Hooray for Hollywood!

The weekend after Mom came to California, Betsy flew out for a visit. On Friday night after I finished working we decided to go on a bike ride with some people from work (sorry, no pictures). We rented bikes and then joined the group in Balboa Park. There were a few hundred people there! The ride was called Critical Mass it is held on the last Friday of the month all around the country. After riding through the park, then downtown, along the bay, and through the airport, we managed to find ourselves separated from our group. We stopped near an apartment complex where some other "bikers" were resting and we asked them for directions back to the park then called the others to see where they where. Turned out that 2 of them had gone back to the hotel and the other was already back at the park. We took the guys up on their offer to accompany us back to the park and we enjoyed all of the conversations (and the company) the whole 6.5 miles back.

On Saturday we rented a car and headed to Hollywood! The drive took longer than expected due to a constant downpour of rain, but we were determined. After getting the "long way" directions that took us through Pasadena and past the Rose Bowl, we finally made it to Los Angeles hoping to catch a tour at one of the studios. It was we after got to Paramount Studios that we found out they don't do tours on the weekend. Never ones to miss the opportunity to explore, we decided to drive over to Hollywood BLVD and take in the sites. We saw several "stars" along the way; even had our pictures made with some!

We took a tour of homes that took us through the Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, and Bel Aire. Due to inclimate weather, we were in a van for the tour, so Betsy took diligent notes and we were able to return the next day to get pictures of some that really held our interests. The whole ride, my thoughts were replaying the "I Love Lucy" episode where she does a tour of homes in Hollywood and gets trapped inside one. More on those later...

After the tour, and in part due to our inability to fully appreciate it, we decide that we would stay the night in La La Land so that we could continue the adventure on Sunday. We entered the Hollywood Highland Hotel and Hostel right on Hollywood BLVD and turned over our plastic in exchange for linen. It was a little, ummmmm, different from the places I normally stay, but it was a cheap bed and we were together. After getting all checked in, we headed over to the Kodak Theater area for a quick dinner and then a movie at the one and only Grauman's Chinese Theater! It was very cool.

We grabbed some necessities at the local CVS and headed back to our home away from home to call it a night sometime after midnight. I'm still not sure how all of our trips together in California have us spending the night somewhere else unexpectedly and needing to purchase so many essentials, but I'm detecting a trend.... Obviously we survived, and quite honestly it wasn't that bad, but we slept very lightly and in all of our clothes - Betsy even slept with her boots on the bed!

On Sunday, we enjoyed Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, a quick breakfast at Starbucks, and one last stroll down the boulevard. The Oscar's were to be held the following Sunday and the whole street was a buzz with the preparation. Betsy and I got to have our picture made with one of the statues! Such a great opportunity, one of those right place/right times kind of things. At one point during our walk, I was too busy looking up at the Hollywood sign to notice the huge curb in my path and quite literally left my mark on the sidewalk. Although I ended up with some pretty good bruises to my knees, hands and pride, they were nothing that time didn't heal. Got a great picture out of it though (see picture at beginning of blog)!

Once back on the road, we went to "Any Street, USA" (it's actually Orange Grove Street) which is home to many of the homes used for movies. Our favorite was the "Father of the Bride" house. It would have been great to be able to tour the inside, just to see how much was real, but since it is a private residence, we couldn't do that. We cruised the Sunset Strip on into Beverly Hills where I got to see Lucille Ball's former residence located on Roxbury street! Now that's a house I really would have LOVED to see inside! We made our way over to Bel Aire and snapped a picture of the "Fresh Prince" house, complete with the jockey statue out front. Then we cruised on over to Greystone Mansion - the largest home ever built in Beverly Hills and site of many movie scenes including Nicolas Cage's house from "National Treasure", Wayne Manor in the Batman movies, and home to the Green Goblin in "Spiderman" just to name a few. The mansion and grounds are now a public park. Look it up if you get a chance, it carries a very full history.

