LAPD Partners Caught In The Act

Above, the LAPD police car involved was similar to this one.

Back in the 1990s, I worked armed security patrol in-between insurance claim jobs. I had a permit to carry a .38 Special or .357 Magnum revolver while on duty.

I forget which security company I was working for when I came upon a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) squad car in the parking lot of a park in the North Hollywood/Sherman Oaks area. It was either AMSEC or Protection One I worked for at the time. 

The other day, a friend on Facebook jogged my memory of the incident I am about to describe. 

This is what happened:

I went to patrol the park's parking lot and in a far, dark corner, I saw a LAPD police car parked. A pair of bare legs sticking out the car window caught my attention when I first saw the police car. Driving closer, I saw one male and one female LAPD cops in the back seat of the squad car having "indoor Olympics". They got hit by my spotlight. The male cop got out and tried to give me a hard time. I just said, "Personally, I don't care. But we can have your watch commander deal with this." He backed off. During this time, the lady cop, a pretty blonde, was hurriedly getting dressed. I think the two were partners (in more ways than one).

I didn't bother to notify LAPD of the matter. I thought the officers were embarrassed enough. We all got a good laugh over this at the security company's headquarters. They all knew about it as I went "Code 6" (unit has arrived to location, conducting field investigation) with dispatch when I was approaching the police car. I don't recall if I had to submit a written report.

This kind of activity involving police officers isn't all that rare. All one has to do is Google it. 

Here's an example.

Northridge Earthquake 30th Anniversary

Incredible as it seem, today marks the 30th anniversary of the Northquake Earthquake.

I was living in North Hills at the time and when the quake struck at 4:31 in the morning, it seemed like my bed was jumping around like Linda Blair's in The Exorcist. 

The 6.7-magnitude Northridge Earthquake occurred at 4:31am on Monday, January 17, 1994. Its epicenter was around Wilbur Avenue and Arminta Street in Reseda.

I had some damage to personal property and had it all boxed and separated for the representative from FEMA to inspect. He didn't bother to inspect it, but wrote out a check. I used the money to buy a camper shell for my 1985 Nissan Pick-up.

This was one of those life events a person who experienced it never forgets.

1949 Snow In Los Angeles

Above, ladies with a snowman in North Hollywood in 1949. 

It is funny that Southern California is bracing for blizzard conditions, according to news reports. Snow in the mountains above Los Angeles and along the Grapevine on Interstate 5 is not unusual.

Back in 1988, we had a clampout at Crystal Lake in the snow with Platrix Chapter No. 2. I had a tent trailer at the time and we were comfortable inside with the propane heater I had. Snow was on the ground when we arrived and it snowed off and on during the clampout. Some guys couldn't handle it and left. We stayed and got a special commemorative patch for our efforts.

As far as snow in the L.A. basin and the San Fernando Valley is concerned, it happened in 1949. This was a little before my time, mind you.

From the Los Angeles Times archives:

On Jan. 10, 1949, in the middle of the worst housing shortage in Los Angeles history, more than half an inch of snow covered the Civic Center. The San Fernando Valley was pelted with the unfamiliar white stuff for three days, accumulating almost a foot. The Rose Bowl was transformed into “a dishpan full of milk,” by one account. An Alhambra hardware store put up a sign that said, “Snow Plows for Rent — Hurry!” A snowman appeared in Eagle Rock, wearing a sombrero, and the city of Reno, Nev., sent L.A. a snow shovel.

We had some snow mixed with hail in the South Bay around 1978. And, in 1988, we had some snow in Warner Center in the San Fernando Valley. I remember being in both.

Snow is extremely rare in L.A., so when it does happen, the locals go crazy in trying to deal with it.

To see some photos of the L.A. snow, go here.

"Adventures of Superman" Plaque

While in the San Fernando Valley on Friday, I paid a visit to the Adventures of Superman plaque in Tarzana. In was in L.A, for our Hawthorne High School 50ish Reunion.

It could use some cleaning, but I had no cleaning supplies with me. 

Here's a couple of pictures of the plaque:

Trump/Back The Blue Rally In Los Angeles

At this writing, a rally to support President Trump, Back The Blue and 30th District Congressional candidate Mark Reed is in progress.

