Off to San Fran and Merced

We're going up north to have an Elvis dinner with Susan Lowe and interview Elvis Trooper. Stay tuned...

Pink Cadillac

Think it's easy to paint a car pink? Think again.

Updates to come.

New Digs near Graceland: Grace Pines B&B!

Several months ago, when Helen and I got serious about making this movie, the first thing we did to make the project "official" was book rooms in Memphis during Elvis Week...the cheapest ones we could find. At $82/night, we knew they weren't going to be posh, that they'd probably be a bit dirty and possibly disgusting. But we're on a budget and we're doing this for the King, so whatever, right?

Well, karma has blessed us. While watching the final episode of THE SOPRANOS we told our new neighbor and friend, Sean Borg, about our documentary-in-the-making and fate stepped in. Sean told us we had to meet his friend Jenny, who moved from their native England to Memphis just to be close to Elvis...and she just opened a Bed and Breakfast there.

It turns out that Jenny is a doll, and she and her husband Glen are giving us a tremendous deal to camp on their 22 acre ranch (which happens to be just over the border from Memphis, in Mississippi, but only 8 miles from Graceland) throughout Elvis Week!

Our time at Grace Pines will be the longest stay anywhere during our trip, and we are so looking forward to it! Not only is this a serious upgrade from the Travelodge, but we'll be surrounded by fellow Elvis fans in a most charming, intimate setting (perfect for cocktail hour interviews! Bourbon! Mint juleps!). Plus, we can't wait to sit down with Jenny and hear all about her Elvis-led journey from the UK to the US, and what does she think of Kool-Aid pickles?

Last we heard, Grace Pines is completely booked for Elvis Week, but check out their site (see link on right) anyway - because anytime's a good time to visit Graceland!

It's all ours!

The Cadillac is now parked streetside in Hollywood, all old-school glamour in front of a block of vintage '50s apartment buildings.

Papers were signed and money exchanged this afternoon (scary! fun!), and I had the bright idea to cruise home up the very scenic PCH...which was a lot of fun until I got stuck in unbelievable traffic. So much for ideallic LA living. It was good while it lasted.

I'm relaxing with a beer - just one! - until Helen gets back from work. Then we're going to take it for a night spin!

More pics and posts soon, but for now special shout-outs to driver Darren (an all-around good sport!) and Joe and Millie (for deciding to sell their car when they did!).

WE GOT WHEELS!

WE ARE THE PROUD MOTHERS OF A 1972 CADILLAC DEVILLE!
She passed the test with a clean bill, thanks to our friend Jerry in Santa Monica.
AND THE A/C WORKS! SERENDIPIDY, BABY!

People we like

Jerry, owner of Ed's Airport Service out in Samo (aka Santa Monica). Looks like they know Caddys so we're taking one in tomorrow and hoping she's the one. Stay tuned for more of the Helen and Erica show.

His name is Stormtrooper Elvis

And he's into the project. We're off to Merced to interview him this end of June. GOOD TIMES!

Impressive

A little P.S. to this week's used car lot misadventure: I just got a voicemail from the sales guy at Brothers Motors - the people who rudely kicked us out of their junky dealership when we asked for a business card - asking when I was going to pick up my car - they have it detailed and everything and ready to go.

Clearly it was a misdial, but the idiot used my name and everything...Truly bewildering. Rude and stupid is a very unfortunate, crippling combination.