Have you seen the movie Up?

Sergio and I went on a date last night and caught the movie Up. I'm so glad we managed to see it before it left this little second-run theaterin Pasadena. The tickets were only $3! (If you are able to catch a matinee, it's only $2!!)

The movie was so great! Seriously. I liked it as much or more than Wall-E. It's all about chasing your dreams, friendship, love, life, loyalty, integrity...and it was also just plain fun. (Squirrel!)

:)





















P.S. On Wednesday nights, the theater features a "Date Night Special." Two tickets, two sodas, and a popcorn for $10. Wow. We are SO there.

Tacos La Estrella Taco Truck

3 tacos: carnitas, al pastor, carne asada. Red sauce on the side please. And a grapefruit Jarrisco soda in a glass bottle. $5 total.

Location: York / Ave. 54. Permanently parked.
Hours: 24/7.

I had read a lot about this place. Lucky us! We moved into walking distance!

The carnitas was ok. The carne asada pretty good. The al pastor --- wow. smoky, flavorful, tender... yum. I'm getting a burrito next time -- al pastor all the way. And the famous red sauce? OMG. wow. perfection. I wonder if they bottle this stuff?!?



On the way home, we stopped by El Huarache Azteca for a couple of super sized agua frescas. Watermelon for Sergio and Horchata para me.

We also witnessed a crazy surreal site:

Hopefully those firefighters can take down that fire soon!

Next taco truck tasting: El Pique! Just several yards from La Estrella.

BTW: Mia ate again on her own tonight. We are ecstatic!!

L.A. River Cleanup 2009

Sergio and I spent the morning out on the river. Yes, that paved thing that snakes its way across the city to the sea. He was a trouper to get up with me to be there by about 9AM -- and in this heat! Organized by FOLAR, there were plenty of kids with school/volunteer organizations participating as well. It's the first time either of us had been so up close and personal with the river. We were amazed to see how natural some of it was. Experiencing it by zipping by on the freeway does not do it justice. On the walk from the parking area to the clean-up site, we saw a red-tailed hawk just a few yards from us, circling towards the river. Pretty cool.

FOLAR provided gloves and bags, energy bars, water and bananas. There were cool posters and even souvenir buttons.

There was a really good live band playing latin music, and a series of booths featuring artists and local eco-oriented organizations.

Also surprising was how clean the river bed already was. The most interesting things we found were a series of nearly fully submerged shopping carts. We saw about five. Evidence of just two of them:



We intended to stay the full 3 hours until noon. But by 11, the heat had gotten to us and we went home.

(You can see the smoke plume from the La Canada fires behind me.)


Here's what we saw walking to the site.....and then walking away towards the car.

Mia seems better

She started mewing this morning, wanting attention. She is stronger! We've been administering the pills, IV hydration, syringe feeding, antibiotic and, on occasion, water with a dropper. And it's getting harder to pry her mouth open because she's stronger now. Maybe it's working.



We hope so.

Mia whimpering is the most awful sound

We did the IV hydration thing tonight. It took us a couple tries with the needle. She whimpered and cried when we stuck her.

She looked awful when I came home today. She is so weak and scrawny. Her fur is getting matted where she spits up the food we try to feed her. We tried to give her this new pill that the doctor gave us that's supposed to be really good for the liver. She kept spitting it back out and foaming. We tried to hold her mouth closed so she would swallow it but she cried and struggled. Finally, Sergio squirted some water in with a dropper and she swallowed it. Then, Sergio and I were discussing what seems like the inevitable and it was too much for me. I lay down next to Mia, kept petting her, looked at that adorable face and just totally lost it. Sergio came over to take over the petting. I had to get up and do the dishes to distract myself.

Then she threw the pill up about 45 minutes later. It just doesn't look good.

Come on Mia! You can do it!

Her tests confirmed some sort of liver disease. They don't know exactly what it is. She's really sick and the vet is not optimistic regardless of what it is she has.

Our options:

1) Run more tests: x-ray, ultrasound....all of it would be in the thousand dollar range, more actually. Treatment wouldn't change all that much because we honestly cannot afford surgeries or anything aggressive like that.
2) Treat the symptoms.
3) Put her to sleep.

We chose option 2. So, he sent us home with supplies: needles and bag for IV hydration, antibiotics, and a feeding syringe. We need to hydrate her every other day or so and feed her often. Her food is liquefied soft food.

