i did it

I got lost. In LAX. Twice.

I was there an hour before I managed to find the right place to catch my flight. I knew it was gonna happen. (which is probably exactly why it did happen.) That place is the biggest damn thing I've ever seen. Thank goodness they have color coded signs where the appropriate busses and shuttles stop to take you where you need to be. Too bad they told me I needed to be waiting under an orange sign, when I actully needed to be under the blue sign...

LA was chilly, all weekend. Actually, it was warmer when I got home than it was while I was in LA.

I had fun, I got a lot of work done, I bought some too-expensive silly shit. I saw the Hollywood sign. And Sunset Strip. And Venice Beach. And Santa Monica Boulevard. And the Hollywood Hotel. And the Playboy Mansion. And many old studios and recording studios, and cool clubs, and Fredrick's of Hollywood IN Hollywood. Cami's place is just a block off Sunset, and it's full of the artistic (especially musical) people. And the air vibrates with a certain electricity. I don't know how she ever relaxes or finds solitude - LA is too energized for me to stay long term. But man oh man what a great place to visit! Every time I went out on her balcony I got all jazzed up and smiley. The air just vibrates around you.

But I am incredibly addicted to my family. I thought I'd be OK without being homesick or missing them so much. I missed them SO MUCH. Them, and grits. So we hit Waffle House on the way home for grits.

Everything (and I do mean every thing) in LA was completely different than here. I think if I'd have been there as a teen, I totally could have loved it and called it home. Of course, I'd be a different person now - prolly wouldn't like myself nearly as much as I do now - but yeah. Anyway. The whole place swings on a pendulum between 2 opposite ends of the spectrum.

From rabid privacy, and obtrusive flamboyancy.
Everyone in their flashy cars and $1000 shoes and wild hair and polished "i'm cool" looks, living behind rows and rows of 8 foot tall boxwoods and locked gates.

From unbelievable levels of wealth, BMWs and Mercedes, with a shoeless homeleless man sleeping on the cardboard box next to those very bling-y chrome wheels.

I saw almost no fall foliage, and no bare trees... just palms, everywhere, and greenery, and these bushes, more palm-type plants, with amazing flame-orange flowers... and yoga studios. And coffee shops.

Frankly, it was like going to a different country, and suffering from culture shock. I loved every minute I was there, it was a cool experience, and I'd love to visit again. But I could never live there. I am not rich (or poor) enough. Too old, not cool enough. Not ambitious enough to strive for the "acceptable" level of wealth that qualifies you as cool enough. I am not hip, or artistic enough. But BOY was I a grinnin' ass, camera totin', redneck fool of a tourist who soaked as much of it up as I possible could.

Maybe I'll get back this summer! I sure hope so :)

And Cami and Mark... what incredible hosts. I felt so welcome and comfortable in their home. And that's saying a lot - I'm sort of awkward around people, especially those I've never met in person before - especially in their house, without my constant companion who I have never been away from voluntarily. I miss them already.

But I'm still glad to be home. And away from LAX. Man what a place.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the chick in LAX. Total hard core butch. Latina. With a shaved head and a baseball cap. Dressed like some sort of gang member, not that I can say she actually was one. But you get the picture - bad ass bitch, a little masculine. With the most amazing eyes I've ever had the pleasure of looking into. She was beautiful. She was in line behind me at Starbucks in LAX, and I had to force myself not to make a damn fool of myself by turning around and telling her I thought she was gorgeous. But god she was gorgeous. Crazy, because other than that Latina thing, she was as far from 'my type' as I can imagine. But damn she was beautiful. I'll be thinking about her for a good while. Cuz, wow.

Venice sunset

My favorite pic from my California Adventure... Sunset at Venice Beach. Unfortunately, it was cold and very windy, so the street vendors had closed up shop... but look at this sunset!

made it :)

made it safe and sound from Charlotte to LAX in one piece. There was LOTS of turbulence flying out of Charlotte - for about the first hour. I left my house thinking the flying was gonna be the easy part, but we had really crappy weather in NC so it made for shitty flying. Once we got past Nashville though, it leveled out.

Once we passed out of the nastiness, the view, thanks to a full moon, was incredible. There's something magical about seeing the curve of the horizon in the distance = especially when there's some unknown city all lit up right there along the edge between eath and infinity.

I'm a cheeseball, but after an hour of trying not to puke ot hyperventilate, it was almost a spiritual experience.

Anyway. We've done some work, we went for a walk down the sunset strip (Sunset is a block from Cami's house) and we had Spinach Ravioli with creamy tomato sauce (at 1am)at some very hip little cafe, where I felt very hickish, and underdressed.

She says we're going to the beach to do our editing tomorrow. And promises that we'll go to Rodeo Drive to make fun of people who spend $800 on shades. She wants to show me around, let me do the tourist thing and says she has to show me "the ridiculousness that exists here."

