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My TomTom cant pronounce squat around this place.
I giggle when it tells me to proceed on toward "Lost And Gayless".
or "Es con dee DAH"
it always pauses in between for "Sahn.......................Dee AH go", for some reason.
My hotel room is literally yards from the pool area.
Altho thats a nice perk, also I am exposed to the culmination of guests noise.
These burgoise white middle class people with thier high pitch hyper-active squealing munchkins, that dont even acknowledge their parents presense when they make their feable attempt at convincing them to keep their siezure inducing frequency at a level that is respectable to the nieghboring roomies.
Five hispanic kids, which were out there before even the others, were just fine until the other kids showed up and then of course as kids do, they kind of followed suit and started getting a little rowdy.
Within about 2 mins, the Dad appears on the patio,.....now I know a little spanish, but I couldnt make out this ricky ricardo tongue-rumbling rant, but it was short, concise, deliberate, and quite effective....cause these kids aint made a peep in a half hour lol. And theyre having just as much fun as they were, theyre not moping around all butthurt either.
Whats hilarious, is Im watching this white guy with this "who farted" crinkled look on his face, whispering with his wife, undoubtedly trying to sort out if Jose`(my new anonymous hero) was addressing their kids as well.
Even the brady bunch littles are kind of hovering, slowly trying to get back into their unruly cacaphony, but with apprehension, ironically now kind of monitoring their parents gestures, as if waiting for some sort of signal to say "oh....that doesnt apply to you guys, carry on" hahahahahahaaaa
I just thought Id put my thoughts into writing, because I keep seeing this pattern out here, enough where its almost a statistic, and I think it deserved some commendation.
I had to pull out of PH for a cpl days, and go do a walk thru survey on a ship in San Diego.
This hotel is pretty off the hook. and steps tiers up the hill. This groundskeeper should get some kind of award.
Wrought iron access gate comes out right onto Old Town strip with all the bars and vendors and shops. Just came back up to the room for a bit, then prolly heading back down to witness some more fiesta atmosphere and by some shtuff.
Went out to the Butcher Shop, and had a kickass steak and calamari strips. The place seems very "soprano-ish" inside, with the red leather tuft booths. The walls are lined with celeb cameos who've dined there, ranging from Bob Hope, to Clint Eastwood, and yes....Chuck Norris lol.
Anywho, Im local for another day, if anyone is nearby, come on round the Hacienda, I'll buy ya a drink :)
Been meaning to blog my journeys, really dropped the ball on that.
Just trying to take in as much as I can, and taken an assload of pix, to try and share what my eyes have seen, when I finally do plop down.
Feel free to check em out, or go back to clicking penguins, or insulting strangers, or being an e-celeb or whatever your particular niche is. Its there if ya wanna browse.
So far while staying in Ventura, Ive ventured as far as Santa Barbara shoreline and the Mission, then up to Riviera, where all the quiet millionares with the insane lanscaping seem to reside.
In between Ive been to Channel Islands, Ventura Harbor & downtown, Strawberry Festival, and numerous spots up the 101.
Sooo much to see, and so lil time, working 6 10s. Come Sunday, it takes some gumption to get on the road sometimes.
Southbound of course Ive done the PCH 1 coast drive, thru Pt Mugu, Carillo, Malibu, Zuma, Topanga, ending at Santa Monica Pier, ate at Bubba Gumps and took a spin thru LA, Hollywood, Bev Hills etc. LA isnt that much to look at in the nighttime seems. Sunset Strip prolly being the main attraction. But I plan on getting back down in the day before I depart, maybe it will be more impressive.
Eastbound Ive been out Thousand Oaks, where I stopped off at Gardens of the World, a pretty good size botanical garden thats set up in sections representing various countries, each with indigenous trees and plants from that geographic. Went on out to Sima Valley, stopped at Reagan Prez Library & gravesite up top of the mountain. Nice views up there.
Went out Agoura Hills and caught YnT at the Canyon Club. They prety much paved the way for what later became the 80s metal sound. It was good to see the Dave and the original lineup, in such a very nostalgic venue. Club was emaculate in theme, in between the hills, with an interior that seemed a pefect mix of north and south west, and desert decor, all handcarved bar trim, elaborate carved arbors where the staff walked thru, wall to wall oriental rugs, numerous sectional couch areas and quite large circular booths, a raised mezanine, jut really nice layout for a landmark rock venue. Tables were glasstop, inset with various rock star memorabilia (signed guitars, albums, picks, belongings), and the same adorned the walls. All the while not cheesed out, a good effort to preserve the rustic quality of this long time establishment. Great club, great night.
Theres so many others stops , restaraunts, scenic views to mention, but this is more than anyone will read as is. I'll try to give shorter more frequent updates for twgaf.
What do I miss from home? My car. But this Kia gets incredible mileage, so Im not complainin.
Namely, ...Old Fart Syndrome.
The hotel hot tub is still overrun with young nubile bikini clad 19-20 yr olds in town for the collegiate tennis tourney.
Altho I can appreciate their aesthetic qualities, and my few dips in the water to restake my claim on my nightly regime has varied from kindness to tolerance to forced congenialty, it doesnt take but a few minutes to relaize they are pretty oblivious to anything I may have to talk about, and I in turn dont find the humor in the things that sends them all into a cascade of giggles, akin to yelling in a turkey house and listening to the wave of follower gobbles.
I never realize how awkward this is until Im presented with a mass such as this.
