Ended up going to the Grammy Museum yesterday. First I went to go pick up a lamp and then made my way over to downtown. I got to one parking lot but it looked like you had to have a pass to get in so I asked the guy and he said the lot just opened and the signs weren't put up yet. But I could park there and the museum was just across the street. So I parked and walked. I haven't been to the Staples Center since it became the Staples Center! I think the last time I was there was for a Laker game back in 1980-something!! Lakers vs. Jazz.


In the middle was an electronic Christmas tree. And it looked like it was being set up for some kind of performance. Stage, speakers, mics, etc.

And on the sidewalk, there were a bunch of these types of plaques.

I think I was in the museum for a couple of hours, but I could have easily spent more time in there. They had a lot of filmed interviews and narrations of the history of music, the recording process, song writer's perspectives/inspirations. I went into this sound booth where you could hear song samples played with different equipment. Chris Brown played on an old phonograph or cassette tape! It wasn't crowded at all. And no classrooms in there =). I would go again.

Yesterday I ended up meeting Wendy for lunch at Sanuki no Sato just down the street. Debbie told us that they have the best nabeyaki. I heard it's always crowded...and it was! But we got seated right away and I think it was the best nabeyaki I'd ever had! The dashi was so flavorful, there was lots of seaweed inside and they had kamaboko, bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, egg, shrimp tempura...everything was so ono =).

I was going to find an antique store or go buy the lamp, but I decided to take a drive towards the coast and I ended up in Manhattan Beach...

I sat on a bench on the little pier listening to music on my phone and I had a book, but I didn't read much. I just took in the ocean air and sun, enjoying the sights. All those poles on the beach are for volleyball nets. There were a few groups playing while I was there. This guy was on some kind of board paddling away...

This is the little pier I was on before. I thought it was a good idea that the benches along the pier all faced outward...makes much more sense.

I'm planning to go to the Grammy Museum today, but I'm killing time now since the traffic is backed up because they closed part of the Hollywood fwy because of a shooting early this morning. Since being back in LA, that awareness of surroundings is coming back to me. I never really feel scared in Vegas, but I do in LA. As I've been driving around, I sense more of a boldness in people. They will look directly at you as if to puff out their chest at you. I see men checking out women with more obvious stares. And I just feel that people are more likely to be provoked here if they get a wrong look from you.

And the freeway driving here takes a little more concentration for me. So many more freeways to choose from! But I am a California girl and this feels like home to me.

Still sitting in Starbuck's and I'm listening to the CD I got from Wendy's parents. It's the music from one of the Korean dramas - Summer Scent. I don't think I've watched that drama. My brother and sister-in-law have been watching them at night. But if it doesn't catch their attention during the first episode, they give it back and ask for another recommendation. They seem to like the ones that have more complicated story lines.

This was a bad week to try to stick with writing 3 pages in the morning. It's hard to be disciplined while on vacation!