"Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you...."
Nate and Al's had a birthday party today. No it was not about their 72 years on this touristy blvd, but Angela's birthday. She has been the host of this historic eatery for eighteen years and has memorized each name by heart with a contagious smile.
"Thank you. This table will do."
It is a festive occasion today, as outside the Benny Goodman band is playing and old Blue Eyes is singing Strangers in the Night. Every tavble is now taken.
"I will have the matzo ball soup please. and of course with pickles and rye toast....Thanks."
The waiter set the pickles and water down and I began to munch them when a guest arrived to my table.
"Why...you are not...no way...are you Frank Sinatra?"
"Yes George, I am..and am here on a mission. I am told that some witch evicted you from the Five Points Senior Apartments. Is that right?"
"Well, Frankie. I heard your voice but no how in hell you arrived in Beverly Hills."
"Well George, New York is not my only town. Why I love Beverly Hills too. .I did a lot of singing at the Palomar and the Brown Derby ages ago. But first, what mischief can we make to rid ourselves of that manager of your old apartments.
"Well she hates music. I just know that if she heard you sing non stop for a day, she would expire."
Just then, Dean Martin joined us. He looked as if he hadn't aged a bit and carried a dry martini with him. He kissed Frankie on the cheek and took up a seat.
"Was this I hear about New York...Why San Francisco is my kind of town...He George, order me a eggs Benedict with and a black coffee. ..Thanks.
"Oder more pickles and let me sing Witchcraft for you." (not edited)
Monday, November 20, 2017
A Super Bug in Los Angeles
"Yes, Sally, be right over!"
At the Marriott Hotel now, I knocked on room 2007. Sally opened the door, and told me that she had suffered excruciating pain, worse than labor. Her daughter Ida Rose was still asleep.
"Your symptoms sound like my brother's a few years back..Mel had a his bladder removed and survived but almost died with what a nurse called E-Coli disease. At the Anaheim rehab hospital Mel could not take any food or liquid without throwing it up. How long have you been nauseous Sally."
"For about three days now. It feels like a beach ball rolling back and forth inside my stomach. I have not been able to sleep a wink, and when I do fall asleep, my daughter awakes me. I ven went to emergency on Wednesday and they found nothing wrong although they did take a swab sample from my nose.
"What you say we go to the U.C.L.A emergency hospital. Let me call a taxi while you get Ida Rose dressed."
The Westwood hospital was packed with at least fifty people inside the E.R. Many were homeless and it felt unsafe to sit next to any of them for fear of coming down with Hepatitis, Whooping cough or T.B. While living in San Diego, I found those from across the border who entered San Diego harbored several diseases.
After checking her vital signs and taking a urine sample and blood test, a nurse took us to a room, It was not too easy since we had a toddler with us. Sally put a patient's gown on and we waited for the doctor. Finally a doctor Berry entered. He resembled a black bear with large eyes and dark black hairy eye brows
"See that you have a pain in the abdomen. So far the tests results show that your kidneys are fine and there does not seem to be anything out of the ordinary." I sat on the side as he poked around her belly and back. He told us that he would return which he did in about five minutes.
The sample from the nose show that you have a virus. I will return a little later but will have you take an I.V to replenish the water.
It appeared that the I.V. was not working so I got a nurse to enter and she told us that the arm must be flat for the drips to fall...Soon the drips fell...At about eleven the nurse brought another bag, and hooked it up to the same IV.
"Sally is very low on Potassium It should take a few hours for this one as Potassium comes down a lot slower than the other one." Sally was totally exhausted and her daughter slept beside her in the hospital bed. We were there until six and they took another blood sample.
The symptoms remained unchanged the next day, but at least she did not worry about kidney stones and now knew that a "good engine does not run without gas....and water and potassium is that gas."
She still had all of the symptoms the next day but had more energy, enough to go to C.V.S down the street for potassium pills and a walk down Jerusalem Street or or Pico between Beverly Drive and Fairfax.
Ida Rose enjoyed my arms as she was too heavy for Sally to carry. We met the proprietor of a hew thrift shop who
"What a gorgeous baby. Are you the father?"
"No, must a friend of Sally. This is Sally."
"My name if Goldman. I am half Persian and half Israeli. My Dad left Tehran many years ago and immigrated to the United States. He sold antiquities to the big dealers. I have had this shop now for one year....Buy any ten items and each is one dollar.
"Maybe next time. I was hungry and saw Nick's, a block west of Pico. It was packed with enthusiastic eaters so we waited. Baby Ida was waving and smiling to all. One couple were so entrapped by her gorgeous green eyes that they offered two seats for us.
And what is life without a baby?
At the Marriott Hotel now, I knocked on room 2007. Sally opened the door, and told me that she had suffered excruciating pain, worse than labor. Her daughter Ida Rose was still asleep.
"Your symptoms sound like my brother's a few years back..Mel had a his bladder removed and survived but almost died with what a nurse called E-Coli disease. At the Anaheim rehab hospital Mel could not take any food or liquid without throwing it up. How long have you been nauseous Sally."
"For about three days now. It feels like a beach ball rolling back and forth inside my stomach. I have not been able to sleep a wink, and when I do fall asleep, my daughter awakes me. I ven went to emergency on Wednesday and they found nothing wrong although they did take a swab sample from my nose.
"What you say we go to the U.C.L.A emergency hospital. Let me call a taxi while you get Ida Rose dressed."
The Westwood hospital was packed with at least fifty people inside the E.R. Many were homeless and it felt unsafe to sit next to any of them for fear of coming down with Hepatitis, Whooping cough or T.B. While living in San Diego, I found those from across the border who entered San Diego harbored several diseases.
After checking her vital signs and taking a urine sample and blood test, a nurse took us to a room, It was not too easy since we had a toddler with us. Sally put a patient's gown on and we waited for the doctor. Finally a doctor Berry entered. He resembled a black bear with large eyes and dark black hairy eye brows
"See that you have a pain in the abdomen. So far the tests results show that your kidneys are fine and there does not seem to be anything out of the ordinary." I sat on the side as he poked around her belly and back. He told us that he would return which he did in about five minutes.
The sample from the nose show that you have a virus. I will return a little later but will have you take an I.V to replenish the water.
It appeared that the I.V. was not working so I got a nurse to enter and she told us that the arm must be flat for the drips to fall...Soon the drips fell...At about eleven the nurse brought another bag, and hooked it up to the same IV.
"Sally is very low on Potassium It should take a few hours for this one as Potassium comes down a lot slower than the other one." Sally was totally exhausted and her daughter slept beside her in the hospital bed. We were there until six and they took another blood sample.
The symptoms remained unchanged the next day, but at least she did not worry about kidney stones and now knew that a "good engine does not run without gas....and water and potassium is that gas."
She still had all of the symptoms the next day but had more energy, enough to go to C.V.S down the street for potassium pills and a walk down Jerusalem Street or or Pico between Beverly Drive and Fairfax.
Ida Rose enjoyed my arms as she was too heavy for Sally to carry. We met the proprietor of a hew thrift shop who
"What a gorgeous baby. Are you the father?"
"No, must a friend of Sally. This is Sally."
"My name if Goldman. I am half Persian and half Israeli. My Dad left Tehran many years ago and immigrated to the United States. He sold antiquities to the big dealers. I have had this shop now for one year....Buy any ten items and each is one dollar.
"Maybe next time. I was hungry and saw Nick's, a block west of Pico. It was packed with enthusiastic eaters so we waited. Baby Ida was waving and smiling to all. One couple were so entrapped by her gorgeous green eyes that they offered two seats for us.
And what is life without a baby?
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Santa Monica Place and Mattel
"Well Sally, the best way to see Los Angeles and its arteries is by bus. I will meet you at the Marriott Pico at about eleven o'clock....must see my daughter at Coffee Bean first."
We met in Henderson City about eight years ago. She worked at the Fiesta Hotel while I took a vacation from L.A. We hung out a few nights together and kept in touch. Her marriage produced Baby Ida Rose Goldberg who she brought along. The hotel is off of Beverly Drive and Pico, the gateway to Beverly Hills and Beverly Wood. I arrived at a little after eleven, after four bus connections and two trains. She waited inside the lobby for me. She hadn't changed one bit, all except now she came with a crawling baby. Her husband was a pit boss at Caesar's Palace and she was a full time mom.
"Why you haven't changed one speck Sally. Sally was a tall dark lady with a permanent smile. We hugged and...Get the baby, she is trying to go outside...Wow? I have never seen a baby crawl so fast."
The number Rapid Blue Seven arrives each thirty minutes. We bought some fresh plums from the Glatt Market and got on the bus. Baby Ida allowed me to hold her while ladies sat beside us. None could get over how penetrating her eyes were. We got off on Fourth and Broadway and walked to Santa Monica place and up the elevator to the Food Court. Up ahead was U.C.L.A.'s Mattel children's play area.
