The Girl and I had taken a last minute trip to LA because she was selected as a semi-finalist for America's Next Top Model. We had been to an open casting call in Vancouver about a month prior and they called and said "Can you be in LA next week for an interview?". So we made some quick arrangements, my Mom gave us some of her air miles and we flew to LA. We left early on the morning of her interview and since you can't fly direct from Portland to Burbank, we had to fly to Seattle and then Burbank. While we were waiting to board at Seattle, I noticed that they had called First Class and then they started boarding from the back of the plane. We were in Row 1 and they never called us. I re-checked our boarding passes and realized we were in First Class! I still don't know how that happened.
So, we arrive and take the shuttle to the rental car place. It was cheap and I had never heard of it before: Fox Car Rental. They had no cars. Remember that episode of Seinfeld where he has to explain the meaning of "reservation" to the clerk? That's what about 8 of us were trying to do and I'm turning all Mama Bear on them and I need to get this kid to an interview NOW.
They ended up driving us to another car rental place. It all worked out and we made it in plenty of time.
We stayed in the same hotel where the interviews were taking place. I walked down with her and asked if she wanted me to stay. There were about 80 girls and only a couple of moms. She said she would prefer I go. So I went upstairs and took a nap. Then I went for a walk. Then I ate lunch. Then I hung out in the lobby and watched people. Then I thought about going to Universal Studios because our hotel was right next door, but I thought she might get out and not find me. She spent 8 hours in there. Eight! She was starving and tired by the time they let the girls go and she felt like she didn't get it. In the end, she didn't but we didn't know that at the time. I tried to keep her chin up but she was tired and disappointed. She said "I hope this wasn't a wasted trip". I said "How could it be wasted? We had this great new experience and tomorrow we're going to see things we've never seen!". We ate and went to bed and got up early the next morning to explore Hollywood. We saw the usual places: Walk of Fame, Hollywood sign, etc.
We ate lunch at a neat place called Blu Jam. We saw the tar pits. I don't know why. I think we were driving by and decided to stop. It was a fun day away and when we came home I realized she was the only person I have ever travelled long distance with that I didn't want to kill by the time we got home.
On The Boy front, he ended up moving to North Dakota a couple days after we returned from Roseburg. He got a great job there and is making a boatload of money. He's so homesick and we miss him like crazy. He's had to do some major growing-up, which is what we wanted for him, and he's starting to hate North Dakota for the weather and the solitude, but he's learning and earning and eventually he will get his fill or make enough money and come home and start his life here again. I hope he doesn't find a North Dakota girl and stay. Nothing against North Dakota girls. He can find one and bring her home, I just want him closer than North Dakota.
All in all, everything that made that week so chaotic last year has turned out just fine. The Girl continues to model while going to school. She has a "gig" this Friday in Seattle for Nordstrom. The Boy is doing very well and working hard. My two events turned out just fine and I'm back in the same situation with them right now. Planning, last minute.
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