Darn, I should have called you. I was in L.A. over Mothers Day weekend.
Next trip I absolutely will take you up on your kind offer. Having visited the Fashion District, I know I need a buddy to help with the data overload. There is just sooooo much there my brain goes fizzy. Neurons shorting out all over.
I went to L.A. a few days early with the idea that I could hang out with my son evenings. He doesn't get vacation days for awhile because it's a new job. His girlfriend absolutely positively didn't want to do anything during the days, so I was on my own.
When I go on adventures, they often are solos. Guess it goes back to childhood when nobody seemed to be interested in exploring things I wanted to explore. Then in my jobs, all my "explorations" were solo, so guess it's just a frame of mind. I soak in more when I'm dealing only with the new experience. And if I say or do something unconventional, it doesn't reflect on anyone else.
This isn't anti-social. I'd hoped to meet Mary Gode on my final trip to Iowa, but her schedule put her in Missouri that weekend. That was different because I went to college in Iowa and I'd visited my son several times for the years he lived there. I could have focused entirely on Mary and her experiences with things Victorian. She sounds like a really neat person.
I'm thinking you sound like someone I'd love to meet, too. Now that I've got past the basics, I'm ready for serious fabric shopping. And given your weather, I can pack a half-empty carry-on.
Lynn