i was talking to my dear friend shannon last night, while we were spending one of the last evenings we could together before she goes away for a semester in italy, about how after the next year and a half, this might be over. this referring to the time when we’ll all be here in the same place. i’m pretty sure i want to go back and live in or near chicago after graduation, other people don’t know and could end up anywhere, really. so the times here in LA are possibly more limited than we like to think about, unless we all decide to stay around here i guess. it’s sad not because i like it here so much as i love the people i’ve met here (three of whom will be gone next semester–like a trial run of living without them. how cheerful).

i do, however, recognize there are a few things about los angeles that i admittedly will admit. here are the top two that i can think of right now:

first–in-n-out burger. damn, that’s some tasty burgers. if you’ve ever had one, i assume that you know exactly what i mean, and if you haven’t, then you have no idea what your missing. damn. how am i supposed to go back to the land of no in-n-out? well, at least in the midwest they have white castle, which they do not have here.

second, and more importantly–the phrase “out now in selected cities” that you hear before some movies more often than not means only los angeles and new york get it, then everyone else gets it. so there are the early releases for great movies, and that’s on top of the free screenings you can go to sometimes and see the film before it opens anywhere at all. how can you not want to see movies before anyone else and for free? or even just get to see a great movie in a theater, but a couple weeks before anyone else in the country gets to? for example, the royal tenenbaums, which i had the distinct pleasure of seeing this afternoon (tell me that wasn’t a smooth as hell way to enter into my movie review). i don’t even want to say much about it though because i’m sure anyone who reads this is probably the type of person who already knows they want to see this movie very badly, making recommendations a moot point. i will say a few things though–this movie is wonderful. and i mean that in the way you tell someone who makes you smile whenever they’re in the room and want to hug whenever you see that they’re wonderful. it’s that kind of wonderful movie. i laughed a lot and felt good in between. it was heartbreakingly human, and just–great.

that’s enough praise though, you’ll see for yourself i’m sure.

hey by the way i’m all done with school and i have to leave here for the airport at 6:15 tomorrow morning. yikes. but anyway if i don’t have more to say later, hopefully i’ll arrive safe at home and be back here saturday evening for the fans.

time to party.