WEDNESDAY, 9/12

WEDNESDAY, 9/12:

 

     Got up very early (5:00!) to give ourselves plenty of time to get to West Hollywood this morning by 8:00.  We had tickets to a taping of Dr. Phil!  Needed to be there by 8:00, and we had no idea how bad the freeways would be by then.  Plus, we figured that parking might be a challenge.  As to the first potential issue (freeways), no problem – we zipped along on I-10.  But we saw pile-ups going west on I-10 (away from L.A.)  We couldn’t figure that out.  As to the second  potential issue (parking), yes, a problem.  None of the parking structures could accommodate the truck because of either its width & length and/or its height (with the kayaks still up there).  So Bill drove around quite a bit, finally taking a chance on parking in a 2-hour zone because that’s all he could find.

     Once we got into the studio, the process was very interesting to watch.  They taped 3 shows - or at least 1 complete show and 2 segments of others – we weren’t sure how they’d use the other two segments, since one didn’t include his normal conclusion & walk back to Robin, and  the other didn’t include the normal opening.  But they were both way too long to both be included in their entirety in one hour-long broadcast.  So we’ll be very curious to see these when they air and see how they were edited/spliced, etc.  But other than that, what you see on his show on TV is pretty much how it is  - no big disparities.

     We got out about 1:30 (oh yes, there was a souvenir of Los Angeles - a parking ticket), and decided to head towards UCLA.  Thought we were going West on Wilshire, when after about 10 miles or so realized we were heading East.  But it was a serendipitous mistake, because we actually were pretty much in downtown L.A. when we realized our error and turned around . . . so we  got to experience the “feel” of L.A. proper as it transitioned into  western Los Angeles.  The closer we were to downtown, the more multi-cultural influence was evident – signs in many different languages, people on the streets of all different skin tones, etc.  As we got further & further west, that influence decreased (except for the UCLA campus itself), and more and more predominantly white affluent (wealthy) enclaves arose – Beverly  Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood, etc.  It’s always a kick to drive down Wilshire Blvd near these areas and be surrounded by BMW’s, Mercedes, even an occasional Ferrari.  Here, a Lexus is a starter car.  Someone ought to snap a picture of our monster Dodge truck with bikes & kayaks attached, complete with Missouri plates, on these streets – and use it as a trailer for some comedy.  The Beverly Hillbillies reprise.     

     In the midst of all this glamor we reached my alma mater, UCLA..  Strolled around campus for a couple of hours.  Some buildings I recognized; others were new.  The medical complex had vastly expanded.  Parking is very tightly controlled now. And, like everywhere, the multi-cultural influence has exploded in 40+ years.  The fall quarter hadn’t yet started – they were still in the summer quarter - but of those students mingling around, we were definitely in an ethnic minority!  But the feeling of the campus itself – a tranquil yet vibrant gracefulness composed of the simple, yet architecturally interesting buildings, all complementary to each other, and the numerous wide expanses of open green spaces between the buildings, and the wonderful old trees and attention to landscaping – was still there.  It’s a gem in Los Angeles. Oh, we made a special foray into the Music building, and Bill was so impressed with the extensive list of faculty dedicated to just Ethnomusicology . . . at UMSL & Lindenwood, the list would be short:  William Hammond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Drove home via Sunset Blvd going west, down to the beach.  I love to drive these curvy, twisty roads as they wind through the foothills and canyons of this area.  It’s one of the things I miss most when back home.  (It’s a little nerve-wracking for Bill, but he is such a good sport about it, and is able to enjoy the marvelous scenery too, when he’s not in bumper-to-bumper traffic.)  

     The air felt wonderful when we were at UCLA, and blue sky!  And when we got back to Malibu, it seemed sunnier here too, than it had been for the last couple of days, even though it was evening.  Was perfect weather for taking Pappy for a little walk on the dog path here at the Park.  Maybe the very cloudy, overcast, damp weather we’ve been having here for the past couple of days has broken.