Little Green House

I went out photographing, just within walking distance on Sunday morning. I've noticed this cute little green house years ago. Earlier this summer it was up for sale, for too much, not that it mattered. Now it's standing empty. Out of curiosity I looked it up on Redfin and PropertyShark.

It's 1,033 sqft, sitting on a 5,804 sqft lot. It sold in 1989 for $220,000 and again in 2001 for the exact same amount. Then in 2006 it sold for $540,000. It seems to have foreclosed in August this year. It confounds me that people honestly found nothing unusual about the value of a house in a not so special neighborhood going up 245% in five short years.



Across the street used to be a yellow house, but it's gone now, replaced by an apartment building of nondescript color. I took a few pictures before it was gone, but my best shot was not of the house but the backyard.

Grave Signs

I've been without internet since the start of the weekend. I have no idea why, since Earthlink's tech support is as useful as suntan lotion in a snowstorm. So I went out and took some pictures between rain showers.

I was first nonplussed till I figured out that "grave marker" is just the pastel term for tombstone. I think if the sign said "tombstones" I would find it less surreal. The house sits in burbank on the corner where Victory and Burbank Boulvards meet, across from Costco.

It inspired me to write a little poem, something a rarely do, since it's not my strength.

Let us mark your grave,
And the time you'll take
To get there.

Phil's Diner

Phil's Diner must have at one point been a local landmark, but by the time I found it, many years ago, it was already half gone. Physically it was still there, closed, but still standing on a scraggly, barbed wire fence spotted side street between Lankershim and Vineland. The neighborhood has gone under a transformation since the NoHo metrolink station opened nearby. The somewhat rough looking streets have been gradually been taken over new development.

The actual structure of Phil's have stayed around for a while, moved off the street to a yet undeveloped yard. Eventually it just disappeared, and now all that's left of Phil's Diner is this mural on Chandler Blvd.

There is good news however according to the Los Angeles Times, the diner will be restored and relocated to a nearby spot. Undoubtedly it will be a hipster place, still I'm looking forward to it.

Mish-Mash

The Big Chill

I shot these pictures a few weeks ago, South of the Glendale part of San Fernando Road. I'm not sure what that area is called. There is a huge Levitz furniture store there that closed recently. Now it's just a big white building and a huge empty parking lot. There are a row of small furniture stores right next though.

Behind them, there is a bit of an abandoned railroad with overgrown grass.

I walked down to the end where I found what seemed to be a homeless person's encampment.

It could have been a pile of rags or someone sleeping. I stopped and turned around. I figured it's rude to walk into somebody's bedroom, even if it's outdoors.

I have not been out photographing the past few weeks. I've been fighting a cold and obsessing over the economy. I spent the weekends drinking chamomile tea, and scouring the web trying to figure out which financial analyst is right and how much I should be worrying.

The weather has turned, the nice gloominess offers a welcome break from the relentlessly blaring sun. I should go out tomorrow and take advantage of this light. Unless if it's raining.

Obsession

obsession |əbˈse sh ən|
noun
the state of being obsessed with someone or something : she cared for him with a devotion bordering on obsession.
• an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person's mind : he was in the grip of an obsession he was powerless to resist.

King of "Sun Vally", Take 2