Izumi Tanaka

Every morning before the sun-seeking crowd gets here, there are these trucks that scan the beach to clean and level the sands.  They are a part of the familiar scene I encounter when I I do my morning bike ride.

While the rest of the world seems to be smothering in heat, it’s been more gray and cool in my neighborhood.  The marine layers stay around throughout most of the days and keeping the temperature unseasonably low. Then we got these glorious sunny morning a few days here and there.  Still, gray or blue, I’m grateful to live here as it is indeed a paradise.

I’ve had this cactus plant for more than 20 years.  It used to be in my bedroom and grew too big.  When I moved out of my condo I replanted some branches in smaller pots.  These blossoms come out during the summer and opens ONE night.  It’s fascinating to watch those little buds come out of the nods on the branches and grow…. only to bloom for just one night. I shot this at 12:15AM with long exposure….

The morning glory was back this morning.  The same spot, the same ocean, the same time… basking in the morning sun.

It was my first day this season to get on my bike to the beach.  I heard it was sizzling in other parts of town, but it stayed pretty foggy all day in Santa Monica, and the beach was fairly grey, too.  But there were lots of people on the beach, even in the water. some sailing boats….

My friend Beata treated me to brunch today at Back On Broadway in Santa Monica.

This is where Kenny and I had our wedding reception over five years ago.

The chef, Jean-Pierre, delighted us and our guests with fabulous menu of delightful appetizers and dinner dishes then.

Today, I had breakfast quesadilla with jack cheese, spinach, and egg white, which was so satisfying that I had to take a picture or two.