Mock Election

D. and I took a non-U.S. citizen and someone under voting age with us to the mock election so we could all test the new equipment. We received ballots after checking in and they received provisional ballots.

No waiting to get a voting machine.

I found the touch screen easy to use. The only complaint was that although I could make the font larger I could not make it smaller in order to get all the candidates (best beach in LA Co., best museum in LA Co., etc.) fit onto the screen without scrolling down.

You can learn a lot more from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk video and web page. Of course you can still vote by mail, sticker included.

Threes

I have been making slow progress on
this Charley Harper jigsaw puzzle.

On Wednesday I went to the library
and checked out this board book.

Today I received this card from my sister.

Entertaining company

Once again we are a friendship family, paired with teachers in town for six weeks to learn about other educational systems by taking classes and by working with local high schools. This year our fellows are from Estonia and South Africa.

For our first adventure we took public transportation to Hollywood. We didn't see anyone famous but we ran into someone who had been on our train and he offered to give us his tour of famous houses for only $20 a person.

We showed them the Disney Concert Hall and the outside of The Broad. When we asked to look inside the gift shop the security person pointed out that the line for people without reservations was less than five minutes long so we went to see the whole museum! 

We caught a bus and went to Olvera Street to see the old adobe house. There was a celebration for Mexican Independence Day so we got to see some dancing and have some good food.

This week we stayed closer to home, which allowed the fellows to sleep in and finally feel like they were living in the local time zone.

On a hot day we headed to the ice rink. We got there when open skate started so it was not too crowded, but by the time we left there were a bazillion figure skaters. I am pleased to say that I did not run into anyone and no one in our group required medical attention.

We went out into the heat and to an historic house in Pomona. The house was rebuilt from the middle 1800s because it had sat empty for so long. The guide was good about telling us the stories but also pointing out a few inaccuracies (e.g., the family did not have two pianos in the living room but two had been donated so there were two pianos in the living room).

We had dinner together and talked about what we will do next. There is a desire to hike in the mountains so maybe we'll do that if the weather cooperates.

Maybe it happens to everyone?

Do you ever come up with the right response ten minutes after the conversation ends? It is annoying that I am not quicker, but it is also annoying to keep replaying the conversation in my head.

This morning I mentioned the climate strike to a friend. A nearby person added a few comments I did not agree with and after I left I thought of several appropriate responses.

I wish I had recommended this book.

I also wish I had said that I can not focus on other people's actions. I can do only my part. One thing I did today was show up.

At the morning rally at city hall

At the afternoon rally at a busy intersection.

I had to step away from the intersection because it was too stressful to see people turning right without looking for pedestrians and to see people attempt to drive while texting or otherwise using their phones.

In the end I know I am not doing everything I can (e.g., I buy food in plastic containers) but I also know I am doing a lot of good things (commute by bike, follow a plant-based diet, hang laundry outside). I am glad people are encouraged to stand up and seek change.

Oops

Look what I found in a draft from seven months ago! Better late than never.

We don't do a lot for the holidays, but we often exchange cards and sometimes gifts. This year I received a woven heart.

Using a laser cutter and special paper helps,

but these would still be a challenge to weave.

My gift was to try a new recipe, chocolate shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with freeze-dried raspberries. They won't last as long as a paper heart, but they were still enjoyed.

Another Annual Tradition

I cycled to the LA Co. Fair but the gate I have been going to for about twenty years no longer exists. I found the new gate but not a bike rack so I parked in front of the conference center.

My usual stops included the

The Millard Sheets Art Center

backside

in the courtyard
with an incomplete work by David Flores

I always take a quick peek at the competitive cooking

including decorated cakes, like this disco ball.

I always visit the competitive table settings (tablescaping) under the grandstand.

I skipped the $8 popcorn and bought roasted corn.

My only impulse purchase was
to have my fortune told by Zoltar.

I zipped through the plant building to take pictures
for a friend who loves this section but hates the fair.

On the way out I wandered past the miniature
trains (see a virtual tour here).

I always visit the kids' collections
(although A. points out the collections are from
kids who have parents who buy them lots of
stuff, but I am going to ignore that comment).

I love this new-ish game. Everybody gets six tokens to vote.
Would you rather...
...have lunch with Elvis in the Fifties or Madonna in the Eighties?
...be an author or illustrator?
...find a dinosaur egg or dragon egg?

Would you rather...
...have a miniaturized pet or giant pet?
..be a scientist or wizard?
...ride on a broomstick or pterodactyl?

And then I headed home!

I was glad I had not taken my usual route because I went through a neighborhood with plenty of shade and I stopped at two little free libraries.

What a great outing!

Local Detention Camp

"...As a result of hysteria and racism.
May such injustice and suffering never recur."

Outside the L.A. Co. Fairgrounds there is now a remembrance plaque memorializing the Japanese-Americans held there before being sent to Heart Mountain Relocation Center.


As I put out our flag today it was a good time to pause and consider not only our country's past, present, and future actions, but also what happens locally.