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Hi Lunies, Although this is not "fascinating" news, it is most definitely non-PG and it is "Miscellaneous" so I'm posting this here (besides, no one really reads this section and it'll get buried under the other topics soon enough). I am going to see the Ellen show on March 8, 2012! I'm so excited about having my ticket request be selected -- it's one of those things that I decided to enter and never thought I'd get them. I'm currently looking into the cheapest flights/hotels during that time. Can't wait to finally see California -- even a small bit of it for a short time -- I can check it off my bucket list!

So, as it turns out . . . I made all of my flight arrangements . . . you know, buying the "non-refundable" tickets for the odd times that I must fly and am actually quite happy with the deal. Finalized those plans on Fri 2/3/12, went to work and today (2/4) I come home to a voice mail that the show date has changed -- ack! However, it's changed to March 7th, so it's okay! Not sure what I would have done otherwise!

Very cool and glad the change didn't mess things up for you. Do you know who is going to be on the show yet?

Hi Zen, I don't know who the guests will be on that day . . . I have a whole slew of people I'd love to see though -- I'm sure I'll be happy to be there and it probably won't matter in the end. I actually really like Ellen's show because it's "entertaining" even if she is addressing real subjects, she has a nice way of doing so. As it gets closer to the date, I'll be sure to update everyone!

Well, flights are booked; hotel is booked, airport shuttle to/from hotel is booked -- now it's planning the "things to do" while there that I get to do this week -- open to any suggestions and ideas from any lunies who might lurk here from the LA/Burbank area.

Congrats on getting to see the Ellen Show, I'm sure you'll have a great time Here are a couple of places to see in L.A./Hollywood Hollywood Forever Cemetery Los Angeles Not as morbid as it sames - many famous and not so famous people are there, (including my dad and grandmother) http://www.interment.net/data/us/ca/losangeles/hollywood/hollywood.htm Hollywood Forever Cemetery, originally called Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery, is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles, California. It is located at 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, adjacent to the north wall, or back, of Paramount Studios. Among those interred or entombed in the cemetery are a number of important personalities and famous persons, including men and women from the entertainment industry, and important people in the history of Los Angeles, and their relatives. Douglas Fairbanks (1883–1939), actor Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (1909–2000), actor Peter Finch (1912–1976), actor Peter Lorre (1904–1964), actor Jayne Mansfield (1933–1967), actress (she has a cenotaph; she is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania)Tyrone Power (1914–195, actor Dee Dee Ramone (Douglas Glenn Colvin) (1952–2002), musician and member of The Ramones Johnny Ramone (1948–2004), musician and member of The Ramones (his ashes were put into the pedestal of his statue) Rudolph Valentino (1895–1926), actor Rudy is in the Cathedral Mausoleum and not to far from him is my grandmother, Martina http://www.olvera-street.com/html/olvera_street.html Olvera Street is the birthplace of the City of Los Angeles, otherwise known as El Pueblo Historic Monument. The colorful village features 27 historic buildings with a traditional Mexican style plaza area. Wander around the marketplace and shop for souvenirs including handcrafted Mexican wares typical of old Mexico. There are also free docent tours by Las Angelitas. Stroll through this beautiful street and stop for the popular taquitos or tacos at the outdoor cafes. Olvera Street also offers a variety of traditional authentic Mexican cuisine, with delicious enchiladas, mole and other native dishes. On weekends you can enjoy outdoor entertainment by strolling bollero musicians, Mariachis music and performances by Aztec Indians and folkloric dancing. I hope you have a great time

