Friday, November 2, 2012

The 3 day drive and my First night in LA... all in one


So I know it has been awhile since I wrote a blog.  I know, I know... I fail.  I was going to blog every day of the drive but let’s face it… all I did was drive! All day for three effing days! It was beyond painful.  If I decide to go back to Alabama I will definitely be taking three months assignments all the way back, HaHa!


Day 1: Was a rather emotional day.  I played my book on tape and talked to friends the whole time, which really helped.  My mom and dad also called a few times.  I even ‘reconnected’ with a friend after he read one of my facebook posts.  He was like, “wtf…where are you going?!” So we chatted the whole time.  After driving to the other side of Oklahoma City I was exhausted! Naturally, in OKC there was a humungous Fair of some kind and every hotel within a 25 mile radius was booked! It was 9pm… I had been up since 5am, driving since 7am.  Thought I was going to die.  I finally called a Hilton and guess what?  They had a room! There is always a catch… It was a smoking room and was $192 for the night.  I mean really? Luckily it was right next to a liquor store so me, my bottle of Tito’s vodka, and a diet Dr. Pepper went to my room.  It wasn’t so bad until I woke up with a smokers cough. 


Day 2: would you think my $192 room would have a complimentary breakfast because I totally would?  Umm no! I guess since Paris doesn’t eat she thinks other people shouldn’t either.  I downed a Spark and a meal replacement shake and took off.  I wasn’t as emotional but I was lonely.  I somehow made friends with the cars beside me.  We all drove the same speed, which was like 75 mph, which helped and flew through the Midwest.  I finally stopped at a subway… ate a salad and kept going. Painful.  Painful.  I talked to my friend who was also moving and it made me sad.  We’ve never been so far apart before.  I found a hotel in Flagstaff and Urbanspooned the nearest sushi place.  Luckily the highest rated one was like 0.6 miles from me.  I had a nice little drink while I got ready…got semi dressy and went to stuff my face.  I literally ordered 28-30 pieces (I had a picture…but recently lost my phone-explanation to follow.) and a martini.  It was absolutely fabulous.  I sat at the bar and way playing on my phone paying no attention to the people around me.  A guy 1 seat down from me got my attention after I had finished eating my outrageous amount of sushi and was finishing my drink.  He said “OMG (Yes he said OMG) I can’t believe someone so small ate that much food!” I was like, “Ummm… thanks I guess.” He laughed, I laughed. We had a moment.  He bought me another drink and we talked until the restaurant was closing.  Don’t let me fool you… it was like 45 minutes haha.  However, I would like to thank that mystery Mid-twenty-something businessman for the conversation.  It was just what I needed. 

Day 3: With a semi hangover I went down to the lobby of my Hampton Inn around 7:45am to the smells of a complimentary hot breakfast.  Effing amazing.  I ate my body weight once again for the second time in 12 hours.  Eggs, bacon, and sausage.  It was Paleo and I was thrilled because by now I’m wasting away.  Legit.  Wasting away.  I drove and drove through the not fun place of Arizona.   Flying towards the state line of California I didn’t even contemplate the idea of stopping at the Grand Canyon or driving to Vegas.  WTF I wanted to be in LA more then anything.  So I drove and then…my book on tape ended.  And I had no more for like 6 hours.  And I had crappy service.  Then I really thought I was going to die.  It was in the San Fernando Valley that it hit me… I was so far from home, my two best friends were soooo far from me…one literally on the other side of the country and the other in Birmingham, and I was in LA freeway traffic! Luckily traffic moved wonderfully. 
I was on North Kingsley Street before I knew it.  I pulled into my units labeled parking place, turned my car off, and sat there…. I don’t think I sat and stared for long but it was a minute.  It took me forever to figure out which key unlocked which lock… in LA each lock has a different key.  I have an outer iron screen door, and then a ‘door’ door with two locks.  Once in I was pleasantly surprised that the apartment was exactly like what it was when the owner and I Skyped.  This was one of my many fears… that I was getting scammed.  But I wasn’t… it was crazy.  Still didn’t stop me from having another moment in the kitchen before I toured the rest of the condo.


I love it.  I take a pic. Call my mom and dad. Text pics to a few friends then start to unload my car.


Unloading my car wasn’t near as easy with just me.  Actually it was painful…just because I dropped a gigantic box on my toe.   And still being paranoid and new to LA I locked all three locks every time I left the place to get more.  I pulled out my iphone (R.I.P.) and downloaded an app for WEHO.  Yes, West Hollywood has its own gay app.  It tells you everything from gay happy hours; to gay coffee shops…you get the picture.  So I looked to see what was going on, made my bed, showered and changed clothes. 

It was Sunday and found a place to have a snack and a happy hour margarita… ok maybe 2… 3 at the most.  Then walked to another bar.  Met some guys that were super nice.  I got their attention when I ordered my drink.  The cuter of the three said ‘Lord Child, where are you from?’ I said Alabama and that sparked a whole conversation.  They admitted my accent wasn’t as bad as they thought someone from Alabama’s would be and I admitted they weren’t as stuck up and rude as I thought people from LA would be.  When I decided to call it a night one of the guys walked me the one block to my car….being from Alabama he didn’t know if I would get scared.  I pretended he did me a wonderful favor and gave him my number. 

When I got back home the stress of all my clothes being in boxes caught up with me.  So naturally, I made myself another drink and watched TV.  Then went to bed… boxes untouched.      

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