"That's so L.A."

Beastocity: 5.7

I recently noticed a few of the ads around Los Angeles that boast what is “so L.A.” It’s kinda cute. Apparently it’s to help boost tourism to bridge the several hundred million dollar budget gap (good luck, Arnold.) But what’s more entertaining than actually thinking about doing whatever “the man” is trying to lure me to spend money doing is testing my own knowledge of what is “L.A.” Some places or events I recognize and others I don’t. Venice Beach: Yeah, that’s somewhere on the coast… I’m sure I’ve been there. Los Angeles Convention Center: Uh, must be downtown… somewhere near the 110 probably. Walt Disney Concert Hall: Yes, definitely downtown and definitely awesome. Been there and would go again (but for free). Boulevard of Dreams: Oh, wow. I don’t think I know where that is and it’s looks like it must happen late at night and therefore past my bedtime. Darn.

So I wonder how I rank as an Angeleno. I commute 30-45 minutes every morning and ride by myself (cringe!). I like to go “hiking” on a dusty little hill near where I live. I could match freeway numbers with the names San Pedro, Pasadena, Santa Monica and Hollywood. I think Taco Trucks are amazing, but tragic because the good ones come out after my bedtime. I can parallel park like no one’s business. My office has a view of the Hollywood sign. I’ll drive 30 minutes for good Boba and loyal housemates who all facilitate each other’s Boba addictions. My “yard” consists of a strip of grass that runs the length of my driveway.

Well, I’m not really proud of most of my stereotypical Angeleno-ness, so I’m trying to embrace more positive Angeleno qualities as well. I’m learning some of the amazing things I can do around the city for free! I’m starting my own little garden to make up for the excessive amounts of concrete. I try to carpool or ride a bike. I’m enjoying exploring my little piece of Los Angeles zip code and it’s fun to try and stay more local.

So, I might qualify as an Angeleno but then I guess that means I should actually get rid of my Florida license plate. Hm, perhaps sometime soon.

My Fifth Home...

So maybe you’re not really curious, but you still might enjoy hearing a little about where I spend most of my waking hours (sadly) each week. Here’s a little bit about my architecture office…
It’s a big office. There’s about 80 of us that dwell on the top floor of the building and I’m one of 4 support staff that help the place run smoothly (or maybe I just like to think that I’m that important… hey! What would an architect do if they ran out of printer paper couldn’t print their now computerized drawings?? That’s right…)
They like their food. And their coffee. It only takes from 8:30 to 9:15 for about all 5 coffee pots (only 1 guy touches the 6th decaf pot) to go dry. They also go through the kitchen snacks like they don’t eat breakfast or lunch (in fact, most of them probably don’t…).
People are quirky. Well I’m convinced everyone is and it’s only a matter of how soon you learn their quirks, but these folks have some special things about them…
There’s the IT guys who, when they’re not running to put out technical fires they’re talking about the latest games or shooting rubber bands at people.
There’s the head of the support staff who has worked here forever and you can often find her breaking out into her old high school cheerleader cheers, her next Sunday gospel solo, or telling people (including our boss) that he’s going to go to hell but that she’s praying for him.
There’s the folks who make about 2 trips every hour to the kitchen and the folks to make about 2 trips every hour to the bathrooms. There’s the ones who drink about 4 beers at our weekly happy hour and the ones who bustle in and out of the office looking like they’re carrying the cares of the entire world and they never stop for a break (except in the elevator).
There’s the folks who wear long sleeved, button up shirts and dress slacks every day and there’s the folks who wear old jeans, chucks, and graphic tees. And it’s especially great when you see them in a meeting together.
There’s also the office assistant who is always doing the most random and stupid tasks but always dashes from one side of the office to another like she’s off to save the world (when really it’s just delivering someone’s mail). She’s constantly in the kitchen and checks her gmail way too much. She either talks to you like she’s making a business proposition or like you’re her best girlfriend (there’s not too much of an in between). Her personality kind of ranges from that of a cheerleader to a girl scout, she looks like she could be your granddaughter’s age and she’s always just a little too… eager.
Oh, wait, that last one is me.
And all these wonderful people (and then some) make up my office! It’s really a great place to work and people are always driving me crazy and making me laugh and be glad for all the different and absolutely beautiful personalities that are out there.
Cheers!

Summer lovin'

I love summer

Here are some things I love about summer:

Late sunsets in the city. I love how you can sit outside in that post-heat cool and watch the sky turn from orange to blue. I love to take a break from making dinner, step out of the kitchen onto my cemented back yard and hear the faint noises of families at home chatting or cooking coming from the houses nearby.

Lunches outside. During the winter it’s a discipline to bring my lunch and eat outside in the park behind my office. I often look for excuses to go to a café and find the cheapest thing that will buy me a cozy seat indoors. But just earlier this week I had to buy lunch and I couldn’t make myself stay in the café for more than a half hour before the idea of the sun and a bench under a tree lured me back outside.

Swimming. It’s a comfort, uh, sport for me (is there such a thing as a comfort sport?) But with the Oxy students gone for the summer, the school pool is usually empty and a wonderful place to go on a Saturday afternoon.

Less traffic. Schools are out! People are on vacation! My commute is definitely 15 minutes shorter this time of year.

Summer reading. I used to inhale books like nobody’s business. Nowadays I usually have about 5 started and I’m lucky if I get around to finishing 2. So far I’m almost through Hawaii’s Story and The Soloist is on deck.

Pace. Everything seems to slow. Naps under a fan are necessary. People seem to gather often and linger longer.

Why can't it always be summer?