Shots from the Lip

 Yesterday was a busy day that could have gone bad.  Katherine either lost her phone or that phone was stolen from her.  She had it at Trader Joe's by the papayas.  the store tried calling - no answer. I spent a half hour cancelling two credit cards.  We then went to Spectrum to put a hold on her phone until the actual cell phone is replaced. Just for the hell of it, while at Spectrum, I tried Katherine's number again:  someone answered at the Modelo display where Katherine actually had left her phone but with the ringer turned off so no one could hear if there was an incoming call.  But the vibrator on her phone worked and someone answered my call! Found!! Today in my comedy class, I am watching a millenial stand-up.......I have not laughed or chuckled - this stuff, while funny for some, is basically boring for me.....such is life.

 I read The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay years ago.  I really do not remember it outer than knowing what it was about.  Two years ago, Los Angeles Opera was supposed to host the premiere production of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.  Alas, they ran out of funds.  This year the premiere took place in NYC at the Metropolitan Opera.  While the critics were mixed, the opera sold out - a new generation of opera goers turned out in sufficient numbers that there will be four additional performances next month. I got my Kobo reader working again and discovered that while re-newing Kobo Plus is a complete waste of time, ordering individual books are priced similarly to Kindle and I like this reader better so I am reading Kavalier and Clay again.........on my Kobo. Mel Spitz is a 96 year-old infusion patient that Katherine sees on Mondays.  She had me autograph a book for him.  He gave her his single copy of a memoir he wrote for his...

 About a month ago, a night crew came to our local CVS and did a complete re-vamp of their ailses and operations, primarily for the bottles of vitamins, supplements, et al that are now the central, main aisle of the store and it is confusing as hell. I went there this morning to get pharmaceuticals for both Katherine and me.......and commented to the pharmacist that I can't find a fucking thing there anymore.  She 'welcomed' me to the club - none of the daytime staff can find anything anymore, either......such is life..... There's a noon screening of Is This Thing On at Century City tomorrow.  Can I make it there after class to see one of the four films I am interested in seeing (or 3, now, that Ann Lee is off the list)? AND......Friday morning, if I am able to get up early, I will go to the Pantry for breakfast prior to my LA Phil concert that morning.

 7 degrees C this morning - too fucking cold to go out as I normally dress.....so in addition to the long sleeved black thermal T shirt, and the three long sleeved bike shirts, I also put on a cashmere sweater and by golly, it worked - of course it was cold outside but it was tolerable - that additional cashmere layer was wonderful! There most be another marathon soon - all the runners were out, practicing, cluttering up the bike paths - but hey, there were patches of sky not cloud covered and the sun was nice! I had time this Sunday morning and thus, printed out a number of in-depth NY Times articles/essays - and read the biggest ones - that is truly a civilized life - reading the morning papers, sipping coffee, listening to WQXR in the background. This afternoon:  some piano practice - finally!   And....either this afternoon or tomorrow morning:  the Rollei 35AF.....

 Cold, overcast, in the middle of a moist cloud.........4 bike shirts were not really enough...... Nonetheless I did get out this morning and while there were far more runners out - an upcoming marathon? - once I got past Windward and Venice, I had my riding solitude.....and it felt good! I'm spending this morning reviewing electricity bills for our investment apartment - something is wrong and we have to figure it out........we're going to Edison on Thursday morning to try and figure things out......are we being canibalized?  Is something running that we are unaware of?  Who said life is simple???

Two weeks ago it was so damned cold out on my Sweet Dreams Thursday night volunteer thing at tSt John's Hospital that I was anxious to finish up and get home, fast. Last week the weather was balmy, I got into a number of interesting conversations  that night. Shitty weather again last night......more patients sleeping - because of lousy weather??? This morning, Bill, a 72 year-old part time Californian/part time New Yorker, joined me for a bike ride.  Normally I do not like riding with anyone - I value my solitude.....but I did tell him to join me, so we went along the bike trails to Venice, had coffee.....rode back. I now await Cesar, the second electrician we've spoken with regarding the rental unit electricity problems.....I fear starting something else to work on because the moment I start, I will get the call.....but if I don't start anything, just wait, must assuredy, nothing will happen......such is life..... 

