The Tale of Old Friends, Doing A Medley, and The Burn...

Myself on the left and Shelley on the right.
Out on the Santa Monica Pier.

Well, last time I left off I was in Newport Beach… I got to spend a week there. I had am amazing time! I got the chance to catch up with so many people that I hadn’t seen in a very long time. It felt so great to reconnect with people! I spent one day up in Santa Monica with my friend Shelley, who was one of my best friends in elementary school, but I hadn’t seen her since her sister’s wedding almost two years ago. I also got to see another friend from elementary school that week, and that guy I hadn’t seen since 6^th grade! So surreal to now be sitting there next to him at happy hour!

I also got a chance to go down to Temecula and visit the rest of my family! All my nieces are growing up so quickly. I just cannot believe it! But I am so glad that I got the chance to go visit everyone down there and see what everyone is up to! Pizza at my brother’s house closed out that awesome day! Plus, later in the week I got to catch up with Dusty Hatfield- who is practically family, and hear about all his amazing travels! I always love being able to see him and hear about what he has been up to.

The cutest church in CDM.

There was a singer/songwriter night at The Marine Room in Laguna Beach that I got to go to as well. I met Tim, Larry, and Gabe and his parents there. (It was Gabe and his family’s home turf since they are all from Laguna.) It was a lot of fun hanging with everyone and listening to some great music. The people running the show were the parents of a friend of mine, and they are insanely talented! One funny moment that I should share from that night though... There was a singer/songwriter guy onstage and he was running out of time, so he said something about "I don't think I'm supposed to do a medley, but maybe I'll do one anyway." I leaned over to Gabe and said, "As the only Medley here, I can guarantee that he will not be doing a Medley." Followed by a rimshot off the table by Gabe. Thank you Gabe- my personal drummer!

I even got to go to church in Corona del Mar with my dad while I was in town. It was the church I remember going to a few times with my grandma when I was a kid. My grandma passed away a few years ago now, but going there very much reminded me of her! So it was very special!

Hail at my parent's house in
Newport Beach!

Oh, and it even hailed in Newport Beach, California one night! It was insane! I thought I had gotten away from that kind of weather, but I guess God had other plans! All and all it was a pretty great time on the So-Cal coast!

April 15, 2011

I was up and moving around 9am, getting everything packed and ready to go. Dad and I said our good-byes to mom, and then we were in the car by 10:30am to start out on the drive to Las Vegas. The drive was moving along pretty smoothly until we got to Ontario where everything started to slow down. (Not a good sign for things to already be slowing down that early in the drive!)

I sent Gabe a text message to see if he was driving, we thought he might have left a little earlier than us and so he would maybe know if the traffic breaks in a bit. But he quickly responded that he was flying and would get in around 4:15pm. We quickly responded that we currently hate him…

The traffic did open up a bit, but it kept being very congested and slow moving in a lot of areas. However, I was preferring to call it cozy… Cozy just sounded like a brighter and happier way to look at the traffic situation. How’s the traffic? Well, it’s nice and snuggly! Doesn’t that sound better to you?

We decided to stop off at In-N-Out in Barstow- of course! And it was packed! Dad and I hadn’t seen it like that in a long time! We couldn’t believe how many cars and busses were there! But we managed to get our food and a table anyway. Soon we were back on the slow moving road though. But we were much more content now that our stomachs were filled with animal style burgers and double doubles!

Not only were we going to Las Vegas, but we were going to North Las Vegas. So once we reached Vegas, we still had to go to the other side of town. We actually passed Las Vegas Airport right as Gabe’s flight was supposed to land. (Apparently this time he had the right idea of flying!) We made it to The Cannery Hotel at about 5pm. Tim and his wife Mary Shannon had just pulled up a couple minutes before us. Their drive was just as long as ours. It ended up taking six and a half hours! That’s just about double the amount of time it usually takes!

The outside of the showroom.

We all got checked in and headed to our rooms. I would describe the smell of my room as “funky fresh”. You know when they use some cleaning product that just smells too strong, like they are trying to cover something up? Yep, that was the problem! But it was a very nice hotel, and very comfortable room. At 6:30pm, Dad, Tim, Mary Shannon, Gabe and I went down to the steakhouse for dinner. It was really good! And of course the conversation was too! Larry arrived just in time for dessert.

