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.

Asparagirl Lives!

They were popular bloggers, and she was one who I had actually read quite a bit, and liked very much.

Then they stopped blogging, and got hitched.

Never to be heard from again?

Fergettabout it! :-)

6 Months pass....

The love birds have resurfaced in the wilds of Los Angeles, and the county, and maybe even the Bloggerverse will never be the same. :-)

I helped the Law and the Law Won!

Another trip down memory lane was found as I perused the message board arcives I mentioned earlier this morning. This one was from a month before I began this weblog. :-)

Just sit right back and read my tale

The tale of a felon trying to skip

When fleeing the cops

From his car he had to abort.

The witness was a tired unemployed man

The Coppers brave and sure

The bad guy had set off this eve on a vehicle stealing tour

A vehicle stealing tour.

The Police gave chase and things got rough

There was a crash and out a man was tossed

The chase was on as down an alley he flew

And across a yard, and down a street

wobbly legs carried him too

If not for the alertness of a passer-by

The suspect would be lost

The suspect would be lost.

The thief ran around and hopped a wall

While yours truly, seeing the Law,

Raised the alarm and shouted a call

With an officer huffing in pursuit

And half the department too

The miscreant was finally caught

And will be sent away for a long, long while.

:-)

There I was, minding my own busines, walking down a side street around 930pm just a few blocks from home......

When 2 blocks south of me there was a screech of brakes......

I turn to see a car barrelling toward me as I cross the street, and several cop cars howling in pursuit.

The suspect turns the corner in front of me as I reach the curb and after a half block west he rear ends a parked car.

The area is a mostly quiet sectioin, with street lights lighting things intermittently.

As I look down the street I am startled to see a man stagger from between 2 houses on the north and run toward me.

He is trying to run and look behind at the same time, and almost falls when he is startled to see me in front of him.

As I realize who he is and why he's running I look for a cop and take my eyes off him as he passes me.

A cop has come out from between the same houses and thinks the suspect is going in a direction other than the one he did.

Realizing I was the only one who knew where the suspect was I yelled at the cop and pointed.

He calls for back-up as he runs where I pointed, and shortly stops because he hears a noise on the othe rside of the wall separating the street from a Senior Living Complex.

Meanwhile 10 other cop cars converge on the scene, surrounding the complex and officers begin searching.

I tell one cop what I had seen and done and where I suspected the guy had ran.

There were only 3 choices.

He couldn't have made it to the end of the block, not with as quick as the events transpired.

He couldn't have made it across the street to the houses next to the church. He would have been seen.

So he must have hopped the wall.

The question was how far into the complex did he get?

Meanwhile the foot pursuit officer was being ribbed by his fellows for not being fast enough to catch the guy, and everyone laughed even more when the officer retraced his steps and found a size 12 shoe. :-)

After an hour of looking and coming up empty the cops converged on the spot where he had first leaped the wall. On the other side were the couryards of several apartments, and it was believed that since he was not in any other area of the complex, then he must be there.

BINGO! :-)

My name, address, and phone number were taken and I was heartily thanked by one and all for my assistance.

I congratulated the officers on a job well done, watched as they brought the suspect out to the street in handcuffs, stuffed him in a patrol car & took him away, & then continued on my way home.

I had done my good deed for the day and was more than ready to celebratre with a late dinner at home. :-)

Seeing and Hearing The People Around Me

To the fellow in the snazzy shirt and tie on the bus home last night:

Quit your whining, sit down, and thank your lucky stars you can afford to ride this bus every day of the week. Losing 30 minutes of precious reading time seems to me a small price to pay for such a luxury.

People amaze me sometimes, and sometimes they amaze twice in the same encounter! :-)

There is an express bus that I maybe ride once or twice a month to get to or from work faster if I'm running late. I can't afford the monthly pass for the thing so rarely ride it.

Yesterday, because of the rain causing delays on my regular bus routes I rode it home after picking up my paycheck.

It's dark, and raining, and we are on the freeway with headlights and rearlights all around us. The driver keeps the lights in the front section of the bus off, so anyone, like me, in the front, can't while away our time reading on the ride home.

He is able to see better that way. Makes sense to me.

Anyway, the guy across from me gets up and asks the driver, by name, to turn on the lights so he can read. The driver says no, because it would hamper his vision.

The passenger has a fit, and says that he was told if a passenger asks for lights the driver must turn them on. The driver says no lights, and that's final.

