Breathe Right

How have I just found out about these? Contrary to what I am blindly judging to be public opinion, these are not just for football players and snorers. They are really so simple. The technology is that it is a strip with strong tape that pulls your nose apart. That's it. Amazing. I'm hooked. I bought a pack of menthols today. Breathe Right menthols, that is. If you do try these (and I highly recommend it), please hold your nose in its original position and then release. It feels like your nose is expanding. It's awesome. If you adhere it tight enough it even hurts a little bit, but in a good way.

More MJ

A really great video for Blonde Redhead directed by Mike Mills and featuring Miranda July. It's simple and wonderful. Not to mention for a great song.

Here is me with Miranda, who appears to be wearing the exact same green turtleneck as she is in the video. Or maybe she bought more than one and rotates.

My last class

I figured it was only fitting that I write about my last class at USC before I actually leave Los Angeles. I also hinted at and promised to write about this historic occasion in an earlier post. Now it's all built up and everything...

My last class happened to be my feature writing class. We decided to convene at Mr. Pizza on Fairfax, across from Canter's, after an unsuccessful attempt by Roozy to pitch the La Brea Tarpits as the most ideal location to discuss the goings on of cross-dresssing priests, dying mothers, astronautical engineer loser fathers, CIA operatives in Iran, demon killing agents, Libertarians and the like. Man, if only we could combine these elements we would have a killer script. Sadly, this idea was vetoed for a reason which was either unclear or I have forgotten (or more likely, both). So, Mr. Pizza it was.

I arrived early, an extremely unusual occurrence. I was closer to the West side of town, again for a reason I have already forgotten -- do you see a pattern here? So, I waited in my car for a few moments savoring the air conditioning and NPR and avoiding putting more money in the meter -- though again, if I was more with it, I would've realized the meter was about to end in 15 minutes anyway and thus would still have those 2 quarters I wasted and could have put to much better use cleaning my clothes. I digress.

I then got out of my car and wandered up the block to a very cool store I had never been in called Family. I perused the eclectic wares of comics, DVDs, books, music, and original art. I bought the new Optic Nerve (#11) that had come out a week ago...that was a nice surprise to see it in the store.

When it hit 6:00 I walked down the block to Mr. Pizza. I turned into the narrow doorway, where the place looked empty save for a few random workers.

Okay, now I am resuming this post days later in Omaha. I will try to pick it up where I left off.

So, I walk into the dark, dank restaurant that is more like a dive bar than a restaurant. As I entered, the single beam of light from the outside illuminated a few of my classmates in the last booth. I sat down and confirmed that this restaurant not only met my low expectations, but exceeded them. I was confused as to why we were having our last class here. Others joined and looked equally confused. Our teacher Bonnie arrived and was grossed out and wanted to leave. Due mostly to apathy, time, and a lack of communication, we stayed.

We discussed writing, films, and careers, and I tried to make out the face of who was speaking. You could try to angle yourself in a position to use the daylight to your advantage, but the sun was quickly fading. I gave up squinting after my eyes hurt from the strain. We asked the waitress who was in some sort of tuxedo if she could possibly turn the light on that was on the ceiling not too far from us. "Oh, that went out a few days ago," she replied with a shrug. Guess they're not into changing light bulbs at Mr. Pizza. The pizzas came and we used the light from our cell phones to discern the toppings. I gave up trying to see what I was eating and just went with it. It involved more of an element of surprise, which can be fun, I guess. A classmate finally did pull out a lighter and lit the two candles at our table, providing a bit of a glow.

We were also really smashed into this booth. Sitting very close to people you don't know all that well can be awkward, but the night was already past anything that could be called awkward. We asked if they had any extra chairs. We should've known from the light bulb incident that this would only get us strange looks, as if we were asking for our pizzas to be made at the table right in front of us. For all we could see, they might have been. A few minutes later, they managed to pull out a couple of bar stools, taller than the table itself. So a few classmates held court over our darkened round table.

