Visitors!
This weekend, Jamie and Craig came to visit. I had such a good time, and I'm so glad I got to see them. :) Unfortunately, I had to work late both Friday and Saturday, which stunk big time, but the time I did have was great.
Theme of the weekend: DRIVING
I got down to downtown LA (traffic on Friday nights = not good) after work on Friday to pick up Jamie and Craig, and we headed over to Venice to pick up Caitlin. Then we drove up to Santa Monica so that Jamie and Craig could see the ocean. The American Film Market is going on this week, so the place was hoppin'. We walked along the beach for a bit, but the wind off the ocean can be a tad chilly! We headed inland a few blocks to the Third Street Promenade, where we strolled along, saw a couple street performers, raised our eyebrows at the Christmas snow/ice/stone "sculptures" mixed in with the dinosaur topiaries, and found the Gaucho Grill for dinner. After we ate, it was back to downtown, and back up to the Valley for me (which took about 1/4 as long as it had taken me to get down there earlier). Of course, not before being harassed by a couple homeless men on the corner. Yipes. Some of the richest people in the world live in LA, and so do some of the poorest.
Saturday I had to work (due to a messed up vacation schedule and an untimely interbranch transfer of a coworker). I would have gotten off right quick, but a woman was trying to rob us, I swear. I haven't been more sure of a thing in all my life. She was wasting time, making excuses to stay in the branch until all other customers had left (which, by this time was a good 15 minutes after the doors had been locked for closing), and her attempts at her account were fishy (guessing at her mother's maiden name, having to sign her name three different ways to try to match the signature... needless to say, the teller did not complete the transaction). And I was almost positive she had a gun in her purse. If our security guard (god bless 'im, we hired him temporarily after the last robbery) hadn't stuck to her like glue, I'm sure she would have tried something!
Anway, left work late due to that little fiasco. So by the time I got down to Hollywood to meet Jamie and Craig, it was getting on a little past lunchtime. Plus, the roads in Hollywood (at least Hollywood and Sunset Blvds) were closed due an anti-war/anti-Bush rally. We had to take a detour before we made it to Mel's on Sunset for lunch. After stuffing ourselves, Jamie and Craig wanted to see the big houses, the view from the hills, and the ocean in the daylight. It was almost 4pm. So I took them a bit through Beverly Hills for the nice level-ground estates, and then up into the Hollywood Hills for the views and hillside homes. We drove along Mulholland and pulled off to the side for some pictures. Mulholland dumps you out into the Valley, so I made a valient effort to drive up Ventura Blvd and through Topanga Canyon to get us to the beach before sunset. I was, sadly, unsuccessful. Sun sets too early these days! And it's really a breathtaking view, Topanga Canyon. It's very steep and windy, and you go around one final curve and all of a sudden the Pacific Ocean is straight ahead. The road lets you off onto the Pacific Coast Highway. I wish it would have still been daylight. We stopped for pictures, anyway, before taking the PCH back through Santa Monica and towards home.
We stumbled in around what, 7:30? After a good 3 1/2 or 4 hours of driving. Heh. I gave them the Grand Tour, we looked up some real estate (hee) and then we were off to Blockbuster to rent a movie. Blockbuster was crazy croweded, for no good reason. We came home with movies and beer (for Craig and Caitlin) and settled in. Then I drove Jamie and Craig back to their hotel, and they were off.
The weekend was FAR too short! I'm so glad they came, though. There's so much more to do next time, and of course there's the trying-to-talk-them-into-joining-me-and-moving-here thing. *wink* My roommates also really liked Jamie and Craig. Good times!
Anyway, the couches in the living room and the bed in the kitchen are always available for anyone who wants to visit. *wink wink, nudge nudge*
Today, Caitlin and I ran some errands, ate at Olive Garden, and saw Shall We Dance. Good way to spend a Sunday.