How Can You Swim In a Town This Shallow? - 3 days in LA

Not that any of my friends are shallow, just quoting a song and making an observation. Sitting in a diner, walking down the street, its like everyone you pass must first to check if you are anyone and if you are not smile and walk on or look away...

We arrived in the late evening at Donna and Richard's new place, three blocks from Richard's old place, where I've been several times, but that didn't stop me from getting lost on the way. Then off to Barney's Beanery, where I've now eaten each time I've visited LA. But that's okay cause the menu is like 15 pages. Weird thing - walked in and was immediately recognized by one of my former Acting One students from IU - I fortunately remembered her name. My friend Brent met us over there - I hadn't seen Brent in like 3 years (cause the bum was too poor to make it out to my wedding :) so that was cool. Richard almost didn't recognize him because his hair is no longer dye blonde like it was back when he was in like very show I directed...

The next morning featured an early morning breakfast special at SWINGERS (early morning by the way there is 11:00 am) and a trip to, as Joey would call it Grown Man's Chinese Theatre. We trounced on some star's stars - the picture with Telly Savalas' star is in honor of the screenplay I just finished. We ate at Mel's Holywood Diner, when the power goes out (apparentally it was on the national news). We drove on Mullholland Drive and then Colin went off to stay with a friend of his from Carleton (and took my truck - the first time I've let my truck go on an overnight with another boy). Richard, Donna and I met up with the Indiana University contingent: Brad Fletcher, Sara formerly Rebrovic now Fletcher, Kenny Dellinger, David Mickler, and Amber, whose last name I don't think I've ever known. We met at some healthy sandwhich shop, which was Sara's pick I assumed since she's the healthy one (actually it was Brad's pick, which I knew, but Sara is the one who took him there in the first place). We ate and drank, and drank some more, then went to the cheesecake factory and drank some more, then I went back to Brad and Sara's place and drank more! THat's right, it was like being in College again. Well, grad school, I never really drank in college. It was three years in a program that never beleived in me that drove me to drink :)

Brad was not feeling too well the next morning. I also think their dog took a big crap in the room I was sleeping in... some time in the middle of the night when I got up to go to the bathroom. Oh, incidentally, I should mention I was spending the night in the Malkovich room, ceiling height about 4 ft, and I had put up the little gate to keep the dog out. Anyway Sara had to go to class (I seem to remember her having a book open on her lap the night before) and Brad went off to work. Colin, Richard and I met up with David and Kenny at Jerry's American Deli and then Kenny snagged some comp tickets to Universal Studios from Clearchannel where he and David (and Brent, actually) work. Let me tell you, the last time I went to Universal Studies I was 2 years old and it has really changed... first of all, no Cylons! and the whole tram ride, it was like one long sales pitch, for the gift shop, and DVDs of universal movies. And we didn;t even get to do all the normal tram things, like the parting of the red sea, where we just drove through, or the collapsing bridge which was just pointed out to us on the side. The highlight of the day had to be the WATERWORLD STUNT SPECTACULAR. I can't imagine whose brilliant idea it was to do an attraction based on this mega-bomb, but there it was, in all its glory. It was fun and maybe I'll give waterworld another watch sometime soon. I do love the postman.

That night Colin, Richard, Donna and I met up with Colin's friend Jade who works at Zoic Studios doing CGI shading on Battlestar Galactica, everyone's new favorite show. We ate at this great classic Italian Restaurant in Marina Del Rey. I met Brent later that night at a neighborhood bar and then he took me to the odd Mexican Wrestling Themed Bar (just pictures on the wall no real wrestling). Anyway, all these great friends over a a few days... I should totally move to LA. I'd have to bring my wife though... I miss her too much as it is, so I can't move to Cali without her.