New Transplant to the SoCal...

My darling Balvenie....Send more chocolates...but PLEASE no sugar free...I need my FIX!!

As our dear Horseshoe (DG from NC) says YA'LL AIN'T RIGHT!

Jo

Ms. Jo - you are soooooooooooo funny!
You're sharing? Right? The chocolates? Or do we need to emulate the seductive "Jo" for the gift of Balvenie's treats?

Clink me........oh yeah........clink me again.......

These are the words known to be said by a brick mason when the brick is just so perfect...........

And now for a word from our sponsors.........please don't think that drdon is a proper or even representative member of the California clan at DG. I assure you that no one has an inkling of what it's like to actually be me.....and so......I'm sure that it's true that no on knows what it's like to be you Ken.

Now that the Belmont Shores contingent has arrived with all it's wit........let's just now consider that you, I and the knuckle headed interlopers have ageed that you are as big a zit on the face of this planet as the rest of us...lol.

Jaundiced...........schmaudiced...........I'm more concerned with your base of operations.....oh yeah, it's a piece of sand that I could never afford to live on. So herein lies my own wacky apology to you and your rather piquant version of the truth.

kisses,
don

My ears were burning and I felt my name had been drug through the rug...
Just kidding Aguane, you da bomb!!!!!
Or was that burning caused by the 4th shot I just did?
Anyways, this is all way above my non edjumacted brain capabilities and I'll keep to the simpleton talk that I understand.
Ken, I wish you all the best my beer/tequila drinking bud.

me too...I'm still working on "piquant"...

Ken, what have you done to our CA DG Guru Don? I think you have brought out a side of him that many of us have not had the honor??? of seeing yet. When he is with all of us simple gardeners, he acts normal....or as normal as he can be. lol

As quoted from himself above..." I assure you that no one has an inkling of what it's like to actually be me". No we don't know this part of him, but we're learning more each day. lol

Mike, I'm still working on more than that word. lol

He's prone to these ramblings when they alter his meds...

Or could it be getting too near those rare hallucinogenic botanicals thriving in the runoff from Mount Manure ?

I'm thinking if drdon drinks beverages that contain hops, he and Ken need to go sit together and pound down a few and talk about gardening.

"piquant"? Is that a cute little glass of beer?

Yes, it's served in a shot glass.

What other words can we solve from this thread?

Norge? LOL
Is that the snout on a elephant seal?

Balvenie - Is that mound really manure? I'd sure hate to be on the downslope side if it gave way. Gives new meaning to what my boss told me about poop rolling downhill.

Raay yes that is really a mountain of manure. I saw it in person!!

One end or the other Ray, or a refrigerator ?

Yes, I tend to agree; Mr Don uses too many big words for my comprehension too.
I prefer to stick close to the 4-letter expletives myself.
But, if he promises to detox from the home grown perennial he's apparently been smoking recently, I'd gladly share a little of my Tequila collection with him.
That is if I can fit it in my vehicle when I relocate.
Apparently, professional moving companies refuse to transport booze.
LOL The lady estimating the weight of our household goods asked if she could come to the going away party...

I am sure Ray would volunteer to deliver that collection to you Ken. Although it may just be empty bottles by the time he arrives!

When I worked for a Hosuehold Movers we only moved un-opened, sealed bottles of booze...Do you have any of those, Ken? Jo

A Tequila collection with unopened bottles ? Surely you jest.

I've been to his house and there arent any unopened bottles of anything that I know of unless he had the wife hide them from me.

How much wood would a wood chuck chuck?

Me thinketh that Dr. Don in his infinite wisdom, mocketh us with his tongue, with his tongue between his tail? He's mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf!

Good one, Dawn...

Muchos Gracias Kathleen. Did I chase off our slippery tongued one? Come on Don, Give it back to me, I can take it.

Hey Ken,

Did we scare you off??? lol

What's happening with the move? Have you found a place yet?
Please keep us informed.

Donna

WAAAS UUUUP???

Hi Ken -
Noob here, but I am in escrow right now, so thought I would share what I know about the decent less-expensive areas in which to look for a house and GARDEN.

If you want the beach climate - great for growing true tropicals here - then look in the Hawthorne, Lawndale area. There are some affordable homes (fixers for sure, but around the mid 300k) and the neighborhoods are decent if you pick and choose, like you said, you'll know the vibe. These are in Sunset zone 24, so it is THE mildest climate in Los Angeles. In fact, you might feel a bit chilly most of the time, coming from the Desert!

If you want a little more warmth, you could look in Highland Park or in the Western part of Pasadena and Altadena. These are generally in Zones 21-23, so a bit more heat, and Santa Ana influence due to being closer to the mountains. Still, you can grow Heliconias, Philodendrons, and most any palm you can grow at the beach here. I am buying a home in Pasadena, which is also in the low 3s, so this should give you a feel for what is affordable and live-able. The nice thing about this neighborhood is tree lined streets, 5k sq. ft. yards, and lots of bungalow style homes.

A more central choice would be what is called the Mid-City area, south of Wilshire Blvd. along the 10 freeway. Many small homes are opening up in that area in the same price range as above, however the yards can be small (or worse, PAVED!). The climate is mild, but the heat island effect is in play too, so it tends to stay warmer in the evening. It's a Sunset zone 22, just fyi.

