Thursday, June 28, 2012

The Cat…

…..of all cats…..wisest of the wise…bravest of the brave.  This cat patrols the neighborhood and our patio is on its scheduled route.  How it has escaped the coyotes is beyond me but it does.

Kita goes nuts of course and demands an explanation as to why this creature is permitted on our grounds…..along with the black and white cat, numerous raccoons, one skunk and for the first time sighted…. a ground squirrel.  Too bad the deer don’t have access……

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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

SOME DOGGIES AT THE GROVE…..

……… I missed so many but here are a few…..037

Far right….walking away.

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A J. Crew customer.

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Hurry. hurry………

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Had to snap the antique cars before the road show closed…..remember the Woodies?

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Sooooooooooooo cool!

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Rows and rows of fun………..

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I wouldn’t want to venture forth on L.A. roads with this gem…..

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Here’s another.  Dig that crazy stairway!

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Touring cars…………

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Antique car PLUS doggie!

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Hi doggie…………

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This fellow was huge….more like a bear and VERY intimidating!

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Monday, June 18, 2012

NANCY SILVERTON’S ‘SHORT ORDER’ at THE GROVE……

……my #1 pick for my B-day treat!

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Helpful John, our delightful server….

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Decisions, decisions, decisions….

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“Go ahead…open your present!”

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Virgil’s Zero Real Cola “You’ll Swear it’s Made in Heaven”.

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Tomiko go the ‘Frisee Lardon Raft’.  Grass-fed beef (sorry vegans), North Country Smokehouse applewood bacon, FRIED EGG, shallots, lemon vinaigrette.  The fried egg on top is what really got me…..  I noticed several diners ordered this one. I think the chef is an architect!

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O.K., here’s the most delicious thing on planet earth!  ‘Crispy Pickle Chips’…..can you imagine?  Deep fried pickles….they’re wonderful!

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Here’s the now famous ‘Short Order Spuds’.  The potatoes are baked first and then fried.  We added sour cream dipping sauce with North Country bacon and also the black truffle aloli sauce.

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I can’t believe I ate the whole thing…well, guess I can…..so yummylicious….best burger ever (The Ida’s Old School Burger)!

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Walking through the old Farmer’s Market at the Grove on our way to see ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’.

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Tempting. Good thing I’m stuffed!074

‘NORMANDIE’, an authentic French country bakery (their words) where we got two meringues for the movie. Reminded me of meandering the streets of Paris, eating a meringue….one of my favorite things.

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Just imagine, a whole shop devoted to HOT SAUCE!!!

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I loved seeing all the people….a true mix of L.A.

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This just looks so cute…..

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Thank you Tomiko for a perfect day!!!

For more information:

www.shortorderla.com

www.thegrovela.com

Monday, June 11, 2012

FOODIE ALERT…..…

………………truly a work of art……..

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Too yummy for words…….

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Always save room for desert….

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Clara and I taking a day off….at the Roof garden…

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Poolside…..

 

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At the Peninsula in Beverly Hills!!!

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For more information:

www.peninsula.com/beverlyhills

THE BUSINESS RENAISSANCE INSTITUTE…..

…..is a non-profit organization that evolved from roundtable sessions and lectures,  combined with doctoral research  by it’s three directors, Richard King, Satinder Dhiman and Joan Marques.

Their  goal is transforming the workplace into an environment where job satisfaction reigns supreme, transforming workplaces by adding more humanity to the bottom line.  BRI is assisting corporate and non-profit leaders & employees in enhancing  greater workplace harmony, happiness and fulfillment.

Richard King, explains the dialogue session procedure.

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Hot off the press….Satinder Dhiman’s latest book.

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A few words from Satinder….

Teacher and author Joan Marques shows the group the galley proof of her latest book, ‘101 Pebbles… To pave your way through the day’ that I had the great pleasure of illustrating.

Speaker of the day, Tammy Huang-Anacleto, on ‘ Evolution of an Educational Entrepreneur’.  Tammy ands her husband have formed ‘College Launch’ where they prepare students for a successful college experience by stepping beyond the limits of academics with personalized counseling.

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Holistic EQ & IQ assessment….

