Leaving Lala Land.... The End

On Monday (SD had gotten the day off) we decided to run over to Santa Monica (actually, SD drove her car... we didn't really run) and have lunch once again at the Blue Plate Oysterette because I was craving some of their oysters on the half shell AND their (made from scratch) fish and chips. Once again, we sat at the counter so that we could see the action going on in the kitchen. Neither of us was disappointed. I love that place! If I lived in Santa Monica, I swear I'd eat there every day. Every time I return to California, I will eat there. Yes, of course, they have other items on the menu, which we didn't even bother to peruse. When I find something I like, I tend to stick with it, as dull as that may seem. It keeps me happy and healthy.




After lunch we walked down to the Pier at Santa Monica because I wanted to find a Flamingo Hat for an eccentric friend, but I couldn't find one anywhere. So, I bought yet another straw hat for moi; this time a black one. Then, we happened to notice a guy out kite surfing or whatever it is that they call it, which was pretty cool. Maybe I'll try that next. Or Zip-Lining. Except I would have to don a swimsuit to try the surfing thing. SD says there is a place in L.A. to Zip Line that lasts for 30 minutes. Does anyone really want to do it for 30 minutes? I have my doubts. Except for me. I'd love it but I'm slightly insane.



So, for my last night in West Hollyweird/Beverly Hills, we decided we would stay at my hotel, order room service, and watch movies. It was the perfect way to wind down after so much fun and going out. We watched The Blind Side first, which I loved even though I already knew the storyline. Next, we watched It's Complicated. (Yes I'm one of those idiots who can watch a good movie at least 100 times. Don't judge.) I laughed even harder the second time around. Go. Figure.



The next morning, it was time for me to say goodbye to my little boutique hotel, The Chamberlain, so I took a picture of my favorite guys on the front desk staff. They were so good to me and I love them for that. I will definitely stay there again when I fly out to L.A. at the end of August to help SD make the move back to Texas and law school at SMU in Dallas. They didn't have an accessible ice machine but if you called the front desk they would bring a huge champagne bucket full of ice, pronto, but wouldn't accept a tip. Class. The hotel is very ecologically and energy efficient which means there are certain little inconveniences, which I didn't mind in the least.

 


Then the hardest part came. The part where I had to say goodbye to SD without crying. Really, I'm getting so much better than I used to be. Now, I cry as she drives away, so that she never sees me....

Snooty Daughter's Birthday Brunch.... With A Surprise Gift

On Saturday SD called me when she got up and ready to take on the world for her birthday, which meant I could take it easy, enjoying the lovely view (not) and dress at a leisurely pace. Actually, although my view was non-existent, this was a lovely little hotel in Beverly Hills and I was very happy there. 

 

When she came to get me we drove around for a few minutes and she spotted a place that she said she'd been to with everyone that came to visit. I should have known she had ulterior motives, the little scamp.

So, we continued in to the Saddle Ranch Chop House located on Sunset Boulevard.

It was a glorious Spring day so we were seated outside. We immediately ordered Mimosas, which were delicious, by the way. After the second Mimosa we ordered brunch. I had the Eggs Benedict and SD had an omelet. 

SD then ordered some fruity little shots for us, casually mentioning that they had a mechanical bull inside and I should try riding it. I asked SD if that was what she really wanted... to see her dignified crazy mother Ride Dee Bull on the anniversary of her birth. With an evil grin, she replied "Absolutely!"

Several Many more Mimosas later I was ready to ride, when the bartender sent us these delicious drinks with heaven knows what in them, but they went down like whipped cream from a can. The time had come so I paid my money, donned a hat, signed a release form (gawd, what was I thinking?), and strode out (more like wobbled) to mount The Bull. Funny how liquor always make you think you can do things you probably shouldn't and thankfully, keeps you loose enough to avoid injuries sometimes. This was one of those times. I'm just grateful that I'll never have to see any of those people again...

 

So, here it is folks. A story told in pictures. I was once again successful at embarrassing myself while making people laugh. I seem to be getting more proficient as I go along, don't you think? At least this time I didn't have anything knocked out of socket or any bleeding. That's what I call progress.

AND... I didn't get thrown off The Bull, although I came close a couple of times. There were a lot of people screaming, whooping and hollering. Oh, and laughing. My own laughter was making me weak because I couldn't stop it.