As the passenger starts to get threatening I tell him to quit whining and sit down, and count his blessings that, unlike some folks, he can afford to ride this bus everyday. 30 minutes in the dark is a small price to pay.

He gives me a LOOK, and sits down, and the driver smiles his thanks at me.

30 minutes later we arrive at the passengers stop and as he gets off he meekly offers a "no hard feelings" to the driver, and the driver responds by explaining again why he had to say no.

As we got underway again I looked at the driver and said: Well, I'll be, the guy turns out to be smarter than he appeared to be after all! Of course it DID take him 30 minutes to wise up. :-)

Everyone laughed and the driver leaned over and shook my hand. :-)

Let this story be advanced warning that I, SNEAKEASY, am out and about dear reader ( on foot, on my bike, and on the bus ), and you never know if I might be witness to, or participant in, something you say or do, anytime, anywhere.......

So, watch this column.... :-)

Of Bus Rides and Bullets

Ride Home From Work Takes Weird and Frightening Turn

There I was minding my own business reading the paper in the back of the bus on the ride home tonite when BANG! something hit the window 3 seats in front of me on my side.

We all thought it was a rock at first, but once we stopped the bus and looked closer we saw an obvious bullet hole with rings and cracks in the plexiglas radiating outward from it.

It was either a BB or small caliber bullet because it didn't penetrate the thick plexiglas.

It being dark, no-one saw a thing.

I am pissed to say the least, so if you will pardon me a moment I wish to vent in the general direction of the City of Azusa, California, and a certain Moron out to get his or her jollies off tonite:

YER MAMA!!! MY CATS CAN WHIP YER ASS WITH 2 PAWS TIED BEHIND THEIR BACKS!!! ( Sneak bravely waves his middle finger from the relative safety of his front porch ).

There. I feel soooo much better after that, and am ready to go to bed.

I have to get up early to take the same route back to work. :-)

WHEN IN ROME

Enjoy a fancy and tasty meal...

On the 13th of this month, while leisurely perusing the Los Angeles Times, lo and behold but what should I see?

A 2 page ad with a coupon for a free meal!

Now FREE is my favorite 4 letter F-word in the whole wide world, you understand, so I just had to read further. :-)

Well, how do you like that? There's a new Italian Restuarant in town and, just so there's no doubt it's Italian, there's a menu in the ad to prove it!

The place is called Rome Italian Cucina and is located at 9000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, and is open from 6pm to 2am.

World reknown Executive Chef Shad Davis opened the place in early May and apparantly decided to spend a week giving out free 4 course meals to anyone waving one of these coupons and who either came alone, or dragged 1 to 3 other people through the door of the establishment with them.

The meal included choices of appetizer, salad, entree, and dessert.

As far as drinkies were concerned, you would be on your own so come prepared to pay the piper. :-)

I'm here to tell you that, while my evening experience was amazing, I didn't feel like I was visiting an exotic land (West Hollyweirds' undeserved reputation not withstanding), and the dining experience itself wasn't unique.

The food and the service was, well, let me begin at the start of the evening, 8 hours before chow time...

I decided Monday night that going to Rome would be a fun way to celebrate the end of my 7 months of unemployment.

So I hopped the bus from the east end of Los Angeles County at 3pm, and arrived at the restuarant at 530pm.

The line was a block long, with a street to cross toward the front.

Not a good sign.

There were people who had been in line since 2pm.

Another bad sign.

As a reference point I noted I was 3 trees from the corner.

Yup, you guessed it! Not a good sign!

By 6pm the line was 2 blocks long & looked like it could eventually threaten to interfere with the access of decent folk to the entrance to Hugh Hefners' Hustler Emporium down the street. :-)

Not long after 6 a nice gentleman came out and went down the line, for the first of numerous times thru the night, detailing how us poor saps 3 trees back & beyond had a remote, if that, chance of even getting seated for the last call to the trough at 1am (this is my fancy way of saying he was kindly breaking the bad news to us & hoping it would persuade some folks to seek sustinance elswhere), and anyone with health problems, or the inability to stand for long periods might want to reconsider their options for the evening.

He wasn't trying to fool us or anything, just covering his behind in case the more stubborn and hardy among us stuck around long enough to be inside still waiting for a table at 1am, & were told for the last time it wasn't gonna happen.

As the evening progressed alot of people ahead of me in line, and even more behind, lost their urge for a free meal, and left. Interestingly that didn't stop folks from showing up as late as midnight.

