Everything LA: Part I

A meeting of strangers, adversaries... future friends? Don't take my sand.

Two metal detecting treasure hunters. The one on the left has pulmonary fibrosis and he carries a tank of oxygen in his truck. And Alan, on the right, thought he found a ring of Cloris Leachman's one time, but when he put it online someone posted "Hey that's not a ring, that's a doorstopper." (I don't really see how you could confuse the two.) Still there's a part of him that wonders if it was hers since she was sitting where he found it earlier in the day.

Day Dos!! Tuesday. A new day! Ty met me at Santa Monica Beach for sandwiches in the sand. (He had to work for a few hours, so he dropped me off at the beach and went to teach. He's a Renaissance man of sorts: teacher, actor, caterer, mime, baker, among other things.) The we napped and walked the b'walk. Jesters lined up panhandling their tricks; snakes in suitcases - that can't be safe - with a $5 charge per picture; Whitney Houston crackstress singing Rhianna by the pelican in the sea.

A walk to Venice Beach followed with peace signs, pot and hats. The doctor was in, charging $250 for medical marijuana cards.

Stands lined the way.

After Danny's Deli & Bar (where we saw Andy Dick, apparently he's the kind of celebrity who seems to follow you around) we checked out a skate park where boards were flying across the walls in dips and falls.

A race in the sand followed by a "Hey! That guy looks just like Ty! Hey Ty!" from two of his friends, Lynn and Kalen and their pal, Brittany. Laughter and stories and tales of Asian glories. Apparently you never run into anyone you know in LA, but this was the first of three times this myth was shattered during my stay.

That night it was a buddy of Ty's bday, and to celebrate we were going roller skating!!! $10 for admission and rentals and organ music grinding all night!! Organ music and old guys. Backwards skating ruled the floor. Wigs and suspenders, party-goers all decked out, the man in the green was what it was all about.

Ty's neighbor, Nick, me and Ty

Me: "You're a great skater."
Him: "I love it and it's fun... thank you."

The key to a happy life.

I only fell once and it was more damaging to my pride than anything else.

There was a film crew there, who at first I thought was filming the seniors and their roller stories, following them to different rinks and getting their skating backgrounds. Then I thought maybe they were with the two Frenchies (man: geared and padded-up, bracing himself in fear of a fall. woman: tight jeans with racy slits and mid-riff flowing gray top, smiling and flirting with the old men), documenting their discovery of America through the rinks from LA to NYC - both which would've been awesome and I totally would've paid admission to see in theaters. In the end though, I think it was all a show for the bday boy, Matt.

I can listen in on conversations now - I can't help it! Reverse culture shock or sensory overload. We'll see how it goes.

At this cafe down the road from Ty's place, we were sitting outside, hunched over a crossword puzzle when we witnessed the end of an AA meeting. Alcohol holds no judgments over people, just like crazy, it isn't discriminatory.

Urth Yoga, also just down the street from Ty's house, has $5 yoga classes at 6:30a and 12:30p every day!! What a deal! And celebrities go there pretending to be average people! Olivia Thirby was there. And her hair was short. It was a good sweat-inducing class and while we were packed in like sardines, there was just enough room for fun.

Ty had work in the afternoon, so I sat and wrote in a park, and then we went to climb Culver City's Stairs. I loved all the hiking areas!! The 320-something stairs were unevenly spaced and weren't as easy to climb as we assumed them to be, but still FUN!!!

There was pho (I didn't eat it right when I was in Vietnam. I didn't know what to do and I don't think the restaurant I stopped in was too keen on having customers, let alone ones who didn't speak the language) at this place with "Escro" (missing "W) for a sign on Sunset, and it was as delicious as everyone raves about it being. Whoa!

                                                             Ty and his vermicelli                                                       My tasty pho

Everyone eats pho in LA. Pronounced either "ph" or "phO" - you choose. You'll be silently judged either way though most people will tell you it goes both ways.

Then there was The Dresden.

Marty and Elayne (the lounge singers in "Swingers") played while some other lady sang and the saxophonist had gas which was unfortunate for us, sitting behind him and all.

Ty's guy, Corby, Ty, me, Katie and her bf, Wes

Finished the night off at Tiki-Ti at 4427 Sunset. Interesting Tiki bar history there. A family operation. The grandfather came over from the Philippines in 1930 and worked at a number of tiki bars before opening Tiki-Ti in 1961. The place is full of Polynesian splendor, and if you have something to add, donations are always welcome (if it's small and fits the rest of the decor).

                                                                Wes and Katie at Tiki Ti.                                           Corby, me and Ty at Tiki Ti.     

That was Wednesday. On Thursday I hung out with my buddy and old Chicago roommate, Pat and then my friend Suzy's friend Adam picked me up and we ate at a place called the Vegan House (not too shabby) before blasting Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" down Sunset to Suzy's place over in Beverly Hills. Adam pointed out all Silver Lake's clubs that he loves to frequent.

Everyone is writing a screenplay. Everyone. Also, not an overstatement.