Boy, we packed it in today. I don't usually get as much accomplished in one day, and enjoy it as much as I did today! We woke up at 8:00am and got right into the shower (not the three of us together!). We were in the car by 8:45, on our way to THE BIG KITCHEN in South Park. It’s one of our favorite breakfast places, and we wanted Ilene to experience it. Eric drove and we kind of took the long way there, but we got to show Ilene a lot of South Park, and the mission style houses, so she enjoyed every minute.
Ilene and Betty outside THE BIG KITCHEN!
We were lucky, because we were seated immediately at THE BIG KITCHEN and that place can sometimes have a 45 minute wait. I guess 9:00am is a good time to go, because the place was half-empty! We got a great booth right at the front and right after we sat down Judy, “the Beauty on Duty” (the owner) arrived. She’s so cute and full of personality. I was so glad Ilene got to meet her. All the staff is very friendly and helpful, and one young kid was telling us all about his New York friends. I think people think that knowing someone from New York is VERY cool. Well, we ARE!
Ilene’s been living in Los Angeles for 25 years, but I think she’s still a New Yorker. I think if you’re born and raised in New York State it makes you a New Yorker for life – no matter where you end up living!
I got the Challah Bread French Toast – which comes with butter to dip it in (how healthy!). Eric got the pancakes with blueberries and Ilene got eggs sunny-side up with biscuits and gravy. They accidentally gave her a side of potatoes instead, so they brought her a big bowl of biscuits and gravy on the side, so we all got to try it. Yummy!
After breakfast, as we walked around the corner to the car, we passed a little garage sale. Ilene and I both love garage sales, yard sales, tag sales, estate sales – any sales! We’re both experts at having them, and going to them! I knew we’d be hitting a few this weekend!
Eric drove us back to the apartment. He parked the car, I got my little black cart, and Ilene and I headed to the dry cleaner’s and KEIL’S (pronounced “Kyle’s” – just like Ilene’s husband!) I did a fast food-shopping -- some grapes, some salad stuff, and some fresh fish. I was lucky enough to snag a 12-pack of DIET LEMON SNAPPLE, so I’m definitely set for the week. I told Ilene I drink two a day and she said, “You’re addicted!” I know I am, but it’s zero calories, and I just figure how bad can all the Splenda be? They never have the DIET LEMON out on display, but a few weeks ago I mentioned that they haven’t had it for a few weeks and one of the kids went in the back and brought one out. Now, I ask every week and they always have it! I don’t want to be mean, because they’re SO nice, but I don’t know why they’re not out there in the first place!
When we got back, we put everything away and then jumped in the car to go to the shopping center a few miles away, so I could pick up my two dresses from the dressmaker. She wanted me to try them on to see if everything was perfect, but I was a little sweaty, and we were on a schedule, so I just told her if they weren’t perfect I’d come back, but I was sure they would be!
We drove over to the other side of the shopping center to STARBUCKS and I got a grande mocha frappucino light, but Ilene didn’t want anything, so she got a cup of ice water. She’s not much of a coffee or tea drinker, because the caffeine bothers her and she doesn’t bother with decaf. I am the same way about decaf (although I’ll have regular occasionally), but I LOVE coffee and tea and that’s really all I drink. I never drink soda (which is good), or juice (which is bad) and very rarely drink water (which is pitiful, but I can’t help it!).
After STARBUCKS we were now ready to drive to HILLCREST and go for our massages. I had an appointment at 12:30pm and Ilene had one for 1:00pm. We were right on schedule, but suddenly we saw a sign for an ESTATE SALE. An ESTATE SALE? That’s not something we could pass up! We followed the signs a few miles and found it. Unfortunately, it was noon and we couldn’t find a spot. I promised Ilene that we would go back after our massages, and off we went.
Everything at HOLISTIC HEALTH SPECIALISTS is very calming, including the beautiful roses and bamboo.
We got to Hillcrest and went to HOLISTIC HEALTH SPECIALISTS. I had met Leah, my massage therapist, who is a Tuina Practitioner, when Eric and I first visited there last November. It’s a different kind of massage, which I found very therapeutic. At that time, Eric had a very bad neck ache and we passed by and decided to go in. Eric and I each got a ½ hour massage and Leah worked on me. She’s been calling me occasionally since then, to come back, but it just hasn’t been on my priority list of expenditures. I love a massage more than I can say, but I consider it a luxury which, sometimes, I can’t afford!
Jessica (Ilene's masseuse), Bernadette (the manager) and Leah (my masseuse).
I thought it would be a brilliant idea for me and Ilene to get massages as part of our “weekend extravaganza” and she agreed! We were supposed to have a ½ hour wait inbetween, but someone didn’t show up for their appointment, so we both went in at 12:30pm.
