We LOVE L.A.....or NOT!

I grew up in So. Cal...in a northern suburb just outside the San Fernando Valley and always took offense to the nay-sayers and harsh critics of the Southern Californians. I just could never understand it. Sure every city has its quirks and weirdos. But for the first time in my life I now understand what tourists see when they experience LA...and why there's such a stigma about the city! We took advantage of the long weekend and gave the kids a taste of LA--tourist-style. I think it was an eye-opener for all of us! I want my money back! Or maybe just my camera.

A few of the highlights:

• showing the kids their great-grandpa Menzie's gravesite
• TITO'S Tacos
• taking 2 1/2 hours to go 20 miles--I think we saw more brake lights and bumpers than the sites. LA traffic was more than insane...on and off the freeway.
  
• Elvis-sighting
• Hollywood Blvd. on a Friday night
  
• Wax Museum (total tourist trap--but the kids enjoyed it)
  
• cross-dresser walking down the street
• MORE TRAFFIC
  
• Car getting burglarized--they ripped off my $1000 Nikon with 2 lenses, 2 credit cards, & Curt's laptop!!!! And left a hole in my door under the lock that they drilled. They tried to kype my 3rd row seat but Lexie's car seat was anchored to the floor...guess they were too lame to figure out how to un-anchor it...thankfully. Kind of put a damper on everything---my beloved Nikon!
  
• subsequent police visit and incident report
• Venice Canals
  
• Venice Beach. BIG education for the kids. There are a LOT of lost souls out there. (stoners all over in-action taking donations from people to fund their stoning-efforts, nearly naked men doing weird tricks, man juggling knives, mimes, protesters, hare krishnas doing their rants) Now I know why my parents never let me go there with my friends growing up! Oh, and a big 'ole pigeon left a big bomb on my shoulder and Vivies face...nice!
  
• Santa Monica Pier
• Homeless living everywhere
• Alvarado Street (Little Mexico)...trash everywhere, people everywhere, smelly everywhere. I think Tijuana is better.
  
• California Science Museum
• Langer's Jewish Deli (BEST pastrami outside of NYC)
  
• LA Temple

We had plans to visit the Griffith Observatory and my old stomping grounds with all the good eats in my neck-of-the-woods (Dan's Supersubs, Blinkies Donuts, TO Meatlocker), but traffic and stupid car theft thwarted our plans. We actually got all the way to the Science Museum before we discovered evidence of the robbery. I opened up the back of the Escalade to get my Nikon and the camera and the 2 expensive lenses were missing. I panicked for a second and thought maybe the camera fell out or I left it in my purse. Instead I went to move Curt's laptop case and found that it was also lightweight and empty....we felt so violated! The burglars left the cases and took the goods. They looked at everything, but didn't take everything. They selected two of the credit cards in Curt's planner, but left his Driver's License. The police said that there's a ring of robbers in the area that target the Escalades & GM's for the 3rd row seats because they can get 3 grand for them on the black market. Luckily, Lexie's carseat was anchored very securely to the floor making it a more difficult task to get the seat so they took the valuables behind the seat instead. They took the goods, then like good little robbers, locked my car back up to make the discovery take a little longer.

So for you people who have 3rd row seats in large SUV's like mine....watch out! Locking your car doesn't matter one bit when professionals want your stuff! And, it was in the Embassy Suites underground hotel parking lot, which cost a hefty $20/night! We parked it there instead of the the streets because of the safety-factor. They must have watched us pull in or something. We left LA very thankful to live in beautiful less-crime-ridden and cleaner San Diego! Luckily I had my digital camera in my purse and was able to get a few shots before my battery completely died. The best pics were obviously on the stolen Nikon, but I was glad I at least had my little Kodak digital!

FYI We really did have a great time--so much to do and see...our little incident just put a damper on things. Though it could have happened anywhere in the great 'ole US of A! Okay, maybe not just anywhere....I'll take Suburbia, thanks.