Pierce Bros Memorial Park

My friend Nasser who's been driving me for years in LA suggested that I check out Pierce Brothers Memorial Park and Mortuary in Westwood, LA. It's located about a block from my hotel and it's one of the most surreal places I have ever seen. I went for a walk there early this am and it was just me - and Marilyn Monroe. And Jack Lemmon. And Rodney Dangerfield. And Armand Hammer. Also Truman Capote. Walter Matthau. Roy Orbison. And Farrah Fawcett. And the list goes on and on.

Not sure what was cooler; how small (maybe an 1/8 of a mile in area space in total?) and secluded it was (an oasis in the desert just yards off of Wilshire Blvd) or the fact that it was completely non-denominational; celebrities intermingled with regular folks; muslims next to Jews.

Anyway, a very cool spot that I am glad I checked out.

iPad 3

A lot of folks have been asking me if I plan to get an iPad 3 (I suspect the announcement will occur no later than March 15th. I am also guessing that it will be available immediately post announcement).

I want to say that I won't; I think my iPad 2 is just fine. In fact, I could still be using my iPad 1 (which belongs to the Wife) and don't think I'd have any major complaints. I use iPad primarily for media consumption; mostly while watching TV or lying in bed. I use it primarily to check email, Facebook, Twitter and to read via the Kindle app. When travelling, I might use it to watch a movie for two. I don't think a retina display or an eight megapixel camera is going to be enough ( I have literally never once taken a picture with my iPad).

That being said, I think Apple gets consumers like me, and I expect some unecpected, Siri-like surprise that will raise the stakes significantly in the tablet space. What that surprise might be is anybody's guess, but I'd be disappointed if it's only a minor spec iteration.

Should be interesting to see. Life's been too quiet lately on the Apple front.

Swim Meet Part XVII

Yesterday was a - yes, you guessed it - another swim meet. This one was in Vallejo, at the home pool of Natalie Coughlin. Vallejo is a little sketch, but I do like their pool. The two kids swam seven events between them (four for the girl, three for the boy) and they both recorded best times in all events. I guess that's as good as you can ask for.

My favorite part of the day though, came in the girl's last event, the 50 breast. The Little Boy has actually turned into a very good breaststroker and he surpassed her time last week, very much to her chagrin. Breast stroke is her weakness but she came CHARGING out of the gate and it was clear that there was only one thing on her mind. It was pretty funny; she wasn't racing against anyone but her brother. In the end, she missed his mark by 1.5 seconds, but in the process beat her previous best time by two seconds, and just missed qualifying for junior olympics by a second.

Linsanity

I'm late to the game with this post given that Linsanity is bordering on the insane, but I'm not quite tired of it yet. Not by a longshot. I think that in certain respects it's the best sports story we've seen in a long, long while.

It's everything we hope and dream that sports can be and it can't be happening to a seemingly nicer kid. The fact that it's happening in New York, of all cities, is taking this to an entirely new level. It's converted my son and I am sure countless other kids) into a basketball fan and it's offered hope that a skinny, brainiac kid can transform input an overnight, superstar sensation. I sincerely hope that this kid keeps it going all season - and for reasons I can't explain, I think that he will.

Linsanity, baby. In the age of LeBron James and the insufferable superstar, the timing simply couldn't be better. Makes me wonder if David Stern didn't sell his soul to the devil at some point in time.

LA - Day Two

Another nice day in Los Angeles. Woke up early and went for a four mile run through Venice without my weak ass brother. Quick breakfast and then a three mile family hike at Rustic Canyon (thanks for the recommendation, Amy). After, a drive to Hollywood including Grauman's Chinese Theater and Kodak Theater. Then Umani Burger, Fred Segal's and Santa Monica Pier, which is where I'm typing this post from. Kids are on the roller coaster for ten millionth time.

Family and great sites aside, I think the highlight of the trip was randomly running into my girl Amy and my friend Bard and their respective families. May be most random occurrence ever. Made my trip though.

Greetings from LA

We are in LA with my brother Neil and his family. A great time is being had by all. Just a few moments ago we passed by a memorial to Whitney Houston, outside the Beverly Hilton, where she died.

This morning I was walking to breakfast and Arnold Schwartznegger walked by. I stuck my hand out and shook his - that was cool.

More later. My lunch has arrived - at Nate and Al's.

New York, NY

Well, back from New YOrk. What a killer of a week.

This post may not be the most popular in the world, but I have to say it: I can't help but think that NYC is a tad bit overrated.

I can say this because I am and always will be a New Yorker. I get it: restaurants like no other place, culture, theater, the City that never sleeps, blah, blah, blah. But still.

I walked each day about nine blocks to and from my hotel to my office. Over the course of 2 1/2 days, I'm really not sure I saw one happy person. Saw plenty that looked and acted miserable. Saw plenty that were yelling at others for no good reason whatsoever. And the old excuse that that's "New Yorkers being New Yorkers" just doesn't cut it in my book. More often than not, it's an asshole being an asshole. There is something to be said about civilized behavior.

The other thing: constant honking of car horns and drivers yelling at one another. I know this because I heard it all night from my hotel room. What's the point of this? It just causes unnecessary stress. In California we do not use the car horn unless it is necessary. It took me a long time to get my head around this, but now it's welcomed. If you think I am making this up, pay attention during your next trip here; it's uncanny.

Also - the weather. It was pissing light rain the entire time (granted, it's winter and a seemingly mild one at that on the East Coast). But I'm home now and it's a beautiful, breezy 65 degrees.

Again, I love NYC. It's the home of my Yankees, Knicks, Jets and my family. It can be fun as hell, for sure. I lived the most fun years of my life there. But - it ain't all that.

It just isn't.