Dream Vacation!

Today is Heidi and Holly's "Let's Go On Vacation".

I'm going for a true "DREAM" vaca! Things I really can't do but can dream about because it's mostly a trip back in time:

A#1 would be to go to a RatPack concert in Las Vegas... I'm talkin' OLD Vegas... back in the days when Frank or Dino would be headlining and the rest of the boys would just "show up" onstage and they would laugh and tease and sing and sing and sing together all night long. I almost saw Dino in concert in Vegas, I think it was at the (original) MGM Grand. But, he cancelled that night, and we saw Sergio Franchi instead. He was good, but he wasn't Dean Martin! There is something about that Rat Pack. The were the epitamy of COOOOOL! They dressed SHARP and they sang songs that said something. Sure some of the songs were romantic fluff but they were clean and easy to listen to... and still are! Around here, we are still lovin' the Boys.

Next stop, I would like to go to London to see the original cast of Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre. I've seen Phantom at Her Majesty's Theatre, but to see Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, and Steve Barton... ahhhhh!

I'd like to take my kids to P.O.P. (PacificOceanPark) on Venice's beachfront. It was a rival to Disneyland but obviously did not last. It wasn't in the best neighborhood, Venice being a shady area back then. I grew up in Santa Monica and remember going a coupla times. It closed before I was old enough to go on my own, instead I vaguely remember being a tagalong. But I do remember the "Ocean Skyway" and the "Diving Bells". It was way cool!

After it closed down it was used for a location set for several tv shows. If you see a villian hiding in a deserted amusement park in a late 60's or early70's show, it may well have been at POP. I could swear the Mod Squad chased bad guys in the fun house.

I guess another place could be the Disneyland I frequented before Walt's death. He would show up on Main Street and just visit with people. Back then they limited the visitors to the Park and so it was never so crowded. Since Eisner it's all about the dollar$. Did you know I was on the Mickey Mouse Club? Well, the original series only lasted 2 seasons but they did reruns for years. Because my friend's dad was upper management at Disneyland, we were in a commercial filmed on a Mickey Mouse Club set at the Park. I have no idea what for or when. I still have my Mickey Mouse Club card. Do you?

Actually, taking my kids to the Cali I grew up in would be nice. Life was affordable, fun and simpler. We all know that tho' no matter where we grew up don't we? My Dad used to say "But we used to go to (insert name of place) when there were no crowds or lines, these new people don't know any different." I suppose that's one of the reasons I don't miss living in California, what I miss is no longer there.

I guess for the end of this vaca we would just end up at home, sitting on the deck, looking out on the lake. The only thing better would be if the lake were bigger, big enough for a fishing, ski or party boat. Now THAT is a dream.