Last night I some friends hosted a farewell potluck/cocktail party for me. It was very sweet and fun and, above all, LOUD. Heidi brought me flowers and then Jung went all out and gave me his old iPod. His timing is perfect, because now Andreas and I have days’ worth of music to listen to on our drive up to Seattle this weekend.

My father called me today and said, “How you feeling about it all?” I said, “Uh…” He said, “Well, I guess you probably don’t really know just yet, do you?” He’s right, of course. I have no idea how I feel about it all right now.

I leave Los Angeles tomorrow.

In some sort of painfully cheezy farewell to this painfully cheezy city and all it’s done for me (or not), I offer this painfully cheezy song. Lyrics linked below.

When I, thought I knew you
Thinking, that you were true
I guess I, I couldn’t trust
‘Cause your bluff time is up
‘Cause I’ve had enough
You were, there by my side
Always, down for the ride
But your, joy ride just came down in flames
‘Cause your greed sold me out of shame, mmhmm

After all of the stealing and cheating
You probably think that I hold resentment for you
But, uh uh, oh no, you’re wrong
‘Cause if it wasn’t for all that you tried to do
I wouldn’t know just how capable I am to pull through
So I wanna say thank you

‘Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter

Oh, ohh

Never, saw it coming
All of, your backstabbing
Just so, you could cash in
On a good thing before I realized your game
I heard, you’re going around
Playing, the victim now
But don’t, even begin
Feeling I’m the one to blame
‘Cause you dug your own grave, uh huh

After all of the fights and the lies
Yes you wanted to harm me but that won’t work anymore
Uh, no more, oh no, it’s over
‘Cause if it wasn’t for all of your torture
I wouldn’t know how to be this way now, and never back down
So I wanna say thank you

‘Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
Makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
It makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter