Shots from the Lip

 When hell freezes over?  How about yesterday morning when it was 10C outside (assuming the watch temperature is to be believed).  It got up to 15C this morning - far more tolerable.  And I've already been out, twice!  First, my usual morning walk:  north to Santa Monica Blvd and then west to 20th Street;  North to Wilshire Blvd and then right (east) to 23d Street and Trader Joe's where, this morning, I got Persian mini cucumbers and carrots.  Then south on 23d Street and home. Later, I took a 30% off internet ad for Gateway Hotel that I received this morning with the two confirmation emails for Gateway for 31 Oct - 6 Nov to Gateway and asked for the best/lowest rate for us - as long time customers of the hotel.......all in all, the savings amounts to under $200 - not a whole lot because this is nothing more than deceptive advertising.....but any reduction is better than none!

 How misleading the weather on my iPhone:  There's an 80% chance of rain today - should we be alarmed?  Not necessarily!  Scroll down further on the phone and you'll find two brief instances during the day where there'll be projected rain.  But how much in total for the day?  1mm!!!  Hey, that ain't rain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fred Chasen's parents, visiting from the DC area, joined me, yesterday, for a day of music and food.  We started at Teddy's for breakfast - got there by Big Blue Bus.  We then took the E Line to Grand Avenue, Bunker Hill and the LA Philharmonic.  After, Vespaio, opposite the Broad for lunch - they've got the best pizza I've had here in LA.......and then the E Line home.....great day! Here it is, 11:30am and I've completed my morning routines.....what can I do productively this afternoon??  Only time will tell.....

 It is 10:40am on a cooler day than all the past week......and it'll be cooler outside each of the next days of the coming week if the weather projections keep as currently posted.  I was out walking with T shirt covered by a Dodger jersey....I'll wear that one as long as the Dodgers are in the competition - 4 teams as of this weekend........Dodgers-Brewers starts this Sunday...... About a half hour ago, I was full of proverbial writer's piss and vinegar, ready to write today's paragraph or two as a blog.....and here I am, now, wordless, without incentive to write now or any true idea of what to write about.  I am, though, getting more experience on the Fire.....will I take it for the week at the Gateway, instead of the computer?  Not likely as I'll have both Joanna and TianTian ready to help me with my techie problems that I can't handle myself...... Ah well, enough for today.......unless I have some good ideas later......

 I could have come back to CVS later today.....or tomorrow morning.  But why risk a reaction to covid and flu vaccinations that would screw up either/and/or Sweet Dreams on Thursday night or music at the Disney this Friday. I am looking forward to Friday!  This is the first of this year's series of 8 Friday morning concerts - set up specially for old farts like me who can no longer do night travels for music.  Thus, I am happily content with 8 at the Disney plus 5 Sunday opera matinees at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.   And who knows - with the Center Theatre Group doing Music Man at the Ahmanson (next to the Pavilion), perhaps there will be more DTLA performances to attend??!!! Regardless, as a prelude to this Friday's concert, we're going to Teddy's for breakfast!!!

 It is 33C at 2:30pm on 6 October 2026.  This morning, Katherine had her annual physical, across the street from Schwab, where I went with a deposit to our investment account.  After, we did a brief noon snack at Tartine, followed by walk throughs at both Whole Food and Trader Joe's.  Now, after yesterday's DTF da bao and an afternoon nap, I'm more or less trying to figure out what I will do this afternoon......perhaps some painting/drawing........ SMPD followed through/up with calls today to both Specialized Bicycle (Marcos) and Jade Rabbit (John) regarding our urine thrower...... We were told by SMPD to build a case......one incident at a time.....and we have two incident reports this month.....with some pretty good videos that warranted SMPD involvement....now we have to be patient and let the professionals do their job......and when another incident happens....we'll report these, too!

 I went out twice this morning:  first, before 9am when I veered off my regular morning path and got a half-gallon soy milk at Whole Foods;  Then, prior to 11am, with the heat already rising, I walked to Ralphs, only to find a walking detour as they were re-paving/lining the parking lot in front of the store......how can any work done before properly dry in this heat?  The unanswered question!  Regardless, I got my weekly ceviche plus meat coupon buys, including $2 off on a 6 piece tri-tip sirloin steak package, just put out from the butcher to the Ralph's shelf....fresh and real, real nice.... It was 34C when I left home for Ralph's.  I got home to 36.  It has since lowered, first to 35 and then to 34, now at l:55pm.  I am in my office where I will attempt to listen to Left Hand of Darkness, first two chapters on audio......this would work real well but for 2 'Katherine interruptions' thus far.  Alas, a combination of neither comprehension o...