Back to My Happy Place!!!

My thoughts on my Disneyland visit May 25, 2021.

Knowing things are changing all the time these days, I thought it would be helpful to write out a detailed account of my visit on Tuesday, May 25th. Of course, some of these items may no longer be relevant over the course of the next few weeks, but this is how things looked as of yesterday at Disneyland.

To avoid any last minute crises, make SURE you have your ticket and reservation ready on your phone!!

Tram is not operating from the parking garage. It’s a 3/4 mile walk to the park. I just was not interested in dealing with the unknowns of the parking situation.

Parked at work in Huntington Beach and took Uber straight to Uber drop off/pick up area on Harbor Blvd. Only a very short walk to the security area.

Getting thru security check point was a breeze. Took maybe 1 minute total.

Checked my temperature.

Checked my purse.

Walked through metal detector.

Done!

Many signs on Covid rules and safety precautions. They truly are doing the best they can do to keep people safe.

Got to the gate. Again, it was a breeze. I was the only person in my lane. Showed my mobile ticket and got through in no time at all.

Upon first glance, it seemed pretty empty. The entrance area and Main Street were pretty sparse. It felt awesome, but almost a bit too lonely for Main Street?? But not to worry! Over by New Orleans Square/ Haunted Mansion/Pirates it was very congested, as usual.

Random thoughts and observations:

1. Ride lines were not short at Disneyland. Pirates = 45+ minutes. Splash Mountain = 45-60 minutes. Haunted Mansion = 45 minutes. Pooh = 25 minutes. Rise of the resistance = 40+ minutes. Peter Pan = 45+ minutes. Small World = 40 minutes. Reason being, they cannot fill the ride vehicles (boats, cars, etc) to capacity, so each vehicle may be only 50% filled (or less) versus 100% filled. This slows down wait times significantly. California Adventure was much more empty than Disneyland and ride lines were definitely shorter. Little Mermaid wait = 15 minutes. One weird and annoying first for me was the start of the “virtual queue” on the mobile app for certain rides, including Indiana Jones. Apparently the”queue” was full for the day and no walk up riders were allowed. Major bummer! Jungle Cruise is closed for major remodel. No Disneyland train or Monorail either. No submarine. No Lincoln theatre or Mickey Mouse cartoon theatre on Main Street either.

Note that any ride that usually has “indoor” lines are now all set up as outdoor lines. So the lines for rides do appear much longer than normal because everyone is outside. Also, add in the socially distanced tape lines which adds a lot of space between riders in lines.

2. Getting food was definitely a challenge if you did not order via mobile app ahead of time. A good number of restaurants/dining locations were closed in both parks. Check before you go for current status. Food cart lines were very long and slow. The only cart selling pretzels was at Frontier Land. They were running out of different menu items and would walk down the line to let people know what they had run out of. Some dining locations had a 30+ minute wait if you showed up and wanted to order via the mobile app on the spot. Flo’s Diner at California Adventure had a pretty short line, but could only take cash as their credit card processor was down. Half of the Cone Motel food teepees were closed. The line at Starbucks on Main Street seemed extremely long, however, I believe most of the line had to wait outside versus inside due to Covid safety precautions.

3. Tape lines were placed on the ground at all rides. People were very respectful of the lines. People were not crowding you. Everyone kept their distance.

4. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE was wearing a mask. And the cast was VERY strict about when and where you could lower your mask to eat or drink. Had to stop and sit on the ground or on a bench or at a table if you want to lower your mask to eat or drink. Before knowing this, I was reprimanded for lowering my mask to take a bite of my cookie while walking. I think people want to be at Disneyland SO BADLY that NO ONE wanted to break the rules. You are NOT allowed to lower your mask to eat or drink while in line for a ride. That is a bit rough when the line is long and it’s 84 degrees out and you are standing in direct sunlight. But again, I have to say: NO ONE could claim that they got Covid at Disneyland. It would be more or less IMPOSSIBLE if you are following the rules.

