SoCal sojourn

As many of you know, Kristi and I have had quite an exciting and action-packed fall. But the biggest trip/event was this week when we flew to Los Angeles to visit my friend Jon, and her friend Meagan, and Meagan’s family.

The trip began in Toccoa, Ga., when I picked Kristi up at Camp Mikell after she took part in a retreat weekend. After a quick tour around camp, we dropped off a car and headed for the airport. Five hours later we touched down in L.A. and Jon picked me up at LAX.

He took me on a quick tour around Sunset Blvd. and we made a stop at a bar that supposedly has the best wings in the city. We reminisced old Anderson stories, and before we knew it, we were at a grocery store buying a mixed berry pie, cookies and cream ice cream, and dissecting fantasy football playoffs. (Farner’s Almanac is the No. 1 seed, by the way). That took us into the wee hours, even on Pacific time, and I believe we shut it down around 3:30 a.m. PT.

Monday morning we got up and headed to the Hollywood hills. No, we didn’t see any celebrities, as many Andersonians have asked me upon my return. But we did see mansions of all shapes and sizes. We hiked up to the Hollywood sign, and took pictures below and above it. There’s a tall fence that prevents anyone from getting within 20 feet or so of it. The hike wasn’t too grueling, Jon even mentioned that it was easier than the first time he did it. But it was enough of a workout, combined with the 70-degree weather, that it was t-shirt and shorts friendly.

We worked up enough of an appetite to try the famous West Coast staple of In N Out Burger, a fast food chain famous for non-frozen hand-pattied burgers and hand-cut fries. Plus, you’ll be relieved to know, I got a double-double cheeseburger animal style, with fries and a strawberry shake for $6.50.

Monday night, Jon and I drove to Meagan’s and met several of Meagan, Matt’s (her husband) and Kristi’s friends. We had nice conversation (and Monday night football) over spaghetti, salad, beer and wine.

Tuesday, Kristi and I gave Meagan some mother’s day out time when we took Madison (2 ½ years old) and Kennedy (four months) to the Thousand Oaks Mall play area. Madison has similar tendencies to Abby and Clara, and Kennedy reminds me of Hannah. (Kennedy looks like a bobblehead version of Don Zimmer, the old baseball coach :o)

Tuesday night we ate at a Mexican restaurant, which is quite different from the Southern or Midwest Mexican restaurants. There was homemade salsa made daily with big chunks of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and burritos as big as footballs (I don't know why there has to be a football reference in nearly every post). And Matt said the salsa wasn’t even up to par.

Wednesday we returned to the airport, and made it back to Anderson/Athens area 12 hours later in the wee hours of Thursday morning.

So all in all it was a really fun trip. The SoCal weather was as advertised, and the best part is we still like each other after 10-plus hours in planes, and several more on various rapid transit vehicles.

Above the Hollywood sign overlooking greater L.A.


Overlooking the Hollywood hills
Somewhere between The San Fernando Valley and Beverly Hills, I believe
Approaching the Hollywood sign


In a rocking chair outside the dining hall at Camp Mikell