It Has Been Too Long My Norway Friend

Today was an exciting day!  Not because I got up at 7am this morning to start work, which then did not really start until 8am (due to coffee, breakfast, e-mail, etc).  Nor was it because I ran 2.5 miles down the jogging trail by my apartment, which by the way, I took my mace today - nope nothing exciting happened on my run, except for a few people smiling at me this time, which was nice, but not exciting.  Nor was it too crazy exciting when I came home and did my abs workout, then my arms workout or when my boyfriend called to tell me that he got three tickets from the cop who witnessed his jeep stuck in the river…

What was exciting was hearing from my best Los Angeles friend who had moved back to Norway and is now in town visiting!!  I haven’t seen Norway (my friend who I will refer to as Norway from now on for blogging purposes) since I left Los Angeles back in September of 2006.  She had just moved back to Los Angeles right when I was leaving.  She herself only stayed a few months in Los Angeles before moving back to Norway in December of 2006 (it was a rough year for apartments; rent was high, hard time finding roommates, not too many places were hiring… almost like now, except surprisingly the rent is low).  She had arrived into town last night, but she and her boyfriend were exhausted (time change and what not) so they just slept when they got in. 

I had been waiting for Norway’s call all morning.  I was not sure exactly what time she might call, because I was not sure what time they would get up and she knew that I also needed to get some work done.  When I talked to her around noon, I still hadn’t gone on my run, so I told her I needed to be able to do my workout and then I would meet up with her and her boyfriend (which was his first time to the states) around 4pm at my all time favorite place in Los Angeles – The Grove. 

On my way to the Grove, I quickly stopped by my PO Box, something from AFTRA – ooh, health benefits, YAY.  I then had to run to the bank, I forgot that my gym membership was on automatic withdrawal from my account and I had drained that account during my move, so I had to deposit some cash, BUT just as I was pulling around the corner to my bank I had done a “California stop”, I mean who doesn’t in LA?!  AND right behind me, which I did not notice until after I had turned the corner, was a motorcycle cop…  I swear when I was in Los Angeles a few years back, the police were always too busy to pull people over for stupid things like not taking a full stop (especially when there is NO ONE around) or going 20 miles over the speed limit on the freeway.  So I quickly pull into my bank, hoping he doesn’t follow me, he then turns in the other entrance, but he still has his eye on me.  I pull in to park, he has his ticket writing sheet out, but as soon as I step out of the car, he takes a look at me, and then puts the pad away.  Did I just get out of a ticket?  Was it because my plates say Washington?  Was it because he thought I was pretty?  Anyway, I’m happy – phew!  It’s not like J and I both need tickets today.

I finally make it to the Grove; give Norway the biggest hug, meet her boyfriend and we chat FOR-EV-ER!  I loved it!  We caught up on a million things and she purposely saved today and tomorrow to hang out with me because she knew I was flying out of town… ah, how sweet!  I miss my Norway!  She was talking about moving back to the US, but she does not really want to live in Los Angeles (sad face).  We will see, my goal is to convince her to move back here!  Tomorrow – Universal Studios ;)