Paulywood and a Dirty 30 in Vegas! and sighting #10

I know it has been a super long time but so much has been going on that I haven't had much time to write a blog. I have been super busy with my adventure here and have a lot to write so get comfortable.
Ok to start...about the second week of June Ryan and I got asked to leave the apartment.  It was too many people (4 people to a one bedroom) and just to loud all the time.  We had one week to move.  Ryan's mom was coming in from Australia so they were heading to Arizona and Paul was flying in for my Bday and then we were off to Vegas, so a week was really tight.  Ryan ended up staying with his mom when she got here so he was out on the Tuesday.  It was so upsetting.  This was the first time in 4 months that we had to spend 4 days apart.  LOL corny I know but it was really weird.  I had to sleep by myself haha.  Anyways it was okay because Paul flew out on the Wednesday for my Bday.
We had a blast.  It was so good to see him.  I couldnt stop touching his face lol. He said I talk really funny,k that I have an American accent now with Aussie slangs (all Ryan's fault) plus he thinks I have turned into a hardened bitch.  It's true my attitude has changed since living in Hell Aye.  He said I used to be so sweet now I'm mean LOL I guess we will see what you all think when I get back. The Thursday we did an LA City Tour.  It's a mini van with no roof and they take you all through LA to see famous peoples houses.  It was pretty awesome. We saw the houses of Doctor Phil (which was my favourite), Christina Aqguilara, Eddie Murphy, Playboy Mansion,  Michael Jackson, Julia Roberts - sometimes her kids are outside selling lemonade.  It's cheap lemonade too apparantly,  why would the children of a celebrity sell cheap lemonade you ask?  Because THEY DON'T KNOW SHE IS FAMOUS!!! I know right!  How weird is that.  We went by Courney Cox's house,  our tour guide said that "she doesn't seem to nice, that when they go by with the tour bus if she is outside she doesn't even wave, that she seems a little mean"  just as he said that we here from the front door "THATS RIGHT!" lol she heard him over the speaker too funny.
The next day Paul took me to universal studios.  Soo much fun.  We booked it through the hostel so we got a shuttle out there and back.  It was such a beautiful day out too so it really helped.  We went through the house of horrors which was sets and stuff from horror movies.  I HATED IT!!! Yes I know I am a horror movie buff and I always watch them, it doesn't mean I like to be in them.  They had people jumping out at us and werewolves,  frankenstein, crazy people with chainsaws, I screamed the whole way through and Pauly laughed histerically the whole way through.  We enjoyed Krustyland from the Simpsons, the best ride in the whole park, we even got to me Bart and Lisa.  We did the famous Tram Ride of the Studios which was super cool my favourite part,  we got to go through WhoVille!!! I was so excited. I was like " Pauly I always wanted to go to WhoVille"  It's really cool how all the buildings are totally fake and how in the movies they look so real.  They have one area that looks European city and all they have to do is change the language of the signs.  They show how they can flood a town and when they make it rain the put powdered milk in the water so it shows up better on camera.
We also did the Jurassic Park ride which was awesome, now I know where all the dinosaurs are living.  We did the Mummy's Tomb.  This awesome inside rollercoaster in the dark and then all of a sudden it goes backwards.  I screamed the whole way and shut my eyes until I realized opened or closed it still looked the same lol. We got back that day totally bagged and tired from the past two days but thought lets party.  I had moved into the hostel for the night because I had to be out of the apartment and we were leaving the next day.
I was so hurting the next day.  We drank till all hours of the morning and had to be up by 7am to go to the Greyhound for 9am.
So we get on the Greyhound and head to Vegas!  We had to transfer in Downtown LA.  Worst Greyhound experience of my life.  The bus was late meaning we boarded and left late.  Once we got on the bus I asked the bus driver if we were still going to arrive on time "I don't know maam"  "Well I am just wondering because we are running 20 minutes late"  "SO WHAT I'M LATE.  DO YOU WANT TO GET OFF THIS BUS RIGHT NOW AND WAIT FOR ANOTHER ONE! I HAVE NO PROBLEMS REMOVING YOU FROM THIS BUS.  I CAN'T FLY THIS BUS"  " I know that but your still late, what is your name?" "YOUR THIS CLOSE TO GETTING KICKED OFF SO EITHER BE QUIET OR YOU WILL BE REMOVED"   Can you believe that we hadn't even left the station.  The woman infront of me was just mortified she took down a bunch of info and was lodging a complaint.  Thats not all.  There were these two girls laughing on the bus and all of a sudden our Lionel Richie looking bus driver says "EXCUSE I LIKE THAT YOUR HAVING FUN BUT THAT IS TOO MUCH AND YOU ARE DISTRACTING PLEASE STOP LAUGHING"  oh it gets better.  We had a half hour stop and he starts talking about at 3hundred hours this and that, like we were in the army.  "If you are late and you knock on the door i will not open it for you"  Well lucky for everyone we all made it back early and on time.  As we get back out on the road again he comes on the speaker and says "PLEASE REMEMBER WHEN SPEAKING IT'S TO THE PERSON BESIDE, IF I CAN HEAR YOU, YOU ARE TALKING TOO LOUD"  I had enough at this point. I was shaking I was so mad.  We finally arrive in Vegas and 10 minutes early for that matter.  As I am getting off the bus he wanted to just move something so I wouldnt scratch my leg and as he is moving it he saids "I am going to move this so you don't hurt your knee I don't want you talking bad about a brother"  I started laughing " Oh, don't you worry I am lodging a complaint about you!" He didn't like this too much he started yelling at me across and cussing at me across the parking lot and then had the odasity and unprofessionalism to stand there and talk about me with employees of Greyhound.  I was so mortified, I couldn't stop shaking and I was so embarrassed.  ONe of the girls on the bus said she couldn't believe the treatment he gave to everyone on the bus and was going to lodge a complaint.  I haven't yet but I am hoping for a refund and some sort of credit as I am planning and traveling with them very soon and am second guessing their company.
Anyways!!! We finally get to our resort an hour after we got dropped off at the station.  THE FLAMINGO.  Our room was awesome, on the 25th floor with floor to ceiling windows that looked out over the resort.  The location of the resort was awesome too right in the center of the strip.   Ryan and his mom were meeting us out in Vegas.  They were staying at Circus Circus.  Ryan said they wanted to do dinner with us and then we could go out.
It was so good to see him.  I really missed him.  You don't really realize how close you are with someone and how much time you spend with them until you spend a few days apart.  Well his mom and him wanted to go to The Steakhouse for dinner for my Birthday!  My most favourite restaurant.  Mmmmmm it was so good.  The best prime rib in the world, I can still taste it.  I was sucking on the fat just to get every last bit of meat off haha.  After dinner we walked back to our resort.  His mom taps me on the shoulder and said "it's midnight" and gave me the biggest mom hug in the world.  It was so awesome!!!