I thought it was fantastic. She worked on my back for about half the hour, because that’s where I carry all my stress. I was totally relaxed and almost asleep when it was over. Ilene enjoyed hers, too, but she’s not as into the painful aspects as I am, so she was a little less enthusiastic about the experience. She agreed that the result was great, but didn’t enjoy the process as much.
It’s funny, because I always tell people that I don’t mind if a massage is painful. I always kind of think it has to hurt to really do some good. Anyway, I think pain is very subjective. If I was kidnapped by some foreign government and tortured for information, if they pressed on my back the same way that Leah did, I’d tell them everything. The fact that it’s for my benefit, and I know it’s going to make me feel SO much better helps me to endure the occasional painful pressure. Most of it feels glorious and I can feel the tension just melt away.
I told Leah that if I won the lottery I’d have her move into my house (my mansion?) and give me a massage every day. She said she’d love the job! When Eric was massaged back in November, the therapist had used an infused oil on his neck and he said it really helped. They had bottles for sale and Eric bought one. He’s been using it ever since, whenever he has a stiff neck, and after eight months the bottle was finally empty. He asked me to buy another bottle. The stuff comes in a pretty little tin and there’s a small glass bottle inside. The name of the oil is “Po Som On” which looks like a Chinese word, but when you say it, you realize it’s a funny way of spelling “Pour Some On.” We always thought that was amusing.
When we asked about buying more, they said they didn’t have any in stock, but told us where we could go to find it. It’s a little Chinese herbal shop in North Park called GIN MIN. They gave us directions and we jumped in the car.
We headed onto University and saw a charity thrift shop. Ilene said they had one of the same in L.A. and I told her it was supposed to be fabulous (it’s across the street from my salon – HAIRSPRAY – and the guy who does my hair raves about it. We pulled over and got a spot immediately – with time on the meter!
We went in and walked around, but I was not impressed. The only thing I found was a Country Decorating magazine. We got back in the car and headed down University to GIN MIN. We found it easily (it was a 10-minute drive) and we got a spot around the corner. When we walked in, we saw that it was a small shop with floor-to-ceiling shelves on two walls. The walls were filled with bottles, jars, tins and various other containers of herbs, seeds, pills, ointments, oils and pills.
There was an old Chinese man behind the counter, and a younger Chinese woman in a lab coat standing in the middle of the floor. She looked at us and said, “What do you want?” She was kind of accusatory, as if she didn’t think there was anything there we could possibly need. I was kind of taken aback, so I just said, “Po Som On?” and she said, “How many?” I just bought one, knowing where the store is and figuring I could always go back if he needed more. We paid for it ($6.75 plus tax) and we headed out the door.
Ilene had to go to the bathroom, and she noticed a STARBUCKS down the block, so we walked there. I was happy, because I can never visit too many STARBUCKS! When we got inside, we realized we were hungry, and decided to get drinks and sandwiches of mozzarella, basil and tomato on foccaccia bread. They warmed it up for us, so the cheese was melted and gooey and delicious. We sat and relaxed for a few minutes and ate our sandwiches and drank our drinks. Then, we walked across the street to the North Park SALVATION ARMY THRIFT SHOP to look around. I had been there before, and it was kind of disappointing.
We got back in the car and started driving back to Clairemont. We had a nap in mind, after we returned to the estate sale, but we ended up taking so much time getting Eric’s oil, eating and just running around. When we got back to the estate sale, it was just about to close. We walked through the entire house and each of us managed to find a few things to buy. Ilene found some kind of fancy baking or cooking tool (I can’t remember what it was) and some fabric. Ilene is an unbelievable cook and this gadget was mint in the box – never used – for $2.00. She also found a beautiful vintage ceramic planter with a hand-painted scene on it. We were thrilled to see there were no chips or cracks. It was $1.00. Her last purchase was a small plastic train case, which she can decoupage or decorate in some creative way to make it a great storage container.
I found bags and bags of giant beads, which I love to use as feet on my boxes. If you take a plain cigar box, decoupage it and then add feet, it morphs into something fabulous! I don’t know why, but adding feet just makes it special. I always like to add feet to my boxes and these beads were the perfect size. They were all wood and came in different colors, shapes and sizes. I knew they’d serve me well for years to come. There were about 30 in each big bag and I paid $1.50 per bag. I also paid $1.00 for about 5 pairs of clip-on earrings, and she threw in some wrapping paper I could use for decoupage. We were thrilled with our purchases and finally headed home.