SD also took a short video with my camera and I'd show it to you if I could figure out how to upload it or whatever from camera. Remember, I'm tech challenged.


So, once we'd had our fun we left for SD's apartment where we grabbed her roommate MC and went to lay by the pool at the hotel. Unfortunately, the pool was closed due to pool renovations but after promising we wouldn't dive into an empty pool, the management allowed us to go up and sunbathe It was too cool to swim anyway, but their rooftop pool is to die for. Soon it was time for all of us to start getting ready for the Birthday Girl's dinner and party with friends.


Three of her BFF's came to dinner with us at a little place called Cobras & Matadors on Beverly Drive that served divine Spanish style Tapas plates that we all shared. It's a great little spot for really authentic Spanish cuisine. However, don't ask me why I didn't take a picture of the girls or the food.

Next, we headed down the street to a place called The Hudson where SD was meeting a group of friends for further birthday celebration. I was the only one there over 30 but managed to have fun just the same. I think SD's roomie took these pictures of us outside The Hudson. It's all a bit fuzzy now, but I think SD had a pretty fun birthday. I think I fell into bed at around 1:30 AM.


To Be Continued.....

I'm Baa-aaack! And Lala Land Was The Most Fun I've Had In Like Forever....

Okay, so I'm totally disoriented after arriving home from my Lala Land trip today. I'm not actually that tired, I'm just *punchy*, so to speak. Perhaps that is the definition of *jet lag*. If not, I think I just redefined that coined phrase. I'm not quite able to assemble my thoughts in the right order yet. Really. What's that all about? Is that yet another fun perk to aging in the fast lane? Oh. Joy.

Our cat has been completely obsessed with me since I arrived home which is fun, because she wants to hear all my stories and she never interrupts me or judges me (as long as I'm slowly rubbing her belly as I relay the stories, right?). Hey, what are friends for anyway? Apparently almost a week was more than she could handle. After all, when I got home I did notice that her dry cat food bowl was as bare as Mother Hubbard's cupboard. Explanation complete. My welcome home gift consisted of several strategically placed hairball/throw-ups. Awwwwww. That was so sweet. Not..... Ever.

The trip out to Lala Land took 6-1/2 hours since we had to stop in Albuquerque, then change planes in Oakland, then headed to Burbank. Since we were pretty pressed for time, SD drove me directly to my hotel and said she'd be back at a certain time to pick me up, at which time we'd head downtown to see Dreamgirls. Not long after I got unpacked and dressed for the evening, she calls and says she's on (maybe, I don't remember) the 101 where there was a fatal crash. In other words, I was going to have to take a taxi downtown. So, she said make him take Crescent to Venice but he didn't speak English, so he took the long way, which cost a whopping $40.00 and he drove like an 80 year old woman. He dropped me off to where I had to walk an additional 3 blocks. Hello blister #1. No tip for you mister!

So, the first night we went to downtown LaLa Land and had a fabulous early dinner at Katsuya Live and then 2nd row seats at the live stage production of "Dreamgirls", courtesy of SD's production company. (They were actually like $300.00 seats that we were able to get for $90.00 per seat because no one else at her office wanted them.) Two nights later their run in L.A. closed, so I felt like we'd caught one of their best performances because I always think any show is at its peak when it's close to the end of the show's run. Emotions run high, as does energy, which makes it ever so much more exciting. I was totally and completely *agog* and guess what? I didn't cry. Oh wait. Actually, I did. When the character *Effie* sang the song "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" I pretty much lost it, which cracked SD up, as well as embarrassed her. Two birds with one stone is never a bad thing.

merc-hd
Uploaded by greateggs. - Classic TV and last night's shows, online.

Dreamgirls was a wonderful show and I loved it! On the way out (after the show) we did have a celebrity sighting. SD said "Isn't that the original Brady Bunch Mom?" Indeed it was. Florence Henderson, who looks younger than I do. I wanted to throw up but managed to *heel* myself and get over it. It was obviously due to to surgery and not genes. My only salvation.

SD and I were both exhausted so she dropped me off at my adorable little *boutique hotel* (The Chamberlain West Hollywood) where I happily fell into a deep sleep as soon as I finished watching Twilight New Moon on the hotel pay-per-view. More about this later...

I'm completely exhausted.

To Be Continued (and you're going to howl over day two)....