Coffee or Wine? Forget it all and give me a burger.

Right now, I am debating between a second glass of wine or a cup of coffee. I'm not sure if I want to go to bed early or stay up late. These are my big decisions in LA. That and what I want to do with my life. But I keep putting that one off. I'm just a kid, right? Damn it, that's twice tonight I've sounded like an X-man (person?). Where the hell are my superpowers? And predicting Steeler's interceptions doesn't count--except on that wonderful, glorious, beautiful SuperBowl. Thank you, thank you Harrison. (I'm not ready to let it go just yet... SIX...)

Yesterday, I visited AstroBurger. Since coming here, I have been trying burgers like mad because, outside of Blackie's on Printer's Row and The Wabash Tap, I was never satisfied. However, AstroBurger, recommended to me by Hilary Swank via People Magazine (or was it VH1?), was amazing. A great follow-up to a week that included In-and-Out Burger and Barney's Beanery. Barney's was good--Kobe beef, swiss cheese, medium well. But I am a sucker for fast food, and AstroBurger was quick, it was cheap, and it was delightful. (That's what she said, yeah?) And it's right down the street from Raleigh, so I can go whenever.
So, score yet another one for LA. I cannot wait to have a job and get fat from all the burgers.
Also yesterday, I climbed a rock or foothill or whatever with my same friend, Rachel. We didn't realize how soft the rocks were. They crumble. And it had just rained. Needless to say, we did not make it to the top. But getting down, it turns out, is harder. I think there is a life lesson in there--probably something about pressing on, but since we ended up climbing down successfully and making a fair mess of the seats of our pants in the process, I can't quite make the connection. Oh well. It was so worth it. I felt like one of Peter Pan's Lost Boys which is probably one of the better feelings in this world.
Score again for LA. You can't get high adventure like that in Chicago.

And in other news, Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Actually, since it's this week, I suppose we've passed a corner. This probably means a care-package from my mom. I really can't complain. But if you want to see a good rant that will make all us lonely folk feel better, check out mikeandcheese.com. This kid is hilarious.

Another Morning Quickie... Privacy Issues

In about 15 minutes, I am going to leave for class where we will be discussing one-another's beat sheets. It has always been my opinion that beat sheets are of a personal nature, and are structured as the person sees fit to suit their own understanding of emotional shifts and scene work. OUTLINES are useful in discussing how heavy or light a scene is, and how much material is useless, useful, and where the plot holes are located. But yesterday, I shared my beat sheet with thc class--my beat sheet strucured like an outline. And today, I will critique other's private writing techniques based on what my instructor, who does not actually seem invested or interested in the class, has "taught" us.
In about 5 hours, I will find out whether or not our washing machine is fixed, and then, possibly, go and air my dirty laundry in public. Laudromats scare me. Actually, taking my laundry in public scares me--especially towels, underwear, and socks. The socks and underwear are so easy to lose, and so easy to misplace, and, they are also the most awkward to think of someond finding. Here's hoping that machine is fixed and working by the end of today, because I cannot go another day without doing laundry.

Today, I'm going to lay it all out there--flash Los Angeles County, if you will. Too bad I'm so pasty from winter in the Midwest.

And before I forget, please visit Andy Hannon's Blog. He's a funny kid with a funny contest. But don't enter the contest, because I think I should win since I'd like to see banana bread travel 2000 miles.

Nouning: California Positives

Here is a list of positive nouns about being in California This is more for my own sanity than anything, but maybe nouning will become a Sunday ritual for me:

Positive (New) People:
1. Georgie: Awesome roommate.
2. Rachel: Awesome (hiking) classmate.
3. Eric: Awesome (annoyed) classmate.
4. Chris: Awesome (asshole) classmate.
5. Jeremy: Awesome Friend-of-a-friend
6. Sean: Awesome-ish (kinda, I guess... just kidding, Sean is fun) Friend-of-a-friend.
7. Zach: Awesome (pug owning) friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend.
8. Lou: Awesome WWII Vet and Olympian.
9. Jack Gilbert: Awesome instructor.

Positive (New) Places:
1. My house: Awesome cute little office space and cute little bedroom and cute little yard.
2. Griffith Park: Awesome hiking trails.
3. In-and-Out Burger: Awesome (cheap) burger place!

Positive (New) Other Things:
1. My car: Awesome Pontiac Vibe in Salsa Red.
2. Writing letters: Awesome way to stay in touch, plan the revolution, and pass the time.
3. My cabinet in my room: Awesome place for hanging random stuff from friends (send more!).
4. Dolphins: Awesome creatures in the wild!
5. Sunshine: Awesome way to make me smile.
6. Howl and Other Poems: Awesome (not new) poetry that has saved my life.

