Escape to CA – day 7!

Soooo… where were we? Is anyone tired yet, reading how jam-packed my vacation was? Anyone feeling like a vacation to recover from my vacation? Funny – me TOO! By day seven, otherwise known as ‘Tuesday’, I was glad to have a day to kind of relax and take it easy, and curl up with Scooter where the coffee flows free! See, at the Coffee Cantina, they have free Wi-Fi, and thus while TBF was at work, I could get some work of my own done, catching up on email, my 451 Press blogs, and generally putz around online and stuff.

So, round 11:30 or 11:45 or so (Or, perhaps as late as 11:50… hah!), as TBF had to be at work at noon, we stumbled out of the house, me with Scooter in hand, and both of us with Coffee in our sights. You know, I remember a time when TBF scoffed at my love of the caffeinated delights, but now he can OH SO OFTEN be found with an Iced Latte with caramel drizzled along the inside of the cup in hand. Hah! That is, of course, what he ordered, as I settled myself into a window seat, and got connected. My coffee was also gotten (a simple large IV bag of mocha, of course, and keep it coming…) we said our goodbyes, promised to meet up for dinner (easily done as hello – he was my RIDE…) and I settled into playing catch up.

Now, about an hour in, I realized that the sun, coming in that window? was VERY FUCKING HOT… and moved back into the small dining area, where there were more tables and less direct sunlight. The nice thing about both areas of seating, was that I had a good view of all the people as they came in, wandered around, chatted, sat for a bit, some working some not, and then disappeared again. Now, there was one table in the back that I instantly WANTED to sit at – and no, not because of the BBM sitting there and not hitting on me at all. No, it had the COMFY chairs. I determined right then and there, that THAT table would be MINE the next day, as I sat at a tiny table in the corner, and wriggled about on uncomfortable chairs.

  So, working and what not isn’t all that interesting a tale to tell, bu there were some amusing moments. The first came when I bought my first bottle of water. I was DYING of heat, of course, and so hit the water cooler, only to find “Alaska Glacier Water” one of the three brands offered. This, of course, amused me to no end, and I “bought local” by getting a taste of home in a bottle. Or two. Or three. I shared a chuckle with the handsome guy behind the counter and told him “You know, back home? We just call this tap water!” I also had some lovely potato chips that I munched on to stave away the starvation when I realized that I needed to hit the ATM for some cash, and they started baking something – I have NO IDEA WHAT – in the back that smelled FANTASTIC. Later on, they added COOKIE BAKING To the deal and my belly chastised me for forgetting the ATM… LOUDLY.  During this time, TBF and I made plans to meet up for lunch/dinner, whenever he got a break at work.

Now, the people provided entertainment, and in one case it wasn’t exactly DESIRED entertainment. In the case of the BBM who wasn’t hitting on me (that bears noting again, as clearly in CA, that is not the way it usually happens!) he did not do as I did, and bring headphones to save the masses from his chosen listening fare. I’m not sure what the hell he was doing, but he was watching/listening to something Over and Over again – at a volume high enough that I heard it WITH my headphones on. I did look around at him once and got a ‘shrug an smile’ of the ‘deal with it’ or ‘whatever’ persuasion, and I just chuckled and went about my business.

So, hours later, and caught up on work and messages and people around the bloggasphere, and even an episode of Pushing Daisies, and I was just dinking around online when in sauntered TBF. Now, we had said that we’d get food there, but the cantina was going to be closing in an hour or so, and he had to return to work, so instead I packed up, we hit the ATM and I finally got to taste something TBF has been BRAGGING about for weeks: Buffalo Burgers from Killer Ribs.

He’s so well known he called ahead…  and they knew the order by name. He doubled it, of course, and we swung by the ATM and then picked up our burgers. TBF does indeed know everyone in his town, as I was introduced to several, and was going to get to carve my name in The Table, but the tool they’d been using didn’t work, so TBF will have to put a “Lessa was here” message on there for me later. Our burgers in hand, as well as a scratch ‘n’ sniff business card that amuses the pup to no end…

… and we were off, and headed back to let TBF finish up his work for the night. He was trying to get caught up/ahead so that we’d get an early start out to Pismo Beach and meet the SIL at a decent hour, but… well. THAT story is for tomorrow. They did have wifi at the paper, so I was able to connect and dink around while eating my burger (Every bit as fantastic as promised! If you’re ever in Frazier Park, stop by and tell them I sent ya!).

