Driving Miss Kiki

Out here in sunny LA with Javie. No, we didn’t make it to the Emmy’s nor did we go to Dancing with the Stars. So far, it’s worked out well that I have Javie driving me around anywhere and everywhere I need to go. We arrived yesterday and I think we have visited roughly five different Rite Aids. Today, in fact, the paparazzi were staked outside one in Beverly Hills waiting for Tori Spelling to come out of her dentists’ office. Kinda funny that the homeless person also perched outside told us, “it’s the 90210 girl they are waitin’ for”!

Last night we went to dinner at a longstanding Italian spot whose chef owns several restaurants in town. We chose to go to the more local and less touristy “scene” for a quiet evening. Fantastic fresh pasta and very cozy. After my first meeting we headed to Beverly Hills (first stop Rite Aid) to get my energy out. As soon as my feet hit the ground I decided this jaunt required flats. Making matters worse, Javie needed a bathroom. We didn’t even make it around the block and worse yet, we were in Beverly Hills - this was going to be a costly potty break. I needed to be practical. Chanel, NO. Louis Vuitton, NO. Valentino, NO. Miu Miu...maybe. Impulse shopping seems less painful to me. It’s the whole band aid theory, get it over with and you just don’t feel it. So, while I started my schmoozing with the sassy salesman, Javie headed to the bathroom. I decided ballet slippers couldn’t be that bad and I always need them. I tried on five pairs while my driver was in the washroom...geez how long does it take when I am waiting for a back up approval on ballet flats? Finally out, she gave me a look and “I couldn’t figure out the bathroom” response. Really, I didn't care because we needed to decide which black flats looked fabulous on me because my heels were definitely not going back on my feet. After we agreed on a pair I, too decided to use the Miu Miu ladies room. OMG, think Donald Trump designs a bathroom. Ya know that saying about smoke and mirrors? The whole freakin’ bathroom was smokey mirrors. Who needs to see that much of themselves while peeing? I then went to the sink and I pray that it is illegal to have cameras in the facilities otherwise, someone was sitting in security laughing their ass off at me. Pounding on the soap that never actually came out. Waving my hands in front of several mirrors around what looked like a sink basin. I waved them in front of the sink, inside the sink, above the sink...nothing, NO water. And honestly, I didn’t see any signs of water in or around the so called sink. So, I gave up and figured I could go back to the Rite Aid and get sanitizer. Now, I had to go out and admit I couldn’t figure out the bathroom either. This whole ordeal cost a pretty penny.

I then persuaded Javie to go to a new restaurant* recently opened by a former contestant from Top Chef season five. I can’t honestly tell you I knew him from the show but I figured it had to be decent. We drive out and the place is empty, uncomfortably empty. But I came to taste the tater tots and we were staying. The tater tots were tasty but the rest of the meal was downhill. Our waiter hadn’t tasted much on the menu and was of no help whatsoever. Average food, average space but hey, the bathrooms had running water!