Why do I get these terrible assignments? Who did I upset in management to get stuck covering this bullshit beat? Damn these office politics.
Oh wait, I’m off today. Crud, the work time and “free time” is starting to merge in the worst sort of way. Gonna have to get that looked at, it can’t be good for my health. Well then, let me explain that I didn’t end up here by choice as in “let’s go take a dip into the cesspool called Americana, just for fun!” it was more like “let’s try to redeem these gift cards for a corporate eatery some nice people gave us before the Corporate Overlords start deducting some surcharge cuz they want to re-gift to themselves something they sold” and before I forget I have a free meal ticket to this place that I wouldn’t put on my to-do list. To make a short story longer, the wait at the BJ’s (haha!) was 45 minutes on a Friday night- AS IF! Don’t people have things to do or places to go on the weekends? I guess they were all cashing in their gift cards at the same time, surely this wasn’t THE destination for the night? Please Lord, tell me it ain’t so.
Thus my 2nd excursion (1st was a family related b-day requirement) into Americana territory. It’s just as bad as The Grove, full of shitty corporate shopping, crappy corporate food, and hints of the plaza concept as interpreted by the needs of companies that want to sell you things. Public space perfected by Corporations. It’s like a park, only not.
So yes, above you’ll see 2 random minutes of some of the worst aspects of our modern culture. I wonder if I can ask for a hardship stipend for this stressful assignment? And maybe even something extra for that Sinatra on the hour bit with the water show. Now that was excruciating.
Cool
Hey, what happened to your suggestions? I was about to tell you what I thought!
I’m not one to crunch the numbers—but seems to me that its a ‘more people in LA’ thing. Where ever you go now, there is an excruciating long wait to get seated—even Lilianna’s Tamales in ELA. Lines used to indicate a good eatery—but now, who knows what the long lines mean—free, cheap, specials, happy hour, excellence, unusual menu, great portions, large variety of everything—or just too many people. My friend is a chef on the westside, where the regular priced drinks are $30 each(!)—he comes home after work like he competed in a triathlon. No economic recession there. I’ve taken to eating my public meals at unusual times, to avoid the crowds.