TRAVELS: Sun Sets on a Fantastic Hiatus

Photo of the sun setting over Silverlake, Los Angeles, Feb. 9, 2009.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT TIME ZONE I'm in right now mentally. After relaxing, sitting in traffic and eating In N' Out burgers and carnitas tacos in Los Angeles over the past week, eating fish tacos in La Jolla on Tuesday, catching the red eye to JFK last night and now sitting on a rather stuffy Amtrak train bound for Washington, D.C., my hiatus is coming to a close. Work awaits me tomorrow. Details TK.

CALIFORNIA: On the Road

Looking out over the San Fernando Valley from the top of Topanga Canyon. Feb. 7, 2009.

GREETINGS FROM GREY CALIFORNIA, where residents of the Southland have been drenched in recent days. Following a nice sunny drive down the coast to San Diego County on Thursday -- Encinitas, Carlsbad and Solana Beach to be precise -- the rains came heading into Orange County on my way to Santa Monica. Traffic was literally moving 4 or 5 miles an hour on the 405 freeway on the way up the coast.

The sun is starting to come out this morning and I'll be on my way to Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House later this afternoon.