Eventually, TBF got to a point where he could work no longer, and we headed back home. We filled up the gas tank in preparation for tomorrow’s trip (And because we were making that E mean Enough by coasting down the hills in the morning…) as well as picked up some Jack in the Box where we were helped by the “Happy Asian Guy!” who was, indeed Happy! and even packed up our food with Flair and Flamboyant Joy and made everyone want to smile right back at him, even when he told us what we ordered first was unavailable! How could we be upset? We couldn’t! Not at Happy Asian Guy!

So, back home it was, where we, once again, assured the pets that We Love Them Best Of All, and listened to the wife cuss and crow happily at the Xbox, and ate our late night dinners. Then it was time to pack – I had to fit all the stuff I’d already gotten, plus the things that TBF wanted to send home to the kids, and have it all ready by the next morning, so that after work, we could grab the suitcase, the wife, and go. We separated shells that TBF had picked up in Mexico for the kids, and got them tucked away, discovered the fuzzy leopard print case that was genuine Fredericks of Hollywood for the girl, and also, the jacket. This jacket was a well loved jacket by TBF, but it shrank in the wash, and was being handed down to the pup. Since getting it home, I have not gotten it OFF her. She sleeps in it. (I won’t let her wear it to church or school – not until clearing it with the teacher.) She sheds her clothing when she hits the door just like she always has (Stripper!) and pulls on the jacket. See?

(The other kids love the things sent to them as well (‘the box! is FUZZY! and PRETTY! and WHOO!’ and also ‘WHOO! this bionacle is AWESOME’) )

So, after packing, and talking and discovering that TBF had to be at work at 9 (…in the MORNING?!), I agreed to head in with him again, and set up shop at the Cantina at the GOOD table – and then, we went to sleep.

Tomorrow’s tale, that will include a chatty visitor to my table, late night starts, windy “mountain” roads, missed lefts at Albuquerque, Pismo Beach, drug dealers, AND of course, my SIL.

California Vacay – Day 6. (NBPM – 5)

Happy Monday, NaBloPoMo’ers! How are things going? Keeping up alright? Dreading the next 25 days? Thinking it’s a breeze and want to go for a YEAR? Yeah, me either. But! That doesn’t mean I don’t have my Vacay Monday Recap for you – for I do… admit it, you’re DYING to know what a dongel is.. and why it is maroon…

Yeah, I know.

So, Monday! We knew we could sleep in again, and again I woke up before everyone else, thanks to Gimli’s oh so adorable attempts to get me to PWAY? PWAY? NOW? PWEASE? and Snoogans valiantly attempting to sleep on my chest. Because that’s comfy. For her.

So, eventually everyone got up and about, and we bagged up the Xbox which had a hardware failure and needed returned/exchanged while we were in Bakersfield, and after a coffee run, we were off! No, not to see the wizard, but to Mad Dog Tattoos. It was the big day – and I was only a little queasy about it. I forgot to mention that before bed, we’d hammered out the idea, TBF drew it up, I decided for sure where I wanted it, and thus we! were Ready!

Well, HE was ready. I was nervous nellying about all the needles, of course. I don’t like needles. Or pain. but LOVE tattoos. Go figure.

So anyway, shortly after noon, we pull up to MadDog tattoo, in search of a Giant White Guy named Zombie. Yes, his name was Zombie. He asked if we were looking for him, and I was VERY close to saying “Yes. We must organize before you rise…” because I am THAT much of a dork. I refrained. I think. I’m not sure if I thought it or actually said it – but either way, the thought was TOTALLY there. So anyway, Zombie, he finished off his lunch, and then took a look at our artwork (our meaning to be put on me, drawn by TBF) and declared it almost perfect, and made a couple of adjustments. While he was making those adjustments, I knew that it was FATE that he should do my tattoo – as my name (my real name, not Lessa) was tattoo’d across his hand. Sure it was probably not intended to mean me – but it worked none the less!

