OMG, a HOUSE abandoned on the freeway? And I though Dallas drivers were bad! I thought I'd seen everything here! That is just too much!

If you lived there, you'd be home by then.

Wow, that's not what I thought "trailer trash" meant.........

I think that actually first happened on the day of the Harlot's talk in Downtown. Combined with the Mexican Independence Day celebrations, it took me over an hour to get home (I live 2 miles from downtown).

Good thing it was gorgeous weather and I have a convertible (which leaked during Storm Watch 2007).

I can't wait to see what Halloween tomfoolery you're dreaming up...

Funny; we use the same baggie to store our portable knitting in. Must be the Target connection...

Oh my goodness, that's hysterical! Hysterical because I live waaaay over here in Atlanta and it didn't make my commute any worse. Probably not as hysterical to you.

I can't believe it took them a week to do something about an entire house left on a major road.

I use baggies too. Now the advantage of legwarmers that I remember is that I used to wear them over my boots that didn't zip all the way closed when I was in highschool....

How bizarre! I saw that house when I was driving to Santa Barbara on Sunday. I said, "OMG, there's a house on the freeway!"

My passenger said, "Do you mean an accident?"

I responded, "No, not an accident, a house"

It was the strangest thing and at first I thought it had to be a movie shoot or some such.

Glad you cleared this up for me!

How bizarre! I saw that house when I was driving to Santa Barbara on Sunday. I said, "OMG, there's a house on the freeway!"

My passenger said, "Do you mean an accident?"

I responded, "No, not an accident, a house"

It was the strangest thing and at first I thought it had to be a movie shoot or some such.

Glad you cleared this up for me!

OMG - that is just hilarious!!! I've seen houses moved, with the proper permits and such and the drama of lifting overhead wires and closing roads. But to just decide to do it & it doesn't work!! I hope that this man hasn't been allowed to breed.

That is just hilarious. I live in Texas and here, people litter cows on occasion, sometimes a chicken and/or a couch. But I have yet to see a whole house blocking traffic...

Good luck on your trip!

Ok Laurie, this is WEIRD. I had a dream about you last night. You came to see me at the antiques store that was owned by my family. I drove us to see an old mutual friend. This friend is an actual person, the mentally retarded sister of my mom's best friend she had growing up. Her name is Nellie and she died when I was maybe 7 or 8 years old. Anyway, we walked up the sidewalk to her beautiful southern plantation home, she hugged us both and took us to a garden area for a tea party. My favorite grandpa was there(been dead since I was 13) and some hunky men in black face. There was music, food and great conversation. It was SO strange, in a fun way. I don't think it was something I ate either, I just had baked potato soup for dinner.

So, when are you coming to Longview??

For sale: three bedroom house, recently remodeled kitchen, easy access to the 101 freeway....

Hmmm...that looks suspiciously like Mission Falls yarn you're knitting with there. Can't wait to see what you're makin'.

(No comment on the house on the freeway. Nothing in LA surprises me these days.)

You know that house started across the street from my apartment in Santa Monica? The whole thing was sort of a fiasco from the start, it sat down the street from us in the cul-d-sac for over a week and people kept saying "You know there is a house parked down the street from you."

Then when we heard a house had gotten stuck on the freeway we KNEW it had to be the same house! How many houses can be moving around LA on any given day?

Now I have the oddest feeling like "I knew her/him when."

*I* knew that house before it was famous, when it was just some empty place across the street with a demolition sign in front of it.

oh i soooo needed a good laugh today - thank you for that!

and please dont even get me started on the 80's fashions coming back with a vengence. don't make me break out my class picture from 1984 wherein i am sporting an GINORMOUS oversized purple sweatshirt that has a big "O" and a small "boy" on it (and no i'm not totally over the whole grape ape comparison) paired with a pair of black stirrup leggings.

Wow...that's all I can say.

Were they trying to find the guy who left his house on the freeway? Didn't they look on the dining room table for some mail? Hmmm....maybe you can't find a guy whose house is on the freeway. His house is no longer at its old address and yet it is not at its new address either....interesting.

Who decides to move a whole house by himself?!?

This is just too weird. I mean, even after considering that the house in question probably did not once have a basement (images of sad, abandoned basements whose houses have gone and moved notwithstanding), how on earth did he manage to load a house by himself onto the truck?! And then to leave the whole thing just lying on the road... It makes my brain hurt.

