You just know a trip's gonna be sweet if it starts with Red Vines and Mr. Pibb. Thanks to DougEFresh and J for said provisions, the combination of which set the stage for a swell jaunt to Los Angeles to do "work."

Ahem, WORK: A trip to Staples Center, Dodger Stadium, and LA Memorial Coliseum. Free transportation and tickets to a fantastic Ducks/Kings game at the Pond in Anaheim. A photo op with Johnny Depp and Johnny Depp as Captain Jack and Wonka in front of Kodak after reconfirming for the padre that, yes, the Hollywood sign does exist (it's visible from the Coliseum). And that's just the touristy stuff: Lest we forget some guy at the Roosevelt Hotel crazy mad that he couldn't get a sandwich at 10pm (kitchen closed) even though he was an "important guest." He claimed he was a chereographer for the Grammys; even if it wasn't true, he was about 8000 times cooler than the cool side at Alma.

Post-Roosevelt was the lovely Saddle Ranch, home of Mike's exploits on a bull and the greatest karoke experience of Don't Stop Believin' ever. And probably the only one featuring a girl from The Real World whose name I keep forgetting:


She's the second from the left. There was also a Nicole Ritchie spotting. And seriously: Mr. Belding came to karoke at Dimples. Dimples is pure California.

We learned some things too. About video production. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will be better. We can build it better. Hoorah.