California - The Cat Throne at the Ice Palace

I woke up this morning to the mewing and howling of what sounded like a clan war between two clowders of cats outside the window. Apparently stray cats are a problem for any outdoor furniture here, they are extremely territorial and have a tendency to "mark" anything they consider within their territory. The house Donna's brother Al and his roommates live in has a couch on the front porch they call the "Cat Throne." I don't think I need to explain why..

The house itself is known as the "Ice Palace" to Al and his roommates. It's a cool house (literally, it's freezing at night, hence the nickname), apparently historic, and has a distinct western red mesa kind of vibe to it. Al is letting Donna and I stay in a cozy unfinished room upstairs. The room is reserved for a new roommate who will be moving in before we leave, I think Al said Monday next week.

Al and his roommates are all really nice and I had a good time messing around with them last night after we arrived at their house from the airport. I was amazed by how bright and lively LA is at night. Right outside the airport there was music playing in the street and giant illuminated pillars decorated a nearby building. I'm usually not a city person, but LA seems way nicer than I expected. I can't wait to see more of it.