Vincent

Here is a little auntie-pride. Nephew Vinci performed in a musical "Sophie's world". I loved that book by Norwegian Jostein Gaardner by the way. If you are interested in philosophy at all, I recommend the read. He wrote it for teenagers, but I enjoyed it as an adult. It gives a nice overview of the history of philosophy.

And voila, here is Vinci:

The Getty

I have had the pleasure to visit the Getty Museum twice last week, as I was volunteering at the LA Business Council Sustainability Summit. I was told that it took 6 years to level the mountain for the massive complex. Can't imagine how much it must have cost. Mr. Getty's wealth was derived from oil business...why am I not surprised?

It was too far to cycle for me, so i explored carpooling and public transit options. I was a little worried about asking for a ride, but fellow sustainability summit volunteers were very accomodating! The bus system is not bad - for North American standards. Poor - for London UK standards though - a young woman, I believe she must have been a nanny from the UK, was complaining about the bus system. In my opinion that's not the bus system's fault .It's an urban planning issue: everything is so spread out here - compared to European cities.

Beautiful Architecture!

As Arnie says: "I'll be back!"

L.A.Annie reporting...

Progress Report - LA Week 3:

• I found a place to live as of July. On a walk street in Venice. One block from the beach with a beautiful backyard.
• Number of times getting lost on my commute is steadily decreasing.
• Still in love with SoCal.

Now I'll let the pictures speak:

The Courtyard Outside My Office

Intelligentsia - Coffee Bar in Venice

Yummie snacks, and good coffees. These baristas know what they are doing!

Santa Monica Pier

If you look closely, you can see David Hasselknoff walking away from his day-job.

This will be part of my bike route to work as of July...The Boardwalk in Santa Monica and Venice aka Musclebeach...very LA, I hear.

Please note, that the colour of my toe nails matches the colour of my bike frame. Oops, I meant color. Need to communicate in American English now!

Amelia

from the Calgary Archive File: Rebecca, Amelia and Chris a few weeks ago in Calgary.
Miss you!

Local Honey

My co-worker Isabel in Calgary, who is originally from Columbia, shared an interesting tidbit about honey with me over lunch a few months ago.

When traveling to a new place, eat some local honey, Isabel says, and it will help your immune system to get accustomed to the local environment, and any allergens it might contain.

I also just consulted Dr. Google and he confirms that local honey can help with allergies, as it contains trace amount of allergens.

It was a little challenging to find local SoCal honey, most of the honey on the shelf at the supermarket was from overseas, New Zealand, etc. I did find one kind eventually (which was more expensive than the honey from NZ,...we live in a weird world...). It includes habanero pepper, so it's spicy. So far, so good. No adaptation issues in the new big city. The honey remedy must work! (and okay, I admit, I would use any excuse to try some new honey...)

Going Carless in Los Angeles

Greetings from LA and welcome to a new chapter of Anna's Adventures in the New World. I am currently making a move - starting to set up my life in Los Angeles.

Why LA? People have been asking me this question today - my official first work day out of the Santa Monica office.

Reason #1: Food. The food I ate in Calgary was mostly coming from California anyway. In an effort to eat locally, I decided to move closer to the source.

Reason #2: Warm weather and sunshine. Blue (ish - considering the smog) sky and warm weather, that's the way I - Leo Anna - like it!

Reason #3: People! I am sure that a state of 30 Million People has some interesting characters to offer. Most of the California Residents that I have met in the past years, have been awesome and interesting people, with progressive minds (although right now, I miss my Canadian friends :(...I made some wonderful friends up North)

Reason #4 Yoga: I look forward to continue my Iyengar yoga practice here - there appear to be quite a few studios offering Iyengar yoga!

Reason #5 Work: In my work I focus on sustainability. In the city, where I hear that you can sometimes taste the smog, there is a lot more incentive to take action to reduce the environmental footprint. So that should be good too.

In a nutshell, I'd say LifeStyle. It seems that anything you could possibly want to pursue, you can find it in LA. Unless you are trying to pursue a carless lifestyle, of course. Which I am planning on doing - at least for the first month.

No car for me for now! So what are my options?

Waiting for the bus is not so bad, when the sky is blue, palm trees are around and your busline is called sunset ride.

Walking to the bus station, these purple trees are currently blooming everywhere and smell like heaven.

On my way to Beverly Hills

My Surly LHT ready to go, a little shy next to the cool Beverly Hill Cruisers

LA is Succulent Central

mmm...this gas station on Olympic and Robertson almost makes me reconsider my no-driving choice ;)

Backyard Blooming

The June living room - a ranch house (which in LA lingo means it's a one story home)

More Home Shots

Two of my Roomies. Wag on the left, Boogie on the right.

Boogie whispering to Wag: "Ask her why she talks like Arnie, the Governator and stop staring at her, you make her nervous!"

That's it from LA for now. Other than that, I am taking in the Newness and enjoy one moment at the time. Best wishes!

David Maisel

Another art photographer, who caught my eye: David Maisel. The bright green picture on the top must be some sort of tailing pond from a mining operation in Nevada.

The other picture is from his series "Oblivion" a bird's eye shot of Los Angeles' communities and its infamous freeway system.

More here.

Calgary History Hotspot - Inglewood

One of my favourite places in Calgary is Inglewood. It's located at the junction of the Bow River and the Elbow River. Lots of old character building, that have witnessed pretty much all of Calgary's history - like the Restaurant "Rouge" shown above.

The Calgary Ghost Tour also leads through Inglewood. I haven't done it myself, but some friends have and they enjoyed it a lot. If you look closely through the window reflections, you might be able to see a ghost enjoying an afternoon drink :)

Jen anxious to get some ice cream

The Deane House - supposedly haunted too...

The Deane House - a Restaurant - in the summer they grow their own vegetables in the garden - sweet!

One of the oldest buildings in Calgary - the Hunting Cabin right next to the Deane House.

Old Meets New in Inglewood

This Modern Building above needs some Green!

I like this design. The wooden slats and some vegetation in the front yard add some warmth.

Spring Time in Calgary is April

Did you know that New Street is the oldest street in Calgary? Supposedly the oldest street was closer to the river, but got swept away in a flood. So they built a new street to replace the one gone. Now New Street is Calgary's oldest street. It's charming!

You Are What You Eat

"You are what you eat" - if this is true, then - influenced by Gourmet chef Deanna - I must turn into something dark green, fishy soon ;)!

But really, what we eat become the building blocks for our bodies.

...beings arise from food
food arises from rain...
Bhagavad Gita

I have two rules when it comes to food:

• it has to taste good
• it has to make me feel good or energize me
  

Tuna

Oh, that's what a cast iron pan is for! Note to myself: need to get a cast iron pan... More fishy goodness with onion, blood orange and dill.