Road Trip 2005

so.....since i couldn't go on a road trip with doug.....since he blew me off......i went on a short road trip with erin......which was cool.....

day one, thursday september 8:

i headed over to erin's and started our drive to los angeles.......we stopped for a bit in vegas and gambled a bit at the MGM grand.......and i got me a mudslide on the rocks and a strawberry dacquarie.......then we headed out for los angeles and arrived at about 9pm.....our room was at the Ramada Inn in Hollywood on vermont street just two blocks south from sunset.....after we rested......we drove a bit to kinda familarize ourselves with the area......we were really close to hollywood and highland (the chinese mann theater) and close to universal studios......

day two, friday september 9:

we head over to universal studios.......erin has a headache and doesn't enjoy as much as i do......i could have stayed there all day......the park closed at 6pm.....but the citywalk was still open......we went on a few rides like: VAN HELSING - it was supposed to be a scary maze and it wasn't as scary as i hoped.....WATERWORLD - which was a show that i thought was cool.....nice pyro stuff and a cool chase scene on wave runners......SHREK - now i love love love shrek.....and it was a "4-D" movie where the seats moved......which was cool......i loved it and also got my picture taken with shrek......BACK TO THE FUTURE - this was cool......a motion action ride that uses forced perception to make you feel like you're flying through tretcherous obsticles.......then we did the UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TOUR - that was kinda cool......i wished my brother henry was there......he loves movies and would have loved this tour......seeing all the sets and what not......then we headed to the south lot and rode THE MUMMY RIDE - and holy freaking crap was this ride cool.....i was thinking it was going to be a slow ride......and ride going through the set of the mummy or what not.......and then all of a sudden it blasts you on a short rollercoaster ride in the dark with neon lights......and then it stops and you hear the sounds of the flesh eating beatles coming and it tickles your feet......and then the ride goes backwards the way you came......good gawd it was good......i wanted to go on it again.....but with erin having a headache, she said that her head couldn't take it......so i just have the one memory instead of two......then we went on the JURASSIC PARK ride - which was cool, but not compared to the mummy ride......

we also took a lot of pictures.......i wish we would have stayed a little bit longer......but erin wasn't feeling well, so we headed back to the hotel......and seeing erin tired.....made me tired.....so we took a nap......and then later we headed out to hollywood to take pictures......i was hoping that we would go to a bar or something fun for a friday night......but erin's headache came back......we walked around......took pictures......got some food and headed back to the hotel.....

day 3, saturday september 10:

erin had plans to go to the dodgers game while i wanted to go to the Fashion District in LA......so while she went to the dodgers game with a friend, i took the car over to the Fashion District......and all i can say about california drivers.......they all drive like me......so once i got that notion in my head.......navigating the streets of LA was cool.......i didn't want to use the freeway for fear of getting lost......so i used the major streets......driving south on vermont to wilshire.....and then taking wilshire into the city......

it was cool, except for the fact that i parked and got off on the wrong block......i knew the Fashion District was on Maple......so i figured as soon as i saw the signs for the Fashion District......i'd be cool.......and OH......MY.......GOSH........NEVER park your car on Maple and 6th......and WALK down 6th towards Wall street.......lets just say.......it was the WRONG place to walk.......homeless people EVERYWHERE.......and it smelt like urine......and there were puddles running down the sidewalk that i knew WAS NOT water.......and it was dirty dirty dirty......now after realizing that it was the WRONG block......instead of coming back the way i came......i just kept on walking.......went around two blocks.......before making my way back to Maple and the car......it was the most disgusting experience i've ever went through.......ewwwwww......

so i make it back to the car......(safely and in one piece i might add)......and take the car down Maple a few blocks until i didn't see anymore homeless people.......when i finally ran into the crowds of the Fashion District.......i valet'd the car and was relieved that i made it to where i was headed......

basically i needed to buy some long white tees for my brother phillip.....i walked around for a while.....looking at all the different booths......until i found them.....called phil to let them know i found them.......and then continued to walk around.......the market was really really crowded......but it was the same as i remember it from the last time i was there about 4 years ago......they had a lot of bootleg DVD's they were selling......phone accessories......of course clothes......CD's.....jewelery.......you name it.......they were selling it......it was pretty cool.......

i decided to head back......i tried looking for the King Tut exhibit because i really really wanted to see it.....but erin started texting my phone making sure her car was okay.......so i didn't want to chance it, cos she got me EXTRA worried that i would get into a car accident or something, and just drove back to the hotel......i was really bummed that i couldn't go see the Pharaoh......but it was just one of the things that was going to miss with this trip......

