Visitors, Atwater Village, Backing Poker Players,

Susan and Jeff came to visit us in Burbank as part of their So Cal - Mexico vacation. I felt bad that they had to stay at Extended Stay, but that's just how it is right now. No room.

That said, I found a neighborhood *near* Burbank that I really like. Atwater Village which is about ten to fifteen minutes from here is in the middle of its revitalization period. There is a funky side on Glendale Road that has few WiFi coffee houses and an Osteria that I'd like to try. I was driving around there with Leigh the other day and we turned on a side street so I could finish a phone conversation. That's when we saw them. Cute Spanish style houses that were built in the 1920s and 1930s. Exactly the style that John and I like. I called him excitedly to say we didn't have to move as far as Long Beach. Some streets are manicured and the houses have been prettied up, and other streets, or even just other houses are clearly still owned by the same owner it's had for decades.

So....we might start looking at places after the Lithuania trip. If we're going to be here the rest of the year, then we might as well get into a bigger place. And then we can have guests, and lets get back to that.

We had a nice dinner at Kate Mantilini. John thought it'd be a very "LA" place with a bit of a scene. But, no. Not much. Chad Lowe was there, though. And Michael Jackson's old lawyer.
Still, the food was good, and the conversation even better. And now I'm waiting for them to call so we can have some breakky before they head down to the port to get on their cruise.

What else was I going to talk about? OH YES, THE POKER!!!
When we woke up this morning we heard Gavin was 2nd in chips at the World Poker Open in Tunica. Get it, Gav! And our friend from the WSOP Jay Greenspan had played, but unfortunately he's out. There is also a circuit event over there at the same time and I just can't keep track. I think Amy Calistri is still there so I better check in with her blog. I am particularly invested this weekend because CJ, one of the writers on Up for Poker, is playing in a $1000 NL tourney in Tunica. And I bought a piece of him!!! This is the first time I've backed a poker player, even just on a little 5% of 50% level. But CJ is good and he's been on a winning streak lately, and I got sucked into it because he's calling himself the LuckBox. And I love that. I want that name. But he's really doing it. So, go CJ!!!! And lets see if my $53 gets me anything...

Ok, that's all for now. Must work. Must finish guidebook.