 True, I was all set to go to a movie yesterday afternoon......a rumbling, semi-noisy stomach and the unomfortability that goes along with it got in the way of plans and I went home to alleviate uncomfort.   The weather changed from an absolutely delightful past weekend to winter, again.....such is life - we're due for more rain but it will not be a heavy rain. TianTian is in for the Chicago Symphony at CSUN tonight.  Last night we did the Water Grill - a good seafood restaurant where I had scampi as an entre preceded by oysters rockafellar.  Good meal.

 Early morning at Mickey D's for breakfast today - an anniversary day - 33 years - at least I still remember the day........ Sausage McMuffin, Hash Browns, Orange Juice..........and then to class - comedy.  Stand-up monologues........I can relate to the George Carlin monologues - that's my generation......much of the later stuff simply is not funny to me. Home to sit on the throne and soon to go for a bagel and cream cheese for lunch. ....and after:  reading and then camera time.....!

Going twice to McDonalds, yesterday, was truly worth it!  Lunch:  a Big Mac and Fillet of Fish and one 2026 monthly Big Mac.   Dinner: two 6 McNuggets for the price of one - dinner and lunch today, actually and the second 2026 monthly - free! - card for Big Macs - we made out (legitimately) like bandits!! Today - Voodoo Donuts has an empty place on Windward with $2.75 coffee..........they sell sugar (aka donuts) too)...... Reading and some writing today - a basically lazy day today before the week begins, tomorrow, with a holiday - MLK Jr Day.......I go to Best Buy to try and get Roland Piano App on my Amazon Fire....... 

 The grand re-opening of our local McDonalds takes place today.  No, I did not go there early in pursuit of a free monthly Egg McMuffin I went bicycle riding instead.  True, it was not as gloriously nice out as it was yesterday morning but hey, while the rest of the country either freezes or swelters, we had a clear, cloud-free sky out yesterday afternoon with the temperature in the low 80s.  How can anyone complain about that??! The Met's live Saturday matinee today:  Carmen. San Francisco will honor Bobby Weir this afternoon with a celebration that will be streamed live on both You Tube and Nugs.   Two days from now I hopefully will have the Roland Piano App on my Amazon Fire, installed by the Best Buy Geeks.  If not successful, I will try a new keyboard for my ancient iPad mini.....regardless, it is time to play piano!

 While it's been a soft opening over the past couple of weeks, tomorrow will be the formal grand re-opening of our local McDonalds.   The first 100 customers at the 8am opening will receive an egg mcmuffin monthly over the next year.  Will there be anyone out at 8am tomorrow morning?   Perhaps I will be there - it is an opportunity for a photoshoot! I received notification this morning that my Rollei 35AF is being returned after repair from Hong Kong.  My four 'working' cameras:  Leica CL - while I have additional lenses for this one, the 23mm lens works fine for both point and shoot usage or adjusting per the picture as desired/necessary;  The Rollei 35AF - will be the film camera I can carry with me to selectively shot film as I find I am comfortable with a routine I hope to develop;  Kodak PixPal C - hey, it fits in my pocket and I'd specifically use this one to catch the picture I will eventually paint;  Leica Lux app with Leica...

 What a day, yesterday! I went with a neighbor from the 1440 condo diagonally across the street from us (who I met because of the condo and HOA)) to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley for a 'meeting' with 4 US Ambassadors, Trump appointees, about US foreign policy. First and foremost, because I remember the 70s and 80s and was quite politically active at that time: Reagan as President, was a joke.  Let them re-write about the man but what they are replacing the truth with is a whole bunch of lies.  Remember Iran-Contra?  What about Oliver North?   What?  You don't know of these names?   Then do a Google search!  The only good thing about the actor who acted presidential while not having a clue was that he enjoyed taking afternoon naps and thought everyone should.......will he remembered for declaring ketchup a veggie for public school kitchen funding??? Second:  There was no Q&A session after the presentation of so many lies that...

