Pollack Dot Org

What fun! Visit jacksonpollack.org and see for yourself! Who said computer programs couldn't be artistic? Can you see the poodle?

Local Wildlife

I'm very happy to say this is not my photo. This was taken by fellow Monrovian whangdoodle (on Flickr). She has a whole series of shots. Apparently her home is on the bear's "must visit" list!

Crawling out from the cave

I have to say, being somewhat heat sensitive, that this latest heatwave just about made me go bonkers. My $48 blow-up pool saved me! At times like this being a work-at-homer has its drawbacks. I found myself obsessively checking temperatures around the world, comparing, and then, when I could take it no more, I stared, blinking and non-comprehending, at the hastily made sign in front of the Home Depot store: "No Air-Conditioners. No Fans. Only Ceiling Fans. Sorry." It took a few moments for it to sink in, and my jaunty walk evaporated like the sweat forming between my tightening shoulders.

I was undaunted. My fingers flipped upon the celphone. 4-1-1. No luck. Nothing at Wal-Mart. Nada at Lowe's, Costco or OSH. I was stumped. Target, they'll have one! I thought. Not to be! I drove back to the house and paced, sweaty, like a caged animal. I wondered how many others were doing the same thing. What really gets me is when the nights don't go below 80 degrees. I'm a fresh air freak, and always have to have air moving, especially at night. I was getting anxious, thinking how I would stave off the panic, as this particular complaint runs in my family. Ah, hah! I'd call...yes, Best Buy! No one would think of calling them.

Yes, they carried them...! No, they were out-of-stock. Completely and utterly. In all their stores. Just like the other chains.

How would I bear it? I called Target's 800 number. Yes, I could order one online. My joy quickly evaporated. It would take 5-7 days to arrive. I did it anyway. I ordered a new wall unit. My old one was failing when I moved in this place two years ago, but felt like an old friend, and I hadn't replaced it. You had to stand in front of it to feel anything, but if I started it early in the day and the temperatures didn't get too hot, it worked. This day it was really not putting out. I was admonishing myself. I was contrite. I was desperate, and prayed for a cooling trend. Then I hoped for enough sanity to make it through. Either that or I'd be at the Krikorian 7 days a week.

A long-time Monrovian stopped by my house the next day. I told him of my odyssey and of the absurdity of it all. Could he believe it? Every large chain sold out, nationwide?

He shrugged it off. "Oh, that happens every time there is a heatwave. That's just how it is."

I wanted to expound, "Pshaw!" and stamp my foot, but I could only muster a look of disgust by wrinkling my nose. "Well, this won't be happening to me again," I said. "I'm getting a new air-conditioner, and it will be here in a few days."

Just in time for the cooler weather.

Oh, so frosty!

One of my favorite inexpensive solutions for home privacy is to frost the glass on my windows. It was the first thing I did when I moved into my place. It's super easy and comes in a spray can! (I bought it in the paint aisle of Home Depot.) The first one I did was the bathroom window, and it was a snap. I am experienced with Spray Mount, so perhaps this helps. The key is to spray lightly and slowly and in broad, overlapping strokes. Next, I did my bedroom windows, as my neighbor has a clear view of my bedroom from her kitchen window. What a relief that was! I only frosted the bottom glass so that I have both filtered and regular light. I've always liked the look of frosted glass, but like to be able to see out, as well.

As it happens, my other neighbor can see in my kitchen window, so I've decided to frost those windows also. I don't like the view I have (I can see her trashcans), so this will be the perfect solution. I'll be able to see my bird feeder, but won't have to look at the ugly side of her house. Tremendous. All for the price of a spray can of frost and a 5 minute application!

Outta that car an onto that bike!

I wanted to show support for a totally green activity: biking. My electric scooter needs a new battery, so I'm going to start bicycling again. I'm not the only one. NELA, or North East Los Angeles bikes, is a new organization in L.A. that is trying to get more people to use bicycles to get around. Their four-point rationale is very compelling: 1. increase fitness and reduce stress; 2. help the environment; 3. save money; and 4. parking is a snap!

Great Hair Salon

I have been curious about the Bellisima hair salon for awhile now, and finally tried it. The owner, Maria Fajardo, a master colorist, did my hair, and it was worth every penny. She is not only friendly, but knows her stuff. She's been doing hair for 20 years. The whole place has a good energy and it's in the middle of Old Town.

Not just another documentary

This movie is a tremendous documentary. I highly recommend it. I've wondered for a long time why it is so hard to get electric vehicles. Now I know the answer. A great commentary on the consequences of short-term thinking.

Belated Fourth

Well, I'm about a week late, but I thought I should acknowledge the Fourth. Monrovia has very nice traditions of celebrating and getting people to come out on a regular basis. That is one of the reasons I moved here. I've never lived anywhere that has a feeling of a community, and I do feel it here ... I'm just not always out in it! The nature of my work requires me to address issues at any hour of the day or night, but then again I will often have down time at odd hours as well.

Monrovia had its own fireworks display, and people display good behavior most of the time. :) It's a place where you get a friendly smile more often than a hurried frown, and it's not unusual to see people walking past holding hands. The ice cream parlor is always busy in the summer.

Photo by Shalf

Mysterioso Pool

Hey, it's my new $48, 8-foot plastic blow-up pool! I braved the self-checkout line in Wal-Mart for this puppy, and it was worth it. The heat was making me feel desperate. I don't have central air, and survive on one wall unit and overhead fans. Naturally, there are times when extra measures need to be taken, and this last week was one of them!

As it happens, there were only two pop-up pools left on the shelves by the time I got there and so I snatched one of them. The 8-foot size was perfect for my space (I have a square rectangular area in my backyard that has a gazebo-like metal structure over it). It was easy to set up and required only a little tinkering with the air pump. The pool is nearly 3 feet deep, so it is possible to feel like you are floating if you rest your head on the inflated edge.

The best part was that I have a couple of mosquito nets and one of them fit perfectly overhead, and drapes over the whole pool, so during the day I get filtered sunlight (and it keeps out the bees, who love pools) and in the evening I don't have to worry about mosquitos. It is a tad cool, but after you get used to it, the temperature feels wonderful and refreshing.

For your viewing pleasure

Well, we all know this is definitely not Monrovia today, but I find looking at pictures of cold landscapes refreshing on days like this. What is your favorite way of keeping cool? I've got all the fans going...some of my summer heat remedies are slipping into an afternoon movie or just lounging around with we hair.

Photo via Flickr by Zenera