More on restaurant violations

Here you go, more descriptive citations. Don't read it when you're eating.

Rainstorm in Corona del Mar

It’s been raining off and on for days—tres unusual for Southern California, even in winter. I love it. Everyone here lives for sunny days, and I do love sunny days, but I love rainy days more, perhaps because something is happening. I’m from back east where there’s lots of weather.

Still, because of the rain and cold, I haven’t been walking much. But this morning I decided I had to get out, so I put on my old tennis shoes in case they get wet —not the sparkling new ones I just bought—and my usual walking clothes. Because of the rain, I wear my purple windbreaker with hood and a hat. And fingerless gloves. I’m as prepared as I need to be—maybe even overdressed.

When I start out, it’s misting. I tuck the Netflix DVD I’m taking to the post office in my coat, under my arm, snug against my body. The sky is bright but it begins to rain harder. I pull up my hood. No one’s on the street except for an older woman and a little white dog. She holds a black and white striped umbrella over the dog so he doesn’t get wet doing his business. He sees me and barks. Few cars pass; even cars are staying in.

I head across the parking lot behind Coco’s. I love the sound of the rain. It sounds like hot oil sizzling in a cast iron pan. I close my eyes and walk, listening. At the post office a man says, “It’s wet.” “Sure is,” I say, “but I like it.” He doesn’t say anything, just watches the street and me going back out into it.

I’m wet now, and getting wetter. I decide I’d better go home. My shoes have water in them and it’s beginning to hail. I put out my hand and watch tiny mounds of ice pop onto my gloves and melt there. I laugh aloud, a little dizzy with happiness at being caught unexpectedly in a winter storm. I am so glad to be in it.

At crosswalks the water gushes by, ankle deep. I submerge my feet. My shoes are already wet so what’s it matter? The storm reminds me of El Nino when Travis was a small boy and from our window I’d watch rivers of water rush down the street, and Travis, on the porch bundled up, splashing in the rain.

By the time I return home, the rain has returned to mist. I step inside and de-clothe right in the doorway. I hang my coat on the doorknob and leave my sopping wet pants and socks and shoes on the floor by the rug. My legs are red from the cold but I don’t care.

It’s been lovely, and I feel lucky, wondering if the rain came so hard and heavy that little bit of time while I was out, just for me.

A spelling bee

Orange County is holding a spelling bee.

Very cool.

Click here to read more.

My Los Angeles Times essay

In case you don't get the print edition, but would like to read it, here it is. Click here. If you have any thoughts, comments or questions, bring 'em on.

Our new kitty, Nigel

Here's Nigel, a Maine Coon mix. We still miss Jojo, but we're a two-cat house, it seems, so we adopted another from the Animal Network. After keeping Rosie and Nigel separated for two weeks, they were finally ready to meet. She still hisses at him and often wears a look of tolerance. We're hoping the older and more mature he gets, the more she'll like him. He has big paws so we're thinking he's going to be big.

The coyote highway

JoJo would not allow himself to be confined to the house. For the first year of his life, we kept him in. (I hate what cats do to the songbird population, for one.) But when we came home, or were leaving, we'd have to edge through the door, preventing him from escaping. He'd bolt when he could. Finally we decided to just get him all of his shots and hope for the best. He just wanted to be outside.

When he was a lil bitty kitten, we took him outside and let him sniff around. Maybe that's what did it, what gave him the need to be outside. We even bought him a kitty leash back then (Travis really really wanted to take him outside), thinking we could leash him and let him enjoy the outdoors. Big laugh, now. We didn't make that mistake with Rosie. Even when I bring Rosie out to the studio, across the courtyard from the house, I put her in her cat carrier and carry her that way so she doesn't get any big outdoor ideas.

But last night was Jojo's last night roaming. This morning Animal Control paid us a visit and told us the coyotes got him. There's such a problem with coyotes, even this close to the beach. They've gotten so many cats in our neighborhood.

We miss Jojo, especially Brian. Jojo was really Brian's cat. Jojo would wait for him at night when he returned from gigs, or even during the day, when Jojo heard his van, he'd meet him on the sidewalk. When I told Brian, he had to first sit down, then lie down. He lay down for a long time. I worried.

"That's why Jojo didn't meet me today," he said.

Rosie seems to miss him, too, wonders why she's eating all alone.

I talked further with Animal Control who said this side of town is the coyote highway, the way Buck Gully goes down to the beach and the Back Bay connects with the hills. All of Corona del Mar is at the mercy of coyotes. Cats are a food source for the them, this kind man said, so keep your cats inside. I'll never have another outdoor cat.

The Port Theater is returning

YAY! We've missed the Port and our prayers have been answered. The timeline is unclear, but it's going to be a theater again, so they say. Click here for a short Register article.