back yard orange tree and downtown los angeles tonight at dusk.....

This is California. In winter. I love it here. Silverlake is turning out to be an amazing neighborhood. It's East of Hollywood and best known for it's eclectic gathering of the creative community. It's home to many musicians, actors and freethinkers. I remember seeing Rilo Kiley play at Spaceland in the late 90's and of coarse, Beck and Elliot Smith. You can go to clubspaceland.com and listen to all the bands thats headlining there right now. I also got to see one of my favorite bands, Mates Of State play which you must check out lead singer Kori Garner's blog called Band On The [Diaper] Run at babble.com. It chronicles her 2 piece band tour around the world with little 2 year old Magnolia along for the ride. Her husband is fellow band member Jason Hammel. Her blog is just like her, original and refreshing. I really love it. Silverlake is also known for it's man made reservoir which it got it's name from and serves water to South L.A. There's an incredible view of the lake from the hills. It glows. There's also a great little Vietnamese restarant on my corner called Gingergrass and it's bananas good. There's always a line coming out of the place and the noddle bowls are the best. On that same street is Silverlake Wine, and Rockaway Records. I love the sound of a real record player. Both unique places. And I'm happy I don't have to drive so far away to get to the park. Los Angeles is a pain for driving.
These oranges are so ripe and bright. They grow in my back yard. Jasmine is never too far behind. It feels like a warm fall in L.A. It is turning to dusk now as I write with pink and purple glowing over the city and the cold air that comes in at night makes us cozy. The fire. The desert. The palms. The mountains. I am so very far from home and happily so