Only in Los Angeles

Living in Los Angeles has its moments. I say this like people don't know this, like it's some city in the middle of North Dakota. What I mean to say is there are some moments when I think about the kind of things I've seen and done in this city, and I remember why I live here...and not some city in the middle of North Dakota.

Here are some of the highlights:

-I've walked around this city at 3 am and the streets are still full of people. Granted, these people are really weird, and half of them are sleeping on the side of the road, but there are people nonetheless. This has its ups and downs, actually. Living in Rexburg, you could walk around the city and not see another person walking around all night, which I kind of miss. There are time when I really miss it being QUIET.

-I've made friends with my bus driver. I take the same bus at the same time every day (the #12 at 9:20 am and 7:35 pm), and I have the same bus driver every day. I don't know his name yet, but we have nice little chats every time I get on. He's the best bus driver in town.

-Last week I was walking down Santa Monica Blvd on Halloween night. OH MY GOODNESS. The gays, they know how to do the Halloween. I saw go-go dancers, leather, facial tattoos, fury, drag queens. Men asked me how their hair looked, commented on my shoes, complimented my hair. I loved it.

-My internships sends its interns on a tour of the Sony lots every semester. This past week, I got to take my turn. I was actually dreading it; I had a ton of work to get done back at the office, and I didn't want to waste my time walking around. But, as it turns out, it was one of the coolest tours I've ever been on. I got to see technicians striking the set for the set of the batcave for Dark Knight Rises, I got to go into a foley artist's soundstage, I got to go into the room where they score all their films, I got to see Happy Madison's offices, I got to see where Adam Sandler plays basketball, I got to see the Ghostbuster's car, I got to see the Sony Yogurtland, I got to see the set of Wheel of Fortune, I got to see the room where they paint all their backdrops (which are incredible), I got to walk around on different soundstages, I got to see where George Clooney parks his car whenever he's on the lots, I got to see THE Barry Sonnenfeld, I got to see the Oscars for Kramer vs. Kramer and It Happened One Night, I got to see an actor who had just auditioned for a Tom Hanks project, I got to talk to a guard who told us that Will Smith was on the lots somewhere, I got to see a movie with a montage of a bunch of other movies. It was great.

I've gotten to see a few different celebrities: Shia LeBeouf, Dave Annabelle, Ali Larter, Kyle Howard, David Sutliffe, and Gavin Hood.

I've gotten to steal a couple of things from my internship that I probably shouldn't have. I've seen the script for the film adaptation of Ender's Game coming out next year, I've gotten to see Like Crazy and Another World, months before they came out.

I got to sit in the audience of Drive, one of the coolest movies I've ever seen, and recognize half the names that came up in the credits as people I work with every day.

I've seen hundreds of pieces of street art since I've been here from artist I love. I've seen original Shepard Fairey and Banksy pieces along with originals from the Ferus Gallery. THAT was cool.

And then there's Runyon Canyon. Runyon Canyon has become on of my favorite places in the city. I've never been anything less than happy while I've been there. Being there after night, especially, is incredible. It's the quietest place in the city, and you can see every burough of Los Angeles, all the way from Santa Monica to East LA and Los Feliz. It also reminds me a lot of Idaho, which is always nice.

It's November 5, and it's 70 degrees outside. There are trees with orange and red leaves on one side of the street and palm trees on the other side. It's the best mix.

Echo Park. Easily the coolest part of Los Angeles. I know it has a rap for being the hipster paradise of Los Angeles, and there's definitely a reason for that, but it's just so cool! There are a lot of weirdos hanging out in that place, but I love it.

There are probably more. In fact, I know there's more. BUT I've got other writing to do.

So, that's all I got.

Restless

You would think that a 22 year old girl would be content with living in Los Angeles, one of the coolest cities in the entire world, for longer than 3 months. But these past few weeks I've been feeling myself become more and more restless. January is coming up, which means that I

a) need a job

b) need an internship with a job at the end

c) need something that I'm passionate about to the point where I don't care whether or not I'm making money

d) need to leave the United States (to hide from debts/explore)

e) need to decide whether or not to go on a mission

or

e) need to marry a rich guy

I figure I have a good month or month and a half to really start thinking seriously about what I want to be doing come 2012. The thing is every opportunity is starting to feel like a burden now. I feel like it's perpetually Friday night, and there are a million different things I could do, but I'm so exhausted with all of my options that I stay home and pay bills because it's what I know I should be doing.

So, for now, here are my options:

1. Stay in Los Angeles.

I love this city, but the more I think about living here permanently, the more exhausted I become. There are only a few scenarios that involve me staying in Los Angeles, but it could still happen. There's a lot of this city I have yet to experience, and I'd hate to leave it before I'd gotten a chance to use it up and spit it back out.

2. Move to New York.

As much as I love California (and I do love it), I miss the East Coast. There are a few things keeping me from moving there, though, like the fact that physically moving to New York with be the biggest pain in the butt in the world. However, there are a lot of cool jobs I've been researching there, one in particular with Tribeca Films (the company with the perfect combination of education and film).

3. Move to San Francisco.

I don't know why San Francisco keeps popping in my head, but whenever I think about moving there, I like it.

