California Summary...yes, it is forever long, but it is still a summary!

It seems like weeks since I went to California, but it really has only been about a week since I got back.  Where did the time go?  I apologize up front for all the pictures, but it is funny how I wanted to post so many.  This time last year, I don't think I was quite so eager.  :)

Thursday

We left first thing in the morning and landed at LAX at 10am.  We went and got our convertible and I will tell you that renting that was my favorite thing on the trip.  The weather was perfect and I don't think we rode around with the top up but maybe once the WHOLE weekend!!

We went to Burbank to the Warner Brothers Studio.  I had heard that their studio tour is good, so we bought tickets and had a quick lunch while we were waiting for it to start. 

Me with Daffy.

BFF with Bugs.

On the tour we got to visit Ellen's studio set which was fun and we saw a lot of Hollywood type stuff.  It was definitely interesting.  They were getting ready to shoot some scenes from Pretty Little Liars and we saw Lucy Hale on a golf cart.  It is a silly little show, but I actually watch it.  Celebrity!

Lucy Hale

 My other favorite part of the tour was the hall of famous cars.  There was the Mystery Machine, the contraption from Yogi Bear, some Batmobiles, etc.

Me and the General Lee.  YEEEEEEEEHAW!

BFF with the Nerd Herd car from Chuck.

I would recommend the tour.  It was $45 but it lasted over 2 hours and it was interesting.  From there we went to Hollywood & Highland and took a Beverly Hills tour.  It was slightly interesting because we got to see some of Beverly Hills, but the houses are fenced in and so far back that there isn't much to see.  Between the convertible and the open air bus, we both got sunburns.  Whoops!! 

After the tour, we had dinner in Hollywood and then headed for Long Beach to the hotel.  It was midnight by the time we got to bed.  We had originally planned to drive 2 hours to a Jazzercise class taught by the President of Jazzercise Inc, but since it was so late we decided not to.  We didn't set the alarm and just decided we would leave when we got up. 

Friday

Some time the next morning, we woke to an alarm and someone telling us not to panic.  Well...if you don't want me to panic, you probably shouldn't wake me up with an alarm!!  Turns out there was a blackout at the hotel (and part of Long Beach.)  After trying to wait it out, we realized that we just needed to go.  We got ready the best we could and followed hotel staff down the pitch black stairwell with a couple of flashlights.  Crazy!

After a quick sunscreen purchase, we took off for Carlsbad and the weather and drive was FABULOUS!  We agreed that we were glad we didn't try to wake up early.  We went to the Jazzercise home office and it just so happened that the founder and CEO of Jazzercise was there and took a picture with us after we got a tour from the super sweet receptionist.

BFF, Judi, me

On our way back to Long Beach, we stopped and hung out a little at the beach.  The water is freaking COLD!!  I'm not sure what this new thing is where I hike my leg up when I get my picture taken.  I could swear that I never used to do that.

Me at the Beach

Then it was time for that which we had come!  VOLLEYBALL!!  It was super exciting and the match went to the 5th set tiebreaker.  But Puerto Rico isn't very good and the USA came through.  YAY!!


My vball boyfriend is the one on the left.  Dreamy!



Go Boyfriend!

 Saturday

We woke up and met my cousins for lunch at the famous Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles.  YUM!

Me with my cool California cousins.

After breakfast, we went to visit the Queen Mary which is a pretty cool thing. 

After visiting the Queen Mary, we went to lunch at a Lebanese restaurant.  I LOVED IT!!  I'm looking forward to trying it again soon.  It is very much like Greek and Turkish food and the flavors were delicious.

Next thing we know it is time for more volleyball.  This time the US team took the PR team in three straight sets!  This put them into the World League finals.  Sidenote:  that tournament was last weekend and the US team (ranked 5th in the world) were put in a pool with the 1st, 2nd & 4th ranked teams while the 3rd, 6th, 7th, & 8th (or something like that) were in the other pool.  What is up with that??  Unfortunately, they lost.  Boooo! 

Too cute.

Look at that badass action shot!

My volleyball boyfriend made a hasty getaway after the game, but I did get my picture with one of my other favorite players.  This is Reid Priddy and one of the greatest volleyball players on the planet.

We went to dinner at a place called King's after and I don't know why, but this picture cracks me up.

Sunday

Sunday was a super fun day!  We started by driving to the Getty Villa which is SOOOO beautiful.  Me and BFF?  We are classy gals.

Hee!!  This one is better...

Then we had lunch in Malibu.  I love Malibu.  I want to be rich and live in Malibu.  Sigh.  Malibu.  After lunch, we drove about 6 miles up the mountain which was over 20 degrees hotter.  No joke.  It was 68 degrees at the beach...at the wine tasting, it was 91 degrees.  SO HOT!  The drive up was a little winding and steep and I thought BFF was going to pass out.  :)

I was slightly freaked out all weekend because most days I went without sleeves, but I made it though.  I really hope CrossFit helps with my arms some.  After the wine tasting we drove to Venice Beach.  But we were tired, hungry and had to pee, so Venice Beach was blessed with us for about 30 minutes.  We decided to go back to Long Beach and just unwind. 

It was a super fun trip!!  I have got to stop pretending I'm rich now though, because I'm not and my credit card bill makes me want to throw up a little. 

Next on the agenda is my Olympic trip planning.  Too bad I'm not buddies with the owner of a nice London hotel!!  :) 

Hugs!!