The Old Nabe

It's hard to keep track of the Plotniks these days, but we're back and so happy to be home. It was very hot in S. City, and last night at Mummy Plotnik's, who turned off the air conditioning because she got a large plumbing estimate earlier in the day, was the hottest of all. "Mom!" screamed Plotnik in the morning. "Turn on the damned air conditioning!" "Money doesn't grow on trees!" she yelled back, sweat dripping off everyone's face.

The shot above was taken from the old neighborhood, where The Greats PD and BZWZ grew up and where PD, 5H and BI live now. It kind of sums up this intriguing sort-of-barrio, sort-of-Den of Hipiquity -- there is the Ukrainian Orthodox church, there is the brown Craftsman bungalow and there is Casanova's Beauty Parlor. Dodger Stadium is up the hill. It could use an Indian restaurant, but so could Snowy Valley.

Yesterday afternoon, Plot and Duck took Belly for a walk in her stroller. It was too hot to even think of getting in the car, so they strolled to Barragan's, the neighborhood freezingly air-conditioned chips, salsa and margaritas spot. Belly stayed in her stroller as Duck and Plot consumed huevos rancheros and yummy salsa; afterwards the three strolled to EPark Lake where Belly took a nap and P and D lay on the cool grass under a palm tree watching the fountain shoot geysers of water fifty feet in the air. It was one of those hours when you say to yourself: "this couldn't be more perfect."



Then PD made lamb chops and Greek salad and he, Plot and Duck ate out on their balcony, after Belly had had her bath and was asleep, and they talked about The Great 5Head probably still in the air heading to Singapore.

She phoned this morning. She's there, tired, but she says it's beautiful, which it really is.