I've been cheating.

• I've been posting other people's words instead of writing my own blog entries
• I've been reading friends' blogs insead of calling
• I've been watching TV instead of writing

But thats the way life goes I guess.  This week I have had another buddy in town for a long time. I've hung out with him more this week then I have in 4 yrs.  He just told me last night that he is moving here May 1st. I literallly almost cried from joy- another New Yorker and a close friend who gets me at that. I think I hugged the life out of him- which he gladly excepted. Thats another thing out here- people don't touch eachother. I have to control my touching.

In other good news, I have been working.  It ranges from canvasing neighborhoods with flyers, cards and movie passes to promote the one week that this film will be playing at the Laemle Music Hall: http://www.dyingtolivethemovie.com/ to doing more associate producing things in the office. I really don't mind the canvasing as i have been basically driving and walking around this entire city- its really teaching me about the life of each neighborhood. Yesterday morning I was covering the Pico/Robertson neighborhood- its extremely Jewish. It was a fortunate act of kismit as it was Purim and I had forgotten. Every store I walked into i was offered a happy Purim and a spin of the grog.  I had so many Hamantaschen that I was on a sugar high.  In some ways it felt good to walk around and have that part of me be automatically recognized and warmly greeted. My mom always say, " you know your own people."  With Jews this is particularly fascinating; there is no one look or personality -although others might disagree. However, elder yids always know me from a mile away...funny.   The film maker i am working for is actually profoundly religious and went off to the synagogue to hear them read from the Midrash I am sure there was a small child's costume parade as well although i hear the Esther and Hayman garbs are being replaced by Sponge Bob and Square Pants- OY. In any case I felt strange because i was almost jealous- I wanted to go.

I found myself wondering inwardly and pleasantly about where I belong.  I've been obsessed with personal history and roots and yet virolently opposed to being typecast or aligned to just one group.  I find solice out here in the few small groups I can align myself with:  Jews, Columbia Alums, Yogis, Ex-NYers... this is cheating- thats the thing about moving- nothing is organic, everything is an effort to open up and create more vast network for you to fall upon- it is forced cnnectivity.