The mile-long rally started in the San Fernando Valley on Woodley Ave. south of Victory Blvd. and is proceeding south on the San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405) to the federal building in Westwood.

Thanks to Mark Reed for the video feed where I got these snaps:

Above, the rally being assembled on Woodley Ave.

Above and below, the rally heading south on the San Diego Freeway though Sherman Oaks.

Who says there's no support in California?

Comet Hale-Bopp Discovered 25 Years Ago This Month

Above, Comet Hale-Bopp on April 11, 1997. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is hard to believe, but this month marks 25 years since the discovery of Comet Hale-Bopp.

On the nights of July 22-23, 1995, Alan Hale of New Mexico and Thomas Bopp of Arizona discovered the comet at approximately the same time. Both sent their observations to the International Astronomical Union's Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams.

The "Great Comet of 1997" had a nucleus of 37 miles in diameter, which made it one of the largest comets seen.

Comet Hale-Bopp was eventually seen by more humans than any other comet in history.

On the night of April 11, 1997, a neighbor and I went out to the dark area of Acton, California (between Palmdale and the San Fernando Valley) to photograph the comet. I used my Olympus OM-1 35mm film camera. Thankfully, I knew how to take photographs of it from the astronomy class I took at California State University, Long Beach back in the late 1970s.

As Comet Hale-Bopp got closer to the sun, its brilliance could be easily seen from downtown Los Angeles. 

007: "No Time To Die" Item

A small package arrived today from the U.S. west coast office of "Q Branch" of MI6, more commonly known as the British Secret Service.

Strangely enough, it is located in the San Fernando Valley on Woodley Ave. in Van Nuys, California. I'm not going to give out the address, since I've said too much already.

It is a souvenir key ring for No Time To Die, the purported last Daniel Craig James Bond movie. It was originally scheduled to premiere in April, but COVID-19 forced it to be premiered in November.

Here it is:

Condé Nast: How To Rent A RV

Above, a RV rental lot in the San Fernando Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I have never rented a RV, but my parents rented a 16' travel trailer back in 1975 and we took it to Mesa Verde National Park. So that's the extent of my "experience" in RV rentals.

However, since many people are now looking towards buying a RV or renting one, Condé Nast Traveler has an article how to rent a RV.

They begin it with:

The possibility of renting an RV this summer trip was never in Teena Garbus’s plans. But the mother of two from Tampa, Florida, says that, after the coronavirus pandemic caused her to cancel roughly nine trips this year—including three cruises, jaunts to Disney World, Las Vegas, and New York City for Mother’s Day—the idea of an RV vacation with her family is looking better than ever. 

“Having our own private space where we can can control what comes in and out [as] we do at home is the driving force,” says Garbus, who hopes to drive to Chattanooga, Tennessee, for a week’s vacation with her gang. On the itinerary? “Hitting a bunch of parks along the way.” 

Hardly alone, Garbus is one in a tidal wave of travelers destined to try out RV vacationing for the first time this summer. According to peer-to-peer rental operator RVshare, bookings have more than doubled from this time last year, signifying a renewed confidence by travelers to hit the road. Cruise America—North America’s largest RV rental operator, with more than 120 outposts across the U.S. and Canada—also reports that domestic business is soaring, with first-time RV renters in particular causing phones to ring off the hook. And they have a lot of questions.

“Our normal call [to the reservations line] averages about five minutes,” says Michael Smalley, Cruise America's executive vice president. “Now we’re up to 10 or 12 minutes a call. It’s indicative of first-timers, they just need a little more hand holding.” 

To be sure, knowing how to rent an RV takes a tad more research than a rental car—but it’s less intimidating than most people think. To get you started, read on for everything a first-timer should know when considering an RV rental, and you'll be hitting the road in no time.

To "read on", go here. 

Fire In Sylmar/Northern San Fernando Valley

Above, XSNGH Glenn Thornhill and yours truly.

It is definitely fire season in California.

A wildfire has broken out in the Sylmar/Northern San Fernando Valley overnight. It stared in the Sylmar area and has spread into Porter Ranch.

