I had to get up extra early this morning – 7:15am – because I was picking Marti up for breakfast at THE BIG KITCHEN at 8:30am. Unfortunately, although I went to bed early last night, I did not sleep well at all. I turned off the TV at midnight (which is early for me), and slept for only an hour. I woke up and my nose was running and I was sneezing. I fell back to sleep for about 45 minutes, and was up again. I fell asleep once again, but not for long. I woke up at 2:45pm an couldn’t fall back to sleep, so at 3:00am I went out to the living room and started up the computer.
I worked for about 20 minutes and then went back to bed, certain that I’d never fall back to sleep. I put on the TV and just kind of watched with one eye closed and eventually I DID fall asleep. Unfortunately, 7:15am came MUCH too soon. I snoozed a few times (something I haven’t done since I stopped working), but still managed to get out on time.
I picked Marti up and we drove to South Park. Although there were already a lot of people seated for breakfast when we got there (they open at 9:00am), there were plenty of seats. I showed Marti the two sides of the restaurant (with the two doors). There’s the side with the counter and 4 booths, and the other side with booths on one side and tables on the other. If you want to be on one side, you go through one door. If you want to be on the other side, you go through the other door. They also have a screened-in eating area out back, but in all the times I’ve gone there, I’ve never eaten out there.
We sat at a booth on the left side. The only way to get from one side to the other when you’re in the restaurant is through the kitchen, so people walk through there all the time. That’s where Whoopi has her autograph on the wall.
I asked if Judy was in yet, and the guy told us she wasn’t, but she was definitely expected. I was so excited to give her a gift I had brought her. There is stuff ALL over the walls in THE BIG KITCHEN – original art, posters, mirrors, knick-knacks, photos, etc. I brought a small bejeweled mirror that I wanted her to hang on the wall in THE BIG KITCHEN, so I could leave my mark there.
I ordered my ususal – grilled cheese with tuna – this time on sour dough bread (I sometimes get rye), and an iced tea. Marti got biscuits and gravy and an iced tea. I’ve never had that at THE BIG KITCHEN, although Eric and I did have it a couple of times when we were in the deep south.
As we were eating our delicious food and enjoying a lively conversation, Judy walked in. She gave me a wonderful greeting, and I introduced her to Marti. I gave her a little Betty Boop shopping bag (she loves Betty Boop) with a leopard card inside, and the gift wrapped in tissue paper. She opened the card and read it. I had written inside that I was going to miss THE BIG KITCHEN, which was our favorite restaurant in San Diego. There were many restaurants that Eric and I enjoyed wholeheartedly while we were here (Haiku is another one that immediately comes to mind), but there’s nothing like THE BIG KITCHEN. It’s truly one of a kind!
Judy opened the gift and absolutely loved it. She was holding it on her chest like a big medallion and said she was going to wear it as a necklace, so people could see what they looked like as they talked to her (because it’s a mirror). She’s so funny and cute. I love her! I told her that I was hoping she’d hang it on the wall there, along with all the other art, but she told me that she REALLY wanted to bring it home and hang it in her house. I was surprised, and really honored. I thought that was SO sweet.
She kissed me, thanked me profusely, and disappeared into the kitchen to show the staff. I was thrilled with her response. After we were done (I took home half my sandwich, as usual), we paid our check and went to look for Judy. I took Marti through the kitchen, so she could see what it was like (and see Whoopi’s autograph on the wall), and then we went into the other room. Judy wasn’t there – she was outside talking to people waiting to be seated. Marti took a couple of pictures of me and Judy, and we said our goodbyes. Judy said that at least if I was going back to NY, now she’d have a place to stay when she came to visit. I told her she was definitely welcome anytime!
We got back in the car. It was starting to get hot out. It’s been very hot the last couple of days. When you’re outside, there’s a nice breeze, but in the car and in the apartment it can get very stuffy very quickly.
I drove back to Clairemont and dropped Marti off at home. Then I drove the 100 feet from her house to STARBUCKS (can you imagine if I lived in her house?) and then drove home. Tifney had contacted me about having lunch today and I told her that I was having a big breakfast, so I’d definitely meet her, but the later the better.
