Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Tuesday, August 26, 2014 -- Mattie died 259 weeks ago today.

Tonight's picture was taken in August of 2007. While out in Los Angeles, between sight visits and running around, there were always fun projects for Mattie to do in between. Mattie loved digging through clay and sand. In this particular case Mattie unearthed a green dinosaur buried in sand! He loved projects like these and whatever toy he found he would always play with and typically carry it around with him from place to place as if it needed to experience his journeys alongside him. 


Quote of the day:  I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~ Maya Angelou

This is a photo of Mt. Vesuvius in the Gulf of Naples, Italy. It is volcano which is best known for burying the ancient city of Pompeii in 79AD. When I was a little girl, I traveled with my parents and grandmother to Italy often. On many occasions I saw Mt. Vesuvius and during one of our trips we even walked inside the crater. Of course as a child I had NO IDEA the dangers of a volcano nor understood the devastation such a natural structure could evoke on an entire community. Now as an adult and walking through today's exhibit at the California ScienCenter, I had a completely different appreciation for Vesuvius. 

I would have to say that "Pompeii The Exhibition" at the California ScienCenter is a VERY unique show. In many ways, walking into the exhibit is a bit like walking into the ruins itself. Well NOT quite, but they are definitely trying to transport you to Italy. The space is intimate, not cavernous! The lights are dim and it is not just a visual experience! It is sensory in every sense of the word! As an attendee, we had the opportunity to have video simulations of roman life within each room, so we could see what a roman forum was like, or what a roman home or bath was like and so forth! They really helped bring Pompeii alive for us. So not only did we see the artifacts that were unearthed in Pompeii, uncovered from 14 feet of volcanic ash, but we got to see simulations of how such items may of been used in roman times. The whole recreation in each room was fascinating! If that did not get you, then I have no doubt that the introduction to the exhibit itself or the exit from the exhibit most definitely will remain with museum goers for quite some time. The introduction basically started by putting visitors in a small room with a video (we did not sit, we had to remain standing). It oriented us to the time period and walked us back to 79AD and what life was like in Pompeii right before the eruption. After the video was over, another door opened up and we got to walk into what looked like Pompeii. It was a surreal experience! Very clever, very Hollywood in a way. The exit was just as thrilling, if not more SO! Upon existing, we were bought to another room and enclosed into another standing video which walked us through the 24 hours of the eruption of Vesuvius. As if we were in 79AD! It was terrifying with dry ice being piped in to represent the smoke of the ash! Once the video was over another door opened up and we saw the body casts of the victims left behind from the volcano. I have to tell you this was not only an informative exhibit but it was an emotional roller coaster ride as well because it is hard not to walk through these rooms and not imagine the devastation caused from the deaths of innocent people whose lives were swept away!

I am going to give you some facts about Pompeii below that I hope you will find interesting and then include some photos from my trip to the museum!

HISTORY

Pompeii was a cultured and vibrant city rich in architecture, complex infrastructures, and exquisite works of art, and was home to 25,000 inhabitants. Its location also allowed for it to become a rich agricultural center, a vital seaport, and a booming commercial hub. The city hosted theatrical and sporting events and built luxurious public baths. Wealthy Roman visitors came to enjoy the lavish Mediterranean lifestyle that Pompeii offered.

GEOGRAPHY

The ancient city of Pompeii was situated in southern Italy’s west coast region of Campania, near the bay of Naples. Today, the ruins of Pompeii are located inland near the modern suburban town of Pompei (now written with one 'i').

KEY DATES
62 A.D. – An earthquake rattled Pompeii but citizens rebuilt the city not suspecting the looming disaster. They were largely unaware of the mighty power of Mount Vesuvius.

August 24, 79 A.D. – Mount Vesuvius erupted in the morning and the surrounding landscape had been changed forever. Within a span of 24 hours, Pompeii was completely buried under 12 feet of ash and stone, the river and port were gone, and Vesuvius was a crater.

1709-1711 – A farmer, sinking a well, struck Herculaneum’s ancient theater, in which he found ancient marble sculptures. An Austrian general acquired the land, had deep tunnels dug and for two years plundered the site for antiquities.

