The roof, the roof

I'm sure you've heard...two stupid kids were playing with fireworks (FIREWORKS in L.A.?!? during FIRE season?!?) in the brush (really are teenagers really that stupid) above Oakwood apartments putting Universal Studios, the Hollywood sign and not to mention people's homes in danger. Yeah, they picked such a craptastic area that the fire department couldn't reach it by truck; they could only to it by air.

Of course, I'm so dense (stop nodding) and so focused on work (stop laughing) that I didn't even notice until C came into my office telling me to look up at the fire.

Fire?

This pic was taken from my desk so you'd think I would have noticed the large plume of smoke right next to my computer monitor.

Yeah, not so much.

But, once I saw it I couldn't take my eyes off of it. I mean, the city is on fire. We could see flames shooting off the hill...very freaky. But, in true hunky fireman fashion, they got the fire under control and no homes or lives were lost.

Stupid kids.

Stay off my lawn.

Take a Stand

Yeah, vacation's over...have to work to pay those credit card bills.

Upon my return I was greeted by our newest restaruant, The Stand. Owned by a local family, as I understand it, this is the second in their "chain," the first living in Encino. When we heard rumors of having our own Stand, I inquired with the valley folk and heard nothing but fabulous.



Yeah, they didn't lie. Even with the issues that face a business in their first few days, they were awesome. The food was great, not just in taste but also in quality and presentation. I'm not usually a fan of veggie burgers but I'm totally hooked on this one. I tried one of their saussages but since I'm not really a sausage girl apparently I don't appreciate their selection, or so I've been told. But yeah, if you dig the dogs, you should visit.

Oh, and the fries...yum! And, if you like pickles, they have a huge bin of them that they replenish all the time, so help yourself.

Ok, I need to stop...I'm geting hungry.

Best of the Best

Did you know there are people who drive from Phoenix to Flagstaff for the Champagne brunch at Little America? Yeah. We didn't quite understand that. Don't get me wrong, it was a d@mn fine buffet, but I don't think I'd do that drive.

After brunch, back to Vegas. Again, over the Dam. But this time, for people heading to AZ, there must have been a 3 hour line to get over that Dam. We couldn't get over the line. We wanted to yell, go back, take another route. But there was not time...we were driving too fast. Heh.

Very excited, we checked into the Belagio. Let me tell you, Steve Wynn really did create a masterpiece with this place. From lobby to pool to guest room, this place is gorgeous. You really can't ask for something prettier. We were in a standard room, and even had to take one with 2 queens instead of a king, and still it looked new, it was spacious and the bathroom rocked...I would stay there again in a heartbeat.

However, I would not eat there, order room service or try to talk to hotel management about any of the issues I'm having.

Anyone who knows me knows I come from a service background. I'm pretty damn nice to people and tend to over tip. I understand if they're busy and stressed and really only bother someone only when I really need to. That being said, they locked me out of my own credit card so I couldn't charge things to the room, they didn't honor our dinner reservation and wouldn't seat us...instead placing us on a waiting list, room service ordering was challenging and the manager who promised to make everything right, didn't.

Lets be honest, I paid $160 for a room at the prettiest hotel on the strip with a tub I could have entertained several friends in...I got the good end of that deal. I would stay there again but I would make reservations at Valentino's or any one of Pierro's restaurants (all located away from the Bellagio), and just not expect anything in the way of service, instead, just enjoying my beautiful room and my beautiful hotel.

Looks like a movie set

I know, cheesy, but seriously, the Grand Canyon doesn't look real to me. I mean, look at the back of the picture. I just expect someone to punch through the canvas or something.

It didn't help that it was a perfectly clear day, with highs in the 70s. It was seriously picture perfect, something out of a movie....something you'd expect from la-la land.

***

We took the Grand Canyon Railway to the canyon. For two people that spend far too much of their travel time in a car, this was an excellent option. If you have the means, I recommend it. But, do one of the first class cars. The lower end options looked painful...crowded, no a/c, a whole lot of not good.

We did the dome car and it was very cool. And I'm not just saying that 'cause it was a dome and had air conditioning and it was first class and we had our own "hostess." Well, actually I am just saying that. And, what seemed to be incredibly cheesy entertainment, was actually quite fun. There were singing cowboys, a "robbery" and a wild west show...very fun. But, keep in mind, as the website tell you, this is an old restored train. You might have technical problems. We did. And it was fine. But, that's just something to remember.

Something else surprising...the food at the Canyon. Most everything (including most recently the train) is owned by a private company that does public park stuff. We ate at the Arizona Room. As you can see from the chandeliers, this place rocked. For a national park, I have to admit that the food was quite tasty. Though, I'm sure it helped that the big boss sat down at the table next to us about 5 minutes after we got there. (If you want bad food, you can find it next door, but it was nice to have the choice.)

The Canyon was amazing and I definitely want to go back. Of course, I want to stay at El Tovar which will require more than 10 days advance notice, but that's ok. Someday we'll be capable of making travel plans more than 10 days in advance.

