I'm going to Hollywood!

The Hollywood sign!  When Will saw it, he started doing cartwheels and dance moves (yes there was a large crowd around, but no matter--the kid was so excited to see this landmark!)

Sorry for the blog absence!  I've been having way too much fun in Southern California and not nearly the amount of time in the car (where I had been writing the posts) these last few days (thank the Lord!  For real. Thank Him right now on my behalf.)    The last 3 nights, we have slept in a real bed in a real house with a real roof and real bathrooms about 7 steps away from me at all times.  Not a single elk has tried to mark its territory anywhere near me, nor have I had to grip anyone's hand along the edge of a canyon for 4 miles.  I've worn clothes that have been laundered and I haven't had to pay $2.00 in quarters for my showers since we got here.  Not once!  I am afraid we have made a horrible mistake in having this nice break in the middle of all the camping.  How will we ever go back to that way of life?  We have one more night in a real house with a real roof with real bathrooms 7 steps away from me at all times, then it's back to the old LWOW ways....

The fourth of July found us poolside for 8 hours. We opened the place up, and we shut it down!  The kids were fried--both physically (where is that aloe?) and emotionally (Will is about to implode--more on that later!)  We spent the day with Chris & Maggie and Jason and Olivia.  They are all Vanderbilt connections and friends from Michael's college years.  There are now 10 children between all of us and the pool was a very happy place for all of them, so the adults actually got to talk and catch up!

Friday was our day to go to Hollywood.  We are staying in Pasadena, CA and we decided it would be a really fun experience for the kids (and less frustrating for the driving adults--hello Los Angeles traffic!) to take the metro there.  The metro station is about 5 minutes from Chris & Maggie's house.  It took us about 45 minutes to get to Hollywood on the train and the kids thought it was pretty cool!  (I did too--no traffic on the metro!)

John, Will and Bess

We ate lunch at Chipotle, then got right to the sight seeing.  We walked around Hollywood on our own for about an hour, saw all the crazy people, went to a candy store and then took a trolley tour of the area.  We learned a whole lot of interesting facts about Hollywood.

For instance:  did you know that the stars on the walk of fame actually cost $30,000?  The celebrity gets invited to purchase a star, then they have to pay for it themselves.  There are a few stars who you'd think would have one, but have opted not to participate because they believe $30,000 could be better used elsewhere:  Clint Eastwood, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts and Robert DeNiro to name a few.  Also:  there are 6 different categories in which you can earn a star, so you could technically have up to 6 different stars with your name on it.  There actually are a few celebrities who have more than one, but I can't remember who our trolley driver said at this moment.



 

 

Hasta La Vista Baby! The boys put their little hands inside of Arnold Schwarzenegger's handprints

Chris, Gus, and Will checking out our route

"My baby takes the morning train....he works from 9 to 5 and then...."

Union Station metro stop

Jenifer Aniston

You absolutely cannot see it, but the Hollywood sign is on the hill behind us. Trust me.

Eminem made completely of M&Ms
 

There are costumed characters everywhere in Hollywood--but be careful!  They call out to you to come take a picture with them,  then demand money from you and get very nasty if you refuse to pay, on the basis that you didn't know it cost money.

Capitol Records, Paramount Studios, Hollywood Tower Hotel

Hollywood Bowl and the Chinese theater

Shirley Temple, Will Smith, Hugh Jackman, Julie Andrews

Gus and Will are friends.  Sometimes. ;)

Metro:  this is how we roll

Day 9:  Will is D.O.N.E. with L-WOW.  He hit the wall yesterday after Hollywood and hasn't recovered.  We still have a week to go, so I'm a little nervous that he may not make it.  He is beyond tired, overstimulated, and grumping the likes of which I have never seen. 

Chris & Maggie:  our gracious hosts! 
They have slept on the floor these last few nights and have given us their comfy bed and bathroom during our visit.  I don't want to leave!!!

waiting for the trolley ride