My first time in Los Angeles - 2 days

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

So evidently there is a "coffee guy" in Ocean Beach who is the man to get your coffee from. So much so, I'm up at 5:30 AM and we're off for lattes in the cold.... This better be some gooooood coffee! It is delicious, but I'm just grumpy before 10 AM, so I'm not impressed! Sorry Matthew! ;)

Off to Amtrak for a 8:45 AM train, which will get me to LA by 10:30 AM. I was advised to sit by the window since the train runs along the ocean, but it's cloudy and overcast. Once I get to LA, I hop in a ridiculously expensive cab ride to my hotel, which is near LAX. Thanks to Carlos at the Radisson, my bags are checked in, and I'm back in the taxi headed for the Craig Ferguson show. I'm so excited!!

I get to CBS Television city at 1:50 PM PST, and am quickly told to wait in the  queue outside the gate by the road.... hmmm... I'm 8th in line, so I should get a front row seat; however, one by one, "VIPs" are put in front of me. I don't mean to be a "crazy fan", but DUDE, so not cool. I'm now 23rd in line and not very happy. 2 hours later we're escorted to some seats under an awning. Yes, still outside, but at least a seat/bench. Our cell phones are promptly confiscated. Alas, there will be no pics of my experience with Craig. (Yes, we're on a first name basis... at least in my dreams...) I did manage to take these before they saw me:

We sit there for another hour! We are advised of the rules... Laugh, laugh loud, laugh when it's not funny... just laugh, laugh, laugh!!! ... unless you have a "special laugh"... then please don't laugh. Also, if you yell out to Craig, you'll be evicted.... after 3 1/2 hours.... I'm laughing loud, normally, and absolutely yelling out my love for Craig, but with my inside voice... I'm not getting thrown out for nothing!

We're FINALLY in the studio. It's much smaller than expected. In single file, we're told where we will sit...They realize I'm by myself, and I'm taken from my horrible seat and put on the front row right behind the "racist". (You have to regularly watch the show to understand how fabulous a seat this is!) Yes, it pays, my friend, to be a loner. The show starts, and Craig comes out and in typical fashion, throws candy at the audience. I find out later that the camera is right over my right shoulder, and I'm shown close up! 

(I think this link may work... I can't access the video from New Zealand.... Racists! hahaha.. If you can't play it, look up Craig's December 3rd show)

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson - December 3

Unfortunately, the show isn't as funny as usual, but that doesn't matter.... I mean CRAIG IS IN THE BUILDING! That's all I need. Am I right ladies??? (Humina humina, humina)

Will Arnett and some 9' Basketball player from Spain are the guests. Secretariat and Geoff are adorable, and then it's over. My only complaint is that Craig never interacted with the audience.... I mean after waiting for 3.5 hrs to get into his show, how much does it take to stop for 5 min to thank everyone for their time and loyalty? I had read that this would happen, but hope sprung eternal and then bit me in the ass. 

After the show, my lovely landlord of 7 years from Brooklyn, Gina, picks me up for an amazing 9 course dinner in a fabulous restaurant, Providence. By the end of it, I've decided to run off with the waiter - yes, It's Craig one minute and a random cute guy the next. What's wrong with that?

My first day in LA is great, but I have an 8:30 AM wake up call the next AM.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

My friend, John, who I've know since I was 14, picks me up at my hotel and we're off to Venice Beach. It's 45 degrees and LA is gripped with fear of freezing to death... Really, People? It's going up to 60 today... Everyone is dressed as if it's January in Maine. This kind of puts a damper on the carnival atmosphere of Venice Beach... No rollerbladers, no one at muscle beach, no side show acts.... but there is one thing that showed up and that was the view.... it's gorgeous here... no doubt about it. 

After about 40 minutes, we jump back in the car for the complete tour of LA. His schedule prevents us from stopping anywhere... He's another world traveller and will be on a flight to Rio at 1:30 PM that day. So nice of him to still show me around! We drive through Marina del Rey, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood. I see the Hollywood sign from afar and it's all a bit crazy.... Of all the places I saw, Hollywood appealed to me the most, but as I said, we didn't stop anywhere. I did get to experience the infamous 405. 7 lanes of cars in each direction and there was still traffic. No, I couldn't live here. I'm surprised at just how much I don't like LA. Perhaps I'll come back for a few days at some point.... but it's not at the top of the list... Thank you Johnny for a great tour! so amazing of you to take the time to do that for me. :)

I'm back at the hotel by noon to rest, relax, and prepare for the big trip, which takes off at 10 PM. I am truly in disbelief that I'm about to go to the other side of the world!

At 9:30 PM I board Air New Zealand #5. My sky-couch is perfect. (Three seats in a normal coach row, that have foot rests that lock at 90 degrees so you have a nice little area to yourself for the 13 hour flight).

My goal is to stay awake at least through dinner... We pull away from the gate and the safety video starts...

Watch this:

Perfection!! I like New Zealanders already! They serve dinner and pour wine freely... now I love them. 

13 hours later, we land.... I've crossed the international date line, so I've skipped December 5, and now it's my birthday, December 6. I'm in Auckland. I've done it. I'm on the other side of the world! Life is good.