Waiting for shots to be fired.

Funny times we live in, huh? On the news last night was a breaking story about a drive-by shooting at a coming-of-age celebration in North Hollywood, CA that left 5 people wounded, three of them seriously. A drive-by is so common these days, that except for a "small circle of friends", who really pays attention? The events leading up to the shootings are always the same. There's a party, some people show up who either aren't allowed to enter or, they are at the party but then are asked to leave, either nicely or by force. They leave, but they return a short time later, with a gun and go all western on whoever happens to be outside when they show up. Such was the case last night. Someday when they teach classes about drive by shootings, that will be in the dictionary as a text book case.

Is it simply pride? Was it a fight between tribes? Was it an insult or a perceived insult that triggered the series of unfortunate events? Why do these shootings continue to take place? Is it the easy availability of cheap weapons or the easy availability of cars? What's the real reason a young person (it is mostly young people pulling the triggers) would risk a long jail sentence if caught? They almost always are caught because they almost always are known by someone else who was at the party. The media like to dwell on the pain and suffering of those who happened to be in the way of the bullets. They usually were not even the intended targets. There's always someone happy to talk to reporters and say how scary it was, or how the victim was so nice. But it happens all the time, and so we just accept it as normal. And on to our next story - oh that poor cat up in a tree. As a society, we never really question why these events take place, we just report them.

Anyway, there is a party going on in the building next door. A loud and raucous party. The music is loud, the talking is loud, the yelling and screaming and whooping and hollering is loud. If guns make a person feel brave, then alcohol makes a person loud. And after midnight, it just got louder. So I wondered, a loud party like that might attract attention. People might want to come in and see what's going on. The people there might not like that. Words might be exchanged, hard looks thrown, and soon, someone might come back with a few friends, like Smith and Wesson, or Colt or Glock? And what if the shots fired go astray? Is my window in the line of fire?
Happens all the time. Better close the shades and duck and cover.

So there I am, lying in bed, waiting for shots to be fired. Because that's what happens at loud parties where people have been drinking and words are exchanged, right?

I don't like guns. I twice had a gun pointed in my face. I didn't like it. Sweet dreams.

P.S. - Morning. Next day. The party is over. I didn't hear any shots last night. I'm safe for another day.

My First Gig in LA

Hello. Thanks for all your comments. I really appreciate that people actually take the time to read this stuff and respond.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you about my first gig here in LA. It came from, of course, Craigs List, where I do all my shopping. I responded to an ad from a production company looking for people to try a new coffee maker and willing to give a taped testimonial about their experience. In exchange, you get the coffee maker.

Well, if you know me, you know I love coffee. So I responded, and the next day, a production assistant brought the Krups coffee maker you can see me holding, to my apartment. They also sent along some coffee to get me started.

It's a great coffee maker, really. And after doing some research, I discovered that the single serve coffee "pod" market is really big. There are dozens of review sites, blogs, and providers of these pods. You can even buy organic, shade grown, non-slave labor, unbleached cotton, environmentally friendly pods. Cool!

It's a little more expensive than buying bulk coffee, that is one draw back, but it is working out okay.

Next, I'll tell you about my 2nd gig, directing a short film, but I have to go to an audition now. Later.

Oh, did I tell you, I'm a Hollywood director?

peace