Happy Halloween! Gee the Americans take this seriously. Front yards and department stores are totally decorated. People are in the streets tonight trick or treating. Adults are dressed up...and candy is being handed out everywhere you look. Not to be outdone, I thought I should join in. Given that my hair is not responding well to the difference in the water over here, it is just sitting on my head like a helmet. Add to that a pair of bike pants and you will find me far more frightening than any ghost or witch!
My day started talking to Nicco on the phone. He was ready for bed and I was just getting up! This time difference feels strange. This morning I realised that not only was I in a different day to my home but also a different month! After speaking to Nic we went in search of some breakfast. I didn’t know what I wanted as I had just seen a TV ad for a “Bacon and Egg Biscuit”. I wondered what that could possibly be however found it to have been bacon and egg on a scone. It looked gross and put me off any sort of muffin or bread item for breaky. We went for a drive and ended up going through the “Del Taco” drive through...where the Bear ordered a breakfast bacon and egg burrito. I am surprised he got that though, because the drive through chick could not understand a single word he said! I ended up having just an orange juice. Mexican for breakfast just doesn't seem right - although the yanks obviously love it. They have a Mexican restaurant on nearly every corner.
Having visited Hollywood and Beverley Hills yesterday we thought we might do the VIP tour at Warner Brothers. Just as a note here : I absolutely LOVED Beverly Hills and was amazed by Rodeo Drive. We headed off....our destination being in the suburb of Burbank..and drove there going around the Hollywood Hills. Jesus H Christ. Never, ever again. The freeway/motorway thingy was about 600 lanes across with 20 000 000 absolute kamikaze drivers with absolutely no road sense at all. We were nearly side swiped several times by some numbskull who was shaving (YES...SHAVING!) whilst driving. I tried to take a photo of the said driver, however as I was hanging on to everything for dear life in the hope of saving my own....I didn’t get the camera out in time. We drove down through the San Fernando Valley (towards Sherman Oaks) and whilst the view was mind blowing.....the experience was something that I hope NEVER to repeat. I am still trying to figure out how we managed to get to Warner Brothers alive...although my husband will no doubt say it was because of his skilful driving. I most certainly won’t argue with that as he is doing an amazing job. I swear he has cement balls, because you couldn’t drive in these conditions without having them swinging between your legs!
The Warner Brothers experience was amazing. We were driven around in an over-sized golf cart (which was flat out fitting my butt in the seat...let alone another 12 people) by a interesting guide named Jacob. I was amazed to see the grounds being surrounded by gum trees! We toured the back lots in the streets where shooting is filmed and saw facades from many well known movies and television shows. These included “Harry’s Law”, “Friends”, “Two Broke Girls”, “The Mentalist” and “Mike and Molly”. The Bear actually got tickets to tonight’s taping of “Mike and Molly” however it was too hard to get to it on time after we drove back to where we are staying at Marina Del Ray. We may get to go to something else whilst we are in this country. We went and saw the set for “Two and a Half Men” and were amazed at how small it is! We would have loved to have taken photos however this was strictly forbidden. I was able to take some other photos outside however. The Bear and I also had our photo taken whilst sitting on the former set of “Friends”. It actually didn’t get taped at Warner Brothers however they had rights to the set/props so have got it there for purely tourist interest. This tour really had the WOW factor and I was overwhelmed at seeing so much stuff that we would normally only see on TV.
On our tour there were some people from Japan – one of which was a relatively young man with a package in his pants to challenge Dirk Diggler. It hung half way down to his knees! I really didn’t think it was a good look given that he was wearing silvery-grey trousers which left no imagination what so ever. The Bear thought it was a pair of socks....and stated that it was not natural. I disputed the sock theory given it’s “shape”. I am fairly sure that if the Jap was aroused, he would in fact pass out. And no...I didn't deliberately look (although once I saw it I tried to get a photo of it!)...it was just "there". You know....it just "was".
In the grounds of Warner Brothers....I got to see my first squirrel! I tried to take a photo however it didn’t turn out very well. The tour guide was very surprised that I took such an interest but I believe it is because the Americans don’t like them. They are not much more than vermin apparently. I still think they are cute!
I had another first today! I went to Taco Bell which was an interesting experience at best. I found the food to be quite bland however quite good. There was a group of young “men” (who obviously came from an alternate background) and a dressed up Jaberwockie who scared me a little. No...they scared me quite a lot....they were very noisy. However unlike the young men we have at home, these boys did not swear loudly and greeted each other with a genuine sincerity. As the Bear said, these guys had a story...but were good kids.
The last thing to report today...is that I have fallen in love with the supermarkets here. They have everything and anything...including stuff I have not seen for years. They sell TAB! For those that do not know what this is....it was a diet cola drink....and it was an ad for this that Elle McPherson had done that got her into the big league. They sell wonderful meat and veges which look fresh and are reasonably priced. Woolies and Coles would do well to follow their example! The more interesting items that the stores have here are things like boxed cooked bacon (not refrigerated); peanut butter cups (candy); 3 kilo bags of M & Ms; everything that you can buy in a Chemist (which is odd because the Chemists here open 24/7); and beer, wine and spirits. I fully intend on taking a trip to the supermarket just so that I can look at each and every item. I want to buy an absolute stack of stuff...but just need to see what I am allowed to take back into Australia!
PS: I have get to come across somewhere that sells grits!
