ブログ表紙写真ーその１８４回目 Century City-Westfield Plaza, Los Angeles, California USA

ブログ表紙写真ーその１８４回目　Century City-Westfield Plaza,　Los Angeles, California USA

I lived in West Los Angeles for 4 years after I came to US in 1971. West Los Angeles was nice place to live at that time - close to UCLA, Westwood and Century City, Beverly Wilshire. Once I walked to Santa Monica Beach from apartment of WLA. It took only 1 hour by foot.

So, we used to visit Century City- Broadway Department (? now gone, no more).

After visiting Beverly Hills and La Cienega-Beverly Center, my niece wanted to visit Century City shopping mall -Westfield Plaza. Almost 40 years passed since those days when we shopped at Broadway Department. Tall buildings were around, but this Westfield Plaza was not tall. I felt it was just like old time. After visiting Beverly Center, I was happy to see open mall with flowers and some attraction - angel feather & rainbow arch around isles.

We all enjoyed walking around without any shopping. It was time for early dinner and we dropped in the Italian Restaurant. We enjoyed food and satisfied atmosphere surrounding this shopping mall. I was glad my niece suggested this visit.

Once or twice, we visited Schubelt Theater in Century City. But it was a long time ago. Now this area looks like business center with tall building surrounding this Westfield mall. I read in books some expensive lawyers have office in the building.

Century City is named "City", but not real City. I believe it is within Los Angeles City district. Name of Century City came, I think, from movie maker "Twentyth Century Fox". Around 1970s, I think, this area was their property before developed as business district - their movie studio was scattered in that neighbor around 1950- 1960, I guess.

Shigetaro Murata 08/30/2015

Century City, Los Angeles, Califoria USA

Century City, Westfield Mall, Plaza

Westfield Plaza

SFV Bonsai Club 盆栽クラブ 月例会 ２０１５年８月２３日 報告

SFV Bonsai Club　盆栽クラブ　月例会　２０１５年８月２３日　報告

　We had regular SFV Bonsai Club meeting yesterday on Sunday 23. Now Obon Bonsai Show ended and no more Bonsai plant to take care by everybody, we could concentrate to take care our Own Bonsai.

　Member total gathered around 16 including one special guest,  visitor from Japan, whose daughter was member of Bonsai Club and I believe this Bonsai Club is a healthy cultural meeting place worth to see members in action.

　This time we had delicious luncheon -curry rice prepared by host as usual and everybody enjoyed nice, big family size meeting and luncheon at host's garage and back yard.

　I did not bring any Bonsai myself. The day before, one of the most respected members sent me message on Club-insurance matter. I had to think about this insurance matter and have to decide what we should do before we present this insurance idea at the meeting. As one of the treasurers of this Club and most knowledgeable person on Club's financial matter, I get idea what we have to do.

　So, on this meeting, usually we discuss club matter after luncheon, this time I wanted to have serious talk (by myself) before luncheon.

　The origin of insurance idea came from protecting Bonsai Club host and his house from any accidental injury claim by members. To join into umbrella insurance coverage　of Community, we expected that host (whoever he might be), might get protection from any claims by injured party of Bonsai Club members if it ever happened. In the past, it never happened, but now our members  include  people of various cultural background and people behave differently. And since this Bonsai Club meeting is held successfully by the assistance of our Hosts' (Master and previous president) generous gesture to serve our purpose, we have to protect hosts from any future claims. If umbrella insurance cover activities at host's house, then we will have no problem. But we found out that our current Community insurance did not cover against outside of community. And we found out also that some federation of Bonsai Club had general insurance coverage. But it costs at least some amount. Here I, myself as a treasure, analyzed our financial stance and arrived at the negative conclusion. Financially we cannot afford any insurance. But to protect the Hosts of this important club activities from any unjust claim is A Must.

　Now, I got the idea from my experience of visiting West Texas state park - Hueco Tanks State Park while living in El Paso. This "Hueco Tanks" is famous for rock climbing activities and volcanic rock formation in this state park made this park very interesting places to visit with ancient Indian pictograph or petrogryph in the rocks. This is rocky space and it is possible to get fallen and injured. So, state government protected themselves by claiming no responsibility on their part, meaning any activities are under responsibilities of either own parties. So, to enter this park, we have to sign the document of waiver of their (government, park service) responsibility before we pay proper fee and enter the park.

　Now instead of joining insurance directly, we decided to use this Waiver method against our Bonsai Club members. Everybody is under his/her responsibility in case anything happens. No claim to hosts or club. Club is non-profit-organization maintaining family size cultural attraction-Bonsai lover only.  And so members are responsible in any happenings - members have to use own health insurance or auto insurance if anything happen.

　I promised to prepare some "document of Waiver" to get signed by everybody at next September meeting. Maybe this becomes my last service at this club. I am not sure now since my injury or finding my fragile body in May this year when I was walking dogs in this neighborhood, I lost confidence on my body and now I wonder whether I could climb neighborhood mountain as was before.