I was back up in my room by 9:30pm and decided to turn on a movie and relax for a bit. After that- and then a little reading, it was time to crash though.

April 16, 2011

I got up by 10am, and by 11am I had made my way down to the gym. I was down there for about forty-five minutes, and I was feeling the burn! Been a minute since I had gotten my butt in a gym. It felt good though!

After that, I got changed into my bathing suit and went down to the pool. I pulled up a lounge chair and began to get some sun- dunking in and out of the pool every so often, because the sun was quite strong! Dad came down for a bit, and some of his friends from junior high school were hanging out there too. So there ended up being a group of us. It was so nice and relaxing! I was absolutely loving it! It had been way too long since I have just laid out by a pool.

However, there was a price to pay… I got back to my room after being by the pool for two hours, and I jumped into the shower and began to get ready; but I was already noticing that I was starting to turn a bit pink. As I was doing my makeup, I noticed that my skin was getting even more pink- and starting to be more red looking by the minute!

The theater, they were setting up
the chairs while we did sound
check. Sold out show!

I went down to sound check at 3:30pm, and that went smoothly. I was on my way to the buffet by 5pm with Gabe, Bob, Larry, and our soundman Bill. After a nice little dinner together, I went back up to my room and did some reading for a while, and even snuck in a little writing too! Then I started to get ready for the show. By 7:45pm I was on my way to my dad’s room to meet up with him. We had a security escort to get downstairs. One of the security guards was talking on his walkie talkie, and kept referring to my dad as “the package”. I couldn’t help but giggle a little bit! Apparently getting us to the theater was very serious business.

We actually walked down to the steakhouse first to say hello to some friends of ours who were in there eating. Then after a few minutes, we were on our way through the employee hallways to backstage. Once we got there and “the package was secured and delivered”, I began talking with some of the guys as my dad took a couple pictures.

Our pre-show fists, all in! My arm is obviously the one with the feminine satin long sleeves!

Soon, it was 8:30pm and time for the show to begin! Dad and the boys took the stage as I finished doing my hair and getting my in-ears in place. I was also wearing a bit of a different outfit... Normally I wear a skirt, but because I was so sunburnt, (and by then, the sunburn was really starting to show!) I ended up wearing my comfy pair of whitewash jeans! The idea of wearing stockings with a sunburn is truly painful, as I’m sure all you ladies know!

Before I knew it, it was my turn to get on stage. The show went great! It was a lot of fun! There were a lot of friends in the audience, which always makes it exciting! We also had a couple great photographers taking pictures. I saw a few of the pictures and they looked awesome, I can’t wait to see the rest of them! (I’d post some with this blog, but I don’t have the photos in my hands yet, sorry!) After the show we went out front to sign. The line was rather long, but we had a great time talking to everyone. One couple said they came all the way from China just to see the show because their favorite song has always been “Unchained Melody”. So that was pretty amazing!

Stage entrance.

By the time we were done, we wandered backstage to hang with everyone. I sat with the band by the stage for a while as dad was catching up with some old friends of his. But after a few laughs, I knew I better get up to my room. I said my good-byes to everyone and got upstairs by 11:30pm. I organized my suitcases a little, and then I tried to get to sleep as quickly as possible. But I have to admit, it was pretty much the perfect day! Sometimes it is amazing that I can have such an awesome “work day”! I mean seriously- gym, pool, sound check, food, reading and a show… Life is good sometimes!

April 17, 2011

Alarms started blaring at 4:15am! I was not happy to be getting up, but I did it anyway. I got all my stuff shoved into my luggage, and I walked downstairs to the valet area to find a man holding a sign with my name on it at 5am. He seemed rather cheery for 5am… But I was glad that he was so awake since he was the one driving!

We drove down the 15 towards the airport. It was obviously still dark outside, and I have to say I have never seen a moon look so huge! I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was! I thought about trying to take a picture of it, but I knew a picture wouldn’t really show the incredible size. But it was stunning.

Backstage at the gig.

