« Terrorism, Terrorism, Terrorism... | Main | Best of the Jewish Blogosphere #194 »
December 05, 2008
My Beautiful Neighborhood VI
Sometimes I don't have to stray very far from my front door to discover dazzling compositions. This blue dot on the field of gray and green is on the sidewalk right in front of Casa Avrech.
This week Karen and I replaced our old furnace—when I say old I'm talking 1930's—with a spanking new unit plus central AC. There were workmen and tools all over the place. Needless to say, I was in heaven. No idea what these rubber tubes are used for.
Insulated heating ducts for the new unit. They look like great silver worms from a sc-fi movie.
A section of our old furnace. Actually, it's not old, it's ancient. But such great texture. Anyway, the workmen were examining the old furnace and talking excitedly among themselves in Spanish. I asked: “What's up?” A guy said: “This is the oldest furnace we have ever removed from a house.” I'm like: ”Have you done a lot of furnaces? The guys crack up and go: “Thousands!”
X marks the spot. When I snapped this photo one of the workmen asked me why I was taking the picture. I told him that the letter X is very hard to find. He was like: Huh?
Saw this sign in a parking lot nearby. Okay, so correct me if I'm stupid but isn't this an invitation to a pile-up? Whatever.
What would Friday be without the obligatory footwear shot. Seraphic friend Bill Brandt writes: “I submit my shoe photo from 1973 — when I was at Ft Bliss, TX (El Paso) for a few months. Our Puerto Rican Drill Sgt. told us that he wanted our shoes "speeet-shined" and that's what I did for some hours.” Thank you Bill, glad to have you on our side.
Karen and I wish all our friends and relatives a lovely and restful Shabbat.
Seraphic Secret's Jew-Hunting in Mumbai has been published in a slightly edited form in this week's Jewish Press.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at December 5, 2008 09:33 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
nice photographs as usual.
(next time i'm in LA, i'm gonna have to book you for a tour of the town from your different perspective!)
Posted by: ~ Sarah ~ at December 6, 2008 08:13 AM
My Dad grew up in Los Angeles, as did I. He remembers riding his bicycle with his cousin down the middle of Hollywood Blvd - yes the middle - about 5AM -
He remembers a huge snow - ~1933 - a couple if inches at least - and I'll bet your old heater could tell some stories Robert!
Posted by: Bill Brandt at December 6, 2008 09:52 AM
When we bought our house in Cedarhurst, the engineer that inspected the house said about our furnace: "this boiler is like an 80-year-old man; it could drop dead tomorrow, or it could last another 20 years".
The unit lasted one year, long enough for us have a bit of money in the bank (after the house purchase) to install a new one...
Posted by: Baila at December 6, 2008 08:47 PM
It's amazing how these "ordinary things" can look so beautiful. Still Life in real time.
Posted by: Batya at December 7, 2008 05:26 AM
Oh, lovely.
I hope that the next time you come to Jerusalem, you'll take lots of pictures and post them. I'd love to see this city through your camera lens.
Posted by: Rahel at December 7, 2008 06:40 AM
dear robert,
mazal tov on the publication in jewish press.
alan busch
Posted by: alan d. busch at December 7, 2008 08:56 AM
So this is the first you'll be having central air? You're gonna love it! It's way up there on my list of great inventions, right after indoor plumbing.
Posted by: kishke at December 7, 2008 05:51 PM
Sarah:
I'm a great tour guide: "This is a nice storefront on Pico Blvd... this is a BUMP sign on Beverwil... this is a broken mirror in an alleyway popular with junkies..." and so on:-)
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 8, 2008 12:38 AM
Bill:
Chinatown II, has a scene where snow falls in LA. A true story. So yes, your dad is right. It's the only interesting scene in the entire movie.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at December 8, 2008 12:41 AM
Baila:
We were told the same thing about our old furnace when we bought our house 20 years ago. It finally went blooey a few months ago. It had a pretty darned good run.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at December 8, 2008 12:43 AM
Batya:
I never shoot beautiful flowers or landscapes. It never even occurs to me. I think the ordinary is almost always extraordinary.
Glad you enjoy my snapshots.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at December 8, 2008 12:46 AM
Rahel:
I look forward to my next trip to Israel. I will shoot and post as you've requested. Thanks so much.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at December 8, 2008 12:48 AM
Alan:
Thanks so much. The Jewish Press is a fine paper.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at December 8, 2008 12:50 AM
Kishke:
Too much AC gives me a headache, but Karen convinced me that it made sense considering how much work we are doing on the house.
It's the Avrech economic stimulus plan.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at December 8, 2008 12:53 AM