Category Archives: L.A.

Vaulted

I settled on Studio City because it was centrally located to the things & people I love.  I chose a corner unit on the fourth (top) floor, sight unseen, because it had vaulted ceilings and ceiling fans.Far bigger kitchen than … Continue reading

Posted in L.A. | 1 Comment

Oakwood

The Oakwood is the stuff of legends.  It’s a complex of apartments and temporary housing nestled in the hill at Forest Lawn Dr. and Barham.  Growing up in Burbank, I always knew it as the place where Midwestern stage moms … Continue reading

Posted in L.A. | Leave a comment

Jenga

Apologies to everyone I didn’t get time to spend with on this whirlwind DWA visit.  And to those who didn’t get nearly enough time.  I love you all. Work, however, has been…challenging.  I think the most apt analogy would be … Continue reading

Posted in L.A. | Leave a comment

Camelot

Posted in L.A. | Leave a comment

Mom

When I think of my mother I think of a woman overflowing with both love and fear.  I like to think — whether by nature or nurture, mitochondrial DNA or hearing her “awww” at every baby she ever saw — … Continue reading

Posted in L.A. | 2 Comments

Comfort

In the hierarchy of maraschino cherries, Baskin-Robbins is the ne plus ultra.  Perfect comfort food. I kept finding myself singing this Deb Talon song to myself all day: When everyone has gone to sleep And you are wide awake. Theres … Continue reading

Posted in L.A. | Tagged | Leave a comment

Security

Over fifteen years ago, I had set up a personal wiki to centralize notetaking, to do lists, story ideas, etc.  One of the things I had jotted down were my mother’s last wishes. I haven’t visited my wiki in a … Continue reading

Posted in L.A. | 1 Comment

Visitor

The Amarano is a boutique hotel a few blocks away from my parents’ townhouse.  DWA used to put up visiting PDIers here.  Back when the hotel was named The Graciela.  Back when there was a PDI. My room was decorated with … Continue reading

Posted in L.A. | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Serenity

 Like the Battle of Serenity Valley, things are truly over.  My mother passed away after her long fight with Alzheimer’s and has crossed over the River Lethe.

Posted in L.A. | Leave a comment

Denver

Leaving on a jet plane.  Don’t know when I’ll be back again.

Posted in L.A. | Leave a comment

Uber II

Knowing how introverted I tend to be friends were shocked when they discovered how much I talk to the drivers when I use Uber.  “I just pretend I’m Martin Hynes,” I told them. Met a young polyglot from Afghanistan who moved … Continue reading

Posted in L.A., San Francisco | Leave a comment

Pixels

I saw it because reasons. People are saying that it isn’t smashing box office records because of a shift in zeitgeist. But I, for one, can’t believe that because it includes a line about “jiggery-pokery” scant weeks after Supreme Court Antonin Scalia popularized … Continue reading

Posted in L.A. | Tagged | Leave a comment

Commerce

The salesclerk/interrogator at Macy’s had this to say when I admitted to living in Shanghai:  “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.” Touché.

Posted in L.A. | Leave a comment

Periselene

 My favorite part of my trip has been reading my friends Martin & Zoya’s daughter Goodnight, Moon in Chinese before bedtime. She was kind enough not to point out that my tones were terrible.

Posted in L.A. | Tagged | Leave a comment

Phlebology

Haven’t been able to escape this Taylor Swift song since I got here.  Which is fine by me because it’s catchy as fuck.  

Posted in L.A. | Tagged | Leave a comment