"My name is Dr. Regina Phalange", Palos Verdes; 05.03.11

A beautiful club house, a cart, and the beach.  A true golfer's paradise  

Tico looking for his frisbee

Paired with my Sunset Magazine, my idea of heaven on earth

The clubhouse staff are friendly - and directed us to see the burger place for a bowl of water

In light of this week's events, here's to you, America!

A cheap and lovely way to get married

Tico spent from digging for his 'ball'

What a beautiful day in LA!

And what better way to spend it but in a dog-friendly beach!

We have a full day on Sunday, and after sleeping in very late - - we finally headed out of the house at around noon, and we still have a neighbor's party to go to at 3.  So with the limited time, we decided to go to Palos Verdes again.

The tide is low, but the water is cool enough, the sun is hot, and the wind is calm; to be able for all three of us to dip in today.  So off we go to Trump National Golf Course, and parked our car at the public beach access' parking lot.  I spotted a cool car, so I took a picture, not knowing that the driver and his wife was walking behind me to get back to the car.  That was embarassing...

The trek to the beach is down the hill from the club, which always serves as a nice workout for the three of us.  Someone was setting up a corner of the bluff for a wedding, and when we got back upstairs 2 hours later, they were just starting to put on the flowers.  I got closer to take better pictures, and the florist joked "$10 a picture", lol.  What a great place to get married.  I believe, because the park is a public place, the wedding site can possibly be rented from the City for a few hundred hours or less.  You just have to rent chairs, speaker systems, and flowers/decorations.  At least that's what I did for our own public park wedding.

I got Tico a brand new frisbee from Petsmart last night - the best 99 cents I've ever spent.  He went crazy chasing that toy in and out of the water, and when he's on shore, went crazy digging for it, flipped it over so he can bite into it, and drop it again, and flip it over, and so it goes.  This went on for a long time, which amused me so much.  I underestimated the usefulness of phalanges(sp?), or fingers in Science-speak.  At least, it's what I remember it being called in High School. 

The water is cold - but it felt good once the sun starts hitting your skin afterwards.  I was baked.  The boys and I were exhausted, but we had a great time.  We ran into some really cool people, and chatted a bit about their dogs and our Tico.  A lot of younger couple and their dogs were there today, so that was nice to see.  During the cooler season, we saw mostly older folks with their dogs.

Afterwards, we stopped by our neighbor's house for a birthday dinner, and then hung out with our friend Bea in Pasadena for a dinner and some Bravo reality TV marathon.

"Regina Phalange" is Phoebe Buffay's alter ego on the show "Friends".  Phoebe Buffay, is played by Lisa Kudrow.  Phoebe started using the alternative ego Regina Phalange when she was trying to reach Ross, who is getting married to Emily in London.  It was a great episode, and people who loved the show "Friends" will definitely appreciate that episode.  Today's Tico's adventure of being phalange-less while trying to grab the frisbee reminded me of this episode, because of the absolutely absurd name. 

On a later episode, she was going to change her name legally to that, but her fiance said if she was going to, he will change his from Mike something to Crap, first name, Bag last name. 

Obviously, I can go on with Regina Phalange stories.

"To Infinity...and beyond!"; Long Beach Dog Beach; 02.20.11

Buzz Lightyear soaring over LBC

P-u!  Someone stinks.  So we took our offending canine family member out for some last beach frolicking before we take him to his b-a-t-h.  Since we have a dinner to go to in less than 3 hours, Huntington Dog Beach is out of the question.  So we decided on the Dog Beach Zone instead.  This is a 3-acre, non-fenced, off-leash dog beach in Belmont Shore.  Entrance to the parking lot is between Argonne and Roycroft Avenue, off Ocean Boulevard.  The best way to get there is to take the 710 Freeway, and exit on Ocean.  Make a left, and take it all the way past Livingston.  We parked on the street off of the Granada Street entrance, not knowing the ample parking lot behind the wall.  The dog beach is also known as Rosie's Dog Beach, named after a late English bulldog by a Long Beach resident Justin Rudd. 

Restroom



Kiteboarders



Happy dogs!