Here's two more - I won't bother you further Formosa Cafe in West Hollywood, California in 2008 The Formosa Cafe is a restaurant and bar at 7156 Santa Monica Boulevard at Formosa Avenue, West Hollywood, California, that has a long history of patronage from movie stars and movie industry people because of its location immediately adjacent to Samuel Goldwyn Studio http://seeing-stars.com/Dine2/Formosa.shtml Next to Warner Hollywood Studio - great for star-gazing, a few movies had scenes filmed there. Inside are pictures of famous actors who have dined there like James Dean, Paul Newman, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando etc. It's converted from an old trolley car Casa Escobar is a nice Mexican restaurant Casa Escobar - Los Angeles 2500 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA * Entree Pricing: $ (under $20) This enduring Mexican restaurant resides on a popular Santa Monica restaurant strip and continues to dispense dishes like carne asada, made with choice New York steak and deep-fried jumbo shrimp with cocktail sauce. However, most people choose to mix-and-match tacos, tamales and chiles rellenos from the a la carte menu.

Your welcome

Oh my gosh Pat, that is so cool! Good for you! I love L,A. lived there for 5 years! I am so happy for you and glad that the date change was minor!!! You'll have a great time!

Hollywood Forever Cemetery My niece, Elizabeth, sitting close to Tyrone Power http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg577/scaled.php?server=577&filename=hollywoodforevercemeter.jpg&res=medium

Congrat's on scoring those tickets! Ellen always gets everyone laughing. While I've been to Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Pasadena and venice beach, etc. I really can not tell you anyone place to visit. Venice Beach is always fun as the mixture of people, different cultures and shops is never dull. Have fun and if you want to see the real city, ditch the tourist area's and wander down market streets. I've always ditched any tour I was on when in other countries, and spoke to the locals who would take me to the real city. Always found the best little pubs and resteraunts and gathered many a story and adventure when a local would take me under their wings to show me the sights. Be safe and take lots of pictures and of course, keep your pack (US) informed!

Hi Again! Thanks so much for the info Jadzia -- I have jotted it down and will keep it in mind. I appreciate your suggestions and don't view them as a "bother" at all. Thanks also to Lore and SR -- I really am excited about the trip. It's only a few short days and I wish it were longer, but I will be sure to jam pack it full of as much adventure as I can -- it's how I roll anyway. SR -- I agree with you about avoiding the tourists spots -- although I'll be sure to do one touristy thing, I'm usually better at getting local and exploring on my own. I will take lots of photos of course and just promise me you won't get all jealous when you see me hangin' with George Clooney -- I know he's a guaranteed good time! I will be sure to keep all informed, as well. As for Ellen -- I have always enjoyed her show and although I do not sit down and watch it every day, if I have the tv on at that time, then it's Ellen who is on. I like her because her show is always entertaining -- even if she addresses some real issues, she's very fun to watch and laugh with. Okay, lunies, thanks again for your suggestions and I'll keep you posted! BTW -- I do not check in here regularly any more and sometimes it's more than a couple of days before I get to read here, so please forgive me if my responses aren't timely -- I'm not ignoring you, I am just most likely not here.

