Well...

TGIF... That's all I can say.

UPDATE: Also, I'm adding this:

see more Memebase


[do you feel like we do?]

Little Things Fall Into Place...

...and remind me that this is where I'm meant to be. Whether it's for the rest of my life, I don't know for sure, but as for now, I think this was the right move.

Granted, I saw some pictures today on facebook of the first snowfall in Grand Rapids, and I wanted to get on the first flight home. I never thought I'd miss snow... but I do. It's been a part of my Winters since I was five, and now... Well, how am I supposed to drink hot chocolate now?

Apartment hunting trudges on via internet. Now, however, there may be a roommate in the mix.

I miss you Michigan people. I really do. It's lovely out here, and oh so interesting, but it'd me much better if you were here too. Exploring the city, getting caught in traffic, paying too much for gas, and eating mexican food.

It'd be great!

Alas. Forsooth. I met Paula Abdul today.


[Way out in the water -- see it swimmin']

Reality TV

I work for a reality TV show. Today's work made that fact stunningly clear.

cinema verite' with a twist.

I met some very nice people today, however, and it was a nice change of pace from sitting at a desk all day.


Here's a ballsy quote from Joe Scarborough that has nothing to do with my day today. Nonetheless, Scarborough earns some points:

"This is one Republican who would prefer that the former half-term governor promote her reality shows and hawk her books without demeaning the reputations of Presidents Reagan and Bush. These great men dedicated their lives to public service and are too good to be fodder for her gaudy circus sideshow. If Republicans want to embrace Palin as a cultural icon whose anti-intellectualism fulfills a base political need, then have at it. I suppose it’s cheaper than therapy. But if the party of Ronald Reagan, Paul Ryan and Marco Rubio wants to return to the White House anytime soon, it’s time that Republican leaders started standing up and speaking the truth to Palin,"

kaboom.

So, this post is a little fragmented.



Art imitates life.



[So now this is the point where the radio comes on, and we compare our lives to the lyrics of a song]

I Found A Little Bit of Groove Today

And I feel great.

Tomorrow, I'm switching mah tracks and playing set PA for the day. Twist!

Also, the traffic in LA is not an exaggeration. Today's trip in to work lasted an hour and a half. No joke... no joke...


[I listen to the wind, to the wind of my soul]

Churchy Church Church

That title is supposed to be in a sing-song fashion, but I've yet to figure out how to convey that in text form.

So, I went to church today at a lovely place called Ecclesia. To be fair, I had visited once before during the Compass industry trip in May of '09, and yes, the service is still as good as I remember it. Plus, it's in an old movie theater on Hollywood Blvd., how cool is that?

Very cool.

Especially since they just got a new screen that they'll be able to show films (movies) on. Next Sunday they're showing It's A Wonderful Life.

It's only the best Christmas movie ever (Yes, Elf is good too. A close second)

And, my Jimmy Stewart impression is getting pretty good, so maybe I'll bust that out... good way to make friends... if they're into impersonations... and dead Hollywood icons....


Work starts up again tomorrow. Grrr, I'm nervous. Mainly because I haven't really "dived in" just yet. I'm not acclimated.

Let's hope this week changes that.



[Fences in a row]

I'm Trying to Find a Place to Live...

Something that shall protect me from the hot, Los Angeles sun.

So far, it's not going great. Granted, I only officially started my search today, not much was accomplished other than finding out where I don't want to live (which is Wilshire).

However, in my random explorations today, I drove through Echo Park and Silver Lake, two neighborhoods I'd pondered living in before I moved out here. I think I'll refine my search in these areas to see what I can see. After all, it couldn't hurt, plus, the vibe of those neighborhoods really resonate with me.

Though, the vibe I'm really diggin' is in Marina Del Rey. It's so relaxed out there. Everyone's got a dog. Every cute girl's got a cute bike. And every jeep's got a surfboard on top. It's a bit of a hike from Hollywood, which is a bummer, but then again, it's closer than the valley.

Ultimately, it's East vs. West (as always). Silver Lake and it's adjacent "hipster" neighborhoods on the East side, or the beach bum lifestyle of Marina Del Rey/Venice Beach of the West side.

Decisions, decisions...



[He's as wise as a prize fighter]

Apparently, I Live Near the Ocean Now.

but it's a bit of a walk.

Today, I hopped on over to Marina Del Rey to hang out with my friend Eric (who also went to Compass, also wants to be a writer, and is also from the Midwest). We proceeded to visit the ocean, then drive up the PCH, all the while pointing out different things that we find "weird" about this place.

It was a long conversation.

Hanging out was nice, and it also helped to cure the "New City Blues" which is a mental condition/song title that I just invented. I also may have stumbled over an important discovery: Having friends and making new friends reduces the feeling that you're a complete stranger, utterly alone in a sprawling metropolis.

It's just a hypothesis, I know, but it's crazy enough to work.



Also, I met a Siberian Husky named Sasha. We are friends now.



[And he shifts in his sleep and the Earth begins to quake]

Um, thanks?

It's Thanksgiving. Hope yours was a happy one.

Mine was pretty good. Though, it was my first Thanksgiving away from home.

Got to have dinner at my old boss' house though, which was nice. It felt good to reconnect with him and to meet the rest of his family.

Now, some random thoughts that I may elaborate on later:

"Vesuvius" by Sufjan Stevens is my jam right now. I'm finding a lot to identify in the lyrics, even though I'm not 100% solid on what the lyrics are trying to say. I feel the emotions and connotations behind them, and in a way, that's enough. Something in there resonates.

I'm not a huge fan of censorship, that is, bleeping out curse words with asterisks or some other symbol. I feel that I should either have the cajones -- the integrity -- to type the actual word, or leave it out altogether.

I'm trying to coax a relationship with this city. Therefore, I might take a drive up The PCH (they tell me that's the proper slang for "Pacific Coast Highway") in hopes of finding a spark... I'm worried I might be taking things a little too fast. I'm an old-fashioned kind of guy.



[Follow me now or follow your death]

Sleepy Times

I'm wiped out. The past seven days have been nothing but crazy, especially the last three.

I realize that I've been "on my own" for most of it, that is, I've been with people I don't know too well, or, complete strangers altogether. I've learned a lot, but I've also been left with a yearning to return to some familiarity.

But that's 3,000 miles away from me now.

I think I just need to connect with some of the people I know out here this weekend. Explore a little bit. Just "hang out", which is something I haven't been able to do in a while.

Still, I miss Grand Rapids, and everyone in it -- well, except for that one guy... and that weird old lady, I mean, what's her deal?

Now, it's time for bed. I can't wait.



[I don't do too much talkin' these days]

Not Bad for Day Two

Remember that interview I had yesterday? It panned out.

I started my job today (less than 48 hours after arriving in the city).

I work on Sunset Blvd.

And I have business cards that read "Stephen Pell: Executive Assistant"



If my life had a face, I'd punch it.



[We used to wait for it.]