There were countless other strange things about this night, and many amazing comments made. However, I will decline to divulge any more because I am tired, my memory is failing, and for reasons of privacy and security. All in all it was a great and fitting ending to my time at USC.

Pistons up 1-0

Prince's long arms shut LeBron down. Rip scored some points. Rasheed had a few nice blocks and was surprisingly calm. Chauncey hit a clutch three and got a bloody nose chasing down that last rebound off the missed three. Nothing spectacular, but they got the job done.

The Return of Jezebel James

Clips of Amy Sherman-Palladino's upcoming show, The Return of Jezebel James. Warning: laugh track.

I am a seer of the hypothetical, imaginary future

I just realized that I mentioned Barack Obama in my hypothetical Gilmore episode and I find it surprising and noteworthy that he was part of an integral plot point in the season finale. He may not be at the Dragonfly, but with Rory being on the campaign trail and as likable as she is, I'm sure she could pull a few strings, coordinate with Lorelai and make it very possible...no, actually, probable that Barack would hold a rally there.

Also, here is an L.A. Times column on the finale.

The end of an era

Gilmore Girls is over. I have not yet seen the final two episodes. In a way, I am scared of watching them because if I watch them, the reality will set in that there are no more episodes to watch. None. In the whole world. I will have watched every single episode of the show. It will really be over. Watching those final episodes is like the nail in the coffin, and I want to hold off on hammering that proverbial nail. It's like when I'm reading a really great book I start reading slower when I get near the end because I just don't want it to end.

Yes, I know, there are still the DVDs and Amy Sherman-Palladino's new show "The Return of Jezebel James." I am really looking forward to it. It stars Parker Posey, Lauren Ambrose and Scott Cohen (Max Medina) and it was picked up by Fox, so there are a few positive things to hold onto. But I will still miss the goings-on of Stars Hollow. I feel like the town is still bustling, and that life there is still going on. Luke is serving a plate of hamburger and fries right now as he looks out the window longingly at Lorelai who rushes past talking on her cell phone to Rory who just called to tell her that Jess has come to visit her dorm as she was moving out and brought the book about her that he wrote and published titled, appropriately enough, "Rory." He brought a hardcover copy for her and a copy of Oliver Twist. Sookie is trying out a new dish for the Inn, as they are currently hosting a Democratic rally with Barack and Hillary in separate corners of the Dragonfly and Michel is trying to soothe the crowd tensions. Kirk is there with a trumpet to signal the entrance of Sookie's pecan-crusted halibut and grilled asparagus. The world of Stars Hollow moves on, but we just don't have a window into it anymore. But I know, it's not really true. It's just TV, and it's not real.

I guess Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel and the many supporting characters that made Gilmore what it is will be free to star in the script that I will be writing for them. How great would a buddy road comedy with Lauren and Alexis be...and maybe throw Kelly Bishop in the mix? It'll be like the road trip episode but bigger and better and longer. You would want to see that, right?

Also, Amy and Dan, if you're reading this (as I am sure you are), can you PLEASE do audio commentaries on all the past episodes of Gilmore? I would buy and re-buy the entire series if you did this and so would others. You can use that quote in your pitch to Warner Bros. and maybe they'll see dollar signs in their eyes and go for it. Because I finally listened to the commentary on "You Jump, I Jump, Jack"...well admittedly not the whole thing, because I've fallen asleep two nights (not because of the commentary, of course, that was thrilling...but because of the combination of exhaustion and Tylenol PM) but what I've heard has been great! Funny, insightful, sarcastic, informative...we get to listen in on the witty repartee and banter of what may be the best married TV writing/producing partnership in history (Lucy and Ricky, who?). And this was your first crack at it. Think of how engaging and entertaining you could be after doing six seasons worth.

My other suggestion: "Gilmore Girls: The Movie."

