Coping with the recession...

Well, we promised Sydney that we'd buy her a pool this Summer as she normally LOVES to swim in the hard-plastic kiddie pools! However, without even a measly $20 to spare, we haven't been able to make the purchase. Which leads to inventiveness...let us introduce you to the most "ghetto" pool in the world:

And Syd isn't having it. In the words of her Dad, Syd is thinking, "I didn't just fall off the turnip truck yesterday. THAT is no pool!" I told her that if she wants better she has to get a job! ;-)

Off the beaten path...

Yesterday we were looking for something active & cheap to do to break up the monotany of our day-t0-day unemployed Summer lives. Some mountain biking was in order, so we did a little online research and decided to drive up North to the Malibu Creek State Park, which includes part of the Santa Monica Mountain Range. The Friday afternoon traffic on Independence Day weekend did not allow us a quick drive along PCH, but after ~ 75 minutes or so, we arrived.The online review referred to this site as appropriate for beginning mountain bikers, which we definitely are. However, this site was in NO WAY for a beginning biker. It was tough! Too tough! We ended up pushing & carrying our bikes for most of the route as it was incredibly rocky through most of the trails. And, it was 86 degrees outside, so we were melting with the heat & the workout. Had we known there were some pools, we would have brought along our bathing suits for a much-needed dip.

Another reason we chose this site is because it used to be the backlot for 20th Century/Fox Entertainment. The television series, "M.A.S.H." was filmed here, and apparently their set-up remains. However, we were so exhausted, and after several wrong turns we realized we weren't up for the 2 mile trek/ride to the site, so we never got to see it. Our neighbor, Barbara, tells us that if we'd been "in the know" we would have been able to look at the mountains around us and see the spots where the studio used to post actors for cliff-diving work, and where gunpowder was stored. We saw no such thing with our untrained eyes.

We returned home sweaty & tired. Perfect for a Friday!

Farewell SM & MJ...

Last night was Stephan's last night in the US (moving to London for a job), so Matt decided he MUST try out LA's finest hamburger at the Hamlet in Hollywood, a place Matt used to visit with his grandparents as a kid. A small group of us ventured up Sunset Blvd to satisfy our palates. During the drive we passed Michael Jackson's Bel Air rental home, and decided that it would be just great to head further up Sunset after dinner and stop to see his star on the Walk of Fame. So, after dinner we did just that, and the following is what was seen. Outside the Bel Air Rental home on Sunset Blvd...

Plain White T's - 1234 - Official Music Video (WATCH IN HQ!)

Some days I miss me some Chicago :-( (but not in the Winter-time...sorry Mom).