So I'm finally one of those people who hides out in the back of their house, leaving the porch light off as well as interior ones that could be seen from the street. I have no candy, I don't want to buy candy, and I don't want to answer the door to give candy out. Does that make me mean? Besides, candy rots your teeth!
I ran errands today, and at the grocery store I saw the Burger King guy, Jesus, a cat, a crow, and a few other things I didn't really understand. I didn't have class today, which was nice, and allowed me to get a few things done. Not having class last night was probably one of the best things that's happened to me yet. Instead of going to class, my friend gave me a heads up that Amoeba Records was giving out free tickets to one of my favorite bands' screening of their film, I think it's kind of a documentary, you can go here: http://sigur-ros.co.uk/media/heima-trailer2-mov-700k.html to check it out. Sigur Ros will also be performing three songs previous to the screening. All you had to do was print out your myspace profile page with this myspace secret shows as a top friend, stand in line, and get your wrist band! I was so excited, I am so excited. I only stood in line for fifteen minutes, then went across the street for coffee with some friends who I will be hanging out with at the show/screening on Thursday!
I suppose I don't feel that anything I've done lately is exciting enough to write about. I've just been doing simple things like errands. I bought one of those chinese lanters for my room, because the corner that my bed is in is really dark, and I like working in my space as opposed to the living room, which also isn't very well lit. So now I have light! and a little more decoration, not that I'm especially fond of chinese lantern balls. I need to clean my room and get things a little more organized.
Tomorrow I have classes. I'm going to buy a monthly parking pass so that I can leave during those 6 hour breaks! oh man, 6 hours is such a long time and messes up my eating schedule. hah. Now I'll be able to come home, or even go to school on days I don't have class and not feel bad about paying extra for parking! I also don't have all the programs I'm using on my computer, so I have to be at school to use them. Monthly passes will give my schedule added flexibility.
Back to homework, also I have to make sure I go to sleep before midnight! If I don't it's so rough waking up in the morning!
I miss fall in the northwest. I miss the cool, crisp, clean air! Someone should bottle it up and send me some! I want fall leaves and scarves. I want jackets and bundling up by the fire. It's so much different here, it is a neverending summer. It's deceiving because everyone else here acts like its cold, or close to winter, when you could actually still go and lay out on the beach! Speaking of which, I really need to just go to the beach and do my homework sometime out there. I need to learn to take advantage of the good things about having sun all the time. I guess I just feel like I don't know what to do with it, I get confused by it.
oi.
Wednesday, October 31
Sunday, October 28
low key
Kleenex has this brilliant campaign called "let it out". Basically they get this nice guy who is a great listener and set up a 'living room' situation with a sofa, chair, coffee table, rug, and of course a box of kleenex. They've been doing it a while, they show them as commercials for their product and every time I see them I want to be there. This good listener invites people walking by to sit down with him and share their story, or an event in their life. They cry, they laugh, they share, it's fantastic.
Last week was way busy lots and lots of classwork. Friday I had breakfast with my friends again, and then went to Ameoba records- it has the biggest section of used music ever! Also I finally purchased my own copy of the double disc Royal Tenenbaums, one of my favorite movies.
This weekend was low key, but i got to hang out with some friends and even attempted to go to a few halloween parties. They weren't the best ever, in fact they were pretty lame, but the fun part was just hanging out with people.
Tonight I went to chuch at the same place as last week. It was a nice environment, a good feel. I'm glad to have made a few connections and some reconnections from last week.
I think I will write again tomorrow when I have more energy.
Last week was way busy lots and lots of classwork. Friday I had breakfast with my friends again, and then went to Ameoba records- it has the biggest section of used music ever! Also I finally purchased my own copy of the double disc Royal Tenenbaums, one of my favorite movies.
This weekend was low key, but i got to hang out with some friends and even attempted to go to a few halloween parties. They weren't the best ever, in fact they were pretty lame, but the fun part was just hanging out with people.
Tonight I went to chuch at the same place as last week. It was a nice environment, a good feel. I'm glad to have made a few connections and some reconnections from last week.
I think I will write again tomorrow when I have more energy.
Thursday, October 25
"Where's Andre?!"
Tuesday was the most exhausting day of my life. This whole getting up at 6:30am thing bites. I got up and felt nauseous from lack of sleep, had to sit at attention for three hours in my class, find something to do while awake for six hours, until class at 6pm. All I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and sleep, but instead I spent a couple hours researching for a project in the annex, found some food at the corner cafe, and then spent the rest of the time drafting my project. What a day!
While at the corner cafe, called Fusion, I saw Andre from Project Runway! He's sort of interesting, the way he moves his body and walks and talks. All around he's a character. So I saw him, texted my friend David who also loves project runway, and then noticed the badge he had on his pocket. He is a professor at FIDM. He was on the same season as Santino, Santino would impersonate Tim Gun all the time and sometimes said "where's andre?" I thought it was funny.
Today I slept in finally and then made my way out to Santa Monica and picked up my shoes from shoe repair. I also swung by a dozen or so stores, just dipping in and out, seeing if there was anything to catch my eye. The thing I HATE down here is that in every store they are advertising their winterwear. Fluffy, down vests, wool sweaters, boots, thermal shirts, scarfs... it's 90 degrees outside, are people actually buying it? While walking I felt like I was in a sauna, I wanted to drink water, and more water, and more water, yet it was never enough. My throat was dry, I was sweating and totally uncomfortable. All I wanted was to be home at that very moment.
Unfortunately home isn't that much cooler. I turned on the fan and sat in front of it for a while. Finally I got to my homework and realized there was more to do than I realized or had time for. So now, I'm quickly writing this blog so that I can get back to my work and study a bit in bed before i fall fast asleep. I'm so terrible at group projects, I always take on the mass amount of work that nobody was expecting, and just do it, without complaint. But this group project is continuing, and there's no way I'm letting it slide this time! I'm laying down the expectations!
Tonight I had dinner at Doughboys because so far it's the only good sit down restaurant closeby that I know of. haha. My friend Melinda and I went, and sat outside, very exposed to the street. It was weird, but kind of cool. Since it has been so warm out, it was a pretty decent choice to sit outside. I need to buy some shorts, and tank tops.
Okay, my eyes are starting to sting because I'm sleepy and occassionally the fan blows in my eyes. Goodnight!
While at the corner cafe, called Fusion, I saw Andre from Project Runway! He's sort of interesting, the way he moves his body and walks and talks. All around he's a character. So I saw him, texted my friend David who also loves project runway, and then noticed the badge he had on his pocket. He is a professor at FIDM. He was on the same season as Santino, Santino would impersonate Tim Gun all the time and sometimes said "where's andre?" I thought it was funny.
Today I slept in finally and then made my way out to Santa Monica and picked up my shoes from shoe repair. I also swung by a dozen or so stores, just dipping in and out, seeing if there was anything to catch my eye. The thing I HATE down here is that in every store they are advertising their winterwear. Fluffy, down vests, wool sweaters, boots, thermal shirts, scarfs... it's 90 degrees outside, are people actually buying it? While walking I felt like I was in a sauna, I wanted to drink water, and more water, and more water, yet it was never enough. My throat was dry, I was sweating and totally uncomfortable. All I wanted was to be home at that very moment.
Unfortunately home isn't that much cooler. I turned on the fan and sat in front of it for a while. Finally I got to my homework and realized there was more to do than I realized or had time for. So now, I'm quickly writing this blog so that I can get back to my work and study a bit in bed before i fall fast asleep. I'm so terrible at group projects, I always take on the mass amount of work that nobody was expecting, and just do it, without complaint. But this group project is continuing, and there's no way I'm letting it slide this time! I'm laying down the expectations!
Tonight I had dinner at Doughboys because so far it's the only good sit down restaurant closeby that I know of. haha. My friend Melinda and I went, and sat outside, very exposed to the street. It was weird, but kind of cool. Since it has been so warm out, it was a pretty decent choice to sit outside. I need to buy some shorts, and tank tops.
Okay, my eyes are starting to sting because I'm sleepy and occassionally the fan blows in my eyes. Goodnight!
Monday, October 22
California on Fire!
For those of you who haven't heard, things in California are heating up! Governor Swartzenagor (or however you spell it) declared a state of emergency in seven counties! I believe the first fires began a few days ago in Malibu, due east of me on the coast. Now fires are coming up everywhere, and they aren't just a natural disaster, there were three locations somewhere near Ventura or something where there is evidence that people started the fires! Ridiculous. San Diego is really bad, a few of my friends have been evacuated from their homes and I haven't heard an update since this afternoon, but I imagine they are still not home. It's insane how fast flames can spread with high winds and desert brush.
Anyways, the fires aren't near me, but I have seen the insane sunsets resulting from the massive amounts of smoke filling the air. But pray for containment, ceasing of winds and protection! Thousands of people have lost their homes and belongings in such a short time. I hope it all ends soon! RAIN. this is why the northwest is so great.
Yesterday I tried out a new church in Culver City, maybe even close to Venice Beach I'm not exactly sure. It was a Vineyard chuch, so it was pretty laid back. A few people told me it was a weird night for Alter because there were a bunch of people gone on the retreat, and it was sort of an interactive night. I guess I appreciated that they were trying to think outside the box, but I was kind of hoping for a sermon. I met a few people in the service and made a new friend on my way out, who lives next to the Grove, which is very close to where I live. I headed back to West Hollywood feeling refreshed and positive about making more friends in the future. Though I need to get over this whole not calling friends from home thing, and keep in contact. Like I said before I just don't want to become emotionally dependent on talking with people I can't spend time with, and can only reminisce about past hang outs. At the same time, I have great friends who are encouraging and probably miss me as much as I miss them, so it's best for everyone if I just stinkin call. I process things aloud. Which is what I'm doing right now, in case you were wondering what the rambling was all about.
