It's got to be the only hotel room bathroom in Stanislaus County with a bidet.

Sighted, But Not Seeing

Saturday night I went to the Pasadena Playhouse to see their new production, "Ray Charles Live!"

Much like the recent Jamie Fox movie, it's about Ray Charles' life and career -- including some of the less savory aspects like his womanizing and drug abuse.

But ultimately it's about Charles' music -- and I though the actor playing Ray Charles really pulled it off.

Well, I must be exhausted. Monday I got word the Loma Linda City Council (San Bernardino County) was taking up a resolution in opposition to Props. 94 to 97 that night. I checked out their agenda on-line and sure enough there was Item 22 -- a resolution in opposition.

After work I started driving to Loma Linda to attend the Council Meeting to thank them for opposing the Big 4 Gambling Deals. After fighting traffic for about 2 hours it occurred to me -- I don't know exactly why -- that most City Councils meet on Tuesday nights, not Monday nights. I glanced at the agenda and, sure enough, the meeting wasn't last night -- it was tonight!

I pulled off the freeway and turned around about 10 miles short of Loma Linda.

I stopped off at a very festive El Torito in Ontario for dinner (and even though I was upset at myself I didn't have a margarita because I was too tired to have one and then drive home).

I guess if I'm going to make that mistake it's better to go out there one night too early rather than one night too late. And -- APPROVED -- the Loma Linda City Council did vote tonight to oppose.

Saturday night I told someone the light atop the Capitol Records Building (this time of the year at the top of their "Christmas Tree") blinks the word "HOLLYWOOD" in Morse Code.

They accused me of being obsessed with meaningless trivia. Well, I never.

Happy Holidaze!

Here's a little video from me to you for the holidays. Check out my moves:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1253923419

Vidal Information

Spent Thursday in Fresno where I ran across this sculpture. It looked very Spanish to me. That got me thinking about the rise of Latino power in California politics and how such accessions are marked by the placement of public artworks.

Closer inspection of the plaque reminded me to be wary of such assumptions. This monument -- David of Sassoon -- was donated to Fresno County by the local Armenian community in 1970 and depicts a war hero from Armenia.

Seasonal Travel

It wasn't easy, but I made it from Reno to Fresno today. Both flights were significantly delayed and I arrived in Fresno more than three hours later than I was supposed to.

Spied these peppermint poinsettia plants at the Fresno Airport. Sure thought they were pretty. What a disappointment when I found out they were fake.

Hello, Quincy

The Christmas lights are up on the County Courthouse in Plumas County.

Made my way tonight to Quincy, the county seat of Plumas County, for a meeting.

Quincy is up in the mountains alongside the Feather River and I was a little worried that I might get caught in snow. But the weather was in the low 50s, so it all worked out.

This giant "mine" is the centerpiece of the luxe Silver Legacy Casino in Downtown Reno. It's about five or six stories tall and every few minutes makes some noise and stirs to life.

The easiest way to get in and out of Plumas County is via Reno.

Enough Said

The USC vs. UCLA game always brings lots of people out to party before the game. Here's a Bruin pinata hanging at one party site.

Afterwards.

Tommy Trojan was all wrapped up to prevent Bruin vandals from painting him blue and yellow.

I'm not sure what Elmo was doing on campus.

All dressed up and ready to go.

The Trojan Marching Band lined up on campus prior to the game.

The Trojan Marching Band enters via the Peristyle end of the Coliseum.

I need to get me one of them USC phones.

Traveler gets ready to run on the field prior to the game.

There he (or she?) goes.

KTLA newsman Stan Chambers was honored on the field near the end of the first quarter. He's been on the air continuously with one station since 1947 -- 60 years. When asked on the air Friday night who he'd be rooting for on Saturday he replied, "well, my initials are S. C."

Chambers was hired by KTLA immediately after graduating from the University of Southern California.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge taking pictures of his friends in the stands. As you can see behind him, there were few empty seats.

Trojans celebrating on the field after demolishing the UCLA Bruins 24 to 7.

My friend, Jim Brown, flew in from Washington, DC to go to the game. Afterwards we went for dinner at the elegant and pricey Pacific Dining Car. Jim was paying for dinner and that's definitely the way to enjoy the Pacific Dining Car.

Jim and I went to see the touring production of "The History Boys" at the Ahmanson Theater at the Music Center after dinner.

I saw a crackling production of this show on Broadway eighteen months ago -- featuring the original London cast -- and then the movie starring the same cast a few months ago, so I was worried this edition would suffer in comparison.

Fortunately, I was wrong. The touring cast, featuring Peter Paige, is very strong and the show -- about teachers and students -- is as strong as ever.

And I think after seeing it for the third time last night I feel like I actually understand it.

It was cold Saturday night -- cold enough for the ushers at the Music Center to don their capes.

Here's Jim Brown in front of the Christmas Tree at the Music Center. He was very proud of his ability to dress for a football game and the theater by "layering."