We dined on Rodeo Drive after some very pathetic window shopping up and down the street. With the restaurant was located just steps from Tiffany & Co., so we thought it only fitting to enjoy an adult beverage called Breakfast at Tiffany's. It was a delicious mix of champagne, orange juice and Chambord. From our table we had a great view of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. If you are a fan of "Pretty Woman", it's that hotel!

Are you tired yet? We sure where, but we weren't quite finished... After lunch, we jumped onto Santa Monica BLVD and headed west to the infamous Santa Monica Pier. I love seeing someplace on TV or in a movie and then having the opportunity to see it "for real". We took our pictures at the end of the line on Route 66, then watched as a sailboat floated in front of the sun just as it was setting - gorgeous!!! We road the Ferris Wheel and strolled through the little amusement park before finally deciding to head back to San Diego.

I, unfortunately, had to work Monday morning, but I was able to take a break and see Betsy off. I'm so lucky that my best friend is able (and willing!) to come see me on some of my work trips. Despite the problems I had on the job this time, I was able to escape some the the insanity through Mom & Betsy's visits and my friend Melissa who "rescued" me frequently.

I've got sunshine....

I'm currently working in San Diego, California. I will end up being at this hotel for a little over a month, and because of that I actually get time off on this site. I was here last summer and made a new friend, Melissa, who graciously rescued me from my hotel my first weekend here. We went to dinner one night at a place called Phil's that's known for its B-B-Q. When I was here previously, we tried to go eat there, but the lines were always just too long. After that, we went to see Avatar in 3-D. Not sure what it is about Melissa and 3-D movies, but last time I was here we saw Up! in 3-D. She's officially my 3-D movie buddy ;) On Saturday, I visited the local farmer's market and then she and her friend Bree joined me in my area (my hotel is in Little Italy) for the Carnevale. It ended up being a bust, where basically the waiting times for all of the restaurants were twice their normal times, but it was still fun to get out with the girls. After finally getting to eat dinner, we then left Little Italy and met up with Bree's friends Aimee and Tony for a little bowling. I did not win, but it sure was nice to do "normal" stuff for a change. On Single's Awareness Day Melissa picked me up for a late lunch then we headed to her house to watch a movie. I really like having her here; I hadn't realized how much I miss having friends around.

I was able to use some of my airline miles to fly Mom out to California for a long weekend. This was the first time she has been to any of my sites and to say I was thrilled would be a huge understatement! Melissa and I picked her up from the airport and took her to dinner while we had dessert. Later, Mom and I went for a walk around Little Italy before the rain sent us heading for the hotel. On Saturday morning Melissa picked us up and the 3 of us WENT TO DISNEYLAND!!! The drive took us about an hour and a half and I think I enjoyed watching Mom take in the views more than the drive! We got to Disneyland right at 10 and met up with a friend of Melissa's who used his pass to let us in for FREE. Awesome, right? Turns out our passes also happened to be good for the California Adventure Park. It just kept getting better!


We immediately tried on "ear" hats for a picture and then we were off! Melissa has been to the park many times and has a vast amount of knowledge on all things Disney. It was so perfect to have her with us! We saw several characters throughout the park and managed to take pictures with a few (I got autographs too!). I think about the only ride we missed was the Tea Cups, and that was based on a mutual agreement. I loved the Finding Nemo ride; Mom loved the movie, and as soon as she saw Dory, she yelled, "It's Dory!" Half the people in the submarine turned to look at us, and we all just giggled. I love my mom's ability to be herself and not worry about what others think. When I grow up I want to be just like her.