See, things aren't so bad? I just have to adjust to the new environment, and that will take awhile. I can't wait, though, until I can list Awesome (New) Job among the Positive (New) Other Things.
Here's hoping for a Positive Week! And a new category idea...

Plumbing--What a Strange Word

So, I wake up this morning, and I smell like cigarettes. Yes, I succumbed and smoked a few. It had been three months, and now I feel kinda bad about it, but I've had my fix for another three months, I suppose. Honestly, though, it just reminded me of Chicago and how I met people out there. Now, it's a way to escape from people and remember. Point is, I smelled out-of-character, so I wanted to shower. Our hot water was not working. I have no idea if it was the water heater, or some big karmic kick in the ass for smoking, but the water is just barely lukewarm. So I take the first cold shower of my life, and it's for all the wrong reasons. Not that there are ever right reasons to take a cold shower, but there are certainly more dramatic ones. I get done with the worst shower ever, and not five minutes later, the maintenance guy comes to fix things.
Then, I go to do laundry. Georgie informs me that the washing machine is, once again, broken. So, I was supposed to go for a hike and 1, but I'm instead stuck waiting on another maintenance guy to fix the washing machine. Then I'm going to go for a really long hike, wash my towels, and take a really long, really hot shower.

In other news, my faith was restored in the power of imagination when I went to see Coraline in 3-D last night. It was whimsical and beautiful. It threw realism to the wind in everything from acknowledging Coraline's beautiful blue hair to creating a lore and a story that felt scary enough to get me out of my seat. Mr. Gaiman, Mr. Selick, bravo. I love you. The children who see this movie and got to see something new and real love you. And if they don't now, they will in the future when they realize the worlds you opened for them. Even the 3-D felt like less of a gimick than it normally does, emphasizing the bizarre world and pulling me in deeper. The past three months, I have found myself leaving more and more movies smiling. Even with life, both on mass and personal levels, being so chaotic and unpredictable, the film industry is giving me (and others, I'm sure) hope in the human spirit, in the individual's ability to influence the collective conscience. I so wish to be a part of it!

The things I do on rainy days...

So, after two facebook notes, the most boring class ever, Tyra, and Maury, I find myself wondering what it is I am doing with my life.
Actually, that's a lie. It feels like real college right now, which is too funny.

But seriously, I was watching Tyra and she posed this question: If you found out your sig. o. was "gay for pay" how would you feel?
And she got half an hour out of that. I'm having a hard time coming up with a second sentence.

Today, I think I realized I don't want to work in television as a writer. Unless I'm writing bad ideas for daytime talk shows.

This blog of mine needs to find a focus. I need a hobby. Or a job. Or something.
Any ideas?

Morning Quickie... AND SOLITICITATION

I sent out five letters to be mailed to various parts of Illinois ranging from its largest to (probably) one of its smallest towns. And one to Michigan-almost forgot about that. Writing letters is so fun. I had forgotten how fun, actually.
SO with that I am soliciting you, my readers, for some help:
I have a bookshelf. Only three shelves are filled with books. I also have a wall with a mirror and lots of space. SEND ME PICTURES--I don't care if they're drawn or photographed, but send me pictures. They can be silly or seriously or sentimental, but all I ask is that you mail them to me. Let me know if you need my address in Glendale, because, and I'm serious here I'm serious, folks, brown walls are not pleasant. However, pictures, like the ones on my cabinet in my room, are extremely heart-lightening and superfun. And I want to remember everyone. AND you will probably get a letter back because I love writing letters. And because I don't have to walk down 17 floors and through a creepy hallway to mail them--I just reach out my front door.
So this is quite the deal people. It's better than Shamwow. It's better the Oxyclean. Don't send 19.95, send a picture, and in return you get a piece of your work in sunny Glendale and a return letter. From ME!

Super Bowl Blues

My team won. The Steelers have six Super Bowl wins--more than anyone else. Beautiful. Chicago sent me over 100 text messages tonight, plus two or three phone calls, plus some outgoing ones of my own. The Super Bowl is honestly a bigger deal to me than my birthday. It's something I look forward to every year, and I'm glad I had a place to go tonight. But damn it, Chicago misses me. And I miss it.
But wasn't that game amazing? That was a Super Bowl. It was only boring for about ten minutes. Excitement, close calls, weird calls, and good defense from both sides all the way through. Just brilliant. And Santonio Holmes deserved to be MVP, hands down. He played a great game.

On a sidenote:
I haven't hugged a single person in two weeks. Isn't that strange to think about?