We arrived at around 4:15pm and knew we had to shower at 5:00pm to head out to dinner at 6:00pm. While we were running around all afternoon, Eric had gone for a bicycle ride and he saw that they had empty bicycle boxes at BICYCLE WAREHOUSE, so when we got back he told us he was going to drive over there and pick up two boxes, so he could pack up more of his bicycles.
Ilene said she was going to go down by the pool and read, and I decided to go for a swim. I asked Ilene, but she didn’t feel like it. I put on my suit and went down to the pool to join her. She was reading under an umbrella, and my next-door-neighbors (a mother and her young daughter (around 12) were in the pool. We’ve lived here 8 months, but we’ve never said more than “hello,” so I felt a little awkward.
As I approached, the mother was getting out of the pool to lie down on one of the lounges. She’s a real sun worshiper and I often see her out there laying in the sun. Sometimes her daughter is swimming while she suns. When I approached I said, “Would you mind some company?” and the girl said, “Not at all. I get bored in the pool by myself!” I thought that was SO sweet and so considerate. She really welcomed me, instead of just saying, “No.”
I dropped my towel (which I had wrapped around me) and as I got in she said, “Cute suit! I love polka dots!” My bathing suit is probably 10 years old, but it’s comfortable – and it still fits! It’s black with multicolored polka dots all over it and the back has multiple straps that criss-cross the back in all the same colors as the polka dots. When I got in, she said, “Your straps are twisted” and came over to adjust them for me. Is she sweet, or what? Ilene was on the other end, reading and talking on her cell phone, but the three of us started talking.
The girl was wearing goggles and flippers and I told her she was like a fish. She said, “I prefer mermaid!” I thought that was so cute! She was swimming back and forth, so I started to do that, too, instead of my usual laps around the perimeter. She saw that I only doggie paddle and she would go all the way across and be halfway back and I’d still be paddling along. I didn’t mention that I do it for exercise, but I told her that I’m not much of a swimmer and it’s the best I can do.
She kept swimming back and forth with me, and then she said, “I’m going to take off my flippers, so I can stay with you and not swim so fast.” I told her she didn’t have to do that, but it was like she felt sorry for me and didn’t want to “beat me.” Again, her empathy and kindness touched me. She started to tell me about how she was stung by a bee recently and now she’s kind of afraid. She was nervous anytime a bee flew near us, and I told her she couldn’t be afraid, because it would make it less fun to be outdoors. I told her they’re much smaller than us and they really don’t want to hurt us. I also told her that by making noise and moving around quickly, you could agitate the bee, which might make it sting.
I explained that the best thing to do is just keep still and let it fly away, which it probably would want to do anyway! We kept talking and swimming and it was really pleasant. The mom was adding to the conversation, too. When Eric came back with the boxes I got out of the pool. I told Ilene that I hadn’t had a real conversation with them before and I was so happy, because it’s nice to know your neighbors, don’t you think? We tend to leave the house at the same time each morning, and I always wave and say, “Hi!” but nothing more.
We all went back upstairs and I jumped in the shower. Then Ilene and Eric showered (not together!) and we all got dressed. I decided to wear one of my new dresses and it DID fit perfectly. Anny does beautiful work! The dress has many reds, oranges and pinks in an all-over floral pattern. I wore red open-toe mules, a red, pink and orange vintage beaded 2-strand choker, and a pink, orange and red cuff bracelet. I decided to carry my beige crochet cardigan and a beige straw and beaded vintage purse.
Ilene wore a gorgeous pair of pants that are stretchy black lace with a skin-colored lining that makes it look like you’re nude underneath. She had on a flowing black chiffon top and a black pashmina shawl. She looked gorgeous! Eric wore jeans and a nice button-down shirt. We clean up real nice!
We knew the address of the BALBOA THEATRE downtown, so we went online and found a restaurant that sounded great and was right across the street. It was called BOTTEGA DE LA STRADA on Fourth Avenue. We figured that would be really convenient, because then Eric wouldn’t have to drop us off at the theatre. He could just get back in the car and go home and we could go across the street to see SPRING AWAKENING. We were so excited to see the show. Eric and I had seen it in New York, when it first opened, and we loved it. Ilene bought the tickets for us, and she had the cast album on her IPOD and had been listening to it a lot, so she knew the story and a lot of the songs. That always makes it a better experience, because you’re not straining to listen to every word their singing, and you understand what’s happening. Also, as everyone knows, the more you listen to an album, the more you love it, so familiarity helps you enjoy it more.
I had trepidation about eating downtown, because we’re not familiar with the area. We went to the GASLAMP QUARTER when we first got to San Diego and were still in the RV. We drove around for almost an hour and couldn’t find a place to park. The lots wouldn’t let us in and the spaces were too small for the RV. In San Diego they have the spaces marked out, so you can’t extend too far into another space. You’re only allowed so much room and our vehicle was too big.
