Trip Reports - Trip Report: Catman & wanderlust in L-A!

Sorry it's a big late but I had a LOT of stuff I had to get done. Please enjoy anyway even though it's "old news:"

Why I love United!

WIth under 90 minutes to get from work to Jersey City to Billy my driver to EWR I rushed and rushed. After zipping thru security at EWR I saw only one lonely Angel at the RCC Check-in (I offered to buy her some candy for switching my seat to 1B, but she declined) Balou one of my three my favorite Bartender angels was at the bar and had my Sam Adams ready. (I forgot they had the summer brew and she reminded me half way through chugging my Sams.)

Rush to the gate and they started boarding 5 minutes EARLY. I rush on this plane and one of my F-A angels Dana was on board. She said she remembered me from two red eyes I took and how I was so nice to everyone. Kevin the purser stopped by to ask about the cats and another angel, Jeanine, came over and told them to take good care of one of her favorite PremEx's.

The Coke kept flowing before and after takeoff (Dana knew I liked PEPSI and apologized for that.) Then the Becks. then the Geyser Chardoneay (SP?) which with the chicken was exception. And I told Dana so.

Then I dozed during "28 Days" (Sandra tries and marginally succeeds to be a dramatic actress... the movie was too long and full of cliqued (cla-shayed) and Sanda still knows three cutsey expressions. Jodie foster she's not.

When I woke up on the floor was a bottle of teh Geiser Peak wine from dana and teh U-A f-A's (the guy next to me said the other f-a's and the pilot walked by and siad "oh it's teh catman." I left the pixs out.

A PURRECT Welcoming Committee..

I landed 15 minutes early (a shocker for L-A) and there at the gate was PremEx, Jailer and Holly to welcome me to L-A! We had Starbucks coffee, theya ll laughed i was lugging a bottle of wine around and helped get me to PremEx's car for the LONG ride to the Universal HIlton.

PremEx gave me the run down of the sites from teh Staples Arena (where Stimpy sees some of his Flyertalk friends... I was looking forward to meeting him) to the Hollywood sign to the various studios and some place we drove by called the tropicana )I guess it's an orange juice store! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

SO this is ZIP in Check-In zzzzzz....

I arrived at the Universal Hilton and the desk person could not find my reservation. The girl was new and I decided to be patient and wait and wait... zip in check-in became zzzzzzz check-in zzzz because they needed three people to get me in the Hotel. (wanderlust did have a reservation... maybe something against Cat lovers named Mark.)

The upgrade with teh gold card cleared after I showed my HHonors card as well as my UA PremEx card (for 500 points!) Next time I'll check-in upstairs at the HHonors room (didn't realize the HHonors Towers room has reservation capacity.)

The room was satisfactory, no heavenly beds but a nice view of Universal City, Burbank and the mountains.

After a nap a black russian at the Towers HHonors room where I met up with PremEx and then gave him his birthday gift. He was floored by the yellow Brooks Brothers Polo Shirt with SHeep on them! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif but I said "I always give friends who made me a better man something special.

The orginal plan called for wanderlust to go to Ruth's Chris in Beverly Hills. as his flight got delayed and with the big drive. PremEx suggested we go to dinner anyway and wanderlust joins us later.

The Friday dinner choice: The SMokehouse, at Burbank Very good food, great service, very tasty Prime Rib and THAT GARLIC BREAD IS VERY VERY ADDICTIVE! I COULD EAT IT ALL DAY!

PremEx called it a night so I went back to the hotel to wait for bruddar wanderlust, whose plane took off almost 2 hours later.

The Purrfect Wine: for Buffalo Wings.

After a long delay: wanderlust met up with me at the Hilton. He was hungry but decided to go to a swim. Luckily the pool was open so we both changed into swim trunks and did some laps and some good talks in the pool.

The rule for the weekend: no worries, just fun. Poor wanderlust didn't have any dinner (not even nuts on the shuttle flight, but he DID GET UPGRADED! So we both agreed Buffalo wings was the right dinner.