XSNGH Glenn Thornhill and his family have been evacuated from their home and are safe. (There goes his clamp-out plans for this weekend with the Billy Holcomb Chapter.)

According to CNN:

(CNN) - A fast-growing, wind-driven wildfire swept into the northern Los Angeles area overnight, forcing hurried evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people, closing portions of at least three major freeways and sending firefighters scrambling to save homes. 

The Saddleridge Fire, which started Thursday and exploded to 4,600 acres by early Friday, jumped across the 210 and 5 freeways overnight as it spread into northern Los Angeles neighborhoods. 

An undetermined number of homes have been destroyed, and mandatory evacuations were called for more than 12,000 homes -- often while occupants were sleeping -- in and near Los Angeles' Porter Ranch neighborhood, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. 

"We need people to leave now while they can," Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said early Friday. 

This is just one of the several blazes in Southern California fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, with gusts around 60 mph. Many parts of the region are under red-flag warnings -- meaning high fire risk -- into Friday afternoon. 

The Saddleridge Fire started around 9 p.m. ET and jumped the 210 and 5 freeways, and some parts those roads and the 405 were closed as orange embers lit up the night sky. By late Thursday it had gutted 60 acres; but some four hours later, it had grown to more than 4,000 acres, fire officials said.

To read more, go here. 

Explaining Barking Spider Road

Above, Barking Spider Road and Acre. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The other day, I sent a photo like the one above to my artist friend in St. Petersburg, Russia to show her how the Barking Spider Acre looks after Nandoh and Bo mowed it last week.

The photo included the "Barking Spider Road" sign.

She got a kick out of it, but didn't know what it meant.

Here's how I explained it to her:

I got the inspiration for it from a "Barking Spider Road" in Acton, California. It is an actual road. Apparently, when the community was developed, property owners (mainly small ranches) were able to name their roads. It is in the pass along California Highway 14 between the San Fernando Valley and Palmdale.

Giamela's Lamplighter Chatsworth Closed

Another San Fernando food institution is now closed permanently.

I found this out on Facebook in a discussion in the Valley Relics group. The above photo was posted in the group.

Above, Giamela's Lamplighter. Mapquest photo.

The restaurant was always packed. The reason for its closure is not known at present.

Jess and I used to go there for breakfast pretty regularly when she lived down the street a few blocks away. I'm going to miss their chorizo and eggs breakfasts!

*****************************************************************************
UPDATE (1/8/17):

This was posted at Yelp (don't know if this is true and the reason for the closure still is not known):

What A Day

Above, smoke from the Creek Fire as seen from Chatsworth.

Tarzana may be about 20 miles from Sylmar, but the Creek Fire in Sylmar had affected the entire San Fernando Valley today with smoke, ash and soot.

We had to run to the market and PetSmart today and that was a mistake.

I came down with a headcold the other day and when we went outside, the headcold mixed with the smoky and windy air made it very difficult for me to breathe. This gave me a very good idea about how people with emphysema suffer each day. I was virtually gasping for air. I came close to having to go to an emergency room, it was that bad.

After getting back home, I stayed indoors for the rest of the day.

According to the latest Facebook posting by XSNGH Glenn Thornhill, his house seemed to have survived the Creek Fire, while others in his neighborhood lost theirs.

The Great Deluge of 2017

Above, yours truly in the car at the market today. 

The heaviest rainstorm this season struck Los Angeles today.

It was predicted that one inch of rain per hour is expected to fall in the area. I believe it! I had to drive to West L.A. and back in it.

Jes, her mom and I went to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center for a meeting that did not take place. Somebody got the information wrong. Well, we get to do it all again this coming Monday. Hopefully, we'll have dry weather that day. At least we had a good lunch at the hospital cafeteria.

The streets in the San Fernando Valley were like rivers. I hadn't seen such flooding in the Valley for a long time. It reminded me of the 1973 special election of a North Hollywood area state senate seat. Alan Robbins and Phil Johnson were in a head-to-head election showdown. It rained heavily on election night and a group of us from the Young Republicans of El Camino College took part in the GOTV that night. It was a lot of fun driving through the rain to get voters to the polls.

