Post-rain Trek through Aliso Canyon

We're fortunate to have several nature walks, not too far from our home. One of them is located at Aliso Canyon Park, which you may recall reading about in a previous post.

Kelsey loves this walk, but we have to watch her to make sure she doesn't jump in the stream. Today she tried, nearly taking her daddy with her!

The rain has wreaked havoc on the trails. They quite clearly turned into streams during the recent heavy rains. But we braved them anyway!

It looks like we weren't the ONLY ones... check below for a photo of the wild-animal tracks we saw. Not sure if they're from coyotes or mountian lions. Seemed too small for a mountain lion, but the claws look sharp enough... :-\

Larry & Joe's Plumbing Supply

I am a *huge* fan of weird old hardware/electronics/plumbing stores. The kind where there's probably asbestos in the flooring, the ceiling tiles are stained from leaks, there's a big ol' fan running in the corner cuz there's no A/C, and behind the counter sits a proprietor aged anywhere from 65-85, eager to help you with your household repair dilemma.

These places are few & far between, but my town has one, in the form of Larry & Joe's Plumbing Supply on Corbin Avenue in Northridge.*

If you need a plumbing part, I strongly encourage you to give these folks your business. If they don't have what you need, they will tell you how you can get it.

And, they have phone cords! And a Bag O' Nails! And a RainJet elbow assembly dated 1984!

*please note that Larry & Joe's does indeed have A/C!

March 4 "Day of Action"

Yesterday was a "Day of Action" to protest budget cuts to education up and down the state of California.

I was worried that CSUN would be all apathetic and non-participative. But I needn't have worried. There was a FANTASTIC turnout. I was proud of my school!

I wish that staff had been more encouraged to participate. But those of us who wanted to were free to lend our support on our breaks and after work, and people did.

My colleagues and I wore school colors in solidarity with the students!