Tomorrow I have a full day. Class at 8:30am and then again at 6pm. In the time inbetween I eat lunch and work on projects. The break is actually pretty convenient, it allows me time before the next class, or time on campus to use programs I don't have on my personal computer. So it's like forced, productive, work time. I'm having some trouble with some of my projects because I can't decide what the heck I want to do! It's so silly. I have complete freedom and I get lost in it. So tonight I'm researching products and looks that I might want to incorporate into my drawing for my perspective class. Right now I can't decide between doing a bedroom or a living room. I have some fanciful ideas for both, so I guess depending on the furniture I get spec'd tonight, that will help indicate which I should go with.
In a really silly whim, I listened to some Christmas music tonight, not typical stuff, but a random compilation by some decent bands. I looooove the feeling of Christmas and the holidays, oh my, I can't wait to come home. hah.
More research and then sleep, long day ahead.
Anyways, the fires aren't near me, but I have seen the insane sunsets resulting from the massive amounts of smoke filling the air. But pray for containment, ceasing of winds and protection! Thousands of people have lost their homes and belongings in such a short time. I hope it all ends soon! RAIN. this is why the northwest is so great.
Yesterday I tried out a new church in Culver City, maybe even close to Venice Beach I'm not exactly sure. It was a Vineyard chuch, so it was pretty laid back. A few people told me it was a weird night for Alter because there were a bunch of people gone on the retreat, and it was sort of an interactive night. I guess I appreciated that they were trying to think outside the box, but I was kind of hoping for a sermon. I met a few people in the service and made a new friend on my way out, who lives next to the Grove, which is very close to where I live. I headed back to West Hollywood feeling refreshed and positive about making more friends in the future. Though I need to get over this whole not calling friends from home thing, and keep in contact. Like I said before I just don't want to become emotionally dependent on talking with people I can't spend time with, and can only reminisce about past hang outs. At the same time, I have great friends who are encouraging and probably miss me as much as I miss them, so it's best for everyone if I just stinkin call. I process things aloud. Which is what I'm doing right now, in case you were wondering what the rambling was all about.
Tomorrow I have a full day. Class at 8:30am and then again at 6pm. In the time inbetween I eat lunch and work on projects. The break is actually pretty convenient, it allows me time before the next class, or time on campus to use programs I don't have on my personal computer. So it's like forced, productive, work time. I'm having some trouble with some of my projects because I can't decide what the heck I want to do! It's so silly. I have complete freedom and I get lost in it. So tonight I'm researching products and looks that I might want to incorporate into my drawing for my perspective class. Right now I can't decide between doing a bedroom or a living room. I have some fanciful ideas for both, so I guess depending on the furniture I get spec'd tonight, that will help indicate which I should go with.
In a really silly whim, I listened to some Christmas music tonight, not typical stuff, but a random compilation by some decent bands. I looooove the feeling of Christmas and the holidays, oh my, I can't wait to come home. hah.
More research and then sleep, long day ahead.
Sunday, October 21
reduce, reuse, recycle
I was intruiged by the booklet that comes along with recycling services here in West Hollywood. You can recycle almost anything and everything here. For me, it's a dream come true, and so is living with my equally eco-friendly roommate. She doesn't preach her practictes, nor does she even awknowledge them for the most part, but she just does them routinely out of concern for her own "footprint." I respect her a lot for the little things she does, and in turn it encourages me to do more. Her sister has a compost pile in the backyard, so we have a sealed compost jar on the counter to put our scraps in. I read a statistic that this alone can reduce your trash/garbage volume up to 70% a year! That's incredible! We produce approximately a bag of garbage every couple weeks. It's incredible.
On top of recycling and composting, the little booklet/manual encouraged people to call those who are distributing junk mail and get them to stop! If you do this, not only will you get back 70 hours a year you waste sorting thru junk mail, you'll also save water! About 28 billion gallons of water are wasted in producing and recycling junk mail, that you don't even look at! More than 100 million trees are destroyed for the paper that hardly touches your fingertips. On average, an adult receives 41 pounds of junk mail a year! It's such a disgusting waste of resources.
Even if you think, well at least I'm recycling, you're still not getting at the source. Junk mail uses inks with high concentrations of metals, making them difficult to recycle. Here is where I got the facts: http://www.41pounds.org/impact/. Go forth and be educated. 41pounds offers a service of contacting dozens of direct marketers on your behalf, reducing your junk mail and conserving trees, water, preventing carbon dioxide from being released, annnnd donates part of the money to environmental organizations of your choice! Or if you want to save money, send me your mail and I'll call them for you! You think I'm joking. I think my mom told me a box is a flat rate of $8 or so... so stuff all the junkmail info in the box, plus some cookies, and I'll do it for you. haha. Anyways, just putting it out there to help awareness. Junk mail can be anything from credit card offers, to catalogs you no longer want to be receiving, to any other mail you don't want.
It's fun and interesting to live green. try it!
On top of recycling and composting, the little booklet/manual encouraged people to call those who are distributing junk mail and get them to stop! If you do this, not only will you get back 70 hours a year you waste sorting thru junk mail, you'll also save water! About 28 billion gallons of water are wasted in producing and recycling junk mail, that you don't even look at! More than 100 million trees are destroyed for the paper that hardly touches your fingertips. On average, an adult receives 41 pounds of junk mail a year! It's such a disgusting waste of resources.
Even if you think, well at least I'm recycling, you're still not getting at the source. Junk mail uses inks with high concentrations of metals, making them difficult to recycle. Here is where I got the facts: http://www.41pounds.org/impact/. Go forth and be educated. 41pounds offers a service of contacting dozens of direct marketers on your behalf, reducing your junk mail and conserving trees, water, preventing carbon dioxide from being released, annnnd donates part of the money to environmental organizations of your choice! Or if you want to save money, send me your mail and I'll call them for you! You think I'm joking. I think my mom told me a box is a flat rate of $8 or so... so stuff all the junkmail info in the box, plus some cookies, and I'll do it for you. haha. Anyways, just putting it out there to help awareness. Junk mail can be anything from credit card offers, to catalogs you no longer want to be receiving, to any other mail you don't want.
It's fun and interesting to live green. try it!
Friday, October 19
free friday
So Thursday was a long day. I had a project I worked on with my friend Ashley M, another girl from SPU, for a couple hours before class. Class was exciting because we get to choose any retail concept we want to base our projet off of. I'm bursting with ideas and talked my mom's ear off this afternoon about them. Last night after class my other friend Ashley texted me and invited me out.
A brief history on Ashley, we met over myspace when we were talking music tastes, and she mentioned her band, Darci Cash, and that they would be touring thru Seattle. So I went out to their first show in Seattle and met Ashley, Mack, Ben and Jeff. Ever since, every time they came through Seattle we've hung out. I think it was the summer before my freshman year that I met them and haven't seen any of them in almost two years, except the occasional myspace exchange.
It was fantastic that she texted me, I has just recently been thinking about them. She invited me out to see the Parson Redheads, some friends of theirs, who were playing in Silverlake at this venue called the Spaceship. I got out to Silverlake and the bouncer scanned my id with some gadget that must verify if they are real or fake, but do Washington state id's have those metallic emblem things embedded? I know my californian friends have crazy ids. Anyways, the inside was funky and covered in these metallic curtains. The band wear all white whenever they play, and there are tons of them on stage. It all felt very interactive, they were really fun to see. After that Ashley took me under her wing and introduced me to all her friends. I've met some of them before, when other bands accompanied the Cash on tours. They are all fun and sweet and way friendly, I felt immediately welcome and like I hung out with them all the time.
Ashley works at this place called Doughboys in Hollywood, actually about 5 mintues from where I live. She suggested I come in for breakfast and I thought it was perfect because I don't have class on Friday mornings. So this morning I met Ashley, and a bunch of others from last night for breakfast. It's a lovely thing having friends!
It is super hot out today! They told me last night it's been kind of cold recently, so the weather decided to show me what it could be, and blinded me on my way out the door this morning.
Tonight I'm having dinner with Beth E from Seattle, and then hopefully attend another show this evening. yayyyyy.
A brief history on Ashley, we met over myspace when we were talking music tastes, and she mentioned her band, Darci Cash, and that they would be touring thru Seattle. So I went out to their first show in Seattle and met Ashley, Mack, Ben and Jeff. Ever since, every time they came through Seattle we've hung out. I think it was the summer before my freshman year that I met them and haven't seen any of them in almost two years, except the occasional myspace exchange.
It was fantastic that she texted me, I has just recently been thinking about them. She invited me out to see the Parson Redheads, some friends of theirs, who were playing in Silverlake at this venue called the Spaceship. I got out to Silverlake and the bouncer scanned my id with some gadget that must verify if they are real or fake, but do Washington state id's have those metallic emblem things embedded? I know my californian friends have crazy ids. Anyways, the inside was funky and covered in these metallic curtains. The band wear all white whenever they play, and there are tons of them on stage. It all felt very interactive, they were really fun to see. After that Ashley took me under her wing and introduced me to all her friends. I've met some of them before, when other bands accompanied the Cash on tours. They are all fun and sweet and way friendly, I felt immediately welcome and like I hung out with them all the time.
Ashley works at this place called Doughboys in Hollywood, actually about 5 mintues from where I live. She suggested I come in for breakfast and I thought it was perfect because I don't have class on Friday mornings. So this morning I met Ashley, and a bunch of others from last night for breakfast. It's a lovely thing having friends!
It is super hot out today! They told me last night it's been kind of cold recently, so the weather decided to show me what it could be, and blinded me on my way out the door this morning.
Tonight I'm having dinner with Beth E from Seattle, and then hopefully attend another show this evening. yayyyyy.
Wednesday, October 17
catching up
Today has been pretty productive. I slept in a little bit and then called the folks as I prepared breakfast. I finally finished off the berries from the marketplace, sad. Then I sort of sat around and tried to figure out how to get everything done and in what order. So I started cleaning up my room a little bit and took a shower and all that. After months of meaning to go to a shoe repair place I finally went to one over near Santa Monica. On my way I stopped at the bank and then on my way back I went to the laundry mat. In the laundry mat I read while I waited for my clothes to dry. After my laundry was all clean and folded neat, I headed over to Trader Joes to get some groceries and then finally back home. I put all my laundry away and rearranged the way my bed and room furniture was and I think I like it a lot better in this new arrangement.
