It's a BEAutiful Day in the Nabe

I have been strung out a stress cocktail all week so today? I took some time off from my worry wartin'. This evening I went for a dandy stroll with my three favorite living beings. And this time I decided to enjoy an unseasonably overcast dusk by walking in the nice direction so I could be reminded of some of the reasons why I live, not only in this neighborhood, but in L.A.

Reason #1: Tile work! I loves me some Mexican-style tiles.

Reason #2: These kooky orange plants are all around the flatlands of Hollywood and in Griffith Park. What are they? Can I build a hut out of them and crawl inside and write a novel about an underachieving butternut squash wooing a saucy button-willow with brandywine and peach schnapps? Is there a market for that?

Reason #3: Can you believe these beautiful old trees are in the middle of the most notoriously polluted U.S. city? and 

Reason #4: Everything is recycled thanks to our fleet of bottle collectors. (Let's just take it as a positive and not worry about the larger social implications of an underclass of folks who must go through trash to make a living just for this evening.)

Reason #5: Neighborhoods in L.A. are all mixed up so mansions border less-than-luxe apartment buildings. I used to live in a rathole across the street from a house where they filmed a season of America's Next Top Model. True story!

Reason #6: All that sunshine makes for dizzyingly lush gardens.

Reason #6 Part II: Now in tropical flavor!

Reason #7: The range of architecture in this town is something to behold. I'm not sure how I feel about this modernist number, but I love that this house has a Boon Splash bottle drying rack in the window (and I apologize that you can't see it well here). Every time I walk by I wonder how my life would be different if we lived there and we could afford a Boon Splash. I also think about why kind of drapes I would buy because folks? I can see underneath your bathroom sink from here. 

Reason #7: Awesome signage

Bernie says, "I can beez homeowner?"

Reason #8: Y'all? THERE ARE BUNNIES IN MY YARD. I live smack in the kisser of Hollywood and there are bunnies running wild in my yard. Weird? Yes. But adorable. 

Reason #9: I live in a real life cottage. Hansel and Gretel? I'm waiting for you. [cackles]

Reason #10: This is the only world Baby Bea has ever known and isn't it going to be weird that she's going to grow thinking this is a normal place to be a kid? It's like a friggin' science experiment.

jjk