We got back to the resort and his mom said goodbye and we began to enjoy the bottles of rum and vodka we had in our room.  Our buddy Ben - that we had met in Vegas in March (check out Our Arrival - Vegas) - came by and had a few drinks and left around 3 am.  Pauly passed out so Ryan and I decided to go next door to O'sheas - my favourite bar.  I left my ID in my room so the guy wouldnt serve me so we ended up just going back up to the room and calling it a night.
The next day we decided to spend the day at the pool and just chill.  There was the huge lagoon pool with a water slide which is beautiful but infested with under agers and kids and then there is the 21 and over pool which was $15 to get into (for the guys).  It was worth every penny.  A DJ all day,  a party in the pool,  big huge flamingo's surround the pool on pillars that shoot little waterfalls into the pool, free drinks, a couch area with a hookah, a bar, hot weather and all the palm trees had misters on them that sprayed out mist all day long to keep you cool.  I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my birthday.  My best buddy and the most important person in my life right now and thats all i needed and to top it off Paul and Ryan are like peas and carrots.  They got along so well it was disgusting, it almost scared me lol but it was great.  I called my mom, it was my first birthday without her so I got a little teary eyed when I got off the phone but the party and the drinks helped.  We danced, we did the crab, the lobster and the dolphin, we drank, sang and just had an all around good time.
Ryan had to leave around 2 to go meet up with his mom.  He was so wasted he could barley walk straight LOL plus his shoes were up in the room and he refused to get them and wouldn't take my flip flops.  "Babe I will walk in barefeet I will be fine.  I will see you tonight"  kissed me and stubbled out of the pool area. Well turns out the pavement was so hot his feet blistered and he had to buy some flip flops lol, what a dork.  HIs mom didn't even know he was drunk, I have no idea how he pulled that off.
Paul and I ended up passing out in the room till about 11 that night, we were so bagged from the sun and drinking all day. We were barley up to going out but we got ready and started having a few drinks.  Ryan got back to our resort at about 230am and we headed out to the bar we always end up at the Piano Bar at New York New York.  So much fun.  We all dressed up and just sat and drank Red Bull Vodka all night.  It helped me as I wasn't feeling well, I had a bit of sun stroke so I was a little nauceous but the drinks helped.
Around 5am this girl comes strolling in and Paul said "watch this, she is working, watch what she does"  well he was right she was working "hooked a guy and they left walked into the casino but didnt get passed there because he walked away.  So she comes back and she starts chatting up Paul.  Oh god I'm thinking how are we going to get her to leave.  She was so trying to hustle him and get him to leave and then asks him if I was working Ryan!!! She thought I was a hooker!!! She honestly thought I was trying to work Ryan!!! I may have been dressed sexy but I was definatly dressed nice and did not look like a hooker.  How rude LOL!
We got up and left and when we got outside the sun was up and we realized it was like 7am and I am starting to feel better and ready to party.  As we are walking out a limo pulls up and I said "awww you showed up.  It's my bday did you forget to pick me up"  Well apparantly all the hustling I have learned on my adventure paid off because next thing you know we have a free limo ride back to our resort.  FUCKING AWESOME!  Perfect end to a perfect day.
Ryan left the next day and Paul and I went down to the pool.  We didnt stay too long as it was hot and I still wasn't feeling well. We really just slept and hung out all day and I had to leave the  next day.
I said goodbye to Paul and Ben drove me to the Greyhound station again.  Thank god my ride back was awesome I had no one beside me so I could stretch out and the driver was an angel compared to the last guy.
We still hadn't found an apartment so Ryan booked us back into the Bungalow in a 16 bed dorm LOL a lot of people but way cheaper then the other rooms.
Well Vegas made me broke.  Flat broke.  I could afford one night at the hostel and nothing more. Not a meal not even a ride back home.  Ryan and I talked the next day and decided that I needed to call home and ask my parents if they could buy me a ticket so I could come home.  We laid on the bed for awhile. I was bawling my eyes out.  We said our goodbyes to each other.  It was so sad.  I didnt wan't to let go of him.  He dragged me off the bed and said I'm taking you for dinner for our last meal.  "Okay, lets go to Mr. Pizza.  If the owner is in I can talk to him about work I dropped my info off yesterday maybe there is hope"
We get there and the owner wasn't in.  So we sat down at the table completely sad and depressed and talked about everything from the when we met up until now.  "Remember when I almost had to go home,  it was after the rave and I was broke and I almost had to leave?"  "Ya" I said "but then your phone rang and the smoke shop was calling you to tell you you got the job and you started the next day!  It was your miracle and you got to stay"  "Ya it was pretty cool"  " I'm still waiting for my miracle, I'm not ready yet to leave" I said. Just then at that exact moment my phone rang.  It was the owner of Mr Pizza telling me I got the job and I start that night!!  MY MIRACLE!!! Can you believe that.
So I am still here.  I am still at the hostel though unfortunatly not with Ryan.  He had to get an apartment.  Because I don't have much more time in America and I plan on continuing on in a month he really needed to find a place for himself because he is out here till January.  His place is awesome, right across the street from his work and it has a pool!  So we are planning a pool day this Saturday.  I'm not gonna lie, it's really weird not living with him.  It sucks coming home to an empty bed or not having someone to talk to about my day or their day :(  But I really do believe we need this separation.  It's gonna be easier when I leave.  So for now here I am in the smallest little room with 5 guys that are a hoot, though I am being moved to the other hostel tomorrow because I am a long termer.
Last but not least the other night an actor came into my work.  It's my 10th sighting.  He sat down at one of my tables and had dinner.  Now here is the thing he is one of those actors that you don't know his name or know off the top of your head what he has been in but when you see him your like "oh that guy"  so ya.  I can't even tell you his name which sucks but my dad really likes him haha.  I will find out one of these days and I will fill in the blanks lol.
Well I hope you enjoyed my update.  Please check out my two new photo albums on facebook - Paulywood and Dirty Vegas!!!  All the pictures are there.
Take care
xoxox

