What? I'm a mom now?!: My Day in Los Angeles

Please forgive my blog for it will be out of whack for a while. I have LOTS to post about China but I forgot to post about my 12 hours in Los Angeles!!! It too was a highlight of my trip.

I landed in LA on Sunday (a day before I left to China) close to noon and my dear friends Diana and Adriana picked me up and I was on an instant tour of the city. I had been to LA before back in 2008 and had seen lots of the "main" places but there was no way to see everything in 3 days. So off I went in the Dodge Magnum with my camera ready!

I've always wanted to see Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills so they took me! I've only seen these signs on TV and I was in the middle of these multi-million dollar homes. I'm sure famous people lived in some of them. The thought was exciting and I loved every second of it.

I didn't want to shop here, just see the sign!

So as we were driving down one of these streets near Rodeo Drive, I saw 3 guys with cameras taking pictures from the outside in to a hair salon. WELL HELLO!! This is Los Angeles and can only mean ONE thing, they were the paparazzi and someone famous was in there! So we literally did a u-turn in the middle of the street and went back! We asked who was in there and this guy with an Australian accent says "oh, just some porn star". I though "oh..gross". Then he said "yeah, it's Jenna Jameson". WTF?? That's not JUST some porn star, that's Jenna Jameson!!! So I jumped out and was about to take MY picture when the guys said "she just went in the back.." UGH!!! I was so close to get a picture of her. Now I know why the paparazzi do what they do...it's so exciting!!!!!! But sorry there is no picture to share.

After that exciting moment, we went on and they took me past THE Playboy Mansion, Michael Jackson's house and by the hotel where Whitney Houston died. I know the last two are pretty morbid but HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have to go see them!

Playboy Mansion

Michael Jackson's House - he died here!

This is where Whitney Houston died. :(

So again, that was pretty morbid but still neat to see. Don't worry, I said a little prayer for both Michael and Whitney ...I didn't feel so bad after. So the last place to see was a secret. The girls were talking to each other in code and I was beginning to get REALLY excited. I didn't know how the day could get better. But these girls did their homework and it was WORTH the wait. :)

So we are driving and we turn in to the Hollywood Cemetery. YES, MORE DEAD PEOPLE!!!!!!! But I was intrigued and I couldn't wait to see who we were visiting. We drive in circles around the cemetery and there are lots of Jewish people laid to rest here. That still was not any help to me because I could not think of any Jewish person I LOVED! So as we are driving in circles, I am enjoying the day and anxiously awaiting to arrive. The girls are lost and ask for help. I even closed my ears and everything. The gentlemen knew who we were looking for and directed us in the right direction. Funny thing is, we had passed this person at least twice. LOL!

So the girls drive around and we pull up and I'm speechless. I literally can NOT speak - which as you know is hard to do. We arrive to the grave site of Ms. Estelle Getty. I was floored by the thoughtfulness of this and I begin to cry. If you know me, you know that I am obsessed with the Golden Girls and every single one of those characters. "Sophia Petrillo" has a special place in my heart because she resembles my deceased grandmother AND yes, I did name my own daughter after her...although their names are spelled differently.
So as I get out of the car and walk towards the headstone, I cannot believe that I am actually visiting "Sophia"!!!! It was definitely the high light of the trip and it was so very special to my heart. I know Diana and Adriana took a lot of time planning this and it was amazing to know they took the time to actually think of what I wanted to see. I felt so loved and I will never forget that day. Now it's their turn to come to see my hometown... :) Although I don't know how Houston can top all of the great things of LA!! But I'm sure I could figure something out.