Weekend # 4: Lakers, Vegas, Santa Monica, Venice Beach

This week started out with my second Lakers game on Monday night.  I took one of my customers and we had a blast.  The celebrities were out in force! And, the Lakers won! You can see the new sightings of the celebs on the sidebar.  Jack, Denzel and Phillip Seymour Hoffman were my favorite catches.  I brought the binoculars this time - so the hunting was much easier.



Jack Nicholson and Donald Sutherland

Tuesday meant an early flight to Las Vegas for the World of Concrete (WOC) show.  I hosted lunches at The Trump Hotel - DJT and The Stratosphere - Top of the World.  For dinners, we hit The Stratta at the Wynn and Circo at The Bellagio. 

Circo - Bellagio

Cosmo Hotel

Floor @ Cosmo - My customer's work

The strip

View from The Stratosphere lunch

WOC

The Trump Hotel

Bellagio

Stratosphere - View 2

WOC

After 11 appointments in two days, I slept in on Thursday and then headed out for the evening with customers for dinner and the Beatles Love show.  The show was really great. Definitely, strong on the political and psychedelic themes, but the dancing and the transitions were of the incredible calibre that all the Cirque shows bring.  I had to sneak some pictures on my i-phone.

Friday...and I am finally back in LA.  My friend Kevin and I catch the Marina Shuttle and head to Main Street in Santa Monica for some bar hopping.

Saturday was a gorgeous day.  High 70's, sunny and breezy.  After doing the 20 minute workout (I made Kevin do it too!), we headed for a walk on the beach over to Venice. It was early and there was lots of activity: exercise classes, volleyball, surfers and, of course, the usual crazies that come out on the boardwalk.

After the walk, we went to the pool at my complex.  It was a nice relaxing day after the busy week!

There is just so much to explore here in SoCal.  I am happy that I have started this journey.  I am very glad you have chosen to come along with me!

As for the next weekend, I am heading to Santa Barbara!  I am taking the train up.  Can't wait!

Until then,  I hope all you weekends are fabulous and fun!

S~ 

Weekend # 3 - Hello Hollywood Sign!

Before, I start typing about my adventure this weekend, I wanted to tell you something that I think is really cool about living here:  Most movies are filmed here and it is really surreal when you can recognize things.  I watched "Valentines Day" the other night on HBO and I started noticing all these places in the film that are near me.  At the end of the film, when Eric Dane, Jessica Biel and Jamie Fox are up on the building overlooking the marina, that is my neighborhood!!!  They were on the roof top of the "Disco" Marriott which is right around the corner from my place. It is just funny that I can actually give directions to my place by pointing out scenes in a movie.

Moving on...

As all of my weekends begin, this was no different.  I was exhausted from the work week and I was not up for doing anything on Friday night.  I had the weekend completely free until the 11th hour when my tennis captain called me and said she needed me to play.  With a 2:00 warm-up and the match starting at 3:00, I knew my Saturday was going to be a loss with trying a new adventure.  Well, this match was the worst! Score: 7-5, 3-6, 6-7 (tie-break 11-13)! UGHHH!

So, on to the adventure.  Since, I am keen on losing some weight, I decided that most of my upcoming explorations will focus on the physical activities that LA has to offer.  With a suggestion from Cinci Jen, I decided to hike up to the HOLLYWOOD sign. Getting to the base was easy. There were many helpful tips and recommendations on-line.  They said it was a strenuous hike.  I was sure that it would be very easy. 

It wasn't. 

It is well worth it and anyone can do it, but it is UPHILL all the way for a VERY VERY VERY long time.

Here is the excursion:

We start out with a cool cactus plant as I am doing the diversion route to a VERY famous Hollywood Cave before starting the climb to the sign.

Duna-nunu-duna-nunu.................Batman!!!
So, from there the hike begins, It takes me about 1 1/2 hours to reach the summit.  I was going slow and stopping for pictures. You can do it in much shorter time (that is if you haven't done Jillian's workout right before you started this adventure).  Pictures of the ascent...

There it is... It is kind of like Vegas - it appears much closer than it actually is....

Horses coming down the mountain.  Very pretty - but the poop is very stinky!

Smoggy view of the City - We are not even 1/2 up yet.

 More horses - but at least I am ahead of them now!

Getting close!!!  Issue is you have to hike all the way around the backside of the mountain to get closest to the sign.  So, I still have a very uphill climb from here.

View away from the city.  Very pretty.

The first glimpse of the sign from her backside!  This fence lets you know you have made it.