So, we got the artwork transferred and the colors chosen, and everything ready, and then… then it came time to submit to the needles. Zombie has a very light touch, and worked very quickly, AND he learned very quickly to rest his arm on my foot and then I wouldn’t flinch. I flinched noticeably once, can you tell where?

He also freehanded that celtic knotwork too. TBF was impressed with the fact that I didn’t pulverize his hand into nothingness by grabbing and hanging on. I did, however, count the dots in the ceiling tiles above my head (2,398), find a focal point in a variety of the artworks on the wall, and rediscover my Lamaze breathing. I never used it for actual childbirth, but it comes in handy for a LOT of things! Zombie chatted away, and discovered that I’d come all the way from Alaska JUST to have him tattoo me, and even made fun of my “OoooOOOOOOooooooooWWW!” and asked if it was my Alaska Mating Call.

Well then. A guy after our own hearts, for SURE!

And he was FAST. We figured it’d be about three hours, but no – 1.5 hours after sitting in his chair, I had my memorial tattoo. Kevin would be proud, and eternally amused by the whole thing.

It’s on the inside of my left calf, where I can see it and show it off easily. And complain about the itching. Two weeks later, it’s doing well, and there’s only a couple spots that really bother me (those damn STARS…)

So, we got wrapped up, I invited Zombie up here for a fishing trip, and TBF got a decent price quote on fixing his last tattoo that he let someone put on as ‘practice’. (grin) So! We headed out of there, and called Mamoo, and headed off to visit her and grab the paperwork for the great X-Box Exchange. We’d seen her on Saturday when she came up to the hill to see the jousting festivities, but since she’d left before the grand finale, we had a lot to fill her in on! Then we looked over the paperwork to be sure the Xbox exchange would work like it was supposed too, and discovered that Mom, she had a coupon! for $10 off a purchase! And TBF was all “Aw! I already bought Transformers!” and I raised my hand “I HAVEN’T!” and tada! I had me the means to get Transformers for just 10 bucks. AWESOME.

So we bundled into Mamoo’s “car” (a GIANT SUV for a very little, very cute woman) and headed toward Best Buy. There, we discovered that they were OUT of the exact brand of Xbox, and it was looking like the trip was going to end on a sour note, because if we went back to the wife without her beloved Xbox? Well, I wouldn’t have been alone, sleeping on the couch for SURE. While they talked to supervisor after supervisor, and tried to work something out, I decided I wanted to get a pair of headphones for Scooter, because I’d be working in public the next day and wanted to be polite and stuff. I was directed the wrong way, first, and decided while I was there, I’d get a wireless mouse, as I HATE to work in photoshop with the touchpad. Yeah, I know, I’m such a wussy.

But this is where I discovered the Dongle. You see, I decided to go wireless because it’s all the rage, and I found this beautiful little maroon mouse, with BUBBLES on it! So I had to have it. Because I’m all about the pretty! I even sent the helpful girl all the way to the back to find me that exact mouse! Cuz I had to have it! Then I went to the other end of the store, found my little cheapo earbuds, and then grabbed Transformers and rejoined TBF and Mamoo at the counter, where they had FINALLY reached a compromise, and we discovered that it would indeed be safe to return home to the wife, with an exchanged Xbox in hand. WHEW. That couch really wasn’t big enough for me, TBF, AND Snoogans!

I know, you want to know about the Dongle! Here we go – we went through check out, and headed to the GLORIOUS air conditioning in the car, while TBF went into the Pet Smart to get some goodies for the chinchilla. I opened the mouse package to take a closer look, and searched valiantly for the USB plug that would allow it to connect to my computer. That failing, I grabbed the instructions, and discovered that “replacing the dongle will turn the mouse off and save battery power.”

….dongle? wtf is a dongle? So we referred to the diagram and had a Light Bulb Moment ™! The USB port slipped into the mouse itself, and the USB plug IS the dongle!