Milking It!!! OH and Celebrity Sighings 4,5,6

Alright I know it's been awhile but I have been really busy.  I have been doing quite a bit lately and didn't have the best time to blog but now I have the time to update you on whats been going on.
My friend Suzanne and I went to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.  It was so beautiful and absolutely massive and the tombstones probably cost more then all three of our cars put together it was insane.  There are some famous people buried there such as Charlie Chaplin, Griffith Griffith (founder of the Observatory - please read Our Beautiful Sky blog) and the guitar player from the Ramon's.  It was really cool walking around but you feel almost intrusive at the same time like you have to whisper; plus there was a funeral going on that day so we just kept our voices down.  We had a map of all the grave sites but we couldn't find Chaplin's we look for half an hour and then gave up and moved on.
Ryan and I have been doing some audience work for extra cash.  Last week it was three days of "Minute to Win It"  its' this crazy game show where they take house hold items and make these impossible games that you have to complete and you only have a minute to complete it.  The contestant has 3 lives and they are trying to win $1,000. Crazy! but you get so into it as an audience member.  YOu start cheering them on and it gets really intense because you have become really invested in the contestant and all you want is to see them win LOL! It was really exciting our first day walking into the studio and seeing the stage and all the big screens and what the set looks like.  They really make it look a lot bigger on TV then it actually is.  They have this huge archway that is made out of these huge tube things that light up, they almost remind me of waterslides ( I snuck a picture so it will be posted). They have a warm up guy named Bill that plays music and warms up the crowd and has contests for us when the crew takes too long.  One day they took long in between games because they were discussing whether or not they liked the colour of the ping pong balls or should they change them.  I didn't think it mattered lol but hey, the longer they take the longer I am there and I make more  :). Let me tell you though, after three days my hands were sore from clapping so much, but I met a bunch of people and made a new friend, Rachel, who I might ad is a dancer so I am super stoked about that.
On our first morning out to Studio City (where the show is filmed), Ryan and I met a girl on the bus  who gave us the contact for Judge Judy!  They pay for audience.  We are going on tomorrow morning.  LOL Judge Judith Schiendlen, it's going to be great we are looking forward to it so I will definately have to let you all know how it was.
I have been dancing again!!! I saw a posting on Craigslist for "Dancers Wanted" and I ended up getting accepted due to my dance background.  Man did it feel amazing to be in a studio, that is once I got to the studio.  Rehearsal's were to take place @ JV Dance Studio in Alahambra.  Ya thats about a 1.5 hour bus ride from where I am.  Well,  I really wanted to dance so I hoped on the bus around 8 (I missed the first one).  It wasn't bad until I started going through some really sketchy parts of LA.  Some parts were really pretty and all lit up and people walking around and then; dark, no pretty lights or houses and not that many people on the streets and I was the only white person on the bus.  You see in LA most white people don't take the bus especially in the area's I was going through so I get stared at a lot by the men, like I am fresh meat or something so it's kind of scary.  I kept asking myself "what are you doing you are crazy, it's getting dark, just hope off the bus and get one back home!!! You don't even know these people you are dancing for what if it's a scam!!!" Everything was going through my head but something told me to keep going.  I had to make a transfer to another bus, so i get dropped off at this bus stop in not the nicest area and it is already dark at this point.  There were a lot of people there so I felt better but I just kept my ipod on and focused on not making eye contact but of course that doesn't work and I have a young guy try and pick me up.  No matter how many times I mentioned "my boyfriend" it didn't work he still wanted to hang out.  He then proceeds to tell me that the big massive building across the street is the LA County Jail - the one Paris Hilton went to and then proceeds to tell me he doesn't want to go back.  "Just perfect" I'm thinking.  My bus finally comes and I make it safely to the studio and an awesome rehearsal.  It felt so good to be in a studio again!  It was like I was home, like a part of me was sleeping for the past 5 years and has been woken up again.  I can't even explain it just felt so good.  Anthony (the choreographer) could not believe I took the bus from West Hollywood and told me he lives around the corner and I can ride with him for the next rehearsal.  Thank goodness because I wouldn't want to go through that again.