I think I might have to remind her to take it easy. I might even have to be mean and push the "work" issue ;)

Anyway, it's 2:30 where I am, but 5:30 where my body thinks it is, and I'm pretty pooped. I've been up almost 24 hours, and flown across the country for the first time ever... now it is time for a little bit of sleep.

I am

'bout to get on a plane! hee hee, I'm a lil bit giggly about it too!

Just so ya know

I'm on flight US Air 1437 flying from Charlotte to Los Angelas tomorrow evening. Thought you guys would like to know that, in case there are any plane crashes, you'll know right away if you can stop reading my blog ;)

I'm in seat 13F. That's a window seat. Thought you'd like to know that so if you happen to live along the flight path, and see a plane screaming toward the ground, you know to check the windows for my terrified little face. No, I'm not waving because I'm excited to see you, so please do not wave back :)

Actually, I'm totally not worried about flying, or about crashing. I'm worried about getting lost between LAX and Cami's house. What a place to get lost, Los Angeles! How terrible that would be huh? Venice Beach sure seems like a terrible place to find myself, alone, with the Pacific Ocean, and the full moon, at high tide. Wow, just terrible.

*wonders how to make that happen*

I did the online check in a while ago, and printed out my boarding pass. That made it sink in that I'm really going to California tomorrow!. You'd think I was going to another country or something, with as excited as I am. I printed the pass, I hopped up, and cleaned my living room while I danced around.

I don't dance.

I don't actually clean my living room.

You know, just to explain how excited I am.

“Ten Honest Things About Me”

I found a meme, Jannie, the non-memer, did it. In appreciation of the teddy bears her pet donated to Operation Teddy Bear Care, I am going to be a copy cat. (I am also carrying a Kit-Kat on my flight tomorrow, you know, because I think her kitty would appreciate me making that effort to show my appreciation.)

So anyway, 10 honest things:

1. Despite my 'blazing fast' highspeed internet service, I do not connect well. My computer does, I don't really. So like, I love you and all, but I'm not really the type to remember all your personal info, like your birthday. Sorry.

2. I suck at geography. If you're looking for Colorado, don't ask me, or you'll likely end up in Mexico. Don't drink the water.

3. I cuss, a LOT. And I feel that "the c word" should be revered for the power it holds.

4. I'm a bi chick who hasn't had a girlfriend in over a decade, because I think it's too damn confusing for my kids to understand. Hell, it was too damn confusing for ME to understand for years!

5. I don't know if I really believe in God at all.

6. I live my life from one Sunday to the next, when I can, again, at last, FINALLY, get my weekly postsecret fix.

7. I think I should have been born a dude. No, I don't want to have a penis surgically attached, but I reeeeeally don't get the appeal of salons, spas, or "products." (Or drama, backstabbing, & cattiness.)

8. I am legally blind (without my contacts) and could, conceivably, be collecting a disability check. I'm not, but I totally could if I tried.

9. I have cussed out a preacher. More than once.

10. I love the sensation of falling asleep when I've had way too much to drink.

I am SOOOO...

excited about my trip to California, and yet, SOOOO stressed out by the traveling experience! Rules, regulations, security protocols, required identification lists, prohibited items lists, caarry-on measurments, sheesh! I'm a simple southern girl, this will be the first time I've ever gone anywhere farther then the store alone. I'm a bundle of nerves and confusion! Thank goodness all the rules and shit are on the US Airways website, but seriously, I was in a frenzy looking for a tape measure to check my suitcase dimensions!

AND... lol, my state ID is a wee bit out of date so I'll have to get another one by Thursday. I don't drive, so my ID card isn't something I bother to keep up to date, I mean... it's not like I get carded for cigarettes anymore *rolls eyes* So yeah that's another bunch a rigamarole with lists of accepted ID and shit.

I sure wish this was simpler.

And yes, this is me, whining, about a free trip across the country to spend 4 days doing something I love with someone I adore, in a new place, which includes warm weather and the Pacific Ocean. Shame on me.

Know what my crazy ass hopes? That maybe they could have just a little bitty eaqrthquake while I'm there. I've always wondered what they felt like...

PLEASE!?!?!?!?

Go over there >>>>>>>

And buy package 2, *insert puppy dog eyes here*

wait, these might work better:


We've only had 40 people make purchases so far, but somehow we've managedto deliver nearly 400 bears to these kids, AND provide them with Christmas dinner before they went onbreak for the holidays. I feel so bad, they're out for nearly 6 weeks... and mmost of these kids ONLY eat one meal a day - at school. No idea what they're going to eat for the weeks they're out of school.

Anyway, seriously, Go to Teddy Bear Care.org and PLEASE purchase some packages for these kids, it's pretty cheap (as little as $10, which buys a bear, a box of food, and some cookies for the kids!) and no shipping costs because our South African team delivers the stuff themselves!

meteor

Check out this video: Meteor Caught On Dashboard Camera

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