As the ranks ahead shrunk, I found myself standing on the corner by 1030pm optimistically following the advice of the very Reverend Jesse Jackson & keeping hope alive. :-)

Over the years each time I saw lines like this, outside Clubs and Restuarants, I'd laugh and shake my head at the folks in line.

Now, here I was experienceing how the other half lived! :-)

The conversations and cameraderie one developes with ones fellows in these circumstances is part of the charm of enduring it.

As passers-by asked us what the heck we were doing, we, for the most part, did what was expected of us and were living advertisments for the restuarant.

But after 3 hours we did begin to vary our responses a bit, & enjoyed the reactions of the askers:

Bush was giving a speech!

Russel Crowe was making an appearance!

Ditto Britney Spears!

We were actors auditioning for a porn shoot!

There was a free give-away of "toys" at the Hustler store!

A few intellectual souls, such as myself, brought a book along to help pass the time.

We had no idea we'd be in line for 6 hours on the sidewalk and be inside, waiting, for nearly another 2.

My immediate neighbors, behind me in line, for the last 4 hours were 3 nice young ladies named Wendy, Julie, & Teresa, and as we munched on the occasional tiny morsels brought out on trays to the line, we talked, laughed, and sent out the occasional scouting party to the restuarants restrooms to drool in envy at the diners already inside, count the folks in line, and then guess our chances of getting one of the available 110 or so seats for dinner.

Finally inside, we claimed a spot near the bar, and settled in to wait, fully understanding our chances were slim.

I nursed a $4.50 botlle of Corona, Wendy had a more expensive and potent libation, and Julie fell asleep on a couch.

Teresa? She was our scout & bringer of increasingly worse and worse news as time marched relentlessly on.

Upon entering we had added our names to a 2 page waiting list: Me, Wendy and Julie, then Teresa in that order.

As we got to 1230am the 4 of us decided to sit together if it increased our chances of being seated, and settled on our menu choices based on what was listed in the ad.

Admittance inside seemed to have been stopped at midnight & the remaining folks in line sent home.

As we got closer to 1am Teresa scoped out who was finishing up their meals and who was still stuffing their faces with no end in sight, and calculated the odds of our names being reached.

The news was not good. We decided to let Julie sleep until the last possible moment, and waited.

Right before 1am I spotted a solitary person being seated, and my companions urged me to see if the guy would share a table with me.

What did I have to lose, they said. I came the farthest and they could afford to go to these places whenever they pleased, so go for it, they said.

We had just learned that we were moments from being turned away.

I asked the man ( named Paul ) and he said, sure if the folks up front said yes.

They did, and I was in!

So, apparently, was another man, who it turned out showed up at midnight after the line was gone and was let in, saw what I just did, and followed in my footsteps.

3 minutes later the bad news was given to the unlucky few survivors of this nights marathon, and I think some sort of compensation was agreed upon to send them all home somewhat happy, though still searching for dinner.

Paul, Don, and I appeared to have been the last ones seated.

My 3 Lady friends and I said good-bye and they were genuinely pleased that at least one of us made it to the Promised Land. :-)

My 2 new acquiantances, and I, settled in to order and eat.

The prices of the 4 items I ordered would normally be, in order of appearance, $8.75, $8.50, $17.50, and $7.

Prices on the menu ranged from $6.75 to $26.50 [ For the Philly Mig Non, ya know! :-) ], & as for the drinkies, the booze was $4.50 and higher depending on your poison. :-)

I ordered the following items:

1. Antipasti Alla Romana: A sampling of Italian favorites including Bruschette, Caponata, Crostini, Finocchione, cheeses, & other tasty morsels.

2. Cesare Salad: Hearts of Baby Romaine with Ceasar dressing and freshly shaved Parmigeano-Reggiano.

3. Scaloppine Di Vitello: Several pan seared, thinly pounded Veal Cutlets with mashed potatoes and sauteed spinich, in lemon, caper, and butter pan sauce.

4. Budino Di Cioccolata Bianca E Nera: White and dark chocolate mousse with fresh raspberries in a warm dark chocolate glaze.

I ordered 2 glasses of coke to wash it all down with, and my companions stuck to guzzling water with their choices.

Now, I'm no expert Food Critic, sniffing & staring at the munchies, looking for every bad smell, burn mark, redness, and wrinkle, swirling things around in my mouth in order to judge its fragrance, bouquet, and what not, thereby, in my mind, taking away considerably from one's ability to simply enjoy a decent meal, well prepared.