Get your kicks

After fueling up on the breakfast buffet at Mandalay (quite tastey I might add and looked *much* better than the lunch buffet they were setting up), we headed out to Flagstaff.


One thing you should know is that there are two ways to Flagstaff, the slow way or the long way. Not knowing there was a slow way or a long way, we took the direct way which translates to the slow way since you have to cross over Hoover Dam. Now, we've been to the Dam before so we knew we were in for some traffic but we didn't know it would take an hour to go 3 miles. Oddly enough, it didn't really bother us. It just was what it was. But, I'm just warning you in case you need to cross over it for *any* reason.

After surviving the Dam we were lured to Seligman by the promise of root beer in a frosty mug. (Well, one of us was lured by the frosty mug and one of us was lured by the promise of a little girls room. I'll let you guess which of us was lured by which.)

Finally we arrive at our destination. Seriously, if you're going to Flagstaff, I can't recommend Little America highly enough. I booked the hotel based on the website and let me tell you, Karen didn't let me down. The sign for Little America is a bit motel-ish but the service was amazing, the concierge knows her Flagstaff food in every price range, the rooms were really nice and the price was beyond reasonable.

One last thing and sadly, it was WAY too dark to take a picture, but we had the BEST pizza for dinner that night. OMG, fabulous. Seriously, you need to go here. And if you do go, bring me back some 'za.

Oh, and here's the obligatory tub picture:


And a taste of my new obsession of taking self-portraits in every well-lit mirror:

Bathtub Revolution...continued

Yup, its a bathtub. That's why we got the "Honeymoon" Suite. But, in all honesty, if this were my honeymoon and that was my suite, I'd be cranky.

I so dig Mandalay Bay. I've wanted to stay there for YEARS and the pools were all I hoped they would be. But, let me tell you, the room was boring at best. Now, they're totally redoing all the rooms. Of course, the new rooms are more spendy than the old ones (which I learned after booking ours.) But yeah, the tub was nice, the room was huge and boring and the wave pool rocked. I can't wait to go back!

Though, I need someone to explain the $20 inner tubes for the lazy river to me 'cause I know I'm going to pay for one next time and I need to justify it. Heh.

Rollin' with the homies...

Seriously, you'd never know that these two had just suffered the trauma of standing at the vet's office for 2 WHOLE minutes to have 3 stiches removed from Dick's head. They were the ONLY dogs there and Jane's only purpose was to keep Dick calm and yet she was shaking like they were going to take a kidney.



Drama queen...no idea where she gets that from.

Love Pink

Ok, true story: there's a woman who has lived in Los Angeles for 35 years. And this woman has never eaten at Pink's. And, this isn't some vegetarian-type of chick. This is the type of woman that loves her a good hot dog. I know, a travesty isn't it. Of course this is the same woman who thinks that anything east of Beverly Hills is East L.A. So yeah.

Well, despite protests of wanting to get home to write report cards, the hot dog gods were on our side. Thanks to the time change, everyone was discombobulated and didn't realise that they all should be at Pink's for lunch. So we enjoyed our dogs and let me tell you the yummiest fries I've had in the longest time.

And one more thing...I was going to link to Pink's website but the Google told me it may harm my computer. Well, I dig my wee mini so I was lost on what to do. Suggestions?

Dear Abby

Normally I'm totally Get-Off-My-Lawn. To say I haven't reacted well to random contractors blocking the street and even going so far as parking IN MY DRIVEWAY would be an understatement. I don't like kids playing in that same driveway 'cause they're usually there super early on weekend mornings, and frankly, I'm tired and want my precious sleep.

Imagine my surprise when I walked down to my car and met Abby. She was very cute, and very sweet so its not like I could be cross with her. But, she really liked playing in the driveway. No matter how many times I asked nicely for her to come into the front yard so we could call her mom, she just wouldn't listen. Seriously, my driveway just sucks kids in. I totally understand, I used to play down there myself. Luckily Abby isn't too big so I just picked her up and carried her out. She was ok with that; she would have rather stayed in the driveway but I think she understood.



How can you not love a kid with ears like that? The hand and skirt belong to two random Japanese students parked NOT IN MY DRIVEWAY after they spent the day at UCLA. They were sucked in by Abby's charm as well.

As luck and good parenting would have it, Abby had her tags and her owner was located on the third ring. Someone left the gate open and Abby went exploring. Abby's mom came quickly and Abby wondered home.

She was cool. Abby is the one neighborhood kid welcome in my driveway ANY TIME.

What am I looking at?

The car battery died. I know, its tragic. I think I should ask for my money back...it only lasted 8 years. (I kid, I kid.)

Since my personal auto consultant is currently living abroad, I had to take it to the shop to have the battery replaced and the oil changed. I took her to the same mechanic she's been going to for awhile. I dropped her off at the same shop to the same nice girl. Later that day, I talked to Ricardo, not Tony, finding out the shop was sold. Now, the name and look of the shop are EXACTLY the same so that was a bit odd. So whatever, they did the work for which I asked and told me I needed new rear bearing thingies. Here are the pictures I took of what they said was worn. I don't know about you, but I don't have a clue what we're looking at. These could be the healthiest bearings in the history of bearings...what do I know.