Yes. My Mouse has a Dongle. Doesn’t YOURS?

So, after discovering that my mouse has a dongle, I giggled and shared the fact with Mamoo and TBF, and then we gave into TBF’s craving for fried chicken and hit KFC for some extra crispy delight. While we were there, two black men walked in and caused TBF to declare “I swear, if they hit on you I’m TOTALLY going to lose it!” Which meant we had to explain to Mamoo the whole sordid tale. I did not get hit on, so it was not lost, but there was much laughter in the telling of the tale. AND I got to eat TBF’s biscuit. *EG*

Ahem.

So we went back to Mamoo’s house, talked and giggled a bit, I checked in with the kids, and we visited, and then finally made our way back to the truck and head back to Frazier Park. We arrived to a VERY happy wife when she got her Xbox back, and we settled in to watch Transformers on Scooter. Who, we discovered, does NOT have very loud speakers! So out came the wires and the pieces and the parts, and the subwoofer from TBF’s old desktop computer. After a long moment, we had a fantastic sound system going and the neighbors could enjoy the sound with us. I’m sure they appreciated it! After the movie, knowing that TBF had to work the next day, and I’d be hanging out in the coffee catina with wireless doing the same – we called it a night, and thus ended day six.

Tomorrow – Coffee, Coffee and Alaska Glacier Water, LOUD table neighbors, and Scratch ‘n’ sniff business cards.

CA Vacay – Day 5!

It struck me, while I was talking to TBF on the phone (he’d called to check in on my tattoo… which you’ll hear about on Monday) that the days of my vacation are falling in line with the days I’m posting about them now. It was wholly unintentional, but it works none the less! That said, I suppose I should quit teasing, and get on with it already – since Mama and Jamie think I tease intentionally. (I do. But yes. Moving on.) (though, I admit to considering doing an uber cute aside post about the pup – but I’ll wait. November has just begun, after all.)

So, we slept in on Sunday, though I was the first one up around 10 am or so. I played with the dogs, said hello to the cats, then told Gimli that NO, I did not want to play with his basketball. For the 100th time. No, really Gimli, I still don’t want to play. Really. Anyway, we finally got up and got ourselves together, and piled the wife into the small back seat of the tiny truck, and headed off. We discovered what that helicopter was doing that bugged Erica so much – it was dumping stuff on the fire. The fire that was closer to the road then perhaps was comfortable, though we were plenty safe, and knew that it was not anywhere near Frazier Park. The hill was saved – so far – by the resulting pre-burned areas of last years Day Fire. But still – it made for a pretty drive…

IF you think those are cool – you should have seen the hills when we drove HOME in the dark!

Anyway, we got to LA with no problems, and headed toward LACMA, which housed the Dali Exhibit, driving down streets that I’d just been down a few days before. I spent the vacation traveling in circles, see? That’s the way all good Vacations go! We finally located LACMA, and then the parking area, which we’d passed. So we turned around, and while we were waiting to pull out on the main street again – there was a man, talking on his cell phone, watching us. I turned, and smiled at him – I mean, he was watching and all! – and he waved at me as we pulled away. Which caused TBF to bust out laughing again “I SWEAR! Black men LOVE you…”

What can I say? (grin)

So we parked, and headed over to the museum. What was there? The Dali Painting and Film exhibit. I don’t have the words (stop laughing!) to describe how fantastic it was to see a real exhibit THAT huge and involved. There were so many little facts that I didn’t know, so many pieces that I hadn’t seen before, so MUCH to take in, that I could only wander around, and do my best to absorb it all. They had many of his paintings, they were playing his movies, and I discovered he had been a fan of Walt Disney, and there is even a short film that I *know* the Pup would love, that I’d never heard of, but watched twice. It’s a beautiful animation of many of Dali’s works that is beautiful. If anyone knows if it’s possible, and where I can get a copy of Destino for her for Christmas? I’d be eternally grateful. It was STUNNING. Fortunately, she is easy to please, and the Dali Bauble and the Ant Candy (the OTHER red meat) made her perfectly happy. *g*

It took us about two hours to get through the exhibit and then we went over to the tarpits, and the dinosaurs. Unfortunately, the exhibit was closed, we only got to smell the deliciousness of methane of the pits. We called and checked in at home, and then called S. to see how dinner was coming along, cuz she was gonna feed us! Yay!