Lifeguard truck watching the kiteboarders

These dogs were gunning for some half-ball thing

Vincent Thomas Bridge

We took the 110 freeway, so we passed by this bridge.  I LOVE bridges.  And churches.  Just about anything that's made from great architecture and engineering. 

The beach: I've never seen so many happy dogs!  And happy owners, of course.  But the dogs are just all over the place, running around, chasing balls, chasing Tico who's too busy chasing balls, Tico chasing them back, and off they all go to "fight" over some blue-green half-ball and around and around they go.  It was a doggie-dog fun day at the beach today.  And then there was a little yorkie chasing after some pigeons who were brave enough to be lounging around in the orange-coned dog beach area.  This place is not fenced in, but the orange cones clearly mark the area where you can safely keep your pooches off the leash.  Once you get out of the coned zone, make sure to keep your pooches leashed.  We made that mistake before, and we scared off some unsuspecting biker at the bike path just a few feet away.  Tico tends to bark whenever he gets nervous, so it's not a good situation to those people who are just carrying on with their own business and this scary-looking Cujo is barking at them.

There were a bunch of people kiteboarding today, thanks to the windy day and the rental gear provided by Windsurf Center  next door at 3850 E Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach.  This of course, made for a great photo-op with the Shoreline Village to your right, the blue ocean in front, and the kiteboarders to your left and in front of you.  And the dog in the sandy beach background.  Albeit the windy weather, it was a great day.

There were also pretty kites flying about, one of which is the Buzz Lightyear being flown by a teenaged girl just a few steps from the dog beach zone.  But being a couple of old folks, B and I couldn't handle too much of the wind, so we decided to walk instead, once Tico started lying around.  We passed by a few dozens of pigeons lying around the bike path, if only we could let Tico roam leash-free, this would have been a great photo-op. 

We then got in to our car, and headed further into Ocean Boulevard, and passed by the marina and the pretty houses along Naples/Alamitos Bay .  The 54th Street and Ocean Boulevard I remember being in, to kayak in the Naples area back in 2004 with the Outdoors Club.  That was a fun memory, because we parked our kayak by the Jamba Juice/Starbucks at the mall behind PCH.  I thought that was pretty cool.  But the kayak rental I believe was $19/hour.  If I was going to do some kayaking, I would go to Sunset Kayak and instead kayak in Huntington Harbor, since Sunset still charges $12 for 2 hours or longer. 

But Naples also offer Gondola Rides for the lovebirds.  The address to that is 5437 E. Ocean Boulevard; rates are from $85 for two.  I've never done it, so it will be something new for Bryan and I to try on one of these days.  And of course, Belmont Shore and their fabulous shops and dining spots is just up the street on 2nd and Redondo/Livingston.

Dog-friendly hotels in Long Beach I would recommend to is Renaissance and Hilton, who are both near Downtown Long Beach, at the beginning of the 710 Freeway; which is a few miles of this area.  But that downtown area in itself is a great spot to visit, with Rockbottom Brewery and the Shoreline Village just down the hill.  There's the Long Beach Performing Arts, the Aquarium, and the race track in the area.  Food-wise, you got CPK, the Yard House (love!), and Islands.  But your pooch is not allowed in Shoreline, so keep that in mind. 

There's just TOO MANY things to do in Long Beach.  After all, it's the 6th largest city in CA, and the 39th nationwide.  It boasts half a million residents on its own.  And being 20 minutes away from downtown and just about anywhere in greater LA, this is a good alternative city from the West LA/Beach Cities/Downtown LA hotel options.  And they offer dog parks aplenty.  The best pet-friendly city in LA.  For dogs and their owners, the activities are just limitless, and - - ahem...infinity.  Or make that infinity times two.  Or infinity times infinity.   