I think my favorite part of the day was when we rode the Hollywood Tower of Terror. Melissa isn't a fan of the ride, so she sat out enjoying the day while we rode. If you've never riden it, the ride simulates an elevator and goes up and down the elevator shaft (it's tons of fun, but I don't want to ruin it for anyone!). The whole time we were in motion, Mom kept screaming, "I hate this ride! I hate this ride!" sounded just like a little girl. When it was over she looked at me, totally serious, and said, "Wanna go again?!" Geez! That woman, I tell ya! =0)



We ended up staying until closing time, and try as I did, I couldn't keep my eyes open all the way home. Mom and Melissa had a good laugh at my expense when they tried to ask me questions, but I was so sleepy that I just kind of mumbled and then kept rambling. Overall, it was a fantastic day!


On Sunday, we slept in late and then headed to Balboa Park. We walked for hours, touring the park and exploring the various cultural museums. They have one area that contains several small cottages that each represent a different country. You can go into them and receive information about that country as well as sample some local fare. Most of the volunteers that work the cottages were very informative and natives of their represented countries. Balboa Park is also home to the San Diego Zoo. We were at the gate, ready to purchase tickets, when the rain came pouring down. We took that as a clue to not go to the zoo (I mean, all those smelly animals? Wet? Really? I think not!). We ended up leaving the park and going down to the bay just in time for sunset. We walked around downtown, did a little shopping, then grabbed some sushi for dinner and caught a movie. Another great day!


Mom left on Monday, and I had to work, but we managed to escape for lunch and another quick trip to the bay. I truly enjoyed Mom's visit, and hope to accummulate enough miles to bring Dad to one of my sites soon.

Fasten your seatbelts... it's another whirlwind tour!

1,000 apologies for taking a month off between blogs. It was not my intent when I started this for that to happen, but .... All I can say is that I'll try to do better. Before I get to my current trip, I want to share a little bit about my previous trips for 2010. Please bear with me, and I will try to get through them as quickly as possible.

My first trip of 2010 led me to the gorgeous Mohonk Mountain House Resort located in New Paltz, NY. Both my day trip to NYC and my day trip to Boston were made possible thanks to this trip. While I'd never heard of New Paltz or Mohonk, that wasn't surprising to me because I've been to several places I've never heard of thanks to this job. What was surprising to me was how fabulous this place was hidden among the Catskills! I felt like I was stepping into a winter wonderland and back in time to the late 1800s. Mohonk Mountain House is owned and still operated by the Smiley family. I had the pleasure of meeting one Smiley while on property and he loved to talk about his family's legacy. The resort is situated in such a manner that from one side you overlook the Catskill Mountain range and from the other you can see Mohonk Lake the top of the Shawangunk Ridge. Everything was under a blanket of snow that was refreshed throughout my stay. I loved it! One of the nice perks of my job is that I have the opportunities to experience winter without having to live in a wintry climate. I think the snow is beautiful, and hope to never become jaded by the work that is involved in shoveling and the like to miss the simple beauty of it. There was not enough time to participate in all the activities MMH offers it's guests, but I was able to hike to the top of the ridge one day and watch the sunset. Coming back down, I appreciated the softly glowing lights that illuminated the property and guided me to my temporary home. The shear size reminded me of the Hogwarts School from the Harry Potter novels. I could go on and on, but you can read the website if you're interested instead http://www.mohonk.com/.

From Mohonk I went to TEXAS! And that is all the excitement I had from that site. I worked support at the hotel on the Sam Houston State University Campus. Yep, that means overnights with college kids. Not much going on for the property, and the employees all had homework, so it was pretty boring for me. The rooms were nice though. They are currently undergoing much renovation and it is being done well. If you are ever in the neighborhood, they are clean and cheap too!

After SHSU, I went to Durham, NC. I was there for a follow up visit and it is such a sweet site. I first worked at the Brookwood Inn back in September and was there for support (picture is from website, sorry but I didn't take any this trip). The site seemed to better appreciate my presence than that of my colleague, and it was I who they requested return. This was my first follow up site, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but when I walked into those front doors it felt just like I'd never left. There truly is something to be said for Southern hospitality. This was just as all those winter storms hit the East coast, the property was surrounded by snow and ice, and I was so busy that this was my first (and only thus far) property to not leave throughout my entire stay. I didn't step one foot outside the building until I caught my cab to leave. Fortunately, I'd been there before and knew what I was missing. I decided I'll just have to go back when the weather is behaving so that I can play. If you ever happen to travel to Durham, NC, I suggest you stop by. The people are friendly, the tea is sweet, and they serve warm cookies every evening.

