Interstate 5

One of the things I consider a benefit of living in Downey is the proximity to so many freeways. One of those freeways is Interstate 5. Here is a view of the interstate from the edge of the Rio Hondo riverbed. It is an old freeway, and is quite unpredictable regarding traffic, but it is the route I use on a regular basis.

According to Wikipedia, Interstate 5 (I-5) is the main interstate highway on the west coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico. It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S. west coast, including Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego. It is the only interstate highway to touch the U.S. borders with both Canada and Mexico.

By the way, we have President Dwight D. Eisenhower to thank for our interstate system. In 1956, he signed the federal highway act and worked with Congress to find funding.

We've only just begun

This apartment complex and its sister across the street are a clue to two of the most famous musical artists to come out of Downey.

Called Only Just Begun and Close to You, the buildings are named for the Carpenters' first and second #1 hits, back in 1970. Karen and Richard Carpenter both attended Downey High School before they became one of the top-selling groups of the 1970s.

Those songs (and these apartments) never fail to bring back memories of high school and driving around town with the radio turned way up... We've Only Just Begun was one of my all-time favorites.

We've only just begun to live
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we're on our way
We've only begun

Before the risin' sun, we fly
So many roads to choose
We'll start out walkin' and learn to run
And yes, we've just begun

 Want to listen?

The untamed sound

Recently, I walked through the Saturday morning farmer's market for the first time in several months. In one of the booths, this man was playing the pan pipe in accompaniment of John Lennon's "Imagine." It made for a very haunting melody.

"From the start, when it was the instrument of the wood-god Pan, the flute has been associated with pure (some might say impure) energy. Its sound releases something naturally untamed, as if a squirrel were let loose in a church."
~Seamus Heaney

The faces of the street fair

I had so many pictures of the street fair, I had to go back to share some more.

Jorge Del Toro, local sculptor, worked at the Downey Arts Coalition booth, showing some of his techniques with clay.

This little girl was at the booth where some of the Downey Princesses were offering face painting.

While I am not quite sure what this little guy was, he was kinda cute...

Cinnamon and sugar

Do we seem a little preoccupied with food lately? Well, it was hard not to be preoccupied with all of the tasty offerings at last weekend's street fair. My favorite was something I hadn't heard of before—chimney cakes.

Chimney cakes are a traditional Hungarian pastry that originated in Transylvania (now in Romania). The dough is wrapped around a wooden cylinder, covered with sugar, and baked over an open fire. Then the pastry is dipped in one of a variety of toppings, such as chocolate, coconut, or (my favorite) cinnamon.

5 guys

Let me make this perfectly clear. I am not saying that "5 Guys" burgers are better than IN N OUT's. I am saying that, on occasion, I will grab a burger and fries from there when I'm craving a few jalapenos and some A1 sauce. Today happened to be one of those days. A new joint just popped up across the street from work on Candlewood in Lakewood (the city just south of Downey) and people were showing up with it all day for their lunch breaks. Needless to say I got a craving for it so, after work, I headed over.

Will listen for almost free

Your hairstylist is really like a therapist who makes your hair look better and is way cheaper by the hour. She should have her own couch for you. Katrina takes the top part of my hair and whips it into a topknot. She takes the bottom part and starts analyzing it like it's a science project. Actually, for most of the time, my glasses are off, so it's really a trust-based relationship, really hoping I sent her the right picture.

"I want to look like Cameron Diaz, okay?"

She politely nods, knowing not even she is that magical.

It takes a long time for beauty. Not a lunch hour, not a quick pop in the shop. An entire two and a half hours is needed to look great.

We talk about her drama and my lifelong aspirations to have ten different lives. We talk about boys and money and kids (hers).

After the hair is dyed and blow dried and shines to its fullest, she turns the chair around, hands me a mirror, and smiles. She knows she's come as close to Cameron as ever possible.

May Day

May Day has a history of many different celebrations. One of the traditions that came from some early European settlers was to leave a gift of a small basket of flowers on the doorstep of a neighbor's house.

Since we have lived in the Orange Estates area, we have been treated to May Day greetings from Rio Hondo School kindergarten classes. The kids walk down the block calling out May Day greetings at each home and leave a handmade flower basket along with a card. It is a sweet tradition and, of course, the kids are adorable. This year I missed the kids, but found the flower basket and card on the doorstep.

Happy May Day!