We found a table and I ordered a Persian plate of Pita bread, rice, shish kebab, lamb and chicken for thirteen dollars including drink. Sally ate from my plate and cut off pieces of meat for her baby. Her eight teeth had no trouble devouring the meat
"Did you know that Ruth Handler was my Mom's maid of honor at her wedding? She developed the Barbie Doll and later Ken, using the names of her kids. They developed these dolls in a garage a few blocks down in Beverly Wood. These dolls sprang Mattel into what it is today. Elliot and Ruth owned horses and I met them at Hollywood park several times."
Baby Ida was getting antsy so we took her inside the large play area. The other children were older but as soon as we placed the baby down, she tried to emulate the others. A web of ropes covered the play area and Ida tried to stand and did, but fell time and time again. Eager to copy the older kids, she continued to climb steps or have the ropes carry her higher to no avail. For three hours, she would not leave her play pen. Her eyes, yes her big green eyes implored every kid to play with her -- and some did.
Of course for me, I saw my Mom Edith looking down on us, and even speaking to me. You are doing great and please keep Mel alive. He probably will be looking forward to Derik's Turkey Leg again. I know that the Sea Cliff is a last station before the crematorium but you can do it.
Well Ma, he has again been scheduled for an ear operation to remove the cancerous bump from his ear...but you know it will never happen. I made sure he got spaghetti with meat balls and changed to turkey sandwiches with mustard...You know how he abhors mayonnaise.
If Ruth Handler should be up there, thank her for her play area in Santa Monica Place.
Nuts and bolts for today: I am changing so fast I can't keep up with myself
We met in Henderson City about eight years ago. She worked at the Fiesta Hotel while I took a vacation from L.A. We hung out a few nights together and kept in touch. Her marriage produced Baby Ida Rose Goldberg who she brought along. The hotel is off of Beverly Drive and Pico, the gateway to Beverly Hills and Beverly Wood. I arrived at a little after eleven, after four bus connections and two trains. She waited inside the lobby for me. She hadn't changed one bit, all except now she came with a crawling baby. Her husband was a pit boss at Caesar's Palace and she was a full time mom.
"Why you haven't changed one speck Sally. Sally was a tall dark lady with a permanent smile. We hugged and...Get the baby, she is trying to go outside...Wow? I have never seen a baby crawl so fast."
The number Rapid Blue Seven arrives each thirty minutes. We bought some fresh plums from the Glatt Market and got on the bus. Baby Ida allowed me to hold her while ladies sat beside us. None could get over how penetrating her eyes were. We got off on Fourth and Broadway and walked to Santa Monica place and up the elevator to the Food Court. Up ahead was U.C.L.A.'s Mattel children's play area.
We found a table and I ordered a Persian plate of Pita bread, rice, shish kebab, lamb and chicken for thirteen dollars including drink. Sally ate from my plate and cut off pieces of meat for her baby. Her eight teeth had no trouble devouring the meat
"Did you know that Ruth Handler was my Mom's maid of honor at her wedding? She developed the Barbie Doll and later Ken, using the names of her kids. They developed these dolls in a garage a few blocks down in Beverly Wood. These dolls sprang Mattel into what it is today. Elliot and Ruth owned horses and I met them at Hollywood park several times."
Baby Ida was getting antsy so we took her inside the large play area. The other children were older but as soon as we placed the baby down, she tried to emulate the others. A web of ropes covered the play area and Ida tried to stand and did, but fell time and time again. Eager to copy the older kids, she continued to climb steps or have the ropes carry her higher to no avail. For three hours, she would not leave her play pen. Her eyes, yes her big green eyes implored every kid to play with her -- and some did.
Of course for me, I saw my Mom Edith looking down on us, and even speaking to me. You are doing great and please keep Mel alive. He probably will be looking forward to Derik's Turkey Leg again. I know that the Sea Cliff is a last station before the crematorium but you can do it.
Well Ma, he has again been scheduled for an ear operation to remove the cancerous bump from his ear...but you know it will never happen. I made sure he got spaghetti with meat balls and changed to turkey sandwiches with mustard...You know how he abhors mayonnaise.
If Ruth Handler should be up there, thank her for her play area in Santa Monica Place.
Nuts and bolts for today: I am changing so fast I can't keep up with myself
Friday, November 3, 2017
The white clouds smiled down at me
Again I am huddled at the Huntington Waterfront Hilton. Black suits stand at the front patio enjoying the view of Catalina, the Pacific and the lovely white pillow looking clouds overhead. Like clones of the others, these well dressed suitors strut and carry with them their smart phones. At the end of each stage of walk, they remove their cell phones. The size and number of apps of each phone tell you how important it is to their identity. I have never seen a lovelier sky than the one today.
I stand out like a mutated black lion among hundreds of Zebras. This is my day. My state teachers check arrived at my old apartments. And since I had not given the keys, had access to my mail box. I leaped for joy when I glanced down and saw the state letter. In fact I felt so good I bought a bag of licorice at Trader Joes, and played the fourth floor piano.
