Things I'll miss about Los Angeles

That last post was kinda sad. I don't want to give the impression that we've just been sitting in litter feeling sorry for ourselves these last 5 years, on the contrary, we've had some wonderful times. If it weren't for our time here we wouldn't have Kali (thank you Glendale Humane Society)...

and Bella (thank you East Valley Animal Shelter)...

and probably even McKenna...

This city has a lot to offer and practically every weekend we explored someplace new. This blog captured a lot of the good stuff, and these are the things that I'll miss...

Destinations – Griffith Park - ponies, merry-go-round, and trains, the old zoo, the Observatory, the Greek, Hollywood and Highland, Pig and Whistle, Lucky Strike, Santa Monica Pier, Melrose Trading Post, Anarkali, La Brea Tar Pits, Sunset Strip, the Fashion District, Chinatown,

The Getty, Rose Bowl Flea Market, the Blue Room, Bigfoot Lodge, NoHo, Universal Studios, the Metro, Dodger Stadium,

Victorio's, Tonga Hut, Montrose Harvest Market, Venice Beach, 99cents Only stores, the Grove, the Americana, Disneyland, the Hollywood sign.

Surrounding areas – the Pacific Ocean,

Malibu, San Diego, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Big Bear Lake,

Lake Arrowhead, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Sequoia National Park, Yosemite, Joshua Tree.

The mountains, even though they're dusty.

Parks and trails – Mt. Hollywood, Runyon Canyon, Stough Canyon, Wildwood Canyon, Lake Balboa, Tree People, Franklin Canyon, Pacific Park (all of them), Hansen Dam.

The L.A. Craft scene – especially those involved in Felt Club, Bazaar Bizarre, Patchwork, Craftmas, Swap-o-Rama-Rama and Holiday Cheer.

Hollywood estate sales and yard sales galore. All the stuff I found and turned into kokoleos.

Thrift stores – American Way on Magnolia, Veterans Thrift Store on Sonora, Goodwill on Hollywood and Sunset, The Family Store on Lankershim, Charity Thrift on Vanowen.

Good Mexican food - Fish tacos, De La Rosas, margaritas, “wagon wheels” (what are these called?) with chile and limon.

My church – St. Michael's All Angels in Studio City. I hadn't been to church in years, but this one reminded me why it's important – because there are nice people there, with kids that my kids now call friends, doing good things for the community. And there's coffee and doughnuts too.

And last, but not least - our friends, scattered across the city.

I hope we cross paths again.