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.

A week later

A sunset view over the Pacific a block from our apartment.

This past week has gone so fast. Mundane-type activities. Buying supplies, learning the recycling rules, laundry. Stuff like that.

Our apartment is one of 15 places in our complex. A low-rise building (2 stories) which was built around 1960. It appears a few years ago it was bought and refurbished and marketed to "executive" short term residents. Pete and Judy visited and were really impressed. So am I. The building has an inner courtyard with a small fountain. We are a block from the palisades which overlook the Pacific. Gorgeous sunsets.

Our neighbors hail from Norway, New Zealand, British Columbia. There are even some rent controlled guys who have lived in their apartments for 45 years. I was too shy to ask what they are paying each month. $100???!!

I can walk to everything, which is unusual in the LA area, where the auto rules. Yesterday, I walked about 5 miles (you notice my subject is turning from food to exercise!). There are four movie theatres in walking distance. I believe I will reach my goal of seeing on the all Oscar nominees before the Awards ceremonies late this month. Maybe even the documentaries and the shorts.

We have company this weekend and are looking forward to seeing Jen and Dru. My sister and brother-in-law come in another week. Laura claims I have too many plans for one week. Watch for us on the Dr. Phil Show (in the audience!).

LA weather is great, but what is even more satisfying is being in the same city as Claire. Nice not to have to calculate time zones into our communications.

Will add to the blog weekly (that is unless I get discovered by Oprah and get my own TV show). I do plan to resume the daily diary when we start our return trip...but that is way, way, far away!