I've been really getting into Jane Austen lately. I plowed through Northanger Abbey and absolutely loved it. I recently watched the newest BBC production of it, and it's poorly done. If you have any affection for the novel, you'll not enjoy the film adaptation. I don't believe the actors in it could've made an "I want..." statement for their characters if their lives depended on it. They were very flat and cliche'. For instance, Mr. Tinley, the young man of interest, is supposed to be a charming character in the novel, whom Catherine is never certain until the very end of his intentions toward her. In the film, it was blatantly obvious from the get-go by his openly flirtateous smiles that he's "into" Catherine. So for the rest of the film, there's no mystery about his intentions, there's no discoveries to be made with regard to his feelings, and therefore no interest created by the romance, which is a major part of the story. Very flat characters. The directing was bad. I understood the director's intentions, but the follow-through was bad. He/she was trying to make it very stylized and bring out the "gothic novel" theme, but it wasn't consistent throughout the film and didn't weave or blend into the story. It felt like an afterthought.

Anyway, I'm almost through reading Sense & Sensibility for the first time. It's so brilliantly written. I've had to mature as a reader in order to fully appreciate Jane Austen. The language of her novels takes some getting used to. Only now can I fully understand her and just how clever each sentence is, and this is the fourth novel of hers I've read! And oh, does Jane love irony! I now understand the emphasis "Becoming Jane" put on Jane's love of irony. It never hit me so hard as it does in this one--she wrote lots of targets for her irony, I suppose. She must've been in a strange mood when she wrote it.

I was getting some major heart palpitations last night. I thought stress might have been the cause. Or perhaps all that peanut butter I've been eating lately clogged my arteries. Then I remembered what I drank yesterday afternoon. Those iced coffees at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf are a double espresso poured over ice. I couldn't get to sleep even though it was late. So I ate half a roll of Ritz crackers original and watched 2 episodes of Arrested Development, which I love passionately. Then I slept.

Today, I drove across town to check out an apartment I thought I was interested in. Bleh. Interested no longer. While over there, I wanted to stop by a coffee shop for a little wireless time. I found a sandwich shop that had Wi-Fi. It was noonday. Thus, I thought it made more sense to buy lunch in exchange for wireless service instead of coffee in exchange for wireless service. Alas and alack, I couldn't get the wireless to work. Well, at least the sandwich was nutritious, satisfying, and tasty.

Later, back across town, I walked to the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. I ordered a tasty Ice Blended Chai with whipped cream. A $4 beverage, but I felt bad about using the wireless there for hours and hours and only buying the cheapest item off the menu. Alas and alack, it happened again! The wireless network didn't work! The cause, I suspect, is all those wireless snobs at the coffee shop who brought their own networks--got in the way of my strong signal. It was, after all, afternoon rush when I got here.

As I prayed over my computer, a (handsome) guy named Zoran sat next to me. We greeted each other, then I began working on a resume and he read through a script. After a while, he set his script down and we talked "industry." This guy studied theatre in college, has been here for 6 years, is working as a bartender while he pursues acting. He has an agent, but he hasn't had many gigs. But this guy's heart is totally in the right place, career-wise. He is passionate about acting, but won't compromise his integrity to get ahead. He won't use people or schmooze. He's not into acting for the money or the fame. He just loves to act.

I've never been so glad that the internet wasn't working. If it had been, I wouldn't have talked to the guy. I've had a rough past few days--going from being constantly surrounded by peers to be completely alone for days on end, not getting to have a conversation with anyone in person. It's been hard. It was such a blessing to have him share his thoughts and experiences with me, and offer me advice. May God bless that man. And praise God! After Zoran left, the wireless network began working.

If you think of it, friends, please be praying for me as I look for permanent housing--I need a lot of wisdom. It would be great to find a place I both like AND can afford. I have a roommate, but she's out of town so I'm going at the search alone. Also pray for me in my job search--that my courage would not falter, and that I would get pointed in the right direction. Pray for endurance for the next week and a half--it's a lonely place.

I got into LA last Wednesday. Drove my parents to LAX and moved into my temporary apartment Thursday. I'm pretty much next door to two major studios, which will go unmentioned for privacy purposes. It's awesome. And a bit surreal.

I'm slowly getting to know my way around the city. I am at least familiar with the highways and the layout of the city. I'm figuring out where the Trader Joe's and Targets are. It takes a really long time to get a very short distance. We're 6 miles away from "school" and it's taken about 45 minutes to drive home from there in the evenings.

We had our opening retreat in Pacific Palisades over the weekend. I stayed up late every night playing games or just talking to people. The speakers are awesome: Dean Batali--one of the writers of That 70's Show, Barbara Nicolosi (a super hip former nun who actually reminds me a lot of Prof. Hallstrom,) Barbara Hall--exec producer of Judging Amy and Joan of Arcardia, and some other neat people. I'm learning a lot and really enjoying the community of Christians that this program brings.

Please pray:
that I'll be disciplined and focused in my walk with God as well as in my studies.
that I'll be able to find housing and a job for after the program.
that I'll trust that God will provide. Money is tight right now.
for safety in travel--whenever I get into a car, it's an adventure navigating through the crazy-wild traffic.