The man in the hat is via Agasse, the woman on his mind is from Gertler. What worked for me was the way her arm follows the contours of his hat.
Today I wrote my Aunt about the possibility of celebrating my 50th birthday in France by having a party with two of my cousins who will also be celebrating their 50th this autumn--one month ahead and one month after me. Family lore recalls all three women--my mother, her sister, and their sister-in-law--being pregnant together in the summer of 1958, when my mother flew to France while she was pregnant with me. The thing is that it would have to be in September, a month before my actual birthday, but I figure if I've had a big party ahead of time, the pressure will be off on the actual day.
Neighborhood Report: On Saturday I went into the local police precinct and reported the incessant loitering in front of our building and on our driveway. They wrote down the address and "narco-activity" and told me it would be mentioned at rollcall so that the police would increase patrols at night and ask questions. Ironic, hunh? The ex-dealer turns low-level vigilante. Maybe I should just walk the dog at night made up like Heath Ledger as the Joker. (I saw "Dark Knight" this weekend. He was, indeed, brilliant.)
Also ironic: a news helicopter hovering over Sunset and Wilton because a station was giving out free gas for the day, and the lines stretched around the block. I wonder how many gallons of fuel the helicopter wasted to report this urgent news about the state of gas prices? This is nuts. And yet all they are doing is trying to make the highest rating to make more money because they're can charge more to advertisers. This is capitalism at work people.
When I go to France, I may never come back. They don't have Eyewitness News there.
MCO 2008
No one does "news" like LA does news.
There is something liberating about turning 50. It's like you have been released to do all sorts of things, You can begin sentences with , Now that I'm 50...." Of course, my new phrase is, "Now that I'm in my 50s...." I find myself complimenting young men on their fine physiques and lovely smiles, something that I would never have done before, but now that I'm in my 50s...."
Reporting the loitering was a good thing for the neighborhood. Perhaps the loiterers will find some place else to loiter and that will benefit your neighborhood.
Our local news media loves any excuse to break out the helicopters and hover.
Enjoy France, but do come back. Please.