That had to involve alot of alcohol. "We don't need to hire professionals, just call my brother-in-law! We can do it this weekend!"

Is that a basketweave I see in your purse????

It's a hat! A pumpkin Brangelina hat! You can put a little green pompom on top!

Do you think anyone stuck on the highway used the bathroom in the house?

I clicked over here just now to get your email address in case you hadn't seen this crazy story yet. Why I didn't assume that you would have run into it by now is beyond me, given your crazy LA traffic stories.

I wish I commented here more, lord knows I check for updates every day and love this site to death. I hope you know how many of us devoted lurkers are out here :)

Do those legwarmers come in fluorescent pink so they can be like the ones I had in junior high? To match my fluorescent pink sweatshirt intentionally ripped a la Flashdance.

My first thought when I saw a picture of a house in the road was OMG...mudslide. But nope stupidity, far more dangerous!

Yeah, here on the easy coast, we call a house on wheels a trailer. But that's really pushing it. Or pulling it, as the case may be.
As for the legwarmers? One word: Target.

I always thought that the traffic problem in NYC or Washington DC was equal to or a little worse than the traffic in Los Angeles. After seeing a HOUSE blocking traffic on the 101 I must humbly admit that I was DEAD WRONG! Please forgive me for not completely believing you and I bow to your magnificence. LA officially has the worse traffic in the universe!!

freakin' a!!! I'm LMAO in a public library over all this Laurie--thank you! "...you'd be home by now..."

I was actually thinking of you this morning during my workout (psycho, right? well not YOU-you, but your blog-you, is that less intense?). I wanted to tell you that I'm a SoCal dropout myself (actually I'm a success story, I grew up in the IE and made it first to the Central Coast and now to the Rockies without ever being tempted to go back) and every time you post about Dallas Raines it kills me. Dallas Raines (is his name as fake as his tan?) is such a blast-from-the-past for me (him and the news anchor with the gray stripe and also Hal Fishman, oh Hal Fishman). It cracks me up every time I see him...feels like home again.

take care,
your incoherent commenter and FOF,

ae

So, where did this guy go afterwards? It's not like he can go home... hmmm.. I don't think his homeowners insurance will cover such a thing. They tend not to cover 'acts of stupidity' in their policies. Will the mortgage company repo it? I don't think that I would like to be the person at the insurance company to get the call!

See, I love L.A. (from a distance you understand - just sayin' is all!).

There is no one Bossy would rather watch the News with than her Crazy Aunt Purl.

Now there's something you don't see every day.

That guy MUST be Southern. Who else would think he could move a house by himself? ROFL!

This just slays me. You just can't make this shit up.
.

DOH!!! So that's where I left my house. I've been looking all over I-25 and I-40. Oops.

It is okay if you want to use the bathroom, just put the seat back down when you're done.

Are you making a pumpkin sweater for Bob?

yay - legwarmers. they are actually quite useful in the wintertime, here in NY. i just started knitting a pair yesterday...

"Santa Clarita"

And you thought I wasn't a saint!

I own three (3) THREE pairs of legwarmers!!

*Gasp* is that a sweater? can I pretend that it's a sweater? Or is it a hat?

Yeah. It is so not a sweater LOL. Just didn't want you getting your hopes up heh heh.

Speaking of crazy Halloween ideas, I have convinced my 8 yr old daughter to go as a witch this year, wearing ruby red slippers. . . carrying a sign that says: Don't believe the hype, I got the slippers and her little dog too! (and maybe on the back it might read: The Wizard is my pool boy!)

We are considering a picnic basket with Toto trying to escape for her candy to go in if I can find the right stuff to do it cheap.

I *SO* love Halloween.

My favorite posts include pictures of your tv, especially Agent Orange, the weatherdude. Bring on the tv pics!!!

A house on the freeway?! That's hilarious {for those who don't have to sit in freeway traffic}!

Oh god, please don't let that be my dad who came up with the crazy idea to move a house on his own on a truck. Seriously, I could see him coming up w/ the idea.

I hope your portable knitting is some puff-ankled legwarmers.

Oh, please say it's a Hallowig, pleasepleaseplease!