Afterwards, we took Tico to Tidy Dog for a wash.  The address is 4110 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA  90803.  They have self-wash for $15; $16 if you pay card instead of cash.  The place is clean; TIDY.  It is huge, and has several washing tubs.  The lady owner has an english accent, and her assistant kept busy cleaning around, running vacuums and sweepers that drove Tico crazy.  This place is GREAT.  They provide oatmeal shampoo and conditioner as standard, and provide you with 2 hand towels and a large towel as well as two aprons, blow dryer, several brushes and cottons and ear cleaners, swabs, and treats for after wash when your dog is good.  We gave Tico the biscuits anyway; even though he howled and cried and barked at the staff and customers each time they pass by his tub area.  Feeling bad for the mess and the noise, I tipped well.  We'll definitely come back here.  On top of which; she gave Tico a long jerky as a treat after the bath. 

The place also sells doggie treats and supplies, and they provide cage-free, concrete free boarding.  Parking is aplenty, and the place is easy to spot.  Just keep your eye on the shopping strip to your right, after you pass Livingston, driving on Ocean.  I believe the street is Bennett, which is probably the street you turn to get to the Belmont Olympic pool.  It's on your way to the dog beach.  One thing is that, since the shampoo and conditioner is aready pre-programmed with the water hose, I feel like my dog is not getting enough soap.  So bring your own soap if you want your dog foamy.  I do.  It's a preference.  For me, foam aplenty = very clean dog.  Still, Tico looked handsome and fluffy after the bath, though.  And he smelled like oatmeal.  I wrestle-hugged him today, and he passed the EPA (Ew, P-u Animal) test.     

 Toy Story was another Tom Hanks movie that I liked.  But not having the luxury of being around kids, I lost track and interest with Toy Story 2 and 3.  And when they started messing around with Mr. Potato Head's face, that was it for me.  I love mainstream cartoon movies in general, but the sequels rarely do justice to the original versions most of the time.  I did, however rented Shrek Forever After because I wanted to see the fat cat with the funny accent slide down the scratch post.  And of course, Eddie Murphy's donkey.  And Ryan Seacrest.  And Princess Fiona.  And Mike Myers.  But that's it.  And maybe Rumpelstiltskin.  I thought he was genius. 

All I'm saying is that I'm over cartoon sequels.

But I wouldn't mind checking out Mike Wazowski on screen again.  So excited.

"You do not talk about fight club"; Rancho Palos Verdes, 02.13.11

"Welcome to fight club.  The first rule of fight club is: you do not talk about fight club."

This dog dog beach on Palos Verdes is just down the hill from the Trump National Golf Course, which is located in 1 Paseo Del Mar, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA  90275.   There's so many ways to get there, but we find it easiest to explain as thus: take the 110 freeway all the way to exit Gaffey, make a left on Gaffey, make a right on 25th Street, you will pass Western, and that will turn to Palos Verdes South.  Make a right, and the ocean should be to your left.  You will see the entrance to the golf club to your left.  There's a small parking area where dog beach and public park people park at, but you can also park on the side, which is what most golfers and golf club people do to get in and out of this place easy.

The day was beautiful.  We got there mid-morning and you can see the marine layers/fog coming in.  About an hour later, we were surrounded by fog.  Beforehand, we got to take a lot of great pictures of Tico and his new friends.  The stretch of beach is endless; and you can see Catalina on a good day, especially if you're up the hill. 

There were anemones, starfish of every color (orange, berry, purple, etc.); and sea urchins.  There were a bunch of barnacles too, and mussels, crabs, etc. 

The public park

The public park up the hill is great, it's huge, and you have a great view of the golf club, the golfers on hole 1, and then the pacific ocean is just right behind you.  There are tables and benches to have a picnic, which is what most people do.  We've had take-outs here, plopped ourselves in one of the benches, while Tico is anxiously waiting to get downhill to the beach.  You can always take your take-outs down at the beach, but dogs + food = trouble.  So be forewarned.

Tico and his friend Cody.  She likes taunting him to play chase.  Cody has a "brother" named Milton, who's a bulldog.

I'ts a dog eat dog world out there

You can tell when a dog is new to the parks and beaches; they usually are the ones that cower and lie down to show submission to the aggressive, playful dogs.  The owners of these dogs and myself were amused for a while with the interaction. 

