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we received a package from our dear friend about 5000 miles west from here. i think it may be an early early Christmas present. okini. i like the nice momiji (maple leaf) and Hello Kitty stamps. to open or not to open . . .

it was another summer day, another aloha friday.

aloha hibiscus

the arrow points to my home with a view. taken from inside the pool . . .

yes, i went swimming on this 5th day of November.

no, my camera is not waterproof.

b u b b l e s and s u n l i g h t

the swimming bee

still blooming after 5 months

friday morning tanpopo

under the flower view

could be an early christmas present for someone . . . me!

yesterday's tanpopo (dandelion)

same tanpopo, different angle (and in color)

no, this is not from last year. this was yesterday at Del Amo mall. and that reminds of the conversation with the ANA reservationist when she was giving me my "record locator" number for my flight from Narita to LA. she said (and this is the first time i have ever heard this), "the number 2, X as in christmas, H as in hotel..." "chotto matte" i said. (just a moment). "X" as in what, i said. "X" as in christmas, she said. naruhodo.

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more images from yesterday's long skate from Redondo Beach thru Hermosa Beach thru Manhattan Beach thru El Segundo thru Playa del Rey thru Marina del Rey thru Venice Beach to Santa Monica.

it was that kind of day yesterday (and today too). these kids were actually having their photos professionally taken on Santa Monica beach just south of the pier.

taking a break along the Venice Beach canal

i liked the red chochin (lanterns). this was at the new Santa Monica Place mall.

simply, the grandchild. photo taken under the Manhattan Beach pier.

nice reflection along the lagoon at Playa del Rey

i found this unlikely pair along the canals of Venice yesterday. yes, that is where the photo in yesterday's blog was taken.

i didn't even know there was such a service as Dog Poop Removal. in the background is the 232 bus which i normally take up to and home from LAX. it runs from LAX to Long Beach and back and forth. and yesterday along with a Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, the 232 is how i got home after a long but fun day in the sun.

my old skates and me (shadow) on the old wooden pier in Santa Monica. if you remember, i used my first pair of roller skates for about 17 years. these are in their 3rd year.

walking to the beach yesterday, i came upon this personalized license plate.

under MINDFUL it says "peace through music"

i sat and listened to this wonderful singer/songwriter/keyboard player yesterday on Santa Monica Pier for about 30 minutes after my long skate. and what was the guy behind him doing?

looking south from Santa Monica Pier

looking south from Manhattan Beach pier. that is Palos Verdes peninsula in the distance. and just under that slightly brownish haze to the west (right) of Palos Verdes is Catalina Island.

today: Hitomi at 6am. gym from 9am until noon. Trader Joe's for a few groceries. and then back home again. lunch. and then the Iain Anderson show on the BBC (internet) while laying in front of the fan.

it is now about 95f (35c) here. even the squirrels are too hot and tired to scurry around.

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and this is where i ended my little skating adventure. more tomorrow with how i got here. i think the temperature was in the mid-90's (33-36c)

this is where i started this morning around 10am

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today was like a summer's day, like. and tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer . . . 93f (34c)

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a soft pinkish orangish end to a beautifully sunny first day of the new month

azalea in white

yes, this photos is upside down.

tony still waiting for trick-or-treaters.

Hiroshi Abe has been one of my favorite actors since Trick. i hope there is a part 2 to this wonderful drama.