A Transformation

Why We Travel

"We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next,  

to find ourselves. 

We travel to open our hearts and eyes and 

learn more about the world .... 

And we travel, in essence, to 

become young fools again --

 to slow time down and get taken in,

  

 and fall in love once more."
Pico Iyer

Child's Play

Henri Berssenbrugge

Children playing with a hoop, Fish Market, Rotterdam, 1910

"Let the children play, stomp in puddles, climb trees, dig in the dirt, go on a bug hunt, make mud pies,
roll down a hill, build a cubby, make a daisy chain, create a garden for fairies. Playing outside makes children
*smarter
*healthier
*happier

Outlook Good

A Nice Day In Little Tokyo With My Friend Barbara Bionda

Since we are both Barbara's who originally met in an Italian language class. We called each other Barbara uno (one) and Barbara/me due (2). We were also known to others in the class as Barbara Bionda (blonde Barbara) and Barb Bruna (Brown Barbara/me).

I spent a few hours with my friend Barbara Bionda in downtown Los Angeles in a section called Little Tokyo. Wikipedia says this: " Little Tokyo, also known as Little Tokyo Historic District, is an ethnically Japanese American District in downtown Los Angeles and the heart of the largest Japanese-American population in North America. ^] It is one of only three official Japantowns in the United States, all in California (the other two are in  San Francisco and San Jose). Founded around the beginning of the 20th century, the area, sometimes called Lil' Tokyo, or J-Town,   is the cultural center for  Japanese Americans in Southern California.  It was declared a  National Historic Landmark District in 1995." 

  Though not Japanese in heritage she feels a great affinity for the Japanese culture and that's what led her to purchase her loft space which is a weekend getaway "Zen Space" for her to enjoy. Her loft is located in the heart of Little Tokyo on the 10th floor of what used to be a factory which manufactured elevators.  Her particular loft has a fantastic view of the skyline of downtown Los Angeles and is decorated with all her memorablia collected from her childhood years in Japan and subsequent trips to the Orient.  

This is the entry which is airy and open. Hardly seems possible we are in the heart of an industrial area just blocks from the main heart of Little Tokyo.

Shadow puppets from Indonesia and Kimonos adorn the walls

Upon entering you are graced with a stunning view downtown Los Angeles. 

The wall screen is handpainted by an artist her parents knew in Japan.

 The stair step cabinets are patterned after traditional "tansu" storage chests. They provide space for Barbara's collection of Japanese dolls, vases and other memorabilia.

Wow this is truly a "room with a view!"

After some chat time in her loft it's time to head out to the streets to Little Tokyo.

We pass the monuments dedicated to Japanese American soldiers who lost their lives fighting in different wars.

We walk through the plaza of the Japanese Cultural center.

Making our way through Japanese Village Plaza Mall to window shop and have lunch

Lots of childhood memories here on First street in the heart of Little Tokyo. This is the famous "Far East" Cafe where many many Japanese families, including my own, would gather for meals.

A last stop after lunch is Cafe Dulce.  You have to try their bacon donuts. Yes "Bacon!"  crispy bits of bacon on a donut or donut hole.  It may sound strange but it tastes great!   http://www.cafedulce.co/

mmmmm, gotta have one!

What a fun day in Little Tokyo,

 arigato, grazie and thank you Barb Bionda!

Blorft

"I was a little excited but mostly blorft. 'Blorft' is an adjective I just made up that means completely overwhelmed but proceeding as if everything is fine and reacting to the stress with the torpor of a possum'." - Tina Fey, Bossypants

Let's Have Some Fun

Point of View

"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or 

rejoice because thorn bushes have roses."


Abraham Lincoln

What We Can Contribute

"The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world."
-Marianne Williamson

What You See Is What You Get

via pinterest.com


One of the most important decisions you’ll ever make is choosing the kind of universe you exist in: is it helpful and supportive or hostile and unsupportive? Your answer to this question will make all the difference in terms of how you live your life and what kind of Divine assistance you attract.

Remember that you get what you think about, whether you want it or not. So if you believe that this is an unfriendly universe, you’ll look for examples to support this point of view. You’ll anticipate people attempting to cheat, judge, take advantage of, and otherwise harm you. You’ll blame the antagonistic, inhospitable cosmos for not cooperating with you in the fulfillment of your desires. You’ll point the finger at belligerent people and bad luck for the kind of world we all live in.

I implore you to see the universe as a warm and supportive one because you’ll look for evidence to support this view. When you anticipate that the universe is friendly, you see friendly people. You look for circumstances to work in your favor. You anticipate good fortune flowing into your life.

My favorite affirmation when I feel stuck or out of sorts is: Whatever I need is already here, and it is all for my highest good. Jot this down and post it conspicuously throughout your home, on the dashboard of your car, at your office, on your microwave oven, and even in front of your toilets! Remind yourself: I live in a friendly universe that will support any thing or desire that is aligned with the universal Source of all.

I’ve found that by shifting my belief about the nature of the universe, I attract whatever I desire into my life. I desire love. I desire peace. I desire health. I desire happiness. I desire prosperity. When I pray, I do so in the spirit of Saint Francis, who beseeched God to “make me an instrument of your peace.” In other words, “Let me be like the Source from which I originated, and then I will rest in the knowing that my desires must be here, on their way, and for my highest good.” -Dr. Wayne Dyer

The Things We Do

Thank You

Our Day Out With Five Year Old Rex

We had a fun Sunday adventure with our nephews son, five year old Rex yesterday. We hiked a long time at a local area called the Bolsa Chica Wetlands which is a bird sanctuary preservation site. Then we went to the beach and had lunch and then Rex had fun chasing waves.  In the end the waves did catch him but only got his shoes and socks wet.  He laughed and giggled each time the waves came in to "catch him". After dusting off his shoes and socks ( a little sand and water never will keep a five year old down) we were off to Heritage Park.  Here's some snapshots of our fun afternoon with Rex:

Personalize a free picture slideshow

The Art of Life

Let's Sit In The Sunshine

" We have to choose joy, and keep choosing it." - Henri J.M. Nouwen

At The Very Core

"Be true to your work, your word, and your friend." -Henry David Thoreau

Happy Valentine's Day

To love and be loved



“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.” 
― Pablo Neruda, 100 Love Sonnets

In A Blink of an Eye

"And, now, I sometimes look up at the door and imagine those two wonderful little kids running in that door."- Charity

" memories are one of the great gifts given to us. They can be so real..just close our eyes and we are there again." -response to Charity from Jane

Our Daily Lesson

"Be the light."

Matthew 5:14

In Two Places

I exist in two places.
Here, and where you are.
written by Margaret Atwood, Selected Poems (1965-1975)

The Fabric Of Our Lives

"In the tapestry of life, we're all connected.
Each one of us is a gift to those around us,
helping each other be who we are,
weaving a perfect picture together." - Anita Moorjani