We pulled up to the airport and I got checked in at the Frontier desk. Not long after, I was on my way through security and then sitting at my gate patiently waiting. My flight didn’t leave until 7am. So I just sat there in a daze until they started boarding. I literally didn’t get a book or anything out; I just sat there, and did a little people watching. It is a great airport to people watch at… Especially at that hour! People are either in pajamas or what they wore clubbing the night before! Or some strange combination of both- like the girl in the full on sequin mini-dress and slippers perfectly represented.

Soon I was on my plane and in my window seat. A young man sat next to me, he informed me that he hadn’t gone to sleep yet, he had stayed up for the flight. (And those who know me, know that is something I’ve done on more than one occasion too!) Another young girl sat down on the other side of him, she was on the less is more sleep schedule as well. After we all shared about our weekends in Vegas, all three of us were fast asleep! I was crashed out most of the flight.

After an hour and a half, we landed in Denver. I made my way straight over to my next gate. It was in a very small “jumper plane” section. I don’t think I had been to that part of the Denver airport before. I sat there awaiting my flight. A young kid sat down on the same row of seats as me, and sure enough he had a tiny guitar with him, and he got it out to play. He wasn’t horrible, but being half asleep and all, I didn’t particularly like him sitting right next to me and trying to pick out chords.

Las Vegas Airport

But it wasn’t too long before they started boarding my plane to Branson. I took my seat, and was happily surprised to find out that no one was sitting in the seat next to me, so I had the row to myself! I was soon laying down and dead sleep. I remember some turbulence, but only as a dream. I was out! The flight attendant woke me up just before we landed. Everything seemed a bit hazed to me. You know how that happens when you come out of a deep sleep! But the view over the Ozarks was gorgeous! But soon we were on the ground in Branson, Missouri. However, I slept through the complimentary cookie on that flight… A major bummer indeed.

I got off the plane and went through the small airport to the ground transportation desk. To get a cab there, you actually have to fill out a form- which seemed unusual, but I did what I needed to! I grabbed my bags and then they got me in one of the waiting taxis.

Just a short drive and then I was back to my house! I felt exhausted! Also, you know how it feels when you are constantly on the go and then you stop and have nothing? It is a weird kind of sad/depressed feeling… Maybe I’m the only one who gets it. But I know I really enjoy my time off- after a day of adjusting to the radical change anyway! I eventually went to get some food, and then just turned on a movie for the rest of my night. I actually ended up in bed and asleep by 10pm! And the only reason I was up that late was because I was scared to go to sleep too much earlier than that and completely mess up my sleep schedule.

But I have to say it was a pretty incredible couple weeks away from Branson! However, I know I am going to need to recoup this week and get ready for my next adventure! 

The Tale of Gelato Paradiso, The Crystal Ballroom, and Beverly Hills...

April 5, 2011

I woke up in my own bed- and with time to spare! (Which I admit is unusual for a travel day.) I began to get organized and finished packing as I got showered and dressed for the day ahead. By 1pm, right on cue, my taxi pulled up outside my house. I hopped in and was on my way to the Branson Airport. After the rather quick drive, I got checked in at the Frontier desk, and then went on through security.

Branson is such a small and quaint airport, a very stress-free place to fly in and out of! My flight was not until 2:30pm, so I had some time to kill, which sadly there isn’t much to do in that airport- it really is quite small. But I managed to keep myself somewhat entertained as I pondered theories in my head.

The flight was on time, and I got on the plane just as planned. I was actually in the mock first class section. (Because on Frontier you can sometimes upgrade to the extra leg room for a reasonable price when you buy the ticket- plus the more expensive ticket also pays for 2 checked bags, which makes the extra money the ticket costs more than worth it for me!) I got comfortable in my very nice and roomy seat- which also had a big armrest between me and the gentleman next to me. I was quite pleased!

Soon we were in the air and on our way to Denver. I sat writing most of the flight, trying to catch up on the things I needed to get done. The flight was smooth and peaceful! Just some turbulence at take off and landing, but aside from that- smooth sailing! I was on the ground in Denver around 3:30pm, and noticed my next flight was on time, but I did have a little over a two-hour layover... So as I walked toward my next gate I decided to stop at the Denver Chop House- which truly is always a good choice! I have had many a great meal there!

