Fires

The LA fire department has a blog with links and information that can help. I've learned a lot.

Views of the freeways

I spend a lot of time on the freeways. The 2, the 210, the 134. All of these are big parts of my day. Although I sometimes get so focused on the driving that I do not see some of the things that are right in front of me (like the Eagle Rock, which I manage to miss each day and insist that I don't drive by it during conversation). I'm a little more observant when it comes to the cars. I'm a little afraid of hitting something so I tend to pay close attention.

Yesterday, I saw a jeep with a snorkel. I spent a lot of the remaining drive wondering when you would need to drive a car with a snorkel. There can't be a whole lot of deep puddles in these parts. And, the LA river is mostly a dribble. I guess there is the ocean. But, that doesn't seem safe.

HOT

LA is in the middle of a heat wave. I spent the weekend by the beach (where it was 20 degrees cooler). Now I'm back and I'm schvitzing. I've got a natural glow about me. The news said that this glow should last until the middle of the week. I have little desire to move and I don't want to eat. A few more days above 100 may be a more effective crash diet than a week in the MaDonk's shed.

A ticket from God and Dog Poo

I recently had several run-ins with my former life...but there were unexpected outcomes. A few days ago, I walked out to my car and was put into a panic by a ticket on the windshield. Did I not know about an alternate side of the street parking? Was there some law I did not read about in my sub-par studying of CA traffic rules for my driving test? Oh, no. It was a little flyer about God. I got a ticket from God.

The other run-in was while walking on a dark night. My foot slipped and I thought it was poo. I was all grossed out. Nasty poo on my foot. But...no. It was dirt. Dirt not poo.

This is LA not Queens.

Woo Hoo

Today, I rediscovered my Woo Hoo playlist. I made it last summer and have not listened to it since then. It starts strong with a little Gogol Bordello, moved to a little Instant Pleasure and then lots of big sound music. I love it. A playlist makes all the difference as you attempt to navigate the tangled web of LA freeways.

P.S. The House in the video is confusing to me...but, I enjoy the House so, what the heck.

P.P.S. Although I missed my exit from the 134 to the 2, I found my way home. Another reason to have a little WooHoo!

News and a thought

First, let me begin this blog with the most interesting news I've read in a while. Although I have a special interest because it happened right around the corner from my old apartment, I feel like everyone will be interested. Well, if you like monkeys.

Secondly, I had a realization today. I should be embracing the culture of LA and doing work in public places. After I took a walk today, I stopped at a local coffee shop and was greeted with many glowing apples. All the ladies had white iBooks/MacBooks and fellers had another color Book. Well, except for the two people who must not have known and brought their PCs to the coffee shop. Next week, I'm going to bring my iBook to Silver Lake Coffee (to show I belong) and then push my computer to the corner of the table and go through the 30 pounds of curriculum I brought back from my classroom.

Huh...

Today, as Dave and I walked towards the Yaris, I noticed something covering my car. It was a fine white powder. What could this be? Oh yes, it's ash. Something is on fire and now my car is covered in ash.

But, then we went to see a Beatles tribute band and I completely forgot my whoh-we-don't-have-this-where-I'm-from reaction as I sang all the words (with only a few mistakes) to many a Beatles song.

Overheard at the DMV

I finally made it to the DMV to take the test I needed for my very own CA drivers license. I had been warned that the test was actually hard and people had been known to fail more than once. I had taken a few practice tests on the DMV's website and felt that I was ready for the real test.

After finishing some line standing, I moved to the sitting and waiting part of the whole DMV experience. I sat in the back row and attempted to look engrossed in my book while I waited for G213 to be called. The whole situation put me in the perfect position for spying.

I saw a woman come over to the chairs of the fellow DMVers and make some type of proclamation that made everyone avert their eyes. She then came over to my section and sat directly in front of me. She started a conversation with the woman at the end of the row. Woman #1 asked about the baby's name, followed up with how spiritual the name was, and then talked about the color of god. [By this point, I was pretty sure Lady #1 was going to snatch the baby or start undressing or something]. Lady #2 had a different take on the situation.

