living large in LA with Shannon, Mathew and Caliope

Los Angeles, California

June 1 - 3 /2009

More friends to visit!  Shannon, Mathew and Calliope live in the beautiful suburb of Studio City on a quaint little street unlike anything we expected of an LA neighborhood. It looks more like the set of Desperate Housewives. We still seem to be suffering from reverse culture shock because we can't get over how shiny and manicured  everything is. There is so much to do here it is hard to make a decision so for the first day we just hang out and watch how actor/ screenplay writer, and gallery owner live their lives in Los Angeles with a small child.

It's fascinating to us to hear them talk of their life here. Mathew has written a horror movie and is now trying to produce it (if anyone has a spare $5 million to invest, he'd like to talk to you- he does plan to shoot it in Canada). Shannon opened up a hip art gallery exposing new artists who have created edgy, challenging art. These are two very cool people who have risked their life savings to try to make a go of it here and if talent and ambition have anything to do with it they should be wildly successful. We'll keep our fingers crossed for them.

Anyway... back to us! 

Given that Mathew is a musician as well as an actor he had all sorts of cool toys to amuse our boys. He took Bowen on a scooter ride (Remy and Liz buzzed around LA on it as well!) they played Guitar Hero - like for real, and watched several movies on the big, big screen.

Day 2 was a visit to Universal Studios! In an attempt to engage the boys' imaginations Liz gave them a few hints as to what they might experience there. Apparently Hollis has an overactive imagination, though, because once we were through the gates and paid almost $300 in admissions, he refused to see any of the attractions or go on any of the rides. He had convinced himself that  even the studio tour would be scary. UGH. So we have a family showdown right in the middle of the park! There is no way we are paying the exorbitant entrance fee only to have him sit everything out. Arms crossed and tears in his eyes, Hollis was holding his ground in a way we have never experienced with him before. We threatened, cajoled, pulled, pushed, pointed out the very small girls that were lining up for the tour and made many, many angry faces until Hollis finally relented. He agreed that if the Studio Tour ( where the motorized shark from the movie, JAWS, makes a surprise appearance) scared him too much then he could sit out every other attraction in the park. WHEW!

Hollis made it out of the Studio Tour in one piece but was still a little mad at the three of us for making him go in the first place. It didn't take long though before we all started having fun and in the end Hollis only missed out on one ride-The Mummy Returns rollercoaster.  Bowen went on it TWICE! which in the future will be great  ammunition for Bowen to use against Hollis  when big brother gets a little too cocky and needs to be put in his place.

-Liz