Big bang baby :D

Click all pics to enlarge.  Should you like :)

Hi.  Now fasten your seatbelts kids.  I'm not driving my minivan.  I rented a candy apple RED convertible Mustang.  It's my dream car.  Yes granted, there are more expensive cars on the market, but, for sheer kick-ass-ness, I wanted a car with You-know-What's.  :) So, yes, prepare to drive Southern California with us, or "So Cal" as my dear friend Tara in Paris says.  Check this out:

 

Grauman's Chinese Theater.  This is as close as we got because quite frankly and no offense to celebrities but...seeing Hollywood Blvd too up close really doesn't thrill me.  I'll give respect where it is due however, a lot of the "stars" are wonderful in Hollywood, I love film, however seeing concrete with names stamped in them doesn't float my boat.  No way.  So we drove. And experienced California.  Such fun....

 

No photos were allowed the first night.  We attended the Conan O'Brien show on the Friday night.  The Pixies rocked it.  Corey "someone" (sorry!) from some show called GLEE was on (I don't watch t.v.), super nervous he was but he handled it well.  Harland Williams was hilarious. Annnnd wow is Conan ever thin.  The camera added ten pounds but he is angular and sharp looking.  Still a cutie though.  Such a funny man too. :D

 

My beloved Santa Monica pier.  This is a new ferris wheel, the old one was sold last year.  Last year I took my niece Hailey and my kids on the ferris wheel.  Beautiful views from up there.

 

We rented a garage.  :D Well, a "studio" actually.  If you must label it.  But it was charming, well located and our hosts were super gracious.  What else can you ask for?  West Hollywood is a fabulous central location to situate yourself in, close to anything and everything.  Including Melrose where we shopped til we dropped.  C'mon, we had to! 

  

Oh this is us.  Darlings that we are, Hollywood darlings...kiss kiss.  :D Seriously, we are WAY too grounded for this town.  Our sweet gay waiter on Santa Monica Blvd.  wrote "thank you" with a heart on our bill.  Then I realized it wasn't our bill, he apologized and handed it to the two gents sitting beside us.  He then handed me my bill. No thank you.  No heart.  Geez, no love I'm tellin ya! ;D

 

Venice Beach.  A land of freaks.  Very photogenic ones, although on this trip I found I never took a lot of photos.  I was really into just experiencing it and well, my memory is long.  I'll never forget it.  This Chuck Norris t-shirt makes me howl.  Ahem, I'm much too "refined" (ya, whatever) to buy and wear the shirt, so I photographed it.  (Chuck has two speeds, Walk , and Kill. God I love that! lmao!!!!)

  

Tourista trappay.  :) Hollywood Blvd.  It reminds me of Times Square, a must see by drive-by only.  Come on, every town has the same shopping.  Why fly 1500 miles to shop?  Not these chicks! This shot was only taken because we were just zipping back from seeing the Hollywood sign.  I might add that the hiking aspect of our trip was cut short because my sister in law who travelled with me, Diane, had a broken leg the whole time.  Great for special treatment at the airport however. :D Front row on all our flights.  Thanks Di!

  

A STAH sign,Jeaux.  :D Pour vous. xo (taken from the front seat of our Mustang.)

  

The only shot I got of us with our sweet ride. :D  I'm used to driving a van, I'm a mommy so hence I'm usually not cruising the Pacific Coast Highway, I am usually getting groceries or driving the kids to swimming lessons.  But when we took this puppy down the number 1 to Laguna, I was actually able to pass other cars!! Quite fast too! Diane with her broken leg said, "It must be fun driving this car, eh Gill?" Sporting a big smile as I overtook a transport truck, "Yes, Diane.  It's quite enjoyable." :D 

 

Diane's Mango Tango as seen from behind my Banana Jamma.  On Venice.  We were parked drinking and people watching.  A man sweeping the pavement with a palm frond freaked on one of the restaurant patrons.  He accused her of having three homes and not letting anyone sleep there.  I sided with him.  He was right.  He seemed kind of crazy, but he was right.  She was sitting pretty with lots of attitude.  I like people with mojo, people like Mr. Palm Sweeper, tell it like it is man.  Power to the people... ;)

 

Gratuitous shot of my beloved sister-in-law.  We travel well together.  A trip to Cancun is in the works for December.  Must, go, to, Mexico.  Hint hint Diane if you are reading this.  Si.  :D

 

This little fellow amazed me.  He kept wiping out.  Then, scrambling, he would get back up again and go for it.  He wasn't afraid of failure.  I love that.  He stole my heart.  I think he shall grow up to be a Tony Hawk kind of success as a result.

 

Diane and I stayed awhile checking out the skateboarders.  We were beyond impressed.  I think I'll ask Santa (hubby to be Julian xo) for a board.  Seriously.  Why not?  It would keep a gal in shape. It is really hard work!!!

 

Oh and we drove miles and miles to see Laguna Beach.  I got lost while my sister in law was sleeping.  I really did not care.  Really!!! I don't mind getting lost.  But I finally found my way back onto the one highway, and south to Laguna.  We ate at "C'est La Vie".  Here you see pictured is our waitress and chef.  The food was soooo good.  We ate well.  With Chilean red wine.  And complimentary lobster bisque.  Ooh la la!!!  You'll read mixed reviews of this place, but my first hand experience was pure delicious.  A taste-bud holiday like no other.  This ain't McDonalds, okay people? (Hey I like McD's too, calm down! The fries rock!)