After Lady #1 stopped for a breath, Lady #2 responded with "Have you ever had a psychic reading?"

I was stunned as I watched them negotiate price and then talk about Lady #2's mother and men right there in the DMV's office.

PS I passed my test (on the second try).

A day in the sun

Sunday, my sisters, Pvision and I went on a little hike to the Hollywood sign. It took us a little bit of time to make it up to the top. There were some cheez-it mishaps, water fights, and other assorted breaks. It was a good time.

Monday, I realized that not wearing a hat on the hike was not a good idea. I have a minor scalp burn. I really thought that people only got scalp burns when they were in 8th grade, went to the Bahamas or Puerto Rico with their family, and had someone give them braids on the beach. Oh, how wrong I was.

I have my fingers crossed that peeling is not involved.

News from LA

My sisters are visiting so I've been filling my time with bringing them around and worrying about creating a balanced meal situation. It's left no time for blogging.

Highlights of my last few days in LA:
*I do not know where I am...I get lost (if only by a few blocks) each time I get into the car. Luckily, I'm borrowing Chester, PVision's GPS. So far, despite occasional moments of crank, Chester has not failed to put me on the right course.
*My sisters are visiting and they have brought entertainment. The current entertainment is watching the older one slide her way to fitness on the Total Gym. I'm pretty sure that injury will be at the end of all of this fun.
*The Kwik-E-Mart has turned into a bigger attraction than the Universal Studios stuff. We walked right into the CityWalk tonight. But, when we attempted to follow it up with a Squishy at Burbank's Kwik-E-Mart, the line wrapped around the store and we decided to bail.

Now, I have to go introduce the girls to Pump Up the Volume. Some how, I have failed to introduce them to early Christian Slater. A life without Gleaming the Cube...horrible.

Strum, strum revolution

Today was my first go at the Guitar Hero. I tried (and failed) to play some Iggy and the Stooges and Nirvana. It seems that Warrant's Cherry Pie is my song. It is fitting that I'll be rocking out to the 80s glam metal here in LA. Maybe someday, I'll be
Freebird ready. But, for now, I'm staying at the top of the set list.

That New Car Smell

It's official. I'm an Angeleno. I have a car and if I need something at the store around the corner, I just might drive.





PS My new car met all of my requirements: MP3 jack, nice paint, 40 miles to the gallon. Whooo Hoo!

Day 1 in CA

After one day here, I have: napped despite my effort to adjust to the time zone, spent time happy, retrieved some of my boxes, met many people who know who I am, and received a job offer. I feel as if I am on my way to a wonderful life.

Vocabulary Lesson

I had an unexpected semi-interview over the phone today. The good news is that my portfolio is generating some interest. The bad news is that I broke some linguistic taboos during the conversation. Besides half finishing two sentences and cutting the woman off more than once (she was a long-pauser and I was nervous), it seems I do not have some of the basic LA pronunciations down.

I think of the word Wilshire as a three syllable word with a long i. Turns out it is a two syllable word with a short i. The woman I was being semi-interviewed by was kind enough to point it out to me. However, I'm not sure if it was really kind. She is the director of a religious school and my lack of enthusiasm about teaching reading and religion was not really sitting well with her.

PS
There is now a little pesty part of me that wants to call the street Will-sh-eye-r and myself an Angelo. We'll see how long that lasts.

Reality TV

I am late to the game on the whole reality TV thing. I watched an episode of the first season of Survivor, thought I was witnessing the destruction of humanity and stopped watching. But, now it's back. I justify it by saying it's research for my new life. I'm moving to LA...they are all shot in LA. Reality TV is research for my life to come.

It sometimes makes me nervous. I am not like the people on the TV-a professional tanner/rock star/hairstylist. What will the people in LA think of me? I think I'll just need to watch some more TV to find out.

PS Countdown to LA - 21 days.

Moving to LA

It's happening. I'm moving to LA. More boxes have been packed. A plan has been made for the pre-garage sale activities. Although my life in LA is still missing some elements (a job, a car, etc.), I think it will be good.

PS I started this last night prior to packing the boxes. It was a much different blog at that time. Much more freaked out. Packing boxes is good for me.