When we left Los Angeles on Sunday morning, the temperature was in the 60s. When we got out of our car in Phoenix later that day, the temperature was 112 degrees. We were not happy.

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The LA-trip itself was quite nice. For the 4th of July, Kirsten and Aaron put on a very nice BBQ (yummy steak!). Amy and Brian contributed a chocolate coconut pecan pie with homemade vanilla ice cream. Mmm... Later, some of us watched fireworks with thousands of other people on Venice Beach. From our vantage point, we could see other fireworks displays at other beaches as tiny colorful dots of light. Then we meandered through the Venice canals and loathed/envied the people living there.

Greg and I went to the Farmers Market and the Grove on Fairfax. The Grove is a new mall built next to the historic Farmers Market. Farmers Market is cool. The Grove is an abomination, which should only be experienced once, if at all. It's a grandiose outdoor mall. But in the end, it's still just a mall. A mall with bathroom attendants. I felt like screaming, "It's just a stupid Disneyesque mall! I can dry my hands without assistance!"

Greg also took me to The Apple Pan, which is a West LA tradition. Despite the fact I lived in LA for 5 years, I never made it into the place. (I was poor and it's always crowded.) Well worth the trip, though. The average age of the men behind the counter must be 55, and you can tell they've worked together for years. Watching them fill orders is watching art in motion. So cool. Burgers are good, too. Left us too full for pie, unfortunately. Must go back.

We eat well in LA. Caribbean food on Friday night, Lebanese food Saturday night...so many choices. Good friendly non-chain restaurants are one of the best things about LA. The Grove typifies the worst of LA. Yet to be seen which will win in the end.

Discuss 50 degrees of separation