Yes, I am lazy.
I do have some samples of things but it’s hot out and I am too lazy to put the effort into trying them on. I know that in comparison (as is usual) we here on the West Side of Los Angeles are touched lightly by the heat. While it might hit 90 degrees here it will be much hotter in parts of town like Van Nuys or Boyle Heights. And lest you think that it’s a case of a tony address keeping it cool note that both San Marino (home to Old Money WASP-y Angelenos) and places like Calabasas (home to New Money Kardashians and their ilk) will be hitting triple digits. But my ability to whine at the slightest hint of discomfort is unabated. Since I keep it to the epistolary, I hope it is amusing.
Birthday Roses
So last week was my birthday and I did end up working. I had planned on taking it off but there were things I had to do that put me in the office. The air conditioned office. A friend of mine sent me the most gorgeous bouquet of roses (I think she might read these blatherings of mine) and a giant box of cookies. The cookies I shared.. Another friend took me out to dinner to the local Cheesecake Factory. Now I know that the gourmets out there will be clutching the pearls and sniffing “really?” at the idea of having dinner at someplace so plebian when there are so many more, better places to dine in Beverly Hills.
Yeah, there are. But you don’t have to dress for the Cheesecake Factory. They have a giant menu so my friend could have an “impossible” burger, her husband a jambalaya, and a nice omelet for me. I am trying to be good after all, even on my birthday. We didn’t even order cheesecake. Would it have been better if the spirit of Julia Child made my omelet and the shade of Paul Prudhomme made the Jambalaya? Maybe. (I think the Impossible burger was just impossible, but that’s me) But there’s a reason that there are more than 300 of the across the US and it’s not just the endless bread. You know what you’re going to get, and sometimes that’s a good thing.
Rupert, in his sun bonnet
It was also doggy weekend in my world. Most of my neighbors have dogs (“emotional support animals” to get around that pesky “no Pets” thing) and all of them make a point of stopping in the office to get fussed over when I am there. It’s kind of funny when they see me where they don’t expect- they act like they won something. Saturday it was going to be blistering so I decided to get to Trader Joe’s early and beat the heat. I could see through the garage gate that my neighbor was “walking” their wiener dog Rupert. I say “walking” because Rupert was flat out of the shady part of the driveway with an air of “I am DONE” while his mom chatted on the phone and tried to cajole him into movement. When I pulled out however his demeanor changed he jumped up and ran towards the car, clearly wanting a car ride, a pup cup, a top down cruise through Beverly Hills so he could greet his public and perhaps an Egg McMuffin after all that exertion.
He was not pleased that I left and he didn’t get the pup cup.
Jackson, giving side-eye since I stopped rubbing his tummy to take a photo
Sunday afternoon was dog sitting Jackson, a King Charles something or other owned by the friends who took me out to dinner. They were going to another birthday dinner- their kid’s and they couldn’t take Jackson since they didn’t know how the daughters German Shepherd would get along. As I explained when they asked me, it’s hardly an imposition to be going exactly what I would be doing on a Sunday night anyway albeit in a different location: watching TV, reading, and sucking up AC. They have a bigger TV and better AC, and Jackson is very cute.
Finally! Perfume!
So after all this you would be forgiven if you thought “Is this Perfume Posse or Pup Posse?”
Yes, and the one I have been reaching for the most is Alvarez Gomez Aqua di Colonia Concentrada. I actually have a couple of bottles- one in the office and an industrial sized one in the house that I decant. All props to alityke for turning me onto this inexpensive wonder. It’s Annick Goutal goodness at Jean Nate prices.
Are you getting baked in the heat? What are you doing to beat it? More importantly, what are you wearing? Let us know in the comments.
Alvarez Gomez is available at Amazon in various sizes. I purchased mine there. Photos are mine or sent to me by the author
Here in Virginia we’ve been flirting with 100 degrees. I’m wearing linen clothes and staying inside, wearing stuff like Lubin Gin Fizz, Dior Escale a Portofino, Hermes Un Jardin Sur le Nil, and other light ethereal things. We dogsat our granddog last weekend, and it looks like we’ll be doing so again this coming Saturday. He’s a good boy. I’m glad you had a good bday. Those roses are gorgeous!
You know I had a bottle of Gin Fizz, used it up and for some reason didn’t replace it, and I don’t know why..
I have my 4711 in the fridge and like to put it on a cold cloth and apply to my forehead. I really need to get some of that Alvarez Gomez too. Smart of you to have two bottles! I walk Coco early, but I’ve canceled her afternoon walk a few times due to heat and she’s so grumpy about it. Of course if I took her out she’d be even grumpier, so. My new place has A/C and oooooh boy has that been delightful — I don’t even keep it very cool (76-78) but it’s so much nicer than no A/C.