THE SHOW:   The show was for Harvey Milk (the gay activist who was assissinated in the 70's - recent movie Milk with Sean Penn).  Harvey Milk Day has become a State holiday as of this year, and it takes place on his birthday.  It was on the rooftop of Madame Tussaud's in Hollywood!!! How fucking crazy is that.  What an honour.  It was the inauguration, and I was there.  We even got to walk the red carpet!! Thats right, THE RED CARPET. Coolest feeling in the world.  The people on the street thought we were famous they were just standing there watching while we stood on the carpet and got our pictures taken by the press.  I even met some celebrities.  Bruce Vilanche (Hollywood Square's  #4), and Darryl - #5 from Noah's Arch. It was probably one of these best experiences I have ever had.  Words can not describe what it felt like, and I am not just talking the red carpet I am talking about the whole thing. I never would of had this opportunity anywhere else without an audition so it was all overwhelming.  I was so nervous before we went on but I remembered everything! Yay me :)!  Oh and the beautiful men!  all so beautiful and all so gay. I was in heaven.  WE all know how much I love them.  It was A-Mazing!!!  Plus I met some dancers, mad new friends and got an audition for the next day.
I missed my bus but grabbed the next one and headed to the audition.  Pumped and ready to go because the previous night had given me faith in my dancing again so I decided why not.  Why not just stay home? should've been the real question.  I get there late but he brings me in anyways when he started the new section.  Ok, sweet, perfect I dont have to catch up.  Though catching on would've been a good thing.  I couldn't do it.  It was so fast I just couldnt remember the choreography, I was marking it so I would remember it and then he would move on to something else and then the next thing I knew he was putting us into groups.  HELL NOOOOO!!! I was so frustrated.  This had never happened to me before at an audition, I would freeze due to nerves but never not be able to catch on.  5 years is a long time without training and I am definately not up to par the way I was.  It's hard to pick up the choreography when it's been so long especially when you've gotten used to it. I didnt even have the choreography and they wanted to put us into groups and most likely do some cuts.  I really wanted to spare myself some embarassment. With my head held high and as brave as I could I walked up to the front and said " I am really sorry but I have not trained in five years and I just can't keep up with the speed you are going.  I need time to go over it.  I just can't keep up I'm sorry" and I walked out and started to cry. Not because I didnt get the audition but because I just couldn't keep up, it was so frustrating and I was really embarrassed.  Then realizing i left my shirt in there I had to go back in.  I grabbed it quickly and walked back out.  Still with tears in my eyes I put my bag on my shoulder and walked to the nearest 711 and got myself a coke slushy (one of my fav) and waited for the bus.  Now as much as this did suck and I was upset I still went and did it.  I may have walked out but I still showed up and gave it what I could.
Yet, when in doubt check Craigslist - which after I did after I called my  mom.  I found a posting for a music video.  They needed hip hop dancers for a music video shoot on Saturday.  So I sent in my pictures and my background and .........I GOT IT!!! We started rehearsals today.  No auditions there is no time so it's bonus for me and free dance classes.  It's not paid but I need it.  Plus I have time to go over everything.  Rehearsal rocked,  I felt alive after,  I can't explain how it makes me feel.  To top it off we were rehearsing at this super high end gym called Equinox in Westwood which is on the West Side of Beverly Hills, and I mean high end.  It's almost like a resort it's so nice.  Anyways there we are rehearsing and what do you know, we look over and there was Marlon Wayans #6 running on the treadmill.  HAHA I love LA, and yes of course I got a picture!!!
Well hope thats a good update. There will be more soon.  I miss you all very much and I have been a little homesick.  Writing these blogs makes me feel a little closer to you guys.  For those of you that do have twitter I am obsessed and always updating so you can add me at www.twitter.com/emmiejae
Check Forever Cemetary and Milking It photo albums on Facebook.
xoxox

A Bad Promotion, Mean Cabbies, Tuna Fish and a Shopping Cart on Melrose.

