I went all the way to Hollywood at midnight to satisfy my craving for In-N-Out burgers and their *cough* free drink refills.
That place is jumping late night on a weeknight.
I went home on such a serotinin overload on two burgers (and four medium lemonades for the price of one *urp*), that I could barely keep my eyes open.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
In-N-Out, Hollywood
My First Paparazzi shot
Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria on her way into Staples Center to support her husband, San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, in their matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers for the first game of the Western Conference Finals.
I got caught up in the excitement, and did what I swore I wouldnt do, but MAN that was a rush.
Then the police told us anyone with a camera had to leave. :)
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
I got to meet Alan Ruck
Yes, he's a grown man, the movie was over 20 years ago and he's done many great roles since (see Spin City) - but to me (and my brother), he will always be Cameron Frye from Ferris Beuhler. :D
I normally dont go all groupie when I see or meet famous people, but shit - he's Cameron AND one of my favorite actors.
He graciously called my brother (who was like "who the fuck is this") until I said.. "Dude, its Cameron from Ferris Beuhler!" and posed for a picture taken by his lovely wife, Mireille.
Afterward, my brother texted with "You sounded like a big groupie."
Yes, yes I am.
Monday, May 19, 2008
"You can be passive on the weekends, friday, saturday and sunday. But the rest of the time, you take care of business."
And thats word from a straight talking Chicagoan I met in Santa Monica the other day responding to my assertation that years of living in San Francisco had made my demeanor passive. Ive been whining a lot in LA, until I got angry and stopped fucking around.
LA is not a place for passive people. You have to go out and take care of business.
---
"Money is the gasoline of life."
- overheard in a Sunset Blvd McDonalds
Normally, I believe that you cant always buy your way into happiness, but dear lord - I do want a new laptop to replace this one that keeps dying on me. Especially as I couldve gotten a nice Toshiba from Fry's Electronics for $379 this weekend. I had to settle for thermal paste and a laptop cooler for 20 bux.
It suffered heat damage and died, and since then I have been unable to keep it running for much longer than 20 minutes, which has crimped my style in many ways. I can keep fixing it, but this is the 3rd or 4th time Ive had an old Dell die on me, and the act has gotten old.
Add to the fact that I need to step up my work search objectives, not having a running machine in this day and age definitely hurts.
So dear lord, you dont have to buy me a Cadillac, but a new Toshiba wouldnt hurt.
-----
Although I havent been able to actually put to words my thoughts - Los Angeles has reinvigorated my writing jones. I am constantly writing in my head. I dont know what it is about the place, but all this output wants to be put down on paper.
It helps that Im living a somewhat Bukowskian existence, minus the skinny prostitute, staying in a skid row, bug infested hotel on the public dole. There is something to be said for this environment, although I think I could also write living in the Hollywood Hills in a multi-million dollar crash pad.
Yeah, I think I could do that. :)
Friday, May 16, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Today was not such a bad day
Well, today:
- It warmed up in LA, may even break out the shorts and flip flops SAFELY tomorrow.
- I FINALLY got Bank of America to reverse $310 in overdraft charges and put my account back into a positive balance, although I have to call the Customer Solutions center again tomorrow to make sure there werent any other surprise charges - there was going to be another tonight I got them to admit - while taking FULL names and speaking calmly. I got tired of *@^#^@& bank employees scolding me. Tomorrow, HSBC, and when I get work - WaMU, maybe.
- Moved into another place. The people there dont seem psychotic and the place doesnt act like old times in the Pen. It feels better.
- Finally figured out that my old wireless card was causing the laptop to freeze. It may have fried itself when the laptop overheated and shut down. I gotta keep the olde machine limping until I can replace it.
So, today, my to do list is done, although Im still scared of trying to get a cup of coffee and provoking even more negative charges. *sigh*
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Agita in LA
Let me see, what else can we pile on? Is there any more SHIT we can pile on top. Is it possible?
- Vinny Gambini in "My Cousin Vinny"
They keep trying to bring me down...
