Things are always entertaining

in Southern California. Well, perhaps not always, but this weekend's LA jaunt -- part socializing, part "could this be my neighborhood?" community assessment -- definitely had more than its share of entertaining moments.

Should I live on or near the coast? My wallet says, "No, I don't think so." My rental beach cruiser,
so stylishly argyle,
and subsequent coastal ride
said, "perhaps?"

Alamo lets you choose your rental car, so instead of Mr. Sensible Sedan, I found myself choosing some kind of red Pontiac coupe thing with a sunroof and spoiler. Spoiler! Also included was a lovely spider friend, who greeted me Saturday morning with a backseat web it had apparently stayed up all night just to weave for me.

Downtown Santa Monica was overrun not only with pigeons but also white-clad winged creatures surely thereto promote something -- god knows what.

I kept hoping this dinosaur fountain would come alive and trample them, but no such luck.

Apparently just walking around LA is bad for your feet.

And is disorienting to wee beach squirrellets, who seem to have forgotten that it is the oak tree, and not the proud agave, that is their friend.

There's no denying that the city is a style capital,

but it would seem that all this beauty can cause problems for some of its denizens.