Small world?

I know stuff like this happens to people all the time, and it seems like more and more people are spending time in China so it’s not that big of a deal I guess, but it still sort of blows my mind. Two girls I liked in high school (of say, five) have China ties. One I dated briefly and is living there now (with her husband) and the other I really wanted to date and has been to China twice, once with ELIC even!! (She’s married, too, by the way.) It seems really weird to think back to when I knew Kayla and Amanda (when I was a sophomore/junior in high school) and that we would end up in the same country on the other side of the globe at different times. It makes me think maybe John Stuart’s six-degree thing is possible, but mainly it just makes my head hurt.

It’s all that thing I try to explain to people sometimes: I like big things to be big, and small things to be small, and it scares me when they aren’t. OK that’s enough randomness for a while.

Doddi California

I want to fill you all in on some details of my sooncoming relocation, if you don’t know this stuff already. I’m taking a job with the English Language Institute/China, the company that sent me to Beijing as a teacher in 2005-2006. I’m not going back to China, though, instead to California. Specifically, San Dimas, home of a famous Circle K where some strange things once were afoot.

San Dimas is also home to ELIC’s North American headquarters and is, for some reference, about 45 minutes east of downtown LA, an hour from the beach, 2 minutes from the mountains, and 25 minutes north of Anaheim/Disneyland. (A year pass will be purchased.) My job title will be “Communications Typographer.” My primary responsibility will be newsletter layout and I start October 15th.

Oh, this is cool. Here’s the skinny on 19773 (my new zip) from ZipSkinny, via Chris. Also, go ahead and compare your Zip to San Dimas, or Moon Township (15108) or Beaver Falls (15010) or wherever. Lots of interesting stuff there.

But, just so you know, I’ll only be living in San Dimas for about a year (maybe less) until all of ELIC relocates to Fort Collins, Colorado, which means I too will be moving–again–sometime next summer, most likely.

I’m trying to approach this big step in my adult life with proper preparation and thought, which means I’ve been reading up on surviving earthquakes, how far I’ll be from Google/Apple/Pixar (the answer: 7 hours) and when Blade Runner is showing in LA theaters in advance of The Final Cut DVD release in December (the answer, I think, is starting October 5. First movie I’ll see in California? I think yes.)

Which leads me to my question: What are some must-see/read/listen to LA/California films/books/albums I should get to know before or after my Westward trek?

I’ll start the list and you all can help me put something complete together.

Films:
Chinatown
L.A. Confidential
The Big Lebowski

Music:
The Beach Boys
Weezer
Red Hot Chili Peppers

Books:
The Grapes of Wrath (not LA specifically, but the book I think of when I think California)
Shoot… I need help with books.

While we talk must-sees, be praying that I can find a church home in LA, and somewhere to live. My buddy Ryan has graciously provided me with a bed/couch until Thanksgiving-ish, but I’ll need lots more than a pillow leaving home, Providence and friends and family behind. Somehow I’ll survive without the Steelers (I left before and they won the Super Bowl), but Wednesday nights at the Stuarts, dinners at Sweet Basil and staying above mom and dad’s garage will be harder.

I’ll have lots more to say on lots of stuff soon. But for now, good night.