Home again

So I'm home. I wanted to write again before I left LA, but the internet is not always super accessible. During the last few days of my trip I saw UCLA, which is a really cool campus. I took some pictures around the theater building. They have this really neat sculpture garden surrounding it with sculptures (clearly) and benches and walkways and fountains where you can hang out. I couldn't get into any of the theaters to see them or anything, so I just kind of checked the place out. I tried to talk to someone from the playwriting program, but the receptionist mostly just said, "Have you checked out our website? We don't have anyone you can talk to. Check the website." So the jist of that experience is that UCLA is a big state school and I am just one more person who might like to go there. It's also a big program, so although my chances of getting in are good, so are my chances of getting lost. After that I went down to the beach in Santa Monica and saw the pier. I walked up and down and enjoyed my first viewing of the Pacific Ocean.

The workshop on Saturday was amazing. It was at USC with three of the professors of the playwriting program. We talked about our personal writing styles and our challenges with writing and then they led us in some writing exercises. It was fantastic. It may just be because I've had little to no formal writing training, but it was really illuminating for me and gave me new ways to develop character, story, and structure. I soaked up everything they said like a sponge.

What was most helpful was getting a few tools in my hands that help me feel like I can really do this. It was empowering and somewhat daunting at the same time. There were about 15 writers around the table, some of whom I know are applying to the same writing program. They only accept 3-4 people into the program each year in order to keep it very intimate. I know how much I would benefit from that kind of small group atmosphere. They said that people from all levels of experience are accepted into the program, so I just have to let my work speak for itself.

After the workshop my friend Andrew drove me up as far as we could go to help me get a good pic of the Hollywood sign. I'm not gonna lie--that was cool. After that, we had a hard time thinking of other "touristy" things to do. See, when I think of LA, I mostly think of famous roads--Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Blvd., Rodeo Drive, Mulholland Drive, etc. So once you've driven on those and seen what's on them, I can't think of what else to do. I did drive down to Malibu, just to see it, and saw Pepperdine University which is built up on the sides and tops of mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was breathtaking!

My favorite thing I saw was a trolley of people on one of those "Homes of the Stars" tours. We pulled up an intersection just as they did and they all leaned out the sides taking pictures of a big beautiful house that looks just like every other big beautiful house on that street. But, because Paris Hilton or some other tartlet just bought it they need a picture. It was delightful.

I saw the hotel where they filmed "Pretty Woman" and the building where the Screen Actor's Guild is housed. Andrew said we passed Danny Devito on Mulholland, but I didn't see him. I'll admit, I forget to look for stars.

So, I liked LA. I certainly don't want to settle down there for any significant amount of time. The traffic alone makes me want to run for the hills. It's so different than anywhere I've ever been before--you can see how people get eaten alive out there. At the same time, I know I couldn't live there without being stretched beyond my usual self, and in some ways that could be a very good thing. I'm taking this opportunity to check into some other schools in other cities just to make sure I'm looking into all my options.

Here's the second half of my list of things I learned about LA:

1. There are an average of 300 sushi restaurants per square mile in LA.
2. Palm trees can be really BIG!
3. "McGriddle" is the same in both English and Spanish.
4. You can get a sunburn in September.
5. Atlanta should teach LAX something about airport security.
6. I could really get used to 75 degree weather.
7. Incredible views can always surprise you around the corner.
8. Avoid the 405 at all costs.
9. The Fresh Prince no longer lives in Bel Air.
10. The Chinese love the Chinese theater.

So, I enjoyed my trip and neither loved nor hated it. It will be interesting to see how grad school works out!