Kitters

Kitters and Woody have recently been orphaned. They have been the constant companions of a dear woman, Judi, who has lost her battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Blogging.la does sometimes try to find homes for various and sundry animals, and I’m hoping someone out there will want to adopt these sweet kittehs. As we all know, shelters are full of unwanted and abandoned cats!

Here’s what my friend Cammy says about these two love cats:

Woody

Kitters is the female calico.  She’s very shy and a bit skittish, we have to admit.  Maybe it is due to her ‘fight’ with a car about 6 years ago that cost kitty her tail.  Thankfully, that is all she lost, and other than missing her tail, to everyone’s knowledge, she is in fine health.  She’s about 8 years old, and is spayed.

Woody, the tuxedo male, is sort of the comic relief to Kitters, as he is very social, and quite the talker.  I think he told me once that he wouldn’t mind if he never saw the inside of another shelter, which is where he came from originally before being adopted by Judi.  He is also in good  health, neutered, and about 8 years old.

Both Kitters and Woody are indoor cats.  If it’s okay with their new people, they will be accompanied by a bit of baggage — two scratching posts and an electric cat box.

Thank you for any help you can offer in finding a new place for Kitters and Woody to live out their lives and share their love.

Contact Katherine :  misskates@mac.com

Can we come home with you?

For the record I’m not a prude.  Actually some of the testicular enhancements added to the trucks can be kind of shockingly funny.   But for a “Family  Car  Club”?  Pic by me while stopped in traffic, it does get much bigger with a click.  Do so at your own risk not in the presence of prudes.

As previously reported by the awesome and totally dateable Travis, the Takosher Truck is now making the rounds at lunch time in LA. I’ve been following them on twitter (@takosher) since that first post and today serendipity was on my side. A friend called at 11 to see if we could switch our lunch plans from Friday to today. Having just been checking the map to see how close the Takosher truck was, I asked her if she’d be interested in trying the new food truck, she said yes and we did!

On Pico near Doheny we found the truck in all its blue and white glory, parked near their Kosher meat supply and a Lexus mechanic. Fortunately, the garage had this handy wall just at the perfect height for lunching and chatting.

I ordered the 3 taco special to try the Brisketaco, the Latketaco and the Fujitas. With my tacos I got chips, a shredded carrot and (I think) jicima salad and a drink all for $11. My friend got the two taco combo for $9. (She ordered the same as mine but without the Brisketaco.)

Order Up!

In the above right photo (click for much bigger) you can see the Brisketaco (top left), the Fujitas (bottom center) and the Latketaco (top right). I started with the Latketaco and found it a bit bland and kinda odd to eat in a tortilla for some reason, like the corn flavor didn’t really go with the fried latke flavor. The menu describes it as “A combination of three types of potato, cilantro, onions and roasted chipotle chiles” but I could only taste potato. And we only found a lot of cinnamon, not enough heat or much of anything else in the “sweet and spicy apple jalapeño chutney.”

Moving on to the Brisketaco, again, a bit bland. The meat was tender, but not well spiced. Even the onions (seen clearly in the photo) seem to have not a lot of flavor. Lastly was the Fujitas taco which we both liked very much. There was texture and spice and heat. It was a good way to end the trio. The chips were chips and the little carrot salad was crunchy and refreshing. Beverages were all Dr. Brown’s flavors in bottles as this is a fully kosher truck. (Did you know they were owned by Pepsi?)

While I was not blown away, I am curious to try the other tacos on the menu and I would have the Fujitas tacos again in a heartbeat. I hope as they get going they get some heat and spice back into the other tacos.  I would recommend them, so if you see the truck, give them a go.

My lunch date, Debra!

Mazel Tov! (Okay okay, I’m not Jewish.)

Takosher Truck website.

I live just off Hollywood Boulevard in Los Feliz, so I get exposed to a lot of pretty silly billboards. Usually they advertise Ralph’s supermarkets (whose current ad campaign is worth a blog post of its own) or whatever movie is currently in theaters. (in 2006 I had to see Gerard Butler yelling THIS IS SPARTA for about six weeks straight every time I left my home). But recently AHF Pharmacy put up an ad that takes the cake. It depicts a cute little girl being cuddled by her dads, which overall is pretty unremarkable.

But here’s the catch: One of her dads (the one holding her) seems like a sweet guy, but the other is clearly waiting for the right moment to cut the brake line on the family Passat and start counting insurance money. Don’t stare too deeply into his eyes; you may fall in love with him yourself, and before you know it you’ll be hip-deep in gambling arrears and he’s skipped town with all your credit cards and a velvet sack full of your mother’s jewelry. Because, dammit, she fell for him too.

“But Kevin,” you’re saying. “AHF is a globally-recognized advocate for people with AIDS and HIV. They provide low- and no-cost doctor visits and medicine to tens out thousands of people around the world while posting no profits. Hell, the billboard itself says ‘People Before Profit.’ What kind of a lowlife are you, targeting one of the last bastions of decency in the American health care system for an easy laugh?”

