Still strewn

A few days after the Sunday LA Times Travel section finally featured my neck of the woods in its series highlighting various SoCal neighborhoods, the crazy Santa Ana winds paid a visit and left much of the SGV one huge, hot mess.

Three weeks have passed, and the sidewalks are still piled high with broken branches.  As I drive about town, the tress still standing show evidence of their branches twisted and snapped off; lifted sidewalks and root balls the size of cars are common sights; and there are piles of branches, pine needles, and palm fronds broken up here and there by parked cars along the roads. 

Here's a series of photos, where the damage is totally unreal (courtesy of the L.A. Times); it's hard to imagine that a huge tree can fall so suddenly until you see it. And it wasn't just a few, but a few hundred trees that toppled. Below are shots I took on a walk around the block the other day.  This is the street one over from me, which  is lined with huge eucalypus trees that are probably as old as the Craftsman homes there.  In one of the picutures you can see a hydrant, for scale.

Poor, old trees. It makes me sad.

Cold

The first real coat I ever bought was the year I studied abroad.  In England.  That's the first time I remember being really, really cold.  (It was a lovely navy blue peacoat that I found at a Marshalls- or Ross-like discount retailer, and probably the most I'd ever spent on an individual garment.  I found it the other day as we've been cleaning out my parents' old house.  Yes, I let it go.)

When my  neck, fingers, and toes are cold, I can't function properly.  When my feet are cold (as they are now), I can't sleep.  This is where a good hand-knit accessory becomes invaluable.  Scarves, mitts, socks: yes, please!

During my first winter in Japan, I wore two scarves at a time, wrapping my head and neck with only a sliver open to see as I rode my bike to and fro. No peripheral vision but it didn't matter much because I was the only one on the road, everyone else having access to a car or a friend with a car.  Coworkers would tell me that they saw me riding to work.  "Why didn't you pick me up?!?!" I would often think to myself...  I still remember Japanese winters as the kind that make your marrow cold.  Thank goodness for nabe dishes and kotatsu.

I don't run because my ears get cold.  Most people are incredulous when they hear this.  But it's true.  Even in warmer months, simply brushing up against the air makes my ears cold, which starts a headache, which renders me pretty much miserable.  Someone suggested a headband.  So on my to-knit list: Calorimetry.  Sooner rather than later, as I've got a 10K for which to start training!

Growing up in Southern California sure spoils a gal to seasons.

Carefree in the capitol

We'd planned our trip to D.C. months ago because DC's vacation time is less flexible than mine.  So there was no real time to be tired from all the packing and moving out.  Before last month's end we were eastbound, to the capitol.

What an exciting descent! 

  

We arrived in the early evening and Metro'd over to Foggy Bottom, from whence it was a 3-minute walk to M2's apartment.  When M2 told me she lived right by the famous Watergate hotel, I didn't think she meant right across the street.  After a home-cooked dinner (so nice after a long day of traveling!), M2 said, "You guys wanna walk over to the Kennedy Center?  It's just five minutes away, and one of my favorite places," she added, encouragingly.  So we went.  Actually, hopped across a couple of streets.  The lights were on, but there were hardly any people about; it felt like we had the whole building to ourselves!  We pointed out various flags at the Hall of States and Hall of Nations, went up to the roof and saw the nighttime skyline, and even glimpsed the Thomas Jefferson memorial in the distance.  Not a bad first night!

DC lived in D.C. for almost five years, so our trip was a homecoming for him -- he didn't have to think twice about which Metro to take and where the stations were located.  He even gave me an old Metro pass, so transportation was a breeze.  (The D.C. Metro stations are really, really clean.  "Of course," says DC, "this is our nation's capitol!"  But I was a little bit disappointed that they all look the same and don't reflect the stop's attractions or history.  I'd rather have a clean station, though, so no real complaints. (^o^))  It was nice to have a guide who, moreover, pointed out the places where he once worked, studied, ate -- lived.  I enjoyed the trip down memory lane with him... but we were there to make new memories, too!

What really made this our trip was that we both got to meet up with our old friends, and in doing so, make new ones.  In addition to hanging out with M2, I got to see my old roommate, who I've not seen in two and a half years.  I also got to see a church friend who relocated after getting married a couple of months ago.  DC got to see his former classmates and co-workers.  And, through one of them, we scored a tour of the Senate side of the Capitol through the personal office of Senator Collins of Maine.  While on our way to her office, we saw Senator Kerry walking down the hall (shoulda snapped a photo)!  And later on, during our tour, DC recognized another senator (whose name escapes me).  We even got to ride the little underground trains between the buildings.  It made me feel very political.