After my salad and a couple chicken tenders, I was on my way to my new gate. But as I arrived there, I found out that my flight was already delayed about twenty minutes. I went back towards the shops and spent some time in the bookstore, but soon I had exhausted my shopping options and went back to my gate to wait. I still had over an hour and a half. So I got out my computer and started to get some work done.

Finally at the same time my flight was supposed to take off, the plane had just landed and the passengers were happily exiting. At least I knew we were going to be on our way soon! And I was right; within fifteen minutes they started boarding. I got into my window seat, and found that the middle seat next to me was empty. To my amazement and joy, it was still empty when they closed the heavy airplane doors at 6:45pm. It is always such an added bonus to have a seat next to you empty. It just makes it easier to work! I spent the whole flight reading, and I finished the thing I needed to right as we were starting out descent. However, I did take a break from my reading to enjoy the warm cookie you get on every afternoon Frontier flight, and also a cranberry juice. (And no, that is not a cranberry and vodka, it’s just plain cranberry… I’m not that rock’n’roll people!)

As we were coming into Orange County, it was amazing. The sky was afire. It was sunset, and from the height of our plane it was truly awe-inspiring. I attempted to take pictures, but I assure you- none of the pictures did the beauty justice! It was almost a shame to go below the bright pink and orange clouds to land, but we did.

Trust me, this picture does not do the view justice... But you have to
admit it look quite heavenly!

I went down to baggage claim and eagerly awaited my two pieces of shiny black luggage. I stood there making small talk with one of the other passengers, when finally my bags appeared. I bid him adieu, and was on my way. I walked out to the curb and awaited my dad. I was waiting for a bit longer than I expected! But after fifteen minutes, I saw his car coming toward me. He happily got out of the car to help me with my bags, and I jumped in the passenger seat.

We drove the oh so familiar path to my parents house. I can’t tell you how many times I have made that drive over the years. First when I was just taking my dad there so he could leave to go on tour, or eagerly picking him up and taking him home; then when I was old enough that I was going on tour with him as well. I am pretty sure I could do that drive in my sleep- however, I don’t plan on it, but if I ever change my mind and decide to attempt a blind drive to John Wayne Airport, I’ll be sure to alert all my friends in the area to beware!

Dad insisted on stopping at the small market we drove by to get some apples. Apparently there was only one apple left and mom wouldn’t let him have it because she knows I like apples… We fixed that problem with the bag of Fuji apples we purchased- now there were enough to go around! Soon I was home and sitting in my chair- the one I always sit in when my parents are both home. Weird how you just have your usual places isn’t it? I also had a little snack that my mom had prepared for me before we had gotten there.

We all sat around chatting and watching a little TV for a bit, then I retired to my room and started a new book- which I loved, and that led to me staying up for hours reading, but I just couldn’t help it! Eventually, the day began to wear on me though, and even though I wanted to continue further into the book that was sitting at my lap, my eyes refused.

April 6, 2011

I won’t go into much detail here… It was a free day for me in Newport Beach! You would think I would have been running to the beach or catching up with friends, but instead I was off to the hairdresser and some other errands that I needed to get done. Going back to California, there are always things I need to get done- whether it is my hair (which I have to get done by Todd, I have yet to find anyone who compares to him- and I have had my hair done pretty disastrously in Branson before! I’m sure there are talented hairdressers there, but I have not found them.), or going to see some doctors that I haven’t replaced with a Branson physician yet. There are always things on my list I have to get done, and I prefer to get them out of the way in the first couple days I am in town. That way I can enjoy the rest of my time by the beach!

I will add that my mom and I did go to dinner at Bandera’s- a place we hadn’t gone to in years, and it was delicious! Gabe had reminded us of the artichokes there not long ago, and so we had to go see if they were still the same, as he had said. And Gabe was definitely right! If you need an artichoke and don’t want to cook one, there are some good places to go, but Bandera’s is probably one of the best I know!