5. They had cast members who were sweeping and wiping down tables and handles CONSTANTLY. Under normal conditions, Disneyland is very clean, but now it is EVEN MORE SO.

6. Hand sanitizer machines and hand washing stations everywhere. You could not walk more than maybe 20 feet without seeing another hand sanitizer machine or hand washing station. I thought this was GREAT!! I hope they keep up with this forever!

7. IF YOU WERE AN ANNUAL PASSHOLDER: the whole legacy pass/link to your mobile app profile issue was a major pain if you, like me and apparently many others, did not receive the email with the “legacy pass” access code and instructions. The entire cast seems to be misinformed on how this works and how to fix it if you are one of the unfortunate many who didn’t get this taken care of before arriving at the park. And trust me, you are NOT getting your AP discount ANYWHERE until it is linked to your mobile app profile. After a handful of frustrating purchase experiences, I ended up going to the City Hall kiosk (City Hall is closed for Covid safety)and a very nice cast member there, Cathy from Palos Verdes, got it straightened out for me once and for all. BE SURE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS BEFORE YOU GO. CALL MEMBER SERVICES FOR HELP IF YOU DON’T HAVE IT LINKED ALREADY.

8. It was a toss up in terms of cast members’ attitudes. Some seemed SO happy to be there and see people again, others seemed completely confused and lost and uninformed, while others were visibly ambivalent, unhappy, and unhelpful. I do hope this changes because a happy,helpful cast member can make all the difference in your Disneyland experience! Shout out to Cathy at the City Hall kiosk. Over and beyond friendly, nice and helpful!!! Shame on the unhelpful, grumpy employees at Disney Clothiers (the older woman manager was very accommodating, but the rest need a refresher course in Disney customer service!)

9. I was sad to see none of the cast members in Star Wars Land were “in character”. When I was there several times around the opening of Star Wars Land, all cast members (those who work in the stores and food/drink locations) were TOTALLY in character and it was so fun!!! This time, none of them were (other than those in costumes – Chewbacca, storm troopers on stage, etc). I hope that changes back as well.

10. Oga’s Cantina was closed. So sad!!

11. I was happy to see the characters that I did see, but it would be fun to have more out and about. C3PO, etc. But I do understand they would probably be mobbed which is not in line with Covid safety precautions.

12. At Disneyland, the characters are far away and roped off so they won’t be mobbed by guests. You can wave and take pics but nothing close up. At California Adventure they would come up behind you by maybe 6-10 feet (mostly at the fountain at Carthay Circle) and you could either take a selfie or have a friend (or the Disney photo pass photographer) take your pic. But cast members are not allowed to touch your phone.

13. No parades. No fireworks. Praying they will make a come back soon!!

14. Many many very frightfully miserable children and babies at the Park yesterday. Nap time was definitely being missed! I think everyone is out of practice on what it’s like to be out and about for the day.

15. Depending on mask regulations going forward, bring a handheld fan, as it is VERY HOT to have a mask on all day in the warm sunshine while playing at Disneyland!

16. Overall an absolutely glorious day to be back at the Happiest Place on Earth, but definitely a few logistical and personnel snafus. So so so thankful I got to spend the whole day there yesterday!!!! 15 months is a LONGGGGGG time with no Disneyland in my life!!

It felt SO GOOD TO BE BACK!!!

Hello up there, Pluto!!

Could not love this place more. Oh how I missed being here!!!

My future home!!

What a gorgeous day to be here at Small World!

Front row is always the way to go!

The happiest cruise ever!

I love taking the time to ride the Mark Twain. It is a relaxing and enjoyable old school ride!

I MUST have a Mickey pretzel 🥨 on every visit!

Star Wars Land is just so cool!!

Chewbacca working away.

I absolutely love watching this guy and the store is so awesome!
Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities.

