Sunday, September 21, 2008

Initial Stage of So CA Trip

It's Sunday afternoon. We went to church today with Kevin and Nancee. We've come down to So CA for a meeting I have this coming week in Anaheim. We drove down two cars so we could lend one to Alicia and Jesse because the engine in Jesse's car blew up. Later we'll be spending time with Adrian, Arleen, and Brittney, after my trade show. Alicia and Jesse will be joining us to see the Musical "Wicked" about the witches from Oz. Here are some shots of our trip so far...

The Maxsons are excellent chefs, and enjoy feeding their friends. Here is the spread from our spaghetti meal Thursday evening after we arrived in Saugus. Bryan, Jesse's dad, flew in earlier that day and was with us till today, when he flew back out of Burbank to return to Logan. Alicia isn't in this shot because she was upstairs preparing her material for the investment class she teaches twice a week at College of the Canyons. She struggles to find things to eat because of her "morning sickness" which really lasts all the time.
Here are Kevin and Nancee. After dinner that night we played a fun game somewhat similar to Concentration, but I can't remember its name (I didn't concentrate).
The next day (Friday) Bryan, Jesse, Alicia, Gayle, and I took empty Coke cans with coupons to Universal Studios for discounted admission prices.
One of the statues at the front of the park turned out to be alive. Here Alicia and Gayle pose with him.
I don't particularly care for this shot, but Gayle thought I looked cute with a Woody Woodpecker hat on.
No comment needed here. We went to most areas of the park, but the rides warned against using them if one was an expectant mother, so Alicia chose not to go on those.
Gayle taking a rest.

A mummy was giving me a hard time.
After Universal Studios, we did the Universal City Walk. Gayle decided to get in the mood for the football game we were going to see the next night. This is her game face.
Saturday we did the obligatory beach thing. It's not really obligatory because we all like the beach. Bryan hadn't been to a So CA beach so we did the Santa Monica/Venice "tour." Here are Gayle, Alicia, Jesse, and Bryan at Santa Monica pier. Later we enjoyed talking to a lady at the end of the pier who was from Valencia also, but Valencia, EspaƱa.
We rested and watched waves from the sand.
I checked out the surf, but we didn't have time for me to go in, and the waves weren't exceptional anyway.
Jesse, Bryan, and me just relaxing.
We watched some wave-catching for awhile, of course. However, this was from the Venice pier, midway through our bike ride. We even saw a guy "shoot the pier" (ride the wave from one side of the pier to the other).
We rented bikes in Santa Monica and had a blast cruising on down to Venice. We stopped along the way to watch some street tumbling, etc. After returning to Santa Monica, we walked over to the 3rd Street Promenade. Here we watched many of the usual performers, including a great 11 yr. old girl singer, the two Argentine flamenco guitarists, and others. This shot shows a Roman gladiator statue that would do humorous poses with passersby. That night in Saugus the Maxsons again treated us. This time it was delicious hamburgers, fresh fruits (including huge, scrumptious mangos), etc. Then we had just enough time to make it over to the COC Cougar football game against the L.A. Valley Monarchs. COC creamed them and it was fun to watch.

2 comments:

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