1760 - The first to attempt a methodical approach at Pompeii was German art historian, J.J. Winckelmann, considered the father of archaeology. He catalogued Pompeian loot, and because the city was buried under a shallow layer of lightweight pyroclastic matter, speedy excavation was both possible and a priority to limit the number of thefts.

1860-1875 - The archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli, director of excavations at Pompeii for a newly unified Italy, introduced innovative excavation methods. From hollows left by decaying organic matter he made plaster casts that reconstruct bodies of dead people, and also those of animals and trees.

1997 – Pompeii declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO

2010 – National Archaeological Museum of Naples opened a new wing, dedicated to the display of paintings from the Vesuvian sites. Later that year, torrential rains reduced two houses in Pompeii to rubble.

Present day – Pompeii takes up a quarter of a square mile and has seen over 25 million visitors. Large-scale excavation has now ceased, and one-third of the city remains underground. Archaeologists oppose undertaking fresh excavations while they focus on conserving existing buildings and re-examining and understanding earlier discoveries.

In the year 79 A.D., Pompeii vanished beneath thick layers of volcanic ash left by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. But what nature destroyed, it also preserved.

Pompeii: The Exhibition features over 150 precious artifacts on loan from the Naples National Archaeological Museum in Italy, which offer a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle and tragic end of this ancient Roman society forgotten for centuries until its rediscovery over 250 years ago.

From garden frescoes and marble statues to gladiator armor, coins and currency to religious altars and shrines — all set in their original surroundings — experience daily life in this once vibrant Roman city. Then, as the floors shake and the walls rumble, relive the volcano’s catastrophic eruption through an immersive CGI (computerized graphic images) experience, culminating in the reveal of full body casts of twisted human forms, asphyxiated by extreme heat and noxious gases and forever frozen in time.

Through excavated artifacts, multimedia experiences, and hands-on science exhibits, guests will learn the science of archaeology, volcanology, and Roman engineering while exploring the ancient civilization of Pompeii.

Like all Romans, the Pompeians worshiped many gods and goddess. In their homes, people had shrines or larariums to honor their own "lares" or particular gods that they chose to worship. These figures represent the lares that were found in Pompeii. 

The exhibit featured many wonderful descriptive posters such as this! This described what "fine Living" entailed. The beauty of this is I have seen such a recreation of such an elite roman home at the Getty Museum here in LA! The Getty in Malibu literally designed their museum to look just like the photo in this poster. It is absolutely exquisite and when I saw this today I was able to put two and two together.  

The Oasis From Public Life! The beauty of Roman style gardens! 

I tried to take a photo of one of the display rooms so you could get a feeling for what I was talking about!

The Romans LOVED water and were the first to develop aqueducts and pipes. Such systems were seen even in Pompeii with this fountain and their elaborate bath houses.

Dining in Style! Food has always been a large component of Italian life. However, this is what dining used to look like. There were NO tables, plates, and so forth! 

Frankly I took a photo of this because it seems to me we have come full circle. This "eating out" concept is where our society is now! We no longer have the time to eat at home or to even sit down to eat! Apparently this was true in the Pompeian days too! 

I had never heard of an Amphora! But these vessels were used to transport all sorts of things from wine, olive oil, to something called Garum (which was a fish sauce made from fish intestine and eels in salt). 

Tree shaped oil lamp with three lights were used to light dinners and banquets. The design was based on famous works of art, mythological characters, and complex geometric shapes. 

The information about the public baths and the simulated video just GOT ME! I am not sure what part I found worse, the public forum associated with this, or my concern for the people having to clean up after this mess. Either case I was perplexed by the whole notion. 

























If you are intrigued by Pompeii and want to learn more, I included a BBC video below. I do think that Volcanoes and other nature disasters do make us pause and help us realize just how fleeting life is and how out of control our destiny really is. Pompeii is just such a perfect example. Within 24 hours, an amazing and vibrant city was demolished and vanished. But fortunately was preserved in time for us to find centuries later. Yet thousands of lives, young and old were destroyed. It is a sad commentary and it seems to me that understanding Pompeii means much more than learning about the things that have become unearth, it means also respecting that it is a grave site of thousands of people who are just like you or me, living their lives in peace never suspecting that in the next minute their lives were going to be in grave danger and forever changed. 


