East Meets West
August 25th, 2006 by LaurenWhat am I looking for? Ahhh yes…my license, my cell phone and my head, for that matter. Getting to the airport two hours before hand just to dispose of my newly purchased lip gloss and board a plane was EXACTLY what I wanted to do at 5AM Monday morning (dripping in sarcasm). Yet, I board and kindly look around at my new friends I’ll be spending the next 5 hours with.
5 hours, 2 movies, and one life long story (compliments of the cute Filipino couple next to me) and we land in Sunny California. Over the loudspeaker I hear, “The weather is 77 degrees this bright and beautiful morning in LA. Welcome and enjoy your stay.” I think, “Thank you. I will,” and smile.
I must have been off the plane but 10 minutes when I was greeted by a young man holding a sign with my name on it. “Nice,” I say, nearly shouting. My company sure is on top of it. He takes my bag and leads me to a limo. A 50-point turn later, to get out of the garage, and I’m on my cell phone, telling my friends that I’m thinking of moving out to Santa Monica. Point 5 seconds later, THEY inform ME that I’ll receive a quick kick to the teeth if I do. Again, I smile. I love my friends.
My stay in Santa Monica was not for play, though the women of New York do know how to work hard and play hard at the same time. People often find this as some kind of phenomenon. How is it that we stay out late and still manage to come into work on time and pretend we would not even THINK to be anywhere else than in our office reviewing excel sheets. My last night out on the West Coast was a time I now like to call “reflection.”
By reflection, I mean I spent the most part of my Friday morning huuuuuung over. But just like a good New York lady, I managed to make it out to my best friend’s bachelorette party later that evening on the East Coast. And as I climbed into bed Saturday night, I thought to myself, “MAN, the ocean was beautiful and the men were hot, but I’m glad to be back in my small-ass apartment, on this small ass island, getting my much needed water out of my small ass kitchen.” What I really mean to say is, there is nothing like New York City, and I’m glad to be home.
August 25th, 2006 at 1:20 pm
I second the sentiment that there’s no place like NYC. I’ve been out to LA three times now for the (now defunct as of spring of next year) E3 conference, and once before that for other business. Not once did I really feel like I wanted to live there, and in fact, most of my thinking when I’m in LA tends to go along the lines of “Ah, sweet, but I enjoy this in NYC so much more.”
August 25th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
Damn right your glad to be back home with momma. Don’t even think about “reflecting” back to Santa Monica on any sort of permanent basis, woman I love you. (this made me laugh, it is just like you talk.
)