Fire Station Open House!

Oddly enough the firemen rarely use this any more.  Most of the firemen at Mar Vista are on the older side and might actually get hurt on the landing.  But it remains as a symbol.

 It's been a double fire truck week for the girls.  On Thursday, Mary Jane and Betsy Jo went to the local fire station in Westchester.  (Some of those pictures must be on Facebook somewhere.)  But that was completely unrelated to the open houses run throughout all of LAFD today.

I was struggling with my Saturday morning run... on my quest to finish the Pasadena half-marathon... when I passed a bunch of fire trucks parked out on a street.  I thought, "Oh, bad fire" or even "Someone was shot!" as it was down by Oakwood.  But no, it was an open house with a pancake breakfast!  Ah, no better way to celebrate a morning than with a pancake breakfast.  Ironically, Mommy and Mary Jane were fixing a pancake breakfast while I was running out and about through the Venice and Mar Vista area (today's run: 7 miles).  We didn't ever make it to the Venice pancake breakfast (maybe next year) but I did take the two girls to the Mar Vista open house.  It's the one over on Venice and Inglewood.  Yes, where the old Break Shot used to be. (Now how would you remember that?)

There weren't that many people there that late in the day.  Mostly moms with young children so I fit in quite well with my girls.

Mary Jane and Betsy Jo had fun wandering around and climbing onto and off of the fire trucks.  No hats were worn though.  That's too bad.  

Daddy and the Girls

Having Fun at Music Class

Talking 'bout My Generation!

 Mary Jane and Betsy Jo thoroughly enjoy their Sunday morning music class over on Venice Blvd.  One man, one guitar, nine or ten children, random assortment of parents, noisemakers, scarves, and a tunnel.  What more could you ask?  Mary Jane and Betsy both jump up and down on the trampoline (that's what Baby Natalie is balanced on in the picture below) with aplomb.  Can't say that I've ever used 'aplomb' before in a sentence.

 Two girls with their jeans and Who t-shirts ready to dance!

You mean it's time to go?  Boo hoo!

10 Years Ago...

Mister John drove over to a place called Van Gogh's Ear in Venice. Not really a great eating establishment but a place that had a relatively empty upstairs area where he could have a brunch date with some woman named Jill. I guess it worked out for them because they've known each other for ten years now. Who would have thought that having eggs and toast would start a lifelong relationship? Of course Mister John did have much shaggier -- almost mullet-like -- hair back then. And he even wore jeans. That's something that Mister John rarely does.

Ten years and many bunnies later, they are quite happy together.