Knitting. DON'T leave home without it. (Especially if you're not driving the commute. That's potential hours of valuable knitting time... Granted, some people who drive knit at stoplights and if traffic stops completely. At least I *hope* they're only knitting then...)

Is it possible to have a negative number of brain cells? Because I think this guy might qualify. Cannot stop giggling, although my feelings might be different had I been on that bus with you. This is why you should always carry knitting, not to mention a can of spray paint, everywhere you go.

(A cable-knit pumpkin?)

The 80's comeback is not just happening to the ladies. Our 20 year old kid and his guy friends have all taken to wearing bandanas wrapped around thier heads "Let's get Physical" style - sometimes wearing aviator sunglasses. Worse yet each guy was actually matching his bandana to his swim trunks and the colors were pink, yellow and red.

"Everybody's workin' for the Weekend..," Can't wait until they start tying them around their thighs just above the hole in the knee of their faded button fly levis:-)

"Permits ? We don't need no steenking permits !"

You really made my day with this one. This is much TOO freakin' funny.

Just a question, but Did you happen to check to see if it was held onto the flatbed with baling wire/twine and duct tape ? If so, it could be some of my kin. Tell 'em Mama n'em says "Hey."

LMAO ! Gotta go reapply eye makeup now, thankyouverymuch.

Cheers !

Oh, and about the legwarmers...

Thanks a lot for getting the theme from "Flashdance" in my head now. Damn.

; )

...or was that "Fame" ?...

Damn. Now they're BOTH in there.

ARRRRRRGGGGGHHH !!!!

Yeah!!! your book came in the mail last night. You had me laughing and then crying within the firt 3 chapters..

I can't wait to read the rest!

"Can't wait until they start tying them around their thighs just above the hole in the knee of their faded button fly levis:-)" Holy blast from the past Shawnty! You just gave me shivers with that post ... LOL

One of the girls at work wore leg warmers the other day and I nearly fell out of my chair laughing when I saw them. They are just so WRONG!!!

Goofy ideas for Halloween? I can't wait!!

Ooh, Halloween. Fun! Goofy! My kind of holiday!

I knit myself a pair of legwarmers when we lived in Michigan...not for a fashion statement (though they are very nice-looking), but because in Michigan in February you need as many layers as you can pile on your body. My skills were totally necessary there. Good old Michigan!

***waves*** tree trunk legs over here, lol that's the funniest thing i've ever heard and i've got the legs to prove it.

;)

Yay for leg warmers! I'm thinking Christmas gifts of my daring friends who will wear that stuff...

I wonder if my favorite traffic sign would have helped this guy...

"If you hit this you will hit the bridge"

Probably not as he would have to be able to read.

Oh my gosh, I just read about that house on MSN!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20996558/

Pretty funny. I think I'd have a nervous breakdown if my house was stuck in the middle of a freeway, too.

Sadly I did not get the photo of that house when someone had tacked a "for rent" sign on the outside of it.

God, how I love L.A.

wow...there are lots of abandoned houses in Detroit
but so far none in the expressway.
this defies logic and even heavy drinking. c'mon people!
you really can't make this shit up!

This house was right outside our work at Universal City...and caused a lot of discussion around here. I read that he did have a permit to move the house, but not this route. I think he was supposed to go up the 405 and on Sepulveda, but he decided to take a detour to avoid hills. HA!

"If you lived here, you'd be home by now."

hee!!

In her ad for House for Sale, Susan forgot:

FRESHLY PAINTED EXTERIOR.

And I finished your book - hurray! Great book!

Now go write another one. Go on now, shoo.

This house was right outside our work at Universal City...and caused a lot of discussion around here. I read that he did have a permit to move the house, but not this route. I think he was supposed to go up the 405 and on Sepulveda, but he decided to take a detour to avoid hills. HA!

Christine -- hope to see you on the 11th!!! I haven't seen you in, like, seventy eight years.

Let's hear it for tree trunk legs!! I love mine! LOL on the abandoned houses.

I just called my brother (he lives in Pacoima; what a nice boy from Jersey's doing there, I'll never know) to see if he had heard about the House on the Freeway. Nuts; voice mail. Oh well.

