Wednesday

It's Media Days at the LA Auto Show

Tuesday

Monday

Sunday

This is my last week in Los Angeles. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Buy The Pound

If you've ever hired a mover to go across country, you suddenly realize that weight is everything. When you move across country the cost is determined by the weight. I found a (hopefully) good mover who will move me to Austin. They have an impeccable record with the Better Business Bureau. Hopefully a good sign. Allied did a nice job on the move from Florida, but I'll never ever use United Van Lines again.

As you can see by the photo, I'm in the middle of packing. So do I keep this, do I save that? It's a weighty decision.

A Happy Thanksgiving

A picture is worth a thousand words. I've recently been made aware that I'm somewhat impatient. Ok, maybe not so recently. For all of you who've known me throughout the years, this picture comes as no surprise. I was hungry.

Like all of you, I had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The knife wielding gentlemen in the picture is my good friend and workout partner Jon. We decided to have Thanksgiving with only the dishes that we liked. He made a turkey and pecan pie. For me it was stuffing and cranberries. Despite the limited menu, we still managed to stuff ourselves to the point of discomfort.

Some holiday traditions you just can't shake.

Mr. Bond, Your Boat Is Ready

I ran across this watercraft while biking to work this morning. I've never seen anything like it, and I'm in Marina Del Rey and on the beach quite a bit. Part of the bike path winds through a boat dealership and I had to stop and take a picture.

Which brings me to today's topic, or rant. Last Friday on opening day I went to see Casino Royale. I've seen every Bond film and while I'm not a fanatic, I certainly do enjoy them. I look forward to Thanksgiving Day when TNT or some other basic cable channel runs a Bond marathon. I can loose myself for hours in them.

While everyone was looking at the new Bond, many didn't realize this was produced by a new studio, Sony Pictures, my former employer. They wanted to do something different and they did. This was like no Bond film that I recall from the past. Gone are Q and Miss Moneypenny. The gadgets and no longer there. Maybe they are in the store room with the sense of humor that seems to have disappeared. This was Bond on a budget (75 Million, not much for an action film) and it shows. Die Another Day needed to be seen in a big screen theater, Casino Royale will do just fine on your TV. The action is just not there.

So I'm a simpleton who likes to see things explode. I can accept that.

What Bond needs is a boat like this. I need Bond to show me something I haven't seen before, like he's always done in the past.

Say Goodbye To Hollywood

There are times when I'm proud of all the places I've lived and the multitude of experiences I've had. Growing up in the back of beyond your opportunities to break away are limited. Then there are other times when I envy those who have stayed put and have deep roots in the places they call home. I'd like to think the next move will be my last, but I know it won't.

I lived in Hollywood longer then I've lived anywhere else since I left home at 18. Now I live in the South Bay by the beach. Much of the Hollywood I knew was in the hills above the Los Angeles basin by Lake Hollywood. Up in the hills there is a serenity that the basin lacks. Today I spent the afternoon on chaotic Melrose Avenue having lunch with friends. I've never seen anything like Melrose Avenue in my travels. Everything is so hip, that if you bought clothes near the LaBrea end they'd be out of style by the time you made it down to Fairfax. I think each clothing store has the life expectancy of a fruit fly.

I said goodbye to an old and dear friend today. Probably one of my hardest goodbyes. I don't know when I'll ever see him again. But as the days wind down there will more painful goodbyes to say and it's just beginning to hit me.

This is no longer my home.

I'll Have Another Plate

Over my desk I've mounted the plates from the states that I have lived in for any extended period of time. (This purposefully excludes that unfortunate but brief time in Florida) Ever since I was a child I collected license plates from cars. I waited for them to fall into my hands legally, thank you.

Now that I have my own garage with drywall I'll have a place to hang them. Certainly the garage will become the best decorated part of my new home, much to the surprise of no one. I've collected automobile memorablila for many years and the garage will be my museum. What I'll do with the necessary lawn equiptment, I do not know.

