L.A. Law

Police definitely have different priorites on the West Coast...for one thing, I have noticed there are no speed traps out here. Instead they are busy doing things like:

Chasing a blonde meth chick driving a stolen U-haul back and forth across the L.A. area for several hours. (High Speed police chases are really popular here).

Sealing off a block in North Hollywood with 10 rolls of crime scene tape, evacuating a condo, and blocking everyone in to investigate a "suspicious" package, i.e. a silver briefcase.

Training "safety ambassadors" in yellow shirts to ride bikes around town and reprimand people for, um, I'm not sure what?

Giving people parking tickets for incorrectly interpreting signs that say things like "No parking on Mon, Wed, Fri, from 8am-6pm, Sat. 6pm-6am, Street Sweeping Mon. & Thurs. 10am-1pm"

Enforcing the "Honor System" on the L.A. Metro with random checks to see who actually bought their $1.25 ticket before they got on the train. (Automatic $90 ticket if you didn't).

Headed South

I'm so excited...this weekend I'll be flying home for a quick visit to Mom!

It seems like God is doing wonderful things for her this week...things we can actually see! I know that since Dec. 16 he has been working miracles in her healing, but up until now, they are things we couldn't see. He was healing her inside, healing her brain injuries, broken ribs, and doing all sorts of wonderful things, but they could not be SEEN. We've had to live out the definition of faith, believing the miracle before we could see it.

But now, God has rewarded our patience, and he is blessing us with outward signs that we can actually witness! I can't wait to be there myself!

I can't wait to hold my mother's hand and feel her squeeze it back, and to see her beautiful eyes open! I feel so blessed.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

I know it sounds morbid, but I actually like cemeteries. They have a quiet, peaceful feel, and looking at all the crazy/cool stuff people put on their memorials can be really interesting.

One of my favorite things about this cemetery was the peacocks! They have peacocks roaming around freely! I even got some pictures with one. The peacocks have their own house, with the door open so they can come and go as they please. Add "peacock house" to the list for April's dream estate.

Here are some of the famous people buried here that we visited:
Renee Adoree
Charlie Chaplin, Jr.
Iron Eyes Cody
Cecil B. DeMille
Douglas Fairbanks Sr. & Jr.
Joan Hackett
Norma Talmadge
Jonny Ramone
Mel Blanc
(OK, so I don't know who some of these people are, but the map says they were famous!)

It was also funny to see the more recent memorials...a lot of them are foreign (read: not southern) people and they all have their pictures engraved somehow on their tombstones!

We couldn't find everyone we wanted to see because the Mausoleums were really confusing to navigate with the tourist map. But we had a great afternoon. Most of the cemetery is very pretty and peaceful, and feels more like a park with gardens & lakes & ducks (and peacocks!). We recommend it as a place to visit when you come out to see us (hint, hint! :-)

If you MUST revive 80s fashion...

Please have at least 2 layers over your bum if you are wearing leggings.

Please no shiny colored spandex...not even at the gym. (Yes, I have seen this)

Remember that it's not "Vintage" if it was previously worn by YOU!

If you were around for 80s fashion the first time, you've already had your turn. Let it go!

I actually recommend just not going there...let the 80s go and focus on turning over a new fashion leaf of fabulousness for yourself in 2009!