The First Order. Aka the bad guys. Fighting to destroy the Resistance.

Pirates of the Caribbean. No trip to Disneyland is complete without this ride.

This scene always reminds me of my beloved Elliott.

The magic fountain of the Tiki Room! Love these singing birds!

Had to get a park hopper pass to go check out what’s been happening at California Adventure!

Fabulous shopping to be had here!

Make friends with cows. Don’t eat them.

I am pretty sure I was once a mermaid.
I love Ariel!

Oh to be here for the World of Color!!!!

Love you, Mater!!!

Two of my favorite guys!!
Thank you, Walt for creating this much happiness for soooo many people!!

Does Anyone Really Know Anything?

Here’s a peek into my current situation as the Corona Virus crisis has virtually taken over the world. After an entire week of being drowned in panic and hysteria-inducing articles on social media, and newscasts, I finally caved to feeling compelled to gather “a few things” to have on hand in case of a full board lock down. Of course, living in Southern CA, it would be a good idea to have such said box anyway, in case of an earthquake, or whatever other unknown impending crisis that is lurking behind the next corner. It all started last Friday with me going on Amazon to place a small, simple order – only to discover that things like face masks, anti-bacterial gel, Clorox wipes, hand wipes, and even BOTTLED WATER are completely sold out on Amazon. Out of stock. Snatched up by those quick-thinking alarmists who beat me to the punch. So after placing my eBay order for a few obnoxiously overpriced items, I decided to cut out the middle man, get in the car and drive to the grocery store myself to buy these items in order to fill a small storage tub full of non-perishable food (which I have since nicknamed my “Armageddon Box”). Since then, other necessities have come to mind (like 400+ of them); those things which I MIGHT JUST NEED in case of an EXTENDED LOCK DOWN. I’ve now taken several subsequent journeys to Walgreens and various grocery stores to stock up “just in case” on every medicine and herb I have ever ingested. As well as joining the antibacterial gel, hand wipes, Clorox wipes, bottled water and toilet paper Hoarders Club, and other things like canned vegetables, bulk nuts, boxed soups, pasta, peanut butter, honey, turkey jerky, organic trail mix, Kind bars, laundry detergent, paper towels and, of course, Kleenex, since I have been sick with some unknown virus (including a KILLER sore throat) since last Saturday, and Lord knows if we are all on lock down, I don’t want to use up the last of my 98726362818 rolls of toilet paper blowing my ever-running shnoz. Not only are my sinuses full, but my fridge, freezer, kitchen cabinets and bathroom shelves are too! Yay me!

Remind me to tell you about my showdown with the Asian woman at the grocery store over the antibacterial wipes. Long story short: SHE played dirty and she WON. Little did she know, I unearthed a whole other row of camouflaged hand wipes to the far left. HA!! Take THAT! 🤣

Here’s a shot of my kitchen counter filled with a few ESSENTIAL remedies I am currently taking. I need to be committed, I know. I know!

Yesterday we were told by a Doctor on the radio that if you have a runny nose, it is NOT Corona Virus. NOW TODAY, I have read in several places that if you HAVE a runny nose, cough, SORE THROAT, headache or fever, you could have Corona virus. Well, hot damn! Other than the fever, I’m a SHOE-IN for Corona Virus.

In fact, maybe I WAS PATIENT ZERO in SO CAL and didn’t even KNOW IT?????

I wish the CDC and endless news sources (if you can even call them that!) would get their DAMN STORIES STRAIGHT ON SYMPTOMS. Every thing I read and hear lists different symptoms.

If they can’t accurately describe the symptoms, then that means either EVERYONE OR NO ONE will go to get checked at their local ER or Urgent Care. Why is there ZERO consistency in information being disseminated out? That’s simple. Because the media loves to watch us scurry around and freak out like a bunch of cockroaches running from the bright light. Including THIS cockroach. Pure insanity.

