Monday, June 28, 2010

Fun weekend

So my weekend was pretty fun. Mostly consisted of following Writress to fun premiere events and getting free stuff, so that was pretty good.

The actual premiere was on Wednesday night, and it was a really fun night. I got to meet more of her work friends, who are great people, and get a glimpse of what I'd like to be able to have someday when I create a show.

Then Saturday morning we had a lot of fun having Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier rented out for the show. Got to play a bunch of fun carney games and go on the rollercoaster as many times as we wanted for free. Then last night was a party for the actual airing of the show at the house of one of the executive producers. It was very nice, and despite the fact that Writress and I were the youngest people there and only assistant level, the host was very gracious and spoke with us. It was nice to think that we're not as far away from making it as it sometimes seems.

On our way back from the Pier we stopped at a street in Hollywood where a friend recommended we look at an apartment. There were so many for rent signs that we ended up going into a nicer looking building, and found that they had a unit in there that could work for us that's totally in our price range. We're not going to pull the trigger on any one place until we've done more research, but it did help make things feel more real that we're starting to look at places. Later in the day we walked around my current neighborhood and wrote down more addresses and phone numbers.

August 1st is our date that we're aiming to move. Writress's roommate already has someone lined up for her place though, so if needed we could move as early as July 15th. We may wait for Writress to sign on with a Studio temping agency or something first though, since some buildings want to make sure you're employed first for the credit check. We're waiting to see if her show gets picked up, which would mean she has a job waiting for her in the fall.

Actually looking at places together doesn't scare me, it's fun and exciting. I didn't see myself doing this kind of thing until I was engaged, but honestly, I'm not worried about that. We're not quite ready to get engaged, but I love Writress and know that it's only a matter of time before I figure out everything that goes along with buying an engagement ring and proposing.

We watched a movie called TIMER on Saturday night that was about a device that gets implanted on your wrist and tells you the day you'll meet "The One" for you. Writress asked me if I would get one if they were available. I told her I didn't need one and kissed her, and wasn't bullshitting at all. In that situation you really can't say anything else, but I still meant it.

In other news, this weekend was also the wedding for my College Ex. I haven't heard from any of my friends who were there yet, but I can't help but be curious. I'm in no way jealous because I'm glad we broke up and I'm much happier with Writress, but since she was such an important part of my life for so long I can't just not care. It feels like an old friend that I lost touch with is getting married.

And so, that's what's going on in my life now. Expect more apartment hunting updates as the month goes on.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Going to a premiere tonight

A year and a half ago I got a suit, just in case I'd ever need it. Tonight I'll be wearing it for the first time. It just goes to show that there aren't many occasions in Los Angeles where you can't get in wearing a pair of jeans.

In fact, I could probably get away with not wearing the suit tonight, but I'm not going to. Tonight is the premiere for Writress's show, so we're doing the whole red carpet thing. I get to get off work an hour early (since I'll be going in an hour early one day next week) and it should be a fun evening.

Writing-wise I've been a bit lazy the last few days, partly because Writress turned me on to a trilogy of books called The Farseer Trilogy that's captured my attention. I'm nearly done with the second book, so I should come back to reality soon. I've opted not to try to apply to the ABC fellowship, partly because I know I don't have any connections for it, and partly because money is a bit tight right now with bills and my upcoming trip to see Writress's family in Colorado, so it's not worth it to pay the entrance fees. I want to also save what I can for moving costs and new stuff Writress and I will need for our apartment.

I'm really psyched to live with her. Once we're settled we'll both be able to live cheaper and happier, until we get to the point where we likely have more money than we can spend.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

What sets you apart

Writress and I met up last night with a friend of mine who was one of my junior writers on my college TV show who had just moved out to LA. We offered her some advice on getting started, and one of the more important things I've learned came up.

You need to find something that makes you different and interesting.

Writress got her recent Writer's PA job partly because she had been a competitive ballroom dancer in college. She's traveled all over the world. She has things that make her stand out when you talk to her beyond the fact that she's smart and nice.

Smart and nice are needed, but for a white guy who's an Ivy league alum from the Northeast, I need something more substantial to be my own personal hook, the same way that characters on the page need something special.

I'm still working on it, but one thing that I've noticed about myself that could be useful in a writer's room is that for some reason, people are willing to confide very personal stories to me. Sometimes right after they first meet me. And some of these stories are a little out there. In the first conversation I had with one of Writress's coworkers when I met her a few few weeks ago, the coworker told me that she once went on a date with a guy who asked her to use a strap-on on him.

I've been told that I'm not overly judgmental, and since I love hearing stories of all kinds, I think that people just feel more comfortable opening up sometimes. I think that being able to draw on not only my own stories, but on the random things I've heard along the way will help make me an asset if I'm ever lucky enough to find myself in a real writer's room.

