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After my toes were polished, I remembered my friends Lisa the make-up artist and Mary the facialist had just opened their place where Troop used to be, so I decided to just run across the street and see how they are doing. I was about half-way across the crosswalk when I realized what a stupid idea that was. My flip flops were full of water, and rain was soaking through my hoodie. Brilliant. I made it the rest of the way, though, slogging and sliding in my flops. Someone recently said to me the reason we Californians are so intolerant of rain or temperatures that fall below 65 degrees is because we hate to wear clothes.

I then headed down to Oak View to pick up a prescription for my old dog Sydney from Dr. Fryer (the only vet who kisses her right on the nose every time she visits). On the way back home I saw the sign for “Full of Beans - Coming Soon” had suddenly changed to “Now Open!” So I slogged inside to get a decaf mocha and check out the scene. There is a new awning on the side, so you can sit outside in the rain with your coffee (I guess). They will also soon be announcing live entertainment. The best news is that they have an on-site bakery, featuring gourmet pastries, cakes and cookies from Cakes by Judy, who even makes wedding cakes.

Tonight, Al Westcott will be at the Village Jester, with a promise to sing rainy songs like, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" (Willie Nelson), "Rain Drops Are Falling on My Head", "A Rainy Night in Georgia" (Hem), and "Buckets Of Rain" (Bob Dylan). “But,” he said, “I will not be doing, 'Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down' by the Carpenters,” which really bums me out because my mom always sang that to my sister and me when we were little. Oh well. He will also sing his newest, “When the Kingdom Comes,” which is currently featured on Radio Ojai. Take a listen to what I’m calling great hillbilly gospel.

What other rainy songs come to mind for you?