A Tale of Two Sets of Wheels, Part Two

I did not get in the car yesterday, although I should have filled the tank before the price of gas jumped another 20 cents. (Why is there a $ key but not a ¢ key?)  The gas in the car was purchased at either $3.999 or $4.019/gallon.  The price at the Arco on the way home from the pool (which I cycled to) was $4.599/gallon this morning.

I love finding these little bridges.

I have to drive to goalkeeper practice and regular practice this evening, but this morning I ran errands by bicycle.  The weather was ideal and I had plenty of time to toodle around.

Here is another little bridge.

I like these bridges because they remind of shortcuts around Ithaca.

However, I know it isn't Ithaca because there is no curb cut for bicycles.

The view is different, too.  I suppose you could imagine that this is a tree-lined gorge of a different sort.

I took my time so I could notice things along the way.

A new playground was being installed in Emerald Park in La Verne.

Here's a little art on the alley side of a building.

This tree slice (cross-section) is in front of La Verne Heights Elementary School.  It was a 500-year-old tree that had been in front of the school but was determined to be a safety hazard because it was obstructing the sidewalk and street.  A major portion of the tree was used by a local artist to create doors for the local public library.  A detailed account is here.  According to the school secretary, the artist's wife is now a substitute teacher at the same school where her husband used to climb the tree.

A Tale of Two Sets of Wheels, Part One

Saturday was all about soccer and driving.

In the morning I drove some boys 25 miles for their game in Pasadena (more accurately we drove about 26 miles and ended up in Altadena before returning to Pasadena).

The field is between two softball/baseball diamonds.

In the morning I drove some boys 25 miles for their game in Pasadena (more accurately we drove about 26 miles and ended up in Altadena before returning to Pasadena). 

I think A.'s team had two shots on goal.  They lost.

I thought we should go from there to the Griffith Observatory or the Natural History Museum, but no one else wanted to, so we drove 25 miles back home.

A few hours later I drove some different boys (and one same boy) 45 miles to the Home Depot Center in Carson, home of the the LA Galaxy, 2011 MLS Champions.

Our seats were not at the 50-yard line because it wasn't American Football, but we were high up right at the halfway line.  We had a great view of David Beckham's many corner kicks, none of which bent into the goal.  The Galaxy lost 2-1.

Blood

Maybe I should have saved this post for closer to Halloween.  I'll come up with something else by then.

I get calls every eight weeks to donate blood.  I was sorry to tell the caller I was going to a community drive because I think he doesn't get credit or a commission unless I make an appointment.  

I like this drive because they have good loot, like a carwash, Galaxy tickets, or a pedometer.  Unfortunately, despite multiple attempts, my hemoglobin levels were too low to donate, even though they weren't low enough for concern.  A 12.5 reading is required and I reached 12.4 on the second reading.

My cards over the years (Ohio, Colorado, New York, California). 

A record of my donations.

When I get the call the person says something like, "Thank you for your previous 16 donations."  I don't correct the person, but my first donation was in April 1984 and I am up to 62 pints.  We'll see if I make it to ten gallons.

Politics

unofficial debate - official photo by Bill Hurd

I did not listen to the debate tonight (I've already made up my mind), but I did get to see the Capitol Steps perform last night.  I can't remember the last time I laughed so much and got to do it among friends (not so many students were there even though it was held in Pomona College's Edmunds Ballroom).

If I Taxed A Rich Man was a popular hit, but I thought all the songs (sung to tunes I recognized, much to my amazement) were entertaining.  

The final piece, which they call backward talk or Lirty Dies but I think of as Spoonerisms, made fun of the poo [sic] tarty system and the pea tarty.  You can find one example here.

Time well spent.

MacArthur Fellows

It is hard to imagine what it would be like to be a MacArthur Fellow, one of those people who gets a grant without even applying.  This year's batch was just announced and I didn't know anyone in the group, but I still enjoyed reading all about them, like the guy who makes non-traditional bows for use with violins, violas, and cellos.

I had never heard of Maria Chudnovsky, but she does graph theory.  I am not sure I could understand her work, but David said it is related to the Vi Hart videos I love.  Here is the latest.

Little experiment

I love reading Home Education Magazine because of its book recommendations and the essays about successful projects.  Many years ago someone described not mowing all of the lawn to see what kind of insects and other animals would be attracted.

Our lawn (backyard only) after being mowed

I love projects that involve not mowing the lawn!  I mow our lawn only a few times a year (literally), using the electric mower we bought in 1995 that was quarantined when we moved to CA because of the fear of gypsy moths, which have been spreading, according to a little video here.

This part of the yard, underneath the angel's trumpet/Brugmansia, has not been mowed in ages and ages.  It has been a disappointment to me because the grass got about eight inches long and that was it.  We noticed nothing new and exciting.  On the other hand, I still can't bring myself to mow it.

Gardening

The truth is I don't like gardening.  Maybe it goes back to our days in Ithaca when I thought I would grow so many zucchini that I would have to sneak them onto a neighbor's porch.  We got three and bugs got the rest.  Going to Farmers' Market was much more satisfying.

The one part of gardening I do enjoy is pruning so when we returned from a year away to find dead camellia bushes, I happily hacked them down.

 The stumps stayed there for a year until a friend was giving away succulents.

I was finally motived  to dig them up.  The pair of scissors did not get clean, even in the dishwasher.

This is what came out the bottom.

Too many peach and cherry pits in my fancy-schmancy compost screen.

Even though I don't like gardening, I do like composting and was excited to use stuff from the bottom instead of only putting things in the top.

The rain barrel was put to use, too.

This is the result.  I don't think it will last since this area gets almost no sun and the only water is from rain or when I think I give them some.

This is the next project.  I have a call into the city, which allows each household to have three large junk pickups each year.  I am hoping they'll take away items hidden behind the bushes (non-functional folding table left by tenants, enormous pallet that came with our fantastic picnic table, an old door). Next I will the prune (hack!) the bushes so the beautiful stone wall can be exposed.  Stay tuned.