I’ve officially been here a little over a month, and yes, now I am liking it. Surprisingly….
I guess LA has found it’s place with me. And I’ve come to accept some thing that are just so LA. Examples: Sun…love it! Korea Town…convienent, love it! Debit pad at Walgreens whose default is always set to Spanish…why not love it? It’s not as if I need the bill to be in English to understand the amount I am required to pay. Hospital…not bad. Don’t know yet if I would want to be a patient there. They are a little outdated in some of their policies and techniques, but as a whole a LOT better than the facility in Texas. Mostly because the majority of patients actually say “thank you” as opposed to “I want my pain medication NOW!” Getting places still takes a while, but I’ve adjusted. It’s just part of the LA package.
I haven’t really hung out in Hollywood that much. I think that scene would get tiresome. I’ll just say it and risk sounding judgemental…pretension bothers me. I was getting my hair done the other day at a Korean salon (where I paid a little more than I would pay in Korea, but way less than what I would pay in Seattle. Obviously another great perk about living here) and flipping through OK! and People. Over half the stuff was semi-applicable in the sense that I’ve driven past some of the places the stars visit or am now moderately familiar with what mansion in the Hollywood Hills really means. Odd stuff….
I’ve met a few other writers as well. Mostly nurses who are also not 100% devoted to the profession, but doing it to pay the bills, etc. However the difference between myself and them…they write screenplays and well, I don’t. (Actually I’ve never even considered writing one and would have no clue where to start). Also, many people out here say they are in the “entertainment industry.” That can be taken multiple ways. Entertainment as in dancer (the kind that wears very little clothing)? Actor? Writer? Stunt man or woman? I have difficulty understanding this phrase. It’s too broad and basically alludes to a thousand or so different jobs. In Seattle one would say, “I work for Microsoft.” Or Boeing or I don’t know, Costco. I’m trying to figure out if the people who say this are in fact currently employed in the “entertainment industry” or just waiting for their big break. I guess it would feel more natural to me if one said, “I work at Disney as a sound manager.” It’s specific, but perhaps not as mysterious and entriguing as some would prefer.
Most of the time I just find myself thinking, “This is just so LA.” (And of course secretely liking it).
