Where are the Lotuses?

I am saddened by the fact that the lotuses in the Echo Park lake have yet to make an appearance this year. Normally this is the time when they are in bloom, and blossoming. That's why the Lotus Festival for decades now has always been held on the second weekend of July. Usually a few weeks after the festival the Lotuses start to slowly die, disappearing by September. In 2006 and 2007 there were only a tiny fraction of lotuses around. And due to strange weather, the lotuses didn't reach their full growth until mid or late August. This year it scares me that there aren't any visible buds on the bed. What is going on? Is this due to climate change? Is the lotus bed diseased? Is there anyone there trying to study this to see what is going on?

(The above photo was taken from an LA Times blog)

Toto at Play

June So Far

1. We haven't had much June Gloom yet. Hooray!!!

2. I got a nasty stye in my lower right eyelid. I've had it since Friday, and it is finally coming down. I have been doing the whole warm compresses thing....

3. Happy Birthday Mami Sara!!! That is what my niece and nephew call my mother. Yesterday she turned 60 years old!

4. My wonderful neighbors Janet and Terry are moving this weekend. Their move is bittersweet as I will miss having them right next to me, but they found a place four blocks away!

5. The last day of school for my students and I is fast approaching. Their last day is the 19th, mine will be the 20th.

6. Even if the Lakers don't win tonight (again, against the mighty, solid Celtics) I am excited that they made it this far. For the first time in a decade or so I have been experiencing Laker fever. They have a really good team this year.

7. I am happy that I have recently booked two trips for the summer. I will be going to the Yucatan in early August, and will travelling to Hawaii in late August. I am also glad that I did get a summer school position. The extra cash will come in handy...

8. I love love love the new Portishead album, Third. It's been at the top of my play list for the last month. It's brilliant!!!

9. Everything on television since the T.V. season ended sucks. I have been reduced to watching The Bachelorette and So You Think You Can Dance. One thing I have been enjoying is watching the first season of 30 Rock on D.V.D. Thank you Netflix!

10. I have yet to see the Sex in the City movie. And this upsets me. I was never a fan of the show when it was originally on. I found the characters to be too shallow, whiny and more like self-indulgent gay men (many of the creators, etc. actually were...) But after the show went off the air, and through the persuasion and high recommendation of friends, I began to watch the show on D.V.D. and in syndication. I then found that the show was actually well-written, touching, and often quite poignant. And it sounds so trite to say it, but I found shared aspects between (in my order of most favorite to least) Charlotte, Miranda, Samantha, and Carrie, and many of my girlfriends, a few male friends, and (gasp) even myself. Anyway, will someone go see the film with me... (Not you Ariel!)
;-)