3. Move outside the US.

I've been wanting to teach abroad for a long, long time. Finding the right time to go has always been difficult, but I think it would be a nice change of pace while I'm young, unattached, and stupid.

4. Go on a mission.

I told myself that I would finish college before considering a mission, and now that I have, there's really nothing stopping me. I wouldn't hesitate to go on a mission if I felt it's what I was meant to do, but I've never really gotten a 'yes' or a 'no' either way. And the last thing I want to do is go on one just because I have no other plans or because everyone else is going on one.

5. Teach for America.

This one was inspired by volunteering at 826LA. There's really no downside to doing it, other than I don't want to be one of those teachers that wants to teach but drives home crying every night because they can't hack it. The more I hear about it, though, and the more I think about teaching in general, the more I come around to the idea. I started the application- we'll see what happens after I submit it.

6. Nomad.

This is the plan where I change my name and run around the world for a few years until the government forgets I exist, then I return to the United States a completely changed person with their life figured out and a really cool haircut.

Things I don't want to do:

1. Move home. This isn't even a last resort. It can't happen.

2. Lose momentum. It's one of the biggest things I have going for me right now. As long as I keep moving forward, I'll be fine.

3. Make the wrong decision. This is completely fear-based. And I know that right now there really is no such thing, but it's still scary.

4. Settle. This one's self explanatory

5. Make decisions based on other people.

That's about it. I'll update with things that have happened later.

Actually, note to self: update on my trip to Rexburg.

That's all I got.

This is Nucking Futs.

I know it's been forever since I've updated this (again). A lot's been going on. A lot, a lot. The life I'm living right now is almost completely different from the life I had when I moved here. And it's not even close to the life I thought I was going to have when I moved here. Sometimes I wake up and I can't believe this is my life. Last night I was walking around Runyon Canyon, looking around Los Angeles, and it all hit me at once. I've been so, incredibly blessed since I've been here. There's no way I'd be where I am without some divine intervention. And I don't say that lightly.

I've got an internship that I love, where I get to meet cool directors and producers and read cool scripts.

I'm moving into my first official apartment tomorrow. With 3 other girls. Literally across the street from the Los Angeles Temple.

I have a semi-steady job that provides me with more than enough rent/grocery/other crap money.

I have great friends here. Like, really great friends.

I have a tan (what?) And my hair is officially two feet long.

As of December I can do whatever I want, and go wherever I want.

I just discovered a crapload of new music.

I also just discovered the commissary at LA Air Force Base. I bought a whole thing of face wash for $2.25

I'm volunteering at 826LA, which is the best choice I've made since I got here. the kids are great, and it feels so good to be tutoring again.

Anyways, point it I'm incredibly blessed.

And that's all I got.

Sept. 16, 2011

This past week has been the greatest of my life here in Los Angeles. Actually, we'll make it the past two weeks. Soo much as happened, and it's all been awesome. Seriously, I could not be happier.

We'll start with two weeks ago--the weekend Jeff came to town to visit. It was such a great weekend, for lots of reasons. It's always nice to see familiar faces in Los Angeles, but I've missed Jeffrey Harrison White a lot. Those of you who know Jeff will understand why. Anyway, I went to his brother's wedding reception with him and the rest of his family. It was a nice, chill party with lots of cool people. I got to hang out with the Whites all night long, which is always a good thing. That night we went back to the White's house, watched Dr. Who, then Jeff and I slept outside by their pool. Waking up poolside under a palm tree the next morning was saweet, my friends, I highly recommend it. That morning we picked fruit, went longboarding (Jeff went longboarding, and tried to teach me how to longboard), then took Jeff to the airport. Good stuff.

The next weekend was my birthday. I know I've already written about it, but I have to write SOMETHING about it here. It was the perfect day as far as birthdays go. I got to talk to everyone I wanted to talk to, I got to go to church and chill out for the day, relaxed at home, got a homemade meal from Leanne, made friends on the bus to and from church. It was all perfect. Also, Leanne made out with Jason Segel the night before, making it the perfect send off from being 21.

My internships are going well. I'm actually quitting one of them, the one at Vendome Pictures. I've just decided it's not where I want to spend my time. Instead, I'll be volunteering at 826LA in Echo Park. SPEAKING OF 826LA IN ECHO PARK, I went there for an orientation yesterday, and I couldn't stop smiling. It's exactly the kind of thing I've been missing out here. I mean, working in film is awesome, but the personalities involved in film are a very particular type. Walking into 826LA felt immediately different than walking into work, in a good way. The people are awesome, and I'm soooo excited to get back into tutoring and working with kids again. After I left 826, I literally could not stop smiling. I can't wait to start working there.

In other news, I GOT AN APARTMENT. Actually, I got a place to stay in an apartment. But it'll sort of be mine. Make sense? It's a way chill place with a guy named Carlos. It's a whole lot more legit than I'm making it sound... Lars came with me to check the place out, and I think it's all gonna work out peachily.