 

Endive, poached pear, blue cheese & candied walnut salad.  Yummers!!

 

Oh, man I need some sequential ordering with my photos! Sorry, back to Santa Monica. The lovely beach at sunset.  If you click to enlarge the photo you will see the memorial to the war of America in Iraq.  War sucks.  It sucks that young men and women sacrifice their lives for us.  I wish it weren't that way.  They have all my respect.  Let freedom reign!!!

 

Diane and Gill, that is moi, at "C'est la vie!" in Laguna.  We were happy with our full bellies.  Oh next, back to West Hollywood...

Here you see me in Kat Von D's shop, High Voltage Tattoo, you know! The show on TLC that features the wondrous work of Kat and her staff.  The shop is super cool, way too cool for an old gal like me.  I have no tattoos, but I wondered about getting one! You know, something small may be okay.  Next time I'm there I'll get a small one.  I must think about it first.  That is a huge commitment though.  I can't even stick with the same breakfast cereal let alone a permanent piece of art on my body.  But....if Kat did my tattoo, how could I NOT like it?

 

Diane in High Voltage.  Diane does have tattoos.  Lots.  (Kidding.) She is sporting a California license plate.  Seriously.  A lovely tribal line butterfly in gorgeous colour.  But, she is a personal trainer and is in shape.  If I had that, it may morph into something unrecognizable.  LOL!!!

 
Oh and last but not least, double-threat guy GREG from High Voltage.  He's helpful and handsome.  We rolled in there to change t-shirt sizes after our jaunt to Laguna, worn out and tired.  We were flying out the next morning.  His helpful smiley face was appreciated after our long drive.  Gals, if you want a tattoo from Greg, you'll have to visit High Voltage Tattoo on La Brea in West Hollywood.  Actually, not sure if Greg actually tattoos anyone there, but maybe you'd like to visit anyways. I'd book it if I were you. :D

Next time you see me, I'll have indulged my inner rebel, going to see the Stone Temple Pilots with Diane's husband on Wednesday!  I'll let you know how much fun that was (yes, I'm a juvey at heart)!  I will also have time (finally!!!) to visit you this week.  Sheesh.  Thanks for the love you guys.  I do appreciate it.  You guys are the best. xoxo

Comments

[Samosas for One]

Your trip looks like so much fun. My random thoughts at this late hour are: You should totally get a skateboard, but PLEASE do not get that skateboard scotter thing that adults use. That is lame! Glee is so cute. You can watch it on fox.com. Have you ever that Chuck Norris website with the list of all the things CN? There was once an episode many years ago of the Real World or Road Rules on MTV where this woman gets a Kermit the Frog tattooed on stomach and then one of her castmates tells her if she ever gets pregnant Kermit will get all stretched out. EWWW!

[Se'Lah]

Seems like a delightful trip.

Fantastic.

[Leslie]

great pictures....I just returned from central/northern California...what fun.

[Tracy]

What a feast of fun and plenty, Gillian..WOW! Thanks you for taking us along... It looks so beautiful there! :o)

[Stephanie]

You girls rocked the place!! I see now where the lucsious grapefruit photos came from!

What a life! crusing hwy 1 in a red mustang!!! awesome...

x..x

[Elyse]

You have the coolest name ever! Just a spontaneous observation. It sounds like a book character.

[christina]

What a trip! The food, the car! Wonderful! And yes, power to the people! : )
xoxo

[Marilyn]

Loved your trip to So. Cal. There is such an energy there that I don't feel anywhere else. Now I wouldn't mind hanging out at the skate park too.

[Tara Bradford]

Oh I loved this, dearest Gill! Fantastic photos and great tales of your fun times! xoxox

[Paige]

all I can think of is the Beach Boys...and we'll have fun, fun, fun til your daddy takes the t-bird away.

may your t-bird always be with you

[Jeaux]

What a coolio shot of the skateboy at the skatepark! Vroom! Speaking of vroom - isn't the Mustang fun? As muscle cars go, it's the best - and surprisingly easy to live with.

Hey I saw TWO stahs - those celebs at C'est La Vie. No, not restaurant staff! Although that waitress looks a lot like Michael Rapaport.

I think I could live in a garage like that.

[Gillian daSilva]

Jeaux, thank you sunshine. I liked that shot too, so it ranked first.
Speaking of vroom alright, oh the Mustang! Jeaux, what a great car. It hugs the road...and guts! I could pass! And it was leather inside with a kick butt sound system. We really enjoyed that car.
Thank you for STAHspotting, you're a doll.
The garage yes, well, that is entirely another story.
:)
Love you!! xo

[Relyn]

I had to come all the way back here to find a post where I hadn't already left a comment. Anyway... I wanted to stop by tonight and wish you a happy, happy Thanksgiving. Tomorrow is bound to be crazy and I didn't want the holiday to pass without me wishing you the happiest, most delicious Thanksgiving ever.