　８月２３日、第４日曜日、いつものように盆栽クラブの会合がHost宅にて開かれました。
１６名ほどの参加者で、７月の１８名参加といい、かなり理想的な会合ぶりといえました。
Hostの用意されたカレーライス・ランチャン、参加者の持参されたお菓子などをつまみながら、楽しいひと時を過ごせました。

　この日は主催者のリスクを回避するためにどのような方法をとるかで、事前に検討したアイデアを私がみなさんにお伝えし、保険加入は会計的にむつかしいということと、家族的な会合を維持するためには、今のままの規模でよい、ただし、Hostのリスクを回避するために、書類を作成して皆さんにサインしてもらうということ、その書類は自己責任を明記し、HostやClubには面倒をかけないという趣旨であることをみなさんにお伝えし、その線で行くという了承をえました。

　私は自分で宿題を課したようなもので、大変です。実はこれからの１ヶ月ほど、日本からの訪問者が何組か予定されていて、個人的にあちこちドライブしなければならず、忙しくなるはずなのです。

　私のブログの中の「心霊現象の科学」に関するエッセーを全部プリントしたもの　－４００ページを越えるVolume－One Binderを、この日、信頼の出来るメンバーのおひとりにお渡しすることが出来ました。全部でなくとも、興味がありそうなところでも読んでいただいて、感想を聞かせていただけたら素晴らしいと思っています。私は自分では面白いと思っていますが、ひとによってはすこし難しいかもと思ったりして、不安もあります。

村田茂太郎　Shigetaro Murata　２０１５年８月２４日

ブログ表紙写真 その１８３ San Juan Mountains, View from Dallas Divide, Colorado USA

ブログ表紙写真　その１８３　San Juan Mountains, View from Dallas Divide, Colorado USA

　View from Dallas Divide at route 62 on San Juan Skyway is one of my favorites nature scenes in America. By chance, I could enjoy this nice view several times in the past. How happy I was when I could travel this beautiful scenic highway in May, July, September!

A　ccording to book I have (John Fielder's Best of Colorado. 165 Top Scenic Places-Westcliffe Publishers ), he says "--- is the world-famous Dallas Divide (8970 feet)". And I simply agree that this view is known to the world.

　I drove alone several times and also I could drive with my dear friend twice. One of happy memories visiting beautiful sceneries with dear friend. Usually I traveled alone and whenever I had chance to watch magnificent sceneries, I wished I could show these sceneries to nature lover-my wife and other friends.

　コロラド州南西部、San Juan Skywayをドライブする楽しみの一つは、ルート６２でDallas Divide　を通過するからです。このDallas DivideからのSan Juan Mountains　Rangeの　Viewは本当に素晴らしく、わたしはいつも車を止めて、その壮大な光景を楽しみました。John Fielderの本には、World famousと書かれていますから、このDallas Divideからの景色は絵葉書や写真で有名なのでしょう。ロッキー山脈のなかでも、山脈の美しさではTopだといわれているそうです。わたしはすべてを見たわけではありませんが、そうだろうと思っています。

　同じような写真を何度もこのブログ表紙写真として紹介していますが、勘弁してください。
いいものは何度見てもすばらしいというのが私のスタンスです。


村田茂太郎　２０１５年８月２３日

View of San Juan Mountains from route 62 to Dallas Divide, San Juan Skyway, Colorado, USA

Mount Sneffels (Over 4200 meter) and San Juan Mountains range

Mount Sneffels

San Juan Mountains Range from route 62 near Dallas Divide, Colorado USA



Just after snow storm in September 5th, I was very happy with this snow capped range view

Happy at Dallas Divide, Friend took my photo with background of San Juan Mountains Range In July 4th

SFV Bonsai Club 盆栽クラブ 特別日程 Pine tree trimming JACC 8/16/2015

SFV Bonsai Club 盆栽クラブ　特別日程　Pine tree trimming　JACC　8/16/2015

We know it is hot today, but Pine tree trimming job - voluntary work was scheduled already.
To finish job before it becomes too hot, we gathered at JACC (SFV Japanese Community Center) around 8:00 AM.

Total of 10 members came to JACC. Only one member is young. Others are all age over 60 and in this hot weather it was a hard job. There was a weather  warning - Excessive Heat Alert from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM!

All expert on this job worked fine and we could finish before 11:00 AM.
Center pine tree was healthy and had a beautiful green leaves. It took 4 persons to trim this one pine tree. This is beautiful tree and should be center of attention. But behind this pine tree, other tree is growing taller and disturbing appearance of pine tree. We advised to remove before without success.

Other pine trees were taller and total 7 ladders were used to trim satisfactory.

JACC president served us Doughnuts and Refreshments including beers.

Though finished within 3 hours, it was a tough job to everybody. But we are satisfied.
Master spread 2 kinds of tree medicines to kill harmful insects and also to protect inside the trees.

今日は予定した松きりの日で、暑いけれど、メンバー１０人がSFV JACCに８時ごろ集まり、約３時間ですべてを無事終了しました。今日の暑さは格別で、Heat警報まででていました。今現在、外の気温は１０７度F（４１．６C)　とか。湿度の高い日本だと、この温度では熱中症で死者も沢山出るかもしれませんが、ここはドライで、日陰に入ると気持ちよい暑さ、太陽の中でも温泉に浸かっている様。それでも、長くは外に居れません。この暑さで、私はエルパソ、テキサスの夏を思い出しました。１０６度を越える暑さが何日も続いたことがありました。それでも日陰は気持ちよかったものでした。そういえば、エルパソでは芝生のかわりに、Rock Gradenのような庭が沢山ありました。今、Los Angelesは水不足と大量の水使用禁止を反映して、表の庭が、自然の芝生から、人工芝・ロックガーデン・サボテンを利用した水のいらない庭、それとも完全に放棄して荒れたまま、という５種類の庭が出現してきているのを毎朝の犬の散歩で見るようになりました。うちも何とかしなければ、今日のよう夏さが続けば、芝生は、みな枯れてしまいます。大問題です。犬猫が居るので自然の芝生は大事だという感覚がありますから。

村田茂太郎　２０１５年８月１６日