Vacation Day 6 – continued… (includes "The Elmo Story")
We met up with Lindsay at her apartment and she took us around on a tourist’s tour of Hollywood. I’d been to LA and Hollywood a few times before, but never really managed to see anything cool without being pointed in the right direction by Lindsay, so I was excited to get her version of a Hollywood tour.
We headed out to the mall that’s built around Mann’s Chinese Theater, where we went out onto a little scenic path to see the big “Hollywood” sign. It was so far away that you can’t really see it in this picture, but I blew it up and enhanced it a little bit so you can see the letters.
We had lunch at this place that had Japanese food and a name that means “swish swish” (according to the waiter) but I don’t remember what it was called. It was unique and it was fun, and Lindsay eats there all the time. Out our window, you can see these giant elephants that overlook the middle of the mall.
We went down to the street where you can see all those stars on the sidewalk, and we went over to the front of the theater, which currently has a giant “Be Cool” poster on the front.
Lindsay told us – after we’d been to see the movie – that she’s an extra in the movie. It hasn’t gotten very good reviews, but I thought it was fun, and Sara enjoyed it too. So we’ll probably see it again to Lindsay-watch.
So here is Burt Reynolds’ handprint, on which he apparently forgot how to spell his name.
And here is Sara next to Jackie Chan’s star, which we took for Vicki Wheeler, who Sara used to work with at the College of Journalism.
Closing out the Hollywood section of the trip, here is our Elmo Story.
We saw a bunch of people outside the theater dressed up as various movie and TV characters. I saw someone dressed as Elmo, so I handed Sara my camera and walked up to him.
NEAL: Hey Elmo, can I get a picture with you for my niece?
ELMO: (whispers to me) We’re like street performers – we work off tips.
NEAL: Okay, no problem.
ELMO: (from this point on, “Elmo” speaks in a falsetto/faux-Elmo voice. keep this important detail in mind) What’s her name?
NEAL: Her? That’s Sara.
ELMO: Your niece?
NEAL: Oh, my niece – her name is Miqaela.
ELMO: That’s your niece?
NEAL: No –
ELMO: She’s HOT!
NEAL: No, that’s my girlfriend. My niece is two.
ELMO: Dude, she’s hot! That’s your girlfriend? That girl is HOT!
NEAL: Yes, that’s my girlfriend.
ELMO: You’re a lucky man!
NEAL: Thank –
ELMO: Who’s that other girl?
NEAL: That’s my cousin –
ELMO: Damn! I’m going over there!
Elmo proceeds to walk over to Sara and Lindsay. I tipped him a $5, because that was the smallest bill I had, so I figured I’d get another picture.
NEAL: You guys want your picture taken with Elmo?
ELMO: Yeah!
SARA and LINDSAY: uhh…
Elmo puts his arms around them and rubs their shoulders while I take about 10 seconds of really awkward video (to be posted soon) with my camera.
ELMO: (trying to get back into character a little bit more) She’s so pretty!
SARA: Uh…thanks…
ELMO: She looks like – what’s her name – that girl from Alias.
NEAL: Jennifer Garner?
ELMO: Are you guys gonna get married?
NEAL: Well, maybe if she’s nice…
ELMO: I’ll be nice to her…
NEAL: Elmo, I don’t think you’re supposed to talk about stuff like that…
ELMO: And who is this? You’ve got another girl?
NEAL: That’s my cousin!
ELMO: Man you are LUCKY! Two girls?!
NEAL: She’s my COUSIN!
ELMO: (sticks out his fist to give the “pound” gesture) PLAYA PLAYA!!
I reciprocated the “pound” and we left Elmo to get his picture taken with other tourists.
I apologized to Sara later for any message I may have sent to Elmo by accepting the “pound,” but I reasoned, when else am I going to be offered the “pound” from Elmo while he’s telling me “Playa Playa!!” ?
Lindsay showed us some more stuff, but we eventually had to get back on the road to get home. On the way back, we stopped by the Lakewood mall to go to Rob Van Dam’s 5 Star Comics (RVD is a WWE wrestler).
