Raul's Finite Playlist: November 2010

01 "Dance Dance Dance" - Lykke Li


02 "Chains Chains Chains" - Elvis Perkins in Dearland


03 "Lights Out" - Santigold


04 "Living Life" - Eels


05 "Too Much" - Sufjan Stevens


06 "A House is Not a Home" - Field Music


07 "Eat That Up, It's Good For You" - Two Door Cinema Club


08 "More Than This" - Charlie Hunter featuring Norah Jones


09 "Heartbreaker" - Girls


10 "Somebody to Love Me" - Mark Ronson and the Business Intl. feat. Boy George


11 "All the Umbrellas in London" - The Magnetic Fields


12 "Perpetuum Mobile" - Penguin Cafe Orchestra

Great L.A. Walk 2010: Wilshire Blvd.

For the fourth straight year I did Franklin Avenue's Great Los Angeles Walk. This time Mike decided to do Wilshire again, the very first street he did five years ago. I was glad since I wasn't a part of that original walk.

As usual I had a great time. Even at 16 miles I was less exhausted than I was compared even with last year's slightly shorter route. I think weather had a lot to do with it. The threat of rain barely materialized. It was limited to a few short bursts of shower in the morning, and it then cleared up the rest of the day. What could have been a soggy day turned into a cool and refreshing walk, breathing in rain-cleaned air.

The only downside to doing Wilshire, though, was my familiarity with the street. Even though this was the first time I've walked the street end to end, I have probably walked the entire lengthy cumulatively throughout the last few years. There were really no big surprises. I knew the street much too well.

Still, there were a few nice touches such as the message put up by the Wiltern Theatre welcoming the Great(er) L.A. Walk 2010. I also enjoyed the company. Kevin and Tyrell are excellent walking companions, and for the first time since Pico we actually finished with the main group and got to pose in the group photo at the end. A celebratory mojito at Border Grill was the perfect way to end the evening. I did get a blister from the walk, but it hasn't been too painful. I even did the GLU hike the next day.

So, until next year! I suggested to Mike that we do a Gold Line hike from Pasadena to East LA. Let's see what he decides for next year.

Here are some more pics from the hike. More pics can be seen on my Flickr page.