ON TOP of all of that, Lars and I went to go see Drive at the Grove last night. Holy crap, best movie experience of MY LIFE! Not only did I recognize people's names on the screen as people I work with at my internship, but the movie is incredible. It's an experience more than it is a movie. I think it's going to be a huge game-changer actually. The audience was laughing, applauding, gasping, everything you want to happen in a movie. Anyways, it was the cherry on top of an already delicious cake.

So, to recap:

-Internship is awesome. Odd Lot Entertainment is the bee's knees.

-826 LA is going to be great. I'm so excited to work there.

-I have an apartment until December.

-Drive is the greatest movie of the year. Hands down.

-September 16th rivals September 3rd as the greatest day in Los Angeles so far.

-Lars and I are going to make a video about a girl who doesn't know how to make coffee for one of his classes. It's going to be hi-larious. Actually, hopefully it will be hilarious (This is actually new news, not a recap).

So things are going really, really, really well. It sounds stupid, but I just keep waiting for the ball to drop on all of this. It all sounds too good to be true. I've really been looked out for since I've been in Los Angeles. I know for a fact that I couldn't have done all of this by myself.

That's all I got.

Updates

I've been terrible with this thing. Between reading scripts and writing coverage all day long, by the time it comes to write in this thing, I'm all spent. So, here are a few updates from the past few weeks:

-The internships are going great. OddLot is fantastic, and Vendome is slow/fantastic. With everyone being in Toronto for the film festival, things have been pretty chill. And I like it.

-I turned 22 on Sunday! It was the best birthday I've ever had. I hate making a big deal about my birthday, especially since THE September 11th (you know...that old chestnut). Anyways, the Universe made it the perfect day. I met a cool guy from Beirut on the bus on the way to church, had a good day at church creating divorce rings with Lars, had a birthday dinner cooked by Leanne, and got to talk to everyone I wanted to talk to. It was the perfect, low-key birthday I wanted.

-I went to my cousin Alex's birthday/housewarming party up in the hills the night before my birthday. I got to see him and a ton of my relatives, plus Jon Heder. So...good night.

-Leanne made out with Jason Segel. That's all I got to say about that...

-Eggs in a basket-still my favorite breakfast food.

-I BOUGHT A TICKET TO REXBURG FOR OCTOBER 13TH-16TH

-I went a week without my debit card last week. I lived only off the cash in my pocket, which totaled $14.00. Hayells yeah.

-I filled out my first apartment application today. For an apartment. My own apartment.

Oh my goodness, I don't even feel like finishing this post. I'm so exhausted.

22

Today, I am 22.

Last thing I did as a 21 year old: the dishes

Last song I listened to as a 21 year old: Beyonce's "Single Ladies." What else?

Last thing I bought as a 21 year old: Diet Pepsi and yogurt.

Last night as a 21 year old: Went to my cousin Alex's housewarming/birthday party.

Last thing I ate as a 21 year old: Broccoli

Last thing I drank as a 21 year old: Diet Pepsi

Last people I hung out with: Andrew and Lauren

First movie I watched as a 22 year old: Father of the Bride

First thing I wore as a 22 year old: grey sweatshirt and pajama bottoms

First thing I ate as a 22 year old: TBA

Other stats:

Job: Intern/freelance writer

Location: Los Angeles

Relationship Status: Single

Hair: At least 22 inches long, brown/red

Favorite food: eggs in a basket

Favorite movie: In Bruges, Crazy Stupid Love

Favorite band: Black Keys?

Favorite TV show: Mad Men

Current song obsession: The Hood Internet: Eve/Radiohead mashup

Current skin status: TAN

More on this whole "22 years old" thing later.

Goodnight!

I love my Dad.

This whole post isn't about my dad--it's just being written after a lengthy phone call with my dad. I don't even know how much he'll actor into all of this. He could actually end up being the main focus or just a blurb.

Anyway, this past week has been a good one. I began one of my internships on Monday-the one at Odd Lot Entertainment. So far I LOVE it. The people, the work, the things I'm learning, it's all great. So far all I've really done is some expense reports and odd jobs around the office with some script coverage, but it feels cool being a part of this kind of team. I'm not sure if it's something I want to make a career out of, producing movies, but I love being able to do it right now. It's like being a part of this club all these years, liking movies and knowing about movies, and just now finding out where the clubhouse is. Next week I begin my internship at Vendome on top of this one. We'll see what happens there...

Other than all that, life is pretty good. I haven't been able to do a whole lot outside my internship except write a few articles. I HAVE been have to catch up on my movie-watching though. In the past week I've seen:

-Crazy, Stupid, Love (again...for the third time, actually)

-Friends with Benefits (eh)

-The Help (recommend)

-Going the Distance (I've seen better, but it was good)

-Hanna (Chemical Brothers' score was awesome. The movie: also awesome)

-Monte Carlo (yeah, the movie with Selena Gomez. I can't get over how adorable she is. That Justin Beiber will hold onto her if he knows what's good for him)

-Beastly (Nope. Mistake)

-Bridesmaids (Hilarious)

-X Men: First Class (Pass)

-Transformers 3 (the first fifteen minutes...)

-Something Borrowed (Alright)

-Charlie St. Cloud (the first fifteen minutes)

I'm gonna go ahead and stop right there.

That's all I got.