I surprised Mike a few days ago with a call at work. 

"I sent you an e-mail and need an answer right away.  I would have called with the information, but it is a bit detailed."  I told him over the phone.

After reading through the e-mail he made the choice of a New York Strip Steak and Cheesecake.

And most important of all, he had no clue what he was in for.  I just told him the evening will be from 6 to 9 p.m. ... so we would be out late that night.  Believe me though, I was so very tempted to blurt it out.  To tell him what was up my sleeve.  But, I kept quiet the surprise of where we were going.

I had read about those dinner theatres where they play out a murder and the audience participates.  And, I had always wanted to go but never had the opportunity to have someone accompany me.  After I got Mike's meal choices I called the Dinner Detective to make reservations for Nov. 12.

Well, yesterday I got to Mike's place around 4 so that we had plenty of time to get there.  Once there Mike noticed it was an area he was familiar with and since we had time we looked around. 

They had a wonderful fountain in front of one of the movie theatres (besides liking monkeys I also like lions since I am a Leo), and further down saw the Culver Studios lot with the wonderful mansion out front.  Also took a stroll around the Culver Hotel, where Mike told me the munchinks from the Wizard Of Oz stayed.  There was so much packed into the area that I kept telling him it is a spot we should come by and check out again.

After some sightseeing, and a wonderful Chantico at Starbucks we headed off to the show.  They had us congregate outside for appetizers and interrogation.  Some of the questions they suggested were interesting:

• Do I look good in this outfit?
  
• How many times have you wanted to kill your boss/employees?
  
• What is the first thing that pops into your head when you look at me?

It was nice to be in a crowd of people that were out to have fun, and even better was when we were seated ... we lucked out and got a wonderful group at our table.  The most memorable was Rhett and Scarlet ... though Antonio and his date were great as well ... Antonio being the one that would end up solving the case.

The night was more then fantatstic ... more then great.  The actors were wonderful, and we were entertained throughout the whole evening.  Then to top of the evening there was a singer in the main part of the restaurant singing old standards from Frank Sinatra ... Dean Martin and such.  I was glad when Mike suggested we go dance.  That was a great way to top off the evening.

For this being a fluke on my part, it turned out great.  The whole evening was memorable.

SHE SAYS:

The weather here in California is for the most part quite pleasant.  So, it was perfect for a day out - which I did with Mike this past weekend.

Quite a lot of things have been going on around me, and I was a bit frazzled by it all.  And, I have to thank Mike for bearing with me and being so wonderful throughout the day.

The day started off with a drive down the Peninsula, or maybe I should say Pacific Coast Highway.  Needless to say the view was nice, and the weather was perfect.  I was a bit out of it to fully enjoy the whole experience since I was up since Friday, but didn't want to miss a day out with Mike.  Along the way we stopped by the Wayfarer's Chapel.  It is a wonderfully designed building made mostly out of glass sitting on a cliffside overlooking the ocean.  Unfortunately, there was a wedding to take place soon so the chapel was closed. 

Once we were back on the road we went to the Redondo (I hope I got that right) pier.  There we had a wonderful meal, and the waitress seated us right at the corner that is above the water.  The midday sun glistening across the ocean, seagulls and dull sound of waves crashing did make for a relaxing environment.

After our wonderful meal we headed back up the road to the botanical gardens.  I have to admit that it was a gorgeous place, and the walk did me well after lunch.  The only thing is that I get freaked out walking on grass, especially when it is all spongy and stuff.  It's weird, but it gives me the shivers to walk across.  I think it was because in having dogs they use the yard (or grass) as their "toilet", so it freaks me out to be barefoot on it ... let alone walk across it for fear of germs of some sort.  Though I don't think I'm a big germ-o-phobe ... there are just some things that get me going.

Anyways.  We walked among the grounds towards the lake, and observed many wonderful trees and flowers.  The magnolia trees were magnificent, and I was tempted to just lay there on a bench and absorb the peaceful shade that they provided.

Now, in a few days I'll be surprising Mike ... and I can't wait.  I can barely stand to keep it a secret and feel that with minimal prodding I'll blurt it out to Mike.

HE SAYS:

November 3rd was our 2nd Monthiversary, and I forgot. Already I'm forgetting Monthiversaries.  Well, to tell the truth I thought it was this weekend, (Which is two days off.) when I am wishing Liz Happy 2nd Monthiversary. In fact , "this weekend" begins in about 2-1/2 hours. I should have noted the monthiversary on the blog, however, but it's been incredibly busy at work, and I've been so tired when I get home. It's been so busy I have to work this Sunday, opening up the shop and running a crew to try to get some projects up to date. So the few hours I spend with Liz today will be heavenly. I have to get up at 4am on Sunday, so each hour today is my only "weekend".

Last week ( our Seventh Weekiversary) we went to see "How the West Was Won" in Cinerama. I was going to post a blog entry here, which was a repeat post of this one, so I have at least posted a link to when I blogged about the experience of seeing Cinerama before. Liz suggested that we take surface streets instead of the freeway, which was packed. Driving from East L.A. to Hollywood on Cesar Chavez, which turns into Sunset Boulevard, brought back a lot of old memories for me. I didn't even know about the surface route, since I go everywhere on freeways. But when driving by the hillside homes in Echo Park and Silverlake, which are neighborhoods in which I lived when a small child, memory overwhelmed me. I almost maneuvered myself into a few fender benders (I hope Liz didn't notice) because I was staring at all the scenery. After the movie, which is almost four hours long including an intermission, Liz chose the restaurant, (La Padilla? If I got that right after a week, congratulate me. I'll remember after the second time I eat there.) It was an authentic Mexican restaurant on Cesar Chavez Blvd. in East L.A.. The food was excellent, and capped a long but fantastic day. Liz could explain exactly what we got but I'll try. It was a dinner for two which included a three legged clay pot filled with shrimp, chicken, and beef, smothered in melted cheese, surrounded by nopales (cactus)  and covered with a mole sauce. They served little "Coronitas" beers in an icebucket, and fresh corn tortillas (made about four feet from where we were sitting.) Guitarists serenaded the patrons at the restaurant, and the atmosphere was romantic and colorful. The place was busy, but not packed, and it was very cozy in a small space.

Today I plan on taking my favorite drive around the peninsula. As I write, the sun is out and it looks to be a beautiful day. I told my roommate Joel yesterday that Liz takes me on "locals only" drives in her part of town, which just happens to include downtown L.A. I like to show her "my part of town" where "everybody has an ocean". So after rounding the peninsula, and perhaps stopping a few times for overlooks, with a trip to Wayfarer's Chapel and Abalone Cove, if it's open, the last stop is the South Coast Botanical Gardens. The link is to my webshots gallery folder of the Gardens.

Then a late lunch and back to my place for whatever happens next.   I'm sure it willl be a Happy 2 Monthiversary (2 days late) for both of us.