With directions in hand, we wandered back to the parked car, two blocks or so away, and made our way to her house. Sorta. First we had a lovely detour around a burning building, which caused us to get good and lost, and to call and ask for directions again. Which were backwards and turned around, and the lights became father and farther apart, and there were shady looking people about and we discovered we were going into a NOT SO NICE ™ part of LA… another phone call, TBF and his wife going over various landmarks, and a LIGHT BULB MOMENT ™ and we finally were headed in the correct direction and made it once again to S’s house. It looked very familiar! (We were there Friday night, ya see…) And better then looking famliar – the smell of dinner was FANTASTIC…

I finally got to meet the INFAMOUS B – S’s fiance and a very, very handsome man. He has these eyes… and he’s sweet, and his smile is to die for, and yes – I determined that I agreed with TBF: S is a very lucky girl! Of course, he’s also a VERY lucky guy, as I already adore S and have for years. Add to that adoration that she’s learned to be one hell of a cook! Bacon-wrapped pork loin, with mashed potatoes and green beans on the side. Heaven on a plate, I tell ya!

There was giggling, and taunting, and teasing, and grousing by the significant others who didn’t REALLY want to go clubbing, but were forced to go along anyway. Ha! S and TBF had promised, see, that they’d FINALLY take me to a real Sunday Night Dark Wave Industrial Dance Club like they used to tease me with stories of while they were in College. I had been told to bring my best black, and I did, and after a quick change we were ready to go.

A short drive, where all the turns sent TBF cuddling with B, and we arrived at the Malediction Society. We showed our ID, and I was looked at in shock – “Alaska?! That’s a hell of a commute!” Yeah, cuz I came to LA JUST to attend the club! S was THRILLED that she still had ‘pull’ as she new the guy at the gate, and got in for free. Made her night!

The venue is FANTASTIC. The music makes one want to move, but the best part – the best part was the people watching. TBF and S danced a bit, but I loved every minute of simply watching the people on the dance floor. We had:

Morpheus – a BBM who was WORKING it on the floor.
The ‘pick one step and work it’ schoolgirl – she was on the floor when we arrived, and was still there when we left, and the whole time she did a ‘step together, step together’ sidestep to the beat. Nothing fancy for her!
The ‘just bought these platform boots and can’t do a THING with them’ girl – she spent her time doing a lurchy box step that you could practically SEE her counting out in her head. Step,2,3, together, step 2,3, together… without any real ‘box’ to the step, just sort of lurchy lunges.
Yoga Boy! – he was on the floor when we got there, and stayed for some time. He was doing exactly what his name implies – yoga poses, slow and easy, including headstands, and downward facing dog, and half a dozen more. We were fascinated!
The bend over backwards and bounce girl – she lost her shirt half way through and danced in her bra. She had a belly that made ALL of us wanna just… lick. Rawr!
The Heavy Metal Thrash Dancer – sucking on a lollipop. So butch.
The anorexic girl wearing little more then her underwear
The girl dancing with her drink who annoyed S to no end
Fan Boy – dancing on the speakers with paper fans, of course.
Scottish Man – Complete with Kilt, who – despite having the breeziest outfit on of the men there, STILL got too hot and had to remove his shirt, and thus we had a beer bellied Scottish Man in a wifebeater and kilt. Sexay. (…not)
A veritable plethora of other characters we giggled at that I’m sure that I’m forgetting and, perhaps most memorable of all –
Miami Vice Guy. Picture this, if you will. A short white boy, dressed all in white – white shoes, white cargo pants, a white tank top under a white button down shirt – with the collar properly popped. Now picture him doing every dance known to man – or his interpretation of it. From salsa and latin style work in a straight line, to slow and steady movements obviously taught by yoga boy, to Tai Chi moves, and then you can perhaps BEGIN to envision the delight that Miami Vice Guy was to watch! And he only got better with every margarita! That I was drinking, of course. Hahah!

