Postcards from Ariel

Bunheads episode 15. Ariel, like me, loved the dancing in this episode, but not much else. She reports that on Bunhead Bros she enjoyed learning about the origin of the quote “Everything is beautiful at the ballet.”

Bunheads Episode 16: Ariel reports that she wanted to like this episode more than she did. We both appreciated Ginny (because she’s the best bunhead). And we both loved Bunhead Bros because we love Jason Mantzoukas’s enthusiasm.

The Leighwood House Highlights

Does your house have a stumpary? The Leighwood House does.

I love this open plan with the exposed beams and built-ins that help to define where the kitchen is. When it rains, you can hear the rain on the roof.

An old-fashioned plug

The never-remodeled kitchen. (Sara and Shawn are only the second owners.) It’s a good kitchen layout. Not too big, not too small.

A built-in spot for a clock, or maybe originally for a phone?

And the two friends that hang out there, Callie and Leo.

I Take the Bus to Trinidad

I wandered through the Cal Poly Humboldt campus to catch the bus to Trinidad and on the way I found a hobbit hole.

This may have been the most rural bus route I had ever experienced. It dropped me off in the town of Trinidad. I took a short walk through town and took a hike around Trinidad Head

It was sunny and windy.

Part of the hike went through this thicket.

Here’s the town of Trinidad

And some atmospheric pictures.

The lighthouse is still in operation (as, presumably, are these crab pots).

After my hike, I ate at the Seascape Restaurant where I had a really good smoked salmon cheese sandwich and some chowder. While there, I listened to the slightly awkward conversation of four people, one of whom was interviewing for a position in the Art Department at Cal Poly Humboldt. I wonder if he got the job?

Also, I’m pretty sure this was the beach Matt and I visited in 2019, though I never called that beach by name.

Wine Tasting at Fieldbrook Winery

Sara, Shawn and I drove through the snow (yes snow, you can see it on the roof of the winery) for a tasting and a nosh.

We had a red wine flight and a delicious meat and cheese platter.

Then Sara and I did some senior photo posing. We used this photo to lure friend Cindy to our upcoming 30-year high school reunion.

Arcata, California, Where it’s Just as Cold and Rainy as in Portland, Oregon

I escaped to “sunny” California (to be fair, I don’t think the sunny moniker applies to Northern California) to see Sara and Shawn and shake off some of the endless Portland rain. Or at least experience some warmer temperatures. Unfortunately, I found the same weather I left behind. And my first morning it snowed!

What I Learned in Paris at the Portland Playhouse

I attended a Thursday night showing and by the time I got there I was a bit grumbly because (1) Thursday is a school night and I don’t love being out on school nights any more than I am due to square dancing and (2) I rode my bike and it was cold and kind of drizzly.

But, but, but! This play was so funny and so well acted I was extremely happy I attended. It takes place in 1973 after a successful campaign for J.P. Madison, who will be Atlanta’s first Black Mayor. Things become complicated when his ex-wife Eve (the hilarious Cycerli Ash) comes back to town.

Like all plays that have ended their run, this production isn’t available to you, but I encourage you to attend if it is produced in your area. You can read about it here or watch a production video on You Tube here.