Ziad and I had our first date 10/29/07. He picked me up from the Aliso Viejo Library. I was there doing research for my Thesis. A few months later we met a couple at the Hotel Laguna. They were newly married and offered some unsolicited advice to us. They said, "Make sure you go through all four seasons together before you decide to make a life together." That became an inside joke between us and we would say, "four seasons" whenever we heard of anybody jumping into marriage.
Today marks experiencing the four seasons together. And although we know that we really love and care about each other... we've decided to remain in each other's lives as friends. So there you have it... it's on the table and we can move on with the great pics of today!
Ziad has been talking about
The Huntington Botantical Gardens forever. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens is a collections-based research and educational institution established in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington. Henry Huntington, a key figure in the development of Southern California in the early 20th century, was also an active collector of rare books and manuscripts, art, and plants. By the time he established the institution, he and his wife had amassed an extensive collection focusing on British and American history, literature, and art, as well as rare and spectacular plant specimens.
Here I am at the Lilly Ponds. If looks like I am sweating, I am. Who expected 90 degree weather when it's almost November. Some parts of the country (Hello, Philadelphia!) have had cold cold cold conditions already!
This is the tallest Bamboo I've ever seen! I'm trying to grow some in my house and it never gets past 18 inches or so.
This is on the patio. A nice place to sit and relax, eh?
Part of the Library
Stain glass collection
The formal dining room
This is
Blue Boy by Gainsborough. It was purchased by Mr. Huntington for $700,000 in the 1920's to add to his growing collection
The gardens are amazing! The 206-acre estate comprises fifteen specialized gardens filled with 20,000 different kinds of plants, with as many as 1,800 rose species and cultivars, 1,200 camellia cultivars, and 5,000 cacti and succulents. Themed gardens are devoted to roses, camellias, subtropical, Australian, and jungle plants, as well as palms, bamboo, and water lilies. Especially popular with visitors are the desert and Japanese gardens.
In the Rainforest Exhibit
There is a special Children's Garden that is especially designed for the pint sized patrons
A difficult attraction for those over 3 feet tall!
The moon bridge
The perimeter to the Chinese Garden
I'm ready to go back to Asia!
So if you're ever in the San Marino / Pasadena area, you've got to make a trip to the Huntington!
I took the day off and spent the day showing Tommy The Huntington Botanical Gardens and Art Collections. I was given a year membership as a gift and have been enjoying spending time soaking up an oasis of culture. 
We explored all of the gardens. My favorite are the Japanese Gardens. 
The dry landscaping gardens
The Bonsai Court
The Lily Ponds
The Desert Garden
Blue Boy by Jonathan Buttal is The Huntington's most famous painting. 
Sarah Barrett Moulton's Pinkie is my favorite painting in the collection. 
After our afternoon of art and gardens we checked off another Must see /do/eat off of Tommy's list. We headed to East Los Angeles to experience the Mt. Everest of burritos at El Tepeyac. 
The burrito is the size of a lap dog. NO JOKE! Jonathan Gold from LA Weekly says it best: The Manuel's Special, or Hollenbeck, named after the local East L.A. police division, is more or less an old-line Mexican restaurant's entire menu wrapped into a tortilla the size of a pillowcase -- rice, beans, stewed meat, guacamole and lakes of melted taco cheese. Buy one and feed your family for a week. 