It looks like they took pictures around the club after we left – and I saw this guy (look to the left there) outside talking on the phone as we left. I’m vaguely disappointed we didn’t get to see HIM on the dance floor, but I doubt he could live up to what I imagined him to be like….

Because oh. mah. gawd.

We did leave around midnight or so, as S had to work in the morning, and TBF and I had an appointment in Bakersfield around noonish. It was enough to get pleasantly buzzed and to have the experience that I wanted. Next time, I think I may stake out a good spot in front of the giant fan (it was SO COOL – literally! which made the heat in there bearable!) and watch for hours. I could have sat there till closing for sure – there were SO MANY interesting characters – er, people – to watch! But it was late, and so we made our way back down to the care, and I was glad I wasn’t SO wasted that I rolled down the flights of stairs instead of walked – just pleasantly buzzed.

We got into the car, and for SOME reason, though we sat in the same places in the care, SOMEHOW the ride home in reverse of our trip there, STILL resulted in all the turns allowing TBF to cuddle with Ben instead of me! I am pretty sure I got the raw end of the deal there! It was a conspiracy, I tell ya! Harumph!

So, after a potty break at S and B’s, we said our goodbyes and take pictures (Hello massive sunburn! Holy cow look how fat n redfaced I was! Oy! Theres a UBER cute picture of TBF and S – but well, that’s for ME to have and YOU to whine about. Ha!) and say our thank yous for the fantastic meal, and the good time at the dance club, and we piled into the car, this time with TBF tucked in the back and the wife driving, and we headed home.

We saw the fires burning on the hillside, but I didn’t get my camera out in time. We skidded into the driveway about 1:30am or so, and stumbled in to convince the animals that we Really Do Love Them, and showered them with affection.

We then went to sleep, and declared the day a success all the way around.

Tomorrow’s episode will include a Big White Guy named Zombie, Needles, and a maroon Dongle.

How’s THAT for a tease?

California Vacay – Day 4. (NBPM – 3)

Ok, where were we? Oh yes! Day four of my Escape to CA. And I promised you jousting, near death experiences AND a baby fix…. so with that in mind….

TBF and I were supposed to be at the fields at the godawful hour of 8am, when the first load of horses would be dropped off. Fortunately, TBF knows the leader there very well, and we didn’t even bother getting out of bed until about 10am. We got up, and scooted out of the house, and headed for the Coffee Catina (soon to become my favorite place in Frazier Park on, about, Tuesday) for breakfast bagels and Latte’s and Mochas, and then we got to the field around 10:30, where the horses had yet to arrive. Good call TBF! The arena wasn’t even set up yet, so TBF and a few others got to work on that while I picked up and tossed a few rocks, wandered around, and drank coffee. Hey, it was my VACATION after all – and they knew what they were doing so I did what I do best – supervised!

Hey, just cuz they didn’t know I was supervising… that had nothing to do with anything!

So, the horses arrived, and the arena was set up, though there wasn’t enough wood or supports, so the leader, James, he decided to rope off the perimeter of the arena. Read that again. Remember it. It comes into play later in this sordid tale…

So eventually the horses were all there, TBF and Lady C worked to get the horses warmed up a bit, and get all the gear set up, while I settled to the tailgate of the truck and continued to watch the festivities. I designated myself Photographer, and did my best to take plenty of photos of the festivities so that TBF had plenty for the paper and the website if they wanted them.

Soon the festivities got underway, with a rousing game of 9 pins – only they couldn’t find a bowling ball, so used rocks instead. Patrick and Big John, they used a REALLY BIG ROCK.

Or they wanted too – but instead i used it to sit on. Hahaha! Thanks guys! It was nice and comfy!

While the 9Pins was going on, there was also an area set up where folks could try their hand at throwing a variety of sharp pointy things; Spears, bow and arrows, tomahawks, knifes – you know, the normal fair. Those stations were full and busy all night long, as everyone tried their skills with a variety of success. And failures. Hahaha.

