Father’s Day 2010 (part two)

Since our hotel was only one mile from The Getty, we went there on Sunday morning. We were able to see the Da Vinci exhibit, which showed many of his notebook drawings and sketches. It mainly showed sketches of sculptures he planned to do, but some sheets included rough drawings of machines and inventions.

(image from The Getty website)

After that, we took a tour of the museum highlights. Among the pieces we saw was a French bed from the 1700’s that was thought to belong to one of Louis XVI’s mistresses.

Apparently, people thought that if you slept in a seated position, it would help with digestion. That is why this bed looks like a couch. There are also original casters under the bed to pull it out, and the arms of the bed could be easily removed in order to change the linens.

Jacob and I gleaning information on the tour.

A view of the cactus garden and Los Angeles.

What is this? A museum for ants? It has to be at least….three times this size!

Finally, we went to lunch at The Apple Pan. We had the Hickory Burger, which was so delicious. The sauce was what made the burger. There are only about 20 seats in the restaurant, all barstools around a U-shaped counter. We had to wait until some seats opened up - it was a bit chaotic, but worth it!

Father’s Day 2010 (part one)

For Father’s Day weekend, we met my parents in L.A. for two days of activities. They were dropping off Jacob at UCLA for a medical forum, so it worked out perfectly to meet them.

Day one involved the L.A. Roadsters car show at the Pomona Fairplex.

Lee found a few cars he liked.

And I found beauty in the details.

We even got to try the famous Pink’s hot dogs. Lee had a “Martha Stewart” and my mom and I split a “Mullholand Drive” - delicious and we didn’t even have to wait in the normal long line since this was a satellite station set up at the car show.

For dinner we went to Proud Bird, a restaurant next to LAX. It was great with many planes around the exterior and a view of the planes landing at LAX. The dinner was fairly good (except the mashed potatoes) and had very large portions.

Finally, our plan was to visit the Griffith Observatory for a free family night they were having, but when we finally got up there, it was way too crowded! There was no parking, so we headed down the mountain into Hollywood. Lee set up a backup plan to visit Grauman’s Theatre and Walk of Fame.

Yes, I have a star!

 The earliest prints we noticed were from 1927, and the latest, from Robert Downey Jr., from 2009.

Lee and my mom admire Bing Crosby’s prints.

Of course Lee liked Roy Roger’s gun print and his horse’s hoof prints.

Our journey ended back at Hotel Angeleno, near the Getty Center. This hotel was very nice - comfortable beds, great views, good location. The cost is reasonable as well (except for the $20 parking fee!).

Memorial Day 2010

We woke up early on Memorial Day to check out a ceremony at the Veteran’s Museum & Memorial in Balboa Park. A few government officials spoke, we did the pledge of allegiance, heard taps, and a few other things.

Last night, we were watching America’s Got Talent and a singing group called New Directions performed. They are a groups of formerly homeless veterans who joined a veterans help group (called New Directions) and got back on their feet. Their performance was very touching - you can watch it here.

This poem was read by one of the speakers at the Memorial Day ceremony:

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Christmas…

Went by like a blur.
We decided to have Christmas at our house this year. That means Lee’s mom, the Berrys and their 2 dogs came to our house. Christmas Eve was a packed house.
We went to Outback for our Christmas Eve dinner - yum!
On Christmas morning, Lee could hardly contain himself. He was like a kid in a candy store with all of his presents. However, it is the Berry tradition that we read a Christmas story before opening presents. So, Lee was a little frustrated.
We also reached a point of contention with the stockings. Lee always opens his stocking first, like an appetizer. However, I always open my stocking last, like a dessert. We decided to keep it how we’ve always done it; Lee and his mom opened his in the beginning, my family at the end.
After opening presents at home, Christmas Day was spent at Lee’s Grandma’s house.

Stockings galore.

Mike read Christmas Cookies on Christmas morning.

Jackie got some new sunglasses.

Natalie got fancy Bobby Flay tongs.

Lori got a gift card to Glenn Ivy.

Jacob got new kicks.

Lee got a nice Archangel Michael statue.

Lexie got a 3 foot beef stick!