I cooked myself some pasta for dinner because it's quick and doesn't require a lot of monitoring. Meanwhile I put more things away, clothes and such, and rearranged belongings. It's hard to fit everything you own into one room. I didn't bring all that much stuff but I don't really have much storage, and I keep getting more stuff from school! Class supplies are filling any open spaces!
Tonight 'Pushing Daisies' is on again! yay. Before that comes on I'm going to finish this blog and make some notecards for class tomorrow. I figure as long as I get the last week's information down on notecards before the next class I'll be able to study while I write and then have them around to look at at alll those stop lights. I think I'm stopped on the road more than I'm travelling it.
I'm super excited because my friend Beth is coming into town! I'm so excited to see her, it feels like it's been six months, though it's only been a couple weeks. So I think this weekend will be a fun one.
Off to be productive again...
I cooked myself some pasta for dinner because it's quick and doesn't require a lot of monitoring. Meanwhile I put more things away, clothes and such, and rearranged belongings. It's hard to fit everything you own into one room. I didn't bring all that much stuff but I don't really have much storage, and I keep getting more stuff from school! Class supplies are filling any open spaces!
Tonight 'Pushing Daisies' is on again! yay. Before that comes on I'm going to finish this blog and make some notecards for class tomorrow. I figure as long as I get the last week's information down on notecards before the next class I'll be able to study while I write and then have them around to look at at alll those stop lights. I think I'm stopped on the road more than I'm travelling it.
I'm super excited because my friend Beth is coming into town! I'm so excited to see her, it feels like it's been six months, though it's only been a couple weeks. So I think this weekend will be a fun one.
Off to be productive again...
Tuesday, October 16
end of the day
You know that achy pain you get in your legs when you're tired? It feels like growing pains... maybe it is growing pains... maybe i could become the WNBA star I always dreamed of being... maybe that was never my dream. Anyways, I have that achy thing that happens when you're really really tired.
Okay, onto more important business. I for at least the second time this week heard Sheryl Crow's "All I wanna do" while driving home on Santa Monica Blvd. For those of you who don't know, the song contains the phrase... "all i wanna do, is have some fun, until the sun comes up over santa monica blvd." It just makes me laugh everytime, there are so many many many songs that reference California. I'm hoping this means I have a good weekend in store. I'm looking forward to it oh so very much!
Dancing with the stars makes me want to learn to dance. Not so I can be on some tv show, but it looks like so much fun to practice and learn dances, every different style.
I'm a big fan of coming home. Carrie's place definitely feels like my own as well, its a good feeling. She said the other day that the girl she moved out to LA with used to make breakfast in the mornings, so it feels like old times when she sees me doing the same. I love cereal, but sometimes you have to have the eggs and toast in the mornings.
My drafting class today was so so so fun. I love hand drafting. I love spending time in the studio, and this teacher put us to work immediately, how refreshing! We get to plan our own space, which I'm really excited about. I want to produce something very cool and very Lara. For now we're just space planning and choosing the furniture, but we will eventually be rendering the whole space in one and two point perspective. This is the class I came to FIDM for, along with other things not taught in depth at SPU. I miss SPU, never thought I would say that, it's a fun environment, but I'm LOVING this whole starting fresh thing. I have no restraints, my classmates have never seen my work, I only have room to improve and impress.
It's late, but I haven't eaten dinner, so I'm off to cook for myself. loves.
Okay, onto more important business. I for at least the second time this week heard Sheryl Crow's "All I wanna do" while driving home on Santa Monica Blvd. For those of you who don't know, the song contains the phrase... "all i wanna do, is have some fun, until the sun comes up over santa monica blvd." It just makes me laugh everytime, there are so many many many songs that reference California. I'm hoping this means I have a good weekend in store. I'm looking forward to it oh so very much!
Dancing with the stars makes me want to learn to dance. Not so I can be on some tv show, but it looks like so much fun to practice and learn dances, every different style.
I'm a big fan of coming home. Carrie's place definitely feels like my own as well, its a good feeling. She said the other day that the girl she moved out to LA with used to make breakfast in the mornings, so it feels like old times when she sees me doing the same. I love cereal, but sometimes you have to have the eggs and toast in the mornings.
My drafting class today was so so so fun. I love hand drafting. I love spending time in the studio, and this teacher put us to work immediately, how refreshing! We get to plan our own space, which I'm really excited about. I want to produce something very cool and very Lara. For now we're just space planning and choosing the furniture, but we will eventually be rendering the whole space in one and two point perspective. This is the class I came to FIDM for, along with other things not taught in depth at SPU. I miss SPU, never thought I would say that, it's a fun environment, but I'm LOVING this whole starting fresh thing. I have no restraints, my classmates have never seen my work, I only have room to improve and impress.
It's late, but I haven't eaten dinner, so I'm off to cook for myself. loves.
smile
I love the little things that make you smile. I was driving yesterday, and I passed a guy who was totally rocking out in his car, I was kind of suprised to see it considering traffic wasn't moving that swiftly and he was in plain view of many passerbys, but it certainly put a smile on my face.
Yesterday was what I call a down day. I slept in, then made it downtown for class, then went home and felt like I still hadn't done anything with my day. I made myself a salad and sat down to work on my resume. I just felt so unsatisfied, so dry, so dissappointed. Then I listened to this worship song my friend sent me and I just cried, because crying can be therapeutic and can feel realllly good. I guess the day had felt emotionless I needed to feel some emotion. Anyways, it was a mellow night and I finally went to bed.
This morning I got up at 6:30am and got ready for class. I'm still frustrated by the way FIDM does certain things... methods are just unorganized, at least right now, considering it's technically still the first week. I have my last "first class" tonight. Today I have two classes and an already had an apt with the guy who gives me the job listings. Hopefully I will be getting a job soon! Then I could work a couple days a week and start saving! I like most of my classes thus far, but I feel like the expectations here are a little different than SPU. That means, hopefully I'll just go above and beyond with every project.
Tomorrow I don't have class so hopefully I'll catch up on all those little things like doing laundry and going to the grocery store. I miss Seattle, a lot. I'm excited for the weekend here, so I can get out and explore the fun and exciting things of SoCal.
Yesterday was what I call a down day. I slept in, then made it downtown for class, then went home and felt like I still hadn't done anything with my day. I made myself a salad and sat down to work on my resume. I just felt so unsatisfied, so dry, so dissappointed. Then I listened to this worship song my friend sent me and I just cried, because crying can be therapeutic and can feel realllly good. I guess the day had felt emotionless I needed to feel some emotion. Anyways, it was a mellow night and I finally went to bed.
This morning I got up at 6:30am and got ready for class. I'm still frustrated by the way FIDM does certain things... methods are just unorganized, at least right now, considering it's technically still the first week. I have my last "first class" tonight. Today I have two classes and an already had an apt with the guy who gives me the job listings. Hopefully I will be getting a job soon! Then I could work a couple days a week and start saving! I like most of my classes thus far, but I feel like the expectations here are a little different than SPU. That means, hopefully I'll just go above and beyond with every project.
Tomorrow I don't have class so hopefully I'll catch up on all those little things like doing laundry and going to the grocery store. I miss Seattle, a lot. I'm excited for the weekend here, so I can get out and explore the fun and exciting things of SoCal.
Sunday, October 14
This morning Carrie and I woke up and headed up towards Sunset and Vine for an outdoor Farmer's Market that happens every Sunday. It is amazing, there are so many stalls and up on the north side we visited all of Carrie's favorites. I bought figs, a portabella mushroom, apples, lettuce, carrots, grapes and a little box of strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. That fruit box was my favorite purchase of the morning. It was a fun little marketplace experience and I'm happy that it's every week!
After that we came home and I read for a bit, and then took off to find the goodwill. The goodwill out here is a lot different, things are way more expensive! hah. Unfortunately I didn't find anything there, but I did up the street a ways at the buffalo exchange, a tee shirt and tank top, much needed considering this weather! What is this? How could anyone call this fall? I want crisp, clean, fresh, cold air and fall leaves that make trees look like they've gone up in flames. This is not fall, LA is lying to me, and to themselves.
On my way down La Brea towards the Goodwill I was really confused when I saw about 5 SUVs all pull u-turns at once and speed back towards me. Then I saw one guy jump out of his car and start running towards a resteraunt, his car still half way in the road, door open. I realized it was the paparazzi as soon as I saw a camera, but what a weird event! Now I can understand how ridiculously persistent they are. Even the bums walk between cars hoping to get money, the paparazzi would definitely run down the street after a star's moving vehicle. ick. Considering I was still moving in the opposite direction, I never got a glimpse of who it was they were after.
Tomorrow is technically my second day of classes. I'm excited for drafting.
After that we came home and I read for a bit, and then took off to find the goodwill. The goodwill out here is a lot different, things are way more expensive! hah. Unfortunately I didn't find anything there, but I did up the street a ways at the buffalo exchange, a tee shirt and tank top, much needed considering this weather! What is this? How could anyone call this fall? I want crisp, clean, fresh, cold air and fall leaves that make trees look like they've gone up in flames. This is not fall, LA is lying to me, and to themselves.
On my way down La Brea towards the Goodwill I was really confused when I saw about 5 SUVs all pull u-turns at once and speed back towards me. Then I saw one guy jump out of his car and start running towards a resteraunt, his car still half way in the road, door open. I realized it was the paparazzi as soon as I saw a camera, but what a weird event! Now I can understand how ridiculously persistent they are. Even the bums walk between cars hoping to get money, the paparazzi would definitely run down the street after a star's moving vehicle. ick. Considering I was still moving in the opposite direction, I never got a glimpse of who it was they were after.
Tomorrow is technically my second day of classes. I'm excited for drafting.
saturdayyyy
Today was another home-body day. I still haven't found much to occupy my days. I've been thinking a lot about sewing, it's really therapeutic and I need something that makes me feel at ease and gives me satisfaction.
