Friday, May 30, 2008

Tornado Watching

It's tornado season here. A couple of them touched down in Kearney while I was on my way home from work.

It's Little League Season here. Frank mournfully watched the weather and suited up in his full uniform. I checked the weather and the game cancelation line before we left. The weather was not good and getting worse. According to the telephone game cancelation line, the game was still on. Everyone in the house knew better. Age, but also experience. It jades you.

It began raining as we pulled away from the house and we saw lightening when we passed the park. Frank sat anxiously in the back seat with his glove on. I love that detail. He was ready to hop out of the car and play just as soon as we got to the ballpark.

The last of the players from the early game were getting in their minivans and pulling out when we got there. That was the first time that Frank accepted that there would not be a baseball game that night. He slumped back in his seat.

"Sorry, hon," I said.

"It's ok," he said.

It wasn't ok, but that's ok, too. Life is all about anticipation and disappointment and enjoyment. I feel really fortunate to be here to see these feelings swell and fall in little people who are figuring out this life thing. I am proud to have a son who is optimistic enough to suit up and have his glove on just in case.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

The Lawn Mower Man Trauma

WARNING: the following video may be disturbing to some gardeners.

Monday, May 19, 2008

The Beach is the Beach is the Beach

My conference finished at noon on Sunday. It was in the 80s and sunny and I decided to go to the beach. On the bus. People in California act like there isn't public transportation. But there is. It was fine. The trip from my hotel was a little over an hour and included a transfer. I got a day pass so I could get on and off which allowed me to stop at a silent movie theater (movies on Saturday only, but I was glad just to know that such a theater exists) and on the way back I stopped at a Whole Foods and bought some food to take back to my room for dinner.

But the beach. I was anxious about direction and making the right connection, etc. I didn't need to worry about it. You can smell the ocean and feel the air and my bus went slowly downhill out of the Hollywood Hills to the ocean.

Venice Beach was fantastic. It was crazy and packed full of people and full of people selling anything you can imagine, but there were also lots of families playing together, and friends hanging out in the shade playing guitars and talking, and people riding bikes and roller blading and walking! I bypassed the whole crowd and headed for the ocean and stood in the cool water that made me squeal. The sand was clean and smooth. I walked along the beach and watched the surfers and talked to a few of them. They were all ages and genders and nationalities. My favorite was a strong blonde with wavy blonde hair that flapped out behind her when she caught a wave and then she would go down and come up laughing and I just loved her and thought, she is Southern California. She was so perfect. There was nothing plastic about her. She had a great figure, but it was an athletic figure. And she certainly didn't care about a straight iron or makeup. At least while she was surfing. My other favorite surfer was this pefect old hippie looking guy who had a surf board rack on his bike. My third favorite Venice Person, was a guy taking the trash out on his skateboard. Once he got that chore taken care of, he skateboarded off to do some Southern California Thing.

I ate watermelon from a plastic sleeve and a vegetable empenada and had a lemonade. I rented a bike for an hour and rode along the bike path by the ocean.

The weather was perfect. Sunny and warm but cool. Beach weather. Really like any beach I have been to - Ocean City, Pawley's, and Corpus Christi. Even a lake or an afternoon at the river can feel like a day at the beach.

Does anyone have a bad time at the beach? Everyone smiles and jokes and waits patiently. Parents interact with their kids. Strangers are more respectful of each other than on a city sidewalk.

There's no agenda. Maybe that's it? Just relax and have fun and who cares if kid ahead of you is walking too slow and in your way. In your way for what?

I am contrasting my afternoon yesterday - sun, yummy, cheap food and relaxation - with today - airplane schedules, rude people, and overpriced, mediocre food.

No wonder everyone wants to live on the beach.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Make My Day

I was not in a very good mood about going to Los Angeles for a work conference. And the turbulence on the landing didn't help. Nor did the rude shuttle ride person. Nor did problems with check in at my hotel. But I finally got to my room, dumped my luggage on the floor, lay on the bed for about five minutes and then decided that a cocktail and some food would help a great deal. So I went back to the counter and got a recommendation from the front desk about a place to eat.

"I would like something quiet and that is not a chain restaurant and they need to serve cocktails," I said.

"I know just the place!" the concierge said. "It's a short walk from here. They won't be too busy this time of day, but usually folks can't get a table there." He sent me out the door with a street map of Hollywood.

The place was perfect. There were no windows in the restaurant. Just wood paneling. It was dark and clean and old. The condiments were in little stainless steel containers on the table. The waiters wore black pants and red coats. There were cloth napkins on the formica tables. I gratefully slid into the red leather booth and amused the waiter by telling him that I was ready to order but that I wanted to look at the menu anyway.

"I'll have a vodka martini with lemon and a club sandwich," I said as I sat down.

"Of course, ma'am."

The menu read like a diner menu - salads and sandwiches mostly. There were a few nice items on the menu, but nothing too fancy. Not typical California cuisine. The special of the day was chicken potpie, for example.

My eyes adjusted to the darkness and the ice water helped my headache. I looked around the restaurant finally and realized that I was the only woman in the place. Even the waiters and maitre'd were all men. It was late afternoon Pacific Time (early evening Central Time) and there weren't many people there.

I noticed him in the corner booth with a group of men. My eyes skimmed over him and then my brain skidded to a halt. Who is that?! I thought to myself. My brain tripped over names and movies and I tried to look at him without staring as I tried to figure it out. Late 60s maybe. Thin. White hair. I caught his mouth moving at one point as he talked with the men at his table and that's when his name slipped into my brain. Clint Eastwood. I was in the same restaurant as Clint Eastwood. He was sitting right there. I looked over at him again just to confirm that I was right. He caught me looking at him and his eyes twinkled and his lips smirked and he looked right at me while he wiggled his fingers in my direction. He continued his conversation with the men at his table.

Of course Clint Eastwood is here, I told myself. It's Hollywood. Sheesh, Lea. Be cool. This isn't the kind of place where people get freaky.

His table left before I finished. He towered over the others in his group as they walked out. I finished my sandwich and martini and left the largest tip I have ever left on a $10 lunch bill. It was still less than a ticket to the movies. It made my day.

Friday, May 09, 2008

Two Pairs Too


Bill finished the marathon with a time of 3:26. Which was enough to qualify him for the Boston Marathon. I am going to the Boston Marathon, too, but I am going as the spouse of a qualifier of the Boston Marathon. Sometimes your two pairs, while a good hand, is just not enough against a higher two pairs. Which is not to say that I am not also a "winner," I am just not the same kind of winner.

Under 5 hours was good enough for me. It took a toll on my back and legs, but I am feeling better. After five days, I can go up and down stairs now. Time to start my duathalon training. Ha! No! I'm serious. And I am serious about not taking myself too seriously. That's why I play cards with kids.