So let’s see; the weekend, which means the Usher CD Release Party.  So as a promoter my job is to promote this event through emails, texts, Facebook, Twitter, word of mouth and flyers.  My roommate Dallas had gone to the interview with me so he had to promote for it as well so we planned on going down to Hollywood Blvd on Saturday (the day before the event) and hand out flyers/passes for the event.  Well of course Dallas and I planning to get work done together never happen’s and we get side tracked.  We decide to spend our money and go to Madame Tussaude’s House of Wax (photo album up on Facebook – Real? Fake? Look-a-Like).  It was pretty awesome but creepy at the same time.  At one point I couldn’t find Dallas and when I looked around for him I saw all these people, famous people, but then you realize that none of them are real. Sometimes when you turn around there is one just standing there staring at you and then you realize it’s another wax figure.  These was figure’s are made to the exact scale and size of the actors and they have the actors’ distinguishing marks on them such as tattoo’s scars and piercings, it’s really crazy.  Some of them look so real your expecting them to start a conversation with you or wait till you’ve looked at them long enough and then they are just going to look and you and say Boo and scare the crap out of you.  I even got Dallas to poke them to make sure they were wax, it’s honestly incredible how real some of them look.  After our adventure with the rich and famous we decided we weren’t in the mood to promote so we went grocery shopping instead and then headed back to the hostel.

By the time Sunday hit my phone and my Facebook were going crazy with messages from people that wanted guestlist.  It was great I had over 37+ on my list and I only needed 20 so I was pretty happy.

I had to be at the club by 9:30p that night so Ryan, Justin, Ethan, Mandy and I all got a cab at 9p and headed down to Ecco (the club).

It was pretty awesome when I first got there.  All the promoters got in a line and were directed into the club.  Once we got inside we had a bit of an orientation and that was it.  We had done our job and now we were just able to enjoy the event.  I was thinking “this is great!  Promote al week and then get into  the parties for free. Sweet!”  Boy, was I wrong.   No line up for guestlist/VIP passes = in a line up for over an hour.  Open bar till 10:30p = no running it by the owner so it was cancelled meaning drinks were $11 each.  Usher listening party = Usher is a no show.  Getting paid to promote the events = not being able to get a hold of your boss.  Now don’t get me wrong,  we had an absolute blast, maybe too much of a blast considering we spent way too much money. Using my VISA for emergencies only ended up being I need a rum and diet it’s an emergency lol.  But, it was all worth it in the end. 

We ended up leaving just after 1am as we had drank a little too much and thought it best we just head back to the hostel.  We grabbed some street meat and hailed a cab.  Now let me tell you something about the cabbies here in Hollywood.  THEY ALL NEED AN ADDITUDE REAJUSTMENT.  First off every time I get into a cab and ask them to take me somewhere they don’t even know where it is.  My first night here I was getting dropped off at Ella’s and the cab pulled over and I politely asked “is this the address” he rudely replied “how am I supposed to know I have never been here before, you don’t know where you’re going!”  It really makes me miss the cabbies in Collingwood, they are so much nicer and actually make your ride more enjoyable.  Anyways when we got into the cab after the club all I remember is Ryan arguing with the cab driver.  Apparantly he wanted to charge us a $20 flat rate when we were only a $16 cab drive away.  So the cab driver decides to turn around with the meter running and drive back to the club to over charge us.  We finally calmed him down and got him to drive us back to the hostel which only ended up being an $11 cab ride.

So now lets fast forward as few days to Wednesday.  Dallas and I decide that we wouldn't mind grabbing a bottle of cheap vodka ($12 for 20oz) and listening to some tunes down in the party room.  So thats exactly what we did.  We pounded out Lady Gaga on the stereo speakers and danced on the coffee tables which actually scared some people from coming in the room.  A small speaker even fell from the ceiling but we don't even know where it came from lol.

The next morning was beach day for Dallas and I, ya, ok, let me tell you how GREAT I felt (pure sarcasm here).  I felt like I had been hit by a truck, cheap vodka may be good for my budget but it definately  isn't good for me lol.  We decided to nix on the beach till the following day (Friday) and just allow ourselves to devulge in our own self inflicted illness.  With painful heads and upset stomachs we decided to take the 45 minute walk down to Sunset and La Brea to the grocery store.  On our way to the grocery I really needed to stop for food ( I had the hungover hunger) so we decided to stop at Subway.  Not really that hungry I decided to get a tuna salad feeling it would be lighter and go down better then a sub at this point.  So of course Dallas and I who are both Gemini's and are pretty much the same person are both hangover bitchy; here's what happned - he kept putting his pop on my tray I kept moving it he putting it back.  I took a sip of his pop he took a sip of mine, I took some tuna salad and put it in his pop, he took it out threw it back in my bowl and poured just a little of his soda in my salad.  At this point we pause and stare at each other, like two cowboys ready to draw their guns.  Then very slowly with a smile of satisfaction he picks up his soda and dumps the orange liquid all over my salad turning my ever so delicious salad into tuna salad goo. Not over impressed because it cost me $7 (which is out of my budget), I was hungover and hungry I picked up a forkful of tuna salad goo and flung it at him, I got him right in the face.  If you could've seen the look on his face, it was priceless, man did I laugh so hard, and so did he.  It was on his face in his hair, on his sunglasses and on his shirt, it was all over him.  With a hungry stomach but still laughing histarically we left and headed the rest of the way to Ralph's (grocery store).

