Since Tony's graduation we've been able to hang out more together and actually enjoy this pleasant, low key summer.  Here are just a few of the things we've been up to (in no chronological order). :)

*  "Transformations" in the old Westwood parking lot for the Transformers movie premiere.  Two drive-bys and attempted evasion of heavy security through the pretext of a Diddy Reese purchase yielded this nice glimpse of a two story Bumblebee, hulking over nearby buildings.



*  Tony and I also headed down to the Edgemar Center for our belated anniversary play.  The Edgemar Center was designed by Frank Gehry, and is a funky little building in the heart of Main street.  We were there a few months ago to celebrate Christmas with southern California style, that is, on a sunny day with a Christmas tree of shopping carts.



We watched the play, the Miracle Worker.  For those of you who know Helen Keller's story, the role of Helen as a child is an incredibly physically demanding role.  Watching her stumble around, kick, slap, and struggle is almost a little shocking.  But the actress, an eight year old child, pulled it off with convincing aplomb.  I highly recommend this play.

*  We also dropped by a community carnival held at the Venice YABA.  It was a loud, fun, tasty affair.  This was my favorite, a blueberry imagawa yaki, which was a pastry filled with blueberry filling hot from the steamer.  Yum.



My friend Ricky had a face painting and pie throwing booth there.



I lobbed one just as he was brashly taunting me, and it hit him square in the mouth.  Victory never tasted so sweet - wish I could say the same for him.  I know what is in those fillings and it is definitely not something I want to be eating. :)  But props to them for having such a fun and entertaining booth.




*  My friend Diana finally made the trek up to LA.  We went to Father's Office in Santa Monica for tasty burgers and beers.



We also checked out LACMA's contemporary collection. Tom surprised Diana with a kick at the lampposts.

 


I was not allowed to take a picture of the Jeff Koons exhibit, and finally snagged it through a mere technicality (I stood outside the building but propped open the doors).  Yes, I'm persistent.  But how often do you see a larger-than-life balloon animal??



We were on the elevator, debating which floor to go on, when on the second floor button we see the sign "Your Bright Future."  Was there any doubt which floor we'd pick?  The irony is that when we got onto that floor, we were told "members only" and sent packing.  D'oh.



*  The Public Arts Fair celebrates the works of Yayoi Kusama



*  Etsy in the real world would look something like the Renegade fair.  There I bought my strawberry plant, still in complete denial of my lack of a green thumb.