This evening I went out to Bergamot Station for an art gallery opening. It was totally crowded and a few other galleries had exhibits as well. The one I went for was the one my friend Melinda works at. It had about four different artist's work on display, all of which varied in style and medium. The room buzzed as everyone talked, met the artists and feasted on the food tables. Once more I had another star sighting, it was Eric Balfour. It's funny how I can barely remember the actors names whom I've seen, but I recognize them immediately. On the way out we passed him being questioned by an older woman "what may I have seen you in?" The first time I've seen a 'star' approached in my sightings. I can't wait till I see Johnny Depp, I will be the one approaching him, and getting a photograph for my grandmother.
Tomorrow I think Carrie and I are getting up early and going to a Farmer's Market. YAY for fresh produce. I need some more fruit and veggies in my fridge.
If you have any ideas on what to do to keep entertained and stop missing home, let me know.
This evening I went out to Bergamot Station for an art gallery opening. It was totally crowded and a few other galleries had exhibits as well. The one I went for was the one my friend Melinda works at. It had about four different artist's work on display, all of which varied in style and medium. The room buzzed as everyone talked, met the artists and feasted on the food tables. Once more I had another star sighting, it was Eric Balfour. It's funny how I can barely remember the actors names whom I've seen, but I recognize them immediately. On the way out we passed him being questioned by an older woman "what may I have seen you in?" The first time I've seen a 'star' approached in my sightings. I can't wait till I see Johnny Depp, I will be the one approaching him, and getting a photograph for my grandmother.
Tomorrow I think Carrie and I are getting up early and going to a Farmer's Market. YAY for fresh produce. I need some more fruit and veggies in my fridge.
If you have any ideas on what to do to keep entertained and stop missing home, let me know.
Friday, October 12
sightings
Has anyone ever watched the show 'Everwood'? It was on for a few seasons a couple years ago, maybe more. Well, I was just shopping at my corner whole foods store and I turned the corner with a basket full of food, trying to weave inbetween people and display shelves, when I finally said 'exscuse me' to Ephram Brown, or more appropriately Gregory Smith. He was doctor Brown's son from the show. I didn't notice it was him initially, but when I looked up after being given room to pass I realized who i was looking at. It is so funny seeing people in person that you've only seen on the television. He just looked like another person shopping, and him and a friend sat by the window eating, and nobody seemed to recognize or bother him. I guess there are bigger stars in the area, but still, i almost always expect someone to disturb them. Since I used to watch the show with my parents here and there, I called them right after it registered, and told them of my sighting.
Anyways, I'm still adjusting. I don't know why I've been so adamant about not calling friends from home, i think it's just been a way to keep my emotional independance... or at least establish it, and then open up and reach out. But I think my methods may not be necessary, because I actually have really enjoyed the conversations here and there. They remind me of why I'm here, what I'm doing, and that life is continually moving forward! move forward. love LA into submission.
Anyways, I'm still adjusting. I don't know why I've been so adamant about not calling friends from home, i think it's just been a way to keep my emotional independance... or at least establish it, and then open up and reach out. But I think my methods may not be necessary, because I actually have really enjoyed the conversations here and there. They remind me of why I'm here, what I'm doing, and that life is continually moving forward! move forward. love LA into submission.
back to school
The garbage trucks are unbelieably loud! They are practially vibrating the whole house and I can't hear my music anymore. hah.
Yesterday, Thursday, was my first day of classes. I woke up at 6:30 to give myself plenty of time to get ready, and then left at 7:30. Traffic was traffic, I think it took me about 45 minutes to get downtown. I went to my usual parking lot, but the lane i turned into was the center lane for both the lot I use and the lot on the corner. So this guy walked up to my car and said the lot was closed for the day and told me to park across the street. I interjected and said I wasn't trying to park in this lot I was trying to turn left, "is this one closed too?" and the guy said yes it is, go across the street. Unhappily I turned around, made my way across the street and waited in a long line of cars for an unfamiliar and unfriendly lot attendant to give me a ticket for my window. Later that day I was walking by the lot- i will expand on who I was with and where I was going later- and the lot I usually park in was totally almost full, working as usual, that guy lied to me... and he said "hi ladies" when we walked by, which aggrivated me further. I'm picky about where I park, I don't think that's a bad thing!
Anyways, I finally got to class and was surprised by the number of people! It was the largest class in the interior design department, four or five people couldn't even get in. There were about 30 of us? That's not unusual for a general studies class, but it is when you get into departments. The professor's name is Gray Adams, and he's a very distinguished man, he's been teaching forever and an interior designer for 20+ years. The class is going to cover history of architecture and interior design from egyptian times to the contemporary... including furniture, motifs, etc. He was pretty entertaining. After my 8:30am class, which ends around 11:30, I have nothing schedules until 6pm! That's forever!
There happen to be 3 other girls from SPU attending FIDM, one who started in the summer, and the other two the same as me. Three of us have the 8:30 class together, so afterwards we went across the street to the Met, an apartment building where the two girls starting this quarter are living. We all hung out and ate lunch, and then went to the Starbucks down a couple blocks to satisfy the girls caffeine cravings. This is when we walked by the lot. We were really curious why they blocked out a whole lot, and all the meter parking on the street on the other side of the school. There is an apartment building on the other half of the block that the school is on, called the Renaissance Towers. Turns out all the trailers and trucks were there because they were filming for the show 'Nip Tuck' which I have never seen or had interest in seeing, but they were there, taking over.
After many many hours of sitting around trying to brainstorm what I'll do with my break time in the future, it was finally time to go to class. So off all four of us went to our Retail Design Concepts class. Our instructor was funny because he was kind of awkward, but he was a prof at USC or something previously, and I believe he is an architect. Over the quarter we will eventually produce the drawings and floor plan for our own retail space, given only the parameters of the possible building size. We discuss the project more next week. From our classroom you could see the lights up at the pool area of the Renaissance, they were filming. We got out of class early and I left for home.
Overall I think classes will be interesting, but I think it will be an easier load than I've ever had because we only meet once a week and they are all design classes! I'm excited to work on projects and be in studio.
Today I tried to get into this back storage space that's outside covered with vines. The doors are really tall and broken, so essentially they are just leaning against the shed. I wedged my way in and put some empty boxes in there and cleared out some space in my room. Next I think I will try and figure out some layout issues, I need a desk or something too.
Tonight I'm going to meet up with Ashley and we're going to sketch a retail space at the grove for our first Retail concepts assignment, it's really simple. We're just sketching a basic layout, writing down materials, and sketching a basic circulation example.
On sunday I really reallly reallllly want to go to the rosebowl swap meet! It looks fun to rummage thru everything. On Saturday I'm going with my friend Melinda to an art opening in Santa Monica. Slowly I'm finding ways to fill up my time. Maybe once I start my other three classes I'll have more to do.
Yesterday, Thursday, was my first day of classes. I woke up at 6:30 to give myself plenty of time to get ready, and then left at 7:30. Traffic was traffic, I think it took me about 45 minutes to get downtown. I went to my usual parking lot, but the lane i turned into was the center lane for both the lot I use and the lot on the corner. So this guy walked up to my car and said the lot was closed for the day and told me to park across the street. I interjected and said I wasn't trying to park in this lot I was trying to turn left, "is this one closed too?" and the guy said yes it is, go across the street. Unhappily I turned around, made my way across the street and waited in a long line of cars for an unfamiliar and unfriendly lot attendant to give me a ticket for my window. Later that day I was walking by the lot- i will expand on who I was with and where I was going later- and the lot I usually park in was totally almost full, working as usual, that guy lied to me... and he said "hi ladies" when we walked by, which aggrivated me further. I'm picky about where I park, I don't think that's a bad thing!
Anyways, I finally got to class and was surprised by the number of people! It was the largest class in the interior design department, four or five people couldn't even get in. There were about 30 of us? That's not unusual for a general studies class, but it is when you get into departments. The professor's name is Gray Adams, and he's a very distinguished man, he's been teaching forever and an interior designer for 20+ years. The class is going to cover history of architecture and interior design from egyptian times to the contemporary... including furniture, motifs, etc. He was pretty entertaining. After my 8:30am class, which ends around 11:30, I have nothing schedules until 6pm! That's forever!
There happen to be 3 other girls from SPU attending FIDM, one who started in the summer, and the other two the same as me. Three of us have the 8:30 class together, so afterwards we went across the street to the Met, an apartment building where the two girls starting this quarter are living. We all hung out and ate lunch, and then went to the Starbucks down a couple blocks to satisfy the girls caffeine cravings. This is when we walked by the lot. We were really curious why they blocked out a whole lot, and all the meter parking on the street on the other side of the school. There is an apartment building on the other half of the block that the school is on, called the Renaissance Towers. Turns out all the trailers and trucks were there because they were filming for the show 'Nip Tuck' which I have never seen or had interest in seeing, but they were there, taking over.
After many many hours of sitting around trying to brainstorm what I'll do with my break time in the future, it was finally time to go to class. So off all four of us went to our Retail Design Concepts class. Our instructor was funny because he was kind of awkward, but he was a prof at USC or something previously, and I believe he is an architect. Over the quarter we will eventually produce the drawings and floor plan for our own retail space, given only the parameters of the possible building size. We discuss the project more next week. From our classroom you could see the lights up at the pool area of the Renaissance, they were filming. We got out of class early and I left for home.
Overall I think classes will be interesting, but I think it will be an easier load than I've ever had because we only meet once a week and they are all design classes! I'm excited to work on projects and be in studio.
Today I tried to get into this back storage space that's outside covered with vines. The doors are really tall and broken, so essentially they are just leaning against the shed. I wedged my way in and put some empty boxes in there and cleared out some space in my room. Next I think I will try and figure out some layout issues, I need a desk or something too.
Tonight I'm going to meet up with Ashley and we're going to sketch a retail space at the grove for our first Retail concepts assignment, it's really simple. We're just sketching a basic layout, writing down materials, and sketching a basic circulation example.
On sunday I really reallly reallllly want to go to the rosebowl swap meet! It looks fun to rummage thru everything. On Saturday I'm going with my friend Melinda to an art opening in Santa Monica. Slowly I'm finding ways to fill up my time. Maybe once I start my other three classes I'll have more to do.
