Weekend Antics

1. "It doesn't feel like LA."
2. Smuggled and Saved
3. Kicking ass - well, video game ass
4. Where everybody knows your name
5. Unapologetically conservative

"It doesn't feel like LA."

Have you ever been to a place that is reasonably close to Los Angeles and then when recalling its positive traits, cited that "It doesn't feel like LA" ? I've definitely done that. In those pockets of this city where you can find some respite from a sometimes-uncharacterizable (a word?) trait that sets us Angelenos off about living LA, you just want to savor that place, that moment, with the hopes of returning. This past weekend was full of those moments - and I realize that alot of it had to do with the stillness in the overcast weather, with the faint promise of rain.

Smuggled and Saved

My friend Grizzy Lee told us about this zoo in Culver City. C suggested we go, and without expectations, we showed up at the cutest "zoo" I've ever been to. It is essentially a converted warehouse that houses confiscated animals that the Wildlife Rescue Center have retrieved. Without the Star EcoStation, the animals don't have a chance of making it. Housed in the middle of Culver City, CA are crocodiles, lynxes, tarantulas, iguanas, toucans, and the ike of exotic animals! We had a fantastic tour guide who enlightened us on the story behind each animal and how they came to the ecostation. They even had coral reefs. Did you know that without the reefs, 10,000 more people would've been killed by Hurricane Katrina? But the reefs lessened the throes of the waves. Or that sharks get captured just to have their dorsal fins sliced off and thrown back into the ocean to die for shark fin soup? (Sorry Mom, no more of that for me!)There was a cute lynx there who had been sadly declawed. He was kept as a house pet and forced into a suitcase. We also met some awesome cockatoos! The Star Ecostation is a non profit. So much fun for seven bucks.



Kicking ass - well, video game ass

C and I stayed up 'til the wee hours trying to kick some Colonel butt! We love playing Metal Gear on the PS2. I am constantly amazed at how complicated a video game could be. C and I have been wanting to kick this guys butt for a while - not only does he have really bad skin problems (no prejudice against those with skin problems) but he has a stinky attitude to go with it. In a movie version, I think Dolph Lundgren should play Volgin (no offense to Dolph, although in Rocky IV, he was a punk!)



Where everybody knows your name

I was profoundly struck by how much how love exists at my church. So many pitch in. Lately there have been a few crippled folks who have been coming to service. I noticed that several of us wanted to help them. The power of one is okay. But that power is expanded only through teamwork and desire for common good.

Unapologetically conservative

After two weeks, our GRAMMY Campers have finally completed their lessons! They put on a four hour showcase concert last night. It was incredible how sophisticated these teenagers are. One kid from SF did a rap number. At that moment, when he went on to discuss his, er, social conquests, I realized that I am unapologetically conservative at the age of 29. The older you get the more you see through the folly's of arrogance, I think. Or you just turn into bed earlier.

Wow. I had a full weekend. To close, here's something weird. For some reason, I was thinking about our janitor, Jose, and how sweet he is. He probably works the most out of anyone here. And then I thought about how sad it would be if he left. Then he came by today and told me that HE was leaving! And very suddenly, too, by virtue of us changing cleaning agencies. I'm so sad. I wish him luck. Hasta la vista, Jose.