California, here we come, episode 1. In which I am no longer very young.

Unlike Lucy & Ricky (and later, Laverne & Shirley), I did not visit California for a ratings boost.  Nor did I need a spiritual or mental boost despite the fact that I turned 50 back in September.  I was actually excited about being 50 because I am most fortunate to be happy with my life (and my wife!) and am looking forward to the future, however uncertain that future is painted by pessimistic prognosticators, pundits, and politicians. Despite the sadly unstable world now faced by intrepid travelers, my yen to explore and share the world and its widely wonderful treasures with Mari has yet to destabilize.  It was with a renewed sense of adventure and the promise of future fellowship amongst kindred spirits that I set out to plan a California adventure to celebrate the life with which I have been blessed by trailblazing new territory with my favorite companion.

Of course, the list making began in earnest back in March for our long September weekend.  So what item made the top of the list?  Walk of Fame?  Hollywood sign?  Disneyland?  Universal Studios?  At 49 I would have been a little embarrassed to admit to you that I have really just wanted to "come on down" since I was a little (television-and-gameshow-obsessed) boy. Now that I am 50, however, I'm feeling a bit more empowered.  At least enough to admit that attending a taping of The Price is Right was at the top of my birthday adventure wish list.  My five-day birthday "weekend" (just go with it) was the perfect opportunity to get down.

After studying the official website, I formulated a game plan of my own which included watching TPIR daily on the DVR.  Upcoming recording dates and tickets are available on the official site only a month in advance, so my typically advanced (obsessive) trip planning took a back seat to the show schedule.  In the meantime, I researched and listed every thing and every place I wanted to see and visit during my birthday "weekend."

Visit the colorfully friendly site for lots of
fabulous information about the show

(and the models).  priceisright.com

Next on the list (if you don't know me by now, you'll never never never know me) was a flea market, of course.  Had my mother planned my Caesarean birth a week earlier in 1966, my 50th-birthday-California-here-we-come-weekend would have karmically corresponded with the top-of-the-list Rose Bowl fleamarket. Fortunately, the monthly (third Sunday) Long Beach Antique Market came to the rescue.  Obrigado, mãe!

Visit the excellent site
for loads of juicy details.

longbeachantiquemarket.com

Since you asked nicely, here are a couple of juicily-detailed previews of our (digital) picture-perfect morning-to-afternoon in Long Beach.

Warning:  bubble wrap was involved.

So far, that's fleamarketing on Sunday and TPIR on Monday.  A pretty good start to the final travel itinerary, but there were still lots of sensational sites and lofty landmarks (and tasty treats) to squeeze in for my first trip to California and LA.   (I can call it LA now that I've been there.)

Eventually, a lovely oceanside sunset birthday dinner, a museum, a planetarium, a dip in the ocean (on a school/work day!), and a few more hot dogs than even I had planned, helped round out a more amazing than expected (and deserved) weekend.

Oh, and a couple of Broke Girls, too.

The journey to 50 begins next time.