2012 - A Year In Photos

2012 was the I year discovered there is indeed a landmass east of England, my husband Warren formed a deep, personal relationship with Paris baguettes, we met Clint Eastwood when he was still just famous for making movies, and we witnessed the space shuttle Endeavour make its final journey through the streets of Los Angeles.

2012 was the year I saw two friends - Torie Osborn and Mike Bonin - run for public office for the first time, the band of merry organizers we call "Venice For Change" registered over 400 new voters in California, and we found out that YES WE CAN reelect an African-American for a second term as President.

2012 was the year we celebrated my cousin Cassie Greenfield’s bat-mitzvah as well as the 80th birthday of Warren’s mother, Elinor Bowman, and we both tried not to feel too old when our nephew Trey Griffing turned 18.

2012 was also the year Warren played his ukulele in front of the Louvre in Paris (and on the canals in Amsterdam and on the beach in Stavanger, Norway), Marta played a zombie in Castle, and both of us played ourselves at a “Castle-Con” put on by enthusiastic fans.

But most of all, 2012 was the year for gratitude. Gratitude for our friends, our family, our great jobs, and our health.

This is my photo diary of 2012.  Sometimes personal, sometimes political, sometimes just because, this is how I saw the world last year............

Click on the "read more" link below to see the photos.

Click on any photo to enlarge

        JANUARY      

Monarch Butterfly - Pismo Beach, California. Two populations of Monarch butterflies call the United States home. The group living east of the Rocky Mountains migrates south to spend the winter in Mexico. Those living west of the Rockies migrate to the coast of central and southern California. Pismo State Beach hosts one of the largest over wintering congregations, varying in numbers from 20,000 to 200,000.

Avila Pier - Avila Beach, California. In the late 1990s, Unocal began the cleanup of decades old oil seepage from corroding pipes under the township. Over 6,750 truckloads of contaminated material was sent to a Bakersfield Landfill, and replaced with clean Guadalupe Dunes sand. Many of the town's homes and businesses, including entire Front Street and Front Street Buildings, were razed as a result of the half mile wide excavation. After years of negotiation, Unocal agreed to a thirty million dollar settlement, which has been used to rebuild the town. Today, new buildings, homes, businesses, modern walkways and sea motif walls and benches take their place.

Elsa welcomes in the New Year
Livermore, California

Assembly candidate Andrew Lachman bends the ear of California Democratic Party Vice-Chair Eric Bauman, the man whom the LA Weekly crowned LA's Democratic "Kingmaker",  during a contentious Stonewall Democratic Club endorsement meeting.
West Hollywood, California

Congressman Howard Berman gives an impassioned speech at the same Stonewall Democratic Club endorsement meeting.Berman lost the endorsement to rival Brad Sherman.
West Hollywood, California

 

West Hollywood/Beverly Hills Democratic Club President Lillian Raffel looks on as 50th Assembly candidate Richard Bloom speaks at their endorsement meeting. Another Assembly candidate, Torie Osborn, won the club's endorsement over Raffel's objections. Raffel had supported the Sacramento-backed candidate Betsy Butler.
West Hollywood, California

Sound mixers put the final touches on an episode of ABC-TV's "Castle"
Los Angeles, California

Winter Sunset.
Santa Monica, California

       FEBRUARY     

50th Assembly candidate Torie Osborn and supporters at the California Democratic Party's yearly convention.Osborn sought and lost the Party's endorsement to rival Betsy Butler, who was supported by Speaker John Perezand the Sacramento political establishment.
San Diego, California

Assembly Speaker John Perez gives a speech at the California Democratic Party's annual convention.
San Diego, California

Clint Eastwood before he was famous for talking to an empty chair. American Cinema Editor Awards
Beverly Hills, California

Myself and one of my film-editor role models - Thelma Schoonmaker. A three-time Oscar Winner, Schoonmaker is most famous for her life-long collaboration with Martin Scorsese
Beverly Hills, California

                  MARCH      

My beautiful cousin Cassie Greenfield during her Bat Mitzvah ceremony in Battery Park.
New York, New York

California Republican Congressman Darrell Issa gets an earful from protesters during a Brooklyn
Town Hall meeting on the foreclosure crisis.
Brooklyn, New York

Protestors from New York Community For Change protest the presence of  California Republican Congressman Darrell Issa during Brooklyn Town Hall meeting on the foreclosure crisis.
Brooklyn, New York

The in-laws react to a slide show of family photos Warren compiled for his mother Elinor Bowman's 80th birthday party.
Hacienda Heights, California

Me as a "featured zombie" extra for a Walking Dead episode of "Castle".
Los Angeles, California

      APRIL     

Rob Bowman directs a rooftop action scene for the season Four finale of "Castle".
Los Angeles, California

Actress Stana Katic rehearses an action scene on the rooftop of the Roosevelt Hotel for the season Four finale of "Castle".  Los Angeles, California

AD 50 candidate Betsy Butler eyeballs rival candidate Torie Osborn during a debate at Santa Monica College.
Santa  Monica, California