But what to drink? I had the Geyser Creek Chardoneay so we cracked that open and found the wine goes purrfectly with Buffalo wings. I ate before but wanderlust talked me into a few wings. Nicely done. We enjoyed the wings while watching "Keeping the Faith" on the hotel t-v... three and a half paws up if only for the NYC locations, a fun story and three great performances: Edward Norton (who I never saw as a comic... he was the priest who with his best buddy the Rabbi (the very funny Ben Stiller) fall for the beautiful childhood best girl friend (Jenna Efflan (SP?) from "Dwarma and Greg" who has a lot of potential as a big screen star.) A Nice funny movie with likeable characters to relax for the next day of adventures.

Next: Two Overgrown kids in Universal Studios!



[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 09-04-2000).]

Catman...I want to THANK YOU again for the Birthday Dinner! It was great seeing you again and look forward to more of our stumbling around Seattle. Grow the goatee back! I finally shaved mine and like the clean shaven look...opps, sorry, I was going omni here. Great trip report except for the Sam's. In Seattle, we will be following Essxjay around to all of the brewpubs then we will have to write up a trip (crawl) report.

Thanks again!
Dave aka newself

>^-^<

Excellent report, Catman http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif. I got some tickets to an advance screening of Keeping the Faith, and everyone was laughing so hard, they almost had the stop the movie (wonder if thye can rewind in in the theater http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif)

A Whiskerless Cat

I woke up and decided since I'm in a new place I wanted a new look so off went the goatee. Wanderlust saw me later and was a bit startled by who he called a "whiskerless cat!"

POSTSCRIPT: Now that I see it, I decided the goatee's coming back a.s.a.p... Eddie didn't recognize me when I came home and attacked!

Two Overgrown Kids Invade Universal Studios

Keeping with the theme of "no worries, no plan" Wanderlust suggested spending the day at Universal Studios (since we both slept in Saturday very very late and NEEDED IT!) SO after using the Triple A discount got a day pass.

Some of the highlights:

*The Studio Tour: Interesting and nice to see some of the sets. There is a problem with consistancy. Wanderlust saw in the Earthquake section with a sign that said the San Fran Subway went to the airport. He said "that's not happening probably in our lifetimes even." He also pointed out and I noticed some of the station stops mixed up. Call in the Consistancy Experts!!!

*The Terminator Show: With the three D glasses an awesome show. Thanks to wanderlust's knowledge of E-T trivia "what was the last words E-T said to Eliot" (and I still draw a blank!" we got passes to avoid the lines. We were allowed to bring in up to six people so we brought in a couple and their young daughter (who did the same to Waterworld... which was as dull as the dumb movie.)

*The Jurassic Park Ride: advice: DO THIS FIRST! Wanderlust and I lost each other in the crowd so I went back to the Hilton and he lost his prized ballcap a friend gave him in Australia. (I surprised him later with a similar cap with the words L-A on it and he was touched for my kindness.)

Off to Delius

We spent too long at the park so we had to rush to get to Delius, a nice pre-set menu restaurant near Long Beach. Jailer and his wife Joanne and Craig and his wife put it all together. They came later, after wanderlust and I chatted with PremEx, Hunnybear, Annas, Newself (it was a week before his birthday so I got him a little gift and card: wear it well Brother) Holly, Kokonutz, Ken and Danielle, cigarman and meeting for the first time Botech (nice to meet you finally) and the famous Stimpy, who told us of his travel adventures.

IT was wanderlust's first official large F-T party and he was the hit of the party. I joked "Ok, he's taking over the boards and I'm going to Hawaii." Well bruddar wanderlust, you can take over the boards anytime as my OTHER ACTING COMMANDER CATCOP (shhh.. don't tell newself!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif )

The menu was pretty good. the five wine selection was the best, and wanderlust and I liked the first choice and the desert wine. (I can't remember the names of the wines. Can you help me out with them? I think you got the card for them buddy?)

Rudi didn't forget us that evening so he sent a giant box of chocolate which kept going around the table. Stimpy then brought coupons and I took a U-A drink coupon and a President's Club pass. Thanks stimpy!

