The cops love my corner of the universe. We live at the intersection of the 405 and the 90, so I'm always hearing cops on their loudspeakers telling speeders to pull onto the shoulder. There's something about that turn onto the 90 West that makes it a great speed trap. And slightly more alarmingly, about once every two months, one of those police helicopters, equipped with a blinding NightSun (30 million candlepower) floodlight, circles my neighborhood for about half an hour. I'm never sure why. Maybe we need keeping an eye on, maybe it's because the only "projects" in West L.A. are down the street, who knows, but it's always at half-past midnight and it's always noisy as hell. I like cops on general principle, but could they please keep it down?!

TO: United States Postal Service
RE: Columbus Day

Some Spanish dude's violation of the Prime Directive is not a good enough reason for me to not get my magazines.

Thanks.

Love,
~j

I have one of these beauties living on my parsley right now. I'm as proud as if I gave birth to her myself! She's a Black Swallowtail and she's going to be beautiful when she grows up!