- Laptop died. Heat damage to the memory slots. I think I know how to fix it to keep running till I can replace it, but I havent been able to for reason below.
- The place Im staying keeps trying to evict because I didnt sign a voucher. Every time I confront them that I did sign their blessed voucher, they keep trying to say "You didnt sign.", with that dumb criminal tactic of holding on to a lie. Of course, they want me to lose my shit, so that they CAN toss me out. Naht gonna happen. But I can embarrass them by publicly showing theyre lying.
Apparently, Im the one in 100 that call them on this bullshit. *sigh*
- Bank of America is again trying to empty my account with fees. However, this time I caught and called them on this tactic. They tried to post a CASH deposit to a teller several days later, and then called everything between then an overdraft. I had to scream (literally) at a poor B of A clerk to get them to admit that they had no right to call this an overdraft.
"Im sorry Mr Pennant. That was indeed a cash deposit and that is a bank error. When we charge you the fees on Monday, we will rescind them."
Again, no money in the account until they (reluctantly) give me back my blasted money.
Holy shit, these criminals. I gotta get away from them.
Otherwise, apart from this agita (on top of having no money or a stable place) Im having a ball in LA.
----
I need to be a journalist, Im realizing now.
That's why this crap is happening, Brian. There IS a reason for this crap.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Monday, May 05, 2008
I couldnt recognise a star if they came up and bit me. I THINK I may have seen Britney in a black audi convertible this morning, not sure. I need a star spotter, someone who knows them on sight.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Bank of America.. no longer a bank for the people
If you know me at all, Im merely cynical about how corrupt corporations are. So for me to say this, it is serious.
If you bank or do business with Bank of America - check your statements, close your accounts, transfer your business elsewhere. I guarantee you, they are stealing money from you every quarter. Their banking practices are that corrupt.
If you dont already have a BofA account, do not ever do business with them.
First Union Corp (which bought Bank of America) had such a bad reputation ethically, that people were leaving them in droves, which is why they had to change their name, (nee Nations Bank, nee Bank South - plus other banks in the south theyve absorbed). It is the same company with the same practices, even in states where they are held in check, as theyve figured out ways to skirt these regulations.
Theyve hit me with many unexpected fees before, but never overdraft fees, as I always make sure I never spend more than I have. This past week, they literally forced an overdraft on my account (email me and I'll tell you how they can do that, a new trick I hadnt heard about) and with that emptied my bank account except for 5 dollars. I called them and the service rep refunded half my money and literally 1 hour after I got off that call (after banking hours), they added MORE fees on the account, wiping me out.
Once I checked into what recourse I had, I found out that what theyre doing might be criminal if you have a lawyer on your side, but it isnt illegal unless you call your congressman.More investigation yielded news that this has been standard operating procedure for the last 3 years with B of A.
http://www.my3cents.com/companyOverview.cgi?code=431
In particular, their shenanigans on overdrafts.
http://www.my3cents.com/productReview.cgi?compid=431&product=Overdraft+Fees
Nothing I can do either, as their posting records change like ether before they have to issue final paper statements. All I can do is consider my money gone (!), make sure I dont give them another excuse to slap another fee and have me owe them more money (so far, $170 in charges on an original $3.27 overdraft - I wish I were lying), and get as far away as I can from them.
Bank of America. Unethical. Corrupt, Criminal.
Yes, they are that bad.
-----------
An anecdote to this, where I saw one of their OWN employees cry...
The guy who was helping me at the branch I went in angry, told me that they wrongly charged him over $2,400 of fees on $18,000 line of credit he had taken out with the bank. When he tried to get those fees taken off - THEY REFUSED. He had no recourse, and because he still works there, he had to pay that fee out of his own pocket EVEN THOUGH HE HAD OVER $8,000 left on his line of credit. That he was an employee of BofA for over 10 years mattered not.
Tears of frustration was coming down his face as he told me this in his office.