Well if I have it, then I think I’m gonna live, because I’m currently on day 6 and guess what? I’m still here. Coughing away and blowing my runny nose every 4 minutes, but here nonetheless.

Considering how fast and severe my sore throat came on, I’m wondering if I got it at Disneyland, where 9818837472746273828 of my closest friends from ALL OVER THE WORLD were visiting The Happiest Place on Earth last Thursday. Hmmmmm what to do?

Who the HELL KNOWS. Do I leave a message for my Dr? Do I go to Urgent Care? With my luck, I’ll go to Urgent Care to get tested, WHERE I WILL CONTRACT CORONA VIRUS FOR REAL!!!

I took the route of making a phone call and I am now on hold with an LA-based Urgent Care over the phone. I told the girl that I came down with a severe sore throat last Saturday, which turned into a bad headache, runny nose and now finally, a cough as well. I said, “FOR ALL I KNOW, I AM PATIENT ZERO IN SO CAL BECAUSE NO ONE IS GIVING CONSISTENT INFO ON SYMPTOMS!!” Maybe that will get their attention. She put me on hold to “check with the nurses and doctors.” I’m thinking that if I don’t know, then no one else knows if they have it either. So everyone that has a SNIFFLE should either ignore it, or run to Urgent Care or the ER to be tested? And possibly CATCH SOMETHING REALLY SCARY?? Pure madness.

If there is NO difference in symptoms between a cold and Corona Virus, then how the hell does ANYONE know what is going on?

As I wait on hold, I see an article where it says the main symptoms are ONLY: fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Well now, that would be a different story, wouldn’t it? Hmmm, who to believe?

Come on CDC and news sources – get your acts together and give us some actual facts. Okay, girl gets back on the phone with me and says – Are you ready for this????

She tells me:

“You will need to call the CDC, which stands for CALIFORNIA DISEASE CONTROL.” 😳😳😳 (Ohhhh boyyyyy. We’ve got a live one here).

“You can tell them your symptoms and they will tell you how you should proceed.” 😳😳😳😳😳😳

I responded, “SO, AS AN URGENT CARE FACILITY IN LA COUNTY, YOU AREN’T FAMILIAR WITH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COLD AND CORONA VIRUS??? THAT’S PRETTY SCARY.”

She said, “we are routing all callers thru to the CDC, so they can determine who needs to take further action and testing.”

Really????? 😳

I call the CDC number (it’s actually the CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL, in case you were wondering) and the recording says,

“Due to the high volume of calls,

PLEASE

REFER

TO

OUR

WEBSITE

FOR

MORE

INFORMATION.”

Huh. Wow. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STEERING ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO HELPFUL. Thank GOD I called. 😳😳😳😳

I see listed on their website that the main symptoms are – as stated above – fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Alrighty then. Well, I do not now, nor have I thus far had a fever. I also do not have shortness of breath. Henceforth, I will make the EXECUTIVE DECISION THAT I DO NOT HAVE CORONA VIRUS.

GOOD THING I CALLED URGENT CARE!!!!!!! 😳😳😳😳😳😳

What a JOOOOOOOKE. Oh yeah. LA county is WELL PREPARED FOR THIS EPIDEMIC. Good thing I AM!

Don’t panic, they tell us. Riiiiight. Because CLEARLY, they’ve got us covered and it’s all under control.

GOD. HELP. US. ALL.

P.S. In the interest of coming full circle, I currently have a month’s worth of food, meds and supplies on hand to consume before I even have to break into my Armageddon Box. Here’s hoping I’ll survive whatever’s around the corner in this crazy-ass world of ours!