I don't know if I have mentioned but Dallas is an Aussie so we have different terms for things so when we get to the grocery store he starts calling the buggy a trolly.  I said no a trolly is something you ride a buggy is for groceries.  He said no a buggy is something you ride and a trolly is something you push. We are going back and forth like this for 5 minutes when I hear giggling.  This woman was standing there listening to us bicker and thought it was hilarious she couldn't stop laughing.  Dallas even asked her if she thought it was a buggy or trolly but she was laughing to hard she couldn't answer.

Anyways an hour later and $200 worth of groceries (most of them being different flavours of noodles) we are ready to head back only to realize that there is no way we can carry all of our stuff on the bus, and it would be way to heavy to carry home but a cab was way out of our budget. What do we do? M - Dallas maybe we should just take the buggy.  D - I was just thinking the same thing.  So that was our decision take the buggy.  All of a sudden the buggy stalls it wouldn't move and the wheels would just move from side to side. Dallas pulled it back, it was fine, pushed it forward and stopped, it literally got retarded on us.  Well, they have these magnetic things all around the property so that you can't steal the buggies. Smart for them bad for us. Now what?  Dallas sees a buggy beside a car and decides to pick it up over the magnetic thing.  VOILA!  We move all our groceries into that buggy and begin our 45 minute trek back to the  hostel.  Do you have any idea what it is like walking down Melrose Ave. pushing a shopping cart full of groceries while everyone else is walking around with bags from clothing shops.  Yup, definately not the most popular kids on the block that day.  We might as well wore sings on our back that says "Kick Me!". 

We did make it to the beach the next day.  Dallas and I went down to Santa Monica the next day and check out the fair on the Santa Monica Pier and just sat and watched the water it was a really relaxing day, a little chilly but really nice and chill.  The only bad thing was we ordered burrito's, fries and onion rings for lunch.  Not really the greatest idea I have had since I left Canada.  We were both in the bathroom for quite a while.  I kid you not (for those with weak stomachs do not read any further) it was like a machine gun and then a bomb explosion and then a trumpet played.  There were a few minutes I thought I was going to die.  I couldn't even eat dinner that night I was still full (if you could even call it that) from the burrito.  NEVER AGAIN!

Well thats it for now.  I don't have much else to talk about but I think I have given you all enough to read this entry.  I will try and post something in a few days.  I am off to go buy the boyz some chocolate bunnies and we apparantly have an easter egg hunt at the hostel tonight so that should be fun.  

Take care, Happy Easter, and remember to love your Collingwood Cab Drivers.

