Los Angeles River.
Los Angeles River.
Chinatown.
Chintown.
Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Arthur J. William Memorial Fountain and City Hall.
Christmas Tree in front of the LA Opera.
Monday-Wednesday, December 17-19, 2012 - Yosemite Almost Winter
Went to Yosemite earlier this year in May and fell in love with it and knew I wanted to come back in the winter time. Technically it's not winter yet (winter solstice is December 21st this year), but it was close enough as I could get. Anyway, I was not disappointed.
Days: 3 days, 2 nights
Miles: 690 miles
Weather: Monday, rainy. Tuesday, snowy. Wednesday, sunny.
Days: 3 days, 2 nights
Miles: 690 miles
Weather: Monday, rainy. Tuesday, snowy. Wednesday, sunny.
Early Tuesday morning in Yosemite Valley. It started off cloudy with on and off snowing, cleared for a little bit in the late morning and early afternoon, then started snowing again mid-afternoon, and cleared up at night.
Early Tuesday morning. View of the valley at Tunnel View with light snowing.
Early Tuesday morning at Tunnel View, looking to the right.
Early Tuesday morning at Tunnel View, looking back at the tunnel.
Late Tuesday morning at Tunnel View, looking towards the back-right. Clouds beginning to clear for a little bit.
Late Tuesday morning at Tunnel View, looking towards the left.
Late Tuesday morning at Tunnel View, looking towards the back-left.
Late Tuesday morning at Tunnel View, looking at the valley. Looks surreal.
Half Dome looking amazing.
On the walk towards Bridalveil Fall.
Bridalveil Fall.
We originally made reservations to stay at the cabins in Curry Village. However, when we got there, they said Curry Village was still closed at this time, so they gave us a room at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls and kept our room rates the same. It was a nice upgrade. Thank you, Yosemite. We stayed at the Aspen rooms at Yosemite Lodge, which were newly renovated. Very comfortable, warm, clean, with nice hot showers.
View of Yosemite Falls from the parking lot of Yosemite Lodge early Wednesday morning around 7am. You could hear the roar of the waterfall and ice cracking from here.
Wednesday morning, Yosemite Falls.
Coyote.
Coyote versus crow.
Trees on our drive to Mariposa Grove from the valley.
Mariposa Grove, sequioa trees. The Bachelor and the Three Graces to the left.
The Grizzly Giant, the oldest and 2nd largest tree in the grove.
Walking in Mariposa Grove.
Yosemite is amazingly beautiful.
Friday, November 23, 2012 - "Chasing Ice"
Went to the opening of "Chasing Ice" at the Nuart Theater. Worth watching.
The film revolves around James Balog, who has been a photographer for National Geographic. He sets up cameras in various places, Greenland, Iceland, Alaska, Montana to take time-lapse photos of glaciers in order to provide visual evidence of global warming and its effect on these glaciers. There was one powerful scene showing a "Manhattan-sized" piece of the Ilulissat Glacier in Iceland "calving" and crashing into the ocean. That scene shook me the most, to imagine that much of the glacier being lost in such a short amount of time and the amount of water that would add to the oceans. The film also had beautiful cinematography that really portrayed the beauty of our planet.
Go out and support the movie.
The film revolves around James Balog, who has been a photographer for National Geographic. He sets up cameras in various places, Greenland, Iceland, Alaska, Montana to take time-lapse photos of glaciers in order to provide visual evidence of global warming and its effect on these glaciers. There was one powerful scene showing a "Manhattan-sized" piece of the Ilulissat Glacier in Iceland "calving" and crashing into the ocean. That scene shook me the most, to imagine that much of the glacier being lost in such a short amount of time and the amount of water that would add to the oceans. The film also had beautiful cinematography that really portrayed the beauty of our planet.
Go out and support the movie.
Thursday, November 22, 2012 - Happy Thanksgiving
Commemorating this Thanksgiving by being debt free. School loans done.
Chocolate cake done on the stove, prime rib roast in the oven. Yes.