It just so happened that the only week DC was able to travel was the week of the National Cherry Blossom festival.  My brother, after his first visit to D.C., recommended it at this time of year as an alternative to Japan.  At the time I was a little put off because the reason I go to Japan is more for the people than the petals.  Yet when I arrived to see them abloom in all corners and not just designated parks, I understood what my brother meant.  Though the sakura are truly breathtaking in Japan, I am equally fond of the ones in D.C. for the simple fact that they're interspersed among our national monuments.  A perfect, lovely crossing of cultures for me!

 

It was a bit grey and sometimes windy on the days we were out and about.  And although the threat of wet weather remained, the air got warmer as the week progressed.  My goal was to walk the National Mall from the Washington Monument all the way to the Lincoln.  That's a lot of steps!  But each one was totally worth it.  This sounds totally cheesy, but I felt so much happiness and pride to be among the great forefathers, leaders and important times in America's history.  And I soaked up all the quotes engraved on walls and surfaces.  Somewhat surprisingly (to me), my favorites were some of the war memorials.  We went to the WWII, Vietnam, and Korean ones.  Incredibly moving.  Especially seeing veterans reminiscing and honoring, and young schoolchildren exploring and learning. 

 

Friday -- which M2 took off to hang out with us -- started off cloudy and grey, so we decided to visit the National Gallery.  But when we emerged from the Metro station we were met with vivid, blue skies!  It was almost a shame to go indoors, but we did to browse Dutch landscapes, lots of Monets and even a couple of Cezannes, and a very interesting exhibit on Robert Frank's The Americans.  The weather stayed lovely through lunch, which we had in Chinatown (signs in Chinese, but nary a Chinese restaurant in sight!).

Our last full day in the D.C. area brought us to Stafford, Virginia, where we had lunch with some new friends.  Our rental car ended up being a little red Chevy Cobalt -- funny in that it was so not us!  After a lovely afternoon we had some time to stop off in Quantico to visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps.  Among other things, I got to see a display of standard issue items that each Marine gets at boot camp, try picking up a backpack full of gear, and see interactive displays of rankings and insignias. 

  

There was even a Lego version of the Iwo Jima flag raising!  It was another extremely proud moment; I felt a bit better able to understand my younger brother -- who has deployed twice to Iraq and whose contract with the Marines ends this June -- and truly appreciate and honor so many men's and women's sacrifice and service to our country.

What an awesome trip!  In some ways I am jealous of the young students who get to go to Washington, D.C. for a social studies trip; indeed I think it should be required of all students!  But at the same time, had I gone as a junior higher, I woulnd't have appreciated it as I have this trip.  I am glad I got to see the capitol at my own pace and at my own understanding.  And I look forward to coming again!

Feeding on fresh

It's been a weird couple of weeks of weather for us here in Southern California.  Last week saw summerlike temps in th 70s and 80s at the beginning, and rain by Wednesday and through the weekend even into Monday (so many consecutive days of rain is definitely not normal--but we need it)!  We had a bit of a respite from the wetness from yesterday, but it's still pretty chilly (we Califonians think that 50s = brrr).  And it looks like we might get some more rain by the end of the week.

So I feel very lucky to have had sunshine and been able to make it out to today's farmers market, with one of my co-workers, to boot.  I am fortunate to have not one, but two farmers markets each week, right here in Downtown.  Back in the day I used to only window shop; if I made any purchases they'd usually be kettle corn to share with my officemates, and flowers as a treat for myself.

But since my siblings and I started to get together to cook family dinners for our parents and one another over a year ago, I started to buy fruits--especially pluots in the summer--for dessert.  From there I gradually expanded to greens and veggies.  We especially like the golden cherry tomatoes and asparagus.  Another fave is corn.  (Why did I take pics of artichokes and cauliflower, then, you ask?  One can hope!)



As I got more and more into my Love Earth campaign, the bi-weekly farmers market seemed a matter of course: not only was I eating (and feeding my family) local, but taking a brief walk down the street during my lunch hour was also cutting down on trips to the supermarket.  I love it when Love Earth makes my life simpler, too!

