This Land is Your Land ?

Last couple of weeks a few bloggers apparently have had their dog tails bitten by some careless cats, over some local real estate. Something about preservation, loss of houses, parks, woodlands, trees, etc. 

If you’re a regular reader & commenter on this blog I don’t need to remind you when our city council was filled with Paul Bunyan sympathizers 2 years ago which resulted in chainsaws running wild in the Colorado Blvd tree fiasco!  Most recently, in neighboring Arcadia where “ignoring protests from residents and environmentalists Tuesday, the (L.A.) County Board of Supervisors opted to let crews bulldoze about 11 acres of coast live oaks and sycamore trees north of Arcadia,” in exchange for sediment & debris from a dam and catch basins.  (more)  Whether it’s trash, debris, sediment, or just stuff, the stuff gotta go. And maybe with it some of the things people cherish.

In the future in the San Gabriel Valley, I expect to see what we’ve seen in the past: a fight over traffic and land use. Extending the 710 to the 210, & over the best use of the Hahamongna. Key questions will be 1) if you’re against something, then what is your workable alternative solution? 2) what decision will benefit the most people? Well, lettuce hope these questions are seriously considered in these repression era economic times.

In contrast, a much lesser number of our political leaders have found any reason for concern.  They have exhibited leadership qualities: cool, calm, collected. Life goes on for them: With you, or without you. Unless it’s reelection time. Obama: from Hope 08 to Nope Now, just one example.

It’s the same promises, the same inspirational speeches of progress made & promises to be fulfilled.  The SOS.  Petitioning your grievances to politicians brought up in the 60’s & 70’s?  Well, good luck with that!

But all sides are to blame for the preservation of history disappearing or just butchered to pieces. Too little, too late…again. (Are there really “Planning departments” in government!??) An example of change you can believe in with your own eyes. Times change. An integral part of progress.

I’m old enuf to have seen this scene before.   Land & history has been central to what much strife, hatred, and war is about. I’ve lived & learned long ago.

 

I don’t know how relevant this song is any more. It’s a real oldie after all. Have my doubts how much people even in this area care about this subject. But I’m hearing echoes of some songs again. Ever on replay.  Play it again, Uncle Sam:

 

His next concert date, also at the LA Coliseum, was the last of the long Born in the USA tour. I was just a kid but I was there.

 

 

 

Happy New Year.  Stay Thirsty My Friends

 

 

WINE ??

Just putting this out there now to maybe save me from some unnecessary self-inflicted stress or waste of time.

 

??

 

Are any of you interested in drinking Wine? Or learning & drinking about it?

I might be enticed to organize a Wine event for Pasadena area bloggers, IF, there is interest. However, it probably won’t be a freebie; neither do I want it to be expensive!  Just another way to strength community, make our area a smaller world, and support the growing Wine industry of Pasadena.

I haven’t even decided which Pasadena Wine joint of which I’m acquainted would be drafted for the occasion. Like I said, I’m just in the drinking, uh, thinking phase of this. Nothing will come of it of course without enuf participation on your part.

This won’t happen until after March. But lemme know soon if it’s a “YES” from you or I’ll just forget it and l’ll drink alone. You know when I drink alone, I prefer to keep it all for myself.

 

 

 

Gotta Eat. Stay Thirsty My Friends!

 

B r e a k i n g N e w s!

Thought I’d get this word out there ASAP to give those of you who need as much time as possible to come up with some reason why you won’t be able to attend our latest gathering of bloggers (hopefully I won’t be one of them ):

The Altadenans led by the tireless Tim Rutt, The Altadena Blog-er, plan to host their annual local area Blogger get together – I think it’s called something like “The Pastaverde” – on…now, make a note of this:

Saturday March 19th 2011

Farnsworth Park in Altadena

 

Details are being finalized at which time more reliable & official notice will be coming from Tim.

But for now you (you know who you are) have been put on notice! Put down the date in your new 2011 calendar. I hope I hear just, “Yeah, I’ll be there for sure’s!” from y’all.

 

We Now Return You to Your Regularly Scheduled Blog

Rose Bowl 1/1/11 UPDATE!

On a recent day I was ready & set to go watch the Rose Bowl football game between the Texas Christian Horned Frogs (TCU) & the Wisconsin Badgers. Ready because I didn’t want to miss the festivities and certainly not the kick-off!! 

Apparently I was the only one. The same thing happened with the Rose Bowl game as with the Pasadena Citihall Christmas Tree  lighting ceremony a couple of weeks earlier: I was ready, on time punctual, again, on the mark, while everyone else was a late, very tardy arrival!  Lettuce call them No Shows. Just the undecorated tree & me!

 

Well, of course I couldn’t believe my eyes: just an empty Bowl & me. And I was still hungry! Stood up again.

Alone with the Rose Bowl I reflected for a moment on the vast history of that sacred land, as the Indians would claim, and the galloping ghosts of footballers AND others past. Perhaps it’s the sacred why I even thought I saw the image of my  ghost on that field!!  But I knew the critical, skeptical, or political would just explain it away as some visual illusion, hallucination, or just a sudden jolt of hunger pains.

 

And if that wasn’t enuf:

It wasn’t just the fans & footballers who failed to show up on time that day!  A true Cafe Pasadena’s Believe It or Not!!  in front of my eyes, have not seen the glory!  It’s OUTRAGEOUS, I tell ya!!

Well, I’m as patient & forgiving as the Lord with y’all and will reschedule the game to give y’all a second chance to show up! Just as I did with our Christmas Tree lighting.  Come ALL, or Not at all:  Saturday, January 1st, 2011 at 1:30pm. Be There, or Be…Late. Again!!

But don’t expect me to be waiting up for y’all to show up this time. I’ve learned my lesson.  This time I’ll just be sleeping in late!  Then, eating out great!!  I’ll just leave y’all to enjoy the game put on by the very good people – mostly volunteers – of the Tournament of Roses association.

 

 

Update:

Photo : Tournament of Roses

Well, of course I can’t believe my eyes. Looks like at least a few people were actually reading this blog and showed up yesterday at the new time I listed above!! Like nite & day, empty & full! I’m humbled by this outpouring of…delayed rainfall. 

Thank Y’All. Because of this, we’ll do it again next year.

 

 

 

Gotta Have a Happy New Year. You Too! Stay Thirsty My Friends