More on Malibu OR On Parenting a Teen

Child #2 and I spent the weekend in Malibu.

The two of us alone, miles away from the others, is not a common occurrence in our family. However, Child #2 wanted to attend a water polo camp at Pepperdine College, but didn't want to stay in the dorms. So, we cooked up a scheme where we rented a hotel room nearby and I wrote and wandered around town during the day while he water polo'ed in the Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool. Child #2 turns 15 later this summer. I suspect I won't get many more requests for weekends like this, so I jumped on the opportunity.

Child #2 is my most easy-going, mellow child. He arrived into this world two weeks late and has meandered through life happy and content, a glass-half-full kind of kid. He is brilliant in and out of school, has an excellent sense of humour, chooses friends wisely and has a thoughtful, pleasant personality.

We had a delightful weekend together, separating in the mornings for our individual activiies, then coming together in the early evenings for food, a chat, a rented movie.

But it wasn't perfect.

Now, there's an edge to some of his remarks, a stony stubborn look when I offer advice, a more careful, selective sharing of details about himself and his friends.

Child #2 is becoming a teen.

I'm not really ready, having already travelled down this path with Child #1.

But I'm very happy to have gotten the gift of this weekend in Malibu.

My Town Monday: Malibu, CA

I spent the weekend in Malibu, CA.

And what did I do there?

I hunted for FAMOUS PEOPLE!

All for you, my dear bloggy friends. Well, maybe not all for you... And maybe I did a few other things besides star stalking...

But I did think it would be very fun if I snapped a few candid pics of the stars with my extremely lousy digital Richoh camera.

Before leaving San Diego, I googled for "famous people living in Malibu" and then kept the list and my camera in my pocket.

Specifically, my eyes were peeled for Neil Young (whom I have loved forever), Mel Gibson, Julie Andrews, Goldie Hawn, Barbra Streisand, Tom Hanks, Jennifer Aniston, Pierce Brosnan.

And here are some places I looked for the stars:

a fruit stand with California white peaches and Califorinia green Keitt mangoes



Mulholland Drive



the Santa Monica Mountains



the Malibu Inn



the Scientology center



at the gas pumps where I paid the absolute most I've ever paid for gas (in this country): $4.73




at a sideways Mexican restaurant with a scary sideways giant waiter statue on the roof



and, of course, at the beach

BUT, I did not spot ONE SINGLE SOLITARY STAR.

I think they must have all stayed home, hiding out in the MALIBU COLONY, a GATED community, with muli-million dollar homes and fantastic views of the ocean.

But, never fear, FAMOUS PEOPLE, I'll be back again. You are only a few hours' drive away, some of it in stressful LA traffic. Maybe next time, I'll have a better camera. And more comfortable stalking shoes. And a plan for infiltrating THE Colony!

So, that this post isn't only fluff, I leave you with a few Malibu facts: Malibu is an incorporated city in Western LA. It has 21 miles of coastline. The name "Malibu" comes from the Chumash Indian name meaning "the surf sounds loudly." (I really did means "a few" and they're from Wikepedia.)

Thank you, Travis Erwin, for spearheading My Town Mondays. You can check out Travis' post on Adobe Walls, an old trading post near Amarillo, TX. Also, he has links to the other participants (also known as "Mondayers").