NELA Live

Pasadena Doo Dah Parade TODAY, MAY 1

Thank goodness for a notice from the good folks at Basset Hound Rescue of Southern California  about a troop of hounds marching in the parade today - otherwise I would not have realized that the Doo Dah Parade had moved its date to May 1.  (That's today)  The location of the parade has also moved a little further east on Colorado Boulevard.

From the Doo Dah Parade web site:

WHAT: 34th Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade
WHEN: SATURDAY, MAY 1st
Stepping off at 11:00am!

WHERE: Colorado Blvd. (between Sierra Madre and San Gabriel Blvds.)
Pasadena (Start Location: 2627 E. Colorado Blvd. 91107)

COST: FREE-OF CHARGE ALWAYS!!
AMPLE FREE PARKING!
BRING A LAWN CHAIR

Today is ODD Day

 5 - 7 - 9

Consecutive ODD Numbers.  

Which happens only six times per one hundred years.

This is the third odd day of the 21st century, one in six. The reason it's called an Odd Day is because it features three consecutive odd numbers: 05/07/09.

See http://www.oddday.net /

Previous ODD days

1 - 3 - 5

3 - 5 - 7

Upcoming ODD days

7 - 9 - 11

9  - 11 - 13

11 - 13 - 15

The Day The Music Died

Tomorrow, February 3, is the 50th anniversary of the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens ands J.P. (Big Bopper) Richardson in a plane crash in an Iowa cornfield, after performing at Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa.

Surf Ballroom has been commemorating the anniversary with a weeklong series of tribute concerts, dance lessons, symposiums and art exhibits.

More

Buddy Holly:

What I want to know is how the girls behind the band are managing to stand so still. :-)

Super Bowl Ads

Want to watch some of the ads again?

The Ad Adge list seems to me to be the easiest to use (no searching or clicking thru to other pages needed - the ads are listed alphabetically by sponsor name)

http://adage.com/article?article_id=134136

I think my favorite is Alec in Hululand (Hulu), altho I really liked Clydesdale Circus (Budwieser) and Refresh Anthemn (Pepsico)

It's none of my business, Mr. Gates, but....

A little earlier this morning I listened to a news story about Bill Gates pledging $250 million to fight polio. And that's a wonderful noble thing.  I applaud him.

Then, about an hour later, I heard a different news story about Microsoft cutting 5,000 jobs.

Now, I have no idea what kind of severance package these Microsoft employees will receive, and what Mr. Gates does with his money is none of my business...

But, the thought occurs to me, that wouldn't it be great if Mr. Gates would commit some of his money to helping these newly unemployed former Microsoft workers through what is undoubtedly going to be a difficult time for them?

Are your Christmas lights still up?

Are your Christmas lights still up? 

Seems to me that lighting up the Christmas lights on Inauguration Day could be seen as a display of hope and support for the new incoming President.   (Just the lights, tho... hold the Santas, the reindeers and camels. )

I suppose that's an unconventional thought,  does anyone else feel that way?

2009: The Name Game

So, what are calling this year, when you say 2009 out loud?  :-)

Do you say " Two thousand nine"? 

Or do you go with "Twenty oh nine"?

What about next year?  Next year I think I might try "Twenty ten" as opposed to "Two thousand ten".

And an even bigger question ... what do you call this DECADE?

We had the "sixties", the "seventies", the "eighties", the "ninties" .....

What will we call this decade?  The "zeros"?  The "Oh-ties"?  Any ideas?

Above The Rainbow Jewelry

Well, here's a project I started fiddling around with about a year ago, so I guess I can't blame the delay on the lack of a DSL connection for over a week.  :-)

But I finally got a few of my friend Lilian's jewelry pieces set up in an Etsy shop.  You can check it out at http://abovetherainbow.etsy.com

Over the last few days (my unplugged days) I got a few other pieces photographed.  Now I just need to get those photos edited and uploaded.  :-)

Saturday May 17 at the Airliner in Lincoln Heights

Saturday, May 17, 5PM to 6:30PM,  Carlo Gomes and Sis Boom Bah

Airliner
Lincoln Heights
2419 N Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90031
(323) 221-0771

http://www.myspace.com/theairlinerclub      
scroll through the "friends" to see the Sis Boom Bah ad
click on the ad to link to music
www.myspace.com/sisboombah

posted by rechords@gmail.com

Vernal Equinox - Rite-of-Spring - Ostara

Our early ancestors were deeply aware of changes in the seasons, and changes in the heavens above them.  Indeed, our ancestors ignored such changes at their peril.

While they may not have known the physical dynamics or the astronomical term Vernal Equinox, as the days lengthened and grew warmer, the ancients were aware of a coming time of balance between dark and light.

Our early ancestors would be busy now, making final repairs to their plows, preparing their draft animals to pull the plows, checking their store of seed corn to plant.  Their survival in the next year would depend much upon the corn seeds they were about to plant.

Thus, rituals that marked spring planting time celebrated the fertility of the earth, the viability of the seed, and entreated the gods and goddesses to ensure an abundant crop.

The ancient Saxons celebrated these rite-of-spring rituals with an uproarious festival, called by some Ostara, commemorating the goddess of rebirth and fertility, Eostre, and seeking her blessing upon the fields and crops.

When the second-century Christian missionaries encountered the Saxon tribes of the north, they attempted to convert the tribes to Christianity. These missionaries decided to spread their religious message slowly throughout the populations by allowing the people to continue to celebrate feasts of the old ways, but to do so in a Christian manner.

As the Christian celebration overtook the old ways, the goddess name, Eostre, eventually morphed to the modern word and spelling, Easter.

In A.D. 325, the Council of Nicaea was convened by emperor Constantine. It issued the Easter Rule which states that Christian Easter shall be celebrated on the first Sunday that occurs after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox, further blending the ancient Rite-of-Spring celebration with Christian Easter.

A Los Angeles Christmas: Joy to the World

A Los Angeles Christmas: Live From The Jersey Shore

From my home state, by the patron saint of Jersey Shore music, Bruce Springsteen.   The Boss made Santa Claus is Comin' to Town famous but no self-respecting Jersey Boy would pick that over Merry Christmas, Baby

A Los Angeles Christmas: Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt

Santa Baby is a song recorded by Eartha Kitt, in 1953.  Eartha Kitt is well known as Catwoman from the 1960's Batman series.  This song has been covered by many:  Madonna, Brittany Spears, and RuPaul, among others.  This performance, by Eartha Kitt, was from last year's White House Christmas special.  Oh, in case you were wondering, she was two weeks from her 80th birthday last Christmas.  A truly beautiful lady.

A Los Angeles Christmas: Little Saint Nick

Two things can help you forget your troubles and remember what's really important in life: Christmas music and The Beach Boys. I found a great rendition of the Beach Boys holiday classic, Little Saint Nick, performed by the La Jolla chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

A Los Angeles Christmas: Rudolph, Regis, Kelly and The Donald

Remember Regis, Los Angeles? While he got his start delivering films on KCOP, in Los Angeles, his first show was The Regis Philbin show, in San Diego. He moved back to Tinseltown to host Philbin's People and ultimately to New York to host Live!, first with Cindy Garvey, then Kathie Lee Gifford, and finally with the talented Kelly Ripa. Here's Regis, singing in a parody of those Rankin & Bass Christmas specials, so many of us watched, in the 60s and 70s.

Living the American Dream

To some, if not most, part of living the American Dream entails owning a home! 
SPANISH: Para algunos, si no todos, parte de viviendo el Sueno Americano incluye ser dueño de una casa!

For those of you that know me, I work the area of North East Los Angeles; I have refinanced and financed various purchase transactions for my fellow neighbor.
SPANISH: Para los que me conocen, yo trabajo el área de North East Los Angeles; he refinanciado y e dado varios prestamos para compra de casa ha mi ser humano.

Recently I asked a neighbor in Cypress Park...
SPANISH: Recientemente, le pregunte a un vecino en Cypress Park...

What does it feel like to own a home?
SPANISH: Que se siente ser dueño de una casa?

How should I tell you? It feels beautiful...it feels prideful. A lot of people work very hard to barely afford to make a rent payment and that's a troublesome thing. To know that I work hard so that I can own my own home...that's something to have pride over!!!
I've accomplished something very big and today my property is worth half a million dollars.
SPANISH: Pues como te diré? Se siente bonito...se siente orgullo. Mucha gente trabaja muy duro y apenas tienen para pagar la renta, y eso es triste. Saber que yo trabajo duro y para ser yo...dueña de mi propia casa. Eso es orgullo!!!
He cumplido una cosa muy grande y hoy mi propiedad vale medio millón de dolares.

What words of advice do you have for someone thinking of owning a home?
SPANISH: Que palabras de consejo le tienes al alguien pensando en comprando casa?

To educate themselves as much as possible. At the time I bought my house I didn't have all of this Internet stuff. I had to confide in someone to help me. But today I know that a lot of information you can find online for free. I mean it's not wrong to confide in someone and shake their hand...but today, you have to start little by little. And the information concerning all of the process is right there.
Just remember, don't be afraid to ask questions!
Welcome to the pridefullness of home ownership!
SPANISH: Que guarden su dinero y que se educan lo mejor posible. En el tiempo que yo compre me casa no tuvimos todo esto del Internet. Yo me confié en alguien y ellos me ayudaron. Pero hoy también se que mucha información se pueda conseguir gratis en el Internet. Osea no es mal confiar en alguien y chocarles la mano...pero hay que empesar poco a poco. Y allí esta la información sobre todo lo que tienen que saber.
Y aquerdense, no tengan miedo de hacer preguntas!
Bienvenidos al orgullo de ser dueño de casa!

 

Americanos: Latino Life in the United States (La Vida Latina en los Estados Unidos) es un libro que ilumina la vida Latina. Si usted gusta una copia de este libro gratis, mande me un correo electronico (email) aqui.

Thanks, But No Thanks!

Thanksgiving, a truly American holiday, is a celebration of an informal treatise.  I learned, as an elementary student at Joyce Kilmer Elementary School, that the "pilgrims and indians" gathered for a great feast to give thanks for a bountiful harvest.  It was billed as the first "cross-cultural" celebration in this New World.

While I was dressing up as "a brave", for the kindergarten performance, Frank James of the Wampanoag Native American Tribe was presenting an entirely different account, in Massachusetts.  He wrote a rousing speech about the oppression of Native Americans.  When the Massachusetts legislature received an advance copy of the speech, Mr. James was disinvited.  That censorship led to the National Day of Mourning, recognized by many Native American groups.

Were I older than my five years, in 1970, I might have offered to the Massachusetts legislature my disapproval to the censorship of Frank James.  Then, I would have suggested that "Talk is Cheap" to Mr. James.  I might have advised him to start looking for opportunities for Native Americans rather than looking for a handout from the descendants of the alleged oppressors.

The libertarian thought that dominates my mind loves the equitable irony of my last statement. Certainly, someone within the Native American communities heeded my unspoken advice.  While European fur traders may have devastated Native Americans with the introduction of firewater, it would appear that Native Americans have discovered the chink in our armor.

...and today, "The Man" is the one looking for a handout.

Happy Thanksgiving Northeast Los Angeles ! 

Good Shepherd Lutheran School

Good Shepherd Lutheran School has limited enrollment for Pre-K & Kindergarten. Find out what everyone is talking about! Check out the newly remodeled PreK classroom. Find out why lots of parents are clammoring to get into Good Shepherd Lutheran School.

Good Shepherd Lutheran School
6338 North Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90042
323-255-2786
Website: goodshepherdla.org

Haunted Harvest Storytelling Festival

Haunted Harvest Storytelling Festivall is back for the 2nd year. Join the Old L.A. Farmers Market in Highland Park for a scary night on the town. Teusday, Oct. 30 from 3-8 pm at North Figueroa & Ave. 58.
We Tell Stories will have three performances, Puppets & Players Little Theater will be performing also.

The Haunted House will scare you. definately not for younger kids. Enjoy trick or treating, face painting, a costume contest and a raffle.

Enjoy Hot & Prepared Foods, Fresh Produce and arts & crafts.

Event is free and open to all.

Old L.A. Farmers Market is every Tuesdays from 3-8 pm.

Nanny Tracker- Who's Watching YOUR kids?

I recently stumbled onto a weblog called:

I SAW YOUR NANNY

They solicit "nanny sightings"  from around the country and ask readers to submit them for posting.

If you would like to share your nanny sighting, story or opinion, please utilize the Meebo toolbar in the sidebar to send us a private instant message, leave an anonymous submission in the form of a comment to this post or send an email to isawyournanny@cooltoad.com. For submission guidelines, please click here.

They have a geographical index sorted by states and interesting posts about worst and best nanny experiences.   

The only problem with their weblog is that the google adwords seem to trigger pop ups that are annoying.  However, the content is good for parents with small children.

Belated Mother's Day Musings

Belated Mother's Day Musings From Barubraja

Ozomatli to Release New Album

I haven't posted in nearly two weeks here on NELA.  Let me assure you Angelenos, it is not because of the swift retribution enacted upon me by Cheryl Johnson for my hate speech against an LA institution.  The hard fact is that I'm bored lately with all of this mortgage stuff.  I imagine you are also.  I'll still throw up the mortgage stuff for you but I'm going to pepper it with some issues that might not lull you to sleep.

Ozomatli is a twelve year old band out of Los Angeles that rocks San Diego when they visit us.  They're a mash-up of musical genres I dig:  Hip Hop, Latin, Funk, and a little bit of Middle Eastern.  If you can imagine the Black Eyed Peas with more street cred, you get Ozomatli.   They've played at the Coors Ampitheatre, The Del Mar Fair (right near my home), and will be at the Belly-Up Tavern in Solana Beach (my hometown) on March 9-10.   The Belly-Up is my all-time favorite concert venue and where I met OZO some 4-5 years ago.

Ozomatli releases it's newest album, Don't Mess With the Dragon,  in April, 2007 on the Concord label.  OZO is known for their political activism and the group promises that Don't Mess With the Dragon won't hold back.  The new album features Latin track, La Gallina and their driving anthem to their hometown, City of Angels.   Here is a link to a 2-3 minute video about the new album.

Anybody who's been to an OZO show knows how hard working this band is.  The end of the concert is marked by the band mixing with the crowd in an impromptu sing-a-long of mindless diddies.  OZO fans love this band and for good reason.  One look at trombonist, Shef, shaking his thing when not playing gives middle-aged, suspender wearing, mortgage brokers hope that, we, as goofy as we are, still got it goin' on.

Gina with the Gams and Gunny Pop

It stared out with a post today about a gal named Gina who started a program called Pinups for Vets.  Gina published a calendar  featuring here as a pinup gal in the style of the 1940's pinup gals.  I found it cute and amusing and posted on America's Most Opinionated Mortgage Broker.  I sent Gina an e-mail inviting her to comment to lend some authenticity to the project.

Gina commented and I was pretty happy that I did a bit of due diligence.   She's the real deal:

Brian,
Hello again! It's Gina from the above calendar project. First of all, I wanted to thank you so much for posting information about the fundraiser and getting it out there. And thank you to everyone who is supporting this project by purchasing a calendar either for themself or for a vet or deployed military.
I am going to be visiting a Medical Hold Platoon in a few weeks with many wounded Marines from Iraq and Afghanistan. I would love to be able to bring 55 calendars to all of them. So, if you can donate even one calendar, that will help me reach my goal.
Thank you so much for your support and if you have any questions/comments...please feel free to email me at PinUpsForVets@aol.com
Also, be sure to send on the website link to anyone who might be interested in supporting the project.
Gina
www.PinUpsForVets.com

What I didn't expect was the comment from "Viper", a Captain in the United States Marine Corps.

All, this is Captain Grose again and I can vouch for the authenticity of this project. I contacted Gina TODAY for the first time and she has answered a half dozen emails from me within minutes of sending them. She also spent almost an hour with me on the phone where we hatched a plan to get her to see the wounded Marines at Balboa. She is as friendly and dedicated to this project as she is beautiful so please help her and those deployed who will undoubtedly cherish one of these calendars.

Captain Grose has a website:

It has some light-hearted posts that Generation X-er's will enjoy, most notably Capt. Grose's dedication to The Electric Company TV show.  Those of you under 45 will definitely remember that one.  It proves that Jarheads have a nostalgic side.

And it has sad stories.  Stories you don't want to hear but must. It has a story about a Marine Non-Com called "The Cigar Marine".  His name is Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch aka "Gunny Pop".  Gunny Pop is a wounded war hero who's going to college here in San Diego to become a school teacher.  Gunny Pop really wants to go back to lead his Marines but has lost an eye from an Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack.  Captain Grose dedicates a page filled with links about Gunny Pop.  I implore you, regardless of your feelings about the War Against Terrorism to read this account.

Please consider buying a calendar for a service member overseas.

One Answer To An Annual Question

Every year the question comes up in Google Searches, in Yahoo Answers ... are there any restaurants open in Los Angeles on Christmas Day?

Well, these are Pasadena, not L.A., but very close to NELA: Ritz-Carlton Huntington in Pasadena is an old stand-by.    McCormick & Schmick's  Seafood Restaurant   and  Delacey's Club 41 were both open and busy! 

This photo is of Delacey's, our regular holiday hang-out.  It was taken just about 4PM Christmas day, before the evening stampede arrived.

Meme, Schmeme

Jim Cronin of The Real Estate Tomato made up a game. Each player reveals five things about himself/herself, and tags another.  Well, no one tagged me, but life is like that.  And revealing five things is way too much work anyway.  I'll try one.

And if Greg Swann, The Bloodhound, can do it, so can I.  True, I'm not one of the big dogs.  I'm just a pudgy old housecat sitting on the window sill, watching the butterflies.

But if Greg has the chutzpah to link to his Janio at a Point, and his 1997 romance novel, The Unfallen (which by the way, Greg, I have printed out for a leisurely read, plus presenceofmind.net is bookmarked for further study),

.....Then I still have enough chutzpah to reveal to the World the Lyrics Of My Youth. 

Veteran's Day

Do I always agree with the leaders of our country?  No.  Do I always agree with their policies and their decisions?  No.  And I am thankful to have the right to disagree.

I know and love several men and women currently serving on active duty.  I know and love several that have served in the past.  They are my friends and my family.  To celebrate Veteran's Day is to express respect and support for these individuals.   Politics be damned.

ALMOST THAT TIME OF YEAR

It's just about that time of year when my thoughts turn to . . . shredding.

The California Department of Real Estate requires agents to retain files for seven years.  Until recently,  I retained files forever.  But the stacks of white cardboard storage boxes took over my garage and two file rooms at the office, leaning over me in menacing towers, like some malevolent sci-fi life form.  And I decided "Enough"!

A couple years ago, I purchased two (two!) large industrial shredders, and the intrepid Grace spent days feeding stuff into the shredders.  I created a flow chart for the next ten years and posted it on the wall -- for example, in December of 2006, I can shred everything prior to December of 1999.

But, this December, Grace will be in Cambodia.  So while looking into mobile shredding services, the thought occured to me:  "I'd like to be able to just burn this stuff."

I am old enough to remember backyard incinerators. Now that would be convenient.

In my reiminiscing about incinerators, I had a wild idea:  A Community Bonfire.  Sort of a local Burning Man Festival.  Maybe in a large open parking lot,  the Fire Department and LAPD could be on hand to keep things under control.  And everyone could bring their old files, and bills, and papers and toss them into the Bonfire. 

We could add performers, art, music and food and make a Northeast Community Bonfire Event out of it.

And burning the old stuff has such a symbolic element to it.

Anyone game?

Way To Go, Barbaro

Yesterday Penn Veterinary released a video clip of Kentucky Derby Winner Barbaro being walked outside, and nibbling some grass.  Very encouraging!

http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/news/Barbaro_Update8-14.htm

If you are interested in advances in veterinary medicine, the Penn Vet site is fascinating to explore.

I am looking forward to the media circus that will probably accompany Barbaro's first session in the breeding shed.  Can you picture the talking network news heads trying to politely describe the process of horses mating? :-)

Incredible Murals

I would love to give this guy a paint brush, and turn him loose on North Figueroa:

Yes, this is a painted mural. The artist's name is Eric Grohe and he transforms ordinary urban walls into amazing  3D works of art.  Check out the "PROJECTS" section of his web site.

http://www.ericgrohemurals.com/about.html