Hey Pat here's another place to go, last time I went there was July 79 visiting my dad Hollywood Wax Museum http://www.hollywoodwaxmuseum.com/hollywood/ Address 6767 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (323) 462-5991 Driving directions Hours 10 a.m. to Midnight, 365 days a year Hollywood Wax Museum The Hollywood Wax Museum, located on famous Hollywood Boulevard along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is the longest running wax museum in the United States, with more than 45 years of continuous operation by the same owners since 1965. Hollywood Wax Museum is the only wax museum in the country devoted entirely to celebrity figures. That means a visit to the Hollywood Wax Museum puts you face-to-face with icons of the silver screen, recreated so faithfully that you’d swear they were alive. Hollywood Stars We want to bring you as close as possible to some of the most famous people in show business, including Hollywood stars, television personalities and characters from your favorite movies. You’ll find uncanny replicas of A-list stars like Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Gwenyth Paltrow, and Kirsten Dunst along with lifelike figures of classic entertainers like Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, John Wayne, and Elvis Presley. Dazzle your friends and family with pictures of yourself in the spotlight with Matthew McConaughey, Halle Berry, and even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. There are also sets devoted to the scariest and most memorable horror movie villains and blockbuster moments from the top 100 movies of all time. We invite you to visit Hollywood Wax Museum and see for yourself why more than forty years of Hollywood fans have left feeling star struck! http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg694/scaled.php?server=694&filename=hollywoodwax001.jpg&res=medium http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg163/scaled.php?server=163&filename=hollywoodwax002.jpg&res=medium http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg19/scaled.php?server=19&filename=hollywoodwax003.jpg&res=medium http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg705/scaled.php?server=705&filename=hollywoodwax004.jpg&res=medium My dad, David Miller's funeral at the Hollywood Forever cemetery - you can almost see the large headstone that says Valdez, it's a family plot, though Mimi is inside the mausoleum I am in the picture sitting next to my brother Chris, but I'm in the shadows - my step-mother insisting I where a dress - I don't wear a dress - but she found out her sister was going to wear pants so I didn't have too - that doesn't seem quite fair I did not impress my sister at the services at the church, afterward I stood on the stairs outside the church door, looking around I mused, "This looks like the area where U2 did the (on the rooftop) video for "The streets have no name" got a dirty look from my sister Joanne. I Just as we arrived at the cemetery there was a 4.5 earthquake - I've never been outside before during an earthquake - strange feeling the strongest quake we've been in was when we stayed at my dad's in Glendale, Ca - woke up with the bed shaking strongly it was a 5.5 Leesha was only 6 but she slept through it lol

Hi Lunies, I received my confirmation letter/info from the Ellen Show yesterday and now I can begin to finalize some of my plans for my daily activities -- until I knew what time I had to be there, etc., I did not want to make any commitments to any other activities. I have received some California / LA Tour books to help me map out my days in a good way -- my days are limited there and I want to capture a little bit of everything, without spending all day on one tour/topic. Thanks again, all, for the suggestions and hopefully, I will get to visit many of the places you recommended. The only place that I don't see myself going to is the cemetery, although thank you for the suggestion. As interesting of a place that it might be and as many famous people as it may have buried there -- I simply do not visit cemeteries at all. I do not visit the cemetery that my parents, brother, grandparents, aunts. uncles, cousins and friends are buried -- and I believe they're all cool with that. My reason for not visiting cemeteries is more because I do not "get" anything out of it because I do not believe the person is there and to stand over a spot that holds a container which holds the person's physical remains . . . well, it just never did anything for me. I spoke about this at length with my mom (before she died, of course!) because I wanted her to know that I would not be visiting her grave after she died. My father had died while I was a teenager and I think my mom thought I didn't visit his grave for other reasons -- I just told her that I didn't understand why people did that -- bringing flowers, tributes, etc., to the graves on holidays, birthdays, etc., -- I still do not understand what it does for people, but I acknowledge that for some people, it gives them a good feeling, so I don't criticize people who do it; I just don't do it. Since I don't visit cemeteries of those I knew I loved, I am never interested in visiting cemeteries of strangers -- even celebrity strangers. Last year, I had the pleasure of visiting Belgium (with a long-time lunie, Patrick Biard) and we went to Paris for the day. We went to the cemetery where Jim Morrison is buried (Patrick wanted to visit a few other graves of famous composers, etc.). Although the cemetery itself is very impressive, I joked with Patrick that this place gave me the creeps -- there were crows hackling in the background and it was breeezy -- all of the makings of a scary movie except that it was hot and sunny outside! (I especially thought it was funny that there I was visiting Jim Morrison's grave and I do not like Jim Morrison, never liked the Doors (I know, how unAmerican am I? Don't like Elvis either, so I suppose I should be crucified right here and now? ). Anyway, I took a few photos because I know people who like Jim Morrison and I did it for them, so to speak. So, all this to say, I'm looking forward to seeing LA and it's surrounding area -- the Wax Museum sounds like fun and again, I'll be sure to take photos and give updates -- George Clooney won't mind me using his computer I think!