But, woo! Legwarmers! So much easier to knit than knee socks, because there's no heel flappiness going on there, and also baggy is fine! I also have trunkalicious calves, along with all the boot issues that come along with them, and legwarmers are a lovely substitute. Only problem is I have officially converted all of my jeans to boot-cut (because tapered legs are *SO* flattering on my size 22 behind) so the leg warmers won't really work with them.... but I can still love them.

I had to take a major detour tour today to get to work (as shown in my blog), but nothing compares to a HOUSE on the freeway!

Book's here! I'll be reading. So much for getting anything else done. Yeah!

Could you be knitting a blonde bombshell Hallowig while house-hamstrung on the freeway?

I saw this on the news today (here in NC!) and my first thought was, I bet I'll be seeing this on Crazy Aunt Purl today!

Okay, and the call back - he was also stuck in traffic because of the house. Well done, house movers!

I can't wait to see your Halloween project!

I was so exited that you showed up on my comments that I let out a little "EEEEE!" at work...and immediately blogged about it.

To be fair to Brenda...I should ask you - when is your Podcast coming out? ;)

He left a whole house? On the freeway?????!!!! Yikes. Is that what we mean by trailer park trash? As for the legwarmers...I still use mine from the '80's. Yes I am that old. They are great when it is -30C out....

He left a whole house? On the freeway?????!!!! Yikes. Is that what we mean by trailer park trash? As for the legwarmers...I still use mine from the '80's. Yes I am that old. They are great when it is -30C out....

I honestly can't believe 80's fashion is back and being proudly displayed everywhere. What did the designers do? Drop crystal meth and design while watching Sixteen Candles? Don't they SEE how awful those puffy sleeves are? And the leg warmers, dear God.

At least ribbon barrettes aren't back. Yet.

Knitting!

Hehe, the house thing is funny. They actually move houses back in NZ all the time - they move lovely old 1920s villas out to the country to make room for townhouses and apartment blocks!

You know, I saw that house sitting on the side of the freeway the day after it happened...and the wierd thing is, it didn't strike me as all that odd! At least till I saw it on the news. ("Oh yeah, I guess that shouldn't be there after all...")

Most likely I have been living here too long and nothing much suprises me anymore.

Moving your own house by yourself...sometimes a "can do" attitude will just bite you on the aii.

Oh yeah - for those that asked....the local news did report that some "homeless" and "possibly the taggers" had, indeed, used the bathroom of that abandoned house.

Unbelievable.

A HOUSE on the interstate? Okay, that does it. California totally rules in the most bizarre interstate trash ever. Does Arnold know about this?

hate to tell ya but the 80's RULED! Remember the torn Flash Dance look? Or the Madonna look?

"Surreptitiously photographed" = "Kinneared"

You Kinneared those legwarmers.

Your Amazon.com order has shipped!!!

Finally.....my world can start revolving again.

Could you go in the house on the freeway and take a nap? I think that would be a good idea. . . Maybe a snack, a little tv. . .

Seriously!
That house moving crap is the kind of thing the good ol boys in my hood like to attempt after a case (or two)of Coor's light. You can imagine substituting the semi for a tractor , team of mules or a pair of snowmobiles.Wheels or no wheels on the house.........

Oy, with the legwarmers...I owned one pair in the 80's, and that was because my dance teacher told us we needed them to learn a certain routine (some thing where we spun on our knees, and she didn't want us to hurt ourselves before we got it down). Actually, maybe I lied. The costume for that year's recital included skintight calf warmers that were not only flourescent pink with black numbers all over them, but glowed under a blacklight (which WAS used in the routine...). Oh the memories....

So, um, making halloween legwarmers? Armwarmers? (I saw those at Target the other day too...)

I'd love to comment on the house on the freeway, but MY BOOK ARRIVED!!!! and I have to go read now!!!

well the house on the road thing is kinda common here. they make modular home parts in Penn. and truck them in to Jersey in pieces and build huge homes from them. The Amish make barns and sheds and stuff, and truck them on in to Jersey too. Of course theres usually a special truck carrying them and another vehicle clearing the way, and flags and huge signs saying WIDE LOAD.
I LOVE legwarmers! I had a pair of all wool, big legwarmers i would wear over my jeans, when the snow was way deep here. they kept me really warm! and then i'd unpeel myself when i came inside, and the warmers would be the only things covered in snow. They got worn thru and may or may not still be in my hat/glove bag. I would love more. i am always cold in the winter. seems like i need to go find a target.

yep...this happened on my way to hear the Yarn Harlot speak...hense when I got lost on the freeways and hit the back up. When I saw the story on the noon news yesterday, first thought was ...ah ha! PROOF to back up my story that I'd posted on my blog..thanks for all the previous postings of Dallas which gave me the idea to post the HOUSE from the freeway on my blog.
Only in LA!

