Un-Olympic
It's Saturday. I'm at Tanner's, a little coffeehouse with free wifi and a million outlets, in Culver City. Bagel, latte, oversized chairs, friendly folks working the espresso machines. Not a Starbucks in sight. It's like 1992 or something. (That's a compliment.)
I don't know where to live. Last Saturday night, I secured housing for August. On Sunday, I drove my old car, which I'd kept at my parents house in Pleasant Hill, seven hours to Venice, met my roommate, dragged two suitcases into my room and started the job, writing on a daytime talk show, the next morning.
Baby and Daddy stayed in New York. We said goodbye to his daycare, tears all around. Said good bye to our neighbors, wine all around. They are flying out Sept 1. (The first show of the season tapes the next day). The volume of available apartments is overwhelming. It wasn't like this when I came out in 2005. I am looking at five places today. Now me, I could stay anywhere. (After all, I've stayed at the Tucson Laffs comedy condo.) But KilBaby is almost three. He's curious. He opens doors and turns on faucets and touches, throws and licks everything. So, amenities are not a top priority. What happens if he opens this door? Is he close to a pool? Four lanes of traffic? Can he jump from that balcony? That guy over there... the one on the bench. Do you know him? I don't like his eyes. Or his pants. Those are the pants of a sex predator. Thank you for showing me, I have a few more places to see. Yes, I'll let you know.
Culver City is cute. It's a little junky, which I like. I joined the Y on Wednesday, and when I walked in on Thursday, the girl at the from desk said, "Hi Laurie." Exactly the opposite your LA Fitnesses, your 24 Hour Fitnesses. The Y equipment is a little old, the layout's crazy and the pool doesn't have gutters. That shit used to drive me crazy, no gutters in a pool. The waves, the wild, choppy water... so un-Olympic!! But I don't care anymore. The people are nice, the other members wear shirts that cover their abs when they run. And when it comes to swimming, I too am un-Olympic.
I am working with very funny people at the job. That is exciting. I feel like how I felt at Tough Crowd. Surrounded by funny people I can learn from and laugh with. That's the best feeling. And I feel like the responsibilities at this job will force me to reach deep. No more slumming with one show a night. If I may be so lazy as to reach for a car metaphor, then I predict that I will be firing on all cylinders.