A Rock and Tree and Water

Lacking for inspiration for the title. Funny thing: I picked up a travel California book the other day and when I opened it up it opened to a picture of this rock and tree. Strange....

Don't ask about the "grass"... it does look a little odd.

Artiste in Training

Some of you may know that I've long had an interest in learning to paint but either was too busy or just a little chicken. Well, I finally signed up for a class: Introduction to Watercolors.

Like most classes there is a supply list - all I can say is even if I'm not any good at this I better enjoy it because the brushes alone weren't very cheap.

I walked into the building where the classes are held and met the instructor. Right off she asks if I am Melanie. Wow... how did she know that? Well it seems like everyone else that has signed up for the class has taken it a few times before. (mmm... I thought this was an introduction to watercolor). A little bit of uneasiness settled in.

So I went into this class expecting the first class to go through the supplies, maybe talk about some brush strokes, practice mixing colors... you know... introductory stuff.

Everyone arrives, many carrying completed pictures that the instructor was critiquing. Okay... this was intro to watercolors, right?

then the class starts.. The instructor hands out a photo of a large tree, some ducks with a pond in the background. She looks at me and says "You know how to draw, right?" and turns back and proceeds with outlining the images, mixing colors and applying paint.

Overwhelming is probably too mild a word but I did make it through the class and overall I'm pleasantly surprised that I managed to produce something that looks like a tree, ducks and a pond.

Festival of Books

For those book lovers out there this was a pretty cool event. After the mishap a few weeks ago, Laura (co-worker) offered to drive me this time (just so I don't get lost ...)

I gather this is an annual event where a number of publishers, book stores and authors set up tents with their wares and the public gets some great deals and can get books signed and listen to a variety of speakers and presentations. This was the second year it was held at USC (University of Southern California).

It was very hot (30C)but very interesting.

The statue in the fountain was of a couple graduates.

USC Trojans

Lots of tents set up all over the campus.

There were a number of different stages set up as well. The university marching band played for a bit as well as a youth orchestra.

I'm not very good at crossword puzzles but even I managed to get one or two clues on this one.

Great stall - $5 or less for books. How can you resist?

LA Traffic got the better of me

So it was a couple of weekends ago that I was supposed to meet up with a coworker at the LA County Museum of Arts. She had planned to go by herself and was very thoughtful in asking if I would like to go as well. Saturday was the day... I left an hour before we were supposed to meet just because you never know what traffic is going to be like. So far I've had no issues so it was just a matter of time. My big mistake... I relied on GPS. Normally GPS is very reliable so I didn't bother to check a map. I had absolutely no idea where I was headed - North, South, East or West... not a clue. First 20 minutes were great. Drove past all the TV studios, wound way through some hills and then turned left and encountered... ROAD CLOSED. Local Access only. Picture 4 lanes of traffic (bumper to bumper) all merging into 1 lane. You really had no choice but to go where the traffic pushed you. The next thing I knew I was pulling up to Universal Studios Theme Park. No, no, no, no. I do NOT want to go here. Fortunately there was a road that allowed you effectively turn around. Meanwhile in the back ground all I could here was RECALCULATING.... RECALCULATING. Take 2. Let's see where the GPS takes me now... Take a right then a left and there it was... ROAD CLOSED... Local Access Only. AHHHHH!!!! RECALCULATING...RECALCULATING.... RECALCULATING. Take 29 and 45 minutes later... ROAD CLOSED... Local Access Only. RECALCULATING.... RECALCULATING. Sigh.... I give up. I phone Laura and told her that today just wasn't a good day and I was headed home. PS I later found out that there was a marathon going on which is why all the roads were closed. while the GPS is great for traffic delays I guess it doesn't pick up marathons.

Spring in California

I've been meaning to check out Descanso Gardens for a while now and finally managed to get my act together. It's only about 15 minutes away from my place. In typical "Melanie" fashion... I manage to pick the busiest day of the year to check out the gardens. I get there and the queue is halfway to the overflow parking lot. Or course... not having done any research I had no idea what was going on. Eventually found out that weekend was the Cherry Blossom Festival. I'm not really patient so the wait was a drag but on the other hand all the cherry trees were in bloom so that was cool. The gardens are beautiful and it's a good walk with lots of hills. The gardens were originally part of a wealthy publisher's estate which was sold to Los Angeles County and from there developed into Descanso gardens that can be viewed by the public. So many of you know I LOVE flowers and I love taking pictures of flowers. So this post wouldn't be complete without lots of pictures.

So not JUST Flowers.... some fruit as well....

a teeny train....

and one determined turtle - he was bound and determined to climb that rock but kept sliding back into the water. Again... patience not my strong point so after about 10 minutes of watching him try I moved on.

Whew! I did it!

So I don't know how many of you know this but on moving to California, in order to get a California driver's license I had to take a written and driven test. (not sure I understand the logic behind the whole process, I mean they'll let me drive on my Canadian license and even gave me a temporary license all without taking a test but I guess rules are rules) So I did the written test a couple of weeks ago and passed that (had to get all the miles and miles per hours sorted out). The driven test was scheduled for today. I've been monitoring my driving for the past two weeks to try and correct any bad habits that I've picked up over the past 20 years of driving. I really wasn't that nervous until last night - guess subconsiously I was more concerned about it than I thought 'cause I woke up every hour on the hour last night. Anyways, long story short... I took the test and whew... I passed. I think this is pretty much it... other than the Visa... and getting my banking sorted out once and for all, but effectively I think I have arrived and am settled.

"Stuck" in California

Okay... so I know I just moved here and I'm not really homesick or anything like that. But I found out on Friday that my company is working on getting me a work visa instead of a work permit. Not sure what difference this will bring but my understanding is it will make it easier for me to get a green card in the long run. Not a big deal only I'm not allowed to leave the US (even to go to Canada) until the process is done. This could take 4 -6 months and not that I was planning on going anywhere but all of a sudden I have this insatiable urge to fly home :) Funny how that is, heh?