Carol Soucek King, ever gracious hostess!

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For more information:

richking@att.net

jmarques01@earthlink.net

satinder.dhiman@woodbury.edu

tammy@collegelaunch.com

Friday, June 8, 2012

No Puppies for this Puppy……

…….Kita had a much needed bath before being spayed on Tuesday.

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Here’s out little puppy, all groggy from her surgery.  She has to wear this ‘Elizabethan’ collar for 10 days and absolutely no jumping on people or walking the hill.  The red bandage is where her IV was and I will tell you we were up all night listening to her pitiful crying.  It was AWFULL!  Three days into recovery she seems her old self and very happy to be eating the soft canned dog food her doctor recommended.  Funniest of all is when she bumps into something with the collar.  We hear her bumballing about!!! Seven more days of meds….think I’ll borrow some…..

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HOWARD TERPNING AT THE AUTRY…..

….. even if you don’t particularly care for art of the ‘American West’ you’re bound to be enthralled by the sheer brilliance and scope of Howard Terpning’s exhibit at the Autry….especially his masterful use of light!

‘Since the early 1970’s, Terpning has focused his work on the tribes – mainly the Blackfoot, Crow, Sioux, Comanche, Apache, and Cheyenne – that roamed the Great Plains from the 18th century to the late 19th century.  Using his signature blend of highly structured compositions, sensitive brushwork and color, he creates engaging stories around the traditions, encounters, and events of their world.’  It’s a wonderful window to a world we would not be privy to. Image019

Isn’t this a study!  (From the left) Lani Wile, Joyce Motazedi and Carol Soucek King deep in pensive thought!

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The exhibit’s impressive catalog/book.

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Don’t you just love seeing school children enraptured at any and all art exhibits?

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For more information:

www.theautry.org

Sunday, June 3, 2012

KITA’S NEW FRIENDS……

…..lovely Paulina’s parents are visiting from Poland and of course Kita wants to go with them on their travels.  You can almost hear her say…’Please, please take me with you!!!’

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In the studio…how cute is this!!!

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This scrumptious yummy-licious ‘pie’ disappeared way too quickly.  Thank you Paulina!

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Paulina’s dad knows just what to do with our little pup!  Just turn your back and walk away…

Bye, bye…..walkies time….

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Paulina and Michal…the sweetest EVER!!!

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Introduction

There is no avoiding the pull of the internet, the blogs, the YouTube imaginings. It's as if we're all 'On the Road' with Jack Kerouac each in our own world of meanderings. When we tell someone to 'get a life' it might be a bit difficult when you're dragged into other people's 24/7.

I've come to realize two foundational principals, there are no accidents and everyone has a purpose. More and more I'm desiring everyone to come into a full realization of their purpose as we all find our way on this little jewel of a planet.

For me, as a professional 'Western style artist', I stumbled into Chinese Brush Painting after a trip in 1980 to Monet's home/garden. Seeing all of his collection of Japanese woodblock prints was an ahh haa moment for me and when I returned to the States I started painting in the Chinese manner and never looked back. The first year was extremely painful for me as I felt that I should be able to master the technique since I was a 'trained' artist. Not a chance ... that just gets in your way.

Now, after teaching close to 3,000 students and having my book 'The Ch'i of the Brush' published by Watson Guptill, I can say that every one of my students does better their first day than I did my first year! Why? Because I insist that they leave their critical parent outside and just enjoy the journey, respecting the work that they do. I never let anyone throw anything away because that just ingrains frustration and defeat.

We really only begin to learn when we stop and figure out how to 'save' a painting. It works every time.I am so proud of my students, their receptivity and eagerness to express themselves is a continuing blessing for me.So, back to finding your purpose. Perhaps it starts with realizing 'it's not about me'. It so easy to want our needs met and to filter everything thru this attitude. When we realize that we're here to be of benefit to every life that we touch the universe really provides the ways and means.

The best part is that it's really exciting to not have yourself on your mind all the time!I'm re-reading a wonderful book about authenticity and in my next meandering I'll tell you about it. In the meantime I'd love to hear about your journey and am here to answer any and all questions about Chinese Brush Painting.