BBC Pompeii: The Mystery of The People Frozen in Time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3RYWLwbYqI

Monday, August 25, 2014

Monday, August 25, 2014

Tonight's picture was taken in August of 2007. We took Mattie to one of his favorite places, The George C. Page Museum, where the LaBrea tar pits are in Los Angeles. Behind Mattie is a tar pit with a model of a Woolly Mammoth trapped in it. Mattie loved learning about the tar pits, the fossil collections, and the research that continues on location.  


Quote of the day: Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. ~ Pablo Picasso

This weekend Peter sent me this photo to let me know he was thinking of me! I LOVE sunflowers! Did I always love sunflowers? I am not so sure! Sunflowers were given to me by Team Mattie when Mattie was sick with cancer. They became an important symbol to me of hope and friendship! Friends gave them to me to try to cheer me up and to let me know that they cared about us under the worst possible circumstances and conditions. I will never forget that feeling! Though Mattie is no longer with us the feeling these flowers evoke is alive and well within me. When I see sunflowers they remind me of the time Mattie was alive, when we were battling cancer together, and when we were surrounded by our care community! Therefore to me this will forever be a special flower. A flower that symbolizes Mattie, hope, love, and community. Basically it is NOT JUST A FLOWER to me. 

My parents and I went out and did some chores today and we also bought some flowers to plant in the front and backyard. We got a row of hydrangeas which I will plant over the course of this week! It is supposed to be in the upper 90's this week and Los Angeles has a watering restriction!!! Since they have had little to NO RAIN! So keeping anything green here is a real feat!




This evening we are going out to dinner with friends of my parents! I haven't seen these particular friends since my wedding day! So needless to say this is a LONG TIME AGO for me. I mentioned in last night's blog that my parents and I went to Calabasas yesterday. I explained that when I was in high school I visited Calabasas frequently to visit my parent's friends! Well it turns out the friends I was talking about are the friends we are visiting with this evening. They no longer live in Calabasas but in Northern California. Which is why I rarely see them! They called last night and are in town! It is just a coincidence that I am here while they are here, since this rarely happens! It seems to me that they knew me a lifetime ago when I had just gotten married! Now I am not only married and had a child, but I had a child WHO DIED! I am a very different person and to me it is hard to meet people who haven't evolved with me. I can certainly have these gatherings, it is just harder. 

I would say it is challenging for a grieving parent to know how to exist in the every day world at times and to know how to re-engage with people who once knew us. The awkwardness goes two ways. It isn't only the griever who has issues, many times it is friends who do not know how to be a part of our lives any more either. Sometimes friends find it easier to just give us time and space, or decide to give us time and space out of respect. But unfortunately with time and space, what happens is the creation of a very large divide between friends that I have found can not be easily repaired. 

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Tonight's picture was taken in August of 2007. Mattie was five years old. This was the summer before he was going to enter kindergarten. It was a very exciting time in his life. Things were just starting to come together for him. He mastered so many things by this point, and no longer needed occupational or speech therapy. In fact, if you asked his kindergarten teachers, they would never have known Mattie had any issues as a toddler! I credit that to the early interventions I got for him! Therapists who were part of our lives for two plus years! They worked with me and Mattie on a weekly basis and Mattie really was a champ! In this photo Mattie was at the LA Zoo and having a great old time! It was hot that day and he insisted on getting this water spray bottle and fan. The irony was Peter loved this item as well!


Quote of the day: Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. ~ Albert Einstein


My mom and I started our day out by walking! Something we tend to do each morning that I am here. The weather has been glorious since I have arrived. Sun each day. Not something I am used to in Washington, DC for sure! Sun is never a guarantee, what seems to be a more typical occurrence in DC is grayness! At all times of the year. Which can impact one's mood for sure. 