Johnson lost the special election. But, at least we had a good spaghetti dinner hosted by the Johnson campaign or the California Republican Party that night in a gymnasium. I later received  a thank-you note from then-Gov. Ronald Reagan, who said we all braved the storm for the GOP.

"Lake Tarzana" re-formed in my apartment's parking lot by the time I got home. My shoes were drenched through by the time I got inside. Looks like I am staying put tonight.

What drought?

Last Night At The Odyssey

Above, Asya in the Atlantis Room with the city lights in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last night, Asya and I headed off to The Odyssey Restaurant for dinner and to check out the Atlantis Room that the portrait unveiling party will take place one week from today. Also, we celebrated my receiving the appearance fee check from Hot Bench.

I thought it would be a good idea for Asya to see the layout of the room and The Odyssey Restaurant in general.

Although the lights were off in the room, we discussed where to display the portrait and other paintings she will be bringing along.

Above, at dinner at The Odyssey Restaurant. 

Asya enjoyed the spectacular view of the San Fernando Valley from the room's huge windows. From the room, the stream of headlights flowed down from the Sepulveda Pass and into the Valley like a glowing river.

After discussing details on where to arrange things next week, we headed upstairs to the main dining room for dinner. She had a Caesar salad with chicken and shrimp while I settled on prime rib. She had wanted to have cheesecake and ice cream, but was so full from the meal that we ended up sharing the cheesecake that came with my dinner.

Asya had a "jaw-dropping" moment when during the course of conversation when I mentioned that I like to add pepper to a dish of cottage cheese. She had never heard of that before. She thought I was putting her on. That led to a discussion of foods she enjoyed in Russia.

All in all, an enjoyable evening.

Meanwhile, At The Odyssey...

Above, the main entrance to The Odyssey Restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today was spent taking care of business in Van Nuys and in Chatsworth.

I met with the catering manager at the Odyssey Restaurant to see about holding the portrait unveiling party/get-together there.

Above, a view of the room from the entry. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The room I selected is a nice, small room with access to the patio area with fine views of the San Fernando Valley. The Odyssey is perched on a hilltop near the I-405 freeway. The room is ideal as it is bright for guests to view paintings.

Above, inside looking towards the patio that is part of the room. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We reviewed the party packages they have to offer. The one I have in mind is well within the budget I've set. They will also have easels available for artist Asya to display some of her paintings.

Above, looking towards the patio with the I-405 freeway at left. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I discussed all this with Asya and she is very impressed with the room and the views (I sent her photos of the room).

Above, the room has its own bar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

She has some sponsors who would donate sake, vodka and tequila for the party. As the Odyssey won't allow outside food or drinks to be served there, we would likely make these door prizes. Also, she has a friend who is willing to give a few boxes of fine Nicaragua cigars as well.

Above, the room's dining area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I am looking to hold this near the end of September. I just have to decide on the package, etc. to go with and pick the date.

Stay tuned!

To Da Dump, To Da Dump...

Above, the state park's sign at Las Virgenes Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning was set aside to empty The Beast's holding tanks. They were both full from the recent trip up the Owens Valley to Mammoth Lakes and Tioga Pass in Yosemite National Park.

One thing I was not looking forward to was the drive to Camping World in Valencia to use the dump station there. Although free to us Good Sam members, I was reluctant to drive in the morning rush hour.

But, I did find a viable alternative. That was Malibu Creek State Park near Calabasas on Las Virgenes Road.

Above, looking towards the campground from the dump station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Malibu Creek State Park has a nice campground (I last camped there around 26 years ago) and they also have a dump station. One doesn't have to camp there to use the dump station. All one has to do is pay the ranger a $12 fee to use it. Which I did.

Above, emptying The Beast's holding tanks. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One could ask, "Why not go to Camping World and use their dump station for free instead?" Well, besides the drive in morning rush hour, it is about 25-30 miles away. The Beast gets around 10 miles per gallon of gasoline. Malibu Creek State Park is about 13 miles away and it is against the flow of traffic. I got there in about 25 minutes. So, I saved on gasoline. I think I was better of by going to the state park instead.