The Sack Race was exciting – as a very tall man was pared with a not to tall girl, and eventually gave up as he held the bag and threw her over his shoulder and carried her down the arena…. and still lost. HAHAH!

There was also a new sport! That’s right, as that was going on in the small area, in the arena, A REALLY BIG HORSE was used to pull a rope, connected to two boards for ‘Dirtboarding’ – everybit as amusing as it sounds!

Many brave souls tried it, and a few even did ok at it. They did better when the Dark Knight pulled out his padded riding jacket to help protect the more squeamish who didn’t want to risk road rash.

There was also some sword practice, and then a lovely young lady gave a Roman Riding demonstration, where she rode bareback, on her belly, backwards, and then standing – jumping hay bales and everything.

Then came the main festivities – the Harold named Dave announced (Usually by saying “nah, I got nuthin”) and there were spear throws, and jousting, and sword passes, and sword fights, and much laughter and even some applause. Generally, as it wasn’t very well organized this time around, it was a practice for the riders, and fun for the watchers…

Then came the final hurrah. As the Knights were doing their final victory laps, James had his near death experience. Something spooked his horse, he didn’t have the right tack on her, and remember those ropes? Well, the horse went under, and Sir James was summarily close-lined, thrown from the horse, and knocked cold. I was running video at the time, though I didn’t get the actual fall, I did have a lovely view of the ground as we hurried over to see if he was ok. There were screams for a cell phone, and as I had mine on one side of my bra and TBFs on the other, I grabbed TBF’s dialed, and handed it off because hello -what was I gonna say “er, I’m somewhere on the hill, and something bad happened, come find me!”?

The paramedics were called, while James came too and found himself the center of attention.

For a few minutes he didn’t know where he was, what he was doing, what horse he was on, if he was jousting or anything of the sorts, but his head began to clear soon thereafter. There was a paramedic in the crowd, actually, and she checked him out, as well as those of the ambulance that showed up a few moments later. While they were checking out James, the rest of the knights and ladies went about packing things up, taking care of the horses, and cleaning up. The final show that was supposed to happen wasn’t going too as the crowd dispersed, while James was cleared for continued duty. He was looking pretty glazed though, so TBF and I went with the rest to be sure the horses were put up in the right place at the ranch.

Then – TBF was STARVING and I wasn’t that far behind, so we made a quick stop for Carl’s Jr., before we went to find the wife, at the the inlaw’s place where they were helping a friend celebrate his birthday. I got to meet J for the first time – I’d met B. the last time I’d visited. Their 3 year old was sleeping, but the baby, she was fussy, and when Mama got tired of dealing, I finally got to say my favorite words “Give me the baby!” She thought I was kidding, but I wasn’t, and I took the baby and she and I rocked and rocked and I was spit up on, and we rocked some more, and she got sleepy, and then woke up again for her midnight snack. After they were done playing Halo, we trundled into the truck, and headed back home to be boisterously greeted by the menagerie of animals eagerly awaiting their fair share of attention. Which we happily showered them with, of course.

Exhausted, and very very very sunburnt, we decided to turn in, with the joy of knowing we could sleep in the next day, Sunday, before we would head to LA once again. That story, of course, is for tomorrow’s installment which includes LACMA, Dali, Another Big Black Guy Flirt Moment, and a Real Club. Oh. And Fire. Lots and lots of Fire.

You KNOW you can’t wait…. but wait you will! See ya then!

Day 3 of the Vacation!

So here we are, day two of NaBloPoMo, and we’re on day three of my vacation recap. Hurray! (you KNOW you’re dying to know what happened next!!! )

So… after yet another delightful night spent lollygagging in the uber comfortable bed at Erica and Colby’s house, I drug my behind up and into the shower, then packed up again so that I would be ready when I received the call from TBF saying they were on the way. We had been planning to go see the Dali Exhibit that day, but Erica and Colby were both feeling a bit under the weather, so we opted to stay home instead, and I’d go to the exhibit with TBF and his wife on Sunday. We bummed around online, I did some work, and we laughed and talked and ordered from Yummy.com again.

Oh! The night before, I had my first Thai food too! they made this pineapple fried rice that was to DIE for… I could eat that shit all day every day….