We drove to Calabasas today. It is located in the hills west of the San Fernando Valley and is a city in Los Angeles County. When I was growing up in LA, my parents had a friend who lived in Calabasas and it wasn't unusual for us to visit this city. Back then the city was really under developed, now that has all changed! We had lunch at a cafe called Marmalade! Marmalade is located by this charming fountain filled with turtles! A place Mattie would have absolutely LOVED! People were out and about walking their dogs today, dogs of all shapes and sizes! 

The fountain is absolutely charming! It even has a statue of a Little boy in a row boat in the center of it! A site that I particularly love!

The turtles capture every one's attention! Both young and old! They are very photogenic and I am not sure what is more entertaining the actual restaurants, stores, or this fountain!!!


After lunch we strolled from store to store. I have visited this outdoor shopping complex with my parents several times before. In one of the stores we have gotten to know the store's manager. She is a lovely young woman from Connecticut! She happened to be in the store today and even though she doesn't see me often, she remembers me as I remember her. For some reason I sensed she wasn't having a good day. Yet the greeting I gave her, the comments I shared with her, and apparently how I made her feel seemed to perk her up and it helped to turn her attitude around. It wasn't my goal or mission going into the store, but leaving the store, I was happy that I something I said could make another person happier. 

This evening I baked macaroons for my mom's friend who isn't feeling well. Apparently this woman is a macaroon fan! So we decided to make her homemade cookies and mail them to her tomorrow. A coconut special delivery is on its way! Signing off for tonight!!!

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Tonight's picture was taken in March of 2003. Mattie was 11 months old visiting the beautiful gardens of the Huntington Museum in Los Angeles. The backdrop of this photo always reminds me of some sort of Monet painting, even though we were actually standing in the Japanese gardens at the Museum. 




Quote of the day: Life isn't about getting and having, it’s about giving and being. ~ Kevin Kruse


Tonight's quote seems very poignant given the museum I went to visit today! I lived in Los Angeles as a teenager and of course have visited my parents throughout the course of my entire life and yet this is the first time I have visited the Nethercutt Museum. This is a very special and unique museum. What captures your immediate attention is admission is absolutely free! Now in DC that is NOT unusual, but anywhere outside of DC, this is RARE! Nonetheless, given the caliber of this exhibit and the rare sights inside, this Museum is a gem! Actually worth an admission price if one was charged! But as Kruse's quote points out, life is about giving and being and the Nethercutt family understand this philosophy and share the beauty of things they have collected and restored over the years with the public for free. The Nethercutts made their money originally through cosmetics, The Merle Norman Cosmetic Industry to be exact. The history of the family, in my opinion is worth reading about and I included the story below to give you context to what I was seeing. Understand that the family made their money through cosmetics, but that is not what Merle Norman's nephew and grand-nephew collected!!! Try antique cars and musical devices instead!  

J.B. Nethercutt was born in South Bend, IN, on October 11, 1913, and moved to Santa Monica, CA, in 1923, to live with his aunt and founder of Merle Norman Cosmetics, Merle Nethercutt Norman. He later left his studies at the California Institute of Technology to go into business with his aunt.

On September 3, 1933, J.B. married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Sykes. The marriage lasted more than 70 years until Dorothy’s death on October 8, 2004. It was during their early years together that J.B. and Dorothy began their love affair with old cars.

In 1956, J.B. purchased two cars: a 1936 Duesenberg Convertible Roadster for $5,000 and a 1930 DuPont Town Car for $500, both needing total refurbishing. The DuPont restoration, which J.B. estimated would take a few weeks, instead took 18 months and over $65,000. By 1958, his meticulously rebuilt project claimed its first prize — the coveted “Best of Show” award at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. By the summer of 1992, his cars had won the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance six times, more than any other individual. The Duesenberg and the DuPont are still part of The Nethercutt Collection.

As J.B.’s collection grew, he was determined to share his masterpieces with the public. In 1971, he and Dorothy opened a museum in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, which has been free to the public since its opening.