At a Writer's Bloc event with Bill Maher, Rachel Maddow mimes Mitt Romney's "love at first sight" meeting with eventual running mate Paul Ryan.
Los Angeles, California

View of downtown during Los Angeles' 4th CicLAvia. Inspired by ciclovía, the weekly street closure event in Bogotá, Colombia, established over 30 years ago, CicLAvia consists of the temporary opening of Los Angeles streets to all Angelenos. Free to the public, it interconnects diverse portions of the city, creating a web of temporary public space, free of car traffic.
East Los Angeles, California

       MAY      

View of the Millwood neighborhood from a house featured on the annual Venice Home and Garden Tour.
Venice Beach, California

L'amour in front of the Eiffel Tower
Paris, France

Arc de Triomphe and the Obelisk of the Concorde as seen through the Arc de Carrousel.
Paris, France

Parisians discuss current events (or something) at the Jardin du Luxembourg.
Paris, France

A wedding party waits to have photos taken at the Louvre.
Paris, France

Le Cafe Marly at the Louvre.
Paris, France

Underground Pyramid entrance at the Louvre.
Paris, France

Tourists in the Louvre strain to get a view of the Mona Lisa.
Paris, France

View of Le Marais from our apartment.
Paris, France

Grave of Fernand Arbelot, who holds the face of his wife in his hands - Père Lachaise Cemetary.
Paris, France

A street performer commands a stunning view of Paris from Montmartre.
Paris, France

Warren slices fennel for our La Cuisine French Market cooking class.
Paris, France

Busker on the Paris Metro.
Paris, France

Frafjordheiane countryside.
Stevengar, Norway

The Fowler-O'Bryans, our hosts in Norway and recent transplants from Houston, Texas.
Stevengar, Norway

Warren gives Eliott a ukelele lesson.
Stevengar, Norway

      JUNE       

Herengracht Canal.
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Bike commuter.
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Red Light District.
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Van Jones give the keynote speech at Netroots Nation - an annual national conference of
progressive bloggers, activists and elected officials.
Providence, Rhode Island

"Dirty Fucking Hippies" Netroots Nation.
Providence, Rhode Island

San Francisco blogger Paul Hogarth does a little light reading at Netroots Nation - an annual national conference of progressive bloggers, activists and elected officials.
Providence, Rhode Island

Newly elected (and then-candidate) Mass. Senator Elizabeth Warren speaks Netroots Nation - an annual national conference of progressive bloggers, activists and elected officials.
Providence, Rhode Island

Baratunde Thurston, Nagin Farsad and Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsasyuk it up at Laughing Liberally, Netroots Nation.
Providence, Rhode Island

Comedian Lizz Winstead at Laughing Liberally, Netroots Nation.
Providence, Rhode Island

Standing room only at the "Upworthy" workshop - Netroots Nation.
Providence, Rhode Island

Cartoonist Tom Tomorrow competes at the Netroots Nation "Chairman's Pub Quiz".
 Providence, Rhode Island

Blogger David Dayen competes at the Netroots Nation "Chairman's Pub Quiz".
Providence, Rhode Island

Rhode Island State Senator Teresa Tanzi competes atthe Netroots Nation "Chairman's Pub Quiz"
Providence, Rhode Island

Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown participates in a Google Chat at Netroots Nation.
Providence, Rhode Island

Singer/songwriter (and cousin) Derek Evry performs from his new album "Here's To Better Misery".
 Arlington, Virginia

Mutual Curiousity - National Zoo.
Washington D.C.

Grave of Audie Murphy - Arlington Cemetery.
Washington DC

Maryland Blue Crabs.
Bethesda, Maryland

Author Stephen Kings signs books before the final performance of the "Rock Bottom Remainders" following the death of founder Founder Kathi Kamen Goldmark. The band's members also included Dave Barry, Amy Tan, Maya Angelou, Cynthia Heimel, Sam Barry, Ridley Pearson, Scott Turow, Joel Selvin, James McBride, Mitch Albom, Roy Blount Jr., Barbara Kingsolver, Robert Fulghum, Matt Groening, Tad Bartimus, Greg Iles, as well as professional musicians Josh Kelly on drums, and Erasmo Paulo on saxophone.
Los Angeles, California

Author and TV host Chris Hayes at Drinking Liberally.
Santa Monica, California

       JULY      

AD50 candidate and Santa Monica mayor, Richard Bloom. Bloom would go on to defeat
Sacramento-backed Betsy Butler in the November general election.
Los Angeles, California

AD50 candidate Torrie Osborn gets a hug from her campaign manager Tom Berman after failing
to make it past the top-two primary election.
Santa Monica, California

Summer fun with the Hills.
Culver City, California

A mother hummingbird struggles to feed her baby after it had been knocked out of its nest.
Venice Beach, California

Our dog Holly on vacation.
Avila Beach, California

      AUGUST     

LA Councilman Bill Rosendahl talks with CD13 Candidate Matt Szabo at his home. Despite being diagnosed cancer which impacted his spine and losing 45 pounds while undergoing radiation and chemotherapy, Rosendahl continued meet almost daily with officials and constituents in his living room.
Mar Vista, California. 