That cemetery has a great history, but to be honest the only reason I ever went was to visit family and then check out the celebrities. When my dad first took me, we took some flowers to Mimi, then around the corner to see Rudy As you can see of the picture of my niece sitting on the marble bench at Tyrone Power's grave, my dad said "why don't you sit on it" I said no way, it seemed disrespectful - move forward 20 years and there's my sister taking a picture Elizabeth sitting there and she doesn't look at that thrilled lol Olvera Street is great and part of my family history - and when you drive on Sepulveda St. that's named after one of my great great something grand-father. Looking into the history - there is a town north of Madrid, and during the Inquisition the family was being persucuted for being Sephardic Jews so they changed their name to that of their town Sepulveda. Like when Vito Andolini accidentally had his name changed at Ellis Island to Vito Corleone (The Godfather) lol

Pat-There are so many things to do in LA. Venice Beach is always an interesting stroll, and the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica is a fun place too. So many things to do-I'd make a list of the top few, and try to work out transportation for those. I've not lived in LA in almost 20 years so I don't know much about the public transportation. The most challenging thing to work out is transportation, because it's not a walking city at all. What things are you most interested in seeing?

Thanks again, lunies! I'm sure to have a great time in the short time that I'm there and as much as I wouldn't normally do the "touristy" thing, I will do some of it because I don't know if I'll ever be there again and don't want to miss some things. For Ela -- Thanks for the suggestions and I'm in the process of making my list (and checking it twice as to the most important places I want to see). As for the public transportation, well, that seems to have improved over the years and as long as I can get to the places that I need to, I'll be okay. I'm staying in a suburb of LA and I'm staying at a very nice place, in the center of the town, within walking distance to the metro. The metro can get me to the central spots in LA and if I do a bus tour I'll be able to pick it up there, etc. I'm arriving at night on Monday, so my actual "days" will be Tuesday, Wed (morning, early afternoon for touring; afternoon, evening for the Ellen show), and Thursday -- I leave very early Friday morning. So, I will want my Tuesday and Thursday to be as jam packed with things as possible. I received really good tour/travel guides from CA -- one specifically for LA, so I'm using that as my guide and will go from there. Thanks again, all! Can't wait to go, but in the meantime, I've many obligations to fulfill here and am also planning my St. Padraic's Day Dinner Party, which will be the weekend after I return from CA, so it looks like March will be a busy month for me.

Pat I'm very happy for you and I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. I'm with you on the whole cemeteries thing- no thanks!

I'm getting more and more excited as I think about the trip. I am going to concentrate on the actual plans next week, where I'll devote a day to "California Dreamin'" (which is the title of my folder for the trip -- I've talked about my "folders" before I think and will elaborate on that at another time, another topic). For now, I'm trying to get things done around the house, filing my taxes, filing my papers from 2011 (this year, it's not really "filing"; it's more like one great big pile of papers in semi-order, put in a box, marked "2011" -- my filing skills seem to have taken a vacation for the whole year, and I'm not about to spend time organizing it now -- it'll all be in the "box" for the taking if anything is needed in the future).! As it turns out, I'll be staying at a really nice central spot, where I can actually walk to many of the restaurants, cafes, shops, and to the metro. Places I want to see are only quick metro rides (15 mins tops). I am looking into the City Pass which allows you to visit a few attractions for a low price. (Patrick and I did this last year in Paris and it was well worth the price). Also, where I work, I am able to get discount tickets to many of the theme parks across the country -- ticketsatwork.com -- and I usually just use them for getting Hershey Park Tickets and local things, but I will probably get my tickets through them because of the discount. So, until next week when I finalize my plans a bit more, have fun here, walking on the moon!

Sounds like you have everything covered and well prepared, Pat! Who will be dog sitting Harry for you while your gone? If we lived closer to each other, I would volunteer as I am sure Otis and Harry would have a ball together.