I do know this. Come December 1st, there will be one more plate to hang on the wall.

Word From The Home Office

Back to the home office. It's become very popular again to work from home. This was all the rage in the late 90's when the internet was coming of age. I'm old hat at this, I was a tellecommuter in 1998.

Do I like working from home? Hard question and harder answers. I'm a people person and that's good and bad for working in an office. I am much more productive working at home where I can sit in solitude and concentrate on a project. The days of having your own office and being able to close the door are long gone unless you are very high up on the food chain. VP's at Edmunds sit at work stations out in the open.

But it's lonely and quiet. Thankfully I have friends who tellecommute as well and they live in the subdivision next to mine. Going to lunch with a buddy will be an easy task. Getting a dog to play with will make things easier as well. I'll miss the group I work with at Edmunds and the face to face contact for sure.

If I had a million dollars, I'd live in Santa Monica.

Overexposed

This past week we moved into our new office space in Santa Monica. It's quite a change from our last space. This office is Edmunds' first space soley designed for the company. It's taking some time to get accustomed to the change. The verdict is out on the place so far, but I don't worry much as I'm leaving at the end of the month.

Once of the design elements I know I don't like is the exposed mechanical systems overhead. I lived with this look at the loft in Chicago. There we were treated to views of 100 year old wood and columns with ornate iron crowns. A spagetti of electrical conduit and highways of HVAC ducts contrasted the old with the new.

At my office here, we have a monochromatic sea of white. This look has been done before and I'm not convinced it works well in Class A office space. I imagine over 100 years ago, people were pretty excited to hide the plumbing and electrical conduit. All your services were delivered without ever seeing them. Quite the contrast to the outhouse.

For now, I get to see the path wastewater takes away from the upstairs rest room. Here's hoping that pipe stays intact for the rest of the month.

Bikes 'R Us

Los Angeles county has a bike trail that will take you from Malibu to Palos Verdes Estates. While I've never taken the trail to Malibu, I have taken it to a few bars on the beach and to work. Yes, I've taken my bike to work. I was more into it last year during the winter when it was cooler, and I started riding yesterday to my office.

It's about 24 miles round trip from home to office. It's pretty much flat but still requires some effort. Having an office and a home close to the beach is something that doesn't happen too often. I'd like to say something profound about how tranquil and beautiful the beach is, but it's all been done. I can't take a picture that captures the view I see from my bike.

Early mornings I rise about 5:00 am while it's dark and hit the bike trail by about 5:30. Most everyone sees the beach and the ocean during the day. I feel so fortunate I have a chance to see the moonlight reflect on the water. There are a few fellow bikers on this beach highway and we go silently about our way.

Just An Observation

After four years of restoration the Griffith Observitory reponed this weekend and my friend Jeff and I went up the hill for a look see. As expected it was impressive and the views are amazing. However it was so popular that seeing any exhibit was nearly impossible. Despite our late arrival there were children and families everywhere. Shouldn't the kids be in bed! :)

We mostly walked around the perimeter of the building and looked at the views. They were amazing at night and I can only imagine better during the day. The original "deco" style of the building was maintained and the whole experience was well organized. With the crowds as they were, it's probably best to go during the week.

The Long Kiss Goodbye

It's not news to most of you that I'm moving out of Los Angeles. It's been six years, some good and some bad, but it's time to go. The biggest news of all is that I bought a house on my own. It's huge for one person, so ya'll have to come and visit. What one person needs four bedrooms and three bathrooms for, I can't answer. The current owner is a single guy as well so the house has no wear and tear. I'll probably not change that.

Oh, yeah the house is in Round Rock, Texas. My mother is always begging me to move back East, well Texas is East compared to where I 'm living now. I hope she's happy. More pics to come of the house later.

So let the good bye's begin. It's not just the people, but the places and the routines that I'll miss. I like my gym. I like my workout partner. I like my office mates. I like the ocean. I like knowing where everything is.

Despite all that, I like having a home to call my own.