...how 'alive' the west coast really is until I had to go there for the past two weeks for some job-related training.

Living in the midwest, things can get pretty mundane. Life crawls along, day by day, and never really causing much concern for excitement. Think of it as a rehersal for retirement.

I had such fun while I was out in L.A., doing things that I had long since forgotten to do (and no, it wasn't as the Body Shop, either......for those of you who know what I'm talking about). There is always something going on, whether it's four in the morning or four in the afternoon. Los Angeles, much like New York, is a city that never sleeps.

Here's a quick list of the things that I got to do in the past two weeks...

1. Hit up the world famous Hollywood and Vine right outside the Capital Records building and got to talk to some homeless kids in their early 20s with visions of stardom bouncing around their heads.

2. Walked along the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Blvd. Got to see a great many stars, including Walt Disney, Lee Majors, Ozzy Osbourne, among many, many others.

3. Got to see the Mann Chinese Theater and the new Kodak theater right next to it. This is where the stars get their hands imprinted into the concrete. I've also learned that they rotate those out on a regular basis.

4. Cruised the Sunset Strip at the risk of getting cited. Believe it or not, there is actually a camera near Sunset and Holloway that states they will cite you if you drive past it more than twice in four hours. While on the Sunset Strip, I got to have a couple of drinks at the infamous Whiskey-A-Go-Go where bands such as Frank Zappa, Led Zepplin, Van Halen, Motley Crue, and Guns & Roses got their start (Janis Joplin also played there). I also got a drink at the Viper Room, formerly owned by Johnny Depp. We skipped the Roxy altogether.

5. Drove up the famous Mulholland Drive.

6. Obviously, got to see the Hollywood sign up close.

7. See Marilyn Monroe's tomb and where she used to live.

8. Got to see Rodeo Drive, Via Rodeo, and the Beverly Wilshire hotel (from Pretty Woman).

9. Got to see the Farmer's Market. Damn nice place to go for lunch...over 30 different types of food stands in an extremely small area and all of it great food.

10. Walked along Venice Beach (and saw Muscle Beach, but it was empty because it was 60 degrees outside).

11. Drove along Santa Monica Blvd and seen the car wash that Cheryl Crow sang about in her song, "All I Wanna Do".

12. Seen Fisherman's Village at Marina Del Ray.

13. Seen Little Tokyo.

14. Shopped on Olvera street....nice bargains there.

15. Walked along Melrose Avenue.....eh, not that exciting.

16. Got to see the L.A. Music Center and the new Disney Concert Hall.

17. Ate at the Hard Rock at the Beverly Center. Big disappointment here....totally corporate atmosphere, but I try to eat at every Hard Rock I can. I've eaten at the ones in L.A., Hollywood, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Chicago, Indianapolis, New York, and Orlando.

18. Spent the entire day at Universal Studios in Hollywood.

19. Drove through east L.A.....while cowering on the floorboard screaming at my friend to get me the hell out of there.

20. Finally, got to stop at a lookout point in the Santa Monica mountains and got to see an unbelievable view of Los Angeles (it had rained the night before clearing out the smog).

I'll have to say that I really enjoyed myself, getting to do as much as I did the past two weeks. I'd like to visit L.A. again sometime in the very near future; however, we'll see what we'll see when it comes time.

Until next week, stay safe out there,

Rob

Happy? Someone replied!

...I suppose I'm obligated to comment on the post.../sarcasm

I think anywhere but where you live seems exciting--

[UPS truck passes by]
Damn, he didn't stop, I'm waiting for an RMA to come back.


--Umm....Yeah, just like when I'm over people's houses and want to do things they think mundane....Can't think of examples, but I think as almost a human condition we enjoy any escape from the scheduled programming of our regular lives, (or maybe I just do).

Despite not replying, I remember this post. Make one about New Orleans and I'll chime in

60 degrees hell i would kill for 60 degrees..... its been in the 50s all week and i'm ready for some heat, at 60 F i'll go outside with out a shirt cause its so warm... Hmm perhaps if you think the midwest is quiet move to SE idaho i guarentee you'll be gettin the **** out after 2 weeks of boredom.