Uke Your Way to Happiness

 

When I bought my first ukulele on a whim a number of years ago I never imagined I would end up buying two more and playing uke performances every few months in Los Angeles California of all places! But since then, the uke has transformed into so much more than just a cute yet mostly decorative instrument that I “should learn to play some day”. That “some day” is now and I’ve been taking group lessons for nearly two years in Manhattan Beach at Dietz Brothers Music School. Let me tell you something, music lessons are not just for kids, silly rabbit. They are for everyone of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds. It’s not just an instrument for people who spend most of their time on the beaches of Hawaii either. The only thing it requires is a love of music… well practice and a little patience too. 

  
Such a sense of fun and nonjudgmental acceptance by a group of people brought together for one reason: to learn and play the ukulele! I love that our teacher is less about theory and all about about playing. She teaches us theory along the way, but we get the instant gratification of learning new songs every week at class. The school is very close to my place, class starts later in the evening so I’m not being rushed through rush hour AND I get to bring Elliott, who has become the class mascot. What’s there not to love about this set up? 

Music has been an integral part of my being since the womb, I’m sure. And a life without music would be a terribly sad existence. I played the recorder for the Recorder Society in elementary school, and then went on to be the first chair floutist in the State of Colorado through Colorado Honor Band and now, many moons later, here I am strumming and singing a wide assortment of hits, both past and present, on the ukulele. I can certainly say, your brain will never dull while learning something new like an instrument. Man, it sure takes some hand/eye/brain coordination to pull this all together and I’m hardly a pro, but I do okay! Of course I practiced my other instruments a lot more and didn’t have an office job to drain my brain like I do now, but such is life, right? Hell, if a woman 20+ years older than me can learn to play the banjo then I can surely learn the ukulele.

  
The point I’m trying to make is, these little 4 (and 6) stringed pieces of carved wood have brought me such joy, accomplishment, belonging and happiness while feeding music to my spirit on a regular basis and then, every so often, I get to perform a few songs within the safe confines of a group for others to enjoy. And if and when I’m lucky, I can wrangle up someone I know to come watch!  

After last night’s performance, I just felt the need to share my love of music from a different perspective than my usual concert replay. Playing an instrument as an adult is highly underrated and is a somewhat untapped source of happiness that every single human could benefit from. Don’t just listen to other people’s music. Make your own music! It’s good for the soul! 

  

Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth Last Night

  
If you love Disneyland, AND I DO, then it only makes sense to become an Annual Passholder on some level. And even being the lowest mouse on the tiki totem pole, you still get to reap the benefits with all the others. A few weeks back I received an email and postcard in the mail to inform me of a special after hours party for Passholders with anniversary dates within the range of mine. Free to attend, just RSVP on a first come first served basis. In a manic panic I called the dedicated Passholder customer service Cast Member and signed up pronto. I was not about to lose out on this opportunity! Scheduled from 9pm to 1am on a Tuesday night (aka “school night”) was going to be a little rough but I didn’t care. Nothing would stop me from going to this event. 

Finally! Yesterday arrived. The day had come! In light of rush hour traffic, I held off leaving home until about 7:45. Traffic was such a breeze I regretted not leaving earlier. I pulled in to the massive Mickey & Friends parking garage just as the fireworks show began. Cool perspective to watch it from your car! Like mystical bombs of fairy dust exploding over your head! 

 
The parking lot Cast Member waved her magic wand and poof! My first secret gift of the night. 

I was giddy with excitement for a late night of Disney fun. The event check in line was more or less nonexistent and I was off like Buzz Lightyear! First stop PETER PAN!!! This ride has ALWAYS been a crowd favorite but after being closed for numerous months of remodeling and updating, everyone’s curiosity has piqued and the lines have been outrageously long according to insider reports. I knew I had to knock this ride out first because it was on the top of my to-do list! I had to stop for a moment and admire the exquisiteness of the Castle. All lit up and glittering with diamonds for the 60th (diamond) anniversary. Breathtaking! Oh Walt, you were a true genius! 

