Hollywood explorations

I basically decided to move to Los Angeles when I was about twelve years old.  I knew I'd go away to college, and if school wasn't in L.A., then I'd move here after graduation.  So I did.  I graduated from a college in Chicago in spring 2008, then packed up and took a one-way flight to Los Angeles three months later.  Despite knowing this was my plan (rather than an unthoughtout move), sometimes I don't fully realize how close I am to all things Hollywood and iconic and awesome.

Some of it probably has to do with the fact that my first two years here were sans car.  I was limited to the (limited) public transportation, and the system is enough to make Chicago's CTA look glorious.  Going anywhere was a chore, especially with some bus lines only running once an hour...and stopping service sometimes before 10:00pm.  But now I have a car!  And I can go places more easily!  And I can go on my own schedule!

Last weekend, dad was back in town again for the last few days of a work project, so we went "hiking" on Sunday.  I add the quotation marks because it wasn't a major hike through the wilderness—more like a long walk up an incline, and about half of it was a paved road.  So why was it great? We went to the Hollywood sign.

That's right.  The Hollywood sign.  There's a chain link fence and signs warning of arrest and a small fine if you attempt to cross and move closer, but you can follow the utility road all the way up there and look out from behind it.

A few days later, I went to Hollywood/Highland to do a little shopping on my day off.  You exit the parking structure via elevators that drop you right by the staircase to the Kodak Theatre, where they host the Academy Awards.  Oh, no big deal, just walking by the columns of Best Picture winners!  Out front: Walk of Fame stars.  Next door: Grauman's Chinese Theatre.  This is what tourists come to see...and I live about ten minutes from it all.

I never know how to end posts well.

So that's my story.  Bye!