Just heard your interview on Cast On. You're just fantastic all around. Keep on keepin' on, girl!

Sooo....what happens to the house now? I can't imagine he's got money for rent after what he's going to have to pay in fines, I bet. I bet you can't leave a house on the road anywhere, even in California (and Marilyn - your comment about someone using the bathroom made ME run to my OWN!) Also - I **always** have a good book and knitting with me, in case I get stuck in an elevator or perhaps stuck in traffic behind of a housel I never do, of course. But it's not just the Boy Sprouts who should "Be Prepared" (that's why I also carry masking tape and mini-Sharpees, too, preparedness). I finished your book a few days ago and I DO love you more'n I did before, which I didn't believe could be possible even. YOU ROCK! Oh -- as a former ballet dancer I've always had legwarmers, and I mean to knit some more this winter. Fashion statement? Naw...in a Wisconsin winter they're Required for Survival.

That made me laugh my ass off. As usual. No one who doesn't live in Southern California ever quite believes in Southern California. It really is that weird. And I was born in the Valley!

Off topic: I looked at your photo for the Womens Convention coming up (which my hubby is taking me to for our 1st anniversary to see you!!!!!) and you look like Renee Zellwegger. Its a VERY cute photo.
Just thought you would like to know, because I know photos can be rough.

Reminds me of the time I was on the freeway in Houston and I passed a flatbed truck with a very large plywood crate on it. "Wow, that's a really tall crate," I thought. "I wonder what's in it?" Maybe I even thought, "I'm surprised that fits under the overpasses," but I don't remember for sure. I do remember that very shortly after I passed it, I heard this enormous CRUNCH!!!! sound, and when I looked in the rearview mirror, the air behind me was full of plywood.

The difference is, crates like that are custom-made and it really didn't look like a "get Bubba and a six-pack and we'll do it this weekend!" deal -- it looked professional. But you'd think professionals would have known to check the height.

The silliest thing is that still, every time I think of it, I wonder:
What was in it?
Was it ruined?
How did they not realize this would be a problem?
Was anyone hurt?
Did I imagine the whole thing?

Oh yeah. Legwarmers. I'm pretty sure I never had any in the 80s (although I did have scrunchy socks that looked a bit like mini legwarmers) and then I moved to Houston where 30 degree weather is like rain in LA -- "oh my god it's cold we're all going to die!" -- and for much of the year you'd be risking heat stroke if you wore them just for fashion. Although Houstonians dig out the parkas as soon as the temperature drops below 60, so they'll probably be wearing legwarmers by January even if it's only down to 45.

By the way, y'all know the movie Xanadu has been made into a Broadway musical, right? There are rollerskates. And legwarmers. You can even buy legwarmers and a T-shirt described as a "Flashdance Tee" on the show's website. It's Xanaduonbroadway.com but do NOT go there unless you want to have the Xanadu theme song stuck in your head for a long time. I don't mind, personally. I loved the movie and I spent hours in my room trying to sing it as well as Olivia Newton-John, which was never going to happen, because even though I was one of the better singers at my junior high school I was not *that* good, but hey, I was that age. Probably my brothers were down the hall laughing at me. But anyway, if Xanadu is on Broadway, then it is clearly time for The Return of the Legwarmers, however silly they are. ...I'm getting this strange urge to go rollerskating. Someone stop me!

Yey I pre ordered April 23,2007 . It truly is shipping I got the for real notice from amazon. Wish you were coming to the other part of crazy in California so it could be signed.
Oh and travel space bags in your suit case are the only way to pack a lot in a small space.
Happy Travels to You
Do you have a fancy pen yet? Is it in color? Are you going to use different colors at each stop? Oh my the pen decisions I would have to make. Should the pen match the outfit?
Have fun
Sandy
from the San Fran Bay Area CA

I felt a little sorry for the ding dong. According to an interview with the fiance, CalTrans is fining them $38,000 to move the house off the freeway.