Well, first of all: I’m glad you laughed. Second: The fact that I fully support AHF’s mission is the very reason I’m writing this. Because, seriously, look at that ad: It’s obviously two separate image-library pictures Photoshopped together, probably called “Happy Dad With Daughter” and “Smiling Date Rape Enthusiast.” (Don’t believe me? Check out Creepy Dad’s left hand. Elbows don’t work that way, unless you’re some sort of multi-jointed cacodemon) I want AHF to be able to afford models for their advertisements, so that straight folks don’t start thinking every gay marriage includes some strong Hitchcockian subtext.

So throw AHF some business. Get your prescriptions filled at their pharmacies. Do some shopping at Out of the Closet. Buy a ticket to a movie starring Blair Underwood. But do what you can, today. Future pictorial representations of gay families depend on it.

More in this series:

To a New World of Gods and Monsters

It’s a Thin Line Between Awesome and Awful

Grafittists, I Invite Thee

Some Things Shouldn’t Go Viral

Hard Wood Floors

bored-now's Broken Heart photo used through Creative Commons license

As promised I am posting my lament about the horror that is dating in Los Angeles. Let me first say for years I defended L.A. in this regard. Having dated in Washington, D.C. and Madison, Wisconsin, I felt like I had enough boots-on-the-ground experience to say with some limited authority: no, it’s not L.A. per se that sucks so much as dating in general. It’s like a job interview except you have to eat dinner and feel bad that your tits aren’t big enough. Sadly my job history is about a thousand times more impressive than my dating history (unless you’re using impressive in a general but not necessarily positive sense). Regardless, I’ve always defended this town as not necessarily any better or worse than anywhere else for dating, but lately I have had a string of dates that make me reconsider. Maybe what they say is true and this town is particularly difficult.

Experiences I have had on dates over the past few months include, but are not limited to: someone showing up 40 minutes late for dinner on a first (and last) date, someone asking me out and then telling me he doesn’t date because he needs to be friends with someone for years before getting romantically involved, someone canceling a second date because during the one-short-week since the first date he launched into a serious relationship with someone else, and the pièce de résistance, someone who went awol mid-date. This last deserves special mention as the worst date I have ever been on, which is, I might add, a hard contest to win. He excused himself twice to go to the men’s room and when he got up a third time, purportedly to fetch a credit card from the front counter where he accidentally left it, he never came back. My theory: he was actually married and his wife or one of her friends was at the cafe at the time; an alternative theory: he was doing bumps in the bathroom; or perhaps both of these things were true. In any case, even if you suddenly determine that you are totally and completely not into someone, it’s not that hard to say to her that your stomach got upset or you forgot you left the oven on or the neighbor called and your condo is on fire or something. You don’t just leave the table never to return. This behavior is odd in the extreme.

The above list represents a sampling of the dates I’ve been on relatively recently. Not all have been that reprehensible and there are several I don’t mention simply because discretion is the better part of good manners. I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, Travis must look like a gorgon or have bad breath or be boorish or laugh like Elmer Fudd sitting on a juicer. Really though, my fellow b.la-ers can vouch for me when I say I am awesome-ish. Sure I have my issues–don’t we all–but come on, I’m a size 4 and I have a Ph.D. that should count for something.

And lest I come off like I’m trying to bust someone’s chops, I want to clarify that most of the guys I have been out with lately have been reasonably nice guys (except for the douchebag who left mid-meal–if you are out there db I hope your wife finds out you’re cheating on her). Some have been really cool, and I’ve become friends with a few of them. This town is filled with interesting great people, I’m really clear about that. But really dating here is frightful. I concede.

Yes, it’s stupidly short notice, but if you’re available and so inclined, how about heading over to the Community Meeting on Medical Marijuana Dispensary Regulations and Enforcement?

It’s TODAY – Tuesday, September 14

6:30 – 7:30pm

Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock

2225 Colorado Blvd.

Los Angeles CA 90041

Sorry, no fancy pictures or links (beyond this kinda crummy one) for you – but your support is critical and I’m just seeing this.

The R&R Gallery is having a Bill Murray tribute show. It opens Friday, Sept 17th. You know you need to be there. (929 East 2nd Street Suite 106 Los Angeles CA 90012)

There are two times, generally, when I’m turned into a little girl: one is when I see Donald Duck at Disneyland (something about that waddle), and the other is when I see super, duper kawaii Japanese pop girl group Shonen Knife.  Kurt Cobain was similarly transfixed when he first heard the band’s Burning Farm album, so much so that he ranked it number 26 on his Top 50 Albums, as listed in his Journals.  Here he is, telling Shonen Knife why he loves them so much and how excited he is that the Japanese trio will join Nirvana on their 1991 UK tour in support of a little album called Nevermind.

