We're Going to California

I guess you guys have been wondering what in the heck happened to my travel plans to California. Well, it only took two years to finally be able to do it, but we've finally decided we're going this September.

For one glorious week!

Now, the travel plans begin. We were talking about taking this trip in a rented RV, but when I did the math and added up the mileage they were going to tack onto our bill, plus the fact gas prices aren't nothing to sneeze at, we decided to fly.

I hate flying. Hate, hate, hate it. I only hate it because I don't want to die quite yet.

I flew once. Eighteen years old. Fresh out of high school, my mother figured she's send me down to my aunt's place in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to learn how to model. Listen, guys, you've either got it or your don't. Just because you're stick thin, it doesn't make you the world's best candidate for modeling. There are other things involved like maybe liking to have your picture taken? Must be some kind of neurosis there, but gawd, I hate picture taking.

Well, that didn't work out and my aunt brought me back by bus about a month later.

But, anyway, the flying experience wasn't too bad at the time because I'd never heard of suicide bombers back then of course. But, today, it's a whole different ballgame. I wonder how many people have to stock up on happy pills before they board planes now?

So, we're going by plane whether I like it or not.

Now, we've decided when (the second week of September and that gives me chills in itself) and how (by plane and may the gods be on our side), but now we're trying to decide on where to stay and where to go.

I went to travelocity.com last night and came up with a few hotels to choose from and the one that everyone here wanted was the Ritz in Pasadena. It was a tad more than the others but omg that place looked beautiful. Not sure if that's going to be the one, but you can go here to look at it.

Still talking it over. The main goal of this trip to California is to donate one of my books to the Buena Vista Library and supposedly the LA Times is going to interview me...something about local girl comes back home to donate book to library that used to be her elementary school. So, I really need to be either in Burbank or close to it.

And, of course, we want to do the sightseeing thing and visit old haunts I used to visit as a kid back in the early sixties. I know a lot has changed - I'm prepared for that - but I've got to see Griffith Park, NBC Studios and the street where I actually lived that someone very nicely took pictures of so that I could see what it looked like now. What a trip.

I also want to do the Universal Studio tour, see the Hollywood sign, visit Beverly Hills and see a few movie stars.

And, I've started on a memoir about my life leading up to this trip and then the trip will finish off the book. I've named the book, "If I Could Go Back Home," for now.

So, that's confirmed and just trying to figure out where to stay and what to do. Anyone have any suggestions?

Tags: California, Burbank, Universal Studio, Ritz, Griffith Park, NBC Studio,