The drive time I saved is allowing me to talk to attorney offices, which is the second item of today's agenda.

So, if anyone wants to save gas, drive time and miles, the convenience of going to Malibu Creek State Park is a good alternative for San Fernando Valley RV owners to empty your holding tanks.

By the way, the maximum length for RVs at the campground is 30'.

Santa Clarita Fire From The Odyssey

Above, the Santa Clarita fire from the Odyssey Restaurant's parking lot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tonight, I had a very nice dinner with Dawn at the Odyssey Restaurant in Chatsworth, the northern end of the San Fernando Valley.

As we were leaving the restaurant, we saw the glow (and some flames) from the fire in the hills above Santa Clarita. I took a photo of the fire from the Odyssey's parking lot and it is posted above.

The San Fernando Valley had been smoky virtually all day and it had affected my sinuses. I stayed indoors for most of the day as a result.

George Reeves Benedict Canyon Home Today

This morning, I had an errand to do in Beverly Hills and I had to be there by 10:00.

Since the San Diego Freeway (I-405) is a parking lot in the morning, I took an alternate route from the San Fernando Valley to get there. I used to take this route when I worked at Wilshire Blvd. and La Cienega Blvd. years ago.

From Valley, I took Woodcliff Road to Mulholland Drive to Benedict Canyon Drive. Then down Benedict Canyon Drive into Beverly Hills.

While driving through Benedict Canyon, I pass by the house where Adventures of Superman star George Reeves lived and died.

On the way back to the Valley, I took several cell phone photos of the house.

Here's a couple of them:

Above, the house of George Reeves today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the foliage has grown quite a bit since 1959, otherwise, the house looks the same. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Below, George Reeves in his driveway only days before his June 16, 1959 death:

The Odyssey Restaurant

Above, the outdoor patio dining area. Odyssey Restaurant photo.

Tonight, Denise and I went out to dinner at a place that I haven't been to since the late 1980s: the Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills, California.

The Odyssey was the site for the annual San Fernando Valley Claim Adjusters Association's annual Christmas parties that I used to attend. One year, I won a VCR there.

Above, our shrimp and crab cakes appetizers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Odyssey offers fine food, drinks and spectacular views of the San Fernando Valley from its hilltop perch. It has huge rooms for special events like weddings, parties, banquets and meetings.

We were a bit full from the appetizers and the soup (clam chowder) and salad (Caesar) that we had, so we brought home our cheesecake desserts and meats (steak and prime rib). Denise proclaimed the Caesar salad was the best she's ever had. It is just as well we didn't over-stuff ourselves since we plan to go to Hawaii in a few months (Denise has been taking crossfit classes to tone up).

For more information on The Odyssey Restaurant, go here.

24 Hours Later...

Above, the Explorer delivered in the rain. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What a difference 24 hours makes.

Yesterday, it was warm-to-hot in the San Fernando Valley. We even had a tree go up in smoke in Tarzana (I reported on this yesterday).

Denise's Ford Explorer decided to overheat from either a hose or a radiator pipe going out last evening. (I am guessing a pipe, as a hose would be obvious and easy to replace.) Her dad was supposed to see what the problem is and get it fixed.

Well, I just got home about a half hour ago while awaiting the Auto Club tow truck to deliver the Explorer to the mechanic's shop in Reseda. Yes, it still hasn't been fixed. (The old saying goes, "If you want something done right, do it yourself!")

And, to cap things off, it is raining and cold here! It is not a big downpour, but it has been a steady rain since at least about 2:00 this afternoon (I was taking a nap and it was raining at 2:00 when I woke up). I was becoming concerned since we need the rain and February is usually our rainy month and it has been warm here for the past two weeks.

I went out into the rain to pick Denise up from work, take her home and then meet the tow truck in Reseda.

I neglected to bring a jacket and came home tonight with a drenched shirt. Oh, well.

At least the Explorer will be definitely fixed tomorrow. After we pick it up, we'll be going out to dinner at the Odyssey Restaurant. I haven't been there since the early 1990s.