The antibiotics were pretty easy to administer. Feeding has been a challenge as she has no appetite. She actually growled at us and she never does that! We haven't tried the IV yet. We'll try that tomorrow since she got doses yesterday and today at the vet's office. The doc said that if she doesn't get better by the end of the week, we need to seriously consider option 3.








I do not want to consider option 3.

Mia

Maybe she'll be ok. Maybe?

A Bubble Lamp of our very own....

Sergio admired the George Nelson bubble lamp since before he knew that they were called bubble lamps. We had no idea how popular they were. We saw two large cigar styles hanging in a mostly empty store front that was for lease. I called the leasing company to ask about the lamps -- to ask if they were for sale. They lady was nice enough to call back and tell us they were not available for sale.

Well, we know what they are now. And last Saturday, Modernica had a 2-hour half-off open box sale on gently used bubbles! This was at their warehouse in downtown and the lamps were either displays or retired film/tv props, in near perfect condition. They called it their Super Secret Sale but it must not have been that secret if I knew about it.

We showed up just before the appointed sale start time and there was a line! It wasn't very deep thankfully. It was kind of exciting when they let us in. I could feel eveyone wanting to rush in but being so cool and nonchalent about it. Once inside everyone was almost tripping over each other, tearing into boxes to find what they wanted. Sergio and I got in line with the pear, which is what I picked out the night before. We had both the small and medium sizes with us and couldn't figure out which was better for the space. Sergio hopped out of line to see if he could find something else and came across a totally new, unopened, still factory sealed saucer! The shorter height would fit so much better than either sized pear.

(nighttime shot. We need a lower wattage bulb . It's a bit bright.)

You know, the only thing better would have been if it was vintage -- I'm such a big fan of recycling, reusing. But, I'm not complaining. Our saucer is so pretty and glowy.

New fashion lust

Clare Vivier is an LA based handbag and accessories designer. I formerly wanted La Trop....but now, I'm wanting the Messenger in Aubergine. (photo from her blog: http://seevivier.blogspot.com) But, since it is $240, it probably will not happen. I already treated myself to an aubergine FURLA (from their gorgeous Piazza di Spangna store no less!) when we were in Rome last -- see right, I am proudly toting my new purchase, waiting for our train back to Sutri. It was post holiday Saldi Saldi Saldi everywhere -- the only way I could afford anything EURO priced. But wait, it was a couple years ago. It must be time for another utterly frivolous all about me luxe purchase ...

No. Must. not. succumb. to. fabulous. fashion! argh!

All money is being poured into the new Lau/Spina homestead. We are now the proud owners of a new sewer line. That was two weeks ago. Oh hey, speaking of plumbing, guess what? We walked into our basement this afternoon and found our ancient water heater nestled in an alarmingly large pool of water that wasn't there the day before. Yay! More plumbing fun!! After inspecting the water heater carefully and identifying the leak origin point, I trudged upstairs, stalked dejectedly to the bedroom, and face-planted into our bed with a groan. I couldn't believe it. When will it stop!?!

Apparently, not anytime soon.

Later that night, Sergio jumped online to research possible causes for Mia's yellow/white, foamy throw-up. Two overwhelming possibilities: 1) Rabies 2) Poison. We are now watching her like hawks. The poor little thing. I actually hadn't realized how bony her shoulders and spine area had gotten. She hasn't really been eating. Sergio ran out to pick up canned wet food. She hungrily slurped that up but it looked like it was painful for her to chew and swallow solids. So, it's a vet visit tomorrow. Yay! What's another couple hundred dollars it inevitably will be?!? Yay! Seriously. This is awesome. Here's a pic of Mia from when she was a baby. She feel asleep tangled up in the straps of my hand bag.

Which brings me back to Clare. Sorry. Didn't mean for my original gush letter to a fab designer turn into an angry missive on financial woes.

Deep breath.

There are a couple of places that carry her bags in LA. But I kind of want to show up at her house and beg her to sell me one at a discount. Maybe one that's been scratched up or got coffee spilled on it..or... I'm just not crazy enough. yet. Apparently she is friends and neighbors with Jeana Sohn who's blog I also follow, who I discovered at a GR2 art exhibit many, many years ago (oh boy do I regret not purchasing one of those whimsical eggs!). Her fashion is impeccable and she loves her La Trop and that's how I found Clare Vivier.