There are less expensive areas in which to live, but the crime and poverty can be pretty difficult (I've been living in East Los Angeles for the last 6 years, and am ready to leave the noise and crowdedness behind, though the neighbors are super nice). I really scoured the city for the nicest possible neighborhoods in my price range, so I think I can say that these areas are probably the best for the money.

Hope this helps!
Jungleman (Jeff)

Kennnnnnnnnnnnnn!! Where are you?????

Not on the SW forum Marie, he has abandoned us all.

He is probably drinking wine with Dr. Don and Pam.

Marie I got those clouds and humidity from your monsoon, and we even had a tornado an hour from here last night, but we have got no rain here! Hook a girl up already!!!!Today was so gray and breezy and fresh all day in the high severties. relief. I will take it, if thats all the pull you have over there.

Dawn I would love a day like that!! We were still100 with 70% hummidity or something like that.

It was wonderful but back in the hundreds today. I gardened though, watered and planted seeds I got in the seed exchange, just to see if I could get some stuff to germinate with water crystals in with the seeds, just did a one day germination of MG and they are all up and running, ready to climb chain link... Wish my front had half as nice of a start as my back yard. I just started some lasagnas in the front so I will have something to work with one day.

Don must be licking his wounds, I drove him off. I miss his monologues.

Hey guys!
You didn't run me off, but I've been living in airports and hotels for the past few weeks.
I haven't really begun my legwork on finding a home yet as I've been in Reno and Vegas most of the time.
I'll start my search this week.
Thanks for the info Jungleman.
That's good information there.
I've also plugged into some others from the area and are pumping them for info too.
I've got to drive the areas some to see the "Vibe" and the drive...

On a garden note:
After traveling for several weeks now, and being away from my home for most of the time, it is really interesting to walk the yard and see how things are doing out there.
I flew in late last night and toured the yard this morning.
Monsoons are apparently in full swing here in Tucson, so there's no shortage of moisture.
Lots of mesquite seeds have germinated everywhere.
Bananas are finally kicking in.
Snail and Passion vines are going bonkers!
Clematis finally came on.
Plumeria are bright bushy green too.
Lots of other stuff just couldn't handle the late June heat.

It makes me proud that despite the heat, storms, and neglect, my preparatory efforts seem to be working (for now).

Mostly good news.

What kind of work do you do if you don't mind saying?

We are getting some of that Monsoon, I smell rain again. Yippie!

Monsoon, schmonsoon........That's semi-hebrew-yiddish ........for "YOU should spend an afternoon here bupkis"...lol.

I'm rarely ever frightenend by my vocabularian nature, nor am I intimidated by those who speak a lesser version of the language of the land. (You remember, right?.....the land that actually used to reward those who thought outside the pox?)

As I see it, Ken is about to embark on a rather commonplace experience..............The carpet bagger comes to Californey. We should be grateful that companies are still sending their minions here in order to share positively inane insights regarding life in the Southland. I'm sure Ken will fit right in with those who consider a tequila collection incomplete without at least three different years being represented from the house of Don Julio.....Name two.

For those of you who think I might be off my meds.......well, you're right, I haven't had a decent/proper martini in at least an hour. But I've been substituting my Olive absence with Agave tequilana "Weberii" extracts. Let's just hope ol' Ken finds a place where he has room to grow one of the plants that have given him so much enjoyment.
I know that Jerry Brickman's contributions to my tequila collections have assisted in the truth of any adult beverage I collect. "It's only as good as the company you keep"...........so, since I, a Californian, have nothing but good company. All the tequila I buy......the single malt, the gin, the vodka........hell, the apple juice is timed to enjoy with those who matter. Who matters?............all of you.

best to all,
Uncle........."You'll breathe when I tell you to".......Skippy,

Hy ya, Don Honey....I don't know what you said...but I support your right to say it!! Jo

LOL Jo!

Hey Jo, do you think "Uncle Skippy" is sometimes a wee bit difficult to translate ? I wonder perhaps, could he be on a herbal medication, something like that Agave extract he mentioned ? Being a scientist he would know how to best utilize the medicinal properties of Agave tequilana, probably in a tall vessel, over ice, with a squeeze of lime ? Not quite like a double fudge chocolate chip brownie, but effective in its own way.

Having a recipe for the 'extract' would be really cool if it would allow me to garner the reward for 'thinking outside the pox'. lol

The garden sounds great Ken. More than a bit of zone envy here.

Robert...if you mean do I think he has imbibed too much...Yep! LOL Jo

Oh no Jo, I think he would only savor the distillate of various fermentables with an eye to establishing their efficacy as a medicinal adjunct, like Gin to enhance the effectiveness of the Quinine in tonic water for the relief of Malaria. Well it sounded good at the time.

Well, I can't throw any stones since I found out what drinking the whole bottle of Bailey's does to me.....I've never before in my life had to crawl to get anywhere. We aren't drinking anymore Bailey's...........it sure is hard to give up, though.....

Gypsy, it was the cream that did it !! After all, there was just a little good pure double distilled Irish whiskey in it to keep it from spoiling. Maybe just cut back on the cream a bit .

LOL...I don't think so....if something is so good that I can't stop at one glass, then it's something I need to stay away from. I think I must have a predilection for whiskey in any form... 'course the cream makes it so smooooth.....

I like my Irish Whisky in an Irish Coffee made at Buena Vista in S.F. Many, many great memories (?), I think I remember, anyway. Maybe not. Seemed like a good idea at the time.

This message was edited Jul 15, 2008 7:38 PM