The Holy Grail of Celebrity Graves

As one might imagine, for people interested in celebrity graves, the one currently garnering the most lust is that of Michael Jackson. Mainly because it's off-limits to the general public. Those are always the most fun to be able to see!

I happen to have the good fortune to be super-tight buds with a gal who is a property owner, not only at Glendale Forest Lawn... not only in the Great Mausoleum... but actually IN Holly Terrace, which is the precise wing of the Great Mausoleum where MJ is currently interred.

Having said that, when we set out for Glendale this morning, we were not setting out to see MJ. When Forest Lawn sez something's off limits, it's OFF LIMITS. THEY ARE NOT KIDDING, PEOPLE. So we had no reason to believe that we would be able to find MJ, let alone see his tomb.

So imagine our surprise when, after visiting my friend's dad, we rounded a corner and there it was -- the final resting place of the King of Pop. The only reason we knew this was it was because we'd seen this photo on the internet. Otherwise, near as I could tell, there was no indication that it was him. It was quite dark in there, and if his name was on the sarcophagus, I didn't see it. It was SURROUNDED by prezzies sent in from people, so if you've sent him a prezzie, they do leave it there. For awhile, anyway.

Sadly, I could not photograph this for you folks. Security cameras were EVERYWHERE, and I was afraid of gettin' us kicked out (there are signs everywhere that say "no photographs permitted", and they WERE watching us on the security cams). So what you see below are the few pix I was able to sneak when there WASN'T a security camera trained on me, before I got caught and told to knock it off.

I do not expect to go into the Great Mausoleum again, because it's really NOT friendly to visitors. That kind of takes the fun out of it, feeling vaguely like a criminal. (This is probably why I've only been inside this mausoleum once, like 25 years ago -- that time, I got to see Gable & Lombard!) I will also say this: It is the last place on earth I would want to be laid to rest. It is extremely cold, very dark in places, gothic, foreboding, and depressing. Creepy music is pumped in. It's kind of like a place your 80-year-old parents would bury you, if you were rich like Michael Jackson, but it's not anywhere he would want to be, I'm quite sure, and not anywhere *I* would ever want to be. Don't get me wrong -- it's absolutely beautiful inside, and VERY cool to see... but too creepy for eternity, IMHO.

These are my thoughts, by me.

Kelsey is doing some modeling.

Thanks to the nice folks at Dirty Dog Wash in Huntington Beach for using Kelsey in their new flyers... and to Chris Adam, the designer, for spotting Kelsey on Flickr! We're so proud of our beautiful girl. We will for sure be taking her in for a bath after our next visit to Huntington Dog Beach!

Ladies & Gentlemen,

I give you... Mr. Robbie Rist. ::SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE:: I'M NOT WORTHY! I'M NOT WORTHY!

Science Fair!

The Boy has been workin' all weekend on his Science Fair project! It's related to balloons. And temperature. There is much balloon-popping going on, and data collection, and graph making! It's awesome and I'm glad @mrquizzical handles this stuff soz ah don't hafta.

I DID assist with balloon measurement for a time, as the boy's eardrums were takin' a beating from the really loud popping. And I helped shop for supplies like construction paper and glue sticks. So, y'know, I'm not *completely* useless. :-)

Tour of Cool Valley Haunts, Episode 4: SIERRA'S!

I needed a central location for a Twitter date recently (thanks, Sheena!), and also required margaritas. Hmmmm... Where to go? I wanted somewhere Woodland-Hillsish. But I didn't feel like Sagebrush, or El Torito, or Acapulco...

Then I remembered Sierra's. We used to eat at Sierra's when I worked at Sebastian! It was yummy! Plus I was thinkin', Sierra's is technically a "cool old valley haunt" now, so I could do a blog post about it -- always a nice bonus. And so, here we are.

Sierra's was started by the same folks who started Mission tortillas! I did not know that 'til now. They also own the Mission Burrito restaurants. Sierra's opened in 1969 at the corner of Vanowen & Canoga.

My photos do not REMOTELY do it justice. The decor inside is just AWESOME. And the food is great! Stick-to-your-ribs mexican. Not to mention the steamiest fajitas I have EVER seen!

What are we waitin' for?! ¡Vamanos!

Ima Superfood!

This made me LOL.

Sometimes, he goes with the NYT instead.

My 11-year-old child, readin' the newspaper.

SOMEBODY pinch me!!! SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

::proudz::

Another Furlough Friday!

My furlough days are winding down! Today, after a lovely breakfast out with the hubs, I decided to run over to one of my zen places -- Green Arrow Nursery in Van Nuys.

I dunno what it is about this place. I don't even like working in the yard all that much. Or at all. But walking around here on a cool, quiet morning is one of my favorite things... Peaceful, quiet, smells nice.

I even bought some flowers for our front yard. Planted some of 'em, too! ;-)

On the Edge of Seventeen

Heck, this kitteh isn't on the EDGE of Seventeen... SHE'S 17 YEARS OLD.

HARD. TO. BELIEVE.!



Click here to see how she celebrated her Sweet 16!

You're Welcome, Burton Cummings!

Thank YOU for Tweeting, Sir!

Rose Bowl Flea Market

We've been going to the Rose Bowl Flea Market for, ohhhh... nigh on 20 years now.

But I gotta tell ya: never have I seen more awesome stuff there than we saw today.

I dunno if it's the bad economy, or what, but MAN! The cool-factor of the stuff at the Flea this time was THROUGH THE ROOF! These pix don't remotely do it justice. It's as if every awesome old Hollywood estate sale emptied its contents outside the Rose Bowl.

If you can get over there next month, I recommend it!

More Mamie!

Ah LOVES me some Mamie!!!

She is a social-media marvel!

She tweets, too!

Tour of Cool Valley Haunts, Episode 3

I've been trying to visit some of the awesome "old Valley haunts" that surround me, before they're all gone, like the dearly departed Valley Ranch BBQ. I recently had the opportunity to go to 94th Aero Squadron, where I had not been since my 21st birthday! Do not ask me why I haven't been there; just haven't gotten round twit in 20-odd years I guess.

So, I was delighted to drive up and find it just as I remembered it. The restaurant has been beautifully maintained; the old biplane still sits out front, and the grounds are as lovely as ever. I was thrilled to find it looking so beautiful! I entered the establishment and found much the same thing. It does not look dated or run-down in any way. It is still completely charming, featuring the same wonderful view of the runway at Van Nuys airport and the same fabulous collection of aviation memorabilia.

As an added bonus, the food was delicious, and the service was excellent. My lovely companion Donna ordered a vodka gimlet, which was expertly prepared. Our food was nummy. So, BRAVO, 94th Aero Squadron! I'll be back, and it won't be any 20 years from now either!