Poem as Lovely as a...

I cannot decide if this is ironic or just bad luck but it’s just about the saddest thing I’ve come across in a long time.

Rain, Rain, Gone Away

Did ya hear? No rain or snow in S.Cal again this year. Less snow means less water to drink. Less water means turn the tap off and let the lawn dry up already! So before the City cuts off the water works, I really want to share one of my very favorite fountains.



Bow Wave by Malcolm Leland

Which makes me ponder: What are you doing in the name of water conservation?

Wanderlust

Every year or so I get the uncontrollable urge to run away. Once, I went all the way to Europe. It was awesome. Another time I considered leaving my premature newborn at the NICU and disappearing into the dark. That was not so awesome.

So anyway, here I am, feeling the urge again and since running off to foreign places isn’t really in the budget anymore, the little dudes and I went on vacation in our own front yard.


We were like hobos, jumping on and off the trolley.

We ate ice cream and sat in the sun.

We opened our minds to public art.

100 Years, 100 Stones, by Eve Andrée Laramée

It was awesome.

Not Very Bossy

Like most Americans, I have been thinking very hard about saving money and paying down debt. I thought about it so hard that I even pledged my undying allegiance to Bossy’s Poverty Party – where its all about growing up and getting a handle on one’s finances. On that note, I had the most decadent and delicious girls night out last weekend with a very good friend and fellow working mom. And of course, it wasn’t good enough to just go out for a quick drink and chit chat about the kids, the job, the spouse. No, we decided to go all out and enjoy dessert prepared by a real chef paired with a nice wine and a fabulous view.



We spent several hours just taking it all in and forgetting about the real world and it was such a treat. And sometimes, you just have to treat yourself. If you ever have the inclination and extra cash, check out Mr. A’s on a cool autumn night just as the fog begins to roll in.

Cool Globes

First in what I hope will be a series of posts about public art, Cool Globes is a collection of works by various artists who are committed to finding a solution to global warming. Currently located in and around the plaza in front of the Natural History Museum. From October 15 through November 30, 2008.

Mr. Polar Bear Goes to Washington, by Peter Mars.

Plastics, Metals and Cell Phones (OH MY!), by Faheem Majeed and the Comer Youth Center.

left: Tapping Geothermal Resources, by Deirdre Fox
center: One Man's Trash... Don't Waste - Instead Create!, by Mitch Levin
right: Plastics, Metals and Cell Phones (OH MY!), by Faheem Majeed and the Comer Youth Center.

Spin Dry: Drawing a Line on Global Warming, by Thom Cicchelli

in the foreground: Teenie Greenie, by Red Moon

For more information, visit the Cool Globes traveling exhibition website.

Name That Meeting - Winner!!

A big thanks to all who gave it a shot. Everyone was heading in the right direction - the topic of the meeting was implementing a car-sharing program. I'm declaring Leah the winner! Please e-mail me to claim your $10 Starbuck's card.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

I’m thinking a contest is what this blog really needs to liven things up a bit. I scanned some notes I took in a meeting today.

If anyone can name the topic of the meeting, I’ll send a small prize of sorts to the winner.

Good luck!!!

Drving around. And around. And around.

Actually, I am inspired by lots of odd stuff. This week I realized how much I really love our nearby traffic circle. Ain’t it pretty?

Here it is in action. Go traffic circle! Go!

That ought to keep all those bad drivers at bay! Actually, I’m not sure why I like this particular traffic circle so much. I think it’s the idea that no one is telling anyone to STOP but for the whole thing to work, yielding to our fellow road warriors must occur.

Maybe I should mention here that I’m in the urban revitalization business so maybe I’m more nerdy about it than the average bear. I love that with a little community support, a simple idea can go from paper to concrete. It’s a good field to be in – there’s always a mess somewhere that could look or function better.

Yuck! What a mess! What this intersection needs is a good urban planner. Too bad I’m not a planner. I’m a do-er. Please don’t tell my planner friends I said that.