I'm here! I start work tomorrow. Or, more specifically, I start my 52-hour training class tomorrow. Monday through Saturday. How's that for a first week of work? Ppbbtt. That's what I have to say about that. I just hope I'm getting paid for it. *crosses fingers*
We got off to a bit of a rocky start last Saturday, after noticing Friday night a bit of antifreeze leaking out of my car. So instead of being on the road at 7am, we were at the repair shop. It did, however, give me time to visit a bit with Tammy and Michelle, so that was nice. A couple hundred dollars, and a new water pump later, we were on our way. Only a few hours late, even.
Day 1 of driving was uneventful. We made it through Illinois and Iowa and into Nebraska. We rolled into Omaha about 9 pm, which is probably as far as we would have gotten, anyway, if we'd left on time. We just would have had some evening hours to relax, instead of arriving, eating a quick dinner and going to bed.
Day 2 of driving took us through Nebraska and into Colorado, to Denver. We did arrive a bit earlier this time, which gave me the opportunity to see John. Did some catching up, which was fun. Good times.
During Day 3, Monday, we stopped in Vail and took the gondola up the mountain. Did a little "hiking" on the trails up at the top and had lunch, then headed back down the mountain to continue the drive. We finished off Colorado and made it a good distance into Utah. The mountains were gorgeous to drive through, and we hit a thunderstorm in the desert, which was pretty neat. We stopped in a little place called Cedar City, Utah, which was very, very small. I guess there is a university there, but there were no breakfast restaurants at our exit, so we had to get back on the interstate going back north to the next exit up for a Denny's. Heh.
Day Four was our side trip day. We went the opposite direction, southeast, towards the Grand Canyon. It was 140 miles, each way, out of the way, but so, so worth it. Getting there, we went through Zion National Park, which was totally and completely gorgeous. Breathtakingly gorgeous. We hit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon a little before noon, and did some more wandering out onto trails and rock overhangs. Really, really beautiful, and not very touristy (as I've been told the south rim is). We had lunch at a restaurant with giant picture windows overlooking the Canyon, and then were back on the road again.
Again, the drive consisted of desert, desert, and more desert. This time, however, instead of a rain storm, there was a dust storm. A mighty dust storm. We got out at a rest area and were greeted with signs warning of rattlesnakes. Eeep! The dust storm picked up again, and we stopped at a McDonald's outside of Vegas where they told us this kind of storm was not typical at all. Lucky us!
We landed in Las Vegas, and took a drive up and down the Strip. We stayed in the Monte Carlo, which was by far the nicest hotel we'd been in this trip. We took the tram to Mandalay Bay for a buffet dinner, doing some piddly gambling along the way. I won $25 off of my initial $3, and then promptly lost it. Oops. After dinner, we walked (and walked and walked) to the Bellagio to see the dancing fountain. We watched it dance to Elton John's "Your Song" and then the National anthem. Very, very cool!
We started off Day Five by walking back to the Bellagio to see the inside (very, very cool... very swanky), through Caesar's Palace, and then over to the Venetian, which was also quite neat. They have a little river with gondola rides (and singing drivers), their very own St. Mark's Square with more singing people, and lots of little shops. Then we were on our way through yet more desert, towards Los Angeles!
We rolled in to Pasadena to a Quality Inn that was not so very "quality." My mom even covered the pillow with a t-shirt. =/ We got dinner in a mall with a parking garage that my dad expertly parked the car AND trailer in. Hee! He's got skilz, yo!
Day Six, Thursday, found us leaving Pasadena to find greener pastures. I became a member of the Pasadena Public Library to use their internet to look up some addresses. Really neat old library! Very cool. And then we were off to a Best Western in Sherman Oaks. We checked me in to the Extended Stay America and moved all my things in, then returned the trailer (FREEDOM!!!), and I met my future roommates for dinner at an Indian restaurant in Sherman Oaks.
On Friday, we spent the morning unpacking much of my stuff, setting up the computer, and trying for internet. The phone, however, was not working. After exhausting every possible cause for the non-service, they recommended we change rooms. So we repacked everything, moved it across the hall, and set up the computer again. We went back to the desk to say we'd moved, and to get a new key, and the woman was like "Why is this computer all locked up? Oh well. Let me restart this while I get you your key." We made one final trip into the old room to make sure we hadn't forgotten anything, and what do you know, the phone was working! Due, I suppose, to the locked computer. Which, HELLO! Oh well. This room is a bit nicer, anyway.
After getting settled, I went online and looked up a bunch of apartments that were available, and Mom, Dad and I drove around (and around and around) looking at possible places from the outside and taking notes on the neighborhoods.
Saturday, we took Dad to the airport. *sniff* I won't see him until Thanksgiving! Sadness. And then I met up with the roomies to look at apartments again. We weren't able to get in to see any, but we left lots of messages. Then, Mom and I went in to Burbank for dinner, which was yummy, and I completely crashed as soon as we got back. I think I was asleep by 8:30. It had been an exhausting week, let me tell you!
This morning, Mom and I got up early and headed down to Sunset to have coffee at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf there. We then drove around the hills up (and when I say up, I mean up)Sunset Plaza Blvd. looking at the houses whose front steps probably cost more than I've earned in my entire life. We then drove through Beverly Hills some, and then back up Benedict Canyon Drive into the Valley (where I will be living and working) to meet the roomies to actually SEE an apartment.
Apartment looked super-nice. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, two stories. Kitchen, dining room, storage, HUGE closets. And three parking spaces. AND it's just about directly between Burbank, where the roomies work, and Encino, where I work. Gosh, I hope we get it. We had to scramble for some info to turn in with the application, which we will put in the mail tomorrow. Cross your fingers for us!
We went for lunch, and then afterwards, Mom and I took a drive up Mulholland Drive. Goodness gracious is that beautiful! The houses are... WOW, and the views are fantastic! Totally, totally awesome. Then we made our way down the other side of the hills and into Santa Monica. We hit the Santa Monica Pier for ice cream, walked down the beach, waded in the Pacific Ocean, and then made our way to the Third Street Promenade to watch some street performers. Way cool.
And here I am. Back in the Extended Stay and ready to start my L&D License training tomorrow. Whew! *wipes brow*