xoxox

LA LA LAND with a little bit of 90210

It's been awhile since my last blog so this might be a bit long so hopefully you can sit through all of it. The last thing I wrote about was Santa Monica and Venice beach.
Alright so a few days after that my girl Ella calls and says she had the day off and asked if I want to meet her down at Santa Monica on Tuesday. So I am up early, on the bus and at the beach by 10:30 am.  What a beautiful morning it was. It was so hot, one of the hottest days since I had arrived and there was a music video being shot on the Santa Monica Pier Bridge.  We found a vacant spot on the sand and sprawled out - for 4 hours - I wasn't ready to leave when Ella wanted to but by the time I got off the bus I was glad she did because I was a little red.  Well actually, I looked like a lobster, but now I am a nice brown :)
A few days later (Thursday) my flat mate Dallas and I decided to rent a car for two days so we could get some resumes out.  We hired a car from Rent a Reck, and what a Reck it was.  It was two shades of green,  the gas pedal was stiff, every time I hit the breaks the back end of the car clicked, there were only five radio stations 3 spanish stations, one new station that repeats its songs and one 80's station which is the one we stuck with (it totally suited the car), there wasn't even a spot for a tape or a cd to be played, all the mirrors had to be adjusted by hand, the key was bent and there was no power steering. LOL it was a wreck but it got us through LA, which by the way is a horrible place drive.  I love driving but all I wanted to do was take the car back to the hostel and leave it in the underground parking until we had to return it.  Everyone runs red lights, people pull out in front of you and cut you off left right and centre and everyone honks constantly and don't forget the no power steering.  The guy at the car rental place said "when turning left and the light turns red don't turn right away because people will run the reds and when it is green don't pull out right away make sure everyone is done running red lights. But DON'T BE AGRESSIVE. It's easy you shouldnt have a problem"  ....? after all that how can I not be aggressive.  LOL.
We drove down to Venice beach and got some lunch and then headed towards West Hollywood where we wanted to hand out resume's.  Well, having a car gave us some freedom and we got really side tracked.  We drove through Beverly Hills and Down Rodeo Drive.  It is a completely different world there.  Everything is so prestine looking.  It's so manicured with it's white buildings, spotless sidewalks and every designer store you can imagine.  Even the cars were high end, we were definately slumming it on Rodeo lol, it was worse slumming it through Laguna Beach in a Dodge Charger with Pauly.
Anyways we decided to drive through the hills. So we drove through windy hills and up streets that were so steep I thought the car was going to roll back so I leaned forward hoping it would help.  We got lost in Bel Air (I think it was Bel Air).  The streets were so narrow and so windy, we kept hitting dead ends and I could barley turn corners because without power steering ShitHeap (the name we gave the car) liked to make wide turns.  I had to come to a complete stop turn the steering wheel all the way and then proceed, it was awful, I almost hit someone because the car turned so wide.  Very cautiously and white knuckled we made our way to Mullholand Drive (we never got to handing out resume's that day) My Vertigo kicked in sometimes, it was like I could feel the hight all around me but it was well worth it.  We drove to a viewing point and looked out over The Valley,  the Freeway and the Hollywood Sign.  It was really beautiful.  Did you know that Hollywood was originally Hollywood Land?  A landslide came and took out the word Land so they just left it lol.  Now you know.
After a long day of driving I finally get to park ShitHeap and have a beer, or so I thought.  Justin my other flat mate asked if I could give him a lift so back in the car I get. Perfect. Rush hour.  Within five minutes I got pulled over by the cops, GREAT.  COP: Hi there my name is officer so and so may I please see your liscence and registration?  Do you know why I pulled you over? ME: Absolutely not (I hand him my liscence and rental papers)  this is my first time ever driving in LA and I just rented this car today.  COP: Where did you rent this car from?  ME: Rent a Reck COP: haha I can see that (he keeps laughing)  ME: Trust me I would love to rent something nicer  COP (hands me back my liscence and papers) you see that sign there you cant turn left here. you have really pretty eyes.  Be careful or someone will give you a ticket. Have yourself a nice day  ME: (looking at Justin)  It helps being a girl.  JUSTIN: Fuck Emmie they would've nailed me ME:  I know ahah.  So I turn around pull up to the light and make a right JUSTIN: Emmie you can't turn while pedestrians are crossing! . As he says this he looks out the window and the cop was standing there smiling shaking his head.  HAHA what a day.  The next day Dallas and I actually get out to job search but barley got out any resume's due to the fact nobody would take them because we were looking for cash work and nobody was interested.  Another day gone and no job so what do we do haha party.  There was a party at our hostel that night.  It was a blast.  We met these three really rad Aussie's, Amy, Kate and Garth, all siblings traveling together.  They will actually be back here in a few weeks and want to meet up, they texted me today so I am pretty stoked.  The party was great everyone had a blast. Though I was really confused the next morning when Justin was all dressed up from the night before, I thought he was going to work but that wasn't the case.  He ended up passing out in the party room and had just made it upstairs with swollen eyes.  And I mean swollen eyes. Have you ever seen anyone with swollen eyes before?  i thought I had until I saw Justin on Saturday morning.  His eyes were these round balls sticking so far out i thought they would pop out of the sockets; I'm surprised he could even blink lol it was so funny.  Then I hear a very confused half asleep voice from Dallas's bunk "why am I naked?"  and then me going "how did I get to bed?" it was so funny but so painful.
That night I went over to Ella's for a girls night and some drinks. A few drinks later her, Nathan (her new flat mate) and I head over to the Bungalow (hostel) for some drinks, Justin and then off to the Saddle Ranch for a crazy night of music and drinks.  SOOO MUCH FUN but so much pain the next day lol but well worth it.
Sunday was a chill day for all of us, Justin and I were hung over after two nights of drinking and Ryan had gone to a Rave on Saturday and drank with us on Friday so we were limited to a day on the couch with junk food and movies.
Then it's Monday. The begging of a new week and time to get myself a job.  As much as I wanted a job bartending I knew it would be next to impossible. No bar would hire me without a Visa which I dont have.  So what do I do Craigslist.  Man do I love Cragslist.  I looked up and out my picture to any promotion, or promo model add in the Los Angeles Area.  20 emails and 3 hours later I had 3 interviews.  Guess what.  I GOT A JOB!  Two of them to be exact.  One is for this promotion company promoting the high end clubs in Hollywood and promoting big parties. Dallas and I both got the job together, and the address of the head office is 90210 Beverly Hills!  No joke!  My first task is promoting this Sunday nights event at Ecco Nightclub. It's Usher's CD Listening party and the man himself is going to be there.  Fucking amazing.  My other job is working at private celebrity functions. They are B and C celebrities but it's still a pretty cool job.  The best about both of them is they are cash paying so it's golden. I am super stoked.  Plus the owner of the second one is friends with Mr. Hugh Heffner and I have been invited for Sunday Poker at the Mansion.  Yup thats right the Playboy Mansion.
Well I hope you have enjoyed yet another one of my entries.  I have to go get ready as Dallas and I are going to two night clubs tonight, no line no cover to check them out and start promoting.  LA LA LAND is right!!!

I'm here!!!

Well I am here.  West Hollywood California!  And...I love it!!!  (know it’s been almost a week since my last blog but it took me this long to connect my laptop to the wifi here at the hostel.)

So I left Las Vegas Sunday Morning.  Of course I shed some tears when I said goodbye to Pauly.  I was terrified, it was the day that I officially was going to be on my own and I was feeling anxious.  Ben (who we met the first night) was driving me to the Greyhound station.  He picked me up I said my teary goodbye to Pauly and we were off.  It was still pretty early so we went to Denny’s for breakfast and then went to the station.  At this point I was really starting to get anxiety, I couldn’t believe the moment had come that I was going to board the bus and start this journey.  Ben stayed and chatted with me for an hour which was awesome because he himself has done an extensive amount of travelling and he told me about his experiences as a solo traveller so it was really nice, reassuring and calming so by the time he left I was feeling ok.