I packed some boxes and waited for her call. She called around 2:00pm and, even though I wasn’t hungry at all, I drove down to where she lives (about 20 minutes). We ate at a little Italian place right near her house, where I had eaten with her and Josh before. It’s called D’Lish. Good Italian food! I had told Eric that I didn’t know if I should go, because I wasn’t hungry, and he said, “You have to go see Tifney. Just order something light!” He’s so cute.
Tifney had brought a group! There was her 14-year-old son, her step-son (who is about the same age) and a cousin who was 9. Her Mom, whom I had met once before, also came. Tifney and I decided to split a Cobb Salad (with the chicken on the side). Her Mom got a salad, too. I don’t know what the three boys got. They were at one side of the table and we were at the other and pretty much ignored them the whole meal. Tifney, her Mom and I had a great time. The salad was really good, but I didn’t eat much, so Tifney got to take a lot of it home. I knew I had my other half of grilled cheese waiting for me, so I didn’t care.
When I got back I contacted Elsa about picking up the planters on the balcony and she came over around 5:00pm. It just took a few minutes to get them into her car and I told her I wasn’t going to go back to her house with her, because I was back to packing and “on a roll.” I could also feel a “crash” coming on and knew I was going to take a nap.
I packed a few more boxes, organized more stuff in the back room, made another pile for the garage sale next weekend and then took a nap at around 6:00pm. I fell into a really deep sleep and woke up a little after 8:00pm. I heated up and thoroughly enjoyed my other half of grilled cheese and tuna. I sure will miss those sandwiches.
I remembered that tonight was the “big night” to shut off all the lights for an hour and I was looking forward to it. I was hoping the complex would turn off the lights in the pool, but they didn’t, and I could see a lot of the apartments had all the lights off, but some had them on, so it wasn’t a huge success here. I wonder how the rest of the world did!
I kept all the lights off, as well as the computer, but did watch TV for a little while. Then I called my cousin, Ilene, to talk about next weekend in L.A., and then while I was talking to her my sister-in-law, Ellen, called from Florida. So, I really didn’t do much except talk on the phone for an hour!
At 9:30pm I turned the TV back on and started watching VICTOR/VICTORIA. It’s such a beautiful, colorful, fun movie. I wish I had seen the musical on Broadway. I don’t know how I missed it, but I never did catch it while it was playing!
I know I’m going to be up late tonight. I can’t pack, because it makes too much noise, so I’ll just relax, watch TV, and maybe read a little more of WICKED. I’ve now been reading that book for several months and still haven’t finished it yet. I don’t get to read it every day, and I feel guilty laying around reading, so I don’t devote much time to it, but I AM anxious to see if it’s going to end at all like the musical does. So much of the book is SO different from the musical. It’s much darker, more sinister, and deeper. They definitely made it lighter and more comical for Broadway.
Last night I watched a documentary I had recorded on HGTV called A MAN NAMED PEARL. It’s about a black man in South Carolina who turned his 3-acre backyard into a work of art using his self-taught skills to create amazing topiaries.
I had seen a commercial for it, and it intrigued me, so I set it to record and watched it last night. I loved it so much, and was so touched by it that I want to make the trek to Bishopsville, South Carolina to see his garden and meet Pearl and his wife. The story is so inspirational, so uplifting, and so sweet. The love story between Pearl and his wife, and the love and respect his friends, neighbors and family have for him is a beautiful thing so see. I recommend this documentary so highly. You can purchase a DVD and a portion of the proceeds go to Pearl, to help him keep up his garden.
Speaking of gardens, the Bougainvillea are in bloom in the parking lot again. I love this plant!
I have absolutely no plans for tomorrow – except (big surprise) – more packing! I really can see the light at the end of the tunnel, believe it or not. I was talking to my Dad today and he laughed, because I said it seems no matter how much stuff I get rid of, I still have a lot of stuff! I guess I’m just a collector, and there’s nothing to be done about it!
Could there be a prettier camouflage for the dumpsters?