Jon Crispin's Notebook

Cristine grew up going to Disneyland as a very young child.  Her parents would drop off all three kids when the park opened and they would pick them up when it closed.  Many of her popular culture references are Disney related.  Once when we were snorkeling in the Caribbean, she popped up from a dive and said “It’s just like the submarine ride at Disneyland”!  We would go to the park while visiting her family when Peter was little, and I really got to like it as well.

We had a wonderful day there on Wednesday which included a fine meal at the Blue Bayou.  Our table overlooked the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and I was able to make this nice picture.

Yesterday we went to The Huntington near Pasadena, which in its own way is just as cool as Disneyland.  We started off in the Botanical Center which was full of orchids.

Then moved on to the rose garden.

Made the obligatory stop to see Blue Boy.

Which is breathtaking.  Gainsborough had it rockin’.

Asked about Turner, and they had this, “The Grand Canal. A Street Scene in Venice”.  Here is a detail.

Yikes!

And then walked into this room and nearly fell over when I saw this.

When we were in the American Art building I was somehow reminded of a painting in my brother’s and my bedroom when we were children.  All I could remember was a guy lashed to a small boat being circled by sharks.  So I did a quick search on my phone (guy lashed to a small boat being circled by sharks painting) and saw this.  I don’t know why we had it in our house, and as a child I remember being frightened by it.  Bob, do you remember this?

Just got back from a last visit to In-n-Out.  I guess it’s time to go home.