My battery is empty

Ok, so I couldn't keep up the blog on the way home. Wow, we have been covering ground. Flew to Boise, then Seattle, back to Santa Monica, then picked up the car and headed to the Grand Canyon. Went on every conceivable tour (except on Mules) then drove to Santa Fe. Check that place out WAY too briefly, then drove on to Denver (via Trinidad). We are now celebrating Easter with the Hambrick clan. Claire is flying in (didn't we just see her in California?) and Don is picking her up right now.

I had planned to do a full explosion of pictures, but "my battery is empty" says my camera, so the pictorial trip across country will have to wait until it is recharged.

We take off for Salina, KS, then St. Louis, then Dayton (go Flyers), finally arriving in State College on April 15. Will keep you all posted (no pun intended)!

Our last day at 135 Montana

Don and I walk every day. I usually like a goal. My goal today was to walk to Sees Candies and get some chocolates. Don came along because that goal seemed appealing to him. There is something very heartening about entering a candy store which is filled with customers. With all the bad news around, it is nice to think that there are people enjoying a little something. Sees itself is a throw-back. Established in Los Angeles in the early '20s by Charles See, his mother's image is the logo and the store's design mimics the black and white decor of her original kitchen. The candy purveyors wear white and black uniforms with smart little head bands (ala Lucy and Ethel at the chocolate factory). A free sample is always offered. Nuts and Chews are the BEST. (Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway now owns Sees!).

As we walked back from Sees we saw so many restaurants we would have loved to try. However, today is our last day at 135 Montana Ave., so those dining experiences will have to wait. One thing Don and I felt we achieved...variety. During our entire trip we haven't dined at the same place twice!

Last Saturday we tried a place that was was in Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (a Christmas gift from Claire). Baby Blues Bar B Q is in Venice, CA, not far from us. The place offers a great variety of barbeque. Don got the Three Kings Platter (ribs, pulled pork and chicken)! Other great meals...there was a great sandwich from Bay City Subs and a Sunday supper at Lucques...and on and on.

Tomorrow we are off to Boise then Seattle and will return to Santa Monica to pick up our car and drive East. First stop Grand Canyon. I will be reporting more regularly as we drive, so stay tuned in (or logged-on).

This IS Jeopardy!

On my "to-do" list during our stay in LA is to attend a taping of Jeopardy!. Today was the day! I reserved the tickets several weeks ago. Claire was to attend with us, but work intervened (a good thing I guess) and she had to bow out. So Don and I headed out to Sony Studios in Culver City.

Not only does one have to reserve tickets well in advance, but one has to call the night before and swear (to a recorded message) that we will attend and be on time. The punishment is banishment from ever attending a Jeopardy! taping, ever-ever again. (A BIG price to pay.)

Interestingly, there is no dress code as there is for Dr. Phil. (Did I reveal that I actually did attend Dr. Phil tapings?) Claire, my TV authority, tells me it is probably because Jeopardy! rarely pans to the audience. All they really require is hearty applauders.

Clapping is encouraged. Shouting out or even whispering the answers is a big no-no. Something the ladies behind us couldn't control. Johnny Gilbert, the "voice" of Jeopardy! was great at explaining the show entertaining questions. Would you believe that someone asked where Alex Trebek lived? When Johnny said, "The Valley." The guy (a possible stalker?) said, "Where in the Valley?" Sort of spooky, don't you think?

The contestants were really quite composed. However, I was struck by how quickly people lose. They possibly have spent a great deal of time (a lifetime?) preparing and after 30 minutes it is all over. I learned two factoids: no one can buzz in until Alex is done reading the question (lights go off as a signal) and the second and third place contestants win $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.

Alex is cool. Short, but cool. Don was impressed that he only needs to work two days a week. It rivals being a professor! Alex chats with the audience and is very engaging. The three tapings we saw went very fast.

The shows we saw will air the week of June 29th. Check to see me in the audience. You will never see me as a contestant!

The Count Down

Saint Monica watching over Santa Monica

Why is it that I am now getting back to blogging as the time of departure grows near? This odyssey isn't over yet, but the time in Santa Monica is drawing to a close. We fly out to the Northwest on March 31 and return on April 4 to get into the car and start our trip eastward.

Have I mentioned I LOVE Santa Monica?!! However, living a temporary existence, even in paradise, makes me a little antsy. I miss my friends, my routine and my identity. We have met some really nice people during our stay, and the people in Santa Monica are generally very friendly, however, the short time here doesn't really promote "bonding."

On the upside, I have reconnected with lots of people. Not the least of which is spending some "quality" time with Claire. Then there is Sarah, Matt and Helena; Pete and Judy; Dave and June; Don and Sherrie who live here and were from "past lives." And also those who "came through" like Peggy; Liz and Gerry; Jen and Dru; and Laura and Dick. So, I haven't been lonely.

I made a list of stuff I wanted to do when we came here. I am almost completely through it. To mention a few: We've been to the Geffen and saw a dynamite play; went to a TV show; visited downtown LA and saw the Disney Concert Hall; hiked at Will Rogers State Park; saw a Wright house; visited the canals of Venice, CA; ate at Phillipe's (where the French Dip Sandwich was invented); saw Pacific Ocean sunsets; saw Ben Affleck on the street (but didn't see Larry David); heard Henry Mancini's daughter sing Moon River and her awesome saxophonists play the Theme from Peter Gunn. What is left? Going to see the TV game show Jeopardy! (going tomorrow); riding bikes on the beach (Wednesday); and eating at Baby Blues Bar-B-Q in Venice.