On a side note, when I arrived at the Raleigh/Durham airport, I spotted an NBA plane. I didn't notice any team affiliation, so I wasn't quite sure what players to seek out. Turns out Larry Bird was just strolling through the terminal. I couldn't reach my camera in time to snatch a picture of Mr. Bird, but I did get one of the plane.

Oh... Boston!

Yippee!!! I got to mark another destination off my list by making a quick day trip to Boston from my last site. It was so exciting!




I went to Boston Common (America's oldest public park) where I made friends with a squirrel, then began my journey on the Freedom Trail. The trail began outside the visitor's center and went to the Massachusetts State House.




From there, I followed the little red line on the sidewalk to the Park Street Church - site of many "fire-and-brimstone" sermons. Additionally, on July 4, 1831, the hymn America (AKA My Country 'Tis of Thee) was first sung on the Church steps. Next stop was Granary Burying Ground. This is the final resting place of many famous/prominent Bostonians such as John Hancock, Samuel Adams, all five Boston Massacre victims, and Paul Revere.


The trail continued past King's Chapel and the U.S.'s first public school (can you imagine sitting in a classroom with Ben Franklin, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, or Ralph Waldo Emerson? They are just some of the alumni from Boston Latin School.)





Then came the Old Corner Bookstore and the Old South Meeting House (site of the December 16, 1773 meeting to protest the tax on tea).







Since everything on the trail is old, I'm not sure why Boston feels the need to name them as such, but the next stop along the trail was the Old State House Museum. The Old State House is Boston's oldest surviving public building. It was the site of the Boston Massacre (out front) and the reading of the Declaration of Independence from the east balcony. Faneuil Hall, a public meeting place and open-air market was next. It is adjacent to Quincy Market and the new Cheers restaurant designed to be a replica of the TV show.

The home of Paul Revere was next on my list. Along the way, I passed the Holocaust Memorial,
the Union Oyster House (this guy is across the street), and the Boston Stone. I loved all the history that surrounded me with every step! As I continued along my red-lined route, I stopped by a local fire department. The guys there were great! They gave me a tour, we watched some of the Patriots game, had a cup of joe, and took some pictures. If you're ever traveling, it's nice to know that you can usually stop by the local firehouse and use the restroom. They are usually very clean (although manly), the guys are very friendly, and its always safe for those that tend to travel alone such as yours truly.

Moving on... I went to the Old North Church next and saw the actual window used by Robert Newman after he hung the two lanterns in the steeple to warn Paul Revere and others of the approach of the British regulars (you know the story, "one if by land, two if by sea"). As the trail continued past Copp's Hill Burying Ground, I couldn't help but take note of the gorgeous sunset over the Boston Harbor. The last stop I made was to the Charlestown Navy Yard, home of the USS Constitution - Old Ironsides. She is the oldest warship afloat today, having been commissioned by George Washington in 1797, and is still manned by an active duty U.S. Navy Crew.

The Bunker Hill Monument is the last stop on the Freedom Trail, but due to the late hour, I opted out of that stop and chose instead to head back towards Boston Common and the original Cheers bar for dinner. I selected Boston Baked Beans and Boston Creme Pie for dining. They were both very good!

I walked back through the park on the way to my car and enjoyed watching the locals ice skate on Frog Pond and the children admire the Duckling Sculpture inspired by the mallard family that lived in the Public Garden and whose story was told by Robert McCloskey in the book Make Way for Ducklings. It was a great day, and I can't wait to return!