Fear and Loathing in Brisvegas (ohh and freezing)

Arrived in sub zero temps of Brisvegas a few hours ago, well it feels like it anyway.  Now waiting, waiting til my flight to Melbourne which isn't leaving til 7.55am.  Am totally overwhelmed by the offers for a pick up at Tulla, glad I didn't overdo, or even do any "gift" shopping, guess I'll keep the excess for Pixie, Chief and me!  Oh well at least I'll fund some students education or curry for the day.  Probably just as well as after nearly 24 hours of travel - I stink and look vile!

Seems Rob is enjoying the golf, will get on line and see who's in the lead in a sec, watched it on the flight from LAX to Dallas, go Adam Scott!  The week before the Bridgestone I said to Rob we should put some $$ on Adam Scott for that tournament and the PGA and he told me no.  We were in Vegas and you can bet on anything and I would have cleaned up on the Bridgestone now wouldn't I.  Oh well shoulda, coulda, woulda!

Good flight back from Dallas to Brisbane, had a couple of nice margaritas at DFW airport, followed by a vino with dinner on the plane and off I went to sleep, tired, tired, tired.  Woke, watched 'Water for Elephants' then breakfast and then we landed.  Had a nice woman next to me, a Spanish scientist coming to Australia for a job interview so some good conversation to pass the time.

Hasta Melbourne (brrrrrr), Viva!

Pick up at Tulla?

Anyone free on Sunday to pick me up at Tulla. Scheduled to arrive at 10.20am, if so text me Sunday am cos I won't have net access soon. Xx


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Homeward bound (boo hoo)

Well here we are at LAX, Rob is heading to Atlanta for the PGA and me home. I'm not complaining but I hate when holidays end, as that is what I live for, however I have many hours of travel ahead to plan the next.

Yesterday I did my last minute shopping at the Beverly Centre, a big mall near the hotel, while Rob watched the golf on telly. He picked me up and we went down to Santa Monica beach and pier, where we also had lunch and yep, more shopping. We then swang past Pasadena to pick up something and I also bought a dress at Banana Republic, as yesterday they released the limited edition Janie Bryant Mad Men collection. We then had the most wonderful dinner at El Cholo Mexican restaurant, another LA institution since 1923. Best margarita ever! Then home to pack and omg was there a lot to pack.

What an awesome holiday, stuff dreams are made of. Best I start dreaming of the next. Til then, Viva Las Vacaciones!

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Location:LAX

The Draper residence

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Location:Pasadena

California

Here we are in LA, and only 24 hours left for moi. Napa was expensive, well anything to do with vino, if Australian vineyards charged like that for tastings, no one would go. We had a bit of a drive around, and we also checked out the town, which was divine, quaint, very old town USA. But as we were a day behind schedule, and cos we are flexible, we decided to skip San Fran and head to LA. We did however stop in at Kermit Lynch, a wine merchant in Berkeley, where Rob was like a kid in a candy store! All French wines at prices never seen in Australia, so another dint was made in our purse.

We then jumped on the 5 and hit LA, well actually decided on Pasadena, a gorgeous part of greater LA, old time route 66, and a current favorite for Mad Men locations. Yes the Maddict I am means I had a list, and we visited the Draper house, well the one used in seasons 1 - 4, with Betty moving out late season 4. We also had breakfast at Andy's, a diner used in the episode where Pete and Peggy organized the fight over the ham. There are tons of locations round LA, I could spend all day checking them out.

The rest of yesterday was spent in Hollyweird, on the boulevard, after lunch at Pinks hotdogs, an LA institution on La Brea since 1939. We dined last night at a place, again on La Brea, called Cube, which was absolutely sensational, very hip, amazing food, great service, chosen as they allow byo and Rob had a grand cru he bought in Berkeley. It was an awesome night.

And today, my last full day. I think we are going to Santa Monica for a swim, maybe to downtown and Venice, a bit of a shop, and back to Pasadena to Banana Republic for the launch of Janie Bryant's Mad Men collection. They are having cocktails at a few of the stores and we got invited as I asked about the collection, thinking it was already out. It's all about Mad Men! And I also have to pack, that should take all night.

It's hard to believe it's nearly all over, what a time we have had, and it really feels like we have been away forever. I will have to start planning the next one now!


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Location:LA

Movin' on!

We arrived in Napa last night after spending the afternoon with my old friends Fred, Laura, and Bill from my days in LA circa '86 and '88. I stayed with them for extended periods on both trips, and it was the first time I'd seen them since. It was a nice catch up, albeit short, but better than nothing.

We finally left Vegas at about 1pm Sunday after extending another night. Another very old friend, who I hadn't seen since '86, but have talked to on the phone and corresponded with (both snail mail and the modern contraption email/FB) over the years was flying into Vegas on Sunday for business so we stayed another night so to meet up. I can assure you it was great to stay another, in fact I could have stayed the rest of the trip there I was having such a great time and loving the Vegas vibe. So we did some extra shopping, visited the sign in civis, more eating, drinking, and chilling until the meet up Sunday. We organized a late check out on Sunday and Mary came by with her boss and picked us up and we went out for Sunday brunch buffet at the Mirage. Again a short but sweet time was had, great to see Mary after all these years, and such a coincidence that we would be in the same place at the same time! My fortune cookie did say everything was coming my way.

We then moved on heading to Reno deciding against the route through Death Valley, going for the easier and direct road, albeit boring desert landscape. We hit Reno about 9 hours later and holed up at the El Dorado Hotel and Casino, scoring an upgrade cos we were 'newly weds'! Another buffet yesterday morning now means the diet is imminent, these things are dangerous!

We are now in Napa, it's a cute little town, but the valley has yet to be explored. We are running one day behind schedule now, and will now miss the Beach Boys at Ventura County Fair, but hell, it's good to be flexible. We have two nights booked in LA but other than that we can do as we please. So San Fran may get bypassed and we might head to the beach instead. Hey you can't do everything, although it feels like we have. Although I have only been gone less than 3 weeks it feels like months, it has been so action packed, I will need a holiday when I return. Only 4 days til I jump on that plane at LA international airport, 'where the big jet engines roar' and Rob heads to Atlanta for the US PGA. Viva!

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Location:Napa California

A glass of bubbles

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Location:Viva Las Vegas