more beautiful los angeles pics and a hiatus

Here are some photos from the last few days.
I am off to the East Coast for a bridal shower and a wedding to attend. I'll update the blog as soon as I return.
Peace,
JJ

Sometimes, random acts of random kindness are just that. Random. And kind.

The following is a plea from my good friend and filmmaker, Nara Garber. She supported her friend Osekre for two semesters at Columbia University. Please check out more information at www.keeposekreinschool.com.
The deadline is September 14.
________________________________________




I'm sending out a final, desperate email blast on behalf of my friend Osekre, a Ghanaian undergraduate who has been left high and dry by Columbia University. Osekre has begun his senior year at Columbia as a sociology major, but since he's a foreign student with no access to the kind of financial aid available to American citizens, he will be asked to withdraw unless he can raise the rest of his tuition for the fall semester by September 14th. Since the 14th is a Sunday, we almost certainly have until Monday, the 15th, but the point is the same: we have almost no time left to raise the tidy sum of $14K. Donations thus far have run the gamut from $5 to $2,000, so clearly anything goes. We are hoping at the very least that a high number of donations will demonstrate effort on our part and might persuade Columbia to grant us an extension if we come up short.

I know this must sound crazy, but crazier things have kept Osekre in school thus far. You can get more information -- including details on how to donate by check or PayPal -- at the website I set up for this purpose: www.keeposekreinschool.com. If you or anyone you know feels like "investing" in the future of a young man from Ghana who will almost certainly go on to do admirable things upon returning home, I will be incredibly grateful. (Also, if you can think of any PR stunts likely to generate coverage in the local news, your input would be more than welcome!)

Thanks in advance for your patience and insights.

Nara
www.keeposekreinschool.com

can you forgive the lag, dear readers?

I have been away from my blog for numerous days.
I sincerely apologize to the blogging gods, and I hope that I have not lost you, my readers.
For about 5 days, I was listless as I tried to recover from what can only be described as "intestinal distress." I had it since I left Ventura. My sister thought it might be salmonella. My theories ranged from the funny tasting water I've been drinking to unwashed strawberries to way too much yoga. Regardless, it is gone now.
I also went through a mild climate change depression, where everything was so hunky dory, I wasn't sure what to do with myself. That's how good my life has been lately.
Conversely, if anyone knows what I should do with my life, let me know. I'm open to any and all comments.
Meanwhile, here are some pics of the last week.

This set is of me and friend A. trolling Griffith Park.
We were initially greeted by a "colorful" (read: drugged out) man who said he would take us to Baskin Robbins for an ice cream.


Here is A. imitating him.


The hike up to the Griffith Observatory.


A statue of great astronomers and scientists.


I have to say, I never tire of this iconic view.


The exploration of space really puts the idea of God as many people know and understand it, him, her, whatever, into question.

Here's the pendulum as you enter Griffith Observatory, showing the rotation of Earth.


Here's what you see when you look up.


The doorway into the observatory. Give me this architecture ANY day.


Next to the live and satellite images of the sun which literally blew my mind into orbit, the camera obscura was my favorite thing. A mirror, a surface, the sun. What more do you need?


As we came off of the hike, we happened upon this home health store. If ever there was an advertisment for prosthetics, this was it.


I love graffiti. I don't know if you know this about me, but I love graffiti. It's probably why I have a tattoo.




This is me walking down Sunset Boulevard. I really do like walking in Los Angeles. I think it is a very healthy pastime.


Did you know this existed? Right across the street from Kaiser Permanente Hospital.


Hands down, for me, a favorite part of Los Angeles is looking at the old-timey signs.