I can't help but disagree with the idea that a Big Part of living in LA is hating living in LA. Having lived in a variety of Other Places, but grown up just to one side of LA (to wit: Pasadena), I abso-fracking-lutely *love* LA. Every place has its issues, there's no city in the world that's perfect, and it's only really in the venue of crushed dreams that LA's faults exceed any other place. I'm serious, too. When we talk about being overcrowded and poorly-planned, New York and its environs laughs at us, nevermind Boston and its street structure defined by peninsular coasts which no longer exist. While our transportation infrastructure is a joke and we're far too in love with our cars, Houston was built by a bureaucracy which considers sidewalks to be an unnecessary extravagance. The smog, which we still take our cynical pride in, is nothing compared to what it was just twenty-five years ago (when gym classes would be cancelled at my Jr. High due to the entire San Gabriel Range being hidden behind a pall of orange haze... and this was a school in Altadena, right up against the San Gabriels!). And while this oddest of areas does indeed exceed the world in fueling its own brand of magic with broken and shredded and evaporated dreams, most certainly, it's also home to a greater intensity of those hardy souls who turn dreams into reality

Trader Joe's often has a pretty snazzy blueberry muesli. And there's something similar at the Corner Bakery (one on South Lake, one in Hastings Ranch). I would've guessed that Panera would have something, but I don't know about anything first hand.

Wil, I know it's two completely different productions and schedules get goofy, but remember, those SAG/IATSE-mandated 12-hour break guidelines exist for a reason. Don't go getting yourself all overworked. You were missed at w00tstock L.A., btw! Hardwick's yarn beard just couldn't quite substitute. ;D

"I headed back to my car, pausing briefly at the corner of Figueroa and Chick Hearn Court to think to myself, "I'm right where the riot is going to start in about 30 hours. That's weird."" Thankfully, this didn't quite happen, but let me tell you, it was verrrrrry interesting to try to attend the LAFF opening night gala with quite that many drunk Lakers fans right next door.

I know this little place in Los Angeles... I think I saw some guys there last year, something about Frogger, American Dinosaurs, why Roger Corman's Fantastic Four movie was terrible, and the deep, philosophical truth regarding the relative coolness of landspeeders vs death star playsets. That place was nice. I bet another show would go well there...hint, hint, nudge, punch in the shoulder...

Most of the time, I rather like living in Los Angeles... there's just enough that I love to make up for all that I hate. But sometimes, I hate L.A. with a passion. Which is, of course, why I really live and work in Pasadena, and only visit L.A. when I have(or want) to. ;)

BTW, in return for pointing us to that excellent "The Things" story, I give you this: "Two Gentlemen of Lebowski" http://www.runleiarun.com/lebowski/

@Wil:"But, to answer your question more directly: on the one hand, staying observant and really keeping all of my senses as heightened and open as I can is just part of my life, but on the other hand, it *can* make me feel like I'm the guy with the video camera who is in the room, but not really part of what everyone is doing." EXCELLENT way to put it. I've often found myself in the position of having to consciously restrain myself from *analyzing* a movie or a tv show or a book, and just frelling *enjoy* it. And then go back later and analyze it. When you realize that you're getting to a point where checking out the writer's style or choice of phrase or plotting is your first instinct, and just being entertained by the thing is second or third or worse, then it can actually be a little sad.

That video is nice and all, but it could really have used more of Paul moving the mic stands. PLEASE MOVE THE MIC STAND! ARRRRRRrrrrRRRR?