Just spent a week in Southern California and I have a rant to share....
My in laws live in LA and have a second home in San Miguel. They do not have any issues with driving -- I mean spending hours and hours in a car. I, on the other hand, hate driving and hate being in a car.
I was concerned when they booked us a hotel room in Pasadena, about an hour away from our first destination -- Disneyland. I wanted to stay near Disneyland so I wouldn't have to sit in LA traffic. I did not complain about the booking because my in laws are wonderful people, very generous and very kind but it really was unpleasant being so far away from Disneyland and then Hollywood, where my son wanted to go on our second day.
Then on the third day, we drove three hours north to San Miguel. Ugh! Then my in laws drove us around seemingly for hours and hours every day but Thanksgiving. I really feel like I spent the whole trip in a car. Did I say that I hate being in a car? Ugh!
I really love these people and enjoy spending time with them, I just have to figure out a nice way tell them that I do not want to spend hours of each day in a car.
Has anybody ever driven around southern California? What is the deal with drivers out there? I don't know how many times we were nearly driven off the road. Is it a crime to drive the speed limit in the slow lane on the highways in California? Then there were the motorcycles that flew in between cars while everyone was driving 70 to 80 MPH. WTF? Then when we entered into the mountains north of LA, we were stuck behind trucks barely moving up the steep inclines. Ugh!
So not only do I hate being in a car, I now especially hate being in a car in southern California. Ugh!
The time we spent out of the car was really nice, though. First stop, straight from the airport, was In-N-Out Burger, the first item on my son's bucket list. Speaking of cars, I have never seen a drive-thru line so long! Why would anyone wait in such a huge line for a fast-food burger? We parked, went inside where there was NOBODY! We ordered right away and had our food in minutes. Pretty good burger for fast food. See below.
My in laws live in LA and have a second home in San Miguel. They do not have any issues with driving -- I mean spending hours and hours in a car. I, on the other hand, hate driving and hate being in a car.
I was concerned when they booked us a hotel room in Pasadena, about an hour away from our first destination -- Disneyland. I wanted to stay near Disneyland so I wouldn't have to sit in LA traffic. I did not complain about the booking because my in laws are wonderful people, very generous and very kind but it really was unpleasant being so far away from Disneyland and then Hollywood, where my son wanted to go on our second day.
Then on the third day, we drove three hours north to San Miguel. Ugh! Then my in laws drove us around seemingly for hours and hours every day but Thanksgiving. I really feel like I spent the whole trip in a car. Did I say that I hate being in a car? Ugh!
I really love these people and enjoy spending time with them, I just have to figure out a nice way tell them that I do not want to spend hours of each day in a car.
Has anybody ever driven around southern California? What is the deal with drivers out there? I don't know how many times we were nearly driven off the road. Is it a crime to drive the speed limit in the slow lane on the highways in California? Then there were the motorcycles that flew in between cars while everyone was driving 70 to 80 MPH. WTF? Then when we entered into the mountains north of LA, we were stuck behind trucks barely moving up the steep inclines. Ugh!
So not only do I hate being in a car, I now especially hate being in a car in southern California. Ugh!
The time we spent out of the car was really nice, though. First stop, straight from the airport, was In-N-Out Burger, the first item on my son's bucket list. Speaking of cars, I have never seen a drive-thru line so long! Why would anyone wait in such a huge line for a fast-food burger? We parked, went inside where there was NOBODY! We ordered right away and had our food in minutes. Pretty good burger for fast food. See below.
I last went to Disneyland in 1971. I still have my Mickey Mouse watch from that trip. I wore it to school every day until the strap broke.
Wow, Disneyland sure has changed since 1971. There wasn't anything I could hang my hat on, everything seemed different. We hit some classic rides like the haunted house, the pirate ride and Peter Pan ride. The lines were long and the rides had changed since I was last there. We hit some newer Star Wars rides that were virtual and much more fun than the older rides. I could do without the lines. The food was much better than I remember. I think we spent seven or eight hours at Disneyland and I was beat afterwards. Whatever happened to the trams from the parking lot? The walks from the parking to the park and back were killer. Still, it was a fun day and I highly recommend Disneyland. I was glad my kids finally got to go, they have been asking to go for years.
Pictured below is the wife and I waiting in line for the Peter Pan ride.
Wow, Disneyland sure has changed since 1971. There wasn't anything I could hang my hat on, everything seemed different. We hit some classic rides like the haunted house, the pirate ride and Peter Pan ride. The lines were long and the rides had changed since I was last there. We hit some newer Star Wars rides that were virtual and much more fun than the older rides. I could do without the lines. The food was much better than I remember. I think we spent seven or eight hours at Disneyland and I was beat afterwards. Whatever happened to the trams from the parking lot? The walks from the parking to the park and back were killer. Still, it was a fun day and I highly recommend Disneyland. I was glad my kids finally got to go, they have been asking to go for years.
Pictured below is the wife and I waiting in line for the Peter Pan ride.
The next day we hit Hollywood. I was last there in the 1990's. It seemed a lot grimier and seedier than I recall. We hit Grauman's Chinese Theater which is always cool to see. Then we went to the Hollywood Wax Museum and the Guinness Book of World Records Museum. There used to be a Guiness museum in Chicago when I was a kid. It had exhibits based on all the records. The Hollywood version was interactive and much more fun.