HOL - Holla!

The most I could get in from my vantage point.

The WOOD part.

It took about 45 minutes to make it down. It was a nice easy trek after the ascent.  I felt great for doing it!!

Tips if you are going to make the hike:
1) Look online -there are two trails. I took the harder one.  There are some turns you have to take -so make note of when to go left and when to go right.
2) Water - I ran out at the end.  Bring more than enough!
3) It was in the mid to high 70's on my day.  Any hotter would be BRUTAL!
4) Do not do Jillian's workout before you go! - Thks, Renee! :(
5) Reebok EasyTone Shoes - NOT the best Choice!

Well, that is it for this weekend.  BUT...this week is busy.  Monday on MLK Day - I will be taking customers to the Lakers game.  Tuesday, I leave for VEGAS for the World of Concrete!  I wanted to drive there but with the customer event the night before, I couldn't make it happen.  I should have some free-time on Friday in Vegas, so I am looking to see the Hoover Dam.  And, I think there is some new bridge that was built that is supposed to be amazing. I will try to check that out.

Look for my Vegas pix in my next posting.

Upcoming event - Train to Santa Barbara - Jan 30th!

Weekend # 2 - January 7 - 9 2011

Let's start out with a WAR EAGLE!!!!!!   National Champions!  Whoo-hoo! Okay, Week # 2 was not so great as far as checking items off of my list. Friday Night:  My bestest, Kevin came over and we ending up talking and laughing until.......... 6 AM! Seriously, 6AM !!!OMG! So, therefore, Saturday was a pure waste. Since, I did not fully join the living until around 2pm, I knew my best bet was just getting chores done instead of trying to get out there. Sunday: I had my first mixed doubles USTA match. Talk about an annoying partner!!! But, I have turned over a new leaf, not a peep from me. Seriously, I am nice on the tennis court. I know my old tennis friends do not believe me, but I am truly not Ms.Competitive any more. It has probably taken away a bit of my competitive edge, but I (we) were still able to triumph! (2-6), (6-4), (6-2) !! ..... YES! Well, Monday - Meant the Auburn Tigers in the quest for the National Championship.  My cuz and I were going to meet at a cool sports bar in Santa Monica but Monday Work came into play and I watched it with Lightning instead.  Nail Bighter!!!   So, I will make up time this week.   What I am learning through this Blog is that I have to really plan ahead.  All of these cool things you can do are, in reality, a real hassle to get to.  So, I will plan ahead!   S~

Weekend # 2 - January 7 - 9 2011

Let's start out with a WAR EAGLE!!!!!!   National Champions!  Whoo-hoo!

Okay, Week # 2 was not so great as far as checking items off of my list.

Friday Night: 
My bestest Kevin came over and we ending up talking and laughing until.......... 6 AM!
Seriously, 6AM !!!OMG!

So, therefore, Saturday was a pure waste. Since I did not fully join the living until around 2pm, I knew my best bet was just getting chores done instead of trying to get out there.

Sunday:
I had my first mixed doubles USTA match. Talk about an annoying partner!!! But, I have turned over a new leaf, not a peep from me. Seriously, I am nice on the tennis court. I know my old tennis friends do not believe me, but I am truly not Ms.Competitive any more. It has probably taken away a bit of my competitive edge, but I (we) were still able to triumph! (2-6), (6-4), (6-2) !! ..... YES!

Well, Monday - Meant the Auburn Tigers in the quest for the National Championship.  My cuz and I were going to meet at a cool sports bar in Santa Monica but Monday came into play and I watched it with Lightning instead.  Nail Bighter!!!

Not California

To my friends, I am not so good at this blog stuff.  I tried several times to have a song playing in the background - but due to the limitations of the site and my in-expertise, I cannot manage it...

So, please humor me and listen to this video...

I love this song... if you listen to the lyrics you will catch the irony of the song and my life thus far out west.

Without further commercial interruption:

The LA Lakers

Well, it was a cold and rainy SoCal night and The Lakers were obviously affected:  They lost to Memphis................................................Memphis??!!

Anyway, our enthusiasm was not vanquished! 
Kevin:  braving sickness,
Ashley:  fighting jet lag, and
Sally:  a little bit tired from the holiday hub-bub,
Experienced our very first Laker's game!!!!

I was pleasantly surprised that it was not a huge hassle getting to the parking lot and getting to our seats.  I expected it to be pure torture. Since, none of us knew the ropes, we had to ask several people for directions and they were all very nice and helpful.

