December 1992 – Long Beach

Heading to Tinsel Town to meet my sisters for the holiday. The Southwest Airlines captain announces: “Flight attendants please clear the aisle so we can see while backing up.” Joker.

Entering the movie-making mecca, I’m scanned up and down, and judged. I’m in L.A. Our waitress wears a very tight strip of fabric around her waist. Lots o’ leg. She forgets my dinner salad. I'm forgiving. But I speak up for Bridget who asked for her sandwich withOUT bacon.

She growls, "I can take care of myself."

The trades paint this place as a magic kingdom surrounded by barbed wire. Bridget confirms in a single swath: “They’re all ego scumbags.” I’m not intimidated. I’m just visiting this cinema capital and not sure how to fit in. I want to be a player, but not with their rules. Chill.

Gorgeous L.A. day. Tomorrow's Jesus' birthday. Upper 70s, shorts and cotton tee. Snow-capped mountains clearly viewed. Stars and celebrity muck are out of town for the holidays. Taken the gridlock and exhaust with them.

My buddy Hebo (aka Heath) and I are ejected from Qs pool hall. Collar required. Tough town.

For Christmas, Beth gifts me a chilli-willi penguin to keep my soda cans cool. I can not think of a more useless gift...bound for recycling. Bridget makes a one-stop shop at her Disney Channel workplace – digging through the marketing bin – I get a red Mickey Mouse turtleneck, Mickey Mouse watch, Mickey Mouse baseball cap, Goofy doll.

Gotta love them all the same.

Screenwriting Coin

Pigs are walking around L.A. on a leash. Bridget got worked up passing the pet store. Screeching puppies. She’d buy the entire lot if she could and free them all, probably. I had to investigate. She stood outside the entrance refusing to be swept with emotion and peered off into the distance, smoking a butt.

I fantasize aloud about selling a screenplay for six figures.

Bridget bites back. “You’re not going to make 500 grand so you don’t have to worry about it.”

Whoops, there goes your 100.

“I wouldn’t be that generous. I’d give you guys 10. Give most to charities and travel.”

Very tough town.

Looking to '93 my desires are pretty simple — switch the hours I spend working, with the hours I spend playing — writing creative stuff — the writer’s life I dreamed of.

17 – Taunting the Dream