thrifting.

moving through the racks of clothes at the goodwill, sally ann, boutique. a sea of colours and textures and cuts and styles. a gem here, a throw away there. another keeper. and another. a maybe- ok, yes, i'll take it. cashmere cardigan. lots of wool, in the heat. lots of linen. that's my kind of thing. want to just collect it all, and then share it back home. but it's a small backpack that i'm carrying, and only a bit will fit. new racks of clothes coming out every 15 minutes, announced over the loudspeaker. "and remember, all children's clothing is 99 cents this week. thank you for supporting the goodwill." what will i find tomorrow?

heat wave.

...although this is probably normal for Santa Monica, i am experience a heat wave in my insides. it's incredible. this is going to keep me going til vancouver summer summer time. the air is hot, the sun is out, the sweat is dripping. AMAZING.

this morning, miche and i went for a scramble up the Santa Monica hills, and for some reason we thought that 11.00 am start was "early." not so. we were dripping with glorious salty sweat within minutes and frequently took breaks in the bits of shade to catch our breathe. conversation ceased. after a couple of lovely views of the beach and city, we decided to call it, and headed back down into the welcoming shade of some vast tree. ate yummy sandwiches and lay around for a couple of hours. that is what this trip has been all about. lying at the beach, lying in a park, lying in another park, lying on the couch. what a life!

we hopped into the hot hot car, with the steering wheel almost unbearable to touch, and hit the beach for a quick dunk in the ocean. salty sea on salty skin, bringing the body temperature back to bearable. beauty time.

i am back at the library, alas without camera, and who knows about adding pics from a public computer? it will have to wait until i return home later this week.

now, i am going to venture out into the heat to check out the wicked thrift stores and get a cool beverage, while miche is at work.

until later. xo

santa monica sunshine...

sitting in the santa monica public library, frustrated that my mac mail isn't compatible with this version of the browser, and hoping that parents think to check this to see that i've written...
miche at work for an hour, me, a little time to wander and delight in this lovely public library. california is like what the mind's eye imagined. sunshine and vast flat beaches, flowers and succulents. yesterday was a day of cycling along the beach, with miche, venice beach. lying in the sand, the wind breezy blowy, some dude juggling 3 frisbees into the sky. the venice beach strip full of people and eats and plastic stuff. tall palm trees, gulls soaring, trying to grab people's lunches. out on the pier, fishermen with hopes of a catch, fishing rods lined up in little holders along the rail. miche and patrick (and elliott the cat's) home is lovely. bright and simple. that's all for now, pictures sometime soon. i'll remember to write about the train ride at some point soon. x.

heading for LA la land...

the term has concluded. completed two-fifths. three more terms, then 100% nurse. to celebrate, to take a time out, to feel a bit of warmth, i am boarding the train and heading down to Santa Monica. looking forward to seascape, landscape, trainscape. check out what miche and trik have going on in SoCal. 

until then... 

although my neighbourhood doesn't quite look like this photograph, it wasn't long ago when there was white on the ground and early evenings. days are getting longer, ground is getting warmer.

winding road.

nose in the books, but i'm dreaming of the open road.

Happy 100 years of International Women's Day!

on this day, i nod to the women who came before me, and the women who are here, and the women to come.... in solidarity.

(The 1932 Soviet poster dedicated to the 8th of March holiday. The text reads: "8th of March is the day of the rebellion of the working women against the kitchen slavery" and "Down with the oppression and narrow-mindedness of the household work!".)

another reflection.

taking reflection photographs on the ferry. i always try to take at least one. it's become a game, over the years. there was really bright light on this one and every window seemed extra reflect-y.