Thankful and grateful every day.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - Broguiere's Egg Nog
Broguiere's egg nog = holiday in a cup. They started selling it at the Montebello Dairy on October 26, 2012.
Monday, November 5, 2012 - Mt. Wilson Trail to Mt. Wilson
Mt Wilson Trail once again. This time I made it to the top of Mt. Wilson. Round trip - 14 miles, 4,680 ft. elevation gain. Took me 3 1/2 hours to the top and 2 hours and 40 minutes to get to the bottom, total 6 hours and 10 minutes. One tough hike.
Trail shot in the morning light.
Leaves do turn colors in Los Angeles.
View of the city. Downtown and the ocean in the distance.
Antenna farm at the top of Mt. Wilson.
Rest at the top at the closed Cosmic cafe with views of the city.
Monday, October 29, 2012 - Upper Winter Creek Trail
Took a little stroll on the Upper Winter Creek Trail to Hoegee's (5 miles round trip). Took a few pictures. Can't beat the California weather. Sunny and in the 80's while there's a hurricane coming down on the east coast.
Had a 78-year-old female patient with a BUN of 81 and a creatinine of 6.2. She has a history of HTN, CHF, anemia, CKD, and DMII. She was only in the hospital a week ago and she was back again this time for pneumonia and increased swelling in her legs. She looked miserable and was getting worse with nausea, vomitting, and inability to keep any of her food down. She needed dialysis, but she had refused previously. When I spoke to her, she refused dialysis because she was scared that it would be painful. When I asked the family why they refused dialysis, they also thought it was painful and somehow involved inserting something straight into the kidneys from the back. I explained to them how dialysis works and even showed them the machine and where the tubing and catheter would be going. After that they understood much more and consented to the dialysis. Simple education. Educating the patients is the key so they can make informed decisions. I don't think anyone really took the time to explain it to the patient or the patient's family. I was able to make a difference. The little things that make this job rewarding despite the stress.
Addendum: Saw the patient today (10/30/12). She was smiling, talkative, doing well. Transferred her from the ICU. Felt good.
Had a 78-year-old female patient with a BUN of 81 and a creatinine of 6.2. She has a history of HTN, CHF, anemia, CKD, and DMII. She was only in the hospital a week ago and she was back again this time for pneumonia and increased swelling in her legs. She looked miserable and was getting worse with nausea, vomitting, and inability to keep any of her food down. She needed dialysis, but she had refused previously. When I spoke to her, she refused dialysis because she was scared that it would be painful. When I asked the family why they refused dialysis, they also thought it was painful and somehow involved inserting something straight into the kidneys from the back. I explained to them how dialysis works and even showed them the machine and where the tubing and catheter would be going. After that they understood much more and consented to the dialysis. Simple education. Educating the patients is the key so they can make informed decisions. I don't think anyone really took the time to explain it to the patient or the patient's family. I was able to make a difference. The little things that make this job rewarding despite the stress.
Addendum: Saw the patient today (10/30/12). She was smiling, talkative, doing well. Transferred her from the ICU. Felt good.
Thursday, October 25, 2012 - Mt. Wilson Trail via Sierra Madre
Missed hiking. Did 11 miles round trip on the Mt. Wilson Trail from Sierra Madre in about 4 1/2 hours. Made it to the Mt. Wilson Junction and turned back. Approximately 3,500 ft elevation gain. It would have been an additional 4 1/2 miles total if I had gone all the way to Mt. Wilson. Maybe next time.
Map of the trail.
Good morning. Around 8:45 am, shot from the trail.
Fall leaves.
Fall leaves.
More leaves.
Mt. Wilson Trail Junction sign. Turned back from here back down to Sierra Madre.
Came up from Chantry Flat to the top of Mt. Wilson last year.
Another shot of the city down below. Higher up this time. Looking back the way I came.
I liked the green on the rocks.
Nice to have some week days off now. Almost nobody on the trails and no trouble finding parking. A bypassing stranger said to me on the trail, "It's a beautiful day." Indeed it is.
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