June 18, 2013: The L.A. Update!

“Could I have some tissue,”the elderly lady asked the air hostess.  ”There’s something on my seat.”  And then, almost hopefully: “I think it’s hand cream.”

And so kicked off our wacky L.A. adventure.  I’d brought along a book (actually two books and the third season of Louie) to while away the flight but actually ended up chatting with Paul for much of the two and half hours.  Given the fact that we’re writing partners, you’d think we’d have nothing more to say to each other, but the truth is Paul and I rarely socialize and most of our (cell phone) conversations tend to be work-related.  He’s busy with his wife and three kids; I’m busy with my girlfriend and three dogs, so there’s never much opportunity for downtime. Still, the hours we do spend together, beating out scripts and pitching ideas, is more than enough quality time.  I remember, back in our Stargate days, someone once asking Paul if we hung out together outside of work.  His response: “Are you kidding?  We spend enough time together working.  If we started hanging out as well, we’d probably kill each other.”

Probably.

But, in this case, the flight allowed us the opportunity to catch up and reminisce. We weren’t quite ready to kill each other by the time plane landed but, in all fairness, we were only three hours into our four day journey.

Our accommodations in L.A. are, well, let’s just say far cry from their Tokyo counterparts.  Check out the decor – compliments of somebody’s aunt Eunice (?):

I knew I was in for a rough stay while I was checking in and the poor girl at the font desk had to shout to be heard over the piano player in the adjoining lounge.  On the bright side, the dozen or so pillows ensure I never wont for a “cool side”.

Three meetings on Monday had us driving from Beverly Hills to Burbank, back to West Hollywood, then over to Universal City before capping off the day with tequila and duck taquitos at a restaurant where the service was so bad we assumed our waiter was either drunk or high.  Then, today, two morning pitch meetings which went very well – insofar as we didn’t do any actual pitching.

Meanwhile, back on the home front, Akemi and her sewing kit have been busy: