Shots from the Lip

37 years ago, today I was in Chengdu, across the street from the Jin Jiang Hotel, hoping that the student protesters, wanting to set the hotel on fire, were successful.   They were not....... Regardless, here it is, close to 4 decades later and the living is easy here in Santa Monica, California.  Did I ever anticipate returning to live back in the States?  Not really.  But we have adapted to life here quite well!  This morning I had a bank appointment to re-invest one of our CDs.  After, I walked to Schwab to fund our investment account.  Then, at home, I did some other necessary activities and now, after an afternoon nap (post lunch), I am ready to read and sketch and play some music! 

Both yesterday and today I was out of the house closer to 8:30am than 8am.  It was sunny.  It was warm.  It was a slow but pleasant ride down to Ocean Avenue and my left and then right turns to the beach bicycle paths.  Two to three days a week.......with the realization that sooner than I hope, there'll be the reality of age, fitness and capability to doing this.........but as with everything else, I'll do until I can no longer do.......such is life...... More picture taking today.....and perhaps a Linkedin passage vis a vis 37 years ago, today.......I was with hunger strikers at the center of Tiananmen Square......and then I left for Chengdu - and I was there on 4 June........an eye witness to history.......... Those who do not learn from history are simply going to repeat it - that happens.  How can China learn when freedom of information has been suppressed and now, 37 years later, no one really knows anymore..............? 

I've been avoiding confrontation with the real issue - in order to make any progress at anything, it is necessary to apply oneself to that task...............I have to play the piano more......and start playing the harmonica and.....hopefully at some stage, pick up the accordion!   Wishful thinking?  Probably.....but I will do something about it....... It was 13 degrees C, outside this morning.  Yeah, not really cold but  it was difficult getting up from the comfort of down blankets and no 'forced' awakening because of classes.   Still, I did go out to NY Bagel for breakfast, followed by CVS for pharmaceuticals and home to set today's agenda.   It is going to rain tonight if the forecast is to be believed..... I'm going to do the free Big Mac tonight as dinner prior to my weekly Sweet Dreams volunteer work at St Johns tonight........but with a chance of rain and continuing low temperatures, I'll keep a sweatshirt on, underneath the volunteer ...

 Saturday night TianTian and I went to the in-concert performance of Act II of Die Walkurie at the Disney with Dudamel conducting.  We sat in my 'usual' season ticket seat for the 8 Friday morning series for this one.  Then, Sunday, we sat up above, in the terrace section where there was a great, panoramic view of the orchestra and front of the hall but far away from the sub-titles which, fortunately, I really did not need for Act III.  Wonderful music in an acoustically superior venue but where vision is required, there is something lacking......ah well.....I know this opera - I've seen it at least 10 times in my life........and I do hope to see it again. On Saturday, we did a restaurant in the Emerson, across from the Broad.  I had rack of lamb.  Last night at Fia Steak, walking distance from home in Santa Monica, I had beef Wellington.  Today, Katherine, TianTian and I do a Michelin starred Chinese restaurant in Temple City.  Tomorrow I diet.

 It was sunny outside when we got up. I wore my Moncler vest over a Brooks Brothers long-sleeved shirt and a black thermal long-sleeved under shirt....and it was too hot on my way home after the walk. Soon I have to get my ass in gear and do some research and writing regarding the answering of my violation by the City of Santa Monica re the trees......but before that, long-hand writing in my hybrid diary.    That'll be it for today....onwards to the diary!

SimpliSafe appears to be  complexly sensitive:  The alarm went off because there was some motion outside.  What motion?  Who the hell knows.....but it did force us up earlier than we had anticipated and it was, per chance, one of those rare early mornings - the sun was out and it was already warm enough not to totally bundle up prior to my early morning walk! There were only 2 Trader Joe's cashiers open as I was third on line.... The alarm went off again as I came home.  This time I entered the PIN and it went off.  Why it responded this time and not previous times I'll never know. It is going to be quite comfortable out this afternoon - time to alter plans and take advantage of being out later on today.......an early Big Mac lunch (for free since I have monthly coupons) and then a photo shoot this afternoon???? Let us see.....