ghoststrider

As you can well imagine, I'm back from California. I actually got in on Saturday, but a combination of exhaustion, work, laziness, and preoccupation with other things moved this LJ update back to Wednesday.

I have to say, I found this excursion to California very enjoyable. It was refreshing to be around people who cared about liberty and were skeptical of government expansions, who weren't constantly arguing with me over every little thing (at least in terms of politics.) Unfortunately, I didn't get much time off of campus, although the Tuesday night party in San Clemente was very enjoyable. The professor who hosted the party has an amazing backyard view of the valley.

There was also, of course, a lot of stuff about screenwriting. I got to meet Paul Guay (writer of Liar, Liar), Tim Minear (executive producer, Firefly, Dollhouse, Drive; writer, Superman: Adventures of Lois & Clark, The X-Files), and Glen Whitman (writer, Fringe). Unfortunately, as I've read a bunch of stuff on writing, they weren't as useful. Whitman's lecture was interesting and useful to a point, but I don't believe his trade-offs of "characterization vs. plot" really make any sense, because characterization is advanced through plot. However, I did get some ideas, and the lectures on copyright and "stories about the law" were fascinating. I met a lot of people, most of whom were more traveled and older than I was, and bumped my Facebook friend list over 100.

The plane rides, however, were miserable. Okay, so they weren't that bad, but seriously, as a 6'2" (188cm) tall man, I believe I qualify for a disability whenever I get into an airliner. The overnight flight from John Wayne to Newark was an excercise in turning my legs into accordions, and not having anything to put my head up against. Amazingly, I was still admitted to the land of Nod for a couple of hours, but then I got deported and I wasn't allowed back in. But that was a week ago, and the misery is already receding from the shores of my mind.

Unfortunately, a new misery has come forth: that of dealing with morons on Livejournal, including those who don't believe the hysteria over Obama ever existed. Really? Are people just being that arbitrary with reality nowadays? I will compile a list of several statements made supporting what actually happened, and will drop it on a few communities, but I probably won't get anything done towards that until the weekend.

I also started work yesterday at the local convenience store. Easy, close by, and kinda boring actually. The only part I really disliked was food service, but it has to be done (and once you learn it, its not that hard.) One of my old acquaintences from high school works there, and I know most of the people since I'm usually in there to buy milk and bread. However, I don't qualify for a lunch break, and the only free stuff we get is coffee and hot chocolate, the first I don't like at all and the second which you don't drink during the summer. Oh well. As long as I don't accidentally let a youngster buy alcohol and tobacco, I guess I should be alright.