I asked at the front desk of the Doubletree Hotel -- where I commandeered a table and electrical outlet in a hallway in order to make about three hours worth of phone calls -- for a recommendation on a restaurant for lunch. "A classic, old Modesto restaurant that would be a shame to miss while I'm in town."

They sent me two blocks away to Galletto. www.galletto.biz A restaurant with a modern Italian menu set in a converted old bank.

I was impressed. Especially by the pumpkin cheesecake.

A very cool small dining room at Galletto.

To the Sea!

Traveled an arduous 10 miles to Santa Monica today for a meeting.

The weather there was pretty gloomy this afternoon.

Actually, going home was pretty rough -- I got caught up in the afternoon rush hour traffic.

A Homecoming Blowout

The Trojans defeated the Oregon State Beavers 24 to 3 in Saturday's Homecoming Game.

It was absolutely packed on campus with people partying before the game.

For one day, at least, it was smiles all around in Trojanland.

A unique means of moving goods to the consumer.

The Drum Major leads the Trojan Marching Band on campus before the game.

The Trumpets seem to be having fun.

Passing through the Rose Garden in Exposition Park on the way to the Memorial Coliseum.

Surprise! A photo of Traveler.

It's a little hard to make out from this angle but the Trojan Marching Band is spelling "TROJANS."

Who scheduled a high school debate tournament at USC on Homecoming Weekend? Talk about watching the world go by.

I Love the 80s

Things have been pretty intense at work (in a good way) so I only spent about 20 minutes walking around the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival.

Hey, where's mustard?

This guy had his "aaggg-ggg-ggg-ggg" Popeye laugh down pretty good.

The crowd seemed to have fun taunting the 2 religious protesters and their giant signs.

Spent Tuesday in Sacramento and the weather was lovely. I had lunch at the Chevy's Mexican Restaurant along the river.

Cheerio

Went to the Kirk Douglas Theater in Culver City Saturday night to see their new production of "En Un Sol Amarillo." The show dramatizes the aftermath of the 1998 earthquake that struck Bolivia.

Performed in Spanish (with English super-titles shown above the stage) the show is performed by members of Teatro de los Andes from Bolivia.

The visual illustrations of the earthquake itself are arresting and the description of government bungling following the event is fascinating.

Furniture suspended from ropes (that drop to illustrate collapsing homes) create startling images.

Unfortunately, since it was early in the run, there were problems with the English super-titles. They stalled while the actors kept talking and then they ran so fast to catch up you couldn't read all the words.

I'm sure they'll get the kinks worked out. In the meantime I enjoyed the show because it was so uniquely theatrical.

Spent Friday on the campus of UC Davis for a conference. But from the look of their on-campus bus system and phone booths I could have been in olde Londontown.

A Little Slice of Heaven

Spent Tuesday in Fresno which meant I got to have lunch at the Chicken Pie Shop -- one of my all-time favorite restaurants.

I'm thinking CPS attracts an early-to-lunch kind of a crowd, because when I rolled in at 1:30 it was pretty empty.

Perfect As Is

Went to see "Third," the last play written by Wendy Wasserstein last night at the Geffen Playhouse.

"Third" examines the clash between a feminist professor and a college student she accuses of plagiarizing a paper for her class.

In Wasserstein's unique contemporary style the play takes on issues of political ideology, racism, sexism, ageism and other isms along the way.

Wasserstein, who died from lymphoma in 2006 at the age of 56, includes a character fighting her own fight against cancer.

Some have said if Wasserstein had lived longer she could have made the play better. None of us lead lives of perfection. I think it's touching the play is as it is.

Stuck on You

I buy all my stamps from the Post Office in Keeler, California. I have ever since the Los Angeles Times ran an article about the Postmaster of Keeler struggling against mighty odds to keep her Post Office open.

The folks at L'Enfant Plaza (USPS HQ) want to shut it down because it loses money. Keeler (pop. 50) is a dying town wedged between the Owens Lake dry lakebed and the western edge of Death Valley. Pretty much all the town has left is its Post Office.

I figure the Los Angeles Post Office won't miss my business. They probably lose more stamps in one day than I ever buy in a whole year.

So whenever I needs stamps I write a check and mail it to: Postmaster, Keeler, CA 93530. 3 or 4 days later my stamps arrive in the mail delivered Priority Mail. And I've done my little part to help keep this Post Office open.

But I'd never actually BEEN to Keeler until Tuesday. I was in Inyo County and decided to swing over and check out the town for myself. Pretty intense.

You can help keep the Keeler Post Office open by buying your stamps there too.

The only service window inside the Keeler Post Office.

The Owens Lake dry riverbed as seen from Keeler.

The road leading away from Keeler. This photo makes me sad.

Keeler is at the end of an unfinished narrow gauge rail line, now abandoned.

Downtown Lone Pine. I had a pretty good lunch in the Mexican restaurant on the main highway. But I can't remember its name.

Inyo County Courthouse.

Here Kitty Kitty, Here Kitty Kitty, Here Kitty Kitty, Pow!

I wasn't about to miss a second USC home football game.

Spirits were up on campus before the game, despite last week's defeat.

Fortunately, the Trojans came through and beat the Arizona Wildcats 13 to 20.