I never thought I would want A/C and frankly don’t use it that much (I am on the 1st floor and face North) but on some days..
One of my doggy loving neighbors sent me a chart to share reading how hot pavement gets really hot on poor doggy tootsies on hot days. I had no idea!
I got two because the first one was the cheap small size. Then I realised that the cheap gallon jug was cheaper than most things are at a discount..
Bit chilly here. Saw the Mucha exhibition today. LOVED it.
Portia xx
Oh cool! Now that I am officially 39 and get a discount fare card (that the city will pay into) I am going to the museums more often, since I don’t have to pay through the nose to park.
Excellent news
One of the few perks of being (ahem) 39.
Bring on that Medicare!
Gorgeous roses. I’m surprised no one has said Boil Heights. I think we’ll get to 80 today. Pollen count ‘very high’. But, tomorrow temp falls back to comfortable. I hope you’re able to stay comfortable.
I thought of that but they might smack me.
We are getting what is for us humidity and the pollen count here is high as well. Which is not fun, but they say the humidity will calm down soon.
The roses are beautiful & I’m eyeing up that vase too.
The pups are even more delicious than the roses. Even the King Charles Spaniel & its side eye! Mr Jarvis Cockapoo has hayfever (who knew???) & being dosed with chlorpheniramine (piriton) & lying in-front of his personal fan. Having his rug removed later so he’ll feel more comfy even though he’ll still have a tickly throat & runny nose.
Today is the last day of silly high temps & humidity here. We need another storm to clear the air.
The Agua is perfect for the heat. So it the normal Colonia cos you can literally pour it on. I want to get some of their other flavours.
I’m wearing Guerlain AAs, 4711 & L’Occitane Verbena to cope with the heat
Those roses are stunning and weigh a ton. I actually threw my back out trying to change the water in them. First World problems..
Rupert can be rather bumptious but Jackson is Mr. Lovey Dovey. I just loved the side-eye in that photo. Still makes me laugh.
One of my other neighbor (only half joking) took me to task for posting about Rupert and not her dog. So, yes, Kiara: Luna is far far cuter than Rupert and much sweeter.
I’m in love with Rupert. Jackson is a cutie pie. The roses are beautiful! And I’m a big fan of The Cheesecake Factory.
We’ve been hitting the high 90s regularly and went over 100 degrees a couple of days ago. That sucks the energy right out of most of us.
I did some sampling, but other than that I have been wearing Mark Buxton Sleeping With Ghosts and MDCI Un Coeur en Mai these last several days.
CF’s Tex-Mex eggrolls are the best thing on the menu!!!
They had some Thai lettuce wraps at the next table that looked pretty yummy. That’s what I like about CF- it not be 100% authentic on the ethnic stuff but it will be 80%, tasty, and THERE.
It really does just suck the energy out of you. And us Yankees just have no idea how to slow down.
Sleeping with Ghosts I would get just for the name..
How do we live in the same state? I’m in the Sierra Nevada, north-centralish– and it’s hawt! We’ve been at or above 100 degrees, and I’m roasting as I read your birthday and weekend update, 80 degrees inside! The roses are gorgeous and dogos are adorable. I have to confess that while I love cheesecake and there’s a Cheese Cake Factory about 70 miles north-west of me (my commute), I have never been! Someday… Now I’m off to make a lemony purchase on Amazon. I love lemons. One of my favorite memories from years back was the Amalfi coast and shops that had lemon candles burning, lemon oils, lemon spritzers and balms, lemon drops: heaven.
Because California is HUUUUGE. Flip it and it would cover everything on the East coast from the Florida to NY border.
And LA gets these weird micro climates. It will be in the 60’s in Santa Monica, 70’s in BH (80’s if your up in the hills) etc. It can be in the high 50’s in Malibu but just the other side of the mountain in Calabasas or Thousand Oaks over 100.
I will confess that I don’t love cheesecake. There. Oh I won’t give you Jackson-style side-eye if you serve me it, but I prefer a nice fruit pie
I am in Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen which smells like Bobbi Brown Beach ( or vice versa) at 1/90th of the price. SPF 50
Except today, when it stormed all day and kept its cool for a change.
I wore Tribute in the morning and topped it with Rose Aqor this evening
It’s a wonder I didn’t get arrested!
Btw- cute pups!!!!!
Our building is full of them. We just got a new one: a majestic grey standard Poodle. He rubs his head into me like he’s a cat.
I love the smell of Hawaiian Tropic.
And I am sure that you’re arresting unto arrest-worthy no matter what you wear.