A Cup That Sums Things Up

This cup belonged to my daughter. It was part of a “The Little Mermaid” set that included a matching plate, bowl, fork, knife and spoon given her as a gift when she a few years old. I can’t remember what for, if it was her birthday or Christmas. I can’t remember exactly when, sometime in …

Cryin’ O’Neal

With news of his passing, here is my Ryan O’Neal story. In early 1982 I was a senior in high school and a stock clerk at the glorious long-gone Hunters Books on Rodeo Drive. I worked in the basement with a merry band of misfits young and not-so. We called it the dungeon, lovingly. Celebrity …

Dumbf*ck Is I

As an urban cyclist who documents his rides (and shares the negatives or positives experienced in their course), any credibility and integrity I hope to possess would be nonexistent if all I did was call out the fails against me and didn’t share the ones I commit — even if they are equal parts embarrassing …

Does A Giant Rice Paper Tree Falling Alone In The Sideyard Make Any Sound?

Sigh. As found when I got home from this afternoon’s bike commute from work, the long-top heavy branch from one of the giant rice paper trees had given way, finally victim of old age, gravity, and a gust of wind despite my efforts with a strategically placed post during the winds and rains of the …

Ball Gone

It’s just a ball, right? No. It isn’t. It was Ranger’s soccer ball. The one she and I played with countless times together (including this amazing miraculous time in 2012 that I titled “Soccer Ball Loving Dog” after discovering her previously unknown talent that I posted to Youtube, which got tens upon tens of views: …

A 33-year-old Fountain Pen and a 45-year-old Bottle of Ink

For the past seven months I’ve been biding my Saturdays as an operator of Angels Flight, the historic and beloved funicular that operates downtown atop the ghost of Bunker Hill. It is truly a pleasure and privilege to be associated with such an amazing landmark. Since working on the anniversary of its first day of …

KUSC Morning Shout-Out Request

April 3, 2023 So these last few months I’ve become a pretty exclusive listener to LA’s only classical music outlet, KUSC 91.5FM — even sent the listener-supported station some money during a recent pledge drive. The genre is always something I’ve enjoyed but never with the frequency as I’ve been listening since around last September, …