So, anyway, we decided to bop down the street so that I could get a picture of the studio that housed the Big Brother House – one of Erica’s friends lives across the street – litterally!

Then I couldn’t resist taking a picture just for the pup, who loves slugbugs more then ANYTHING and is quite eagle eyed in finding them – she would have loved it in Hollywood, because they were EVERYWHERE. Sometimes even traveling in pairs!

We went back to the house, were I got the CUTEST picture of Erica and her mama’s boy cat Seven – see?

How adorable are they? Totally Hollywood, and totally rockin’ the cowboy hat. I had so much fun with them, and next time look forward to seeing them again. And not just because I got to feel her boobs. They might brave the great white north soon too, and I’ll get to show them around my home town – awesome.

About 6pm I got the call that TBF and S. were on their way, and when they showed up in 20 minutes instead of 45 (lighter traffic then expected, of course) I said my goodbyes and walked down to the corner where they were going to pick me up. TBF is uber private, see, and so the two friends of mine weren’t in the same place at the same time to respect that. It’s all good, and hey – this fat ass made that walk easy enough. Its the NEXT one that freakin killed me just a few minutes later…

So they slowed down at the corner, and I shoved my bag into the back of the car and my fat behind in after it, said breathlessly giggling hellos (They’d been circling the block like 6 times before we met. hahaha! That’ll teach them to be early…) and we started to talk. and talk. and decide where to eat dinner. We eventually decided on the Macaroni Grill in Burbank. I know I keep talking about the food I ate – but Oh. My. Gawd. Click the link, I’ll wait. See that NINE LAYER LASAGNA there on the front page? Yeah, I had that. More like I had one corner of that, and the rest is probably STILL in TBF’s fridge. It was FANTASTIC, and the most filling thing EVER.

Anyway, TBF, S. and I talked and giggled and shared stories and giggles some more, and tortured the Boy by sending him picture of the things we were eating. We couldn’t even contemplate desert, we were so full, and we loved every minute of it.

Oh. The Walk. You see, I was introduced to the joy of attempting to find parking in LA on a Friday night as we drove around aimlessly before stalking a couple of guys walking to their car so that we could steal their parking space when they pulled out. Ha! Then, TBF and S. were all “Oh, it’s just down there!” And pointed the way down a couple of “Good LA blocks” all going DOWNHILL. I made it there, though oy! Ow! Breathless and still laughing as they kept forgetting to SAUNTER and would slide into their normal MACH THREE walk.

So the walk there – not so bad. I mean, I was breathless, and my back and hip hurt, but not so bad. Then we stepped outside after eating pasta until bursting full, and realized that lovely downhill walk now had to be reversed.

Fuck.

I only stopped twice – which made me happy, except for the fact that the second time I stopped I was LITERALLY right next to the building we were parked in. If I had realized that I wouldn’t have HAD to stop and rest the back, I’d have powered through, but no. I felt like an idiot. TBF and S are wonderful though, and didn’t make fun, just kept up the conversation and waited until I was ready to power on, and enter the SAUNA of a parking garage which near killed me with oppressive heat. Thank god for Air Conditioning!

We went to S’s house to make bathroom breaks and meet the kitty, and let S and TBF see videos of the kids, before we said our see you sunday’s! and hopped into TBF’s truck for the ride to Frazier Park. The ride was nice, and much talking and connecting and feeling good about finally being with him again – nothing like having your TBF in touching distance to help get your head back on an even keel. Home at Frazier Park, and I met the new animals that have arrived since my last visit, hugged the wife (rawr!) and compared new laptops (His is Bigger. Yeah, I said it. I can admit it. But you know, big is nothing if you don’t use it! So THERE! hahaha!) talked and talked some more, before finally collapsing to sleep on the couch they’d gotten just for me. Snoogans and I had a little discussion about whether she’d be able to sleep on my chest (no) or my feet (yes) and Gimli settled on the floor to protect me from the cats, or everyone else from me, or whatever, and we finally fell asleep.

Next on the agenda? Jousting, near death experiences and baby fixes, oh my!