finally! los angeles recappage

After the long weekend away and return to a busy office 
I've gotten my photos together to share.  
I know you cant contain your excitement.  
Go ahead, hit the loo, get some coffee, tea. 
A comfy chair 
and 
away we go!


Security at jetBlue at JFK was insane. 
I flew out later than I usually like to travel 
but 
had upgraded to 
Even More Room on jetBlue 
which comes with the perk of 
Even More Speed 
supposedly 
this gets you on a shorter faster security check in.  
However, 
someone 
forgot 
to tell the TSA 
- wait, is it the TSA?-
 Whoever runs the airport security clearly didnt get the memo

  

There were perhaps 
two dozen people 
waiting for body 
scans 
Every suitcase, 
every one of those silly little bins 
was put in and out of the scanners at least 3 times, 
there were several
 'please step over here' 
requests 
and 
then its my turn
 I said: 
'I'd like two 8x10 and 6 wallet sized prints, please'
No reaction.

After the body scan a female TSA
(I've decided it is the TSA) 
agent asked 
'Ma'am, may I see your arm?"  
I gracefully extend my left arm, 
she looks at my watch and says thank you.
  
I think if she had just asked for the time

Once through security I had about 90 minutes before boarding.  
I grabbed a sandwich and a bagel, 
one cannot have too many carbs is my theory, 
and went to wait for the boarding call.  
It was an uneventful flight.  
The flight attendant up front was called Amber and she was indeed a gem.  
Having someone pleasant and funny
 - when she announced we had to put away our electronic toys 
she started listing the brands 
paused 
and made this sort of inclusive arm gesture 
saying 
'anything the glows' - 
made the 4 hours and 45 minutes fly by.



Landing in L.A. 
I was met by my friend 'F',


the mother of my god-daughter, 
someone I hadnt seen in a 
really really long time 
so 
of course 
we spent the entire ride to lunch, 
all of lunch 
and then the rest of the afternoon 
catching up.


She and her husband 'S' have a fabulous house in 'the Valley' with a patio and pool  
If I ever in another life live in L.A. 
that is how I want to live.

Friday we decided to go to


I am not a museum person.  
Its not 
that 
I am uncultured 
its that it takes me back to my school days 
and 
mandatory art museum visits 
however


The Getty
is like
Versailles


the
gardens




 and
fountains






out shine
the
sculptures


 although
some
really
were
fun


I was in awe
amazing blocks of travertine
riddled
with fossils
Meier's design
made me imagine
Yul Brenner's commanding the Jews to schlep stones for the pyramids.


There was a
Walker Evans photo exhibit on Cuba.
it made me miss
The Aunt
who as a pre-teen had traveled there with her parents
and saw
Cugat at a nightclub
a story she told many times.  


I was told not to take photos of art
I dont think Art noticed

But back to The Getty .. 


we opted
not to have lunch there
 tho many do
they picnic,
they nap,


they dine in
charming patio/terrace
cafes.



We headed to Little Tokyo 


having a fabulous lunch of curry 
followed by
some shopping
at
Black Market
on Sawtelle



That evening we had dinner on the patio,
dining a fresco was a delight after all the rain back in NYC
a balmy late summer evening
with
good friends and good food
cant be beat.

Saturday we decided to take it easy.
S went running
and
we were to meet him for breakfast.
  

On the way
 the skies were bright blue
with little puffs of white clouds
so
it was very odd to hear
thunder
 really really
loud
thunder.

As we pulled into the parking lot
the skies opened up.
It poured for the hour we were there 


when it let up
we were entertained
by a meter maid tagging cars across the street



no one can say Angelinos dont have a sense of humor

S's family was in show business 
when his mother was no longer able to live alone 
she moved into the

care center which has several levels of living facilities.  
Photos are not permitted indoors 
but 
I was allowed to take photos of the property
 its an amazing place.  
F is very involved as a volunteer, 
she knows everyone, 
everyone loves her. 
I can totally understand why.


 a statue of musican/actor
Buddy Rogers
greets visitors



 a very youthful
Roddy McDowell
tends a pool


this herd of topiary cattle
makes everyone smile


I welled up a bit at
Anthony Hopkins'
memorial to his
mother


When we got home
S and I spent some time floating in the pool
relaxing



That evening F and S hosted a dinner party for me.
Friends I hadnt seen in over 20 years,
I dont understand how they've aged while I have not
 - are you laughing? -
we dined indoors
the rain made the already cool
 - its the desert you know -
evening even cooler.


We ate
we drank
we talked
and
after the company left
amid a lot of laughter
we cleaned up before retiring for the night.  

Sunday I was heading home,
since it was Sept 11
there was bound to be heightened security
even longer waits to get through scanners
 F took me to the airport extra early.

There was no additional security
or
long lines
I got to spend 2+ hrs waiting to board my 5.5 hr flight home.
I hoped to watch NetFlix on my iPad
using LAX's
'free public WiFi'
except
it wasnt working.
Flight home was uneventful.
I slept most of the way thanks to my pal Xanax.
The End.

I think this might be the longest post ever ... stretch a bit you'll be fine!