It wasnt always like that tho, when I was coming up, us kids were always looking to hang out with the older crowd, they had cool stories and insight, and broke the monotony of our limit of experience. And most times we were relieved of their tolerance of letting us hang out.
Seems both sides have flipped in posture over the years, whereas I find myself only being able to take short doses of thier comraderie, and they mine.
The site surveys Im conducting has made for busy days of review and discovery, assess and report. Personnel out here in Cali have been cordial and accomodating, and not just in the forced kind of way induced by the reason for my presence.
The trip brings back echoes of the road life and a more active era. I have to say Im enjoying the essence of waking up to buffet breakfast & coming home to fresh everything, before taking off to complimentary social hours for more buffet and free drinks, and falling back in to the room buzzed, fat and happy by sunset falling behind the palms and the smokey hills. I havent bought a meal since I arrived.
Alfredo the maitre d' and I are becoming pretty good friends, and he gives me the lowdown on the local happennings.
Turns out my accomodations are part the dallas cowboys spring training camp rotation, where they stay here and train at the facility just up the street. Seems its on 2 yr rotation, not sure where the alt years are spent.
As I sit here typing, Im a mere 40 ft from the pool and hot tub, where I can hear Hendrix's spanish castle majik ringing from a boombox and the banter of the patrons in the steaming pool of muscle massaging bubbles.
I have only had time to check out a few night spots, possibly I'll expand on that this weekend. I definitely want to head south and check out the music scene.
Ive done a bit of shopping around and found guitar & music gear is notably cheaper here, and have seen a cpl of deals that make the idea of collecting a crate's worth for shipping seem almost warranted. Hmmm, we'll see about that.
Weekends on the way ;)
Just fyi, just about everyone but Southwest charges to check luggage in, 60 dollar minimum. Lil info so ya dont get a surprise at the terminal.
After having my even trial sized toiletries raped and discarded, I had shaky "hold onto your drink" ride to Atlanta. Not sure where the turbulence was coming from, sky was clear, but there was definitely pockets of non-resistence, yielding that momentary weightless feeling repeatedly over SC and Georgia.
Atlanta still proves to be my rabbit foot airport. Im 3 for 4 there with winding up with my gate being directly across or in short sight of the loft bar with its own escalator, formerly the Anhieser Busch beer garden, recently changed to the Hieneken Hole, but still one of the few concourses you can have a drink and a smoke. Their alledgedly free wifi is a labyrinth of redirects that basically make you give up and elect to blow 5 bucks on a direct paid connection, scavengry abounds, but not enough to lure the kid today.
Im also 4 for 4 on running into at least one industry constiuent or former music aquaintance in a connecting airport. On the way thru the food court, 600 miles from home, I hear my name being called by two different voices.
"{him}Dude!! Almost didnt recognize ya with the Gandalf thing going on! That makes ya look about the same age too hahaha. How ya been fuker?".....{me}"Ive been okay, I see that youre eating well at least, that shirt is a quailty testament to the garment manufacter that installed those buttons. Can I get you fellas a drink?"
Gotta love how guys get all the niceties out front and out of the way. We shared a few beers and some catch up stories, and they had to bolt. Ironically the next guy that joined the table in the crowded bar was a fella on his way to Mexico City to visit his sewing factory.
I rode an underbooked fat bird to LA, with more irony, the guy in front of me at boarding, with the world championship rodeo jacket, which spurned small talk about the nature of his involvement, turned out to be sitting right beside me on the plane. Which was cool because he got to finish telling me about his move up thru the ranks to pro, and that he now does clinics and exhibitions for roping. He was coming from Sweden, with the proverbial sidetrip to Copenhagen. I was surprised to find out that was viable market there, but he said it was a huge turnout. He went on to tell me about how taken aback he was by the women there, just naturally gorgeous, with little to no makeup as a norm, and bearing the number one attribute...no idea of how pretty they were.
We exchanged some more puddle jumping and touring stories, then it became apparent that there were empty seats in the center section, and he thanked me for the chat & aptly volunteered to move so we could both stretch out and relax. Which rocked, because I hadnt been able to lay down on a plane in some time, and the several huge drafts in Atlanta made for a great nap.
I awoke to The Day After Tommorrow playing on headrest monitor, just as the they working up to the scene where LA and Hollywood Hills are being torn apart by freak tornadoes, yet more irony, hah.
I had some pretty decent roast beef sliders with a hair curling horseradish sauce. Work lappy settings didnt like the inflight wifi network, so it was down for nap number two.
The always troublesome episode,.....car rental. No problems with the reservation surprisingly, but was sent on a quest with 2 bags, a backpack, and a guitar across a vast parking lot....twice, only to find first time that the parking space number doesnt exist, and second time that the car was not there. Third times a charm right? So you say. I went from an 2010 Impala to Nissan Ultima, to finally a shitty Kia with brakes that have 2 variables,...nothing, and then throw you thru the windshield. Im thinking of calling them to ask for an exchange.
The drive out of LA to Ventura was congested but rolling nonetheless. Camarillo Springs was a nice sea of lights as you break thru the hills. The descent into the valley was marked by teltale ear popping, no doubt accentuated by the long flight, and both familiar and different than the pressure changes of the underwater tunnels back home.
So Im nestled in to the rather nice suite, getting everything in order for the coming week. They have a kickass breakfast spread, even with conqueso eggs they way I like.
Will report on the complimentary happy hour tonight :)
