California recap

The stay in California was a good one. After arriving and picking up Emily at the Train Station in downtown Los Angeles we arrived in Ventura directly unto the memorial that Cynthia had put together with the help of Gaylene and their bunco friends. It was wonderful to see family members that had traveled far to pay their last respect to Papa Bob. Gaia kept the ceremony a bit too lively at times but we were outside and there were too many birds and shadows to chase. So we talked and ate and hugged and kissed and reminisced until 10pm. Cathy, Holly and Claudia were there and it felt great to see all of Papa Bob's brood present for the occasion. After that it was a succession of gargantuesque repasts. We had a formal wine tasting at Gaylene, a lobster diner at the pier(Emily and I)(Delaney showing her beautiful smile), Thanksgiving, Salmon Tacos, Leftover Birthday Party for Cathy... Emily had the wise idea to drag me into her little walks from her aunt to her grandmother's house and it really helped keep those extra pounds under control.

We went to see "Wicked"http://www.musicalschwartz.com/wicked-los-angeles.htm the musical at the Pantages Theater in West Hollywood after a Pizza diner that Emily had done for us. Paul came with us. We ended up having hot dogs and milk shakes at Jerry's Famous Deli a must if you want outrageous Pastrami sandwiches at 1am in the morning. http://www.jerrysfamousdeli.com/index.stm

Curt did something that I didn't think was ever possible for him to do... He asked me to go shopping for two sport's jacket on Thanksgiving night at midnight.... Yes the Factory Outlet Mall was opening at midnight and was offering different discounts.... Well it was a surreal experience. A cartoonist dream of millions of cars and people going in the dark from all directions to this lit up destination..... the place of the mega discounts.... ahahah it was unreal. Rv's were going in too. Were those people taking a vacation to the mall? I would call that Chic Shopping. Shopping with style. Anyway our store of choice Brooks Brothers was not the most popular spot of the night so we were in and out in 15mn. Good experience to have once in a lifetime.

We also shopped at Trader's Joe. Why don't we have one of those in Anchorage? Oh for Thanksgiving I cooked the Turkey with the stuffing and the gravy. Gaylene made a corn souffle and the cranberry relish, Bob made the sweet potatoes (two different ways), Emily made the three pies (apple, pumpkin and pecan), we also had mashed potatoes. I am sure I forgot something.

We also went to see "Enchanted" the movie

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/enchanted/. Very cute and perfect for a family outing. Mc Dreamy from Grey's Anatomy is in it.... It suppose to be really something

We got to take a bit of time off to walk on the beach.

We played pictionary. I should have taken the pictures of some of the most "graphic" interpretation of the words. Most memorable word.... "Vibrate" drawn by Cynthia. You had to be there....

We left Ventura to Los Angeles and hugged Paul good bye on the way and dropped Emily in Hollywood were she was getting a ride back to Flagstaff from Tommy. This was in Beverly Hills on the way to Claudia's.We had a nice visit with Claudia in Venice Beach. (those are part of the public bathroom in Venice Beach, inspiring isn't it?).

more of Venice... and more

Then another nice visit with Bill, Kathy, Ryan and Dorothy Apps. Bill went to school with Curt and had come to visit him when he lived in France at my house. He has a beautiful house and gorgeous yard with white roses and poppies. Next morning we had breakfast with Cathy and David and his oldest son. Then lunch with Holly and Cathy.... see food food food. I would not have it any other way. hahahah

Strange tree that has a cousin in Portugal (see archives in Feb. 07)

Then back to the airport and Alaska via Seattle. Well that was a real novel. Not much pictures to illustrate all that talk but still a few.