  
Well apparently Peter Pan was first on the list of everyone else who showed up as well. No worries. This is Disneyland. The Happiest Place on Earth. It’s a beautiful, cool Southern California evening and I’ve got all night to play. Thankfully I got in a line to get in THE line right after the fireworks ended around 9pm. It seemed daunting but I only ended up waiting maybe 30 minutes? NOT BAD, not bad at all!  

   
I have to be honest and say that while the sound system and music were greatly improved, the visuals were a bit disappointing. I was expecting Peter and Tinkerbell to be riding alongside of me for all the hype that’s been created regarding the reopening of this ride. It was thoroughly adorable and sweet OF COURSE, but I will admit I liked the old “scenery” better. Oh well, at least I got to experience it first hand without a 2+ hour wait filled with stifling temperatures and screaming tired kids. Next stop…the Mickey Mouse pretzel cart! 

  How can a pretzel fanatic go to Disneyland and NOT get one of these bad boys, complete with a side order of hot cheese, OF COURSE? Love it! As I sat with my pretzel and cheese for a few minutes, I looked around and was absolutely amazed at how the crowds had thinned out. Basically they close off all the “lands” and as non-event “riff raff” attempts to enter, they are pleasantly reminded that Disneyland is now closed for a private event. So within the first hour, the crowds were gone and it was just us Disney Diehards. Hardly any small children, very few strollers… Was I dreaming?? THIS IS AWESOME! 

  
Mesmerized by the dimly lit up Small World, I headed over in that direction and was greeted by a Cast Member who happily announced, “walk right up, there’s virtually no wait!” Now THAT’S what I want to hear! What is there to say about the Small World ride that hasn’t been said before? Its song and precious dolls of the countries of the world are an iconic symbol of Disneyland and Walt’s vision to bring everyone together to enjoy the fun. Period. My memories of this ride go all the way back to 1975, my first visit to Disneyland. Priceless.  Come along on a miniature version of the ride, and remember to sing along with the words…

 It’s a small world after all….

 It’s a small world after all,

  It’s a small world after all, 

    
It’s a small, small world!! 

 
Ahhhh don’t you just feel all warm and happy inside now? I know I do! 

Ok. Back to business! As I made my way over to Adventureland, I spent a little time around the Castle. Oh the glorious Castle. Where dreams really do come true! Cinderella. Snow White. Sleeping Beauty. All the veteran Disney Princesses. Unforgettable. Timeless beauty and innocence.  

   
 
Waltzed in to Indiana Jones with a 10 minute wait! Lovin it!! This ride cracks me up! It is definitely one of the best attractions, but way too bumpy for photos while riding. So here’s a little teaser for you.  

 

Wanted to check out the Haunted Mansion but it’s closed in preparation for HALLOWEEN. However, my walk over was not wasted because look who I got to meet! 

  
That’s right! Daisy and Donald! As a special event treat, certain characters were out in each land ALL NIGHT for you to meet them, get a photo and a hug. I was on Cloud 9! 

Pirates of the Caribbean is another must for me every time I visit. A lasting symbol of Disneyland. Those gold-crazy, booze-guzzling pirates! And of course that wacky Jack Sparrow. He is everywhere! Just like Waldo! 

   
    
   
En route to the Tiki Room I ran into this guy. He may seem evil but I think there’s a nice guy in there somewhere deep down inside! 

  
After meeting Jafar, I was hooked on the idea of meeting as many of the character as I could in the remaining minutes of the event. So I decided to forego the Tiki Room and headed straight back to Fantasyland to meet Pinnochio and Geppetto! The line was a bit long but SO WORTH IT! Precious little Pinnochio! 

  
One last stop before the night was over…on the hunt to find Chip and Dale in Frontierland. For some reason no one I asked knew where they were. Time was running short so I had to be quick. Walking at high speeds through Frontierland and THERE THEY WERE! I was so happy to meet these two little guys. And while the photographer Cast Members were happy to snap shots with your iPhone, another perk of the evening was that they would take your pass card and all the professional photos will be uploaded within a day or so. Can’t wait to see them! 