Catman's First yard of Beer

Tired from the day and wanting bed, I wanted to go back to the Hilton. But PremEx, wanderlust and Holly and the rest of the gang talked me into going to the "official bar of Flyertalk, West Coast" as I call it: THE YARDHOUSE...

[b] FOr me there are two official Bars on the East Coast: The Essex House Bar, NYC and Whisky Blue, W Hotel -- which I think with the nicely dressed female bartenders the boys will like in particular! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif )

Hunnybear, Jailer and Craig and their wives and botech went off home but the rest of us went for the yards of beer. It's a beer nervana with over 250 types of beer. I think wanderlust had water (he was driving, always the responsible one, but was disappinted he could not try his favorite beer, Sam Adams) I was talked into a Carlsberg by Holly, which was good but NO SAM ADAMS!

We found a place outside and everyone talked of miles and points and Flyeratlk and other gossip and stuff. Cigarman, Koko and Holly were the only ones to do yards, I did a half yard but ended up finishing Holly's Yard.

PremEx came baring cigars. I was given a short Fuente and I initally set "this is a nothing cigar" (Never, EVER insult a giver of cigars!!!) Premex said trust him -- it has a kick! And what a kick! One of my favorites and slow smoking and I want another one again BIG BRUDDAR when I see you again!

Cigarman finished his yard first. PremEx somehow got a pix of me doing my yard -- and wanderlust grabbed my camera and got me drinking the yard. Newself joked he got the best b-day gift: Catman drinking yards at the heard house coming to the Yardhouse.

It got near two so am wanderlust and I called it a night drove back to the Hilton and talked of another great day among best buddies. I promised him the next time we'll stay in Long Beach so we can do a yards of beer sampler and just walk to the hotel.

Next: Catman and Wanderlust go Star Gazing!



[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 09-04-2000).]

Star Search!

Wanderlust and I knew we had a special b-day dinner to attend for BIG BRUDDAR PremEx that evening so we decided to do our star hunting early. We had a light breakfast at the Hilton towers Lounge (where I brightened a sad wanderlust who lost his favorite ball cap with a new one!) We headed for Hollywood.

The big goal for the day was to make it to the Hollywood sign and YALP. That would come later.

So Many Stars, so Little Time

We both needed a rest room and found a theatre that we thought was a museum. As the woman walked us through we found it was a Scientology headquarters. We kept walking and decided to go elsewhere! (Time was limited so we didn't have time for a lecture!) We found a rest room at the McDonald's (where Marilyn Monroe's star is outside!)

We found a place to park one block off Hollywood BLVD then started walking. I surprised wanderlust with my knowledge of almost every star on the walk (a lot of them I think dated from the silent film era!) I laid on the sidewalk and got one next to Bob hope (I was disappointed I could not find the stars for Jodie foster or Michelle Pfeffer.) and I snapped Harrison Ford to give to Theresa and Holly later.

Wanderlust and I also found two empty spots and decided that's where our STARS would be.

Two Circles Beat the Square, and AND a Pair of Olympic Babes

Wanderlust wanted to see a live taping of a show so we found a guy giving free passes to "Hollywood Squares." So with 15 minutes to make it to the taping we ran along HOllywood Blvd, darting around tourists along the way, made it to the car and through a busy traffic sunday to the CBS studios (thanks to the directing skills of the Catnagator! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif )

The line was already long and our chances were small to get in. But we decided to wait it out.

About a half hour later... the woman took pity on we two dudes and let us in. We got second row seats smack in the middle right in front of the big box of squares.

We were at two tapings... the theme was "Salute to Olympic Greats" with Bruce Jenner, Carl Lewis, Greg Lougannis (who kept flubbing his local station spots!) and the babe Janet Evans (she grew from a nice looking swimmer to a model looking woman) and the very cute Kerri Shruggs.

The guy warming up the audience looked like the creator of Laugh In (maybe some of our older Flyers know of the show..) who kept dancing and tossing out shirts and hats. We kept missing the tosses.

