Libby's L.A. Adventure

Last weekend Ryan had a conference where he had to be locked in the school for 65 hours. I didn't really want to witness the carnage, so I decided to go to L.A. to visit Tara. It was a lovely weekend. I could go on and on about what we did, where we went, who we saw, and everything we ate, but you read this blog for entertainment -- not to cure insomnia (at least, I hope that's the case.) So, instead of a full travelogue, here is a list of five things I learned on my weekend away....

1. Frank Lloyd Wright Was Not a Great Builder. Yes, yes, FLW was a great designer and changed architecture (and museum jewelry) as we know it. However, while touring Hollyhock House it became obvious that he had flunked his engineering courses. The roof was leaking in at least a dozen places. The windows had pillars in front of them, because the builders had determined that, without them, the roof would collapse. The walls had huge cracks in them. Yes, it was beautiful, but I wouldn't have wanted to keep up with the repairs.

2. I Really Hate Sing-A-Longs I have always known I didn't like sing-a-longs, lumping them in with celebrities singing on television, and historical re-creationists as things that make me cringe. It wasn't until this Saturday though that I realized the depth of my dislike. We went to see this great group, the Chapin Sisters, in Santa Monica. I love them. And it would have been a great concert -- except for their Dad. Tom Chapin is a children's singer/folk singer who thinks every song should be a group effort. By intermission I was sung out, no matter how fabulous his daughters may have been. By the end of the night I was just embarrassed for all involved.

3. Some People Mistake Baptismal Fonts for Wishing Wells Hence this picture from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels...
4. Tara Bakes No, really, she does. Sunday morning she made a really good applesauce spice cake. I mean, really good. She kept saying how it wasn't very pretty, but really, who cares. It was good. I had no idea she has this talent. I can't believe we've been friends for five years and I never knew this. Now nothing is unexpected. If I came home tomorrow and discovering Sally flamenco dancing, I wouldn't be surprised.

5. Airport Security is No Laughing Matter The sign below was posted at the Bob Hope Airport. I just find that sad. If there is one place jokes should be accepted, it's at an airport named for Bob Hope. I mean, at the John Wayne airport I could understand it, but this just seems ironic and sad.

I hope you've learned as much as I did from my trip to L.A. If nothing else, the fact that I really like taking pictures of warning signs. Just imagine how much we'll all learn from my upcoming trips to New York and Orlando. Maybe we'll even learn math! Yeah, probably not...