Post Apocolyptic Practicality

A small elderly man, who was taking very good care of his little old wife, had on one hand a regular, black mitten and on the other a batting glove meant for baseball players. Resourceful and utilitarian. He also took the "Happy Retirement" banner someone had left on the seat before him. I suppose that might come in handy some day.

Harry Potter

The bus is a great place to read Harry Potter. I get super-excited about a magical adventure story en route to work. But, I'm less likely to talk to people while I'm reading. I pulled the book I'm currently reading, The Prisoner of Azkaban, out of my bag, and the old man across from me stared at it. It might have looked like a Bible because I left the colorful cover at home so that it wouldn't get worn and tattered. So, I displayed the inside title page to the old man and said, "It's Harry Potter." I'm pretty sure he was Armenian and didn't speak much English because he didn't really respond with words, but I think he felt caught for staring at the book. I then tried to motion like I was waving a wand, but then I felt silly. The lady next to me, who was buried in her own book, told me how much she loved the Harry Potter series and that she was sorry that it was finished. Then she incorrectly told me that I was reading the fourth book, which made me worried for the whole rest of the bus ride as I was possibly reading the wrong Harry Potter book.

Harley Davidson Party in Morgan Hill, CA

This doesn't directly relate to a public transit experience, but it relates to transit at least. This is a whole other culture around these bikes and the life of the road. Very cool, very American, very much makes me want to buy a bike.

Colorado Street Bridge

Finally got to enter Old Town Pasadena via the Colorado Boulevard Bridge with all the lights that runs alongside the 134. It's got a great view of the mountains to the north and of L.A. to the south. Also, it's been known as "Suicide Bridge" since the 1920s. Here's a blogger with his story of the darker side of the Colorado Street Bridge:

http://tiny.cc/gzr46

Avant Garde

On my way back from Zuma, I stopped in Culver City where I came across an art gallery opening. I couldn't resist sharing this piece from the show. Sorry I didn't get any info about it such as the artist name or the name of the gallery.

To Pasadena, June 2nd

A couple, really dirty, kinda middle aged, very loud, fumbling for coins, playing dumb about the fare, getting on for cheap, sitting on separate benches, having a loud conversation without facing each other, other passengers in between them not reacting.

To and from Disney Concert Hall: "Arpusuhral"

Today was beautiful. I met up with my two very good friends who have a subscription for three with the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown to see the newly appointed conductor, Gustav Dudamel, put on a really great LAPhil concert. On my way back to the bus stop, the bus arrived at the stop just after I did. I love when things work out like that. We were getting close to Burbank, and I noticed this bar called the Big Fish Bar. It looked like one of those hole-in-the-wall, quirky establishments that's been around since some kind of golden age, or at least just after it. The old guy

in a cowboy hat behind me noticed me noticing the bar, and he said to me in an aged voice, "I hung out with Marilyn Monroe at the Big Fish Bar."

I said, "What?"

"I hung out with Marilyn Monroe at that bar back there."

"Really? No Kidding?"

"Ya. Aw, she was a bitch."

"No way."

"Oh, ya. And she wasn't blonde, you know, she was a brunette."

"Oh wow no way."

"Oh ya, and at the Burbank Bowl too."

"Oh you mean pickwick?"

"No, Burbank Bowl isn't there anymore, there's apartments and some tennis courts now."

"So, you've been in Burbank a while, then? Have you lived here all your life?"

"Oh no, just since the war, World War II."

"Where were you before?"

"St. Louis."

"Oh, St. Louis. What brought you out here?"

"After the war, came out here."

"Why did you come out here to L.A.?"

"Ya, I was with the airforce at Santa Ana for a bit."

"So, you didn't work at Lockheed or anything?"

"No, didn't work there, but I knew lots of people there. I knew the people, you know, way up there. The big people there."

This guy was great. I had to lean in pretty close to hear him, but he was mostly making sense.

"I'm Jonathan."

"Good to meet you."

"What's your name?"

"Arpusuhral."

"What?"

"Arpusuhral. Heh heh! At a piano bar, I knew the piano player, and I was singing a little. You know only after a few drinks, but when I went to put my name on the list for next time I says, it's Arpusuhral, that's my name backasswards! Aheh heh heh!"

"Oh, haha."

So, I guess he doesn't want me to know his name or something. He continued.

"There was another bar over in Toluca Lake Area near where the Money Tree is. I was there and had uhh.. you know.. uh Nat's daughter uhh.. Natalie Cole there... had her on my lap."

"Really?"

"Ya, four years old she was, and her dad was there with the bass guy, you know, bum bum bum. Playing away."

"What!? You were listening to Nat King Cole at a Bar in Toluca Lake?"

"Oh sure, ya."

"Wow, that's so cool."

"Ya, there was a lot of dancing. I was a good dancer. You know there'd be music at all these hotels and places."

"Oh, right. Not many of those kinds of dance places around anymore."

"Oh no. And people don't even know how to dance anymore. I see these people on the shows, and they're alright. You know some of it is so dangerous. What they do. And, the women, the way they dress, with everything hanging out. You know, you could take a picture if you were close enough. And, then it's on TV. Oh boy, can't believe it."

"Ya, it's unbelievable."

I love this! He's so old fashioned. He really lived in another time.

"So, what did you do for work?"

"werwar bruz."

"What?" Leaning in.

"The studio."

"Oh, Warner Brothers."

"I knew all kinds of girls there, ya man."

"Oh you lived the wild life, huh?"

"Didn't miss a moment. I would, you know, try to make out with these girls there."

We were laughing it up like old college buddies. He's an old fashioned playboy. Making it with beautiful actresses because of working at Warner Brothers (or so I filled out the story in my mind). But, he's totally put off by the immodestly dressed women on television dance shows these days.

"So, have you ever been married?" I asked him.

"Oohh, nooo. No, no. That's not for me."

Not a sign of regret showed itself in the face or tone of voice of this party guy. He lived the life he wanted to live, and now I was getting to hear about it. It may be an exaggerated, romanticized version of his tail chasing escapades, but hey, whatever makes him happy.

"Audrey Hepburn gave me a kiss."

"What!? No way. No, way."

"Oh, ya, ya."

"Did you take her out to dinner or something?"

"Oh, she just come right up to me and give me a kiss."

"Man, she was beautiful."

"Oohh, yes. And, she says, come visit me on set. So, I did. And, she comes up to me and kisses me right in front of everyone. Oh, ya. I was good friends with the wardrobe lady. She really liked me, so she says, I'd like you to meet my friend here. Heh heh!"

"Wow, man, I can't believe you kissed Audrey Hepburn."

"Oh, ya. Another time, I was out with Eva Gardner."

"Oh wow."

"Ya, she was drinking double martinis."

"Hooo, boy."

"Hooo. Ya, well and she goes and makes a phone call, and she's yelling at somebody, and yelling. I just was, woa man. Ya, and that was right before she was getting married, you know, to that guy."

"Oh, ya, sure, ya. I've got to get off at this next stop, but it was a pleasure meeting you." He continued to start up new stories.

What was your name, again?"

"Arpusuhral. Heh heh! No, it's Larry Supra."

"Ok, well nice to meet you. Nice talking to you."

"Oh, ya. Same here."

As I was getting out of my seat to leave, he was doing the same. So, we both had the same stop. I waited for him to join me on the sidewalk, and I said, so long, one more time. He took his old person sun glasses off, and revealed his striking blue eyes. He was probably a real handsome guy back in the day.