  
I can’t believe how fast those 4 hours flew by and how much I did in that time! Wow! I am still glowing with pixie dust and smiles! It was an absolutely perfectly supercalifragilistically magical night at Disneyland and I am here to tell you that the price of your annual pass is worth this one night alone! Thanks for the memories Walt and Mickey! Thank you for this sensational gift that allows us all to let our inner child out to play as if we have not a care in the world. Happy 60th Anniversary celebration to The Happiest Place on Earth! 

Good night Walt. It’s comforting to know you will always be around here at the park watching us all laugh, play and have fun! God bless! 

  
 

LA: 19 Months of Lessons Learned

In May 2013, I took a flying leap of faith and moved out here (Round 4) for a job in the Los Angeles area. I left behind a very good, albeit very safe existence in Denver and as difficult as some of the challenges here have been thus far, I have made it my mantra to enjoy my time in this city as much as humanly possible… Otherwise why bother? Being that the year 2014 is quickly coming to an end, I’ve been inspired to jot down some things I’ve learned after spending the last 19 months in the City of Angels. Take it for what it is. Good advice. Entertainment. Delusional rambling. I’m ok with any of the above.
1. I will never get over how f’ed up the traffic is and how COMPLETELY INTENSE and LITERALLY INSANE it is driving here. You have to REALLY pay attention. I mean REALLY PAY ATTENTION. Oh and you will LIVE by your map app Waze, but be prepared to be led through some down right sketchy hoods if you want to avoid the traffic jam du jour. Drivers are completely zoned out or in a totally aggressive/psychotic state but either way, you have to deal with it. Also be aware of the hierarchy of cars out here. In other words, the nicer or bigger the car someone drives, the more rude and obnoxious they think they are allowed to be on the road. Seriously. What the hell is with that reasoning? Choose to be Zen or your blood pressure will sky rocket. Probably worth your time to make a really bitchin playlist for your travels or start listening to Joel Osteen on CD.

2. Dare I even say this? The girl who LOVVVVES the warm sunshine?? But, sometimes, just sometimes I would like it to NOT be 80 degrees and sunny outside, which is why this December weather filled with rain, stormy dark clouds, wind and chilly temperatures has been a pretty cool change of pace. I have gotten to wear REAL LIVE sweaters and….BOOTS without sweating to death!! Kind of fun because I know that I’ll be wearing my sundresses and tank tops again soon enough! And yes, weather is a MAJOR topic of conversation here even if 90% of the time it’s the SAME THING EVERY DAY.

3. I’m pretty sure I could live happily ever after without ever seeing another new Mommy with her Cadillac SUV stroller running full speed down The Strand in Manhattan Beach to keep in shape 3 days after giving birth.

4. I will never fully comprehend how much there is to see & do here. I mean I am a hyperactive go-getter of a girl but My God almighty, even I couldn’t tackle everything here in 10 years. The music, arts, museums, churches, Missions, beaches, wave/whale/dolphin watching, scenery, history, hiking, biking, touring, dining, historic monuments & architecture, ethnic enclaves, the rich, the poor, the vast variety of cultures, religions, window shopping, celeb folklore, unlimited day/weekend road trip options, exploring, discovering…it will never end. These are all very good things. P.S. Not having grown up here I’ve got to tell you, hopping on my bike and riding along the beach with my dog, soaking up the sun, salty air and ocean views is a pretty INCREDIBLY AWESOME thing to do.

5. Don’t count on making new BFFs too quickly, or ever, but do keep your eyes & mind open for really cool random connections with people. I wish I had kept a list of all the interesting one off interactions I’ve had with people here. The man who made my grilled cheese at Chace Burton Park in Marina del Rey. The DJ down at the Buskerfest in Long Beach. The two men who I philosophized with at Redondo Beach. The street musician at the Redondo Pier. The Indian men, women & children who were so fascinated with Elliott in Little India. And on and on and on. Are there scads of self absorbed ass faces here? Yes…Of course! But if you remain open & friendly, every once in a while you will come across a genuine and memorable moment or two.