If they did this to one of their own employees, think what they'll try to get away with you.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Fame or Fortune. Pick one.
I am trying to avoid the trap of being starry-eyed and fatally optimistic in this town - but damn, Im having a really good feeling about being here. Like this is where I make my stamp and fortune.
Of course, today's horrorscope aint helping any:
Something you have been striving towards for a long time, maybe even for years, is now within your grasp. This is no time for hesitation or timidity. Reach out and take it.
You have everything to look forward to and nothing to fear. Yes, it's really that good. Today's aspects also suggest you are about to receive some kind of reward for efforts you made in the past that went above and beyond the call of duty.
Yeah, I have practical housing and cashflow concerns, but so far - I cant shake the feeling.
In retrospect, Im starting to realize that it was very likely a good thing I was delayed in coming down here.Transitions needed to be made, ends tied up and a little more seasoning was needed. Who knows, but Im surprised as anyone, hell more surprised than anyone that it feels good being here. I think folk are more worried about me than I probably should be.
To maintain myself, I think I have to be true - literally - to myself, and not fall into the trap of exaggerating my circumstances. Gotta stay honest and straightforward. Seems to be working so far, but I can see how one can easily backslide into lying out here, where illusion is many people's stock in trade.
I think also, that if I try to make it into being about the money is another trap I should avoid. If I do things right, the money should come, but no focusing on the money.
On the set of "Criminal Minds" (there I go already), I was talking to the stand-in for an actor on the show. He himself is a transplant from Sacramento and he related advice given to him when he first got here:
"In LA, you gotta decide which it is you want - fame or fortune. Pick one, and dont fool yourself that you can get both, otherwise youre better off pursuing your passions from where you came."
I can see that. I'd rather fortune, although a tiny bit of recognition would be nice too.
Just trying to keep myself grounded, because optimism can indeed be fatal. Especially here.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Downtown LA
They blew up a perfectly good Chevy Suburban in New Yor... errr,, downtown LA last night. It was for the season's finale of Criminal Minds. (Note the NYC cab blocking my ^&%$!^% shot...)
Apparently Downtown LA makes a perfectly good representation of NYC, add the appropriate "Snow Route", "Dont Honk. $350 fine" signs and youre golden. :)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
LA is interesting
Ive probably said this over 5,000 times already, but LA is interesting.
Like any big city, you do want to keep your wits around you and peripheral vision tuned, but the folk Ive met have been consistently nice.
It isnt easy arriving in LA homeless, no money and not driving - but eh, its already paying dividends.
LA, surprisingly, seems to suit me. Interesting.
Ive been told that LA is populated largely by self-centered bastards, but although my expectations of LA are already low, Ive been meeting friendly, hospitable folk - but I think THEIR expectations of people are low too. :)
My impressions of LA so far:
- The natives seem to be friendlier than legend.
- The people here smoke like fucking chimneys. Surprising, but I guess if you largely smoke in the privacy of your car, there is little incentive to kick the habit.
- The bus system is actually pretty damned good, and again contrary to legend, a lot of people ride it. But it seems most people who drive, do.
- If you ask for directions, people here tell you how to get there by freeway. They then look at you stupidly if you say you dont drive.
- In a related bent, they know their city by and large, but havent seen most of it - as you cant see any of it from the freeway.
- I think people here are largely disconnected to each other because they drive fucking everywhere and avoid the unseeming places.
- It has been COLD here at night. Not winter cold, but there is indeed a bite to the windchill in places, and not by the coast. Not in the brochures, but normal according to natives.
- They are laid back, but dont let it fool you, they can get down and go wild as well as any in Chicago or New York. Watch yourself.
The place seems to.. and I have to be careful how I say this.. not know itself. You can see elements of most other North American cities here but LA in and of itself cannot be defined as well as Chicago, New York or Miami can. The natives seem to think its because it is so large, but I have the feeling they dont want to come to terms with who they really are, even as they readily admit to whats wrong with the place.
But even if you cant define it, you can still see it. :)
This looks to be interesting.
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