Friday, June 18, 2010

We're going to get an apartment

Writress spoke with her mom, who was very supportive about the idea of us getting a place together. She hasn't spoken with her dad yet, but really doesn't expect any resistance there. So I think we can officially say that we're getting an apartment.

We think we'd like to stay in Hollywood, but if the right place comes up we would consider West Hollywood, Los Feliz, Studio City, or Burbank. There are some buildings that have been recently built/renovated that I'm curious to try out. Likely they're out of our price range (we'd ideally both like to be paying less in rent each than we are now), but it's worth a look since they all began construction when the economy was great and now might be desperate for tenants with the bad economy.

Things with my current roommate have been better since November, but even still I'm starting to look forward to being out of that living situation. I'm going to enjoy having more autonomy over my personal space. Writress isn't the type to get overly bossy or force things to be just her way.

I'm getting excited now. This will be good.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Nerf Swords and Plane Tickets

This past weekend the present Writress ordered for me for our one year anniversary arrived: Two Nerf Broadswords. That's right, my girlfriend got me swords. And everyone in my apartment has been having fun wailing on each other with them ever since. They're fun props to have and pace with while writing, and work well as pointers when you're gesturing to a corkboard or something like that.

On Sunday the two of us were finally able to sit down and break story on the pilot idea we've had for a while. We're using the note card system, and it seems to be working for us. I pointed to cards using my new swords. It's evolved into a different pilot than we originally envisioned, but that's how it always goes, and I think this will be a great sample. We seem to work well as a team too, so that bodes well for the future.

I just bought plane tickets this morning to go with her to Colorado over 4th of July to visit her parents and see her home town. I'm actually looking forward to it rather than feeling like I'll be on enemy turf the way I did when I visited my college girlfriend's family.

Writress hasn't had a chance to talk to her folks yet about the idea of us living together, but more and more we're getting to the point that we think we're gonna do it. It'll be nice to have confirmation, and exciting to go through the process of finding a new place just for us, but for now I'm not quite as anxious that it's not going to happen like I was for a minute there earlier in the week.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

I asked Writress if she wanted to get a place together

This isn't something I would have predicted for myself, but the other night I asked Writress if she wanted to get an apartment together.

It had been on my mind for a while, and last Friday night my roommate started talking to me about apartment stuff. My plan had been to move out once my sister got to town and get a place with her. Roommate has a friend he wants to move in, and her living situation is getting sketchy for her, so she'd rather move in sooner rather than later. The thing about my sister is, I don't think she'll be ready to come out here in a couple months. I think in order to save the money she needs to save, she may have to wait until January. So I thought, maybe Writress and I could get a two bedroom place, and hold onto it together until my sister comes out. I ran the idea by my sister, and she told me that she'd rather just get her own place (I think she realizes that she'd rather be able to have her own place when she starts dating people etc...). So I was left with the decision of whether or not to ask Writress if she wants to get a place together.

I've always said that I wouldn't want to live with somebody casually. I'd even pondered if it would be better to wait until I was engaged. But I'm incredibly happy with Writress. We spend all of our free time together and don't get sick of one another. We just make each other happy. I can easily see myself marrying that girl someday, and I don't find that to be too scary. I don't think I'm ready to actually go out and buy a ring though, partly because I'm trying to be cautious based on life experience. The way I see it, moving in together is like another step forward on that path, and I think it's a step we're ready for. As it is, she stays over at my apartment every night anyway, so I think we have a pretty clear idea of what it'd be like living together. And for the cynics out there, I do also realize that if it doesn't work out it's easier to break a lease than to get a divorce. I really don't see it coming to that though.

Plus on the practical side, splitting a one bedroom apartment in Los Angeles means getting a nicer place with each of us probably paying less rent than we are now, so that's a bonus.

So on Monday night, after she got back to my place late after work, I asked her. She wasn't expecting it, but she really liked the idea. It was great.

Last night, she had thought about it a bit more, and we had a pretty serious conversation. We both realize that it's a big step, and I don't want to pressure her into anything. I think after thinking on it, she had some concerns, and our conversation last night made it clear that we're on the same page. We decided that it'd be a good idea to just think about it for a few days before coming to a decision, and she's gonna ask some advice from a couple trusted friends about it, and maybe talk to her parents.

I'm pretty sure she'll still say yes to it. It's a big step, and one of those, "wow, we're actually adults now" kind of things, but I think we can do it. And it'll be good. In the meantime she's still making it very clear that she's very much in love with me, so that helps. I'll admit that I'm somewhat apprehensive waiting for her to make her final decision. Between that and work I'm feeling a little stressed out, but hopefully it'll all work out soon.