Saturday, December 26, 2009

Let there be peace...and lights!

And the grand prize for most creative Christmas lights goes to this house. We saw it on the news a couple of weeks ago and thought...that's soooo cool!! It's in Santa Clarita and totally worth the drive. If you tune into the radio station advertised in front of the house, you can hear the music the coincide with the guitar hero light show. So much fun!!!


Wakefield Court...what a magical place this is. The line of cars waiting to get into this neighborhood was ridiculous!

Community....a lost concept to most. But here, they make it work. Very inspirational.


Bug was very popular in his winter coat.


Where do people find these cute lawn decorations?


Looks like gumdrops! Lots of yummy, little gumdrops!

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!! And may we all have a blessed new year!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

A little independence......

I turn 32 years old today!! I know it's customary to be dreary about such an occasion...you know, getting older. But I just don't feel that way. I was never one to think that I would live a long life. Now before you start, it's not because I'm a pessimist. But how can you really know? I drive by car accidents everyday on my long commute. And often times, my patients are very sick and very young. So you just can't assume that you're next birthday guaranteed. If anything, I feel lucky. I get to be a year older. And I always tell P, I can't wait to be old and wrinkly with him. It's what I always wish for.

For my birthday, my sweet P sent me to Portland. I've always wanted to visit our northern neighbor. Take in the greenery, breathe the clean air, drink the good water...all that good stuff. I stayed at the ever-so-chic Nines hotel. It's adjacent to Pioneer Square, which contains their version of Rodeo Drive. Of course, I didn't know this until my train pulled away to go back to the airport. What can I say? I didn't walk in that direction!


Everything was Tiffany blue and taupe. So fun.


Here's the view of the atrium from my room. The upper portion of the photo shows the hotel's restaurant Urban Farmer. At night, this whole place is buzzing and you can hear the martini and wine glasses clinking until the wee hours.

I don't remember eating very many meals on this trip. Perhaps I ate too many Southwest peanuts. But when I was able to, I took advantage of the many food carts that were spread out throughout the Portland area. Cheap and good, folks. And unlike the ones here in LA, these carts don't move about and Twitter locale updates. As if we had time to chase them around anyway.


I knew it was supposed to be cold in Portland. But I left a cold and rainy Los Angeles, so I wasn't feeling the chill until I saw this frozen pond in one the urban parks.

Poor weeds. They didn't stand a chance.

I spent a great deal of my funds on this lovely stuff. You see, it's a lot colder in...well, everywhere else than it is in LA. People in these colder states actually knit to stay warm. Which, in turn, makes their yarn shops sooooo much better!! For those of you who can't understand why anyone would be so excited about such a strange and antiquated hobby....well, I don't understand spending $500 for a purse or pair of shoes. Both of which I toss into the corner when I get home.

Lastly, I got shot by some Stormtroopers on my way back to the hotel. Apparently, Ewoks are raised by human mothers with juice boxes.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Keep walkin'..we ain't there yet.

Rice Canyon...better than we expected. The weather was perfect and there was lots of my favorite stuff....shade! It was a bit chilly so any sun exposure was more than welcomed. I thought we were going the spend Thanksgiving weekend doing our lazy thing...sleeping and watching tv. Don't get me wrong...that's not a complaint. But it was so great to get out and greet Mother Nature. You have the best conversations with yourself out there. No phone calls, no commercials, no visitors. Just you and dirt below.


Poor Buggie had to jump hurdles to get anywhere. The grass was taller than him!


The final ascent. I almost died here. I'll admit this only because I trust you to keep any fat jokes to yourself...but I stopped ever 3 feet from exhaustion. How sad am I?

The broken oak tree...the trail ends here. Or atleast that's what my knees said.



Thursday, November 26, 2009

Gobble Gobble... and Kimchi!!

Thanksgiving at the Hahns once again....




There were a few birthdays as well.

Here's the new family edition...Sophie. The youngest old lady I've ever seen.

Milan...the opportunist.

Suck in that gut! Smile!

Now everyone, be your true selves!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Thanks Grandma!!!

Look what P's grandma made for us! Once in a while she gives me these knitted slippers. But never this many or this colorful! I can just picture her sitting there, fingers moving furiously fast to create these squishy lovlies. And what timing! It's been so cold in our sunless house as of late....these will come in handy for sure. Thank you, grandma!! We love them!




Wednesday, November 18, 2009

A hiking we will go!

We both took some much needed time off from work. At first, we thought about getting away for a few days....but with the holidays coming up, we decided to give our wallets a rest and find more recession-friendly activities to keep us entertained. P and I aren't the most avid hikers. But we do enjoy ourselves a venture here and then. That giant Station fire wiped out all the trails that we used to hike. Especially our favorite...Switzer Falls. Everytime I pass it on the 210, there's a marquee flashing "No entry to the 2 NORTH" reminding me that the trails are no longer. P's been searching since for a nearby trails that would provide the same beautiful scenery.

And that's when he found Placerita Canyon!


We took the main trail this time...but they have so many others.

Lots of shady trees, like Switzer Falls. We once went hiking on a trail with no shade whatsoever. You couldn't even find a bush tall enough to cool you off if you were laying on your back! It was awful. Shade is a must, folks.

This isn't a two-lane trail you're seeing. On the left is the walking trail, on the right is a dry stream that we're hoping will be up and running by spring.

There were lots of these California Woodpeckers around. The only thing you could hear in these parts was their incessant pecking of wood. This guy is just about to place his acorn in the hole he just made. You can see a bunch of them in the tree already.


The sun was getting low...

Time to head home. But we'll be back!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Bug Love.


Believe it or not, I didn't place him there. This is what he does. Hot and fresh out of the dryer. That's the way he likes it.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Viva la Mexico!!!



Wow!! Rodrigo y Gabriela. P and I went to see them last night at the Orpheum and they were incredible! INCREDIBLE!!! We sat in the second row with no one in front of us. Score! We did have a few obnoxious people sitting behind us, reeked of beer and couldn't shut up if you paid them. For a while I thought that it would ruin our evening, but they were quickly drowned out by all the clapping.

If you have any respect for the guitar(whether you play or not), you will love love love their music. Get off your butt and go get their album. You will not regret it! Next time we go to their concert, join us. Cuz you missed out!! BIG TIME!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

We went to Peru!! Wait, no .... I mean Piru.

So, I've been doing registry work for the past couple of months. Traveling to many places unknown to me. For instance, Ventura. Is it far? Yes. Is it exciting there? No. But the drive to and fro is so beautiful and serene, it's hard to find the energy to complain. If you close your eyes while driving on the 126 (which I do not recommend), you can guess all the different crops that are being harvested that season. Amazing. Fruit stands left and right. Picturesque sunrises and sunsets. And XM radio. Yesh.

One day, I noticed a sign "Lake Piru, fishing and camping, 6 miles." I says to myself, I don't see no lake. Perhaps we should investigate. With some friends.

Well, what da ya know. There is a lake!


Protect me, please.

Thanks KT! Delish!!


I didn't know fish liked glitter. And why does it stink so bad?!?!

Oh crap!! I can see the bottom from here!

Jenn, please tell me that was your foot.

Bluegill!!

And bass.

Good times. Good times.


Thanks Piru! You're beautiful.