Whoppie was there and not very sociable. (why was I not surprised) plus Brad Garrett from "Everyone loves Raymond" (who was funnier) Carolyn Rae (from Sabrina) and the guy who writes jokes for the Oscars.

There was also some dance contest to win t-shirts and hats. Wanderlust and I ducked and stayed out of it. (what some people will do for a shirt!)

The questions were easy and the two contestants missed a few. They warned us NOT to yell out the answers.

There was one hat left. Wanderlust traded the L-A hat I gave him for a Hollywood Squares hat. I was crushed but I should know Wanderlust better. Wanderlust pointed at me and the warmup guy tossed the L-A hat to me. Wanderlust said "Well I had to get my buddy a Squares hat." So we made the trade. What a wonderful best buddy!

The shows are set to air the Thursday and Friday at the end of September. They camera panned the audience and maybe they got wanderlust and me! Watch for the next two Hollywood stars! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Dinner Overlooking L-A

Wanderlust and I had to scramble to get to Castaways overlooking Burbank. fearing we would get lost we met up with Tropical Flyer, Susan/COCOANUT (I told wanderlust of PIP memories!) and PremEx who drove us in a caravan to the restaurant.

The weather was very nice for viewing downtown L-A and we had a good otudoor table. Holly joined us then Craig and we shared soem crazy maragarita mixture. We met up with cigarman, hunnybear, QUiet Lion )who I discussed plans for Vegas with!) and AnnaS.

The dinner was good, not the greatest food. The company was first class and first rate. The dinner was to salute PremEx for his birthday so he was gifted early and often, topping with a cake and people singing Happy Birthday (I never had anyone sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me in a restaurant http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif ) but he was surprised and he was happy. That was a highlight of this whole trip. Many many more bdays BIG BRUDDAR!

A Secret Spot!

Wanderlust and I had to leave to find our Yalping spot. So we drove and drove thru the Hollywood Hills and found a place above the Hollywood sign A Secret place I can't tell you where it is!... but very very special with an awesome FOUR PAWS UP view!

It was late and we decided not to start an avalanche so we did a SILENT YALP and spent about 15 minutes overlooking L-A below and talking of how a little Bulletin Board brought two great buds together and of a great friendship just getting better. It was very spirital, just being above L-A, in the sky, and wanderlust making it happen (I told him it's the ONE thing I wanted to do in L-A!

Thanks man! This is the greatest memory of the whole L-A weekend and we have to get back here!

After getting lost going back we made our way to the Westin and our much needed Heavenly Beds for a few hours of Double snoring miles before heading home early Monday morning.

Thanks everyone for making me like L-A a little more than before. I'll be back. And thanks Best Buddy, Bruddar and Trip Leader Wanderlust for another no worries always fun, always an adventure weekend! Can't wait for our next adventure! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif You are the best man!

FIN


[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 08-30-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 09-04-2000).]

I have lived 15 years in LA and I still have yet to visit Universal Studios. But now I know, try the Jurrasic Park ride first! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I enjoy when people do trip reports of a trip to LA because I usually can relate to every place they visit and I can "see" everything they are seeing!

My wife and I flew to so. cal on our "first date" and stayed at Universal Hilton and went to the park. Of course the second morning there was a major earthquake "the real kind" out in the desert which dramatically affected the "stationary motion" of the Hilton. A more exciting ride for sure than the park exhibit.

Catman, a great report for a wonderful trip. I'm glad you had a good time visiting LA, and I regret not being able to join you guys in the fun. Next time for sure!

Super report Catman-iac! Had a great time on my first FTalkether!~

That was a cool spot up in those hills, eh? Enjoyed Hollywood and Universal. Wouldn't have been the same without the Catnagator. Good folks all. Good cigars, good chocolates. Looking forward to the next go-around. Perhaps near Katmandu? ><breve>ö<breve><

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No worries

Super report Catman-iac! Had a great time on my first FTalkether!~

That was a cool spot up in those hills, eh? Enjoyed Hollywood and Universal. Wouldn't have been the same without the Catnagator. Good folks all. Good cigars, good chocolates. Looking forward to the next go-around. Perhaps near Katmandu? >˜ö˜<