Is it a house warmer, that you're knitting? In small parts?
~x~

Hi CAP
just want to let you know - you are now officially "sold out" in Borders, Columbia MD, our knitting meet up gp saw to that last night :)
I have 'you' stashed away for my upcoming work road trip.
So when are you coming to MD to sign all these books for us? ;P
Denise
x

Heh. Once on my way to SFO (back when I lived out there), I saw a push lawnmower traveling along, by itself, at the same speed as all the cars on the other side of the freeway. It must have JUST slid off the back of a truck but it was intensely weird & actually quite cool! Not nearly as cool was the refrigerator box I almost hit on the San Mateo Bridge.
I used to knit socks sitting in traffic on the Bay Bridge.
I miss SF!!

I've been seeing college kids dress in leggings and oversized tees. Sometimes with a kitten or a tiger on it.
I wore that when I was ten. I'm a little creeped out by that.
However, I have seen a little bit of flannel! Since I live in NY and covet warm, comfortable and inexpensive clothes, this is wonderful. I may burst into song with some Nirvana or Pearl Jam.

Excellent!

Leggings, just in time for an energy crisis (that reminds me of the eighties too)!

Those are going to come in handy this winter as people turn down their thermostats to afford their electric bills :( ?

-K

I can't believe leggings are back! Now I know the end of the world is near! As for that house...such brilliance being showcased on the planet. Who knew people could be so inventive?

My 15 year old girl has stated she wants to bring the 80s back. She would like me to knit her legwarmers. I have been resisting, but since she usually doesn't want anything I knit, I may have to cave to the pressure.

Glad to hear the house has been moved out of the way.

Sorry about the house on the freeway, but too funny:)
Sorry.
Never read your blog, but listened to your interview with Brenda Dayne and I am now subscribed. Thanks for putting yourself out there. I needed that.

Ang

Re: Legwarmers - we've had them in Toronto for a little while now. I'm still waiting for the stirrup leggings and t-shirts with that onesie/snap thing around the crotch...I actually saw a high school girl with a "Frankie Says Relax" t-shirt the other day (shudder).

I swear, between the content and the comments here I almost pee myself laughing everytime.

Thanks for that - you do the best news reports - I have nearly quit listening to any other news (guess that makes me another lurker as per a previous comment ).

Have been to LA once only - got to say the REGULAR traffic was not something I would enjoy daily - but, to be fair, I have been stuck in Calgary traffic when I could have walked home faster - unfortunately it wasn't because of a new housing development a la LA, only a new road development trying to ease traffic woes - as if!

I bought your book yesterday morning and spent the rest of the day reading it. Thanks for a wonderful day, I enjoyed it so much!
Liz

Legwarmers are usually slouchy, not sure why.

i bought those legwarmers at target, they don't stay up. any ideas how i could fix them?

BWhahhaha! What's the fine in California for littering a house?

i bought those legwarmers at target, they don't stay up. any ideas how i could fix them?

The 80's! My favorite look back then - did you ever watch "Who's the Boss" with Tony Danza? I thought Angela Bower (the Boss lady) had the most awesome clothes - HUGE shoulder pads, tons of big jewelry, big poufy hair - I totally wanted to be her!

Duo Boots are definitely worth checking out - and they do ship outside the UK (see below)

http://www.duoboots.com/viewpage/returnspolicies/

I got two pairs of boots in a sale they had about 18 months ago for less than half price and it was a wise decision as they've been well used.

Hope this helps - love reading your blog!

see? that's why us northeasterners think californians are crazy.

I got your book in the mail last night -- and I just finished reading it! Way cool Laurie :D) Felt like I was reading a letter from a friend.

Oh my, I had to immediately email my friend a link to your blog- that is totally something that would happen here (MO) :) Funny but we felt bad that you had to endure the traffic!

I'm thinking the hallowig from knitty is in the ol' purse- you could match the blue blog's daughter- she has a little one too!

Getting the book this weekend and can't wait to read it!

I just got home and your book has arrived! Wheeee!

Wow A house on the freeway, abandoned at that. So what does he tell his wife? Sorry Dear, I lost it. LOL Your blogs have me cracking up.

Jessica

Spam is starting, bleh. Comments closed on everything but the current day's entry, sorry! Stop leaving houses on the freeway!