Wednesday, October 10
daisies
You know how sometimes you wish life was a little more like a fairy tale? Not necessarily picture perfect, just more sweet and whimsical from time to time. This is why I'm in love with the show 'Pushing Daisies'. It gives me that feeling while I'm watching.
Tomorrow is my first day of classes! I've got a huge gap between them, so I'll be hanging out in the library or annex most likely. yeesh.
Tomorrow is my first day of classes! I've got a huge gap between them, so I'll be hanging out in the library or annex most likely. yeesh.
Tuesday, October 9
traffic
It's insane how one car can back up traffic for 2 miles. But what's even more insane that that is that when there's actually an accident on the road, people can't just proceed, they have to putter by and observe the whole situation. On my way into the city today at around 10:30 I got delayed probably 10 minutes, which is a lot of time when you're trying to hit your destination accurately. There was a three car pileup, I wish there wasn't an accident at all, but you know, they happen. Once I finally got past the glob it took me no time at all to get into town. Luckily, I was planning to be early, so I happened to be just on time. I'm trying to be more prompt, early, not on time.
Another irritance is the cost of parking in this place! It's sooo expensive to park downtown $5 dollars a day is what I've found cheapest and closest to the campus. There are some nearby garages I could use as options that have monthly, or usage deals, but I don't know how I feel about walking to them alone at 9pm. Maybe I'm being a wuss, or maybe I'll get up extra early to park in the lot underneath the school, which fills up everyday before 8am :( Parking is so inconvenient I even have to get parking validation at my bank for the five minutes I'm in there.
I'm ranting. I actually do appreciate it here. It teaches you to be straight forward.
I don't really spend much time in my room except to sleep. I think tonight I will camp out on my bed, just because it's private, and do some work or organize some things. I also need to get a table and organize my stuff. I have powerchords that need to be on all the time plugged into outlets connected to switches... it's not working out very well. I just need to reorganize the space, which I think I will do tomorrow. Tomorrow is the first day of classes, yet I have none on Thursday, so it's my day off. yay.
I wish FIDM had a gym though, I've been wishing I could work out, it helps get me calm and gets out the restlessness. I may try running, though I don't really like running in neighborhoods- i don't like the idea of being watched by people in houses, in cars, or just pedestrians. Maybe I'll just walk. Anyone have any connections with nationwide gyms... free or discounted memberships?? haha, i wish. Either way, I need to get some excersize! I'm looking up this place on the corner of Fairfax called yoga city... it's probably too expensive to go often, but I can try it out at least, see if yoga helps make me sane.
Another irritance is the cost of parking in this place! It's sooo expensive to park downtown $5 dollars a day is what I've found cheapest and closest to the campus. There are some nearby garages I could use as options that have monthly, or usage deals, but I don't know how I feel about walking to them alone at 9pm. Maybe I'm being a wuss, or maybe I'll get up extra early to park in the lot underneath the school, which fills up everyday before 8am :( Parking is so inconvenient I even have to get parking validation at my bank for the five minutes I'm in there.
I'm ranting. I actually do appreciate it here. It teaches you to be straight forward.
I don't really spend much time in my room except to sleep. I think tonight I will camp out on my bed, just because it's private, and do some work or organize some things. I also need to get a table and organize my stuff. I have powerchords that need to be on all the time plugged into outlets connected to switches... it's not working out very well. I just need to reorganize the space, which I think I will do tomorrow. Tomorrow is the first day of classes, yet I have none on Thursday, so it's my day off. yay.
I wish FIDM had a gym though, I've been wishing I could work out, it helps get me calm and gets out the restlessness. I may try running, though I don't really like running in neighborhoods- i don't like the idea of being watched by people in houses, in cars, or just pedestrians. Maybe I'll just walk. Anyone have any connections with nationwide gyms... free or discounted memberships?? haha, i wish. Either way, I need to get some excersize! I'm looking up this place on the corner of Fairfax called yoga city... it's probably too expensive to go often, but I can try it out at least, see if yoga helps make me sane.
school and some other things
Orientation. What a big deal when you're an incoming freshman! By no means is it entertaining or new information when you're a transfer. At least FIDM's orientation is nothing compared to what felt like days at SPU. It was fun to see that the staff at FIDM is professional and then out of nowhere they hit you with some smart comment or sarcastic quip. It's pretty entertaining, it makes the atmosphere feel more mature because they treat you like an adult, they expect you to roll with the punches, especially when they tease you. I don't remember if I said this before, but the department head for interior design is amazing. Her name is Dinah, and she's as sassy as the other advisors, and extremely helpful. She has completely taken care of my schedule this quarter because we both agreed it was a light one. This quarter, with such an influx of students and the way they register, meant that we SPU students were out of luck. This morning we met and she had sorted everything out, and taken us to meet our placement office advisor.
My classes are as follows: Professional Practices for Interior Design, Survey of Architecture & Interior Design I, Perspective Techniques, Digital Media, Retail Design Concepts.
I have each class once a week for three hours. So I'm technicaly in class three days a week. This is how FIDM likes to organize things because they want their students to also be out in the field and get part-time jobs. I'm excited to get a job, I'm going to try reallllly hard to find someone who implements green or sustainable design into their practice. I've been researching this afternoon and have come across some pretty incredible portfolios. Some of the designers do everything from furniture design to set design on TV shows and movies, as well as residential projects. I think I have found one I'm really interested, close to home, but we'll see what happens later.
After Orientation I hung out at home for a little while and then went out to Santa Monica in attempts to catch a vidal sassoon academy student who wanted to correct mine and Sarah's unfortunate recent haircuts. They were closed, but we did find a yummy little creperie, and ended up getting sandwhiches. Then we found a blockbuster and rented the movie Bobby. It is a star studded film, and tells the story of Bobby Kennedy from the Ambassador Hotel in LA. The film followed the lives of the senator and also the people who were also shot at the hotel. The other people in the shooting survived, but it was kind of a bittersweet film. The American people loved the Kennedy family. Anyways, there was a part in the film that I thought was pretty funny. There were scenes where they played actual footage from Robert Kennedy's appearances and speeches, and in this particular scene he was meeting with a group of young kids. He was saying how in ten years people were going to have to wear gas masks in New York, the pollution would be so bad there. It made me laugh because life obviously wasn't that way in 1978, but it also made an impression that environmental issues were of great concern 3 decades ago, and not much has changed. The only difference now is that we're going to be facing a problem that we can't push aside for another decade pretty soon.
Not to overspiritualize anything, but I have heard many pastors tell me that you know you're calling by your reaction to things. If you can't stand the way something is run, there is a good chance you are called to exactly that thing. In this situation, it makes me so angry that people don't care, and makes my blood boil when I think about how this generation and generations have not made the effort or actions to change the course of the environment for generations to come. The problem keeps getting passed off, and not enough is done. Anyways, that's enough of that, I could preach environmental change till I'm blue in the face. I'm still learning, studying, and questioning, but I do know that it is a significant matter, and that if I could make the slightest difference, it would be worth dedicating my career to being proactive and an advocate for change. Okay, this time I'm done.
Last night when I got home, every parking spot was taken! Not to mention there was street cleaning in the morning on the East side. Luckily, someone left their spot a few streets down perpendicular to mine. Unfortunately, it was on the street cleaning side. So I got up this morning at 8:30 am to move it. It's like nobody goes to work around here, or they completely take advatage of parking passes, or they have too many cars for this street, because I still couldn't find a space! haha. So I drove up to the main street and found a spot, then I went back to bed. :)
I'm happy to be here. I miss my friends, a lot. But to be honest, I think I needed to get away from being totally social in order to concentrate. It's so easy to distract myself with hanging out with friends, because they're so accessible. Not that I don't absolutely love hanging out with my friends, but a lot of times I used hanging out as another means to procrastinate. So, none of that. I have a lot of hand drafting to look forward to, to show the range of my work, and I'm pretty excited about it. I love nothing more than to sit in studio for hours and just work, draft, and see it all come together. Fortunately the classes are structured as such, a little bit of lecture, and then plain studio time! Of course I hope that I make friends, I think I will when I get plugged into a community, like church and what not. The church I want to go to still hasn't started, but in the mean time I think I'll stick with Mosaic, at least a few more times.
I have long weekends every weekend with no class on Fridays. So if anyone ever wants to visit, please, come! And come on Thursday night, stay thru Monday morning, or longer if you don't mind waiting for me to come home from class. I can't wait to see Seattle again, give it my regards.
My classes are as follows: Professional Practices for Interior Design, Survey of Architecture & Interior Design I, Perspective Techniques, Digital Media, Retail Design Concepts.
I have each class once a week for three hours. So I'm technicaly in class three days a week. This is how FIDM likes to organize things because they want their students to also be out in the field and get part-time jobs. I'm excited to get a job, I'm going to try reallllly hard to find someone who implements green or sustainable design into their practice. I've been researching this afternoon and have come across some pretty incredible portfolios. Some of the designers do everything from furniture design to set design on TV shows and movies, as well as residential projects. I think I have found one I'm really interested, close to home, but we'll see what happens later.
After Orientation I hung out at home for a little while and then went out to Santa Monica in attempts to catch a vidal sassoon academy student who wanted to correct mine and Sarah's unfortunate recent haircuts. They were closed, but we did find a yummy little creperie, and ended up getting sandwhiches. Then we found a blockbuster and rented the movie Bobby. It is a star studded film, and tells the story of Bobby Kennedy from the Ambassador Hotel in LA. The film followed the lives of the senator and also the people who were also shot at the hotel. The other people in the shooting survived, but it was kind of a bittersweet film. The American people loved the Kennedy family. Anyways, there was a part in the film that I thought was pretty funny. There were scenes where they played actual footage from Robert Kennedy's appearances and speeches, and in this particular scene he was meeting with a group of young kids. He was saying how in ten years people were going to have to wear gas masks in New York, the pollution would be so bad there. It made me laugh because life obviously wasn't that way in 1978, but it also made an impression that environmental issues were of great concern 3 decades ago, and not much has changed. The only difference now is that we're going to be facing a problem that we can't push aside for another decade pretty soon.
