Well I've been home for over a week now, and I have been enjoying the work from home option. While it's been both relaxing and productive, I am starting to get anxious about where I'll end up next. For about a day last week it looked like I'd be going out east for two months, but now it's looking like I'll end up on a project in town for the next 14... Oh well if nothing else I'm learning to be flexible!

Well I made it home on my first ever red-eye. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought and I managed to sleep the whole way. The flight attendents must love those flights because everyone falls asleep and doesn't need anything! I had mixed feelings about leaving, I had so much fun in LA, but I was starting to miss home. My boyfriend came and picked me up at 6:30 this morning and when I got home the cats hadn't forgotten me, it's good to be home :)

On the recommendation of an old co-worker I took my friends from the Netherlands, two men from Australia and two other Canadians to the Gardens of Taxco in West Hollywood. The food was fantastic, but what really made the evening was the fact that there is no hard copy of the menu. The waiter comes over and orates it to you. First he tells you that they have chicken, beef, fish or shrimp and then asks what you would like to hear about. So of course with seven of us, we asked to hear about all of the options. The most memorable were the pollo con mole (chicken in mole sauce) that is spiiiiiiicy and is the best mole sauce in towwwwwn. The other was the chicken in a succulent cilantro cream sauce, it's as if the chicken was borrrrrrn in it. His presentation was so theatrical, and boy did he roll those Rs! We all waited for more people to come in just to hear him recite the menu again. And the decor was straight out of the 70s, a truly kitsch experience and a must see if you're in LA.

My friends from the Netherlands that I met on training in Atlanta are here this week working in LA too, what a small world! We went for dinner at Duke's in Malibu and had a great view of the Ocean. It was really nice to see them again (This picture is from Atlanta in July).

Just got back from surfing in Malibu, we didn't take any pictures this time so I've used one from last time. The waves in Malibu were completely different from San Diego, they were alot bigger. There was a pretty wicked cross current that kept pulling us down the shore, and it made paddling out more difficult. On the other hand because the waves were bigger we went alot faster! We also rented full body wet suits today which prevented the scrapped knees we had last time! It was alot of fun, and I'm going to sleep like a rock tonight!

I'm not sure I will ever get over my fascination with Mexican wrestlers or El Dio de Las Muertes.

I found this mask in El Pueblo de Los Angeles and I think I may have made an audible squeal of delight. I was then lucky enough to find El Dio de Las Muertes dioramas, one of which contained a skeleton Elvis complete with white spangled suit!

I finally made the trip to Chinatown today, and it was worth the 1.5 hrs on the LA metro each way! I found this really neat store called Munky King that had all these really cool Chinese toys so it turned out to be a great spot to buy souvenirs for people back home. I also wandered around the Saigon Plaza and stopped for lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant that had the friendliest staff I have ever met.

Where all the west coast rappers eat... Seriously Ludakris mentions it in one of his songs.

Much to my relief the chicken is not served on the waffle, but they do share a plate. And we thought Quebecers were weird for frying bacon and eggs in maple syrup...

I woke up to something rather distressing this moring... WHERE IS THE SUN???

I was out tanning by the pool after work today reading a magazine and enjoying the sun, when suddenly the clasp broke on my bikini, thank god the pool area was empty as usual. So I pulled on my shorts with one hand while holding the straps together with the other, then I went inside the hotel and waited for the elevator, happy to see no one in the hall. Then the elevator arrived and I had to share it with a group of 3 men while I stood with my arm in an awkward position behind my back desperately hoping that the strap didn't slip out of my hand. Safe to say I was about eight shades of red when I got out of the elevator.

I finally found the Hollywood sign, and a good place to get a shot of it (thanks Bryan!)

Drove up to Santa Barbara for the day and went for a hike in the Botanic Garden, then wandered down State Street downtown and finally finnished up at Stearn's Wharf for a wine tasting.

The whole town has Spanish style architecture, but this lane and courtyard was particularly pretty.

it's actually real, and in Santa Monica.

Went to Santa Monica today, enjoyed the beach, the pier and the 3rd street promenade.

My Bf came down for the weekend and at some point he got thirsty and purchased this bottle of Fat Free water.... wha?