L.A. Camraderie Part #2

TIME STAMP 06/04/09 8:01 AM-5:00 pm

The Mud Spot Coffee Shop

Early start again, lots of work to do and the internet is flaking out at my place. Luckily there's a rock solid coffee spot that is "Steak Sauce" (see How I Met Your Mother).

Who says nice people in L.A. don't exist. I walk by this coffee shop everyday. Tuesday I had lunch there and used the internet. Walking by Wednesday the attendant, Tory, is taking a break. I passed by and he asked me if I was stopping for coffee today.

"I'm more of a tea kind of guy." (Still haven't gotten into the coffee thing...ick)

"Well you want a iced tea on the house?"

Umm...HELL YEAH! Anyway we made a quick minute of conversation and boom they have a repeat customer. So that's why I chose the Mud Spot as my work locale for Thursday.

I swear I see everyone come in there, with some sort of manuscript, are there really that many great creative minds in L.A. or are most of these REALLY BAD? I think if they stop letting Uwe Boll make movies and let some of these people we'd be in better shape.

Funny side-note. I told Tenaya about my "Pay It Forward" experience. I said there really just might be genuine people here. She said

"That or he was hitting on you. Did he seem a little gay."
(I think...oh shoot)


Hitting on me or not I spend the day doing Econ 340 work, Cover Letters, Resumes, fielding phone calls....2 denials, 1 phone interview, tracking packages, etc. Packed a lunch so I'm solid until dinner.....


TIME STAMP 06/04/09 7:45 pm

Back in the coffee shop after a break. Closes at 8:00 pm!! Starbucks & Coffee Bean want my left kidney and an indentured servant contract just to use the internet....what am I going to do? I need to find somewhere to work! Like 1000 lectures and practice problems to do before the mid-term. The Libraries close at 6:00 pm. I'm spoiled at M.S.U. with all night academic services

TIME STAMP 06/04/09 5:30 pm

Fixing dinner, hating on the internet for pulling a Terminator and deciding on its own to rebel and reset its configurations.

Go upstairs to help Garrett, Tenaya's Dad, with the internet. He reminds me A LOT of Bill Gilbert. Though Bill you need to have a 'tick Brooklyn acc't' Born and raised in NYC until 1970 he's got the stereotypical New York Ole Tomer gig down pat.

We sit and fiddle with that Linksys router until we both want to shoot it. He invites me to watch the Lakers with him, and we kill the first half (I'm ripping on Lebron and Garrett happens to be a huge fan).

Uniquely knowledgeable in NBA basketball....loves players like Rasheed, Barkley, Artest and Martin. He's an actor at heart so he loves the antics of these "Bad Boys."

It's getting later and the Lakers are pulling away and since my Nuggets lost to them I find myself dangerously bitter in a yellow and purple town.

TIME STAMP 06/04/09 10:25 pm

Quietly tip-toeing into Juan's apartment.

"Shhh.... the girl's has work in the morning, keep it down."

Terry boisterously loud
"Oh man I didn't know you got the "Gators" re-done!"

Juan rolls his eyes, keeping Terry quiet is futile.

TIME STAMP 06/04/09 8:00 pm - 8:45 pm

Walking around my neighborhood, Miracle Mile, just checking things out and enjoying the end to this awesome day. I walk where ever my feet take me and when I come to an intersection I pick a direction and go that way (keeping track of where I am).

I usually decide by which street looks more like it’d have an “open late” Cyber Café.

Walking by this subtly fancy, yet earthly little joint called “Fiddler’s Bistro.”

1/3 is set up like an old school RV Diner, 1/3 set-up like a normal restaurant, and 1/3 like a hotel bar. All of it is precociously decorated however….

TIME STAMP 06/04/09 6:45 pm

Walking back to the Mud Spot and giving never-ending grief to Red Wings fans Megan, Josh, and Jackie in particular. My two favorite teams...THE AVS and whoever plays the Red Wings. They are such sore losers it is almost too easy....of course they always revert back to the Yankeeism "How many championships do you have," "I reply how many sell-outs are on your team?"


TIME STAMP 06/04/09 8:45 pm

The Bistro's aura is that of a chill, relaxed pace with quality tepidly simmering over the edge. I almost leave right away when I ask the bartender what is on tap

"Nothing"

Hmm....Specials...

He laughs in a good-hearted way....there's pretzels, peanuts, and bar munchies on the bar though so I deiced to tough it out, always wanted to go to one of those places with decent on infested looking bar food....

$4.00 for a Bud Light, what I'm sure is their cheapest, no internet connection, damn.

Whatever the game is on still (though Orlando is now embarrassing itself) Kobe took over Quarter #3. I've had a long day and a beer hits the spot.

Juan, the bartender, and I start shooting the shit. About Colorado (ID from there) and other things. He does the typical bartender things. "Where you from, why're here."

And I give him the typical L.A. answers....MidWest...Entertainment...lol...


TIME STAMP 06/04/09 11:45 pm

Talking about the massive expanse of L.A. and Juan, lived here for close to 13 years mentions how he's been to downtown maybe like 3-5 times. I talk about how I sometimes get turned around and it takes me 10 minutes to get my bearings.

Juan mentions
"If you EVER get lost in this city, especially at night. Just find somewhere you can go to the roof. You can see everything (Sunset, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Downtown, Century City, etc."

Terry says,
"That or GPS, just ask Nik, he can probably import one for dirt cheap. Doesn't one of your brothers own an Electronic Store?

Nik
"Pakistanees and Arab people stereotypically own those stores. I'm Indian Smart-A88! I could fix your TV though. Hello this is Nikhail from Direct TV how may I assist you."

(He works as a manager at Direct TV)

Laughter.....

TIME STAMP 06/04/09 8:50 pm - 9:30 pm

My beer is finished and I'm packing up to go home. Great conversation and environment, thinking I'll stop by again.

Nikhail, a regular 28-33 something Direct TV technician pooped in smartly dressed for his regular couple drinks after work.

Juan seems to know him well and they immediately pick up a conversation. The restaurant is emptying out as the place closes at 10:00 pm. Juan & "Nik" start talking poker, casinos, and Lakers.

Apparently Nik just one $500 sitting down the night before after work. He came from India (Mumbai) about 12 years ago so he still has a thick accent, yet more importantly his eyes and excitement Richter scales every time he talks about the casino, people, and interaction.

Imagine what it must feel like for Nik to have all these guilty pleasures available to him in L.A. Movie theaters, casinos, bars, beaches, fitness gyms, etc; after spending much of his youth in a place that puts you in bed with nasty people even if you just want to go into a bar and watch a game.

Juan is down to Earth, funny, and genuine. Same with Nik...fate took me to the right place. Juan grabs his shift meal and to my astonishment asks us if we want anything. He got the appetizer combo plate, his usual and seems begging to share. We both decline but that doesn't stop him from whipping both of us up a plate with a sample of everything...doesn't stop us from wolfing it down either....

(TO BE CONTINUED)