Our seats were great! All the people in our section were very cool with the one exception of the "one family" that does not understand personal space. But, even they were not that bad.

So, when you go to the Lakers game, besides the game, what you are keen to look at (depending on who you are) are The famous players (Kobe), The Laker Girls, and The Celebrities...

Here are some of those pics...

Now, for the celebrities...Ashley has a great celebrity eye. (maybe a future career as a paparazzi?)

We saw a lot of people that are kind of famous, but they were of the sort where you have to say " you know that one "vampire show" or I know he is famous but I don't know his name..

Here are the 2 that we are sure of... Johnnie Mac and Tom Petty!  Not bad for a rainy Sunday night!

All in all, it was a great night.  Kev, Ash and I will definitely back!

So, in closing... I would definitely recommend going to a Lakers game if you get the chance.  It really is a notch above the other major sports events that I have attended.  The whole experience is very LA:  there is this aroma of class and wealth and schmoozing and new money and posers and cultures and spirit and pride and community.

LA is a crazy place!!  There are cynics, lovers and lots of tourists in this city.  But, overall, what surprises me the most - time and time again - is that 99% of the people I encounter are extremely nice, polite and very welcoming.

Thank you Lakers for a great night! We'll get 'em next time!

cheers

~ S

Happy New Year! Welcome to Weekend # 1

What a day makes, I feel so much better! Yay!!

I talked to my sister and it turns out that I did not have food poisoning, I just had a weird case of flu.  My sister's son and all of his cousins were just as sick as I was a few days ago. So, I will take that as a sign that the projectile vomiting was just the cleansing that I needed to get over 2010. The unpleasant experience has gained me a fresh start to this new year!

Starting off this very first weekend of my 52 weekends, I really wanted to go to the Tournament of Roses Parade. Vis a vie the sickness and my lack of wanting to spend the night camping on the street or fighting traffic and parking at 4 am, led me to not making it this year.  However, I had a wonderful day of experiences with a little less hassle.

Here are some cute little band girls from New Hampshire that I met in Santa Monica that had performed in the parade. They said it was a very grueling and long day, but, they were very happy to be in CA and out of the blizzard in the NE.

This first morning of 2011, I got up and did my 20 minute workout (thanks Renee!).  Then I headed out on my little blue and brown beach cruiser "Birdie" towards the beach.  I rode up to the Santa Monica Pier and I decided that I might as well ride one of those rides now.

I decide to ride the famous "Pacific Wheel". I rode along with an awesome young lady, Ashley. What a cool, beautiful, fun-spirited girl! She and her dad had driven from Desert Springs to go the Tournament of Roses. They camped out on the streets all night and watched the parade the next day. Ashley advised me that it was good thinking that I stayed at home given my sickness, as street sleeping when ill is not fun!  She also told me of a cool girl they met that does something called "Couch Surfing".  It is basically vagabonds that travel around and look for people that will take them in for a night to sleep on their couch or a hot shower. The girl they met did a little sleepingbag surfing and shared their Pasadena habitat for the night.

Here's Ashley...

The views from the Pacific Wheel are awesome!  The cost to ride $5 and well worth it.  Somehow. Ashely and I ended up on the one cabin that didn't get turned over with the next riders. So, we rode the trip two times!~

Me on the ride!

Here are some views from the ride...

I said my good-byes to Ashley and her dad and headed back for home. Once I hit Venice Beach, I had to check out the incredible paddle tennis courts.  As I stood watching, Reggie came up to me and asked if I played.  I told him that I did not and that I wanted to learn. Bingo! Impromptu lesson!

Well, Tennis Fans, It is a bit different than tennis. If you ever wanted to hit the ball as hard as you possibly can, here is your chance. You really have to whack the ball every time just to get it over the net.  And, you have to REALLY watch the ball.  I totally whiffed the ball numerous times.  I won't go into all the details but suffice it to say, I am buying a paddle racket. Look for me on Venice Beach!

Here is my new paddle coach, Reggie.

In these early stages of this blog journey, I am already learning that it is not the incredible places and sights you can see, it is the people that make the places and events so memorable.

I dedicate this post to the most eye opening person I have met so far.  A very cool lady, Roxanne. I met her on my flight back to LA after Christmas. What started out as a horrible nuisance ended up being a party in the sky thanks to her!

Roxanne - who had me "belly" laughing all through our long delays, baggage waits, and holiday hassles, you have my card.  I really hope to hear from you and your kind husband, sorry I lost you in baggage claim!

S~