I met an interesting couple at the bus station; her, a sweet plump 22 year old in a wheelchair and her husband a tall lanky Napoleon Dynamite looking guy.  I saw a woman with jogging pants that were too big on her and when she pulled them up to try and hold them up by what looked like a cheap knock off of an Ed Hardy belt you could see she was wearing no underwear who was with her friend who I knew was a woman but didn’t quite look like one.  Then I met Ben ( yes another one) a 21 year old just travelling around and wanting to find a bartending  job.  We travelled all the way to Hollywood together.  The drive, just as before was beautiful.  The bus had huge panoramic windows and on either side were just mountains so high that the snow on the peaks blended in with the white clouds.  As I looked out the window I couldn’t help but smile with a tear in my eye because I knew this was it.  I had done it, on my own alone in this huge world and I realized how proud I am of myself for actually doing this.

With a transfer in LA I arrived in Hollywood at about 7pm.  With saying goodbye to Ben and being the only one in the bus station and waiting for a cab I felt alone for the first time.  I was relieved when the cab got there because I just wanted to check into the hostel and then go meet up with Ellie.

I was a little nervous when I first walked in the door as I had never been to a hostel before and didn’t know what to expect.  There was overbooking of travellers to beds so within a half hour my bed had switched three times.  Frustrated and relieved I finally head to Ellie’s.

It was sooo good to see her.  We drank some rum, caught up and went out to the Saddle Ranch it did it up pretty good finishing the night off with chilli cheese fries and I can’t remember what else we had but it definately greasy lol.

I get back to the hostel about 3 o’clock a little nervous  to sleep in a dorm room with 5 people I didn’t know.  As I am getting ready to crawl into bed I realize my bed is no longer my bed and someone is sleeping in it.  I lost my shit!  They wanted to transfer me to another hostel and everything.  Not happy, its 3am, I’m tired and frustrated I kind of wanted to just pick up and go home.  Just at that moment a guy walked through the door and stressfully I asked him if he had a cigarette ( I know I quit) and in a sexy Australian accent he said no and then asked me if I was ok and I said no and told him the situation.  He told the front desk to give me a blanket and that I was fine for the night and we would figure out everything in the morning.   Anyways we couldn’t sleep so we went down to the party/tv room and hung out for a bit.  He said this is what travelling is all about and not to worry.  The next day I went to the front desk and I was told my night was free and they found me a bed.  But Ryan (the Aussie) had a free bed in his room so we are now roommates.  The best thing, none of us snore and we all get along so well. With everything getting cleared up and me getting almost a three week stay here – I decided to suck it up and stay in a dorm room and not go to a private because I’m actually loving this dorm thing – I was ready to do some sightseeing.

So at 11am Dallas (another Aussie from my original room) we started walking to do a little site seeing.  We walked all the way to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and walked the entire thing.  Plus they are setting up for the Oscars so it was pretty awesome.  Six hours later we end up back at the hostel with blisters on our feet and a bottle of Jim Beam and Bacardi.  It was a great day and it was free which was even better.

As we walked and talked I had this crazy feeling of exhilaration.  Its an exhilaration that I cant explain or make you understand unless you have traveled.  The feeling of being out in the world, by yourself with no one to worry about or meet up with and go where you want to go and do what you want to do and meet people who are doing it to for their own reasons.  You have an instant family like connection with people, some more than others.  Justin, Ryan and Dallas are the ones that I am close with.  They are amazing and in the short 48 hours I have known them I can’t believe that this time last week they weren’t in my life.  Justin who is from Vegas is here to start something new; Ryan an investment banker from Melbourne who has the travel bug and Dallas an actor from Sydney who is taking acting classes here.  All so different and possibly people I wouldn’t be friends with under any other circumstances but here we are, here I am having an experience with complete strangers but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  As much as I miss you all at home I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world-if that makes sense.

Anyways last night we went to a party then a club and then I dragged the boys home by midnight as they were falling over drunk and of course I am the one that ends up with bruises, due to the fact that drunkenly one of them knocked my into a fire hydrant and my knees are now swollen and covered in bruises lol but it was all in good fun.

I think I am the only Canadian staying at this hostel which is kind of cool and I apparently have a nice accent – lol what accent. I met one Canadian last night who is from Hamilton and now lives here and he knew Colingwood so I was super stoked about that.  I am surrounded by English, German, French and a ton of Aussies it almost makes me forget where I actually am.  I am starting to pick up accents and new slangs.

We went to a viewing of the Oscar’s next store to our hostel at the Silent Movie theatre.  It was pretty awesome sitting in a theatre of 100 people watching the Oscar’s on a big screen, it almost felt like we were there.  But, with being able to bring in your own drinks we drank too much and left because we couldn’t sit anymore so we just went back to the hostel and partied with everyone else. 

The area we are living/staying in is awesome – Fairfax Village and it’s amazing here.  Everything is here. Melrose Avenue is the next street over, The Grove is about a 5 minute walk, Starbucks, Coffee Bean, the Hollywood Hills is my view as soon as I leave the hostel.  I could live here! It’s so beautiful. And the fashion, WOW! The high school kids have better fashion then me lol, it’s pretty cool.

So this week we are job hunting so we have some extra cash and next week so wish me luck!  Talk soon.