6. You will never know how OLD 44 is until you live in a truly youth obsessed culture. Living here in my 20’s I never ever would have imagined in my wildest dreams that at 44, you are basically done. Your business world experience means nothing other than you are unhip and out of touch. You can’t possibly impress a (potential) employer with your maturity, wit and know-how when they are seeking a 20-something brainless wrinkle-free bubble head who they want to hire to kiss their ass and fetch their lunch. And socially speaking? Other than being asked history questions such as “what was it like to grow up in the 80’s,” you are more or less invisible in every way. Damn, even with the knowledge that most of the 20-something’s here are completely clueless, shallow and dull, it’s still a hard pill to swallow when you thought you were so cool back in the good old days.
God help us all.

7. I know the names of every dog in my neighborhood yet know nearly none of the names of their parents. Lola and Athena, Teddy and Daisy and baby Teena, Scooter, Preston, Lacey just to name a few. Priorities. Selective memory. 😬

8. If you like your car, you better hide it under a bullet proof blanket every time you leave it somewhere. Brace yourself for a car full of dents, dings, deep scratches and keyings. People here simply have ZERO RESPECT for your car or any others. Painful but true.

9. Flock to the elders and working class folks. They have brilliant and perceptive views as well as fascinating stories of yesteryear. Much more interesting than those who don’t really see or experience anything outside of their own little narrow world. And sadly, there are A LOT of the latter out here.

10. When it comes to rent, get over it. You are paying for location, location, location. Even if you live in a shoebox. A shoebox in a high end beach neighborhood with fresh salty ocean breezes beats out cheaper rent and more space in a shit hole hood.
I prefer cleaner, safer, prettier streets with an 8 minute walk to the ocean versus the gritty, edgy “uber hipster” or plain ghetto factor of so many of the neighborhoods out here. Not to mention the amount of energy and brain power required to find a neighborhood that you like and can even remotely afford that is within a REASONABLE commute time to the place where you earn your paycheck. I for one, am not down with a 90+ minute commute each way. I simply value my time and sanity too much to do so.

11. LA is THE place to try new things. No matter what you dream of, it can be found here somewhere. Horseback riding underneath the Hollywood sign? Wine tasting while on a rare animal safari? Tango lessons with celebrity dance instructors? Movie parties in a cemetery? Playing at the home of the world’s most famous Mouse? Late night drinks with Harry Dean Stanton at Dan Tana’s? Meditating at the otherworldly Self Realization Center’s swan lake complete with windmill? Dinner at a magic castle? Anything and everything imaginable, and then some. It’s all here. Will you pay a hefty price? Yes indeed. But what the hell, you only live once, so go with the flow, catch that big beautiful wave and surf it for as long as you can.

Welcome to my world …

Enjoying the salty ocean breezes in Malibu after a long hot day exploring Topanga Canyon!

I’m finally doing it … my very own blog! Those of you who know me will now have a new place to follow my life adventures, discoveries, reviews, thoughts and perspectives. Those of you who don’t know me will learn who I am swiftly through my photos and stories. I am passionate about all things music and animals, traveling to explore nooks and crannies both near and far, discovering hidden gems as well as known crowd favorites and life in general! I possess an insatiable thirst for interesting encounters, excitement and good times. I love to see, feel, taste, smell, hear and experience new things. I love to share my adventures with others in hopes of providing inspiration and motivation to get out there and find your own version of fun!  I want my blog to educate you in an entertaining, insightful way as you come along with me (and my loyal and loving furry pal, Elliott) as we travel down this wild and wooly road of life. Whether you add items to your bucket list or see them as cautionary tales, it’s all good. Sit back, strap yourself in kids … let’s get going!