Oh, and for those who know me rather well… I did get my gelato fix! I rarely come to California without getting some. I can only remember one time I didn’t actually- I was here with someone from Missouri, and to this day I regret not introducing him to my wonderful addiction of Gelato Paradiso! (And for those who are in the Corona del Mar area a lot and know what I’m talking about, I did skip the Sprinkles store that is one door down. I do love me a Sprinkles red velvet cupcake too, but I figured one vice at a time!)

April 7, 2011

I lazily woke up and got showered and ready. I didn’t have to leave the house until about 1pm, but then I was on my way to Beverly Hills. (However, I did do a quick stop over at a Barnes and Noble store- I am obsessed with reading lately! Plus they also have great journals, and I think we all know how much I love to write as well.) But after that, I was back on the 405 and headed North.

I made it almost all the way to Sunset without any traffic. But as luck would have it, the freeway came to a halt right before Santa Monica Blvd.- which is only two exits before Sunset. So I quickly got to the right lane and exited the freeway/parking lot. I found a backstreet that took me over to Sunset. Then I made a right and drove down that famous street until I came to a historically famous place- The Beverly Hills Hotel. I happily turned into the driveway, which appeared to be a sanctuary from the madness of the street I was just on. I pulled up to the Valet, and handed over the keys as I got my bags out.

I walked into the lobby and asked a hotel employee where I would find the Crystal Ballroom. After being pointed in the right direction, I continued on my journey. But I hadn’t made it more than a few steps when a lady sitting on the phone in the lobby asked if I was there for the photo shoot. I said no. At first I was feeling pretty good about myself, thinking that this lady actually mistook me for a model. However, once I thought about it, I’m pretty sure she thought I was the makeup artist for the shoot, (as I was rolling around a bag that looked like one a makeup artist would have) and I have always looked more the part of the makeup department than model! Especially in Hollywood! I am not a size negative two! Or even a zero for that matter- by any means! (And for the record, I don’t plan to be; I love having some feminine curves!)

Past the distraught photo shoot lady, I found an elevator to take me down to the Crystal Ballroom. As the elevator opened and I walked into the beautiful room outside the ballroom I was literally stopped by the beauty. Then I continued to walk inside the ballroom, and I was in awe. What an incredible place! Vintage to a T! I was in love! I found the band and dad all sitting in the middle of the room chatting. I joined them for a bit. Then it was time for sound check.

Sound check proved to be pretty simple. This was a private event, a benefit for the Jewish National Fund. We only needed to do a twenty-thirty minute show. For my dad, that is pretty much just the hits! So that was easy enough to get ready for. By 4pm, we were done. Dad walked me up to the hotel room we had. (He had stayed there the night before since he had some meetings in L.A.) The room was beautiful. True Beverly Hills style. I set my stuff down, and then dad and I decided to go down to the incredible and hugely famous Polo Lounge for some food.

In the Crystal Ballroom.

Anyone who is anyone- or at least anyone who is anyone in Hollywood, has been to the Polo Lounge. Many contracts have been signed there, and surely the birth of many of the biggest projects in Hollywood have happened while at a meeting there. Dad and I sat down and began to chat. I got a salad that was incredible! I admit, I had been to the Polo Lounge before for a meeting, but I had never eaten there, and the food- or at least my salad was perfection! By the time we were done with our snack, dad went back up to the room to rest for a bit while I walked around for a while.

Stage in the Crystal Ballroom.

I did see one celebrity while I was walking around, and my dad had seen one earlier. But not too many celebrity sightings this time. But it is pretty hard to be at that hotel and not see someone you recognize from the entertainment industry! I eventually found myself a comfy cozy couch in the lobby to sit at and read. I sat there for a little more than an hour, and I actually watched many of the people arriving for the benefit we were working. What was interesting was that there were actually two major Jewish events going on at the hotel that night. I watched and heard so many people come up to the hotel staff saying they are there for the Jewish event, and asking where to go. The hotel staff would ask which event, and the people would have an embarrassed look of “I don’t know!” on their faces. Most people eventually figured out the right place to go though!

Gabe and Bob on stage.

Tim and Larry on stage.

