A True History of Paradise

“She knew she should not be marrying Mark. Everything seemed to be telling her not to: her jealousy at seeing something so alive between Paul and Lana; even the book she was reading seemed to repeat to her what she already knew. It was not knowledge exactly, it was a sensation, a wordless brooding in her. She had been with Mark for five years. If she didn’t marry him, then what? She couldn’t imagine. That was the problem. She couldn’t imagine.

Once she had imagined other worlds, places with different palettes, different climates, even different passions. She had been rich with dream sounds and dream sights, day and night. But these things made her feel out of place with Mark and his friends. Dreams, poems, spectacular landscapes, these things that she could happily contemplate by herself for hours, made her quiet and odd.”

– Margaret Cezair-Thompson, A True History of Paradise

Prop 8 - The Musical

"Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more... by Jack Black

And a New York Times article about it. Sigh.

RAIN

It's beautiful! The rain! It's BEAUTIFUL!

Plop plop plop plop plop. Like a little army marching down the house, in the backyard, on the street. Man, do I love that sound. Comforting. Just hearing the rain fall.

It's been raining in Los Angeles for about three days. THREE DAYS! I think that's the longest it has ever rained here (well, in my experience anyway).

Huh. Speaking of living in Los Angeles, I moved out here August 2006, which means I've been here for more than two years! That's a big step for me. To stay in one place for that long.

And although I love the sun, sometimes it can be a bit much. It's just...always there. Not that I'm complaining in January or February (especially since I'm used to so much COLDER). I guess what I'm saying is, even though I live in a desert, it's nice to see everything get a little greener, it's fabulous to have my car washed by the elements, and sometimes (really) all I want to do is wrap myself in a warm blanket, sip some tea, and read a good book as I listen to the rain fall outside my window.

Currently reading: 2005 Non-Required Reading Anthology by the Best American Series

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

I LOVE THIS MOVIE!

MILK

Fall Quarter. The End.

"Too often we follow a path that is not really our own, one that others have set for us. We forget, that whichever way we go, the price is the same: in both cases we will pass through both difficult and happy moments. But when we are living our dream, the difficulties we encounter make sense." (Paulo Coelho)

Fall Quarter is finished for my second year as an MFA Creative Writing student. There's been talk of funding issues, there's been, well, a lot of talk. I finished another screenplay this quarter (whooo hooooo!) and revised an old one. Karen and I are revising our tween screenplay. I've been adding pages to my thesis.

I'm sad I won't be heading back to NYC for the holidays. Tickets are kind of outgrageous right now. Well, at least for my budget. I was always a bit depressed heading back when it was so cold anyway, so this will be good for me perhaps. To stay where I am. To relax. I might try temping (NOT relaxing -- but I guess my bank account doesn't care if I'm relaxed or not, ha!).

I think if I just focus, it will be good. I think, I think, I think...I'm probably heading back to NY in the summer. Hopefully, hopefully...Maybe when I graduate?

I'm a bit perplexed what the New Year will bring, but then I tell myself not to worry about it. Honestly, all I can do right now is what I've been doing, keep on, keep on...

Winter plans? Techno perhaps? A football game? Exploring LA and Southern California more? I still need to go to the Bat Caves in Griffith Park, the Huntington Gardens, the LA Arboretum. Perhaps Father's Office? Some other food places? Food = Money though...I guess everything and everywhere = money. Pfft.

The best thing I can do right now is write and revise and watch as many films as I can.

I'm going to see Slumdog Millionaire tonight! Yay!

Go go go!

True.

“The only thing that matters is what actually winds up on the big screen, not how you got it there,” he said. “You could make a cartoon in crayons about a red square that falls in unrequited love with a blue circle, and there wouldn’t be a dry eye in the house if you know how to tell a story.” - Don Hertzfeldt, animator