Boathouse, Echo Park Lake

Santa Monica Pier

Venice Canal

East Hollywood

Neighborhood Altar

A fifteen minute walk from both the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels and the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Stage 8

Old Man, Abandoned Building

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Roberto Lopez, Jr. (2005-2009)

It was nothing but rudimentary self-help psychology that had me go to yesterday's memorial for Robert Lopez, Jr. A noontime service was conducted in Spanish, attended by the parents and about fifty neighbors. The parents wore colorful bandannas folded like headbands which I took to be a cultural sign of grief.

There was no anger, just stunned murmurs in response to the prayers. "Santa Maria" was invoked countless times. Absolutely heartbreaking.

A slight case of insomnia had me go back very early this morning.

(Roberto's story, by Esmeralda Bermudez and Andrew Blankstein, is here. Some good photos too.)

Webster Is, I Think, Dying

Webster, who never liked to have a camera pointed at him, is in what has been described as "hibernation mode" since midnight. I took him to the vet yesterday for tests but I don't need to know what they're going to say. The only time he appeared to be in pain was just now when I tried to pet him and talk to him. So I guess we're beyond that point now. He has one of my shirts next to him so he knows he's not alone.

9:25 am - The vet called with the lab results and it's as bad as can be.

Webster's not going to make it.

9:35 am - Fourteen years ago, when the animal rescue people brought Webster to my house he immediately jumped up on the sofa next to me and went into his first of many naps. A Ben Webster ballad was playing so giving him a name was easy. Now, the same cd just came on the stereo. Seems like fourteen minutes ago.

11:10 am - I just found out its a lot easier to write "Webster's Dying" than it is to say it out loud to a neighbor.

1:02 pm - Webster's gone.

Red Rose On White Marble

January

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The J-Weed Needs A Little Color

Mural by Jon Wolff (1986?)

Foggy Night In Echo Park

First Congregational

Jesucristo Es El Senor

Christmas Eve Morning (Under An Overpass)

Recipe of the Night: Mashed Avocado with Cream (a little garlic & lemon juice) over Pasta

Quote of the Night - "Don't believe everything you think."

My Facebook Page

Brick Building

Santa Monica Pier, Ferris Wheel

3:30 am. Can't sleep so I'll post a photo.

Santa Monica Pier

On Friday, LA Observed made a nice comment about Thursday's photo "Downtown L.A." which resulted in more than 2,000 views. This I like.

Now I'd like to thank everyone who in the past year has put in a nice word about the J-Weed on their blogs. In no particular order they are Eclectic Boogaloo, Glimpses of South Pasadena, Man Talk Now, Chicken Corner, The Teacher's View, MortVark-O-Rama, Debi Cates Photo A Day, Lally's Alley and Don't Look Here For Answers.

If I'm forgetting someone, I'm sorry. Let me know and I'll add your site.

Downtown LA

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Headlights Headed East

Venice Doorway

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Masoleum At Sundown

Bus Stop On Pico Blvd.

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There's still time to vote for "Sidewalk in East L.A."

Olvera Street

Friendly Statue

Recipe of the Night Whole Wheat Coucous cooked in 1 cup chicken broth with 1/4 cup Thai Yellow Curry Sauce. Add Slivered almonds and green onions. (From "Cooking With All Things Trader Joes")

Song of the Night - John Lee Hooker

There's still time to vote for "Sidewalk in East L.A."

Another Dark Night

Soon It's Gonna Be Dark ("I Love You")

Two Chairs

Looking forward to my 60,000th visitor...

"If your cup is small, a little bit of salt will make the water salty. If your heart is small, then a little bit of pain can make you suffer. Your heart must be large."

- Thich Nhat Hanh

Voting?

Yes, I'm going to get my free cup of Starbucks but, goddam, people got shot, beaten and blown up to make this day happen.

Day Of The Dead (Midnight)

Dia De Los Muertos

The Day of The Dead. As usual, Our Lady Queen of Angels had a very subdued, very sincere collection of altars to remember those who had "crossed over." The above altar (partial photo) was for the Los Angeles soldiers that had died in Iraq. There wasn't anything political about it but it had obviously been put together by family members - one corner was "For Joselito."

Century Liquor

Sidewalk In East L.A. (Lomography)

I had never heard of lomography until recently when it became of theme of JPEG magazine. Same as my previous request, I'd appreciate it if you'd click onto it ("View") here.

Now it's time to watch "Mad Men" and have blueberry pie and coffee for dinner. After that, it's off to take more photos.

Dark Street (Downtown LA)

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Spider Web In California Sunlight

TOP 5 REASONS OBAMA SUPPORTERS SHOULDN'T REST EASY

1. The polls may be wrong. This is an unprecedented election. No one knows how racism may affect what voters tell pollsters—or what they do in the voting booth. And the polls are narrowing anyway. In the last few days, John McCain has gained ground in most national polls, as his campaign has gone even more negative.
2. Dirty tricks. Republicans are already illegally purging voters from the rolls in some states. They're whipping up hysteria over ACORN to justify more challenges to new voters. Misleading flyers about the voting process have started appearing in black neighborhoods. And of course, many counties still use unsecure voting machines.
3. October surprise. In politics, 15 days is a long time. The next McCain smear could dominate the news for a week. There could be a crisis with Iran, or Bin Laden could release another tape, or worse.
4. Those who forget history... In 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote after trailing by seven points in the final days of the race. In 1980, Reagan was eight points down in the polls in late October and came back to win. Races can shift—fast!
5. Landslide. Even with Barack Obama in the White House, passing universal health care and a new clean-energy policy is going to be hard. Insurance, drug and oil companies will fight us every step of the way. We need the kind of landslide that will give Barack a huge mandate.

from MoveOn.org

BOOK OF THE NIGHT: "Cooking With Trader Joes" by Deena Gunn and Wona Miniati

RECIPE OF THE NIGHT: Prosciutto-wrapped Scallops
Preheat oven to 375. Wrap each Trader Joes Jumbo New England scallop with prosciutto. Bake for 15 mins. Do not overcook. Spread with bruschetta.

Charlie Chaplin On Sunset Blvd.

Dolls In The Grass

Flag In MacArthur Park

Late Night In East Los Angeles

Warehouse District

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I'm trying to create a little traffic and maybe even votes for some photos I posted on a website. If you could go here and click on a few photos, I'd appreciate it.

California Sunlight

Flag Fragment

Shakespeare Bridge

Hot Delicious Jesus

Midnight At The Boardwalk (Venice)

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Quote of the Day (or Night):

"I and the mystery here we stand"

-Walt Whitman

Interesting Fact of the Day: Somehow, a blog called Inaccessible Island found The Jimson Weed Gazette from a place that's kind of far away.

Fourth Street Bridge

TV Room

I'll Send You A Free Photo

Make a $25 (or more) donation to Barack Obama and I'll send you a photo of "Stars and Stripes on Hollywood Blvd." It'll be a high quality 5x7 Epson Archival Inkjet print.

Contact me at kmac999.kevin at gmail dot com or through my website, East of West LA or leave a comment here.

(And yes, this is on the honor system.)

Parking (Downtown LA)

Gravestone Photo

Lucia Frontino
1888 - 1926

East Of West LA

My website, East of West LA, is now up and running. There might be a glitch or two but overall, I'm very happy with it.

Feel free to leave comments.