Day 26: Library card

Getting a library card was one of the first things I had planned to do when I moved down here, but since my driver's license still has my San Francisco address I needed a piece of business mail with my name and new address on it and as it turned out it took almost a month for me to get that. Since I finally got something in the mail yesterday, I went on down to the Palms branch and got me a card!



I forgot to bring my camera to the library itself to take a picture, but that's okay since none of you really care anyway. It was a typical small library branch, but nice enough for something in the neighborhood. One of these days I plan to go down to the main library and check it out. According to Ellis, Charles Bukowski used to go there when he was homeless. I would say that he made that up to lure me out of the house to actually go there, except Ellis doesn't know me that well and if he did he would have picked another literary figure (not that I can think of many off the top of my head that have lived in LA for any length of time, but that might just be my own bias showing).

As you can see, I picked a good Los Angeles book for my first book ever taken out with my Los Angeles library card. In my mind, Francesca Lia Block is the ultimate LA writer. I was even going to write a post about how Weetzie Bat is basically my only frame of reference for understanding things in LA, but I couldn't be bothered to dig through all my boxes for the books to quote from and then I just forgot. But for the one other person who reads this and has practically memorized the Weetzie Bat books from cover to cover like I have (hi Maryann!), you know how Weetzie thinks the Beverly Center is ugly and laments the fact that they put it up where Kiddie Land used to be? Yeah, I went there and it's pretty much the most hideous building I've ever had the misfortune to lay eyes upon, including the De Young. In fact, now that I think of it, I actually kind of miss the De Young, which is a sure sign that I'm going mad due to homesickness.

Anyway, I'm at a coffee shop right now in an attempt to fool myself into thinking I'm being productive. (Then again, it's also possible that I was already being productive but just don't feel like it counts if I'm wearing pajamas...) The last week or so has been pretty lame, but I think things are looking up again. I just got some GOOD NEWS!, but if you want to know what it is you're going to have to call or Facebook me because I don't want to post it on here and have it be searchable. I promise this is not just a ploy to get people to talk to me. Okay, maybe a little. Anyway, let's just say I got an interview for a program I applied for a while back. If that doesn't ring a bell then clearly you need to call me anyway because we haven't talked for hella days.

Mail!

I got a package from Maryann today!

Before I moved we decided to continue our habit of book-lending via mail. I just recently sent her a book of Oscar Wilde's short fiction and Haruki Murakami's "After Dark" (which I had borrowed before I left). Now I get to read Kafka on the Shore, and I have to send Lolita.

Speaking of Nabokov, The Original of Laura is out... I just saw it at Barnes and Noble the other day. Nabokov was working on this novel when he died in 1977. He asked his wife and son to burn the manuscript, but now it's being published instead. GQ reported that Nabokov appeared to his son in a dream and told him to publish it. I find this more appealing than the actual story, which is that Dmitri gradually came to the decision to publish, thinks his father would approve, and doesn't mind if you ascribe supernatural motives to his decision if you find that more palatable. (I wish I could quote from his preface, but I don't have it in front of me--it was something along those lines, though.)

Anyway, the format of the book is what's really interesting. Nabokov did all his work on index cards (if you've read Pale Fire, it seems to be the same system used by the character John Shade), and the book consists of scans of each card, followed by the typewritten text. The cards are perforated so that you can punch them out and rearrange them, as Nabokov often did with his own work.

When I first heard about the book and the controversy surrounding its publication, I thought that Dmitri Nabokov did the right thing and that everyone saying "He's just doing it for the money!" needed to shut up and go read the Aeneid or something. Now that I've seen the book itself, I'm not so sure... I think the note card format is fascinating, but also pretty gimmicky. From a marketing standpoint, it was a brilliant move, since you pretty much have to buy two copies (one to play with and one to preserve in pristine condition). I'll probably get it eventually, although there are plenty of other Nabokov books I have yet to read (Speak, Memory and Laughter in the Dark are at the top of my list).

Day 14: Back to work

Yesterday was my first day at my new store. These are some pictures of my new mall, so anyone familiar with my old mall knows why I'm freaking out a little. The store I'm at actually isn't all that much bigger than my old one, though.

