More California Pictures

File Under: LA - the pictures

Friday's adventures included a trip to The Grove, an outdoor shopping venue, which is adjacent to the world famous Farmers Market.

The Farmers Market

The Grove

Next, we stalked...I mean visited the 3rd Street Dance Studio, rehearsal space used by "Dancing With The Stars!" We found where they park.

But...nobody was there. Just an empty dance studio.

So we left, and drove around, I snapped pictures of store fronts.

My new favorite name for a bakery - "Kiss My Bundt!"

We went to The Standard for snacks and cold beverages. Gnome came along, too!

Groovy, huh?

Walking back to the car, we found a dog park which was down the hill from us. We watched the dogs running around for a bit. See?

After dog watching, we drove back to Orange County in Friday afternoon rush hour.

Dinner that evening was at The Azteca Mexican Restaurant. It was both delicious and FUN!

Entertained and full, we stopped to buy some booze, then went home to watch the movie "Heathers." Bedtime followed.

The end!

LA Story

File Under: The Trip

I'm too tired to post this evening. I promise I'll complete my summary, along with pictures for all to see tomorrow.

Hello From California

File Under: Vacation-a-Go-Go

Greetings from the OC! I'm staying with my friend Mark, who lives in Orange County, CA. I arrived Thursday night and immediately we went for drinks at Downtown DisneyIt was nice seeing Anaheim's version compared to the Orlando version I visited last August. This one's smaller but just as pretty. Plus, no hurricane here, so bonus points!

The weather on Friday was partly cloudy, temperatures began in the low 60's and warmed to about 70. It was warmer in Chicago. LOL

Yesterday we went to Los Angeles. We wandered arount The Grove for a while. It's a fancy shopping mall where on any given days you might see a celeb or two wandering. Yesterday, there was nobody. We wandered through The Farmers Market which was very cool. I loved seeing all of the little stands and cute shops. We stopped in a French Market for energy drinks. I bought a new pair of sunglasses, too.

We then went to The 3rd Street Dance Studio, hoping to see some of the DWTS stars. No such luck. The parking lot was empty. We stood outside for a few minuted, debating if we should go upstairs. Finally we did. There was a woman behind the desk at the top of the stairs, she asked if we needed help. I quickly noticed dance schedules on the wall and said "oh, I'm just looking at your class schedules." She asked if I was a beginner and I said "oh yes, just interested in seeing what classes you offer." She was very nice and pointed out a few. I don't think I made eye contact with her once. I just kept looking around. She was very nice though.

Afterwards we went to the Sunset Strip and wandered. We went into The Standard, a small, swanky mod hotel with a loungy-looking lobby and minimalist design. Fans of "Sex and the City" will know that this is the hotel that was featured in a couple episodea and it's where Carrie and the gals stayed when they went to LA. We had drinks and snacks by the pool. It was partly cloudy and cool so there weren't many people out there. Once finished, we wandered a bit more, then headed back to Anaheim where I got to experience their version of Friday rush hour traffic. Delightful! We made the best of it.

Last night we had dinner at a Mexican restaurant that is all Elvis themed. It's so cute, and the food was good. Afterwards we came home, mixed some drinks and watched the movie "Heathers."

This morning I'm up and ready to hit the gym with Mark. We want to be all buff and hot for The Go-Go's concert tonight. Well, more so than we already are. :)

Packed...For Real This Time

My bags are really packed now. I modified my wardrobe choices, I took out 2 pairs of shorts and added another pair of jeans. I now have 1 pair of shorts going on the trip instead of 3. It's going to be no warmer than 70 degrees each day. Certainly shorts weather by the middle of the day but cooler in the morning and at night so I figured I would play it safe. Lots of shirt choices. Mark wants to go to his spin class Saturday morning so I'll go to the gym with him. We both belong to the same gym so I'll get in a workout while he does his class. We said that we're going to be mistaken for Tori Spelling and Mary Kate Olsen at the concert Saturday night. He's Tori, so I guess that means that I'm the one who has to vomit up my meals.

My computer is going with me, hopefully I'll be able to check in from California and give updates. No promises this time...we all remember what happened the last time I went away and promised play by play reports. :)

Baggage

File Under: Packed

My preliminary packing has been done. I'm pleased with how everything fit into the bag, there's still room in it and it's not terribly heavy.

What I'm more excited about is the fact that I tried on some of my clothes and shorts that I bought to wear to Florida last summer, which were a little snug, are now comfortable. Yay me! LOL

I'm sure tomorrow I'll come home from work and rearrange things in my bag, just to make sure I've done the most efficient packing job. I'll also check my list to make sure that I've got everything. I love my lists.

Packing

File Under: Kind of unlike me

Thursday afternoon, I will board a plane, en route to Los Angeles. I can't wait, it's going to be a fun-filled weekend with some great friends I don't get to see all that often.

Normally I'd have my bag packed by now but this time I've just got a pile of clothes on a chair (Thanks, Dan!) and try as I might, willing them into the bag just isn't happening. I had hoped to pack this evening, allowing me a day to consider my choices and then repack once again. I can still do that if I pack tomorrow. There are a couple things I need to try on. Then I have to decide on shoes. Oh, the shoes.

I'm only going to be there 3 full days. I think that makes it more difficult, actually.

It'll get done.

What I Won't Be Doing New Year's Eve

File Under: Trips I Won't be Taking

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Still unsure what I'll be doing. I have a few options. Here's something I won't be doing and it's killing me. I have friends who are attending so I expect to hear all about it and I'm hoping they'll be so kind as to provide video from the event.

BELINDA CARLISLE AND RUFUS WAINWRIGHT CELEBRATE NEW YEAR'S EVE WITH INTERNATIONAL FLAIR IN PARIS À GO-GO

Two Special Performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic

MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2007, at 7 PM and 10:30 PM
WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

Belinda Carlisle and Rufus Wainwright ring in the New Year in Paris À Go-Go: New Year's Eve in Paris in two special performances at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Monday, December 31, at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Belinda and Rufus share the stage which is transformed for the evening into a French cabaret. They will both perform in French and English in a program that includes classic French pop songs of Edith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg and others from Voila, Carlisle's first CD sung entirely in French, as well as a special surprise. Accompanying the elegant first-time pairing are top-notch musicians that make up a quintessentially Parisian-style band including Jay Bellerose (drums/percussion), Reggie Hamilton (acoustic bass), Fabrice Martinez (violin), Jean-Paul Monsche (accordian), Dave Palmer of Air (piano/additional sounds/music director/arranger) and Timothy Young (guitars). Sassy French dancers add to the electricity and elegance of the evening, capped by an unforgettable finale fantastique!

Sounds fun, huh?

Since I can't be there, allow me to share with you one of my favorite Belinda videos. This is the title track from her CD "Live Your Life Be Free," which was released in the fall of 1991. It did well in other parts of the world but didn't fare as well in the US. The videos that were released from this CD were the most creative ones she's ever done and this one includes beautiful men, great costumes, campy dancing, big hats and foreign language. Belinda herself once described this video as a "60's Christian Dior fashion ad on acid." Judge for yourself.



Happy New Year! Live your life, be free!