 True, my hands are still too cold but hey, it looks like it is going to be quite pleasant when I take my afternoon walk today!  Regardless, I did morning shopping and at Trader Joe's, it was me and a couple of women choosing the best papaya for tomorrow....... Today I meet neighbor Darrell Robb and we drive along the Pacific Coast Highway to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley for an evening lecture about US foreign policy.  Will it be right wing or neutral in tone?  Do I care?  Not really, I love this opportunity to visit a place I'd have no way of going to otherwise.......and the fact is I really do not know anyone here - my friends/support systems are in place, having been set up over decades, in Hong Kong, in Bangkok.  Nothing here....such is life......and having a neighbor with car and like interests is an unplanned delight! Today's NY Times has an in depth article about the National Liberation Army, the ELN, a Columbian guerilla group that, for all int...

It is a good thing I checked my emails when I got up this morning as John Achorn wrote - he's the teacher for both the American Novel and History of Comedy classes - and he's got a bout of food poisoning, thus, no class this morning. It's as good a time as any to have an unanticipated free day ahead of me.  Will I do a photoshoot?  Will I go to Ralphs or CVS?   Actually, I'm going to read another Dorothy Parker short story first since she's the author we're reviewing over the next five weeks of the Novel class. And after that???   still to be determined..... 

Bobby Weir died at age 78.  I saw him first during the summer of 1967 when I was stationed as an Army Reservist at Sharp Army Depot, outside of Stockton, Ca. and I spent my weekend off in San Francisco during the 'Summer of Love'.   Pigpen, Jerry, Phil Lesh, a whole lot of keyboard players.........drummers are still living as I am, too..... This one hit home - a personality I knew and related to........another one bites the dust.......but what a sense of community:  so many I know wrote or sent images....... And today, other than that?   I've already been downtown to the Emeritus Building where I registered for Spring 2026 semester classes.  It is now a tad bit before 1pm .  Katherine will be home from volunteer work at the hospital by 2:30pm and then we'll do a late lunch......and while it is too bleeping cold in the mornings, this afternoon is going to be ideal!

 It is nearly three weeks since I last took a bicycle ride by the beach.  This morning was sunny and cold but by 8:30am it was warm enough to get up, get dressed - 4 bike shirts:  1 short sleeved under which 3 long sleeved bike shirts were enough as I started out cycling with a brilliant sun and 11 degrees C temperature. And then I came home to start throwing out receipts and other papers that I started saving when we got here at the end of September, 2023 - a whole lot of shit that is now in the blue bin awaiting Wednesday afternoon for streetside deposit. In between all of this I accomplished many small things....and this afternoon, after this blog, I will start reading the piano instruction manual to complete a few loose ends....and after, time to start learning to play my piano!

 First and foremost - it was too bleeping cold to bicycle this morning.....or has my blood 'thinned ' from a couple of weeks without cycling while it rained and the temperature dropped........ Regardless, I did my morning walk, bundled up and I was quite comfortable but for the portions of me not covered by clothing - for this it was damned cold.....not though, compared to not having an overcoat to wear over my 'volunteer suit' for Sweet Dreams at St Johns.  And yet, after freezing my ass off last night for the walk between our home and throwing out the garbage, then to St Johns, where it was pleasantly warm and I did my deed to brighten some of those hospitalized.......the clean one-liners from stand-up...... Yes, the morning walk in lieu of bicycling....to Trader Joe's for four items and then home to tackle some bills and then a rare, very patient time to look at the Stillzy 'catalog' of unsold holiday items   -they are delivering this afternoon..... Also ...

 We started out in panic - the cable lock 'rusted' and we could not unlock and open the garden gate, necessary for Brody-Pannell who were coming for HVAC sem-annual upkeep.  Doug Fisher had both 3 in 1 oil and WD-40.  The former was useless.  The latter worked but in the process, the whole house now smells of WD40 - and it definitely ain't perfume! And then.......SMSing for an electrician regarding the Edison billing our tenant received......trying to decipher anything from a utility company is difficult - they want to make it that way to discourage people like me.....such is life......regardless, it is mid-afternoon, now, and I am at home, waiting, without knowing whether the person I communicated with will make it here today....... And then Daniel Bautista came - from Brody-Pannell - and he was here a couple of hours for HVAC maintenance....... .......and shortly thereafter, Darrell Robb, neighbor from 1440 23d St, came by for a pleasant, unexpected get together/ch...

