What I learned during this trip, the safe-for-public-consumption version:

  • It doesn’t matter if they suck: Rubio’s fish tacos are still my favorite.
  • Despite the fact that I love my desert ravers like nobody’s business, it is time to finally admit that I am not a desert raver. I get absolutely intolerable when temperatures rise above 90 degrees. It’s pathetic and sad and sort of awful for everyone around me.
  • I haven’t worn blue sparkly eye shadow since 1988, but I can still rock that shit. Thanks to Damon and Julia for giving me the Sephora giftcard for my birthday that enabled me to get in touch with my inner peacock.
  • Los Angeles beats out even New York for the “Love To Visit, Wouldn’t Want To Live There” award. My 18 months living in LA were pretty miserable, but every time I visit I come back blissed out and pleased as punch. In some sort of fantasy life, I spend 10 months a year in Seattle, and 2 months a year in NY and LA whoring myself in business dealings. (Book negotiations, film optioning, whatever. I haven’t worked out that part of the fantasy yet.) Then I spend a few weekends in SF. And there’s a pony involved. And a live-in male maid that follows me around. And doesn’t wear pants.
  • When dealing with a recurring sinus infection that gives you laryngitis, inhaling pounds of desert dust is not the best idea.
  • Road tripping with a DJ is hilarious. It’s non-stop quality music to the point where your ears almost can’t absorb any more and you just want to be like “Dude, can we put on some Kylie Minogue for a while?” That said, I came home with seven CDs of seriously top-notch tunes. I have no complaints.
  • Mmm: I loves me some laying on the beach. I still have sand in my hair! I refuse to wash it out.
  • Only in Los Angeles can you go from walking into a room where someone is seriously pissed off at you, to having that same person brainstorming about how you need to talk to their friend at MTV. In 30 minutes. LA is a magical, strange place. It’s no wonder that so many of my very favorite magical, strange people live there. I miss you fuckers like crazy.

Oh yeah, and there are pictures here, although I didn’t take many of them:


1. Speaker humper, 2. Brian looks so hot in pink!, 3. Tha Roman, 4. Julia & Homie, 5. Painted lady, 6. Northwest Reprazent, 7. Maggie, 8. Two times the trouble, 9. Seenthru peacock blue, 10. Brushing the diastema