Martha & Henri

Martha is getting married tomorrow, in Bordeaux. She found a nice French fellow by the name of Henri while living in Zurich. They now live in Bayreuth, Germany with their son, Noé. I fully intended to be there with her tomorrow. But then Sergio and I purchased a home. It was just more financially prudent to stay put. I agonized over the decision for a long, long time. The responsible adult in me finally won, the friend and romantic in me was so sad.

I've known Marti since freshman year at BU. I remember the exact moment we met and shook hands in our dorm on Carlton St. We had received roommate info during the summer and I remember thinking, "Gosh, she sure doesn't look like she's from Maui." :) When I look back at my time in Boston, it is with much fondness and warmth--much to do with the people I met there. One of my favorites is Marti. She is fun, caring, smart and honest.

I considered uploading a silly photo from our college days in her honor. But then I found this sweet snapshot from when she and Henri visited with me and Sergio a few years ago in Italy. I couldn't resist drawing hearts around them.


Congratulations Marti & Henri.

Pia Jane Bijkerk

I found her blog just recently. It is inspirational and beautiful. She recently published a book called: Paris: Made By Hand. She is one of my new everyday heroes.

One of her ongoing projects is creating soundscapes -- mostly paired with photos. Visit her blog and experience a few. Fun and lovely.



















i aspire.

Perfect Second Sunday

I took Monday off. We thought we would go out to Glen Ivy. But, after a very full and physically taxing Sunday trimming trees and doing chores...and my insomnia all Sunday night, we just weren't up for the drive out. So, what to do?

Malibu Seafood?
Local beach?
Santa Barbara? (quickly nixed for the driving required.)

Ok. Let's decide where to eat first.

Again, Malibu Seafood? But then, the potentially looong drive out to Malibu seemed daunting. I had not slept ALL night. I luckily dozed off at about 8AM and woke at 11AM. I was determined NOT to spend another moment of my day off in bed. I had to think quickly.

Let's go somewhere we've never been. What kind of food for lunch? hmm...sushi? I immediately thought of Sushi-Gen in Little Tokyo. I had come across a great review while yelping for sushi places for my mom's birthday. And we were off on what felt like another Sunday.

There was a slight wait, as expected, upon arrival at Sushi-Gen. We could have sat at the sushi bar immediately but we were here for the lunch time specials available in the dining room only I had read raves about. I think we waited for maybe 10 minutes. After ordering, everything was a bit rushed but I think the value is high. You get a lot for the price. The sushi was fresh and tasty. The cooked food was a tad salty for our taste but not bad. The warm tofu app at the start was particularly yummy.



Chocolate, Red Bean, Mango
I was hoping they served tempura ice cream but the bill was brought to us about halfway through our meal. I guess it's a no dessert type of place. Then, I thought, lets go get that red bean pancake thingy! You know, the place where you can watch as they make it on the spot. So fresh and warm! Subsequent research tells me the cakes are called imagawayaki and the place I was referring to is Mitsuru Cafe. Alas, it was closed. pout. Fine then. Just across the way, Mikawaya was open and they serve mochi ice cream. (and regular mochi desserts, gelato and shave ice btw). They make their own mochi so it was very soft and tender. In fact, they claim to have invented mochi ice cream. So there, Mitsuru. grumble grumble. pause. Who am I kidding? That imagawayaki is so damned good. I think I need to go back soon on a not-Monday to scratch that itch.

Then, we wandered a bit, visiting Popkiller Second where the man sold me a pair of new aviators! I lost my original pair while hanging with Mart and Henri last year. They were cheap and he went into the back to find them...and Sergio liked them more than the ginormous Elton Johns I was seriously considering. (They made my face so small--a very difficult feat!)

Then, I insisted we stop in at Kimski Makes, (right next to the downtown outpost of Eagle Rock fave Spitz). From the outside, it looked like I wouldn't be able to afford a thing. But I was wrong! Possibly my new favorite store? I am now the proud owner of a purple flower headband! Sergio assured me I didn't look stupid wearing it. He wanted me to put it on as soon as we left the store. It's a bit carmen miranda does floral - but I feel pretty with it on so that's all that counts.

donning the spoils of impromptu shopping

Rest of day: We stopped in a thrift shop in Pasadena I read about and were disappointed. Then we caught a matinee showing of District 9. I liked it. The details were amazing and it all looked very real. The story isn't the most complex ever but it was fun. What I really wanted to see was Zooey in 500 Days of Summer. The showtimes didn't quite match our schedule so I acquiesced to the alien movie.

P.S. While driving away from downtown, on the 110, we spied this:



We have no idea what that is about. We saw it about half complete on the way out to Little Tokyo. It was cool to see it finished but were perplexed. There was a lot of pointing and gesturing by who we assume are the designer and project manager.

UPDATE: Oh....so that's what it is! Sergio told me he saw it on the news too. Hmmm....would've been better to use native plants, methinks. But I'm never one to begrudge a little beautification. Looks nice.

Jet Blue All-You-Can-Fly deal!!!!!

oh. how i WISH. how i WISH i were a less responsible adult.

HURRY! it expires August 21! Let me live vicariously through you. Whomever you are.

http://jetblue.com/deals/all-you-can-jet/

Barstools...finally

Sergio has been obsessed with finding barstools for our small counter since we first moved in. We contemplated a few. We love authentic MCM style but can't always afford it. And you know, cool used barstools are kind of hard to come by. So, we turned to affordable new knockoffs.

1) Metal Eiffel base with wood seat from overstock. We were looking at a slick, zebra wood-like veneer version.
2) Steel colored knockoff of Tolix,also from overstock. Pictured here is the authentic orange. Which, is pretty awesome btw.
3) Clear acrylic stool from cb2 called "Vapor." This was really a passing fancy. It was the most expensive of the three choices and I just wasn't into it anymore once we left the store. They do some nice staging.



We couldn't decide. So we didn't. And then, both of the overstock options became sold out, and that was the end of those two. Sergio was really disappointed and I felt moderately guilty because I was the one hedging on the purchase. But I wasn't totally sure of them.

This past week, Sergio spied a craigslist ad for these beauties:



How I wish we also owned all the rest of the furniture at that house! Yes, especially the snazzy bull sculpture. We spent an excruciating hour+ on the 5 and then 605 en route to view the stools in Long Beach. And then, we bought them. They ended up costing less than two out of three of our original options. Pretty good I think. And, they fit in with our home and existing furniture quite well.

(sorry. I'll get better pictures eventually. oh, please ignore cat hair bunnies floating around the floor...damn that Mia.)

Sergio insisted we eat dinner at the counter that night. Provenance is not entirely clear but the people who sold them to us got them at an estate sale where most of the pieces were of '60s era --they think. No matter. We like them very much. Check out those shapely legs!

Friday Dinner 8.14.09

I tried making something new this past Friday for dinner:

Turkey bacon wrapped scallops.
Pearl couscous with tomatoes and cilantro.



It was good. I think two scallops per person is plenty though. We each could only eat three. It was pretty filling. And pearl couscous is our new grain love.

Our cats walk across walls?

Oh. THAT'S how those paw prints get there.

Silly cat.

One of the most gorgeous sights...

...I've ever seen is our new sewer line being connected to the city main line:



Another beautiful sight--our new, UNBROKEN, non-clay sewer pipe:


















Ain't it pretty?

Duran & Sons was a professional, clean and courteous company. They almost finished the entire job in a day. And, they had the most competitive pricing. And, they specialize in trenchless piping!

This is f-ing awesome technology. Basically, holes are made in the concrete at both ends of the pipe location. The new pipe is melded to this snake head like apparatus which is connected to a very thick cable at the tip, which then is squeezed into the back end of the old pipe. A hydraulic machine sitting in the hole at the front end of the pipe forceably pulls the head through the old pipe space, using the cable. Since our pipe was clay, it just broke the old pipe apart as it snaked its way through, leaving the new pipe in its place! Genius.

This saved us from having to jackhammer the entire length of the driveway - saving time, money and materials.

Making the back hole:



A hole is made at the front on our driveway (below right two).



See the thick cable (below right)?



Before they left, they cleaned up, rinsed and swept up the entire area. They took away the jackhammered concrete debris. And they put tape around the concrete patching they did for the hole. Stray Tabby didn't seem to care. There were paw prints in it about an hour later. But, the guys came back the next morning to finish filling the upper hole with concrete and fixed the paw prints in the driveway.




The guys. The one in the middle is one of the Sons from Duran & Sons.

Hydraulic machine:


Yay!