De Ma Cuisine

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July 2013

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Here I Am

Written by , Posted in Thoughts

Saban Theater CasablancaI have yet to visit Paris, Boston, or Rome. New York is amazing, this much I already know. Canada’s beauty is majestic and awesome. Texas is sweet comfort, with rodeos and southern drawls. Colorado is breathtaking (sometimes literally, if I’ve just arrived and try to climb some stars). Alaska is cold, but the mountains are so close you can almost reach out and touch them.

These places are all dotted with family and friends. I’ve visited some just briefly, others I’ve called home. But, of all the places I’ve been to, California was where I always dreamed I’d end up. My mom grew up here, so it kinda made sense I guess.

And so I did. Here I am.

And yet I wonder… don’t we all just wonder sometimes, if I could live anywhere, would it be here?

Since we are here, and don’t have plans to leave in the foreseeable future, we’re trying to make the most of it. Trying not to complain too much when it’s 100 degrees in September and the rest of the world is all cozied up with fall. Or brag too much when it’s 80 degrees in January and we have fresh produce instead of snow. We’re experiencing some of the things that make a huge place like LA feel small. Enjoying events and finding favorite grocery stores. Meeting friends at restaurants that feel like hidden treasures and shopping at one of a kind stores. Making a tiny apartment, in a place where people are living in building upon building, into a home. Sometimes dreaming of other places, scenery, climates. But we’re here, we’re here, we’re here. And that’s good…

Although that may change after we visit Paris.

But for now, some of the things we enjoy about where we live are:

Oscars Outdoors – Bring a picnic, stay and watch a movie. It’s one of the few places I’ve laid on the grass and looked at the stars in LA.

The Hollywood Bowl – We saw She and Him perform here the other week. We picnicked (what a funny word!) with friends and then enjoyed the music from waaaaay far away… and saw the big dipper for the second time in a week. I thought you couldn’t see the stars in LA.

BistroProvence

Bistro Provence – We have been only twice. It’s a little pricy, so for us, it’s once a year date. But both times were so worth the high price tag. The food was phenomenal. So you could go just for that. But, we loved that the chef was out in the dining room, chatting, bringing out plates, taking orders. And our server was so great. He got a huge kick out of Husband ordering the snails as his second course.

Pasadena Playhouse – We went to see a play starring Bradley Whitford, who is one of our favorites on the West Wing. We got to meet him afterwards, which is one of the coolest things that’s happened in the 2 1/2 years that we’ve lived here. Not only was he nice, but we got to walk and talk with him (that will be way cooler to you if you watch the West Wing…). The Playhouse will always be a treasured memory. (Note: The play was good and I’m sure they have many wonderful productions there, but meeting Bradley was definitely the highlight.)

Saban Theater – We  saw Casablanca on the big screen here last weekend. I’ve seen this movie a few times, but none were like this. You know when they’re singing the patriotic songs – when Laszlo tells the house band to play “La Marseillaise“ and they drown out the Germans? I cried. I wasn’t expecting that. I don’t know if it was seeing it on the big screen, or being in the beautiful theater that was around when Humphry Bogart was acting… probably both. It was amazing, in any case, and I can’t wait to go back.

I hope you’re loving and enjoying wherever you are.

And to my family and friends in Canada, Happy Canada Day!!

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