"talkin' bout Hollywood"

"Beverly Hills...that's where I wanna be...Living in Beverly Hills." - ok...not really. But that's what the Weezer song says.

Memorial Day 2010 was a Memorial Day to remember.
(I just need to stop and say a shout-out and thanks to two of my greatest friends, Ben Clark & Samuel Willard. Ben - an airforce man, is currently serving in an unknown area overseas, due back in a month. Samuel just deployed - a Navy man...it runs in the family. Both of them I know from camp. And both of them are close friends. So to both of them - thanks for putting your life at risk on a daily basis for my safety. Love you both and thanks for serving! . . . although for selfish reasons I just want you home.)

Aside from the actual reason why Memorial Day exists - Chelsea and I headed to the home of film and fame - HOLLYWOOD!
Our first stop was a park which held a good view of the HOLLYWOOD sign. After which, we headed down into HOLLYWOOD BLVD, walking pretty much the entire WALK OF FAME. It was fun seeing all the stars names. Although names like Matt Damon were fun to see, some of my favorites were the oldies - Humphrey Bogart, Carey Grant, Burnadette Peters, Doris Day, Bette Davis, Judy Garland, Barbara Streissand, Katherine Hepburn, and Sophia Loren. Being a film buff - from the golden era to the new age cinematographers, I simply love film.

Besides the stars were the handprints and footprints in cement - of some of those stars above and others - Loren, Davis, Grant, Clooney, Johnny Depp...

We ate lunch across from the KODAK THEATRE (where the Oscars are held, and where the past couple seasons of SYTYCD finale's are held.) in "Disney's Soda Fountain" - really cute and fun, although our server wasn't that great. After lunch we basically continued on the walk of fame. Elvis & The Beatles are at the very beginning of the walk of fame.

Chelsea and I then met up with an old friend from Hawley - Deana. Deana and I used to dance with each other when we were in Dance Works - from ages 11-15. The last I saw Deana was I think 5 1/2 years ago at the West Fargo Packatahna Invitational, where the Centahnas competed and Hawley competed, too. We had a good time catching up and sharing laughs, although I'm sure our talk of Hawley eventually bored Chelsea and Deana's boyfriend. haha...sorry, guys!

After grilling dinner on the rooftop (with a view of LA's MGM tower), we chatted for a while and went to bed - only to get up in 4 hours. It was then that Chelsea and I made our way to LAX, where I dropped her off to head back to the good ol' midwest while I stay here on the West Coast.

So then at 4 am, Chelsea entered and I drove back to Ventura (about an hour drive). And so begins my summer.