First of all, let me apologize right now for so many pictures!! But, we had such a great time, I had a hard time choosing and limiting the pictures to put out here!!
Let me just say that I would have had a great time visiting Joel and my Dad on my own, but having Joye meet me in Phoenix and going with me to LA was the icing on the cake!! We are so alike that it is sometimes scary - of course there are little things like peanuts or plain - where we differ...which keeps it all so very interesting :-)
This is us waiting in the Phoenix airport for our flight to Burbank - can you guess which one is from MI and which one from AZ?
Arriving at Joels' we took advantage of the beautiful weather and sat outside for a while and just chatted.
This is the boardwalk out in front of Joel's house...a great place for my Dad to ride his bike and people watch. It is used frequently by family's, kids, runners, walkers, riders...you get the picture!
It's 4 miles in length and Dad rides the whole length most every day! His legs are getting so much stronger, it's a wonderful thing!!
Friday AM, Joel got us up at the crack of dawn to go hiking with him...now y'all know Joel - "oh, this is a really easy walk...nothing to it..." yah, like I was tired before we even got to the entrance. We parked at his friends house (Ben Affleck's old house...very cool!) and walked there - all up hill...and his friend informed us on the way that this IS NOT an easy walk...oh great - I was really worried now!!
We bought some water over to the left, I was thinking I was REALLY going to need it!!
The entrance to the walk...I think Joye looks a little worried too :-)
Ok, the views were spectacular...we had to take a lot of pics just to get a rest ;-) Hope they didn't catch on to us!
See the Hollywood sign way over there? (click on the pic to make it bigger...) We were about even with it when we go to the top!! Impressive huh? Ok, well, I was impressed...no mountains to hike in MI!!
These are a little out of order, but this is walking down, you can see Joel, Byron and his dog Louie in front of us...
Joye walking down, she sure does look happy on the way down! ;-)
This is at the top, no big deal for Joel and Byron - Joye and I were jumping up and down high fiving!!
After the walk we went shopping at the new Americana outdoor mall...I forgot my camera, so Joye has pictures of that...
After the walk we went shopping at the new Americana outdoor mall...I forgot my camera, so Joye has pictures of that...
Then we had strict orders to be back at 3:30p - mind you that gave us like 1 hour to shop - Dad said that Dan was paying him to keep us out of the stores!!
So, at 3:30 we headed out to Casa Vega - word of warning - when Joel mentions Casa Vega - head the other way!! The margaritas are TROUBLE!!!! We all had our fair share and then some! 3:30 for happy hour turned into a number of hours, eating and drinking and then we went to a Comedy Show that one of Joel's buddies was in. It was a late night, especially for the Michigander ;-)
Happy Joye and happy Joel!
What spot - I don't have a spot on my shirt....!?!?
Yum, goooood Margaritas!
Me, Joye and Raul - Sarah's friendly waiter from when she lived in LA. He always asks about her and wished her and her family the best!
Joel drove us by Sarah's old apartment...we were driving just about over the spot where Joel got hit by a car when they lived together...long story, but we all got a good laugh once again talking about it!
The next day we got up and made breakfast for the guys and then headed out shopping...I have these a little out of order, but oh well...
Joye modeling UGGs at Nordies!
This definitely needs some explaining...we were trying on some jeans, when I got locked out of my room...and of course rather than get the gal to open our door, Joye decided to crawl under the wall and open mine. We started laughing so hard...I think the whole dressing room was laughing...I'm sure they thought we were nuts! Anyway she did the job...and got me back in before anyone caught us...of course, our lady walked back in soon after and we were still laughing so we had to fess up! She pretty much acted like no one has ever done that before...leave it to us!
Midway between rooms - reaching for my door handle - what a sis!
We just liked this church with the breast cancer ribbon...I think it turned out to be Lutheran!
Driving around - Sunset Blvd...
Hollywood!
Melrose - spent some time here shopping too...
Fred Segal!! With a big sale going on!!! We were all over that!
That night Joye and I made a spaghetti dinner for Dad and Joel...with plenty to spare for the freezer! Joel was going to be in his 1st bike race the next morning, so he requested lots of carbs! No problemo!!
Let's just say that cooking in a bachelor pad is a bit challenging...but we did it and managed to pull off a pretty good meal! Dad is still enjoying the extra sauce we left him!
Joel's first bike race!! Exciting? Yes! Getting up at 3AM, not compatible with life!!!! But, yes, that's when he got us up...we had to drive down to Long Beach and avoid any traffic jams to get Joel ready and pumped up for this ride. We were his entourage...I held his bike (I called myself his bike caddy...) and Dad and Joye held his clothes and shoes when he changed...it was COLD...that early in the morning!!
Here's the starting line!
Joel, dressed and ready!
Final touches...
Last minute bike adjustments!
Ready to go!! And they were off!!! 4000 bikers!!!! Joye and I are renting a tandem next year and will participate with him!! (Yah, that will happen...)
The finish line, yes, it was still dark...but we waited - die hard Joel fans that we are, in the cold and dark to watch him come across the finish line.
Here's Gramps...waiting...good thing he had his sitting walker!
I'm filling Dan in on all the details...it was 3 hours later where he was in Maryland.
They had to quickly dismount after they went across the finish line...
And here's Joel! 4000 bike riders and he came across in the FIRST TWENTY!! We were so impressed - WAY TO GO JOEL!!!!! He was shocked too :-)
Joel with his medal...
Dad with Joel's medal ;-)
Joel putting the moves on some girl, until he found out she was married ;-)
He was waiting in line here for his massage - nice!
We took up residence in the beer tent...what a beautiful day!
Like Father - like Son
We wore our bracelets proudly, and ended up splitting a beer, only because someone gave it to us for free!
The balloon/cotton candy man - made us all laugh on the way home...I think we were overtired!
Trying to catch a few zzzzzz's - didn't last long and we were on the move again...
Out to try out Dad's new trike!
Here's Dad - showing us how it's done!
Last night - back out to dinner at a local Burbank pub - ate outdoors, very nice! Best burger I've ever had!!
Joye drank her dinner - not really - jk!!
It was a GREAT weekend!! I can't believe all that we did, totally beautiful weather the whole time!! Thanks all for a fun time!!
I'll leave you with a video of the 'Peace Sista'
