The Many Faces of Julia McAlee © 2009

I love Los Angeles.  I really do.

It’s just funny to me, because, I really thought I’d despise it.  But it’s wonderful!  Why does LA have such a bad reputation?

Maybe it’s because she’s like the sexy friend that everyone is jealous of and talks smack about behind her back, because we all know she’s so awesome and fabulous and charming and beautiful.

Not to say there’s not bad things in LA.  Good and bad exists everywhere… of course it’s all what WE say is good and bad; it all only exists because we say it does… but that’s another conversation.

I’ve also gotten plugged in to radness pretty quickly, and my experience has been pretty unique I’m sure.  I mean, on my trip in October, I was sleeping on Andy Dick’s couch.  I used to watch his show when I was a teenager, and then there I am, sleeping on his couch and playing him songs and rubbing his shoulders… staying longer so I can hang out on the set of his new pilot, shaking Jack Black’s hand…

Then when I come back, doing the Landmark Advanced Forum, getting some really amazing insights into the nature of reality… seeing how much power and control each of us really does have in our own lives and the world… making a bunch of awesome connections there.  Finding an incredible place to live in a community of fellow artists, musicians, dreamers——-> Synchronicity LA <——-I am so stoked to live here!

I keep finding things here that excite and delight me.  There’s so much to discover!  I know that cynicism is supposed to be cool or something, but I’d prefer to go to bars and drink tea and eat chocolate chip cookies rather than play cool.  I am decidedly uncool.  I just do what I like to do, for the most part, and it seems to work.  The preservation of childlike wonder, through the reality of things we call Very Ugly and Awful… that is a grand venture, and a gift.  A challenge worth taking on!

I also fully recommend any korean spa… 15 bucks t0 soak for hours in many pools and rooms of varying temperatures and contents… hot, cold, wet, dry, mugwart, oxygen stone… and a nap room with a warm tile floor.  Who said heaven doesn’t exist on earth?

I also saw an impromtu Fiona Apple performance the other night at Largo… she really is wonderful.  Her voice is just sooooo rich and complex and evocative.  Old timey songs.  And she dances like a total spazz!!  I loved it, it was totally adorable and ridiculous and charming all at once.  Kind of refreshing really, very unpretentious.  She did a little “cheers” clink clink with us, left her wine on our table, and then we finished it for her (who’s going to waste good wine?!?!).  So… I’m choosing to believe that, through this exchange of bodily fluid – however slight – I’ve shared some karma/destiny/music/magic with Fiona.  It’s a good story anyway.

Also – right after I posted my reel a little while back – I immediately got some hate mail.  From “anonymous.”  Mhmmm… though I have a feeling I know who it is.  Anyway.  Obviously I’m doing SOMETHING right if I’m already getting hate mail!  If I’m not even famous or important, and people are putting that kind of energy towards me… well geez.  I must be pretty compelling then, huh?!  Haha.  So, please, send me love mail or hate mail my way.  Either one is welcome.  I wouldn’t be a performer if I didn’t like attention.

And to prove that point… now for a photo!

See the sparkle in my eye?  I was on my way from Ashland OR to Los Angeles… it was Monday morning, almost 2 weeks ago now.  I was staying at Ashland Hostel, and the guy working there happens to be working on a photo project called Hostel Women.  So, click!  Early morning photo session on my way to LA (makeup was added in photoshop).  Thanks to the photographer, Stuart Gray, who can be contacted at: graystuart@usa.net

Iiiiiiiit’s SHOW TIME!