If a teeny tiny Someone showed up at your door with this giant bag stuffed full of journals would you balk? Would you go, “Just take those journals Missus and get your hiney off my porch!” Huh? Would you do that?
Maybe you’d invite your guest inside, offer her a cup of tea with a lemon slice floating on top, mention what a lovely blustery blue day it is, kick the shoes you forgot to put in the closet under the sofa, smile. In other words, you’d disguise your true nature and behave in a manner befitting a normal civilized human being.
I didn’t. I grabbed the bag and made a beeline for the couch. I may have grunted out a welcome. I plopped down, put my glasses on, got comfortable, and completely ignored my guest. I ignored the cat hair tumbleweeds blowing across the floor.
I went into a hypnotic state for a couple of hours.
Finally, I slapped myself across the face and said, “Snap outta it!” just like Cher in Moonstruck. Only I was Cher AND Nick Cage.
I took my charming guest on the 25 cent mary ann moss tour of LA. There’s a 50 cent tour too, but we didn’t have time for it.
We lingered awhile at the burst of rays door. It reminded us of pinwheels and how exciting they are and how we just want to keep making them forever and ever and ever.
As you see from the photo above, I take everyone on the exact same tour. We went on a loop walk through Silverlake. Walking and yacking. Up the Laurel & Hardy Musicbox staircase to a lovely street of bungalows and cottages. Down Micheltorena, right on Sunset, past the 99 Cent Store, all the way to lunch at FOOD+LAB. I had THIS salad. LA In Bloom has really expanded my dining options. Not only do I go to the places she writes up, I almost always order the exact same thing. So far I haven’t been disappointed. I love having places to take people now that make me seem clever. (She’ll get the taco truck lengua tacos on her NEXT visit.)
Okay. Now I really really have to go pack.
Holy freakazoid. Fun times in LA. Making the humble journal a true work of art. Out of your head and hearts. Holy freakazoid! With Paris coming soon. Won’t say it again.
I would love to see pictures of EVERY page of the journal!! In my hands!!! Have a wonderful trip to Parie!!
I knew immediately too….i got to hold some of those beauties when I met her at Silver Bella a few years ago….they are AMAZING.
MARY ann as always been away from your blog………..but its a delight / have a great trip…….
Oh my oh my. I would have no journals to show 🙁 so I could only bring you shortbread and Old Bay seasoning…not to be eaten together unless that combo calls to you…but I would happily take your tour, feel wistful about the tumbleweeds since our Sebastian crossed the bridge, and just bask in the LA of it all. Now to Paris witcha!
Simply amazing!
Those journals look wonderful :]
So when I show up at your door, I will either come empty-handed or bring along some reading material…. 🙂
Second I saw those journals I knew who your guest was….sheesh. How lovely.
In my head I said, ohmyhoochityheck! she got to hang with pamgarrison!!! dude!!!!
Glad you had fun and that DOOR. seriously cool.
Ahhhhhhh, I knew when I saw them! Pam is amazing! She’s my hero. I’m so lucky to have had her as a teacher in a journal class I took a few years ago at Art Fest. Love, love!
Sheila
OMG, as soon as I spied those journals and even before clicking any links, I knew deep in my bones who you’d just spent a sweet visit with….holy moly canoli, You and Pam together in one place, under one roof, strolling and laughing and chatting and having a grand time…sounds like total slice of heaven.
i love this post! what i really loved is that i half read pam’s post and clicked over here and got the other p.o.v.
very funny.
love the 10 cent tour, dude, i can only imagine what the 25 center is…
oh my gosh, i am crazy about your travel journals!!!!!!! i spent hours on your site reading old posts and thoroughly enjoying my self!!!! just what i need to bring some fresh air in to my life in small town iowa (i.e. boring!) it’s a cold world here too we got 4 inches of more snow today (i am so ready for spring) i will be a regular visitor from now on, love, love your blog! xoxxo julie
In Paris, feeling mighty fine; ordering my very first dinner alone,and in French. I recognized the word veau as “beef”, pointed, and politely pronounced “tete de veau, silvouplay”. Was served a FREAKING COW HEAD! All full of jelly looking stuff and a few delectable slivers of meat. Be careful out there my friend. There are worse things than tacos de lengua lurking on le French menu. Have a blast, post early and often.
so if i land on your porch from texas bearing journals do i get the 50 cent tour?? jk! have been a long-time fan of your work and blog (and cat posse) (mainly cause i have one too…meaning i have 3 cats…:~) living vicariously through you and pam spending the day together talking and sharing art, and through your upcoming trip! thanks for sharing your world!
You see the journals and I see THAT BAG…love it! Have a great trip and be sure to blogs as much as possible for all of us left behind here in blog land 😉
C’est magnifique!
The journals look great. And I love the bag……I think I know where that came from. Have a great trip. Thanks for all your neat classes on line.
I laughed so hard, especially because I would do the same thing exactly! Run off to have some quality time alone with those journals! :-))
Travel safe my friend! But have a blast!
That is hilarious! Wow, those journals look amazing. Wishing you a great trip in Paris and hope you have a lovely time!
You had me at hello. I too loved the reference to cat tumbleweeds. We only have light-coloured couches at home so the light cat hair doesn’t show up as much!!!
Yo Sister! don’t take her for tongue tacos! that would scare her. I mean I think I remember our favorite spanish teacher from San Miguel telling me that lengua was tongue. I can’t exactly remember how it came up in the course of conversation in class but I’m sure it did. Maybe it was when I crawled under the table to hide when I couldn’t remember how to say something and thought I would start crying. It might have had something to do with a clown…. but I digress. Take her to Cafe Tropical. You gotta go there. It’s the most fabulous place in ALL of LA.
that is exactly how i remember it too, haha, have a GREAT trip!!! xo
Cat hair tumbleweeds! You kill me!