Weekend Cali Adventure

Went to California last weekend to visit my best friend from grade/high school, Bill.

As soon as I get to the airport, the automated computer thingie tells me that my flight is delayed and that I will miss my connecting flight. The programmed options that I was given weren't very appealing, so I gathered the attention of the lady behind the desk and decided the best option was to get a flight out of the connecting city the next morning, off to Los Angeles for the night then!

I meandered around the terminal in Tulsa for a while, had a couple beers, and then went to my gate. Everybody was still sitting around and the flight wasn't due to leave for another half hour. I went to the restaurant next to the terminal and ordered a Sam Adams. Tap was empty, no problem, I'll wait. In the mean time I talk to an Okie girl sitting next to me who apparently didn't understand my accent when I said, "Do what?" (an Oklahoma phrase meaning "what?") and replied, "Do what?". After attaching a new barrel and dumping a half dozen buckets of foam later I finally get my beer. After a couple sips I lookover and see that my terminal is empty, throw some money on the table and run over to hear the gate attendant on his walkie takie stating that, "Alexander the Great is not here." "Here I am", I say. "Cancel that", he reports. I wasn't that late, there was still a line getting on the plane.

{Insert story about hot Latino women I was surrounded by in my seat here}

So I get to LA and while waiting for my luggage I walk over to the information booth. I ask the guy sitting behind the counter if he has a map of LA. He says, "I don't work here but the girl who usually does has maps, but I don't know where she keeps them." Hmmphh. OK. Pick up my luggage and head back to the information booth (non-working guy is gone). They did have a map of the airport taped to the table, and I knew about the UFO shaped (Encounter) restaurant, so found that and made a beeline towards that as I knew somebody there could help me.


I arrive and see a couple people standing outside the door. On closer inspection I see that one of them is Charlie Sheen.


I act casual and smoke a cigarette. Finally I get up the nerve to walk over and ask, "May I ask you guys some advice?" I explain my situation of my missed flight, no place to stay, and looking for something to do. Mr. Sheen's friend did most of the talking initially, saying there were hotels near the airport, and then maybe Sunset Blvd. "Oh no", I said, "Been there done that, and I don't feel like staying at the Beverly Hills Hilton again.". It's true but still, LOL.

The whole time I hadn't really acknowledged Mr. Sheen or let him know who he was (getting a few of the famous "Do I know you?" winces). I hear stars prefer it this way, besides I was actually looking for true guidance. Mr. Sheen pipes in and suggests Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica. As they head back into the restaurant and he walks away, I whisper to him, "Thanks Charlie!"

Into a cab and onward to Santa Monica and Shutters!


I arrive and don't even know if they have any rooms available, a grim statistic for a holiday weekend. I go up to the concierge and ask for a room. He thinks he might and starts tapping away on the keyboard. I say, "Well Charlie Sheen said this is a good place." "He hasn't been here for a while", he says. "You talked to him?", he asks. "Yes", I say. Clickity ... clickity ... clickty .... clickty. "Here is your room sir, enjoy."




I go walking around looking for some dinner. Finally I find a place that is not too pretentious or low brow. The Ma'Kai lounge is where I arrived.


I asked if they had a table outside, and the only one available was a grand table that sat ten people, so I stretched out while drinking some Sauvignon Blanc and eating avacado mango salad and steak asparagus skewers. Finally I ask the couple sitting next to me (on the two foot square table) if they knew of nightlife in Santa Monica. We got talking, and turns out this guy named Taylor grew up in Tulsa!

Left the lounge and did my typical city area perusal and was just about to give up when I walked past a door playing the music of Depeche Mode. I did a backtrack and waltzed into Copa d'Oro.


Though I was trying to stay sober, I had to try one of their amazing signature martinis made with ground mint, red bell pepper, and other amazing herbs. Almost healthy and definitely yummy.

Ate a falafel at a place next to the place I ate earlier and got a ride back to the hotel, and of course it is always a good thing to have a TV in the bathroom while you enjoy your Jacuzzi.


Had to try out the magic 8-ball spinner like thing that was attached to the desk, it said, "today"


Wake up early the next morning and took a Prius taxi to the airport. His route was much shorter and cheaper than on the way out. Hmmpphh.

My flight arrived much earlier than scheduled. I gathered my luggage and looked for my friend. Went outside and borrowed the phone from a TSA employee who had to dial the number for me because I haven't used an iPhone for at least a month. As it turns out it was perfect timing! 20 seconds later my friend drives up and we have a joyful handshake and reunion.

Drop my things off and head off for some lunch. Bill suggests Sushi and I agree. I do not usually partake in sushi as I live in the Midwest, but coastal sushi is trustable and turns out most of it was pretty good, especially the blue fin tuna which he recommended.

Next we went for a hike near the bay in Freemont.

Bill


Me


Next we go to a Peet's coffee, WAY BETTER coffee than Starbucks. Head on to the supermarket next door to buy some ingredients for supper. The food is so FRESH there. Went to my supermarket today and nearly barfed from the slim and decayed selection of vegetables.

Bill ground and seasoned his own beef for hamburgers, his wife chopped and seasoned broccoli, and I made some salad bleu cheese vinaigrette salad dressing and chopped up items for the salad (including avocados, yum!) We grilled all of the items (not the salad, duh!), also including fresh corn on the cob. So simple yet so delicious.

Later that night we drove a long and twisty road to the top of Mount Hamilton where the Lick Observatory resides. Originally this was the location of the largest refracting (lens) telescope in the World.

Bill and his daughter


Another view of the Bay Area coming down (about half way).


The next day we all go for Dim Sum. There were many diverse shrimp/beef/pork dumplings and rolls, but the mussels in a spicy sauce with peppers and onions were pretty good, the tea was really good, and the lemon cream filled sugar rolls at the end were the best.


Bill then takes me go-cart racing. Turns out we had the entire track to ourselves. That guy ending up lapping me in the final race. Bah.


All good things must come to an end, so my friend drives me to the airport, and then informs me that he has saved up points that will expire soon for United Airlines. First class for me on the leg back to Tulsa!