obelisk

Well, I have to say I had a lot of fun on recon trip to Los Angeles. I like L.A., but it's very... different from what I'm used to: so spread out, very few places with the "neighborhood" feel I'm used to from Chicago and PDX. Also, there was a disturbing lack of bars. Where do people go to hang out and run into friends? (And, of course, get their drink on?) I'm told the social scene is much more organized around house parties there. I could see it as being a very lonely place for someone who didn't have a strong social network there yet.

Anyhow, a couple of my trip highlights included:
--Breakfast with assorted rock kids at Millie's in Silverlake (or is it West Hollywood?). I'm determined to live within walking distance of at least one place like that I can go for brunch.

--Running into that wall on Sunset that's featured on the cover of Elliott Smith's Figure 8. People had written all sorts of messages to/about Elliott on the wall and there was a little shrine near it with pictures, candles and flowers people had left. It brought a tear to my eye.

--Catching Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train" at an outdoor screening at the Hollywood Forever Cemetary. That was great, but I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing a cemetary covered with 40-ft palm trees--it just doesn't look right.

--Watching the sun set over the roofs of L.A. from a hot-tub (on the roof deck of the apt. building in Westwood we were staying at). Now THAT felt very L.A. to me.

UPDATE: I just recorded my first professional voice-over gig today! Sure it's a bottom-of-the-barrel industrial for a sales presentation, but it was $250 for a 45-minute session and the producer remarked he couldn't believe I was new at this and he wanted to work with me again. All this is very good indeed for the obelisk and his self-esteem.