2019 ... Let's Do This!

Happy New Year 2019! Well, I'm back in Venice and it's kind of hard to tell the difference between here and Minnesota. Cold and rainy Venice isn't much warmer than cold and rainy Minnesota ... in January.

I was kind of upset about the unseasonably warm weather the whole time I was home, and started getting mad at the weather people who were all like, "Isn't this great? Warmest day on record in January!!" And I was like, "Uh, no. It's NOT great. It's climate change and this means we have even less time on this planet, but enjoy." I didn't care at all that it was buzzkill behavior ... people need to be aware. People need to care. Rain in Minnesota in January is not normal. Or good. But other than that I had a wonderful holiday (thank you, Minnesota loved ones and places!), and hope you all did too.

Home is always a wonderful break, where I always strengthen my roots and expand my heart. I've been increasingly torn as to where I belong these days, and the excellent time (and the almost the same weather) got me thinking a lot as to where I should be living now. I suspect it might be neither Venice or Minnesota, but it will be interesting to figure out ... especially as Blogtown is entering its TENTH year, and there are OH so many stories to tell.

I missed the big protest against Starbucks on the Boardwalks, and that was a drag but couldn't be helped. I'm told it was a good turnout in spite of the rainy day, and that the message that corporate chains are not welcome in Venice was ably delivered. I will continue to stage daily protests as I walk by that pile of spit in our eyes, and encourage all to do the same. Even you, tourists (their only hope).

I missed the closing of our beloved Hal's (again!), and I guess I'm not the only one. No one knew until they were greeted by a sign on the door declaring it was closed and the business was "liquidating". I have yet to find out the real story, but my sadness and disappointment is real. Just as the Venice one was starting to once again feel like the locals hang, it's gone. As is our other hang, Wabi Sabi (I know it's Wabi Venice now, but not to me), who I'm told will be closed down for a good long time due to their raging fire late last year. UGH. Where do we hang now on Abbot Kinney? All of this makes it a lot easier to think about living somewhere else (with possibly affordable rents) ... but then you start looking forward to all the fun stuff, like the upcoming Venice Mardi Gras ... like all the art openings ... like all the music shows ... like our documentary, our street art festival (LOTS to tell you about coming this year!) and you go, "Nah, I'm good." For now.

I hope you all had a fantastic holiday break, and as we swan dive into this new year of 2019 (!), I can't wait to tell all the GOOD stories and DO all the good that we've come to expect from our community. Our global community.

Love to all - I'm so looking forward to seeing you and what comes our way this last year of a very interesting decade. Let's do this!

Spring Bulldozing!

There are different signs of Spring in Venice than there are in the rest of the country. Sure, there are the spring showers (God willing) and the resulting flower blossoms, there are the sudden influx of tourists on their Spring Breaks, people are wearing less clothes ... but above all, you know it's Springtime in Venice when the bulldozers roll in to get rid of the giant sand dunes built for winter protection - and sand sledding.

They're out there now, creating better views for the Spring and Summer, and letting us all know that the seasons are indeed changing. Another sure sign of Spring is the appearance of on-duty lifeguards, and they're out there right now too.

Ahhhh. Breathe it in, and maybe extend an invitation to your friends in Minnesota, New York, etc, to visit. They are all absolutely OVER Winter, as they look out their windows today to evermore snow. I'm kind of jealous, but then I had a glorious beach walk, and found that my grass was literally greener, and I got right over it. Spring is awesome, whatever the weather, wherever you are. Enjoy!

After The Rain ...

Venice is so so so pretty after a good rain. The colors are as crisp as the air, and it looks like everything has just had a thorough scrub down. It's a bit like the feeling of regrouping after a good, long cry.

Which is needed sometimes, as much as the rain. Things always look brighter after both (Just stay out of the water for a couple of days!).

"After the rain, the sun will reappear. There is life. After the pain, the joy will still be here."
                                                            - Walt Disney


Yep. The joy is still here!

