Pacific Daylight Time

After the Halloween rain, it is finally feeling like fall in LA.  Too often after a small storm, the next day is a sunny, hot business-as-usual affair.  But today, the air still held a bit of a chill.  I actually needed the sweater I was wearing, my feet felt cold without socks, and it made me so happy. Bring on more rain!  Especially nice are those LA rains that come so conveniently in the night and are contained by morning, leaving only the grey clouds and crisp air.  Yes, more fall please!!

One of my students at LA City College wrote this essay in my English 28 class this spring. I loved it so much I asked him if I could post it here. I hope you (whoever you are) will enjoy it as much as I have!                                             Diary of a Honkaholic By Matt Lund       I never knew the potential anxiety driving a car could induce until I moved to Los Angeles. Coming from the suburbs of Orange, California, where safety and courtesy are always priority when behind the wheel, I thought I was in a fantasy (or should I say nightmare) land where traffic rules and regulations do not exist. Having been a resident in Los Angeles for just over 7 years now, I have noticed certain changes, not only in my driving habits but also in my anxiety and stress levels. I am a Los Angeles Driver.       I am a Los Angeles Driver: I am always in a hurry. I swerve into the next lane when the car in front of me is stopping

ME: You can't go in there; it's too muddy. Z: Aw man! I wanted to go in. Me: Sorry. I didn't know it would be full of water. Z: Well, duh. Auntie. It's been RAINing... for like... a MONTH! What a perfect day to be outside! Pretty clear...not too hot...not too cold. Perfect! Streams of water that, I'm sure, only appear when it HAS been "raining for like...a month!" Very nice. The sound of running water is soooooo pleasing. Taming the dragon! It was about here that I started wishing I had brought a real camera instead of just my phone. This view was GORGEOUS! Hollywood, Century City, The Pacific Ocean--not to mention the canyon in front of me! Gorgeous! And much clearer (and greener) than it looks in this picture. And then there's the Griffith Observatory. I love this building so much. I can't even explain why. I just love it here.

I was very excited about joining the LA Conservancy. I had been thinking about doing some walking tours with them for a long time. I looked them up again with an idea of taking some of my students (who NEVER leave the Valley--and never get field trips) on a tour, and I was surprised that the cost for basic membership was so low. I joined right away and immediately signed up for my first walking tour--Art Deco. But the night before the tour, as I feel asleep to the sound of rain, I thought, "Hmmm..." When I woke up the next morning to the sound of rain that hadn't paused in the night, I thought, "Really??" A period of hesitation, but then, "YES!" I was wide awake and I already had a ticket. What's a little rain to an adventure girl like me? My friend, Mitch, had just gifted me with a great umbrella the day before, so I was all set. Off I went to to the Red Line park and ride station at Universal and hopped a train downtown to Pershing Square

Who knew there was a full-on vineyard in Topanga Canyon? And the wine is pretty good too! Topanga Triad was my favorite. If you like syrah...it's a good choice! Beautiful location... Gorgeous house... Great hospitality. My partners in crime in all things wino. =)

For a major metropolitan area, L.A. has some serious BOONDOCKS! So I take my nephew out to hike in them. =) Me and Z. From the top, we could look out to see Simi Valley. It was a very cool location, but almost too quiet for just two people. We almost saw more deer than people...almost. =) Oh sure, he's all smiles now, but by the end it was, "I'm tired...I'm just a kid..." "Oh quit your whining and keep walking." That's love. =) -KM