So much to do, so little time.

Can it be March already?

I think time is moving faster on the West coast (despite the fact we are three hours behind the East coast...figure that one out). We have enjoyed so many sights. Let me share some with you. Just consider almost a foot of snow fell in NJ yesterday. The photo to the left was taken today from the palisades overlook at the end of our street, Montana Avenue. The Santa Monica mountains and the Pacific Ocean are beautiful.

Walking to the 3rd Street Promenade I came upon a rose garden which was in full bloom. I guess one gets used to seeing such beauties year-round.


This is my dream street...Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. See the condos on the right? That's on my wish list. See the camper on the left? That's more realistic!

Family Visit

My sister Laura and her husband Dick visited for a week. Here's a recap.
Saturday, 2/14

Happy Valentine's Day. Laura and Dick (L/D) arrive and dine at Chez Hambrick

Sunday, 2/15

Dick's family party in Orange, CA

Monday, 2/16

Lunch on the Queen Mary oceanliner docked in Long Beach and a visit to the Long Beach Aquarium. Don clocks sunset at 5:38 PM. Did we watch Rachel's Getting Married that night? How can I forget?

Tuesday, 2/17

Pick up Claire. See the outside of her apartment which is near the LaBrea Tar Pits and the LA County Museum of Art (LACMA). Get turned away from Dr. Phil Show, but get VIP tickets for the next day. Visit Hollywood Forever Cemetery and see graves of the stars including reflecting pool of Douglas Fairbanks! (The grave of Hattie MacDonald from Gone With the Wind was the classiest.) Eat lunch at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. Don clocks the sunset at 5:39 PM.

Wednesday, 2/18

Dr. Phil Show X 2 (Octo Mom and On Thin Ice episodes.) Don did not attend (fingers' crossed). Visit Grauman's Chinese Theater and see the hand/foot prints of the stars. Walk on the "Red Carpet" (even though it was covered in plastic for the Oscars) outside the Kodak Theater. See the Hollywood sign and eat at California Pizza Kitchen where we learn our waiter adopted two dogs who shower with him; he is really a makeup artist and a female impersonator (too much info?) who had the back of his head appear in a movie. Later, taking a walk, L/D happen upon LARRY DAVID filming Curb Your Enthusiasm on the 3rd St. Promenade. (Peg is still recovering from missing this monumental encounter.) Don clocks sunset at 5:40 PM. Watch the Changeling.

Thursday, 2/19

L/D visits Camp Pendleton (Semper Fi for Dick); San Juan Capistrano and Aunt Bonnie again. Peg does her laundry! Don clocks sunset at 5:41 PM.

Friday, 2/20

Last day. Walk on Santa Monica Pier (see dolphins); Venice/Ocean Park area; drive up to Malibu; eat at Gladstones; drive to Burbank in "the Valley" and go on the Warner Bros. tour (our tour guide Nick gave his last tour...going to be a track coach and math teacher); drive entire Mulholland Drive and see Warren Beatty's house (we think); Jack Nicholson's and Arsenio Hall's houses (we're sure). Dinner with Claire at Versailles (pronounced the Spanish way) a Cuban Restaurant.

Saturday, 2/21

Last morning. Walked on Ocean Ave. for last morning. L/D and Don leave for the East Coast. Peg is blue!
RE: Oscar's. Peg has seen all except a few foreign and documentary films (and that's only because I couldn't find them!) Slumdog will win big; as will Sean Penn (though Mickey Rourke should); Kate Winslett; Penelope Cruz (though Marisa Tomeii is my pick); Heath Ledger; and Wall-E.

Back by popular demand.

Well, the popular demand might be an overstatement, but one of you asked where my blog was...so, I am going to try to be a more faithful contributor. We are in soggy Santa Monica. I add that bit to keep you from being too envious about my situation. It has been raining here, a lot, but every day the sun does come out and every day I can see the beautiful ocean at the end of the block. Also, staying positive, the rain will keep produce prices down. We need some good economic news!

Our apartment is very well appointed with a "beach motif." We are comfy here, but it IS small. Family has visited but long stays may create tension! We have a cute kitchen, living room, desk area; two bedrooms; two bathrooms. As I mentioned earlier, I believe the units were built in the '60s. They have been completely renovated, but are not sound proof! We have gotten used to the creaky floors upstairs and have even started to worry about our neighbors when we don't hear them! Hope you enjoy the pictures I am including. Notice Don hard at work, as usual.

It is Oscar time and the big awards ceremony is February 22 at the Kodak Theater. Don will be back East that weekend and I was thinking about visiting the Red Carpet area. How cheesy is that? I have the list of the nominated stars and movies which I carry in my purse. I have been knocking them off one by one (the movies, not the stars). Today, I am looking forward to watching Hellboy II: the Golden Army. I had not even heard of this picture before but it is nominated for Best Makeup and I do have an obligation to meet my goal of seeing them ALL. I also have to watch Wanted. It stars Angelina Jolie and is nominated for Sound Mixing and Sound Editing. I have no idea what those techniques are. Next week I will go on record with my prognostications.