I decided to stay in retail while I searched for a new job for two reasons. One obviously was to have a source of income, however small. The other was to meet people and make friends, since many if not most of my friends in SF were coworkers from my old store. Unfortunately, I got no hours my first week, 8 this week and none again next week, so I'm basically failing on both counts. I'm already doing all I can to find another job, but as far as making friends I think I really will get off my ass this next week and try to get a volunteer gig.


The mall I'm at, The Grove in Hollywood, also has a daily farmer's market that is somewhat famous. I went to check it out and it wasn't at all what I expected--it consisted more of permanent stalls and indoor stores, like what you would see at a "quaint" touristy spot like Apple Hill or Cannery Row. This was the only picture I got because I was self-conscious standing there and taking pictures by myself, but maybe I'll post more when I actually shop/eat there sometime.

At least I have my hiragana fridge magnets so I can bitch about my life in secret code.

Day 10: Fashion District!

Yesterday my friend Kelsey and I went to the Fashion District!

The Fashion District is home to a bunch of wholesalers and really cheap/discounted clothes and accessories. What I didn't realize before we went is that it also houses tons of fabric stores (as well as other crafty stuff like yarn, beads, lace)! Anyone who knows me knows that I like clothes, but I LOVE yarn and fabric to an almost unhealthy level.

This was the very first store we went in. As you can see it's full of lace and other fabric trims. Everything was so pretty! It really made me want to learn to sew... I still have a little cheap sewing machine that I haven't learned to use yet (though I have big plans to hem a pair of jeans and make a robot pillow for Ryan... haha).

The area is not what I'd refer to as classy (think corrugated steel roll-down storefronts, sale stickers, storekeepers giving you the evil eye, etc), but it kinda adds to the feeling that you're digging for something unique. This store had a really funky smell that hit as soon as you walked in, but the fabric section was AMAZING. We didn't get pictures, but there was also a big yarn section toward the front. The yarn was pretty much all pricey ($32 marked down from $45 for a tiny skein of cashmere and angora blend, whatta deal), but the selection was similar to most of my favorite fancy yarn boutiques (window shopping only for me) in San Francisco. In this particular atmosphere it felt kinda like--and I say this with the maximum amount of affection possible--dumpster diving. In an AWESOME way.



When I explained what the Fashion District was, some of my friends rightly questioned my definition of "cheap," since I do currently work for a semi-pricey retail store, and let's face it, "cheap" doesn't mean what it used to these days. I had my doubts too, but it was, in fact, CHEAP. On the clothes side I mostly looked at shoes, and although they did go higher (up to the high high price of $10), there were tons and tons of shoes for $5. Really cute, and the quality was no worse than you'd get at, say, Wet Seal. Not exactly high quality, but shit, for that price you could wear them once and throw them out. I forgot to take pictures so you'll have to take my word for it, but they were SO cute. My favorite ones were vinyl peep-toe heels in a rose pink. Also: strappy pink sandals with shiny gold plates on the straps and deep purple velour ballet flats with lace and pearl trim. I am not the kind of person to describe shoes in such detail, but FIVE DOLLARS, MAN, FIVE DOLLARS. Okay, I'm done.

Because I'm about to be down to my last $5 or so after this month's bills, I did not get any of the shoes, but I did get a gaudy cocktail ring for $1. Kelsey got one too:

It's already turning my finger green, but who cares?

Anyway, the ring thing is a good segue into something else I want to talk about. Kelsey's sister Bri is an actor, and she's playing several roles in a comedy that she also wrote and is currently fundraising for. Kelsey (who's doing costumes/hair/makeup for the film) thought an over-the-top cocktail ring would be perfect for one of the characters, so she picked one up for Bri too. The film is called GUT-TO-GO and the idea grew out of a New York Times article that claims that a beer gut is the new trend for guys. It's being directed by Will Wallace, and Ryan might get to help as a PA :) Bri's news site with info on the film is here. I just wanted to mention it because it's really inspiring to me to see how Bri (and their whole family) is working so hard to make this film a success!