Yes I was on a high and it felt good to stroke a few white and blacks keys, that is until a grey ghost entered the activity room and destroyed serenity. She wore grandma's old robe with hair grayer than
"You are a crazy old man! Why must you play so loud?"
"Well I am sorry but my brother Mel just died and I needed to pound the keys."
"Well old man, you better stop or else!"
Now this scene had been played before. It had been obvious that the Five Points Apartments let anyone lease their rooms. I finally let loose with the F word and she disrobed to her room
In order to lease my new apartment on Magnolia, I had to provide for not one, but two security checks totaling $3, 600. That left me with fifty dollars to live on for the month.
To live on five dollars a day is not my cup of tea but the new apartments wished for a double security deposit-of course cutting into my food bill. My brother Mel bailed me out by donating money from his petty cash account.
"I'll take the usual...a tall black with room for half and half."
"That will be three twenty two please."
To the side of the coffee clutch area was a counter with small glass containers of honey, half and half and several types of sugars. I milked the large cup and tossed the honey around and around. My body jumped with the first sip of the straws brew.
Don't mind if I do, and borrowed a L.A. Times to look at the news before my number 25 bus arrived. I felt tickled to death that Long Beach would address the dirty air and clean up the trucks whose exhaust cause most of it...but what about the schools without AC, I thought.
It was now eight fifteen so replaced the paper the same way I had found it on a rack and strode outside. Yes, the blue sky with white fluffy clouds made me feel more alive. But outside many black early model cars had lined up to make a turn on Huntington Street. Traffic had been backed up and when I saw my bus I left the safety of the sidewalk and began to direct traffic.
"Hey, what is this convention all about?"
"A southern wine convention."
I halted the traffic so my bus could turn left. He stopped and opened his doors. to take me to the library and senior center And the good news was that this library would now be opened on Sunday afternoon, just like Beverly Hills. (No edited )
Nuts and Bolts for today: Del Mar's thoroughbred's season had begun. Like my Mom did, bet on the one and six. And don't drive there...Take the Amtrak or Metro and then the Coaster. The Big Red British bus will take you to grandstand.
I stand out like a mutated black lion among hundreds of Zebras. This is my day. My state teachers check arrived at my old apartments. And since I had not given the keys, had access to my mail box. I leaped for joy when I glanced down and saw the state letter. In fact I felt so good I bought a bag of licorice at Trader Joes, and played the fourth floor piano.
Yes I was on a high and it felt good to stroke a few white and blacks keys, that is until a grey ghost entered the activity room and destroyed serenity. She wore grandma's old robe with hair grayer than
"You are a crazy old man! Why must you play so loud?"
"Well I am sorry but my brother Mel just died and I needed to pound the keys."
"Well old man, you better stop or else!"
Now this scene had been played before. It had been obvious that the Five Points Apartments let anyone lease their rooms. I finally let loose with the F word and she disrobed to her room
In order to lease my new apartment on Magnolia, I had to provide for not one, but two security checks totaling $3, 600. That left me with fifty dollars to live on for the month.
To live on five dollars a day is not my cup of tea but the new apartments wished for a double security deposit-of course cutting into my food bill. My brother Mel bailed me out by donating money from his petty cash account.
"I'll take the usual...a tall black with room for half and half."
"That will be three twenty two please."
To the side of the coffee clutch area was a counter with small glass containers of honey, half and half and several types of sugars. I milked the large cup and tossed the honey around and around. My body jumped with the first sip of the straws brew.
Don't mind if I do, and borrowed a L.A. Times to look at the news before my number 25 bus arrived. I felt tickled to death that Long Beach would address the dirty air and clean up the trucks whose exhaust cause most of it...but what about the schools without AC, I thought.
It was now eight fifteen so replaced the paper the same way I had found it on a rack and strode outside. Yes, the blue sky with white fluffy clouds made me feel more alive. But outside many black early model cars had lined up to make a turn on Huntington Street. Traffic had been backed up and when I saw my bus I left the safety of the sidewalk and began to direct traffic.
"Hey, what is this convention all about?"
"A southern wine convention."
I halted the traffic so my bus could turn left. He stopped and opened his doors. to take me to the library and senior center And the good news was that this library would now be opened on Sunday afternoon, just like Beverly Hills. (No edited )
Nuts and Bolts for today: Del Mar's thoroughbred's season had begun. Like my Mom did, bet on the one and six. And don't drive there...Take the Amtrak or Metro and then the Coaster. The Big Red British bus will take you to grandstand.
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