J.B., who passed away on December 6, 2004 at the age of 91, memorably stated: “The recognition and preservation of beauty has been a major focus of my life. It would suit me well if what people remembered about me was, ‘Where he went, he left beauty behind.’”

Jack Nethercutt (JB’s son) and his wife Helen now proudly carry on the work that J.B. and Dorothy began. Early on, Jack exhibited a fondness for cars and discovered his natural abilities on the track. His sports car racing career from the 1950s and ’60s is showcased in The Nethercutt Collection’s Lower Gallery. Jack hung up his helmet to help with the family business. A University of Southern California graduate, he served as Vice President of Marketing of Merle Norman Cosmetics and later as President in 1973. He held this post for a number of years before leaving to explore other interests, including ownership of a Las Vegas, NV, restaurant.

In March 2002, Jack returned as President of Merle Norman Cosmetics. He and Helen now serve as Chairman of the Board and Vice Chairman, respectively. They also serve as Chairman of the Board and Director for The Nethercutt Collection. They continue to restore museum-quality cars, entering and winning at virtually every Concours in which their stunning cars appear.

The Nethercutt Museum showcases more than 130 of the world’s greatest antique, vintage, classic and special interest automobiles including many top winners of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (which I learned today is one of the biggest car shows in the world).

When you walk into this room, it is enormous! I am not a car person, but even I knew I was surrounded by special vehicles. Of course even if I did not, based on the reactions of the car buffs around me, I got a quick sense right away! 

Each vehicle is pristine and beautifully sign posted and detailed! Also this is a museum of FUNCTIONAL ART as our tour guide explained to us today! EVERY vehicle here WORKS and is tested yearly!!!

Mattie would have LOVED this car! This is a 1952 Hudson Hornet!!! Mattie loved the movie, Cars! In this Disney movie, there was a key character played by Paul Newman called, Hudson Hornet. I know Mattie would have absolutely enjoyed seeing a real Hudson Hornet car.

This is the 1936 Duesenberg featured in the movie, the Great Gatsby. It was a hard car to photograph because of the sunlight, but it shimmered in the window and was absolutely impressive! A real silver lady!

I naturally was captivated by this car since it shared my name! However it was owned by Rudolph Valentino (a silent movie star)! It was the 1923 "Sporting Victoria!" If you look closely, the hood ornament is a coiled cobra.

This cutie just caught my attention! It was a 1958 Vespa! I have a feeling if Mattie were with me I would have had a very difficult time keeping him out of this car!
Which maybe why there were NO children at all on the tour!

As this poster indicates this was an advertisement of the first delivery car for Merle Norman cosmetics! The 1927 "Star" was used for deliveries and it was also known as the "sweetheart car" because it was driven by JB Nethercutt and Dorothy when they were dating.

Here is an actual photo of the "Star."

Within the Nethercutt Collections is this incredible showroom!!! Marble columns, crystal chandeliers, painted ceilings all make up this beautiful Grand Salon Showroom. A showroom which depicts a bygone era of the 1910's, 1920's and 1930's. On display are approximately 30 of the finest automobiles of that era. Duesenbergs, Cadillacs, Isotta-Fraschini, Delahaye, Minvera, Renault, Maybach, many other European and American built automobiles. You may notice SOME BOLD colored cars! Cars back then were NOT ALL BLACK! That is because there were around 4000 different manufactures and therefore the main distinguishing difference between cars was COLOR!!!

While we were in this incredible showroom we were treated to the sounds of Gershwin! Literally!!! This piano was playing in the background but it was NO ordinary piano, it was not a player piano! It is a Reproducing Piano! There is a difference. Gershwin actually recorded Rhapsody in Blues for these Reproducing Piano scrolls and the beauty of such an instrument is that it creates the impression that Gershwin is indeed present in the room with us, playing the piano himself. It was like taking a step back in time today. Surrounded by antique cars, in a 1920's show room, and with Gershwin entertaining us! Almost surreal!

In the showroom we were introduced to The 1930 Cadillac which was owned by the legendary film director Cecile B. Demille. This car cost $8750 back then. 