Not to overspiritualize anything, but I have heard many pastors tell me that you know you're calling by your reaction to things. If you can't stand the way something is run, there is a good chance you are called to exactly that thing. In this situation, it makes me so angry that people don't care, and makes my blood boil when I think about how this generation and generations have not made the effort or actions to change the course of the environment for generations to come. The problem keeps getting passed off, and not enough is done. Anyways, that's enough of that, I could preach environmental change till I'm blue in the face. I'm still learning, studying, and questioning, but I do know that it is a significant matter, and that if I could make the slightest difference, it would be worth dedicating my career to being proactive and an advocate for change. Okay, this time I'm done.
Last night when I got home, every parking spot was taken! Not to mention there was street cleaning in the morning on the East side. Luckily, someone left their spot a few streets down perpendicular to mine. Unfortunately, it was on the street cleaning side. So I got up this morning at 8:30 am to move it. It's like nobody goes to work around here, or they completely take advatage of parking passes, or they have too many cars for this street, because I still couldn't find a space! haha. So I drove up to the main street and found a spot, then I went back to bed. :)
I'm happy to be here. I miss my friends, a lot. But to be honest, I think I needed to get away from being totally social in order to concentrate. It's so easy to distract myself with hanging out with friends, because they're so accessible. Not that I don't absolutely love hanging out with my friends, but a lot of times I used hanging out as another means to procrastinate. So, none of that. I have a lot of hand drafting to look forward to, to show the range of my work, and I'm pretty excited about it. I love nothing more than to sit in studio for hours and just work, draft, and see it all come together. Fortunately the classes are structured as such, a little bit of lecture, and then plain studio time! Of course I hope that I make friends, I think I will when I get plugged into a community, like church and what not. The church I want to go to still hasn't started, but in the mean time I think I'll stick with Mosaic, at least a few more times.
I have long weekends every weekend with no class on Fridays. So if anyone ever wants to visit, please, come! And come on Thursday night, stay thru Monday morning, or longer if you don't mind waiting for me to come home from class. I can't wait to see Seattle again, give it my regards.
Sunday, October 7
yay for friends and church
My first trip downtown took about 15 minutes! It was Saturday morning though, so unfortunately I cannot count on that quick a trip every time. Registration was crazy, it's frusterating being a "special situation" all the time. Most of the people at FIDM haven't heard of the SPU/FIDM exchange and can only assume that since I'm in the professional designation program, that I already have a degree. I met one girl, in line, who I don't know if I will see again because she's in a completely different program than I am. I saw the other two girls from SPU there as well, we probably will end up having some classes together. I've been to campus a handful of times, and I actually really like how it's layed out. Basically, the school takes up one half a block, so it's basically a high rise of classrooms. Then there's an annex and a few outlying classrooms and workrooms that certain programs use. Housing is not directly supplied by FIDM, but they have a deal with a few apartment buildings that they will set aside a number of rooms. There is a building across the street that has a big 'study lab' in it open to all students. There are computers available and lounge chairs. It's brightly decorated with wall paper and shag rug covered stools.
Afterwards, I took a long nap. Then, I met up with my friend Caleb's sister, Sarah, and we went to some shopping center in westwood with a crazy nice food court. We had frozen yogurt and then checked out some of the shops. I'm so glad she's here because I feel like we've been friends for years, probably because i'm such good friends with her brother. It's nice to feel yourself around someone so quickly, and free to go out and have fun, or just stay in and relax. Later, we hung out towards Third Street Promenade and stopped in at her store. At the goodwill nearby i found a shirt that says "I am a real people watcher", I thought it was cute. Then we hung out at her aunt's apartment and ate annie's organic macaronni & cheese while watching little miss sunshine.
Today was kind of a lazy day. I talked to my parents and heard that the weather is going crazy up north. Grandpa and Nana said the same. I can't wait for the holidays, nothing makes you miss your family like moving! After phone calls I sort of just hung out on my own for the afternoon.
Tonight I decided to trek downtown and try out this new church i had a few people recommend I try out. It's called Mosaic and this downtown service seems to attract a lot of college and just out of college ages. It's held at the Mayan Theater, it's a crazy wood carved facade and the inside matches, both are lit up with these neon purple colored lights. I walked in and for a second wondered if I was in the right place. I was a little late, but when I walked in everyone was seated, but there was a band that was playing what i assumed was a worship song. When they ended, everyone clapped and the service moved on. If that really was worship time, as in songs to praise the lord, it was a very spectator-like worship session very different from what I'm accustomed to.
After that their 'dance team' came out and gave a really cute and fun performance. The music began with this one guy walking around onstage and then he was joined by others, they loved jesus and were dressed funky and in colors. Then came on the suits and they were 'brainwashed' and unoriginal. Then they began to battle, and the suits threw these giant 'x' cutouts at the jesus lovers while the jesus lovers threw rainbows and smiley faces. The x's always split and when the rainbow or star hit the suits hearts exploded and danced above their heads and they were stripped of the suits and came alive. It was a cute concept, but beyond that some of the dancers were reallllly good. I think the church really embraces the arts. I even had people suggest helping out with set design since I'm in interior design. I asked if I could use powertools and they said yes. It was fun meeting a few people, and somehow standing around didn't feel at all awkward. I don't know why I've suddenly become okay with it, but i guess it's because I know why I'm here and I am confident enough in who I am and where I'm at, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks or assumes about me. Anyways, it's nice to check out some new communities and groups.
Now, I'm home and should be in bed. I have orientation tomorrow morning. I'm going to get up early and try and leave by 7am. ick ick ick. Hopefully I'll also get some time to post pictures on here too. loves.
Afterwards, I took a long nap. Then, I met up with my friend Caleb's sister, Sarah, and we went to some shopping center in westwood with a crazy nice food court. We had frozen yogurt and then checked out some of the shops. I'm so glad she's here because I feel like we've been friends for years, probably because i'm such good friends with her brother. It's nice to feel yourself around someone so quickly, and free to go out and have fun, or just stay in and relax. Later, we hung out towards Third Street Promenade and stopped in at her store. At the goodwill nearby i found a shirt that says "I am a real people watcher", I thought it was cute. Then we hung out at her aunt's apartment and ate annie's organic macaronni & cheese while watching little miss sunshine.
Today was kind of a lazy day. I talked to my parents and heard that the weather is going crazy up north. Grandpa and Nana said the same. I can't wait for the holidays, nothing makes you miss your family like moving! After phone calls I sort of just hung out on my own for the afternoon.
Tonight I decided to trek downtown and try out this new church i had a few people recommend I try out. It's called Mosaic and this downtown service seems to attract a lot of college and just out of college ages. It's held at the Mayan Theater, it's a crazy wood carved facade and the inside matches, both are lit up with these neon purple colored lights. I walked in and for a second wondered if I was in the right place. I was a little late, but when I walked in everyone was seated, but there was a band that was playing what i assumed was a worship song. When they ended, everyone clapped and the service moved on. If that really was worship time, as in songs to praise the lord, it was a very spectator-like worship session very different from what I'm accustomed to.
After that their 'dance team' came out and gave a really cute and fun performance. The music began with this one guy walking around onstage and then he was joined by others, they loved jesus and were dressed funky and in colors. Then came on the suits and they were 'brainwashed' and unoriginal. Then they began to battle, and the suits threw these giant 'x' cutouts at the jesus lovers while the jesus lovers threw rainbows and smiley faces. The x's always split and when the rainbow or star hit the suits hearts exploded and danced above their heads and they were stripped of the suits and came alive. It was a cute concept, but beyond that some of the dancers were reallllly good. I think the church really embraces the arts. I even had people suggest helping out with set design since I'm in interior design. I asked if I could use powertools and they said yes. It was fun meeting a few people, and somehow standing around didn't feel at all awkward. I don't know why I've suddenly become okay with it, but i guess it's because I know why I'm here and I am confident enough in who I am and where I'm at, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks or assumes about me. Anyways, it's nice to check out some new communities and groups.
Now, I'm home and should be in bed. I have orientation tomorrow morning. I'm going to get up early and try and leave by 7am. ick ick ick. Hopefully I'll also get some time to post pictures on here too. loves.
Friday, October 5
more than shopping...
So today I ventured out once more, this time to the Grove. I discovered that I need to find something way better to do with my time then just go shopping... especially when I walk away with nothing. Thank goodness my self restraint in shopping has been better than ever. I keep convincing myself I'm saving up for something... for what you ask, who knows, time will tell. The one thing I did enjoy was that every Anthropologie has the same look and feel and somehow that made me feel at home. What a fun store, I wish I could be in charge of their layout and all their cute ideas.
Then I returned home and took a nap. My first LA nap. Somehow, even though I've been taking it very easy, I've been extremely tired. So this nap felt really really really nice. I woke up, mapquested directions to the Bombay Cafe, where we had Carrie's birthday dinner. I was probably the youngest person at the table, but they were all really nice... that is, the five i could actually hear around me. The dinner was good, but we split the bill so that everyone paid the same, which made my strategic ordering not so strategic. Then the group went to get a drink across the street and then to a karaoke bar. I was highly tempted to join, especially since I was stoked to be conversing with new people, but I have registration early tomorrow morning. :( There are a few things I need to take care of while at FIDM, and I'm hoping it will all go smoothly. Apparently a few people at FIDM still haven't ever heard of the professional designation/SPU transfer, meaning I'll be explaining myself over and over and they'll probably end up calling my admissions advisor to see if I'm telling the truth.
Afterwards, I'm hanging out with my friend Caleb's little sister, Sarah. She seems way sweet and we both need friends. haha. New to the LA area and friendless. cute, take pity. Not really, soon enough I'll make friends through school and hopefully a job, and here and there. I really like Becky and Joseph, Carrie's sister + boyfriend, we chatted at dinner and they invited me along to a party tonight, which was so nice of them. Unfortunately 8am means I need to sleep, but YAY for nice people, especially living next door. It's nice to have good people around.