By 6:15pm, I ran up to the room to get changed into my stage clothes, then I went down to where the band was. The band had a room to hang out in that was in the lobby of the Crystal Ballroom. It was actually a bridal room. (A lot of weddings are held at the Crystal Ballroom- including my Uncle Bobby Hatfield’s first wedding in the 60’s! Pretty cool to think the reception for that wedding was right there were I was standing. I had seen some video from that night, and I admit it was awesome to see the actual place first hand!) The band was definitely entertained by the fact that they were in a bridal room!

In the Crystal Ballroom.

We sat there for a while- chatting and waiting for the event doors to open. Once they did, we walked into the ballroom and found our table. As a side note, as Gabe walked into the ballroom, he opened up his arms and grandly said, “My people!” Gabe is the only one of us who is even half Jewish. So he was feeling right at home. The people running the event graciously gave us a table so we could enjoy the food and the rest of the happenings. We all sat down- luckily our table was in the back corner, because we were a little unsure about some of the traditions going on.

On stage in the Crystal Ballroom.

They got us to stand up for the National Anthem. When it had finished, we all began to sit down; but without hesitation the person singing continued into another song- and this one was in Hebrew. Everyone in the crowd was singing along. I felt bad that I did not come prepared and know the song too. We all sat and enjoyed our salads. They also brought around some bread that the leader of the party had broken, they set a big piece of the bread down on our table between Larry and Tim. We all looked at Gabe with questions of what are we supposed to do? What is the proper thing to do in such situations? Gabe did not have answers for us. So Larry dug in and pulled off a piece and then passed it to Tim, and he did the same. It kept moving around the table as someone in our group said, “Wait, I think you passed it the wrong way!” And Gabe just bent his head down- most likely in shame for being seen with us. But we were innocently uneducated on the situation! The bread was wonderful, and actually the whole meal was delicious! The speakers had some great insight on a lot of the projects they are working on through the Jewish National Fund- most of the projects are over in Israel, which I found to be interesting because I had just a few weeks ago started to toy with the idea of going there. It seems the JNR is doing some great work over there. The host for the night was Tom Arnold, and he was hilarious! His jokes and his energy were wonderful!

Soon we needed to go get ready to do the gig, so we went back to the bridal room for a few minutes to grab the stuff we needed, and we also met up with my dad there too. Then they walked us over toward the stage as the introduction video was playing. Dad and I talked with Tom Arnold for a few minutes, then dad was called to the stage a little earlier than expected at 8:45 pm. I waited back there through a couple of songs, and then it was my turn to get to work. We did “Time of My Life”, and then dad realized that the people were loving to dance, so he said I should do “The Letter”- which I haven’t done in months! Luckily, it went over well, and there were no major problems with us remembering, just maybe a few tiny lapses in lyrics on my part! Then dad did “Loving Feeling”, which I help him out with; and then we were done!

Dad backstage ready to get to work!

We made our way back to the bridal room to all gather back together there. We sat chatting in the room for a bit- and I ate one of the incredible desserts from the event! So yummy! But then we all started to disperse, everyone beginning their treks home. Dad and I went back up to the hotel room so he could grab his bags and get on his way too. Soon, I was left alone in my beautiful vintage hotel room. I sat up for a few hours reading and then I finally gave in to the beautifully welcoming bed.

April 8, 2011

I woke up at 10am and got dressed. I hung out in my room for a while, just because why waste it? Checkout time wasn’t until noon. But finally I got my stuff together and walked down to the valet to get my car. I can tell you that the vintage Hollywood glamour of that place is truly magical. Even driving away, I felt a pull of being forced into reality and out of the heavenly dream that I had resided in for the past twenty four hours.  The hotel is steeped in a very rich Hollywood elite history. Just being there makes you feel like you have stepped into an enchanting past. The colors, the decor and the atmosphere are just truly magical- that is the only way to explain it.

The Beverly Hills Hotel.

But alas, I was set to leave, so I did. I got on the road and back toward Newport Beach. It took a bit over an hour, but I only got stuck in some slight traffic a couple of times; however, jamming on some country music made the time fly by! Soon I was home and relaxing as I looked out the back porch at the beautiful bay. A perfect ending to a perfect and wonderful gig.