1 The light rail will be tough, the Gold Line ends at Union Station. Then you could pick up the Red Line and take that to 7th & Figueroa, where you would pick up the Blue Line which you will ride to the 105 freeway (between the 710 & 605) in Watts near the exit to go see the Watts Towers. Then you'd get on the Green Line which runs in the 105 and the closest you would get to Westchester is Aviation & the 105. Gold Line: Lake to Union Station - 29 mins Red Line: Union Station to 7th& Metro (Blue Line) - 5 mins Blue Line: 7th&Metro to Imperial/Wilmington/Rosa Parks (Green Line) - 32 min Green Line: Imperial/Wilmington/Rosa Parks to Aviation - 28 min Total time ~ 1 hour 34 minutes (without including waiting at transfer points) That is the reason I don't take the light rail because it would actually make my commute to work longer. But really getting across that route comes down to when you leave & a little luck.

2 books on tape -- best way to deal with traffic

3 Years ago a friend of mine kept a junker car at every small airport in the basin. He carried his samples and a car battery in his small plane. Land at the airport closest to his appointment and, using the battery he carried to start the car, drive to his appointmentwithout freeway traffic. Find the airports closest to your house or your mom's. Or just make your Mom move. At one time my brother in law lived in Inglewood and worked in Los Alamitos while his brother worked in Inglewood and lived in Los Alamitos. My suggestion that they just change wifes did not set well.

4 I could learn to fly. Of course, I've been told that burning $100 bills is a cheaper hobby.

5 Hey, $75 to $150 per hour. You pay your dog groomer more than that, don't you?