Its raining in LA

This image was taken by Blake Harjes
I don't know him- but i liked his photo.

It's cold and rainy. Its been so rainy that my heater has been on full blast, my windows shut tight and my down comforter and two other blankets placed over me at night! This has been my entre to living in LA. The rain started the first night I finally could sleep in my place, an exact week after my belongings were supposed to have arrived. This set a whole circus of activities in motion that I can only describe as the trials and tribulations of cleaning out my bad Karma. 
When I got to LA it was sunny. It was beautiful.  My nervous and well intended mom spent the first four days with me in a swanky hotel in the middle of Hollywood. She remarked continually how she loves winter and how I would miss NYC seasons badly. Our first night we saw Vanessa Williams.  Funny, I thought, everything is happening in such a cliche way; celeb sighting, hotel in the middle of LA's answer to TIME SQUARE, Hollywood sign outside my window...blah blah. I readied myself for the next four days to do nothing but find a car and assuage my mom's fears. She was worried and throaty the whole four days.  The day after I arrived my stomach woes turned on me. I had to get a prescription for a med that has Phenyl barbitol in it just to be able to stand up straight- not to worry I thought- growing pains. And so I trudged through the stress without any coffee, wine, nicotine, spice, or any of my usual delights. By Tues I leased a car.  A brand new baby blue Prius.  It was my very first new car. Sure I have "had" a car before, but they were owned  by my dad and usually 8 to 15 yrs old depending on what point of my life I was in. Secondly they were tanks. Thirdly, they were driven around areas I knew.  This was different. This was a responsibility- a huge one, one that I swore to be mindful of and compromise my life in other ways in order to make its payments.   As it was I had figured out that what this whole move has become is a forced retreat. I am in voluntary detainment in LA.  I can count on my hands the number of people I know and 4 of them are two couples who live outside of LA. I knew coming into this that I would have nothing to entertain me but my writing and my DVDs which sadly the DVDs did not make it on to the moving truck by mistake and lie lonely in my parent's garage.   So after saying goodbye to my mom I drove off into the sunset excited for my new life. I had to stay in the valley where I slept in my kind friend's spare room. I had a nice enough time in the Valley. Its not as awful as everyone makes it to be- but then again I am a SI girl and therefore am programmed to tolerate strip mall suburban culture.

Slowly my stomach started to heal and I thought things were looking up. Although my things were not here I managed between pangs of pain to unpack everything I did have and build a bathroom unit from target.  The next day I had a beautiful LA day planned for myself.  I intended to hike around Mollholland in a forest by George clooney's neighborhood. Afterwords with the new shower curtain I was going to buy, I was going to shower in my own place and then go over to the west side to the GROVE and the Farmer's Market.

On my way to the hike I stopped to buy the blessed curtain. As I was leaving to make a left out of the parking lot, a large SUV allowed me the right of way to make that left in front of her. As a glided into the lane in front of her, a white Nissan in the right lane swerved against the nose of my new car. Causing $7500 of damage ( as I learned later). She jumped up and down saying that it was her third accident that month and that she had just  gotten the car out of the shop and she was going to her it from her father who was her insurer.   As we waited for an hour and a half, the woman's passenger said that they should have said there were injuries so that the cops would come faster. I was on the phone with my dealer arguing because I learned that I rolled of the lot not insured for a month as I supposed I was and had requested and had written on my file when the  financing began. This was a NIGHTMARE! How would I fix my car? Was the woman going to sue me? And why all of the sudden was the passenger limping (who sat on the side of the car that was not hit) when the cops and paramedics came? And why did the paramedics come? Did she call and say there were injuries while I was on the phone trying not to cry to Toyota?

Well lets just sum this whole story up. Toyota is admitting it's their fault regarding the insurance- they are paying for everything. I had to rent a car and of course they gave me a Prius- I'm learning that my car choice, color and all, makes me a dime a dozen in this town!  Meanwhile, i got insurance aside from the dealer's and in getting it learned that my license had been revoked but I got it reinstated and thats all clear- and it was all about a late paid ticket (sigh)  The Ambulance chaser and her crew were brought to the hospital where, and I am not trying to be crude here, the cop who truly looked like Heath Ledger in monster's ball, followed along and made sure that X-RAYS and reports were written assuring that all this in his words "bogus limping" would be cleared and that i would be OK. My stuff came on Weds. They charged me an extra $100 bucks for living on the third floor. So I told them I had no money and could not tip them if they charged me for that even though they were a week late. But they had my stuff and it started to rain like g-d was angry! So I gave them the fee and tipped them minimally and called it day.

So here I am. Today I decided to take a walk in the rain. I found out that right across the street from my nearest corner is an amazing Armenian grocery store with all sorts of fresh  produce, meats, spices, and chocolate for me to buy at a VERY cheap price. I walked by a bunch of highly suspect Thai Massage salons where I suspect a little rub and tug goes on. I live in little Armenia but in little Armenia is THAI Town. So there are all sorts of Asian markets and cafes. They are all a little grungy and I am the only weirdo walking around from Plaza to plaza sussing the scene out. As I passed by one I read a large sign that said "this facility has a grade C by the health inspector and has only passed 75% of the testing provided for your safety." BUT THE PLACE WAS OPEN???? And there was business! I walked away cracking up and hearing Cartmen from South Park sing "In the Ghetto"

I'm completely excited like some nerd about to go out with the cool kids for the first time as my friend invited me to come see a band at The Derby and we are going to a lounge/restaurant that I suggested called Cobras and Matadors right by my house beforehand. I am not driving. I am going to get hammered! Secondly, I felt like an LAist as I called ahead and had a lovely conversation with the manager getting us a table on a Friday. I'm learning- everything here takes precision, timing and planning. There are no happy accidents, only rueful collisions in the Valley. There have been little lights along the way this week that have really kept me going. The Auto body shop is family owned and loves me and got me a free rental car.  My friends in Pasadena have completely let me live off of them for days.  The building manager is my age and new in town and has been a total resource. My Dad's and my sister's voice always reassuring.  I think I'm gonna be just fine. So if you were worried- don't be.  After all, I am here to write and grow up- and what better fodder for that than this week? right?

I love you and miss you NYC- as soon as I find the stupid cord I will post pics from my lovely goodbye drinks!

Comments

[isha]

I was never worried about you. If you can survive being stranded and abandoned in foreign countries, LA will be a peice of cake. The same Angels that saw you through the jungle are going nowhere my love. You will be better than fine. You will be great. Big hugs from the Charis

[beebs]

HAHA- that's truly funny! Its true- perhaps its not that I have had bad luck- but good luck has helped me through the bad snags. Thanks Mrs. Chari- give the nugget a kiss for me! And Thanks for the Target card- I bought a bathroom cabinet =)