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I Am Sophie - A One-Woman Play

Corinne Shor wrote & starred in this one-woman show about a young lady who fell in love with Paris and the French language so much so that she changed her name from Kate to Sophie and returned to the US with a very pronounced French accent. The Pacific Resident Theatre is a very small venue with 2 stages. This was on the smaller one, and I attended the show with my good friend, Vivi. Ms. Shor is a vibrant force of nature. She was delightful, funny, smart, and vulnerable throughout. The stage setting was minimalist -- just a table with stools stored underneath, a chair, couch, and chest. There were items of clothing hung on the wall. Working with these few items, the actor took us to her apartment in Minnesota, her family's business (a chandelier store), and a waterfall at the end of a hike. The audience had to use their imaginations, of course, but Ms. Shor sold us with her use of props and her well-written story, which centered around the devastating loss of her beloved
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Bringing in 2019

Personally, 2018 was a great year. My sweet little grandson was born in March, a niece in June, and a nephew in October. Those milestones alone made the year a banner one. I had the good fortune to meet new friends who I believe will be lifelong ones. I went places, saw things, drove in and around Los Angeles, and found new recipes that appease both my taste buds and my aversion to meats. Huntington Library and Gardens Craft and Folk Art Museum Descanso Gardens Museum of Natural History Rancho Los Alamitos  (Maxine, Vivi, and Glenda) To welcome in the new year, I went with a couple of friends to the Lake Shrine Self-Realization ashram where we meditated and chanted while 2018 left & 2019 arrived. It was a peaceful, quiet way for a community to come together as one in unity and peace. For sure, it was the best way to spend New Year's Eve. Lake Shrine There was much to celebrate in 2018, and a lot more to look forward to in 2019. Wishing everyo

The Broad

The Broad , a wonderful art museum in DTLA, is free. Before yesterday, I've been only twice since I've lived in California, both times with others. It's nice to be with friends or family but I think it short-changes one from fully exploring a museum or for that matter any space where beauty & creativity are present. So yesterday I went out on my own, using my newly-acquired Senior Metro Pass which allows me to ride the bus or train for only $.35 each way. I am unfamiliar with the downtown area, but thanks to Google Maps, I could easily figure out which way to walk once I left the train station. Guess in which direction I had to go? Answer: UP and UP! The short walk (about 5-6 blocks) included about 4 which took me waaay up a steep hill that has "hill" in its name, Bunker Hill. Nothing could have informed me how out-of-shape I was more than the fact that I needed to stop twice in that trek. Whew! There is a funicular (yes) that traverses Bunker Hill. It was f

WELL, HELLO! I return, a new person & personally new.

This is weird. I haven't blogged in ages (clearly evident), but a friend who read my latest email about my travels in and around LA suggested that I do something more with my writing. She suggested that I blog or journal or publish my travel writings. I am opting to do the former for now. It's been too long. I need to write to keep my brain active, so I shall cut & paste the email I sent to my friends about my latest solo excursion. A little background: I sent an email to my group of 9 other friends to see if anyone wanted to go to the California Museum of Art. I found free tickets on Goldstar and although it was located in Thousand Oaks, long car trips never bothered me. My friends were courteous but succinct -- I was on my own because...it's Thousand Oaks and too boring to be worth the trip. Here is my take: I went out to Thousand Oaks, searching for this museum. I didn't see much of the city because GMaps showed my destination was right off an exit. I drove, s

Getting Older is Fun!

Yes, that's right. I said it. Aging is fun. Here's how I've come to this conclusion: Looks don't matter as much. As a woman, there's less pressure to be skinny, wear makeup, work out. Of course there's the compelling case to working out for one's overall health, but even when you do so at this age, you don't have to wear the latest, clingy-est outfits to the gym. Oversized t-shirts and sweatpants are dandy and even optimal. You don't like it? Then look away. (Not that you need any prompting to do so.) Forgetfulness is forgiven. Well, you still can't overlook things like your kid's birthday or Christmas, but if you forget to defrost your dinner ingredients, you can forgive yourself and order pizza with no remorse. After all, your memory is fading, so bring on the calzones! Watching TV shows and movies is more of an adventure. I used to get miffed when my mother inserted questions like, "Why are they chasing that guy?" o

Heat Stroke, 2014

Today was a double-whammy weather day: High heat index (>100), plus we were put on ozone-alertness. I was very alert to ozone. I saw it here; I saw it there; I saw, I saw it everywhere. As always when the temps exceed 90, I slogged into the bedroom, dropping clothes, bags, etc, as I walked. After putting away a few things, I began this internal dialog:  ME: You know what I'd love to throw on right now? A house dress.  INNER ME: (pause) What?  ME: Yeah, you know, one of those loose, cotton dresses -- sleeveless, underwear optional, but definitely no bra.  IM: I know what that is. Why would you..  ME: I'm hot, tired, and I need to loosen the air around my bod.  IM: Eww  ME: Really, right now, this is so appealing, only I don't own one of these. Maybe I need to hunt one down this weekend.  IM: No. You don't.  ME: What's the big deal? My comfort is important, right? In the privacy of my own home, I should be able to wear this.  IM: You do have to live with

My Like-Hate-Hate Relationship with Dave Ramsey

I cannot go to sleep in silence, so I usually have talk radio on as I drift off. Most times, the cadence of the talking head becomes the white noise I need. But sometimes I actually listen to the conversations. As much as I hope for Clark Howard, Dave Ramsey happens to be the head that's talking when I go to bed. Gradually, I became aware of his philosophies. He has many, but I'll focus on just a few: 1) Get Rid of All Debt - I really like this one. As someone who wants the points my credit card awards, or the cashback my other credit card awards, I feel like I'm always a month behind. I pay off my balance in full each month, but by then of course, I have lowered my bank account and have less to spend in the current month. I do wonder what it would feel like to pay just the bills for my current living expenses. I plan to give it a go, but I won't buy Ramsay's book or go to Financial Peace University. "Where debt is dumb, cash is king, and the paid off mortgag