I can only give you the considered, uncultured, opinion of an ordinary schmuck, so bear with me... :-)

All 4 dishes looked far too beautiful to spoil by eating. :-)

I was reminded of several 17th & 18th and 19th century watercolours of food dishes that I saw recently at the Getty Center.

But, it's a dirty job, and I came to Rome to do it and so, do it, I did.

The servings were plentiful and that goes for all the dishes I saw around the room.

All 4 dishes were delicious!

The Cesare was the best I've ever tasted.

The Scaloppine was outstanding, and I especially savored the Veal Cutlets.

The Budino was to die for! The chocolate tasted different than any I'd had before.

Our waiter, Eric, was excellent.

He was friendly, and helpful in answering questions, and took my teasing question about the sex of the Moose, in good natured stride.

The seating in the restuarant is plentiful & they have 2 waiting areas, in addition to a well stocked bar.

You gotta love a place with a bartender sporting tattoos, and a bartendress with turquoise colored hair. :-)

Fine wooden tables and plush blue velvet seats make for a pleasant and comfortable space to sette in to eat.

The ceiling is covered by 43 religiously themed paintings or frescoes with a handful of tasteful nudes and semi-nudes among them.

The walls had about a dozen imported Itallian Battle Shields. around the room.

We finished dining around 215am and I was pleasantly suprised to learn I didn't have to pay the $4 for my cokes when we got the $0.00 bill.

I left $4 as my part of the tip for our waiter.

A $45.75 dining experience cost me absolutely nothing, and for me the 8 hour wait was well worth it.

I rarely have had the opportunity to munch on fancy food in fancy digs, & this was a wonderful evening out on the town.

I had just enough money left for bus fare home. :-)

Since Paul lived near downtown LA we walked the 20 minutes to the nearest all night bus together, & when we reached his stop we shook hands and went our seperate ways.

I arrived home at 530am, this morning, and promptly went to bed until noon.

I recommend Rome to anyone visiting the LA area, and I'm quite sure your wait to dine, if any, will be miniscule in comparison to what folks had to deal with this past week. :-)

Actually, the Parking Lot is San Francisco

See, I told ya LA COUNTY isn't a parking lot!

Novelist Spurs Passion Over Parking

After a busy day helping my Uncle switch ISP, I was riding the bus home this evening, when I spotted a copy of the LA TIMES sitting lonely & neglected in the seat across from me.

The article above was of interest to me not only because of the coincidence of my ramblings of last evening, but because of my interest in the book world.

I think that, not only should they restrict the number of parking permits to 3 per CDL owner, but require anyone with more than 3 cars to sell the rest, & replace them with bicycles.

That'll teach 'em! :-)

Oh, I know there's constitutional issues that would make such a suggestion unworkable, but a fella can dream can't he? :-)

And ya gotta love DANIELLE STEEL.

Is having 9 kids and numerous Hubbys, the source of her ability to write over 50 Romance Novels, or is the over heated imagination that led her to write those books what's led to her rather full family & love life?

Inquiring minds wanna know! :-)

LOS ANGELES Not a Parking Lot!

PROOF POSITIVE THAT LOS ANGELES COUNTY IS NOT ONE HUGE, GOD-AWFUL PARKING LOT!

I could not, in good conscience, go to bed tonite without doing my part, as an Angeleno Countian, to lay this gross misconception finally to rest.

Ever since the Pasadena Freeway was built, in the 40's and probably going as far back as when the first paved street appeared, our fair city & county have been plagued by the story, completely fabricated mind you (by God knows who!), that you can't move around here without bumping into a car.

Poppycock! and I have the evidence to prove it (Ol' Sneak whips out his trusty Thomas Bros. Map Guide).

Yes, we have 8 Interstates passing thru.

Yes, we have 23 State Highways zig-zagging across the landscape.

Yes, we have 49 major shopping malls and a ton of parking spaces.

Yes, this means that Rush Hour is always a major pain in the carburator.

And, YES, we have no Ban.... Oops, sorry, getting off topic there for a moment. It's past my usual bed time, forgive me. :-)

However, we have:

17 Open Space Preserves

39 Beaches & Harbors

76 Cemeteries

AND, last but not least, 682 Parks ( and that's just after A-L in the alphabet! ).

And don't get me started on our lovely Mountain Ranges, and Hillsides.

So, enough already!

We have plenty of space in which to move around, trust me.

Now, I'm off to bed so....

Good night, and welcome to my world. :-)