Sneakeasy's Joint

Heading Back to Santa Monica Tomorrow

No, not to take on the Peaceniks again, but to check out the Pier, 3rd Street Promenade, and a Cafe, without the distraction. ;-D

It's been several years since I was last out there. ;-D

I was in the Audience of Half Hour News Hour

and all I got was this...

Bill, the Audience Wrangler ( That's what I call him, anyway. ), tossed a few of these ( It says Hollywoood above the Flag. ) into the Studio Audience, and I ended up with one. ;-D

This picture is from 4am, this morning, just after I got home, after a very long day.

I will be posting the story of my 90 minutes on the set, as a member of the Studio Audience, this weekend, and let me say, up front, that I had a grand time, and found the experience educational, and entertaining, and would love to do it again some day.

When you watch the show, this Sunday, I'll be in the right side of the Audience, in the 4th row, with a yellow notepad in my lap. ;-D

***UPDATE - 6/12/07***

A slight change in plans due to having to do some things over the weekend, and the last few days.

Going over my notes I realized there was a bit more to my story than just what I saw, but who I met, and where they were from, and it is worth sharing, and I want to watch the show tonite, and maybe get a few pics off my TV, with my camera, of me in the audience. ;-D

I have an interesting tale to tell, and know the wait will be worth it. ;-D

***END UPDATE***

How I Spent My Spring Vacation

I was on vacation from March 2nd to March 12th, and therein lies a tale, or 2. ;-D

On March 2 I attended the Quality of Life Expo, and on the 4th, the Acura L.A. Bike Tour, both held in conjunction with the Los Angeles Marathon.

I attended, notebook, and camera, in hand, with the intention of writing about the experience on my BikeBlog, The Cycling Dude.

This resulted in my spending a week publishing a series of picture filled posts that begin with this one.

There was one experience that will be of interest to all those who support the Liberation of Afghanistan, and Iraq, and understand the danger that Radical Islam is to Western Civilization.

After the ride I went to Hollywood for the 1st time in several years, and encountered some very friendly protestors, on Bicycles, on Hollywood blvd., east of Vine, across the street from the Pantages Theatre.

Being an intersection with crowds of people, coming, and going, to the Theatre, or the Metro Red Line Train, there was a huge, semi-captive, audience to hear their message over a microphone. ;-D

Apparently an effort of people connected with BikeBoom Los Angeles, and Bike Out ( Go here, and here, to learn more about both. ), there were a dozen young radicals milling about when I showed up intending to get on the Metro to begin my journey home.

They had been there for an hour when I appeared, and my bike, with its sign, promoting my BikeBlog ( I crossed out the word RUN, and replaced it with BICYCLE, instead, hee, hee! ) drew them to me like bees to honey. ;-D

Apparently thinking I might be there to join them the guy with the microphone sticks it in my face, and asks me who I am.

So I tell him, and anyone within the 2 block range of my amplified voice, about my Blog, and about covering the Bike Tour.

They might have been surprised when I then said that that I was a Conservative Cyclist, and Republican, who disagreed with their cause, but supported their right to speak their piece.

 

Freedom, and the right to express one's opinion without fear of reprisal was one of the things that made America different from our enemies in the world.

They voiciferously echoed my sentiments, and it appeared they were showing approval for this surprisingly reasonable sounding "Rightwing Wacko ", hee, hee. ;-D

Then I fired off the Shot Heard Round the Block....

I said...

"Do you realize that if the Islamofascists  had their way neither of us would be able to stand here expressing our views?"

Suddenly the microphone was gone, and there was a sudden need to prepare for the little protest ride they had gathered for.

A few minutes later they were gone. ;-D

One more thing that Conservatives should know.

If you are bicyclist, you are not alone! ;-D

It is a sure bet that radio stations will have booths at Expos like the one I attended, and maybe a Campaign on behalf of a local, state, or Presidential candidate, as well.

While I was not surprised to find a booth promoting Obama, the Radio station I found made me laugh out loud in delite. ;-D

I am not the only Conservative Cyclist out there on the street, or in the BikeBlogosphere, and so seeing the local affiliate that carries Hugh Hewitt, Bill Bennett, Laura Ingraham, Dennis Prager, Mike Gallagher, Michael Medved, and Michael Savage, set up a booth in such a place should not be such a surprise to anyone.

To all those who think that such a spectacle is the equivalent of finding a MoveOn.org booth at a National Rifle Association Convention, I can only say... take a deep breath, calm down, and RELAX already!

This is the station's 3rd year at the Expo, and one person manning the booth told me of at least one station employee who commutes quite a way to, and from, work, by bike.

As bicyclists we have much in common, and cyclists of my, um, persuasion, have much to share, and say, about our shared recreational, and commuting, activity that cyclists of all varieties have shown me, over 4 years, they like, and agree with.

A Bicycling Weekend

The last 4 days have been busy ones for me, on my other Blog, The Cycling Dude.

As readers may know there was a Big, World Famous, 26 mile foot race in Los Angeles today.

I could care less. ;-D

I was there for the Expo, and the 21.6 mile Bicycle Tour of the city that occurs in the 2 hours BEFORE that famous race. ;-D

All week I will be writing about my adventures, and including Photos ( I was even on local TV for one brief, shining, moment, and caught the image with my Camera at home! ).

For the story, so far, begin here.

Original Tommy's is Chili Burger Heaven

Here, if you live in SoCal, ya have a number of places to discover Paradise, and get Religion, including the Original Cathedral in LA....

If not.... then God help you because I've done MY part. ;-D

San Diego County on a rainy day

During my recent vacation I took a day trip to Coronado Island and, as I detailed earlier, "released a book into the wild" as a member of Bookcrossing.

I can finally tell the tale of the day before, and after, this bit of intrigue. :-)

Ma Nature thought she'd keep me indoors that day, but I grabbed an umbrella and, around 7am, headed out anyway.

Plan for a bike ride ruined by the threat of rain I refused to let the fact that the drizzle had stopped by the time I got to San Clemente damper my enthusiasm for the mission at hand.

San Diego Bike Ride all wet

Drats!

It's drizzling, and the whole region has a 50 to 70 % chance of rain. :-(

I take my bike, it pours.

I don't go it clears up.

I'm screwed! :-D

BUT, all is not lost!

I'm skipping the ride, but going anyway.

Wielding my umbrella!

I have a mission to accomplish on Coronado Island.

And Ma Nature ain't gonna stop me!

All will be revealed upon my return.

Of Skanky Ho's and BBQ'd Sneaky

Well, yesterday was quite the adventure. :-)

I started out at 7am, and got home this morningat 130am. :-)

I had to take 2 busses to my bike ride starting point, and it was on the 1st bus that I encountered the Skanky Ho'. :-)

Tall, Black, and Beautiful, she was on her way home from work in her skimpy work outfit.

A couple of well dresswed Black businessmen looked at her as she walked to the back of the bus, and took a seeat behind them.

With a smile, and a shake of her braided head, she said hello, and asked them how they were doing. :-)

I Miss the Inland Empire

NOT! :-)

100 degree days in the summer got old YEARS ago.:-)

Living here in cool Costa Mesa I sometimes wonder what took me so long to move out here from Pomona.:-)

On another one of those Blogs by Committee that make for an interesting mishmash of opinion, and discussion I found an interesting piece by someone living in my former neck of the woods.

More on Moving to LA

Asparagirl continues her observations on Los Angeles in MORE VIEWS ON MOVING TO LA and concludes theres hope for the town as it prettifies itself, especially downtown.