Among my resolutions include eating something that I've grown myself, eating along with the seasons, and expanding my cooking repertoire.

I love seeing how the seasons change as different fruits and veggies are available. This week there are bunches of beautiful beets and radishes, artichokes, broccoli and cauliflower, tons of different salad greens, and zucchini.  There is also a booth that sells Asian veggies, like bok choy, eggplant, and all sorts of stuff that I don't know the names for in English--yum!

Fruits-wise, it's vastly citrus and berries.  I am in awe at the variety of citrus there are: tangelo, oro blanco, ruby grapefruit, pomelo, blood orange, navel orange, clementine, satsuma.  And on and on.  I especially like the tasting stations, where you an really appreciate how different each of these looks on the inside, as well as the range of flavors!  My must-go-to is always the ruby grapefruit, but this season the lady at the stall told me that this has been the best oro blanco harvest she's ever had.  So I tried it.  And it's tasty!  So today I bought more!

      

Of course, the flowers are always eye-catchers.  Two weeks ago I brought home some ranunculus, and they're still blooming on my dining table!  I have always thought them adorable but never had any of my own.  Now they are way up there with peonies among my favorites!  Today, the newbies I noticed were huge, taller-than-me branches of budding plum blossom, and bunches of sweet-smelling lilac, which I thought didn't grow out in these warm temps.  It makes me smile to see men in their business suits with a bunch of flowers wrapped in brown craft paper.  Or a lady walking by with an armful of stock or lilies in one arm.  Very Clarissa.

My food resolutions are pretty ambitious, considering my eating habits and purchases thus far have remained squarely in the box of "Familiar."  In fact, I want to start making menus--which, though it can be seen as a sort of staying-in-the-box measure, is intended for me to put more time into what I consume, both digestively and financially.  I must admit that today's purchases were pretty wimpy: a basket of strawberries in addition to the oro blancos.  They will be nice breakfast treats or snacks.

I'm stoked about trying harder and being able to experiment more, with the encouragement of one of my brothers and his girlfriend--who are humanitarian vegetarians--and DC, who simply loves veggies.  Hope to be sharing some of my hits (and misses, as undoubtedly there will be) here!

What cold spell?

Last December we experienced a few weeks of cold weather that brought early (and awesome, according to my snowboarding brothers) snow, killed by little basil plant, and had us Californians digging out and grasping for cold weather accoutrements--coats, scarves, hats, gloves--like nobody's business.

As I scrambled around, I discovered that I have nary a knitted item of my own with which to keep warm!  Just a Clapotis scarf from October 2005; and a pair of fingerless mittens in garter stitch, from my first *real* knitting book (M. Falick's Weekend Knitting)--although, unfortunately--knitted in acrylic yarn (before I realized Michael's was not the sole source of knitting materials).  Sad, huh?

I pondered this while working on my first cast-on project of 2009: a pair of convertile mittens for my older brother.  They're pictured here basking in a moment of sweet sunshine during which I scampered downstairs to have lunch outside.

And then I decided.  2009, instead of being a year of finishing up any WIPs (there are loads!), will be a year of Knitting For Me.  To that end, it's my goal to get set up properly on Ravelry (though I can't make a full commitment to that as I'm still learning how to blog!).  Which shouldn't be too hard, since I reorganized my stash a few months ago.  Though it may entail learning how to make a light box for the photo shoots.  [Suddenly, it's a huge project...]

I'm already always caught up in the wealth of information available on Ravelry.  I'd really like to knit (instead of dream or talk about):  a sweater (Sideways-knit Cable Sweater, Urban Aran, Forecast?  Or maybe I'll frog and re-knit my two failed attempts (Apricot Jacke & Spring Fling)); knee-high socks; Chevalier Mittens; and a hat (Felicity [pdf], Urchin, Morgan, Trinity Stitch Beret, Selbu Modern[pdf]?).

But in the midst of my reveling and researching, and despite having opened up my email to headlines of a frigid wave sweeping the northern Midwest states to New England, and as far south as th Gulf Coast, we here in California have been hit with a spurt of record highs!

Off are the stockings, sleeves, and sportcoats!  This is the scene from today's lunch: clear blue skies and people enjoying things "back to normal."

Me?  I will persevere in my knitting nevertheless.  The convertible mittens are almost done, and I'm setting my sights on the next project.  Onwards, and happy knitting!