gray daze

California experiences a phenomenon called 'June Gloom' (also called 'May Gray' since it tends to happen more often in May than June) every year. June Gloom is basically a low marine cloud layer hanging low over coastal areas, creating gray skies and cooler temperatures. (Apparently, this is also a phenomenon in Peru, Namibia, and Western Australia - who knew?!.) Some years it is more predominant than others, usually because of a La Nina, but I generally don't remember days of it without a break or burn off. Usually I love those days - its a great and unusual break in the normal clear and sunny days which can honestly get a little monotonous, but the last few days have been unusually oppressive. In fact, I don't know if they actually qualify as June Gloom because the clouds never burned off in the afternoon the way they typically would. This afternoon, it became downright surreal along the beach with the skies a bright glowing solid white that made you feel snowblind. I'm sure ready for some color.

leftovers

a gallery of a few leftover slivers from the DFW/OKC trip

pico

A fact of life in Los Angeles is that it's often faster to get somewhere on surface streets than the freeway. When Johnny Carson asked Bette Davis for advice on "the best way an aspiring starlet could get into Hollywood," Ms. Davis replied, "Take Fountain!" On our trip into downtown for the movie the other night, we took Pico. Sure it was fast, but the view was full of color and texture and a whole lot more interesting. Beats freeway drivin any day.

on broadway

Last night I went with my buddy Alan to see 'The Sting' in one of LA's surviving downtown movie palaces, The Orpheum. Its part of a series held by the LA Conservancy for 23 years called "Last Remaining Seats." I always mean to get tickets for this every year but always forget to before it starts, and by then its sold out; so I was glad when Alan brought it up a few months ago when tickets went on sale. We were treated to pre-show music on the 1928 Wurlitzer, the last remaining organ on Broadway, while I wandered around checking out the different parts of the theatre - they even had the projection room open. That was followed by some question/answer with the film's producer and director from Charles Phoenix and then of course the movie itself - which I had never seen. The Orpheum only closed in 2001 after a renovation that started in 1989. It is the most restored of LA's movie palaces (though it originally opened as a Vaudeville theatre) and still hosts special events and concerts along with being a site for lots of filming and television tapings.

gallery

Back at the beach now, but a few last slivers from the OKC/DFW trip...

two steps

Nothin too exciting too report: rodeo Sundays are sort of repeats of Saturdays. We spent the day at the rodeo, then headed to another Oklahoma City tradition - Del Rancho - for ungodly ridiculously huge Chicken Fried Steak Sandwiches at and old drive in where you still phone your order in - even if sitting inside at a table. And then off to the bar, where I was lucky to do a lot of two-steppin - more than in a very very long time. I always forget how much I love that. It was the most fun I've had at a rodeo 'night' in a long time.

okie doke

A typical Oklahoma City Rodeo day... spent the day hanging at the rodeo. Later as we were about to head out to a catch some of the Big XII Baseball Championship Tourney, the sky got dark and erupted. I can't say that that's unusual for Oklahoma this time of year - its somewhat a tradition to get tornadoes on this trip. Luckily for us, the worst of this was hail, and it quickly passed. So we ventured to the delayed ballgame for "dinner", and later joined the guys out at the bar. Another day, another rodeo.

oklahoma

A few scenes from a very full day. Earnest, Myrons dog, was in a rare mood for the first hour or two of the trip. I do believe its the first time I have worked with a computer on my lap in a moving car. Of course we had to stop in Davis OK for the best fried pies on earth. Later we enjoyed some tapas by the canal and a night with the cowboys out at the bar. There are worse ways to travel.

texas

Back in Dallas this evening for my road trip to the OKC Rodeo. Myron and I met our friends Ron and Keith in Watauga, TX for dinner at a Conoco gas station. Yup, you heard right. Apparently this place has been getting media raves, so they wanted to check it out. It was pretty good, but not sure if it'd be worth the drive just for it alone. Meanwhile, our drive is coming soon, so I'm shuttin up and hittin the 'post' button.

another gallery

If you're a regular to the blog, you know that galleries are often signs that I'm at a busy spot with work and haven't had a chance to come up with anything to post here. That, or sometimes I just can't think of anything - period. But this is one of those busy times. It's funny how it goes in waves where there isn't a lot going on and then suddenly you're swamped...of course, I'm well aware that that's nothing to complain about these days. On the other hand, its Memorial Day weekend, which means my annual road trip with my best friend Myron from Dallas to Oklahoma City for rodeo. And fried pies. mmmmmmmm... pie. So stay tuned. Tomorrow will be more interesting.

gallery

Too much work stuff goin on to write much, but in the meantime, here are a few shots from the festivities in Long Beach on Sunday...