So yeah, just thought I'd share.

Murse

The man bag lives on...with a surprising sighting in Century City.

Should have mentioned this yesterday.

but I was too overwhlelmed by my new dress.

He was at the mall yesterday.

Get excited.

Get rowdy.

Ok, get back to whatever it was you were doing.

I can resist anything but temptation

Ok seriously, the dress was talking to me. You don't walk away from talking dresses. Bad things happen when you do that. I could tell you what exactly happens but then the potty monster might get me.

But seriously, this dress was for me. I mean, I'm taking pictures of myself in a dressing room. Even *I* don't do things like that. Well, I guess I do now, but I don't normally. This is what certain clothing drives me to do.

Now, the other sale dress I bought was for everyone else. Now, that might sound weird but think about it...there are the things we do for ourselves and the things we do for others. It can be in terms of time or money or work, doesn't matter. Everyone has a different button.

I've noticed with the clothes I wear, some of it is for me and some is definitely for others. I never really saw the distinction until recently.

I can walk out of the house feeling like a million bucks because I'm wearing something that makes me happy. You might not completely understand my Imitation of Christ sweatshirt but holy crap does it make me happy. I've had people look at it and go, huh, ok. Doesn't matter to me, I freakin' love it.

Ok, here's an example that might make more sense. Two baby showers, two very different audiences...one young, one not so young. For the first one, I wore something that made me happy, for the second, I wore something that I knew would go over well. Here's how it played out.

"Young" Shower: I bought this adorable Free People dress/long shirt. Its fun and plaid and green and low cut and just happy. I wore that with a pair of denim capris and fabulous brown heels. Not one compliment, nothing. I mean, that's ok. I love it; it makes me happy so I really didn't care. But the shirt was just so happy...I was a little sad no one else saw the happiness I saw.

"Adult" Shower: There's the blue Three Dot dress I bought. Its fine...kinda boring for my taste...navy blue, to the knee, low cut, fitted, 3/4 length sleeve. I wore it with a fitted tank under so my cleavage didn't attack the attendees of this shower. You would have thought I was a Princess in that dress. I got more compliments than I knew what to do with. I was the picture of demure beauty everyone wanted me to be. There wasn't anything wrong with the dress...its quite nice...but I bought it for work, for ease of wear, not because I LOVED the style. But everyone else LOVED it, loved me in it; it was flattering and nice...that's dress for everyone else.

Its been years since I've seen people that pleased with what I've worn. It was a little weird. I mean, I'm a girl so I'd be lying if I said I didn't appreciate the compliments. But it was just so odd because the dress wasn't me and yet that's what everyone else liked.

Now before you get all judgey on me, think about what you wear around the house or on the weekends...comfy boxers, an old t-shirt, jeans, whatever. Then think about what you wear to work or to dinner with grandma or that first date. It reflects all different sides of you. Think about how much time you give the start of a relationship, how you hardly think about staying up all night and then think about it 3 months later and how tired you are. Apply it to whatever, but think about it, it makes sense.

I don't think people will love this dress...but holy crap does it make me happy.

Should I get a dog?

In every office I've ever worked, I've been asked this question. I don't find it surprising since I set myself up as the resident shopper/dog person. Its an odd combination but it fits well. But, since this post concerns dogs, we'll stick to those conversations.

I can easily answer questions about acupuncture, vets, dog trainers, dog whisperers, etc... But the should-I-get-a-dog question is always my most difficult. If you're even asking, you maybe shouldn't. But, if you're asking 'cause you've never had one, here's how I handle the conversation.

Are you ready to spend your last dollar taking care of the dog?

Are you ready to be awakened in the middle of the night to use the little dog's room?

And, my most recent question, are you ready to be awakened at 1am by your 9 year old hound, her had spinning around, vomiting everywhere? Are you ready to clean that up, do a load of laundry and then cook for her for the next few days? Not that I spent my Friday night doing that...nope, not at all...just a random example. Yeah, random.

I don't talk about the love, affection and wonder that comes from having a dog. Everyone knows about that. I talk about the vet visits, the surgeries, the food, the clean up, and the cash. Anyone can adopt a dog from the pound or buy one from a breeder. Not everyone is prepared for the commitment. And that's ok. If you're not ready, there's nothing wrong with that. But, nothing upsets me more than someone who gets a dog and then gets rid of them when they're too much work or money. But, that's a personal issue.

In my opinion, my dogs are a gift. I adore them and I wouldn't give one dollar spent back. (Though, if you want to give me the money back, I wouldn't object.) Hell, I still call Hanna my BMW 'cause when she got sick I was playing with the idea of getting a 3 series. But, after all her bills, I was still driving her in my Honda and somehow $10k in vet bills (thanks to contributions for different parties) got paid.

Yeah, she was an extreme case but talk to any pet owner and they'll tell you stories of late night emergency room visits, surgeries, dialysis and biopsies. And, every one of those people will laugh about it and not once regret the money spent.