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Paddies and Hoodies
By mcdog | March 22, 2007
We’ve spent a few days recovering from ‘jet-lag’. Taking it easy. Swimming in the supposedly heated pool( we found a plastic terrapin floating in the pool – had us fooled for a few minutes) on the compound, exercising in the gym, shopping and doing the things that people do when visiting family. It’s been pleasant, soaking up a few rays, drinking a few beers, being grand-parents again and being able to wander about comfortably in shorts.
We’ve played bowls on the Wii that Number 2 Son queued all night to buy and I’ve had a couple of accompanied drives about Santa Clarita in a Chrysler convertible that’s getting a bit worn but still produces a good throaty roar when the accelerator is pressed.
Saturday was St.Patrick’s Day. The biggest celebration of Paddy’s Day that I’ve ever taken part in has been a pre-arranged lifting of a pint of Guinness to absent friends. Things are different in The States. ‘Wear something green’, we were told. So we did, a T-shirt and a hat in my case, a green skirt for Herself and off we went for a meal at a Japanese restaurant. Very traditional. A large black lassie said ‘I like your green’ as I headed for the ATM. Never heard that compliment before, maybe she meant the money I would soon be collecting from the machine.
Young C was dropped at the apartment before the rest of us hit The Londoner, a bar and restaurant in town. The colour green was much in evidence, in clothing, flashing lights, necklaces and bar decorations but not, fortunately, in drinks. There was a live band but they didn’t seem to play many Irish songs, can only remember one U2 number, but the real entertainment came from watching the patrons who seemed a pretty eclectic bunch. A popular drink was the Irish Depth Charge also known as an Irish Car Bomb, Jameson whiskey and Bailey’s mixed in a wee glass and dropped into an almost-full glass of Guinness and chugged. Looked like one of those lie-down-and-avoid drinks to me. We had a great time.
The next morning the sky was overcast and visibility was less than half a mile as we headed to LA and Venice Beach. It was a cold morning and after walking about a mile along the ‘front’ we all bought sweaters and hoodies. Then we walked back and just past were we had parked the car we saw the restaurant we’d been looking for. Too late, already eaten. Passed the new Muscle Beach but it must have been a little too cold for the posers and it was almost deserted. Lots of stalls selling bits n’pieces and people saying nasty things about that nice Mr.Bush.
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