A Fogtown Morning

I think I walked on the beach this morning, but I can't really be sure. It was so foggy you literally could not see a person walking toward you until they were right there. I almost walked into the pier. It was mysterious and awesome, and felt kind of special, since almost no one was out there.

On the return trip, I saw hardy and determined Spring Breaker families out there with their towels and beach umbrellas ... hoping for the best. I had headphones in, and though it was a perfect morning for Radiohead, the soundtrack was made even better by the fog horns punctuating the beats.

Venice is beautiful in the sunshine, and beautiful in the rain. The fog brings out something else though, both softening its edges, and making you aware of them - when you smack right into them. As I type, the sun is poking through, and the folks on holiday will be rewarded for their patience ... but I'll bet they remember the fog more. They were all in it together, and it was all theirs. Special.

After The Rain ...

Los Angeles is finally FINALLY getting some so badly needed rain, and it's great. People don't really know how to handle it that well, but I think we can all agree it's great. It's even kind of great when you're sick, because it makes you feel like you're really not missing anything out there. Except you are. Look at the beauty captured by my brilliant friend, Mike Ozier!

Pouring rainy day ... but with light at the end of it. Like I was feeling extra sick ... but now am starting to feel better. And just when I was feeling like a corner has been turned with my health, my brother Paul texted me a photo of a massive double rainbow. A sign!

It's all going to be fine. Sometimes we just need reminders to slow down. To look at the bigger picture. To value what we have when we have it ... our health, and our sunshine. And that we can all be rainbows.

Love, your hippie friend CJ


*Pier photo by Michael Ozier
*Rainbow photo by Paul Gronner Photography

Sweater Weather

The last few days have brought us a slight cool down, a bit of a fake Fall. Friends are throwing sweaters on prematurely, just because they're so over the heat, and so ready for the change of seasons. Even the trees in Venice are feeling it and getting in on the action.

Sweaters have appeared on the trees outside of Venice Vintage Paradise, joining their friends over on 24th Avenue in their hopeful bundling up. It looks great, and really adds to the joyful, whimsical spirit of Venice. But no matter what, I still moved here for the warm sunshine of the Golden State.  It's officially Autumn, based on the calendar, and I love that it's still bathing suit weather out here ... for now. I'm more than happy to leave the sweaters to the trees.

Fall - Venice Style.

West Of Winter

My friend Sarah captioned one of her photos "West of Winter" the other day, and I thought that was so well put. We've been enjoying a gorgeous winter here in California ... really more like spring.

It's surreal to see the news and photos from friends back home with blizzards and snow mountains in cities. As nice as it has been here, we really, really need rain (and so do you, as CA provides so much of the nation's winter food sources). It's always something, somewhere, huh? You just have to appreciate whatever it is, for what it is. So this, from my stroll this morning, is for everyone everywhere else. Especially you, Mom.

I wish it was scratch and sniff.

Here Is Good

Happy 2014!!! Here we go ... !!! What will happen this year?!?! It's all very exciting to wonder about.

With almost the entire rest of the country in a deep freeze, and my home state of Minnesota being colder than MARS this week, I took it to be my duty to go to the beach yesterday on behalf of everyone who can't even go outside without the threat of freezing to death. I really didn't mean it in a rub your faces in it kind of way, just that if it was this nice out here, someone had better take advantage of it for everyone.

Which is the funny thing ... not many people were. I had the beach pretty much to myself, other than a giant dolphin party so close I could swim to them (if the water wasn't so cold). Those are the rewards (along with tan lines) that come with taking a few moments for yourself to appreciate the warmth, and where you are.

After listening to great music, having great thoughts and having a couple chats with great folks back home (not gloating, just chatting), I packed up to head home as it was kind of getting chilly as the sun went down. Not Mars chilly, but still.

On my walk home, I looked down to see once again, almost exactly what I'd been thinking, spray-painted on the sidewalk:

Here IS Good. And no matter where you are is good, if you make it so. Today especially reminds me of a favorite Camus quote that especially makes sense today, when so many people are dealing with the frigid air and feeling daunted ...

“In the midst of Winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible Summer.

And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.” 

 BE the Summer. Here is Good.