Shonen Knife is The Beatles meets The Ramones meets the grocery store: they sing about their love for banana chips, chocolate, fruits, vegetables, brown mushrooms, pizza, and spam.  They also sing about cats and Barbies, and whatever else strikes their fancy.  Sometimes they cover great bands like The Monkees and The Ramones.  And sometimes I really have no idea what they’re singing about, but as The Magnetic Fields pointed out, nothing matters when we’re dancing.  The band’s brand of infectious pop is coming to LA not once, but twice, tomorrow.  First, they will make an in-store appearance at Amoeba at 5 (free), then they will head over to Spaceland for a proper show (a paltry $12 in advance, $14 at the door).  Seriously, apart from the gross old white dudes who love Shonen Knife a little too hard, I defy you to have more fun at another show this year.

Primus is coming to Club Nokia in downtown L.A. this Thursday and Friday, and thanks to our friends at Goldenvoice, Blogging.LA has your tickets. Here’s the deal…

Primus will be performing both Thursday, September 16 and Friday, September 17 at Club Nokia at the LA Live complex, and I can’t wait! Mariachi El Bronx will be opening both nights, and I’ve heard great things about them as well, so I’m going to get there early. You should, too.

We’ve got pairs of tickets for each night. To get yours, just leave a note in the comments section below. Tell us your favorite Primus song, and which show (Thursday or Friday) you’d prefer to see. That’s it. Perhaps the easiest ticket contest we’ve ever run.

Special bonus: Whoa. For those of you who are able to make the show on Thursday, I’m told there will be a special performance of Frizzle Fry (Primus’ first studio album) in its entirety. Awesome!

There are, of course, deadlines for this sort of thing. Entries for Thursday night must be received by Tuesday, 9/14 at 5:00pm. Entries for Friday night must be received by Wednesday, 9/15 at 5:00pm. Keep your eyes on your email; if you’re one of the winners, you’ll need to confirm by noon the following day (Wednesday & Thursday, respectively.) None of that has to be as confusing as it sounds; we’re keeping it all straight. Just get your entry in NOW, confirm as soon as you get the winning email, and you’re in!

Primus is a spectacular live band, and this show is not to be missed. Don’t want to wait and hope to win? You can buy your tickets for Thursday and/or Friday online now.

Tucked behind the Monrovia School District offices lies Julian D Fisher Park.  It is one of many pocket parks dotting Monrovia, but this one is special because of its 3 regulation size basketball courts.  Good enough that it is listed on the “Courts of the World” web as a place to go for pick up games and just enjoy the sport.

Bringing it closer to home for me, the Monrovia Mountaineers, a competitive travel basketball team for 14 and under age kids uses it for practice when local gyms aren’t available.   We (as in my youngest child who is a Mountaineer) are at this park for practices with his team several times a week.

Mountaineers practice early on a Sunday morning.

There is also a nice Picnic Pavilion and play ground area to round out the usefulness of this pocket park.  Fair warning, this park is packed in the evenings and on weekends.  Week day mornings you tend to find the odd Mom and kidlet in the play area.  Parking is limited on Almond Avenue, but not completely impossible to find a space within walking distance of the entrance to the park.

Easy access from 210 Fwy via Myrtle or Mountain Ave exits.

Some assclown chucked a body into a recycling bin somwhere in the city and it wasn’t found until it made it’s way all the way downtown to the processing center. I don’t know if it was mixed in with the paper or plastics or glass but I do know that a body doesn’t fit into any one of those categories. Also, in addition to that being a less than respectable way to treat a previously living person, it’s also totally messing things up at the recycling plant and the whole place just turned into a crime scene. Nice move, dick.

It stopped me in my tracks.  Hot pink “wife beaters” with the words “boy beater” printed on them.  Don’t know why it bothers me but it does.

one of Gronk's many amazing images for What Books Press

Wednesday night I had the good fortune to hear several What Books Press/Glass Table Collective writers read at the Wanted: Writers! series at the Rumor Mill. I’ve been meaning to send a shout out about the Rumor Mill for a while after meeting Joe Staats, the master of ceremonies in line to get books signed at the Central Library. This was the third time I’ve been to a Wanted: Writers! reading at the Rumor Mill and each time I leave entertained and feeling part of a community of writers and readers.

Last Wednesday’s reading was particularly special since Katherine Haake, Chuck Rosenthal, and Karen Kervorkian are all part of a collective of “poets and fiction writers, essayists, political activists, a painter, a film-maker [who] . . .  have come together to create, promote, and celebrate new books of literary writing and astounding art.”  The work read Wednesday ranged from tales of space aliens, poems constructed from the landscapes of New Mexico and Texas, and a romp of  a story featuring no less a protagonist than Robert Altman Sr.’s chicken (I would say cock, but that might give the wrong idea–it wasn’t *that* kind of reading). Gronk does all of the cover art for the press and has his own book, A Giant Claw.

For $70 you can subscribe for a year to What Books Press and receive new releases signed by the authors. You can expect to hear more from me about WBP and Wanted: Writers! in the future.

The Los Angeles Rams would finish the season at 6-6, missing the playoffs. But, they would end on a high note on the muddy gridiron of the famed Coliseum, with a W against their NFL Western rivals, a Johnny Unitas-led Baltimore Colts.

The year was 1957.

Photo from the USC Digital Library