Ranger is the one on the right

There were a bunch of dog owners who walked in to the beach with these same dogs.  It turns out, it's Ranger's birthday!  So Ranger and about a dozen of his friends, and their owners; had a little picnic in honor of Ranger's day.

Pretty glass stone

Fog creeping up to the hills

Taking a water break

The dog beach does not have a water fountain, nor does it have a poop trash bag dispenser; or not even a trash can.  So bring a bottle of water, and poop bags.  If you run out of water, you can go up the hill back to the golf club, and there's a public restroom on the first floor.  Watch out for the caddys coming in and our of the club.

It's getting foggy here

We got to the beach at about 10:30am; and about 45 minutes - an hour later, the fog took over the entire beach area; and it crept all the way uphill.  It was a sight to see.

Fog!

The sign to the beach; from the parking lot.  From there; you take the walking path past the Hole 1 (pictured); and past the public park.  The entrance to the dog beach path is to your right, just after the first bench/table you will pass.

Tico chasing Cody





I love LA for many reasons; but one of the biggest reason is that there's something to do for everyone on here.  You can't get bored living in this county, no matter what your budget level or interests are.  This public park on Rancho Palos Verdes, right next to the Trump golf course, is one of them.  People spent a day here having a picnic, playing ball, and flying kites.  Dog lovers love this park, and especially the beach down the hill.  It's not an official dog beach per say, but most of the locals frequent here.  And not too many people know this place.  It's not as sandy as the Huntington Dog Beach, but your dog can roam around here freely and be able to socialize with fellow canines.  There's no trash cans, poop bags, or water fountain, so plan accordingly to ensure comfort for you and your dog.

The climb can be strenous for you and your dog, and the downhill trek can be steep and slippery; so wear proper shoes, and take it slow.  If you have a large dog, be extra cautious.  We don't let Tico loose until he's a few feet from the ground, because he will not hesitate to jump down, which is not a good thing for his hip when he gets old; not to mention he's sprained himself once or twice before jumping around like that.  When we climb up, we usually let him lead us.  He's got to put in work for this family somehow.  There's no free lunch in this world.

"Fight Club" is a movie by Brad Pitt and Edwad Norton in 1999.  I've never seen the movie, but I know of it, and see it off and on via TV re-runs.  I saw it again this weekend; and I just realized that Helena Bonham Carter was in it.  That girl plays the same character all the time.  Ed Norton, I liked.  I remembered his movie American History X and I thought he and that movie was very well made.  Brad Pitt I liked in his early years; when he was clean-shaven with baby face (circa "Cool World" with Kim Basinger).  He can't act, but he's made great career choices.   

I love dogs in every shapes and sizes.  But I am biased when it comes to GSD's.  I think they are the most handsome dogs in the world.  And they are SMART, loyal; and has tons of energy.  Our dog is the same.  But his crazy energy level is way up there.  I love it when we're driving and he sees a motorcycle, and barked and go crazy, and look up to me from the mirror with his crazy beady eyes as to say "help me here!  The motorcycle's getting away!"  Crazy.  I'd come home from work, and he'll be by the door, and he will go crazy standing up and down, and circle all around; as if to say "I'm glad you're home!  Oh, what a day I've had!  I can tell you my day!  You want to know my day?  There were some loud cars that passed by the house, I barked at them.  The post man came and dropped off mail by the window, I barked at him.  There was a cat walking by the house, I barked at her.  It was crazy!  I've had a full day of protecting the house!  But the house is safe, you see!  It's SAFE!"

Sheesh.  Calm down.  So I learned to just ignore him, I do the usual "hello, Tico, how was your day?  Were you a good boy?"  While I drop the mail to the table, and head straight towards the bedroom and change clothes.  Or else, there would be dog hairs and slobber on my work clothes all the time.  I just happened to spot a dried-up slobber on my coat this morning at the office.  So go figure.  He loves it when Bryan comes home; because B still does the patting him, and giving him a few moments of attention once he gets in the house.  Me on the other hand, have out-of-control drycleaning bills to think about; so off to the bedroom I go to change to my house clothes.

But I'm glad to see the house is safe.  Good job, Tico.