These Are A Few of My Favorite Things: Parties, Good Friends, Music, Dino BBQ

Last Saturday we attended the annual company summer party. It was a surprise - we were only told to be at the airport at 2 pm, dress casually and bring a bathing suit. Last year, they rented out Wolfgang Puck's Spago on a Saturday night and treated us to a five course meal, wine pairing and dancing. They like to change it up so we had no idea what to expect. We arrived at the airport and boarded a big bus bound for our surprise destination. The driver headed up through the hills of a residential area in LA lined with enormous houses. Once we got to the top of the hill, the bus let us off in front of a beautiful Tuscan style mansion. The CEO lead the way and as he opened the large doors to the entrance, we walked into servers standing in a beautiful foyer ready to hand us a fresh Mai Tai.  A band was playing out on the balcony and as we walked to the front patio area, we saw the most breathtaking view of LA.



The house was sitting on the side of a cliff overlooking the entire city. There was a sparkling pool, jacuzzi tub, catered food being prepared on the outdoor built in barbecue and a full bar. Above is a photo of Eric taking in the views from the balcony beside the pool.


The (multi) Million Dollar View:



Before nightfall, the debauchery began - everyone was being thrown in the pool:


We managed to stay (mostly) dry:



As the evening went on, everyone was swimming, eating, dancing and having a wonderful time. Eric's company definitely knows how to throw a party!

The next day, Eric and I left on a trip together headed for NYC. We flew a well-known singer who's husband was one of the most demanding passengers I've ever dealt with. He practically counts the number of ice cubes in his glass to make sure there are exactly seven pieces, not eight. I had to laugh though because as they drank their beverages from Baccarat crystal glasses they ate Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles (not known for being the most elegant of meals) off of the expensive china.

I was really looking forward to the trip that we had to Rochester, New York on Monday. Not only was I excited that it was close to my home town, or that I was going to be able to see one of my good friends or that I was going to be able to order Dinosaur BBQ for catering, but because I had heard from other crew members that the band we were flying there are the most fun and easy going passengers ever! In a job where you have to get used to daily demands of high maintence divas, I was excited for the nice change in pace.  This band in particular is also known for giving their crew members backstage passes and full access to go anywhere during the show. As they walked out to the plane in Teterboro, employees at the FBO were even trying to get their autographs. When they boarded the plane, the Captain introduced me to the group and they all gave me a big round of applause. There were 11 people on my flight and they were all in high spirits, joking around with each other, laughing and even clapping after takeoff and landing. People like this make my job so much easier and more enjoyable. As they exited the plane, they mentioned they'd see us later at the show - so I knew we were going to get to go!

My good friend Amy met up with us at the plane and drove us down to the arena where they were performing. When we picked up our tickets at the venue, the envelope included all four tickets with full access VIP passes! We hung out backstage for a while before the show where the band was, along with the three judges from Top Chef. (They were filming an upcoming Thanksgiving episode). Quite random.

Ames and I:



Eric and I backstage before the show began:



We had the best seat in the house! From the sound stage we were eye level:




Their performance was nothing short of amazing. The lead singer's energy was through the roof and the fact that he could go on the way he did for about 2 1/2 hours was more than impressive. For the catering on the flight back to NYC, we treated them to the best BBQ in the Northeast - Dinosaur. We ordered them ribs, pulled pork, chicken, cornbread and all the fixings. The consensus from the band was that the bbq was, "f***ing great." And that's exactly what I thought about my day at work, too.

A Table for Three in Baltimore

Sometimes the best trips aren't only about where I go, but who I get to see while I'm there. For the last few weeks I had been really looking forward to seeing my friends Dan and Karen who live in D.C. It can be difficult to plan trips to see close friends and family on the East Coast while living 3,000 miles away, so I feel really lucky when I get a layover like this!

We arrived in Baltimore late Friday afternoon, just as a huge thunder and lightening storm rolled in.  Below is a photo that the pilot (Hewitt) took on his phone of our plane and the black sky.



As crazy as it sounds, that's one of the things I miss about home. It brings back memories of when I was little - I used to go out on the front porch of our house and wait for the loud thunder and lightening to come. You could smell the rain in the air and it was thrilling to watch the downpour outside from the safety of the screened in porch. We don't see that kind of weather in Laguna Beach! While we waited on the runway for the storm to pass, Karen called to let me know she was waiting at the terminal for me to pick her up.  




After we settled into the hotel, we headed to Regi's - a restaurant/bar in Federal Hill in south Baltimore. The city was quaint with old brick buildings that reminded me of home. We settled in at the cozy bar and munched on some serious comfort food while we waited for Dan to arrive. The appetizer menu included tater tots stuffed with melted brie cheese and apple wood bacon and the three cheese crab dip! A nice change from the healthy edamame and seaweed salads that are so bountiful here in Cali! It was fun to catch up with one another and when Dan arrived, we ordered dinner. I've always wanted to try the renowned Maryland Crab, so Karen and I split a steak with the most delicious melt in your mouth crab on top. It was awesome being able to spend time with them - I just wish we could do it more often.  I miss you guys!


On another note, summer is here in Laguna  (you can tell not by the weather, but by the crowds of people who vacation here) and we've been enjoying it everyday. The sunsets, the surfing, the evening strolls to get gelato. I was able to bring my niece Shaye out from Las Vegas for a few days to enjoy the beach and take her to Six Flags. Here she is going to the beach to watch her Uncle Eric catch some waves.