No Celebs and The Weirdos with the Metal Thingys on the Beach

So, it appears that I am the anti-celeb magnet. I have been in LA for almost a month and have seen a grand total of ZERO celebrities. I even chill in and around celeb hangouts often like the Grove, Beverly Hills, and Joan's on Third. No one. A new intern at work, who's been here less than a week, has already seen Harrison Ford. The biggest star I get to see is USC film stud Michael Chang (and if Michael Chang reads this blog, I'd appreciate your autograph. Thanks.) I feel like my life is just pacing me. I bet I see Tom Hanks or someone big here soon. That'd be sweet.

I'm hell-bent on getting Hollywood Bowl tickets. I went when I was in high school and loved it, although no one will go with me! Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are playing there next week, but the show is beyond sold out (and beyond expensive). Apparently there's a thing where the LA Philharmonic is doing Beatles stuff the week after. Who's in!?

Speaking of LA hotspots, I go to Santa Monica every second I don't have to go to work. And when I'm there, there are always those creepers with a scoop in one hand and a mental detector thingy in the other that looks like it could have been a prop to make War of the Worlds (the old one, not the to Cruise muck). What's with these people? Are they searching for buried treasure? If they're looking for quarters, why don't they just look under someone's couch....? I'm totally mystified and confused as to the plight of these people. Are they homeless? Is this a hobby? I smell documentary...

I'm in Love with a Bitch

So, I have my first crush of the young summer. Yes, she's female. Unfortunately, said object of my affection is not human. There's a soft coated wheaten terrier at the Beverly Center (LA's answer to the Galleria) in a pet store. It sits by its lonesome all day long locked in a glass cage. My wheaten is so spoiled that if it gets locked in my parent's Notting Hill flat for too long, I'm pretty sure it'd pick up the phone and dial animal abuse itself. Here's a pic of what I go visit almost everyday. I've decided that when I sell my first big script, the first thing I'll do is get a dog. 

So, when I do get a dog, I'm going to name it after an artist. I was thinking naming it Matty, after Henri Matisse. If it's a girl, maybe Monet, I just think that sounds more feminine. (PS, if someone today were referred to as Monet and you didn't know who it was, wouldn't you think it was some sort of stripper name? Yeah, me too.) A friend of my mother's already has a dog named Chagall. I'd prefer that name since my family owns a Chagall, but would feel bad knowing I stole a great name.  

In other news, all is going quite smoothly. I made over 100 phone calls on Tuesday and got taken for lunch by my boss on Wednesday at this cool Jewish deli that's apparently a big Hollywood hangout called Factor's. Oh, I'm so LA.

And speaking of LA food, I have a new obcession. It's called Pinkberry. It's a frozen yogurt place, but it's quasi healthy (under 100 calories) and taste kind of tart, more like yogurt yogurt. I get it with blueberries, yogurt chips, and chocolate chips. It's amazing. And it's basically only in Cali right now. When it moves out to Ann Arbor, I'll be their finest customer.   

6/9/08

Had a rough day at work. The phone system is my life's nemesis. Plus I think I'm developing a slight case of adult ADD. At least I had a thrilling experience as one unknowing producer/ writer apparently thought I was someone important at my company and pitched me their script over the phone. Of course, delighting in the power, I simply said "pass" after hearing 9 seconds of it, but it felt cool. OK, so I listened to every cliche word and moved on...it's all good. 

The new Jakob Dylan CD came out today. If you know me, you know I'm a huge fan and it does not disappoint. Do yourself a favor, go on iTunes and buy it NOW! Also, concerning Jakob Dylan, one of my co-workers said that liking him is "very commercial." I mean, he's not really indie, but I don't think he's exactly Britney Spears or anything... 

Is it OK to be a temporary fan of a sports team? In normal circumstances, I'd say "no." But since I am here for the summer and the Lakers are in the finals, I feel it is appropriate to pull for them...while still staying true to the Mavs. 

I talked to the writer of Sleepless in Seattle for two seconds today. Pretty cool, huh?

Los Angeles

A little photo journey of my Friday...

 Here I am in Santa Monica, taking in the rays. It was a great day out as I went on a nice jog along the coast line to Clown Beach...oops, I mean Venice. I walked back, got some work from my car and read a pretty solid romantic comedy with a goofy name (ask me later...). Plus, since I encased myself in SPF 50 sunscreen, I didn't get any awkward sun burns like last time! Here's a little picture I snapped of myself looking beach cool...

Here's a little scenery picture of Santa Monica Beach looking north. No, that's not me laying down, ya'll know I don't take my shirt off in public unless paid or necessary (you'll thank me someday). In the background is the Santa Monica pier, with the newer, more environmentally sound Santa Monica Ferris Wheel. They also do trapeese lessons on the pier, which are fun to watch. It's truly beautiful down here.

OK, confession. I saw Sex and the City the movie last night (alone, mind you) and liked it. I know that if certain high school english teachers were reading this blog, they might have some questions concerning my sexual preference (no worries, still straight), but I felt the writing was actually pretty good...plus (and I believe this saves me) Kristen Davis is a foooox. Yowza. Anyway, I saw it at a huge outdoor shopping center called The Grove, which my roommate says is the place in LA loves to say they hate, but really enjoy. It's a 10 minute walk from where I live, which is nice. I jog there after work sometimes. I like it because in the back they have a farmer's market section with really good food. Plus, there's a Banana Republic, a Barnes and Noble and a Starbucks, what's not to like? Well, maybe the 13 dollars I had to spend on the movie alone...yeah, sucks.

Below, for all who are interested (I'm always curious to see where people live and sleep, I'm not sure why) is a picture of my quaint bedroom on the border of Beverly Hills. Yes, I sleep on an air matress on the ground, but it's not really that bad. Plus (oh my god, I'm turning into Carrie Bradshaw!) I have a decent sized closet to the right which you can't see, which is good because I brought a lot of clothes.
All in all, still a successful experience. I just miss my nightly port...

Summer in the City (of Angels)

Do you hear that sound? Yes, it's me respiring. It's the first time I've been able to breathe since pulling out of my parent's Hackberry driveway in Omaha. 

Glad to say that everything thus far has been going dandy. Work was kind of a pain the first few days because the phone system is kind of a cluster fuck (although I've since gotten the hang of it) and it's a lot of rushing around and doing, um, stuff. The people are super nice and I get to sit in on company meetings where they talk about developmental and potential stories. Neat stuff. They were throwing around the idea of using Anne Hathaway in one of our movies. You can imagine my heart flutter...

Other than that, the neighborhood I'm currently living in is super cool...fancy retail heaven as I'm wedged between the Beverly Center and the Grove. Not bad.

Also, my roomate is extra nice and the place is pretty comfortable.

Went to the beach twice last weekend- once to Manhattan Beach and then to Santa Monica. I read a few screenplays there and took them home as they reeked of salt water and sea weed. Got sunburned on the back of my knees, for some reason I forgot to put sun lotion there. Of all the sunburn mistakes you can possibly make, let me tell you that this totally sucks. Please never neglect the back of your legs! 

Also, having not been exposed to the beach for most of my life, let me tell you that there's nothing more exciting to the testosterone than beautiful Californian women in bikkini's in perfect sunshine. Yeah, try to guess where I plan on going this weekend... (and every weekend, for that matter).

Right now I'm just winding down, reading a little bit. The Cubs are in town taking on the Dodgers so I might go to that this weekend. And I got invited out by one of my fellow interns with some of his friends. 

Things are turning out. Who woulda thought!?