First Snowfall

Christian builds his fort with the first meager snowfall of the season
- Photo Courtesy J. Evensen

It's going to be 77 degrees F here in sunny ol' Cali-forn-eye-ay today.  Right now it's in the 40s and really windy.  We're all bundled up here at the office, talking about how chilly it is this morning.

Even so, snow just isn't a possibility - even in the long-range forecast!  Ever.

Having grown up in the eastern part of the United States, I remember well the excitement of the first snowfall of the season.  When you are a kid, it's magical.  Even as a college kid, I remember the whole university town I lived in coming alive for that first snow.  Everyone was outside taking in the wonder of it.  There was excitement in the air.

Compare and contrast that to the last snowfall of the year, if you will...  however, I digress.  After a long hot summer and the falling leaves of autumn, that first snowfall is a beautiful sight.

This past weekend, my brother's family experienced their first snowfall.  My youngest nephew got caught (see above) trying to play in it.  He managed to make a little tiny fort, and one rather huge snowball (see the upper right of the photo), out of the small amount of snow that stayed on the ground.

I, personally, think that shows the kid has gumption, imagination, and a really positive attitude.

Really positive.

I can also state unequivocally I would not like to be on the receiving end of that snowball!

Then, again, it might just have been the torso beginnings of a very small snowman.

I'll have to check with Christian to make sure.

.

Reach Out and Touch Someone

Livia, Fred and Daddy

While my family was here, we called Daniel and Holly in Shenyang, China. It was so much fun to see them and their children via Skype.  Fred is growing, and Livia has grown a lot too. 

Fred entertained us by talking quite enthusiastically.  It sounded a lot like "la la" and "da da", but he sure had a lot to say!  I thought of writing it all down, so when he is older I can ask him what he meant...

Just kidding.

We then sang a song to him.  It was so fun to see the light in his eyes when we sang.  He started singing back to us - making it up as he went.  (He is obviously very talented and will be a genius singer/songwriter someday. I know he's only 2, but some things you just can tell!)

I'm happy to report that the Chinese branch of the family is doing fine!

The Tar Pits... of death



This Woolly Mammoth exhibit moves and seems quite life-like

The Page Museum is a fun place to visit.

For some reason I'd always thought the La Brea Tar Pits were full of dinosaur bones.  I discovered I was wrong!  It's full of more than a hundred thousand other kinds of bones, from woolly mammoths and giant sloths to sabre-tooth cats and birds of all kinds.


Kirsti and Christian checking out the fossilized bones

 It really boggles the mind to think of all those kinds of animals roaming the hills of this area!  Of course, it was a long, long time ago.  Like, a couple of years before I moved here.

Right.

Could you get yourself unstuck from the tar?  This exhibit shows how hard it would be!

For those who are skeptical of how such large creatures could get stuck in the tar pits, there is a wonderful exhibit for you to see first hand how difficult it would be to get yourself unstuck.  It was hard to move the steel handle (see above) that was set in tar.  It took all my strength to make it budge.  I can't imagine the horror these ancient victims felt at getting accidentally stuck in that black ooze.  It would be a long, slow death from exposure and dehydration, or a quick one from an attack by any number of predators lurking nearby.

Jay and Anders in the dappled sunlight of the Atrium

The museum's atrium area has a fish pond with ducks and turtles.  All of us were charmed by the little turtles.  At first we didn't think they were real, but then they started moving. (I wish I would have thought to photograph them, but I was having too much fun photographing my family!)

Anders wandering through the exhibits

Given the dangerous nature of the tar pits, I was surprised that to date scientists have only uncovered the remains of one human being, believed to be a native Indian woman.

They really should rescue this guy!

The world is full of marvellous things.  There are two short films in the exhibit that help explain about the site and its history.  It's fun to know that they are still uncovering fossilized bones here and discovering important clues about the history of our planet in the process.

I really enjoyed this museum and learning more about the history of this area.  It's a part of Los Angeles we don't usually hear about.

15 Minutes of Fame?

Visting the Santa Monica Pier recently, I had found a comfortable place to sit, but couldn't understand why so many people were taking pictures of me!  At first I thought maybe they had mistaken me for a celebrity (I have such a glamorous aura, you know!)

But after a few minutes I finally looked up and saw this:

                       

Doh!  So much for my ego. I was sitting right under the Route 66 sign! 

For those of you who may not know, U.S. Route 66 was a famous highway that originally ran from Chicago, Illinois all the way to California, covering a total of 2,448 miles.  It was the highway thousands used to travel west and it was the subject of songs and even a popular 1960s TV show.  It was eventually bypassed by the Interstate Highway System, however in the last few years bits of it have begun to return to maps labeled as "Historic Route 66".  The highway is a big part of American history.

So much for my celebrity!

However, I'm sure there are a few people visiting from Ohio, who will get their photos developed and think, "who the heck is that lady in our picture?"

Back to the Wild West

The drama unfolds onstage at Knott's Berry Farm

While my family was here, we had so much fun!  As our menfolk were off riding all the crazy rides at Knott's, Kirsti and I caught the shows.  We enjoyed watching the stuntmen punch, fall, stumble and roll through a very silly western.  I've got to admit I have a lot of respect for guys who will take a physical beating like that for a living!

It was fun to spend some time with my wonderful sister-in-law

The weather was perfect!  And you can see we had excellent seats.

The show reminded me of a good old-fashioned Mormon roadshow: the bad guys were vanquished, law and order prevailed, and the world was once again safe for democracy.

My kind of entertainment!

Getting into the theatre presented some challenges in the form of Black Bart and his dubiously pointed firearm

It could only have been made more perfect if the hero got the girl and saved the ranch.  But that will probably be the sequel.

To the Doctor

Hey, I haven't seen this thing in a long time.  Smells interesting.

Jack had to go to the vet for his yearly check-up and shots the other day.  I was surprised that he nearly didn't fit into his carrier anymore!  He's gotten bigger and a lot looooonger.



This is rather cosy.  Don't I look handsome?

 He really likes his carrier, though, and got into it willingly enough, until I started trying to zip it!  He did NOT like that at all. 

He was very good at the vet.  I was so proud of him.  He is meek and submissive and sweet.  The vet said I was taking "very good care" of him, which made me very happy.  Jack got a clean bill of health, and all his shots.

Jack weighs a healthy 10.3 pounds.  That means he's doubled in weight since his last visit a year ago. 

I thought he'd be all traumatized after we got home, but he was fine.  Just like his namesake, Brig. General Jack O'Neill of Stargate Command, he took it all in stride.

I suppose it's a reminder to us all, that while doing the right thing isn't always the most comfortable or least stressful, it sure feels good after the fact.

Halloween Fun

Fred's first trick-or-treat experience

Halloween is alive and well all over the world.  My little great-nephew Fred (2) had his first trick-or-treat experience yesterday in Shenyang, China (above).  He's in the yellow costume facing the camera.

The kids were able to go trick-or-treating in the high-rise where they live.  I think it's great that American consulate families keep American traditions alive wherever they may be.

It looks like they had a good time.


Peggy, the Swedish Chef

Back in Burbank, my friend Peggy was in costume as one of our favorite Muppets!

Meanwhile, back at MY office, strange creatures were stirring!



Rare IT Monster terrorizing Veronica

 It was a fun day in my part of the world, complete with a truly yummy potluck luncheon spread. 

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween yesterday.  And now we start gearing up for the serious holidays!  I can't wait.