I just may have had some fun at the Hollywood Wax Museum.....
I just may have had some fun at the Hollywood Wax Museum.....
Then there was the Guinness Museum which was awesome! See goofy photos below.
As much as I complained about being so far away from Disneyland and Hollywood, I really enjoyed Pasadena. What a neat town. Lots of cool old buildings, nice and expensive shops and many excellent restaurants. We ate very well.
I never actually saw the town of San Miguel, my in laws live nine miles away in a remote neighborhood stashed amongst dozens of vineyards. See photo below. We drank a lot of local wine. I liked the wine from a winery called Daou the best. I prefer wine that is sweet and not very acidic which Daou expertly provided.
While I have attended wine tastings at taverns and restaurants, I have never attended one at a vineyard. We tasted seemingly endless wines at the Villa San Juliette Winery, located just down the road from my in laws' home. What a beautiful place! It was like an oasis with lush vegetation in an otherwise desert landscape.
I got snockered. Then we ate some amazing food. The wines were actually too acidic for my taste (but that did not stop me), but the food, oh the food! I would go there just to eat and ditch the wine. Only problem is the prices! My, oh, my!! You need to pawn off the family jewels to eat at this place but it is actually worth it.
We also went to an olive orchard and attended an olive oil tasting in the town of Paso Robles. Another new experience and a lot of fun.
I never actually saw the town of San Miguel, my in laws live nine miles away in a remote neighborhood stashed amongst dozens of vineyards. See photo below. We drank a lot of local wine. I liked the wine from a winery called Daou the best. I prefer wine that is sweet and not very acidic which Daou expertly provided.
While I have attended wine tastings at taverns and restaurants, I have never attended one at a vineyard. We tasted seemingly endless wines at the Villa San Juliette Winery, located just down the road from my in laws' home. What a beautiful place! It was like an oasis with lush vegetation in an otherwise desert landscape.
I got snockered. Then we ate some amazing food. The wines were actually too acidic for my taste (but that did not stop me), but the food, oh the food! I would go there just to eat and ditch the wine. Only problem is the prices! My, oh, my!! You need to pawn off the family jewels to eat at this place but it is actually worth it.
We also went to an olive orchard and attended an olive oil tasting in the town of Paso Robles. Another new experience and a lot of fun.
The in laws took us to the Pacific Ocean, about an hour away and we saw some seals sleeping on the beach. See photo below. The whole time, I was just thinking about the old California Golden Seals NHL team.
Near the ocean, we saw the Hearst Castle on the other side of the highway, way up on a hill. My brother-in-law said the road to the mansion was washed out in a storm and you can't go there. I'd love to see that place sometime.
Near the ocean, we saw the Hearst Castle on the other side of the highway, way up on a hill. My brother-in-law said the road to the mansion was washed out in a storm and you can't go there. I'd love to see that place sometime.
So despite all the driving, we did have a pretty great trip but I am glad to be home. I saw on the Beckett Show Calendar that there was a show in some place called Fairfield while I was out in California but I was quickly shot down by my family.
It is nice to be home where I can resume my addiction to vintage sports cards and not spend much time in a car.
Lots of people have been calling, texting and messaging while I was gone. Please be patient with me, I will try and get back to everyone as soon as I can.
Back to the car, I have a short drive this Saturday, December 4, 2021, to my show in Oak Creek, WI. Bob Long was supposed to sign autographs but canceled. There will be a full house of dealers as usual. I've got some new dealers as well.
The Salvation Army has another event in the chapel during our show so the front doors will be closed to card show traffic. Please enter and exit through the gym doors. I also won't have any dealers set up in the hallway. All dealers will be in the gym, Fellowship Hall and the Game Room. It will be packed a little tighter than usual. Once again, come find me in the Game Room for a free pack of cards. I hope to see everybody Saturday at the Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, Oak Creek, WI.
I have a crazy busy week of work and have to prep for the show Saturday, so if you could please wait to talk to me at the show on Saturday and not call, text, and message prior, I would appreciate it! Dealer tables are sold out! No need to call, I have no space available.
It is nice to be home where I can resume my addiction to vintage sports cards and not spend much time in a car.
Lots of people have been calling, texting and messaging while I was gone. Please be patient with me, I will try and get back to everyone as soon as I can.
Back to the car, I have a short drive this Saturday, December 4, 2021, to my show in Oak Creek, WI. Bob Long was supposed to sign autographs but canceled. There will be a full house of dealers as usual. I've got some new dealers as well.
The Salvation Army has another event in the chapel during our show so the front doors will be closed to card show traffic. Please enter and exit through the gym doors. I also won't have any dealers set up in the hallway. All dealers will be in the gym, Fellowship Hall and the Game Room. It will be packed a little tighter than usual. Once again, come find me in the Game Room for a free pack of cards. I hope to see everybody Saturday at the Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, Oak Creek, WI.
I have a crazy busy week of work and have to prep for the show Saturday, so if you could please wait to talk to me at the show on Saturday and not call, text, and message prior, I would appreciate it! Dealer tables are sold out! No need to call, I have no space available.
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