The season of disasters

Here is a photo of Big Lake, Missouri, the tiny town where our cottage is located that was recently flooded as a result of levees breaking. Our cottage is the cream colored small shed-looking place (it's technically a garage) in the bottom right of the cluster of houses. That's a sliding glass door that is underwater.

Behind the times

Well, a lot has occurred since I last wrote. I attended my last class at USC. That warrants a posting. I graduated from USC. Again, warrants a posting. And I have started to pack, which does not in any way warrant a posting. The fire is almost out, but our cottage in Missouri is flooded.

Photos and details to come, I promise.

Tomorrow is a very big day. Miranda July at Hammer. Last episode ever of Gilmore Girls. Pistons vs. Bulls. Red Wings vs. Ducks. Wow.

Los Feliz Fire Department

I just wanted to give a shout out to the Los Feliz Fire Department. They've been working really hard on this fire and have saved the Observatory, the zoo animals, and the Greek Theatre. They have also been instrumental in putting out the fire and stopping it from torching the city.

In addition to their fireman skills, they are also really nice guys. Their fire station is right around the block and I often pass by, usually with Rufus, and they always smile and say, "Hi" and often "How are you?" and many times at least one of them pets Rufus, and not just a little pat on the head either. They also drive by in their shiny red engines on Lyman and always smile and/or wave. They spend a lot of time outside, and often can be seen washing their fire trucks. They are polite and congenial, and a bright spot in the neighborhood. Their uniforms, whether they are their casual cotton navy attire or bright, reflective yellow jumpsuits, are always clean and presentable.

The fire station is also my polling location and have visited there many a time to cast my ballot. Again, the firemen are always nice, talkative, welcoming. They are happy to lend their quasi-home for democracy.

They even allow and smile for photos...I know from experience.

These are guys that take their role in the community very seriously and live up to the idyllic expectation of firemen (i.e. helping a sweet-faced six year old get their cat out of the tree), so I would like to salute them and hope that you all will do the same.

It rages on...

It's 12:16 am and the fire is still going. It's pretty strange to hear the words Los Feliz, Vermont and Hillhurst being repeated on the live news over and over.



I can still see the pink billowing clouds above the hill. It's pretty beautiful at night. Here are two photos I took about an hour ago on my street.





And two I took on Vermont Street, two streets away.





One on Rodney, a street away.



Here's one of Rufus and Laura. You can tell how alarmed they are.



And another:



This last one below was taken by a professional photographer. But had I had my camera on me when I walked to Fred 62, I could've gotten a similar photo because it looked just like this. I wanted to include one of the beautiful Griffith Observatory, that luckily was unharmed (As of this posting, at least. My fingers are crossed).



If you want to see more, the L.A. Times has many, and there's also a link on that page of other people's photos that they took from around the city at different times of the day and posted. I saw a lot of people out with cameras and video cameras. And I'm sure the media will be all over this by tomorrow -- or by now.

Fire!

There is a fire in Griffith Park right now, close to where I live. This fire has not helped the high 90 degree heat, and vice versa. My apartment has been covered by floating clouds of thick, billowing smoke all afternoon. And there has been an orange glow to everything that would be kind of beautiful except for the ash particles that accompany the blanketing tint. These apocalyptic visuals have been accompanied by the constant whirr of helicopters and the wail of fire truck and ambulance sirens. The soundtrack of life in L.A....

R.I.P. Gilmore Girls

You will never be forgotten.



Notice the sod on the porch of Lorelai and Rory's house. The house is already falling into disrepair...like the world without the Gilmores. If Luke was able to be around, he would take care of this. He would be there in a heartbeat with his backwards hat and a shovel.

What will I do without Stars Hollow and its fast-talking and quirky denizens? My Tuesdays will never be the same. Two more weeks left. At least I still have the DVDs. After these precious last two episodes, I'll start again at Season 1, for about my eleventh cycle.

I'm naming my first daughter Rory.