.

"The Gospel According to Star Wars," a Sunday series of 12 Bible studies, opens at 9 a.m. June 5 at Fourth Street United Methodist Church, 551 S. Fourth St.

The program will follow the movies of the earlier trilogy, giving a Christian perspective on each scene and connecting it with a Bible passage.

The study will be hosted by the Rev. David Eichelberger, a pastor at Fourth Street for three years and a Star Wars fan himself.

Star Wars creator George Lucas has said he did not intend his movies to be allegories for Christianity, and indeed the Bible-study program is quick to point out major theological differences.

Still, said Eichelberger, "The Star Wars story is basically Christian. It is about the redemption of Darth Vader — how he falls to temptation and is redeemed by the son in Episode VI."

My New Fave T-Shirt

I think "Ferme ta Bouch" was the first term I learned in French (probably because when we were kids I spent hours, days, years telling my little brother to "shut up".)

It was a great surprise yesterday when I opened the package from my sister in France and pulled out this t-shirt. See, its not the Americans the French hate - its THE American.

Aging In The 70's

May 16, 1976
Went driving around with Julie & Lisa.
Watched a baseball game at the park.
Jerry came over. We played volleyball.
Later, Julie, Steve and Lisa came over to eat cheese cake.
Went driving around.
Steve called me later to ask about Julie.
Great B-Day!

May 16, 1977
Golden Birthday.
Went out to lunch with Nan.
Went to Debbie's earlier before school.
Went out at nite with Lisa & Elaine.
Went to the park & partied w/ Debbie & Nan.
Chris came out too.
Cops came out.
I'll never forget this one. It was real fun.

May 16, 1978
After school we went to Elaine's then to Angel's then to Dave & Mike's house.
After dinner we went to the Sox game then over to Jeff & Dave's.
Wow. Great time.

San Pedro @ Dusk

A great place to shoot really bad movies like the one I worked on in 1987...

And a great place to travel to and from Catalina. Unless you like that Queen Mary boat, in that case you might want to go from Long Beach.

My Star Trek Fiend - I Mean Friend!

It doesn't get any better than watching your friend of 20 years,Jonathan Schmock, donning a coil-face on the SERIES - not Season - Finale of Star Trek. Oh Yeah - I think he got blown away too. I'm not sure, since I don't normally watch this stuff and frankly didn't understand any of it....

Nonetheless... I know he had a great time doing this job - maybe more so than any Shakespeare that he's done... mmmmm, maybe it doesn't compare to being live on stage doing the "Teasing Priest" or "King Kong Doing The Dishes" for Johnny Carson with his Funny Boy partner Jim Vallely, or as a Demon Tour Guide in Hollywood Hellhouse...

But again - how much fun can it be to play Sci-Fi dress-up on the last (?) Star Trek?

I know Jon wouldn't mind if I had, but when a guy at a bar tonight quoted a line from "Ferris Bueller", I didn't mention that my friend played the Maitre D' in that movie and that I was going home to watch him on Star Tek....

He's a good man, that Kling-on...or whatever he is.

Corruption On The Island

The Gallion hosts many tourists every Tuesday and Saturday when they arrive by giant cruise ship. We went there in hopes of watching the Derby on their flat screens. Alas, we had to high-tail it out of there because Karaoke was in full swing at 3 in the afternoon. It was too much to handle when...

a threesome of 10-year old girls got up on stage and sang Missy Elliot.

Thankfully we found a large screen TV all to ourselves at the Cantina to watch the 2nd biggest upset in Derby history. Later our friend Ivan HAD to sample the Bong Water at Luau Larry's.

He Did It His Way

Me:
Today's Sid Vicious's bithday.

Him:
Yup. I'm going to give someone the finger today in honor.

Things I Like In Avalon (Part Two)

Young love on Descanso Beach & Islanders hanging at the Marlin Club

Wild flowers rampant after this winter's rains

The view from Luau Larry's at 6PM

A view from the Wrigly Memorial

Cruisin' In The 70's

May 10, 1978

Went cruisin' in Debbie's convertible.
First hot day in a long time.
Went to Pom tryouts.
Went to The Office with Lisa and Donny.
Had a good time.
Don's a pain in the ass.

Things I Like In Avalon (Part One)

Views Of And From Barb's Cottage On Catalina

And clicking on the following will get you to the people pics....

Sea You When I Return

26 miles across the sea
Santa Catalina is waitin' for me
Santa Catalina
The island of romance, romance, romance, romance...

Water all around it everywhere
Tropical breezes, and the salty air
But for me waitin there - romance....

A tropical heaven out in the ocean....

40 kilometers in a leaky ol boat...

26 miles across the sea
Santa Catalina is waitin for me...

*The Four Preps
Rock

Fox News @ 10

"Accidental Shooting"
"Unexpected Disaster"
"Where day going? Day go zig zaggin' all over. Now look at way day at."
"A steady flow of teens coming out to remember the teens."
"Death Sentence"
"Metro Link Crash Suspect Going to Trial"
"Cinco de Mayo Trouble"
"Campus Threats"
"Do you think there's such a big deal of a problem?"
"A man lost both his hands in a freak accident..."

That was the first 6 minutes......

Jealous Hearts

"Adam contemplates his navel covered with a bush of jealous hearts."
Excerpt from the poem "Pastel Sentences" by Allen Ginsberg from his book DEATH & FAME

Painting by Nora
48 X 24
Acrylic, Pastel & Gold Leaf on Canvas

Skipping In The 70's

May 4, 1978

Went to Nan's house for lunch.
The school called about me being absent on Friday.
Mom didn't get the call so I had to tell her what happened.
Phew!
Didn't do anything at night.

Beam Me Up

If there was ever any doubt that Hollywood is made up of everything fake, I can share my walks through it and attest to the plaster of it all.

Every Tuesday I see clients in a few different neighborhoods - its the most scenic of my days without hiking the canyons. When I see Lady Sophia, I get to hike the sub-urban hills of Mt. Olympus where every street has a name like "Achilles", "Venus", "Hercules", "Jupiter", "Zeus", "Apollo" and "Hermes" - to name just a few.

Not surprisingly a good portion of the houses are distinct of an era, most of the neighborhood looking to be in a time warp, but so confused in their materials and aesthetics, they can't decide WHERE they are supposed to be. Which fascinates me endlessly.

Every once in a while someone has got it right - the right era, the right materials, the right form over function. Most often though it seems like people have accepted this Roman Mythology thing and just keep adding to it with statues and lions and wait, what's that - mediterranean tiles and bad stucco and wierd etched glass and dark wood two-story doors and... Aargh! Sensory overload!

A few hours later I go see Max who lives basically between Lake Hollywood and Universal Studios. On our walk in THESE Hollywood hills we find ourselves overlooking the Universal backlot. The trams, the big blue painted wall, Bates Motel, what looks like a plane crash in a rural neighborhood and a cartoon city.

All in a days walk. Zeus Street - we love it!

Boy Do I Need One