MY LATEST ADVENTURE

I am still trying to make the print smaller. It looks smaller, but then when I hit the "post" sign Yup you
guessed it same old big type that makes it look like I am yelling at everyone. Trust me I'm not.

Anyways, A while back my favorite change girl at the Emerald Island asked me if I liked Dr. Phil. I said
I did and she said good, we sent for tickets to see his show. Sounded like fun, and then promptly
forgot about it. Then a couple of weeks ago she e-mailed me all the information and it seemed like we
would be expected there on Tues. Aug 26 (yesterday)

Shelley (my friend) and her 25 yr old daughter Tiffany and I were going to see Dr. Phil. We decided
to take my car. Shelley has a truck and Tiff's car is being worked on. Tiff has two little girls 7 and 4.
Monday was the older girls first day of school, so we waited until school started and then would be
on our way to HOLLYWEIRD scuz me HOLLYWOOD. We were supposed to be at Paramount Studio
at 7 am on Tues. Shelley made the arrangements for our overnight stay. Seeing as both my traveling
companions smoke, I wanted my own personal room. No one smoked in the car, but I said I was
willing to stop anytime they needed a smoke break. Shelley did the driving. All went well. We
made it into LA in about 4 1/2 hrs, stopping in Barstow for lunch.

We would be staying at the Hollywood Downtowner motel, which Shelley said had high ratings for
a motel in that price range ($95 a night) We would be close to places to sight see. Grauman's
Chinese Theater, the Hollywood "walk of Fame" and not far from where they would be filming
Dr. Phil.

We arrived at the Opium Den, I mean the Downtowner, and I had this feeling I don't like this one
bit. The homeless people hanging around outside , the sleazy neighborhood and the 98cent store.
the bars on the windows of the surrounding buildings--well you get the picture. Anyhow the
"madam" who checked us in was Pakistanian or Indian or something with a ruby in the middle of
her forehead and incense burning in the office. She had only reserved one room for the three of
us, but needless to say she had another room available. The room I had was not bad. Seemed
clean enough. But I knew once I got in there, no way was I going out at night. Shelley and Tiff
said they would do some sightseeing, but would be home before dark. They walked some and
then took a bus to Graumans and walked back down the walk of fame. They called when they
were just a couple of blocks from the motel and picked me up a cheeseburger from Tommy's.
We had picked up beer earlier. There was a small frig in the room as well as a microwave and
a coffee pot.

the bathroom was brand new. The door wasn't even painted or varnished yet. they had nice
tile and a walk in shower. the only thing wrong was the toilet was on the north wall while the
tp was on the south wall. Makes sense to me. I watched the convention for a while and then
fell asleep. About 1 am I woke up, the damn smoke alarm was chirping--every 16 seconds--
until 2:30 am and then it stopped. Hard to get back to sleep after that. Got up at 4:30, showered
and was ready to go at 6 pm so we could grab some breakfast and off to see Dr. Phil.

Went back to Tommy's for brkfst and no one there spoke English. A truck full of Chollos (spelling)
were just leaving and they really gave me the creeps. We finally got our breakfast. Took forever
we were the only people in there and there were 3 people working there-you figure. Oops, forgot
to tell you the coffee pot in the room did not work. Finally arrived at Paramount and S & T dropped
me off to stand in line while they parked. Ended up parking in the Jewish Cemetary (I think it is
called "Hollywood, Forever) where they had you park along the curbs just like for a real funeral
and charged you $10 per car.

Stood and sat in line for almost two hours. If you don't read the rules they e mail you and bring
your camera and/or cell phone, they confiscate yours and you can retrieve them after the taping.
Takes forever to get thru that part, and then you walk thru this thing like at the airport and you
are finally allowed into the lot. They do have benches and everyonce in a while they let a bunch
of people in and everyone moves up. That's the upper level. Then they say "last call for the rest
room" and the Exodus begins., Thank God I didn't need to use it. Then it's down to the lower
level, more benches, but no restroom calls. Finally into the studio. Every seat is a good one
unless the cameraman decides to stand in front of you. I am sorry, but I was not impressed. The
subject for the day was its ok for and older man to date a younger woman but taboo for an older
woman to date a much younger man. Who would want to do that anyhow, man you'd have to
train him. Anyway this first womand who was 58 but said she was 48 dated over 300 men on
the internet and would have them send her an airline ticket and go to visit them She traveled
all over the world oveer 250 thousand miles and even dated the Prince of Monaco once. Her
daughter was concerned because she thought it was dangerous. Dr P said she should stop dating
for a while and look at her life. She was coming across as desperate. He never did convince her.
very boring and no free gifts for the audience.

they asked if we wanted to stay for the 2nd taping and Tiff and I said No. We went back to the
den of Iniquity, checked out and headed home. Lots of road construction but we got to my
place about 4:30 AND I was sure glad to get home. Tired and looking to sleep in my own bed,
no chain on the door and the smoke alarm has new batteries.

I did forget to mention that on the way down we ran into a horrendous thunder storm and
hard rain. Thru that I could see smoke (we were in the Cajon Pass heading into LA) and
when the sun came out the side of the mountain was on fire, on our left near the summit and
a borate bomber flew over dropping the borate on the fire. I think it was probably started by
Lightning. One the way home the next day we could see where it had burned right down to
the highway. There were still some emergency vehicles on the site checking it out. Alls
well that ends well.

Until my next adventure.....................