 It is 10am.  Daniel from Brody-Pannell is in the crawl space below the rafters, above the ceiling of our home.  We nearly had to cancel him as I went to open the gate to the back yard and the key would not budge when I inserted it.......Doug brought both 3 in 1 oil first (didn't help) and then WD-40 (which worked - we should buy some to keep here!). Then Daniel from Brody-Pannell came....he's still here.  Later on I will go on an iPhone photo-shoot with the Leica Grip and iPhone.......tomorrow I will call Amazon about the $4.87 they never sent us. And perhaps later on today........playing some harmonica???

 I got an email from SSA and logged into my account.  Only things to correct:  address and telephone number. I tried previously - more than once - to change these but could not do so.  Thus,  made a telephone call, spent 20 minutes on the AI generated call answering security questions, et al......only to eventually be told by the artificially generated voice that there was a 100 minute wait and I could be called back. 100 minutes turned out to be closer to 3 hours but I actually was called back and fortunately, had the info at hand that I was asked by the live person at the other end of the line.......another half hour only to be told that I now had a choice:  either I could go on my own to the nearest SSA office at 11500 W. Olympic Blvd or they would schedule an appointment for me......I opted for the latter.  The earliest appointment I could get was 1:30pm on Tuesday, the 20th of January. It is now 1:51pm and I wait for Katherine to come home from he...

 It rained.  The area is more or less soaked.  The temperature is 14C and it is not raining now, the forecast calls for more drizzles - sufficient to warrant staying in for the balance of the day rather than go out and brave the weather. And that means, in essence, that I have an afternoon/evening at home in which to be productive.  While I've been 'avoiding' starting use of my Leica Grip, I am working with my other cameras and I like that - this is something that keeps me productive.   What I will start, today, is writing/sketching (from pictures taken) and painting in the journal I set aside but have not quite started, yet. AND....it is time to take out the harmonica, again......... 

I think it drizzled throughout the night.  It was dry out this morning and I shopped at Trader Jos.  Then, around 10:15am, I took an hour walk - drizzling half the time, I walked down to 11th Street, then north to Wilshire and east to 16th Street and UCLA Hospital where there is a convenient mens room to pee.....then walking home. Will it rain more today?  Probably.  It is due to rain virtually all week long........What's showing on streaming??? Thus far this year I've seen the following (with more that I've forgotten or simply not listed):  Jay Kelly - I got through a half hour of this self-indulgent waste of time before turning it off..... Sinners - Reviewers liked this........I thought it was stupid. Bugonia - Hey - I liked this one!! Hamnet  - No, I did not cry at the end......it was ok, nothing more. Mickey Supreme -great acting performance, interesting movie......would I see it again?  Problably not. Superman - How many versions of this will ther...

Yesterday, 1 January, the first day of the year.  I stayed indoors all day.  Today, 2 January, is my first day of the year out - and I went to McDonald's for a super big breakfast, replacing that cup of coffee with a orange juice.  Good breakfast - could not finish it all........ Following is the class note sent by John Achorn after completion of the final class of the fall semester.  The last film shown was one that had limited commercial distribution - Dick Van Dyke's tribute film to the classic slapstick silent film comedians.  Watch it if you have a chance! Good afternoon my wry friends - Below you will find the link to the final recording for the Fall session of History of Comedy.  If you missed it, please watch and respond by next Monday when I need to submit my records.  This week, in honor of his 100th Birthday, we watched a rare film by Dick Van Dyke called The Comic (1969), directed by Carl Reiner.  It was his own tribute to the silent c...

 It rained through the night - heavily at times.  I was in bed by 9:30pm and woke up around 2am in 2026.   Will  make it through to 2027 the same way? It was too wet outside this morning to even consider going out.  And yet it was no longer drizzling.  It still is dry outside and for some brief moments this morning, the sun even shined.  I'm still indoors and likely to stay inside all day today.  I have only one more email to complete writing and then, for all intents and purposes, I have completed my morning's tasks.  This afternoon I plan to complete the New Yorker's Willie Nelson article and, quite possibly, start on the Ian McEwan book in addition to Patrick Ryan's Buckeye which is the only novel I am currently reading. I still want to see Song Sung Blue and Is This Thing On.......perhaps one of them next week? And tomorrow......Breakfast at McDonalds, banking and Schwab, photo shoot???