Off to bed. My parents are still en route, I love them and miss them so much!
Then I returned home and took a nap. My first LA nap. Somehow, even though I've been taking it very easy, I've been extremely tired. So this nap felt really really really nice. I woke up, mapquested directions to the Bombay Cafe, where we had Carrie's birthday dinner. I was probably the youngest person at the table, but they were all really nice... that is, the five i could actually hear around me. The dinner was good, but we split the bill so that everyone paid the same, which made my strategic ordering not so strategic. Then the group went to get a drink across the street and then to a karaoke bar. I was highly tempted to join, especially since I was stoked to be conversing with new people, but I have registration early tomorrow morning. :( There are a few things I need to take care of while at FIDM, and I'm hoping it will all go smoothly. Apparently a few people at FIDM still haven't ever heard of the professional designation/SPU transfer, meaning I'll be explaining myself over and over and they'll probably end up calling my admissions advisor to see if I'm telling the truth.
Afterwards, I'm hanging out with my friend Caleb's little sister, Sarah. She seems way sweet and we both need friends. haha. New to the LA area and friendless. cute, take pity. Not really, soon enough I'll make friends through school and hopefully a job, and here and there. I really like Becky and Joseph, Carrie's sister + boyfriend, we chatted at dinner and they invited me along to a party tonight, which was so nice of them. Unfortunately 8am means I need to sleep, but YAY for nice people, especially living next door. It's nice to have good people around.
Off to bed. My parents are still en route, I love them and miss them so much!
Thursday, October 4
looking forward
You know how it feels when you start thinking, 'there's so much more i could be doing with my time!' For some reason I'm stuck in this rut of indecision. Because I am unfamiliar with my new home, and I know very few people, I'm hesitant to go anywhere. I look around my room and I think, I have nothing to do, yet I still have lots of things I brought needing to be finished! What a silly hang up! I have in fact gone out of the house, in case you haven't read that far back.
I register on Saturday! I'm looking forward to classes, I need projects, I love projects. Hopefully I'll find some kind of internship/job opportunity as well thru the office. I'm hopeful.
Okay, back to organizing a few things, reading and then bedtime. I find it interesting that I haven't once tossed and turned trying to get myself to fall asleep. Thankfully my insomnia stayed in Seattle, and I've had a peaceful sleep ever since I arrived in LA (minus the neighbor's alarm).
I register on Saturday! I'm looking forward to classes, I need projects, I love projects. Hopefully I'll find some kind of internship/job opportunity as well thru the office. I'm hopeful.
Okay, back to organizing a few things, reading and then bedtime. I find it interesting that I haven't once tossed and turned trying to get myself to fall asleep. Thankfully my insomnia stayed in Seattle, and I've had a peaceful sleep ever since I arrived in LA (minus the neighbor's alarm).
walk, cut, shop, eat
Today I slept in. When I woke up I called my parents who are still currently on the road back home. Then when I finally got myself out of the house, I walked to the post office which is like a 5 minute walk, and then to Melrose. By car, melrose is pretty close, but you forget about all the little streets in between santa monica and melrose when you walk it. It was a nice walk though, much needed. My destination: Rudy's Barbershop. They have most of their locations in Seattle, but when I asked Carrie where i should go, she said to go there because it is close, cheap, within walking distance, and doesn't make appointments. So I got there, got my do and decided to do a little looking around the shops. I wandered into Betsy Johnson where my heart melted into a puddle on the floor at the sight of this one lacy baby doll dress. It was so sweet and pretty, and then I looked at the price tag. Unfortunately my cut set me back more than I thought it would, and Betsy Johnson surely wasn't in the budget in the first place.
On my way home I was on the corner by Starbucks avoiding eye contact with people, but looking around, when one small mexican man wouldn't let my eye grazing go any further. He said hi, so I returned, and then he asked my name as we crossed the street. I was more interested in crossing the street again to get home than talk, which i thought was obvious, and then he asked me where I was from. I said Seattle, and he asked me why I was here, and I lied and said I was visiting. He then asked where I was going and I said, I'm probably just going to go home. Then he asked if he could walk with me there, and I said "I would prefer to walk alone." The whole conversation lasted all of two minutes, but at least he respected what I said.
Almost home... I stopped in at the hardware store and got the plugs I needed for a dollar or so. It still amazes me that I could walk to anything I need. Then I turned the corner and saw a couple guys standing around a fire hydrant. One was dressing a fake plastic dog and the other two had a camera on a tripod. I think they're producing doggie onsies or something, and they were taking some 'promo' pics for them. They even had music on in the background.
Currently, I'm sitting on the couch, trying to cool off. Tomorrow is both Shayna and Carrie's birthdays. They are both turning 29, and they are both awesome. weird.
Now, I'm going to eat some pita and hummus and figure out my class schedule, or my 'ideal schedule', since I'm not sure what classes will be open to me. yummmmmm.
On my way home I was on the corner by Starbucks avoiding eye contact with people, but looking around, when one small mexican man wouldn't let my eye grazing go any further. He said hi, so I returned, and then he asked my name as we crossed the street. I was more interested in crossing the street again to get home than talk, which i thought was obvious, and then he asked me where I was from. I said Seattle, and he asked me why I was here, and I lied and said I was visiting. He then asked where I was going and I said, I'm probably just going to go home. Then he asked if he could walk with me there, and I said "I would prefer to walk alone." The whole conversation lasted all of two minutes, but at least he respected what I said.
Almost home... I stopped in at the hardware store and got the plugs I needed for a dollar or so. It still amazes me that I could walk to anything I need. Then I turned the corner and saw a couple guys standing around a fire hydrant. One was dressing a fake plastic dog and the other two had a camera on a tripod. I think they're producing doggie onsies or something, and they were taking some 'promo' pics for them. They even had music on in the background.
Currently, I'm sitting on the couch, trying to cool off. Tomorrow is both Shayna and Carrie's birthdays. They are both turning 29, and they are both awesome. weird.
Now, I'm going to eat some pita and hummus and figure out my class schedule, or my 'ideal schedule', since I'm not sure what classes will be open to me. yummmmmm.
Wednesday, October 3
Wednesday
So I have positive feelings about this move, but I'm feeling like a bit of a homebody today. My parents dropped in to say goodbye, tears were shed... but it's only 4 weeks until I see them again! It's super hot still, I don't think it's cooled down one bit, which is a world of difference from Seattle. I'm usually decked out in sweaters and scarves by October, or at least anticipating the cold weather's arrival. Here I feel like I need to do summer shopping, yet all the stores have fall clothing... i'm confused. Most places are in fact air conditioned, so I guess you can choose what you wear based on that.
My room could use some help decor wise, I have a few things up and it looks nice, but i have yet to be inspired for a full transformation. Also, I don't feel like spending the money, even on cheap items. This is when I get crafty and start making things out of grocery store paper bags.
I went looking for the thrift store today and ended up just going to the Beverly Center. Normally I'm stoked on H&M clothing, but for some reason it was lack luster. I think maybe now that it's accessible, I know I can come back, if I leave still thinking about that 'one item'. This did not happen, I just walked around and realized I had no money to spend, went to the parking lot and drove home to eat dinner.
Tomorrow, I think I will do some walking. I need to get a detailed map for my car, just in case. There are a bunch of fun stores on Fairfax and La Brea and Beverly, but it doesn't look like there's any parking at all. So if I walk, it's excersize!
This is probably going to be the hardest thing I've ever done. I thrive off people, off of spending time with my friends, befriending people, just being all around social. The few people I know in LA, are conveniently outside the city. I know they'll be back, but I want a sense of normalcy now. When I find out where the church I want to go to is meeting I'm going to jump on that, I want community. Good community. I have pretty good conversation with the checkers at the grocery store, but I can't call them to go hang out.
I'm going to cut my hair, I know, that's nothing new. But I need something fun, and that always lifts my spirits. I just have to find a place to go that I can trust like I do my previous hairdressers.
The lame thing about a blog is that it is all one-sided. I want to know what other people are doing and how seattle life is. LA is nice, how's Seattle? I'm also hesitant about calling people, not for any reason but that I feel guilty like I should be out covering pavement, figuring this place out.
ho hum.
My room could use some help decor wise, I have a few things up and it looks nice, but i have yet to be inspired for a full transformation. Also, I don't feel like spending the money, even on cheap items. This is when I get crafty and start making things out of grocery store paper bags.
I went looking for the thrift store today and ended up just going to the Beverly Center. Normally I'm stoked on H&M clothing, but for some reason it was lack luster. I think maybe now that it's accessible, I know I can come back, if I leave still thinking about that 'one item'. This did not happen, I just walked around and realized I had no money to spend, went to the parking lot and drove home to eat dinner.
Tomorrow, I think I will do some walking. I need to get a detailed map for my car, just in case. There are a bunch of fun stores on Fairfax and La Brea and Beverly, but it doesn't look like there's any parking at all. So if I walk, it's excersize!
This is probably going to be the hardest thing I've ever done. I thrive off people, off of spending time with my friends, befriending people, just being all around social. The few people I know in LA, are conveniently outside the city. I know they'll be back, but I want a sense of normalcy now. When I find out where the church I want to go to is meeting I'm going to jump on that, I want community. Good community. I have pretty good conversation with the checkers at the grocery store, but I can't call them to go hang out.
I'm going to cut my hair, I know, that's nothing new. But I need something fun, and that always lifts my spirits. I just have to find a place to go that I can trust like I do my previous hairdressers.
The lame thing about a blog is that it is all one-sided. I want to know what other people are doing and how seattle life is. LA is nice, how's Seattle? I'm also hesitant about calling people, not for any reason but that I feel guilty like I should be out covering pavement, figuring this place out.
ho hum.
Tuesday
It's funny when you rely upon something so much that you miss it and get frusterated when it's gone. I hadn't had the internet for days in my new place and I'd tried practially everything, I called tech support for apple and AT&T, and everybody kept telling me it was an incorrect password. But it couldn't have been, because my roommate and people we share the router with all use the password to get online. Anyways after a few calls back to tech support, I thought I was going to have to buy a router for myself somehow, and then finally, one random tech support guy gave us the answer we were looking for. It worked once we plugged in an extra to make mac compliant with a router shared with PCs. It still doesn't make any sense to me, but it works! Yay internet!