Former West Hollywood Councilwoman Lindsey Horvath is asked to hold a tourist's baby while sitting for a photo shoot.
Santa Monica, California

      SEPTEMBER      

The space shuttle Endeavour flies by the Hollywood Sign.
Los Angeles, California

Onlookers in the Bradley Tower try to snap photos of the space shuttle Endeavour as it flies by City Hall.
Los Angeles, California

The space shuttle Endeavour as it flies by LA City Hall.
Los Angeles, California

The space shuttle Endeavour as it flies by LA City Hall.
Los Angeles, California

Autumnal Equinox sunset from our balcony.
Venice Beach, California

      OCTOBER     

Venice For Change registers over 400 new and returning voters at the Abbot Kinney Street Festival.
Venice Beach, California

Downtown Los Angeles on a Saturday night.
Los Angeles, California

The Space Shuttle Endeavour slowly makes it way through city streets as it travels from LAX to its
new home at the California Science Museum.
 Inglewood, California

       NOVEMBER      

From November 2 to Election Day, I was one of a thousand California volunteers who traveled to Nevada to get out the vote for the Obama campaign. While canvassing their apartment complex in North Las Vegas, these kids told me they all voted for Barack Obama in a mock election at their school.
Las Vegas, Nevada

On election day, my partner Tony Salvaggio and I collected and drove 9 voters to the polls who wouldn't have otherwise been able to go. This is the last voter we got to the polls - Willie Griggs. He wasn't on any of our lists, but Tony found the 78 year-old Vietnam Vet as we were canvassing our last apartment complex an hour before the polls closed. Paralyzed on his right side, I had to help guide his hand as he signed the voter registration book so he could vote. 
It was the best thing I've ever done in my life.
 Las Vegas, Nevada

Democratic activists celebrate the victory of Barack Obama in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
Las Vegas, Nevada

An election observer for the Obama campaign celebrates at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
Las Vegas, Nevada

LGBT activists celebrate the victory of marriage equality propositions in 5 states at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Las Vegas, Nevada

A self-described Castle "mega-fan" reacts to meeting director Chuck Bowman at Castle-Con.
Westchester, California

The Space Shuttle Endeavour rests in its new home at the California Science Museum.
Los Angeles, California

Warren Bowman looks up at the Endeavour's wing at the California Science Museum.
Los Angeles, California

       DECEMBER      

A year after Occupy Los Angeles was evicted from the lawn of LA City Hall, MoveOn.org member Angela Garcia Combs and activists deliver 21,000 signatures from Californian's demanding LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosaresign from Fix the Debt, a right-wing lobby group funded by Wall Street interests.
Los Angeles, California

MoveOn.org member Angela Garcia Combs and activists deliver petition signatures to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa office.
Los Angeles, California

Actor and part-time Venice resident Robert Downey Jr. helps light the Venice sign for the holidays.
Windward Circle - Venice Beach, California

When Los Angeles Councilman Bill Rosendahl chose not to run for a third term in order to focus on his health, his long-time Chief of Staff Mike Bonin announced his candidacy for the seat.
Abbot Kinney Blvd. - Venice Beach, California

Los Angeles Mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti canvasses neighborhoods.
 Boyle Heights, California

The December 14th shooting massacre where 26 victims - 20 of them 1st-graders - lost their lives in Newtown, Connecticut shocked the nation.  Los Angeles graffiti artists created this mural to honor the shooting victims.
Venice Beach, California

A schoolchild holds a candle to honor children his own age who died in
Newtown, Connecticut.
Mar Vista, California

School children are overwhelmed with emotion during a candlelight vigil to honor the 20 children who died inthe Newtown, Connecticut shooting massacre.
Mar Vista, California

School children light candles during a vigil to honor the 20 children who died in
the Newtown, Connecticut shooting massacre. Mar Vista, California

Cataract Falls after a heavy winter rain - Mt. Tamalpais
Marin, California

Warren looks for incoming Cessna traffic.
Bolinas Ridge, California

Wine tasting port at the Imagery Winery in something that looks suspiciously like adult sippy-cups.
Sonoma, California

Point Reyes Station, California

Boat Bumpers decorate an outdoor cafe.
Bolinas, California

In 1982, newly ordained Livermore deacon Dave Rezendes set up a modest elf village at his home to celebrate Christmas. He had no way of knowing then that he'd begun a tradition that would last for three decades, outshining even some of the nation's largest displays. Now with 345,000 lights, the elaborate spectacle at "Casa del Pomba" -- Rezendes' home at 352 Hillcrest Ave. -- draws about 40,000 visitors a year and has been featured on cable and international TV.  In 2003, HGTV ranked it among the 10 biggest home displays in the United States.
Livermore, California

Elsa and Sam are delighted by the displays at Casa del Pomba.
Livermore, Califoria

Bolinas, California