I got so frustrated by that experience that I haven’t been back much since. We went into the city on Thanksgiving, but it was deserted, because most people were at home with their families. That was nice, because it was easy to park and we got to walk around without the crowds.
When we were lucky enough to find a great restaurant right across the street from the theatre, I thought it would be fine, but it turned out that a window washer was stuck up at the top of a building and Broadway was closed to traffic. We weren’t sure where we were going, and now we were forced to make a detour. Our reservation was for 6:15pm and now it was almost 6:30pm. I was freaking out, and Eric was stressed, too, but Ilene was the voice of reason. She suggested that we get out and walk, since we knew it was just a few blocks, and Eric would find it and park.
We walked there and sat down inside. They had an outside seating, but we decided to sit inside, because it was actually a little cool out and I was afraid I’d be chilly. Also, the people outside were smoking, and Ilene and I definitely didn’t want to be around that.
We looked at their menu and saw that they have a $21.95 Prix fixe page. You got Bruschetta (two pieces each), a nice Caesar salad, and your choice of about 6 dishes.
Ilene and Eric both chose Farfalline Pollo e Broccoli – Bowtie pasta, grilled chicken tenderloin slices, broccoli, sun dried tomatoes and shallots in a cream sauce. I got the Penne alla Beatrice – Tube shaped pasta with tomato sauce, fresh chopped mozzarella cheese, basil and parmesan cheese. It’s funny, because I remember now that it said “tube shaped pasta” but they actually gave me spaghetti! I didn’t remember and the spaghetti was delicious.
The servings were so large that we all took home a large portion of our dinner. They gave us a tiny square of lemon cake and a tiny square of cheese cake for dessert. We were a little disappointed that it was so small, but we had already planned to take Ilene to PAPPALECCO GELATO LOUNGE in Little Italy after the show, so we figured it was a good thing!
At about 7:40pm we walked across the street and said goodbye to Eric. He promised to come pick us up afterwards and I told him I’d call him during curtain calls and then we’d wait right outside.
We had great seats and enjoyed the show tremendously. The cast was amazing. One of the girls was right out of high school, and she was so great. There was another girl who was one of the top finalists on CANADIAN IDOL. They were all fantastic.
I tried to photograph the set, which is so interesting, but the lighting wasn't right.
It’s just such a great musical, with such unbelievable young talent. It’s great rock music, and the story covers every theme of angst and heartbreak that a teenager experiences – no matter where and when. The story actually takes place in the 1850s when most everyone was sexually repressed, yet they experienced the same problems as teens do today – which is why the show is such a hit with kids. I really recommend it to one and all. It’s great theatre!
When the show was over we went outside. It was a gorgeous night and the city was hoppin’! There were lots of young guys and girls walking around. Unfortunately, a lot of the girls looked like they were “working” if you know what I mean. Ilene and I were so shocked by the outfits. There were two girls crossing the street that had on the highest heels and the shortest shorts we’ve ever seen. Then, we saw three girls walk by and they were wearing the shortest dresses. It seemed to me that if they reached up to fix their hair we’d all have a “free show.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off them – and I’m a straight woman! As they were walking away we saw two guys coming towards us and they kept turning around to look. When they approached us, Ilene and I both said, “We can’t blame you!” And they started laughing and saying, “You can’t blame us!” It was really funny and Ilene and I got a big laugh out of that.
It seemed like 5 minutes and Eric was there. The streets weren’t as crowded with cars and traffic as they are after a show in Manhattan. I don’t know why not, but it was nice! We jumped in the car and used Betty to find Pappalecco. Once again, we kind of took the long way around, but Ilene enjoyed the tour of Little Italy!
I thought it closed at midnight (that’s really GELATO VERO), but they close at 10:30pm. It was 10:45pm, but luckily they were still open and serving. We got our gelato to go and brought it home. I got half Pappalecco, which is chocolate with amaretto, and half Mocha. Eric got half Cocco, which he thought was cocoa, but is really coconut, and half banana. I told him his combo was very tropical! Ilene got half chocolate and half Stratiatella, which is a cream with stripes of chocolate.
Eric sat in his chair and watched TV, and Ilene and I sat at the table and enjoyed our gelato while we read magazines. I read my decorating mag and Ilene read my latest issue of COSMO. It was pretty late and I was too pooped to blog, so we called it a night and went to sleep. We knew we had a big day in the morning at the FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS!
It was a LONG day and I cannot believe all the fun we had, the things we accomplished and the adventures we had. Ilene is so much fun to be around. Every outing is an adventure!