viewfromaloft gives me a namecheck (thanx), and writes "I wonder what her take of the city is." Well, I probably shouldn't try to answer that while I'm sick with food poisoning, but I'm not sure what would qualify as a better moment.
Short answer: Boundless, unabashed, all-consuming love. (It's a tough love, though.)
Longer answer: There are two sides to my personality.
One is no-nonsense, efficient, a concerned citizen-of-the-earth who adores people but wishes they'd wake the fuck up from their stupors -- and sometimes I'm very ascetic too, requiring little to get by and alternately feeling indifferent to and disappointed by the extravagances of other humans' lifestyles. A hippie, if you must, but with the ultimate goal of remaining grounded in reality rather than the utopian astral plane. Like a reclusive hack writer: gimme a cheap room, a gallon of coffee, a newspaper, and some antacid for when the newspaper gets too upsetting.
The other side of me is just OBSESSED with the 20th century: with ill-advised but wonderfully hideous modernist cultural fiascos, with the psychology and hilarity of megalomania, queeny auteurism, Cold War paranoia, etc. And cars! I don't have a license and I've never driven an automobile for more than a few minutes, but I TOTALLY have a thing for the aesthetics of vintage cars and mid-century Route 66 road culture. (TV series I'm most looking forward to torrenting: Alton Brown's upcoming Feasting On Asphalt.) My inner art-nerd can't get enough of atomic design, googie signage, opulent neon, decaying stucco motels that still retain vestiges of their awesome period detail, tiki, Mexigoth, and of the decadent-but-chic elegance of Old Palm Springs. I'm a movie buff with a penchant for big-budget studio endeavors (and small indies too). I love listening to the coffee-shop convos of film-biz dudes with their namedroppy industry shorthand. I'm fascinated by rock-star chutzpah and excess and glam-punk arrogance and the '70s L.A. subculture we now call Yacht Rock.
I think that both NYC and Los Angeles have their lion's share of manic modernism (for better or worse) and proletarian humility (for better or worse), and it's why both places feel like home to me. Plus I can find anything I want here even if getting to it might require some extra time and strategic planning -- and adventure is my favorite cure for homesickness.
I refuse to let my cities rest on their laurels though, or shrug my shoulders and excuse their problems because "that's just how it is." We have to forge ahead, to expect and demand greatness, and to never forget our own role in cultivating that greatness.
Hi, Jody,
Came across your blog and thought I'd say hello. I have, like you, lived in Tucson, NYC, and now Portland. And like you, I find Portland to be pleasant but not challenging enough. I'm also an actor and am considering LA for that reason plus the "challenge" thing and the desire to experience big-city life again.
Anyhow, I'm learning all I can about LA and look forward to reading your further thoughts about the city -- especially how it compares to the other places you've lived.
Sorry for the anonymous post, by the way, but I wouldn't want my employer to find out I'm thinking about moving! I'll write you personally should you ever decided to post an e-mail address.
Cheers!
Posted by: Fellow Traveler | July 29, 2006 at 09:39 PM
Fellow Traveler, I've added an e-mail link to the sidebar. Come get me, spammers.
Posted by: Jody | July 29, 2006 at 10:09 PM