when i got back to the hotel, Fil called me......wanting another chance......blah blah blah......and i kept telling him that he's lost me and all that......he still makes me laugh though......but i have to keep telling myself......"LIES, IT'S ALL LIES"......

anyway, erin came back......saying the game was good......and all that.....but she had a headache......and laid down for a nap......i decided to take a nap too......we woke up around 8pm.....and decided to head over to THE DOME on sunset to watch "the exorism of emily rose"........the movie was alright......it wasn't as scary as i thought it would be.......after reading the "da vinci code"......i don't know......stuff about christ and the devil.....well.....doesn't really......um......how do i say it????......um......i don't know if the book has shaken my faith completely.....but i'm much more open minded now......(more about that in my "da vinci code" thread - which i just realized, i need to write.....lol)

well the movie freaked out erin......but not so much me......i wanted to talk about the movie.....but talking about demons and stuff like that freaked her out......we went back to the hotel......and i asked her if to stop by the liquor store for vodka and oj.......i wish i had bought rum and coke......when we got back to the hotel......erin was supposed to teach me how to play YAHTZEE......cos she didn't want to go out......and i thought it would be funny to learn while i was drunk......but once again.....erin fell asleep......and i was left drinking on my own......and let me tell ya......it isn't fun, drinking in your hotel room, in los angeles while watching STAND BY ME.......so i gave it up......and went to sleep......

day 4, sunday september 11

the four year anniversary of 9/11 i spent driving to las vegas......erin was rushing me telling me to hurry cos she wanted to get to vegas........and while on the road......she was bummed that she didn't go to the beach......i thought to myself that we had plenty of time to go to the beach because it's only a 6 hour drive to vegas......but i just kept my mouth shut......

we got to vegas around 4pm.......and i was tired......and wanted to take a nap......but erin wanted to get out and gamble......i told her that she should go swimming while i rested cos she had been DYING to go swimming.....but she didn't want to go by herself.......so i reluctantly decided to go with erin down to the casino......(we stayed at the STARDUST).......and i sat there while she gambled......i'm not much of a gambler......in fact *I* don't like gambling......it's just not for me......but i gambled a little bit......if i do gamble.......i try my luck on the $5 blackjack tables.......and yeah......i wasn't that lucky.......i figured that if i had a more positive attitude, postitve things would happen......but i already had a negative 'tude about it......so yeah.....you can guess what happened......

after gambling a bit at the STARDUST......we decided to eat dinner at the FRONTIER.......they had a special.......steak and shrimp for $8.95.......i figured that couldn't be bad......we get in there and got play books......each with either free dessert or wine with dinner.......erin opted for free dessert......and i chose wine......(what can i say.....i'm a lush sometimes).......besides it was free......and i wasn't sure if i'd like it......might as well find out for free right????

well......it came down to me not liking wine......maybe if it was chilled or something like that......it was warm and i think i could have enjoyed it if it was cold......i don't know if you can drink wine cold.....but i think it would have help my experience......lol

after dinner we headed down the strip......by now the vegas lights were on.....and it was cool enough to walk.......we first stopped at TREASURE ISLAND and watched the "Sirens of T.I" show.....which i thought was awesome......and looking at all the hotels......i had a deep longing to see a CIRQUE DE SOLEI show......i've always wanted to see one......but i didn't have much money or time......besides, erin wasn't interested in seeing one......so the closest i got to seeing a CIRQUE show.....was the big screen advertizements for them......*sigh*......oh well huh???

well from TREASURE ISLAND, we went in for a bit......walked around the casino......took pictures.......and erin gambled on the tables......while i sat in front of a slot machine smoking a cigarette......i looked at all the people around be......and they were all old.......seriously......like old and kinda in a daze......playing the slots.......putting money in over and over.......kinda like a deer in the headlights........mesmerized by spinning cherries and sevens.......kinda disturbing......

anyway, we walked around TREASURE ISLAND......and kinda got lost.......we couldn't find the doors to get out of the casino and back to the strip.......erin and i ended up in some back lot somewhere......and ended up in another casino.......*chuckles*.......and we don't even know which casino we were in......it could have been the MIRAGE......but looking back......i'm not to sure......lol

well.....we walked around A LOT......we passed CESAERS PALACE......and holy freaking crap......that's HUGE.....we got all excited cos of the different statues we could take pictures in front of.......then we would walk some more.......turn our heads and gaze across the street at all the pretty lights.......and fifteen minutes of walking......we gaze our eyes back on our side of the street.....and we're STILL in front of CESAERS PALACE.......yeah......it's huge......

we walked some more.......getting down to the BELLAGIO.......and we went in......and wow was it pretty......

******MORE TO COME*******