We Have Returned!

So after four days and nearly 1200 miles of driving, John and I have returned to Santa Cruz ... and I must say it is nice to be home. It was odd driving from extreme hot weather to arriving on Highway 1 only to find it shrouded in fog at 8:30 last night. But it was a good trip and I feel really good about the whole move....

On Friday I had my interview at St. Pucchi Sposa in downtown Westwood - very odd little place. Super ritzy, full of billowy, feathery dresses that reached into the $10K range..... But the interview went well and I should be hearing from them sometime this week. Following that, we ventured out on our apartment hunt, starting in Koreatown in LA.... Nice looking apartment building, but the complete lack of parking anywhere on the streets surrounding the complex prevented us from getting a closer view. So we proceeded on to Hollywood, where we found a cute little apartment, no dishwasher (DAMN!) but a nice area.... We then drove up and down the streets of West Hollywood where John called every complex he could as I drove, making ourselves a plethora of appointments for Saturday. Exhausted after 8 hours of driving through the streets of WeHo, we made it back to OC around 9.....

Saturday we found what hopefully will become our new apartment around August 15th. A nice little place on a quiet street in WeHo, with a dishwasher and A/C.... we're still waiting to hear whether or not we got the place, but I think we have a good shot. Following that, we went to scary Fashion Island in Newport Beach ad wandered around for a while, then had a lovely dinner with my mother-in-law. It was very nice, and great to spend some time with her! Post dinner (and a much-needed Cafe Americano) we went over to the Holscher's for Trivial Pursuit. It was nearly epic, as Dave and Vicky (Todd and Mary's parents) got all but one wedge on their first turn!

Sunday we drove back up to Hollywood and met some of John's filmmaking friends for hotdogs at Pink's and wandered up and down Melrose. It was hot as all hell, but it was cool to experience Hollywood NOT in a car. Then we wandered around West LA for a good part of the evening, retiring at last in Westwood.

Monday - the final leg of the journey. I had the interview at Crate and Barrel - seems promising, I should find out tomorrow. The Beverly Hills store is going to be a HUGE deal and it would be awesome to be a part of the grand opening! We hit some unbearable traffic on that cursed Golden State Freeway (the 5) on our way out of LA, but made it home safe and sound last night around 9.

No more driving.

Ever.