Also featured in the showroom is the 1930 Model G Town Car. This car is also known as Daddy Warbuck's car from the 1982 movie, Annie. In 1930, this car cost $6000. 

In addition to incredible antique cars, the Nethercutts also collected amazing musical devices. This Edison phonograph is one such device. I learned today that this phonograph is older than a Victrola, which is something I am very familiar with that plays records. But I never saw an Edison that plays cylinders. 

It only got better! We walked upstairs to their music room! All I can say is WOW! This room is filled with things I have never seen or heard of in my life. A wall of Nickelodeons! Which maybe I had heard of, perhaps, but never heard actually played! They sound a bit like a calliope. They play on their own, kind of like a piano and marching band combination all in one!

Now this term was a new one for me. I introduce you to an "Orchestrion." Have you ever heard of it? If you haven't, don't worry about it! They are usually NOT found in the USA! An orchestrion is a generic name for a machine that plays music and is designed to sound like an orchestra or band. Orchestrions may be operated by means of a large pinned cylinder or by a music roll and less commonly book music. The sound is usually produced by pipes, though they will be voiced differently from those found in a pipe organ, as well as percussion instruments. Many orchestrions contain a piano as well. Any case they are HUGE! They can take up an ENTIRE WALL!

This orchestrion was constructed in Germany and built for a hotel dining room in the Netherlands. Its purpose was for entertainment value. As our tour guide explained the orchestrions were designed to lift the spirits of people! Since they were developed during the first and second World Wars!

This is a very unique and extremely heavy piano! It weighs two tons and has 97 keys! Most pianos have 88 keys. The floor of this room had to be reinforced for this piano and understand that there is literally a computer that can operate this piano along with the Wulitzer organ in the room.

This is a Wurlitzer! There are only two instruments that originated in America. One is the banjo and the other is the Wurlitzer. This is not your typical organ that you would hear at a church per se. This is almost something you would expect to see on a movie set. In fact, in the early days before movies had sound, movie theaters had Wurlitzers. Every theater had a musician who would accompany the silent picture and add sound affects. The sound affects were added using the Wurlitzer. The Wurlitzer can do just about anything, given that it was developed in 1918! Naturally it won't make computer noises or any 21st century sound! Today's tour provided us with an incredible concert! This Wurlitzer is very unusual because it too is computerized and honestly there is no telling what it can do! 

The sound from the Wurlitzer comes out of these 5000 pipes! The room practically shook from the sound! It is an absolutely unusual museum visit of cars, instruments, concerts, and a walk through time!

Also on the campus is a shop that still sells Merle Norman Cosmetics! I snapped a photo of my parents outside the store! 
But it did not end there! There was more. There was also a vintage train to explore!!!

Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago was founded in 1867 to build luxury sleeping cars for the railroads. Pullman's success in this venture dramatically changed rail travel worldwide. The luxuries of a private Pullman Palace Car included chandeliers, electric lighting, advanced heating and air-conditioning systems, complete bath facilities, silk draperies, luxury bedding and elegant furniture. 

In December of 1912, Clara Baldwin Stocker, eldest daughter of California pioneer, E.J. "Lucky" Baldwin, took delivery of a Pullman rail car appropriately named the California. Lucky Baldwin's fortune came from mining shares, real estate, race horses, hotels and the world renowned Santa Anita Race Track. Clara inherited his fortune and commissioned this private rail car. Clara's car was beautifully decorated in modern style with cream and gold painted staterooms, rather than the usual dark wood grained walls and ceilings. The California was a luxurious suite and can be linked to owning a private jet today.

Basically this private rail car could be attached to other passenger trains and this was how Clara comfortably got around the Country in style. This was Clara's dining room with silver ware and china!

Her Bedroom!

Her private bath, separate from where her staff slept and worked.

I end tonight with the 1923 "Moon!" This car cost $1785. Given that it was produced by the Moon Motor Car company, this seems like a lovely tribute to my Mattie Moon! 

Check out the hood ornament
on this car! A real Mattie Moon! Something Mattie would have approved of! I know children were not roaming around in this exhibit for good reason, but I think Mattie would have really enjoyed aspects of this adventure today!