So yesterday, that's what I did. I figured out how to get internet, met my neighbors- who happen to be Carrie's sister and boyfriend. They look a lot alike and they're both cute and fun. Our other neighbor, to the north, has let their alarm ring for an hour, two days in a row. Carrie said he left her a nasty note on her car once, when he could have just come talked to her, so now he has solicited a nasty note of his own. For the most part the neighborhood actually is quiet. There is a new bar/club at the end of our road on Santa Monica which sometimes brings the occassional group of rowdy people walking by, but parking is permit only, to deter people from using neighborhood streets.
Last night after gaining my much beloved internet connection I watched the season premier of Ugly Betty online. For some reason I absolutely love that show. Then Carrie got home and we took a trip to a closer Trader Joes than the one I found previously. Then I don't really remember what I did, I think I snacked, then I decided to read and go to bed. So far, my days doing my own thing are much less eventful than the days spent with my parents. Things will pick up once I start classes.
So yesterday, that's what I did. I figured out how to get internet, met my neighbors- who happen to be Carrie's sister and boyfriend. They look a lot alike and they're both cute and fun. Our other neighbor, to the north, has let their alarm ring for an hour, two days in a row. Carrie said he left her a nasty note on her car once, when he could have just come talked to her, so now he has solicited a nasty note of his own. For the most part the neighborhood actually is quiet. There is a new bar/club at the end of our road on Santa Monica which sometimes brings the occassional group of rowdy people walking by, but parking is permit only, to deter people from using neighborhood streets.
Last night after gaining my much beloved internet connection I watched the season premier of Ugly Betty online. For some reason I absolutely love that show. Then Carrie got home and we took a trip to a closer Trader Joes than the one I found previously. Then I don't really remember what I did, I think I snacked, then I decided to read and go to bed. So far, my days doing my own thing are much less eventful than the days spent with my parents. Things will pick up once I start classes.
Tuesday, October 2
The Move
After shrink wrapping my clothes, loading my possessions into the back of my car, and hugging my parents, I took off for the great big city of LA. I made a stop in Seattle to say goodbye to a few friends and meet up with my friend Shayna who accompanied me the whole ride south. To skip evening traffic we stopped in Portland for dinner in Portland with a friend, and then finally made it all the way to Redding by one o'clock a.m. Our gracious host, Jenny, gave up her bed and allowed us to sleep in! We hung out in Redding, and went to the only place worth spending time, Bethel church. Afterward, we took off again for a late night drive to San Jose. In the morning, after very little sleep, I finally surrendered and let Shayna do some driving, the rest of the way to LA. It took us about an hour to find the house, Mapquest and google maps have failed me. FINALLY, Friday evening, we unloaded my car and settled in.
I'm only a five minute walk from Whole Foods, and a five minute drive to huge shopping centers, yet my funky little duplex-type house is tucked away in what feels like an urban-chic neighborhood. It's safe and quiet despite being two and a half blocks south of Sunset Blvd. a block north of Santa Monica Blvd. and East of Fairfax. I had forgotten the 'cute' little name people have given the area of West Hollywood, which is WEHO (wee-ho). I can't say I'm in love with the name, but i'm definitely a fan of the whole area.
Saturday my parents finally arrived with the rest of my boxes. I did a pretty accurate job of packing for the space I have, not too much overflow, and only a few items to send back. My parents met my roommate, Carrie, and were pleased that Craigslist supplied such an adequate and safe living situation. Carrie is in fact normal, she is better than normal, she is way rad and I'm really going to enjoy living with her. So nobody needs to worry about that aspect, she's also doing her best to educate me on the area, places to go, things to see, places to eat, etc.
My parents decided to be way gracious and invite me along to dinner with their friends on the pier in Santa Monica. Afterwards we ventured out and the boys tried to break dishes, shoot baskets, and then we all joined in to blow up balloons. I walked away with 5 synthetic stuffed animals, a couple of which I gave away to little kids on our walk back from the pier. Finally, all retired for the evening.
Sunday morning my parents showed up early and we drove south, I'll have to ask the name of the area again, because i've already forgotten. We joined some of my parent's friends, the 'Shubies', for a day of fun. First we checked out their incredible new place and beautiful view and hung out with three human sized dogs, a couple cats, and some parrots. Then the limo showed up, we all hopped in and began an afternoon of wine touring! The first place was by far my favorite, they had a shop set up in the middle of the room with all sorts of fun things lamps, books, decorations, etc. and the bar was on the side of the room, with a cute server. I am going to defend the culture of wine tasting and say it is not just for 50 year olds +. It seems to be very popular for many occassions, I think we saw a couple bachelorette parties and a huge range of ages. I enjoyed myself. The second place we went was known for their "almond joy" which was a chocolate port with almond champagne. An extra extravagene was to have it served in a chocolate glass. At the third winery you barter with chips, you give a chip, you get a taste. Finally, we made it to dinner and I had an amazing chicken cordon bleu with sweet potatoes. The evening ended with relaxing back at th shubie's place on the patio, a car ride back, and then a little bit more unpacking.
My parents really love me! On Monday they invited me along on a business lunch, where i met some more of their work friends. I'm so glad to have had the opportunity and the time to go on so many adventures with my parents! It has made the move 10 times easier thus far. We'll see what happens when they leave :(. So Monday night we returned to a favorite restaurant of ours with a quaint new york feel to it. It's called the Grill on the Alley and it's in Beverly Hills, a street or so from Rodeo. They always have the most comedic waiters and waitresses. Our waitress Jane, with red hair in pigtails, kept my dad on his toes, and us all laughing. Considering we are in LA, and Beverly Hills, a star sighting seems appropriate. So next thing I know, I look up from my salad and Reba McEntire is being seated in the booth just kitty corner to our table. I'm not a country fan, nor do I watch her sitcom, but there's something about seeing the real thing that is always surprising. Coincidentally, on our way to the restaurant my dad was playing his recently purchased copy of Reba's new cd, and I was commenting on the cover/duet of Kelly Clarkson's song. Anyways, it was a fun little surprise. Afterwards, we drove up to Sunset, saw the Chinese Theater and the stars, and then headed back to my place.
Eventful, yes indeed. Realistic, not so much. I'm back to walking everywhere to save gas, eating cereal, and window shopping. But what a wonderful way to kick off life in LA!
I'm only a five minute walk from Whole Foods, and a five minute drive to huge shopping centers, yet my funky little duplex-type house is tucked away in what feels like an urban-chic neighborhood. It's safe and quiet despite being two and a half blocks south of Sunset Blvd. a block north of Santa Monica Blvd. and East of Fairfax. I had forgotten the 'cute' little name people have given the area of West Hollywood, which is WEHO (wee-ho). I can't say I'm in love with the name, but i'm definitely a fan of the whole area.
Saturday my parents finally arrived with the rest of my boxes. I did a pretty accurate job of packing for the space I have, not too much overflow, and only a few items to send back. My parents met my roommate, Carrie, and were pleased that Craigslist supplied such an adequate and safe living situation. Carrie is in fact normal, she is better than normal, she is way rad and I'm really going to enjoy living with her. So nobody needs to worry about that aspect, she's also doing her best to educate me on the area, places to go, things to see, places to eat, etc.
My parents decided to be way gracious and invite me along to dinner with their friends on the pier in Santa Monica. Afterwards we ventured out and the boys tried to break dishes, shoot baskets, and then we all joined in to blow up balloons. I walked away with 5 synthetic stuffed animals, a couple of which I gave away to little kids on our walk back from the pier. Finally, all retired for the evening.
Sunday morning my parents showed up early and we drove south, I'll have to ask the name of the area again, because i've already forgotten. We joined some of my parent's friends, the 'Shubies', for a day of fun. First we checked out their incredible new place and beautiful view and hung out with three human sized dogs, a couple cats, and some parrots. Then the limo showed up, we all hopped in and began an afternoon of wine touring! The first place was by far my favorite, they had a shop set up in the middle of the room with all sorts of fun things lamps, books, decorations, etc. and the bar was on the side of the room, with a cute server. I am going to defend the culture of wine tasting and say it is not just for 50 year olds +. It seems to be very popular for many occassions, I think we saw a couple bachelorette parties and a huge range of ages. I enjoyed myself. The second place we went was known for their "almond joy" which was a chocolate port with almond champagne. An extra extravagene was to have it served in a chocolate glass. At the third winery you barter with chips, you give a chip, you get a taste. Finally, we made it to dinner and I had an amazing chicken cordon bleu with sweet potatoes. The evening ended with relaxing back at th shubie's place on the patio, a car ride back, and then a little bit more unpacking.
My parents really love me! On Monday they invited me along on a business lunch, where i met some more of their work friends. I'm so glad to have had the opportunity and the time to go on so many adventures with my parents! It has made the move 10 times easier thus far. We'll see what happens when they leave :(. So Monday night we returned to a favorite restaurant of ours with a quaint new york feel to it. It's called the Grill on the Alley and it's in Beverly Hills, a street or so from Rodeo. They always have the most comedic waiters and waitresses. Our waitress Jane, with red hair in pigtails, kept my dad on his toes, and us all laughing. Considering we are in LA, and Beverly Hills, a star sighting seems appropriate. So next thing I know, I look up from my salad and Reba McEntire is being seated in the booth just kitty corner to our table. I'm not a country fan, nor do I watch her sitcom, but there's something about seeing the real thing that is always surprising. Coincidentally, on our way to the restaurant my dad was playing his recently purchased copy of Reba's new cd, and I was commenting on the cover/duet of Kelly Clarkson's song. Anyways, it was a fun little surprise. Afterwards, we drove up to Sunset, saw the Chinese Theater and the stars, and then headed back to my place.
Eventful, yes indeed. Realistic, not so much. I'm back to walking everywhere to save gas, eating cereal, and window shopping. But what a wonderful way to kick off life in LA!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)