Four months already?

The time has come, my little friends, to talk of... getting out. :(

March 27th-July 31st. 7 days left!!

I have:

Gotten a Job

Been to Mann's Chinese Theater

Toured most of the Getty Museum

Met Bebe, Ongina, TaMMie, and Shannel from RuPaul's Drag Race

Seen a Talk Show (not Craig Ferguson or Ellen, but Jimmy Kimmel)

Reconnected with a few long-removed old friends

Been an Activist for Human Rights

Become slightly Famous (awesome)

Gotten a lot of things for Violet

I have not:

Gotten a good job

Seen the Hollywood Sign

Been to any of the Beaches

-----learned to Surf... yet.

Met Drew Barrymore

Seen Bob Mackie's Studio

Landed an Internship

Been to Hamburger Mary's

Eaten at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles

Taken a Sight-Seeing Bus Tour (but to be fair, three years in Savannah, and I haven't there)

Looked for L.A. Ink

Done very much work for my upcoming Senior Collection

Seen many people from SCAD that I meant to, that I know are here

Gotten a lot of things for Violet

I've spent a LOT of time in this house... like almost two solid months without really leaving it for anything except the grocery store, though thankfully those two months weren't back-to-back. I tried out the waters as Violet, and if she can make it a little big in a few weeks in hotspot downton Los Angeles, there's nothing saying she can't make it big in Savannah, GA. :)

I've met a lot of great people and a few bad ones--though not at all the ones I had expected. For instance, I thought my job would be this fun, homely little family, and that my new nighttime party friends would be fickle or shallow, just based on rumors you hear. Unfortunately, my job turned out to be chock-full of flakey, money-hungry, greedy, immature children, but thankfully, my [Violet's] new friends turned out to be some of the sweetest, kindest people to me. They're supportive, funny, busy--but not too much to talk, and just make me smile to be around them. I would never have expected me, of all people, to HATE a job involving clothes and LOVE going out at night.

I've nothing more to say about my working ladies, who consider themselves responsible and on top of their games except that you know I'm smart and very fair, very aware of deadlines and customer satisfaction... so you can be certain that you shorting me $120 off my paycheck and giving it to me five days late is not, as you put it, "the end of it." You won't hear more from me, but you will from a few other people... or didn't you know my Aunt worked in one of the country's best law firms and I am indeed very aware of my and everyone's rights and how to ensure they are not neglected? Though I don't expect to see my last $120, and indeed not getting it has cost me around $300 because of late fees, so again, thanks for that, just know that my $120 will cost YOU so much more.

However, to Joshua Miller, Detox, Cheyne, Vincent, Josh Kimball, Seth, Mayhem, Ingenue, Morgan, Richard, Griffin, Patrick, Lorraine, Nelson, Nick/Trey, Mike, Lanny, Shane, Brian, Brody, JR, Nick, Joshua Alan Rogers, Kristin, Peter, and TAMMIE BROWN (yes, we're actually pretty good friends now!!), I thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for making an awkward, naive girl feel at home and get a taste of the celebrity life. As for her male counterpart, I'm just as equally proper, cloistered, and old-fashioned, and you've made me feel so comfortable with a fast-paced Gay nightlife...and that was something I never expected, especially in L.A. Truly, I've always been confident in my design abilities, but you've made me confident in my personality... and with all the bad times this summer has held, all the money I've lost, all the time I've wasted, that has made the trip invaluable.

I especially want to thank Mirelle all by himself. On Violet's first night out, I had been in line not thirty seconds when he came up to me and asked me to sign his list. I agreed and asked "Is this, like, a mailing list?" and he said simply "No, it's the V.I.P. list so you don't have to wait in line next time." I have NEVER been a V.I.P., but I love that Violet was practically immediately. Upon leaving the club, after meeting Bebe and TaMMie, Mirelle caught me and introduced me to Joshua Miller and a few other people. So, to Mirelle, I adore you, and I thank you, and I owe you so much. Violet and I are known in L.A. pretty much because of you, and I will not forget that. :)

So, with one hour shy of seven full days to go, I look back on four joyous months with sadness and hope... and thanks to each and every one of you for making that happen. Last summer, I had my first (and so far, only) boyfriend... or at least from May 18th- July 1st. It was also my first summer away from home. The rest of the summer was kind of blah because of the breakup, but awesome because of hanging out with my friends from college. However, this summer has been one of the best few months I can remember in quite a long time.

So, from that electric blue crocodile purse Bebe wanted to take, through Martina McBride at Here for Detox's Birthday party, to my Peppermint hair for the Candyland party that I missed (but that was captured in pictures), and most recently into my Whitney Houston farewell ballad, I've finally arrived at... well, what you'll see on Monday night at the farewell party. But I've arrived at a place where I HAVE a farewell party. My heart is so full of you guys, I could just cry. :)

A Change is Coming

If you expect to be treated fairly, you should treat others fairly.

If you treat others as your equal, you should be treated as one in return.

...or so goes the theory. If I live my life with respect for people even after they prove they lack respect for me, I would assume they'd eventually come around. In fact, instead of meeting me at my level, I seem to have stooped to theirs.

As an Employee:

My flakey boss who underpays me has sparked a sneaky, money-minded, obsessive who carefully keeps a record of his hours, his efforts, and his income, so as to make a full argument at the next sign of any further mistreatment. I've given her plenty of time and opportunity, and now it's up to her to not only fulfill her duties, but give of herself a little in the ways that I have given of myself a lot.

As a Gay man:

Seriously, I'm sick of my rights being overlooked. I am better-behaved than many of my straight friends, more Christian in my actions than most religious leaders, and I feel a generally nicer, more caring person than a lot of people around me. I'm tired of being alone and being lonely, and when I finally get myself a man--a GOOD man, I'm going to be with him and live just like everyone else, so these people in the government (including the one I helped put there because of his campaign promises) better get their Mother-fucking, God-damn ACTS together before I go there personally to make my individual voice heard.

As a Student:

Basically being ignored by SCAD has birthed a whistle-blowing, indignant, frustrated individual on the warpath for justice and recognition. Four years I've been with this school, and three years I've gotten lip service from my superiors about my talents and my potential as I am overlooked for scholarships or given opportunities without adequate time to fulfill them. Most recently, I fought to have my last year of school not prove to be a total disaster, but we all know that didn't work out. Now, attempt number two at Senior Collection, and the class has been changed to limit our creativity and self-expression significantly. I'm going to talk to anyone and everyone until I get a legitimate answer and possibly an exemption to return to last year's objectives. Round one: Emails is well under-way. As for the school itself, I was not once notified of any Senior goings-on (as I am usually 'forgotten' about vital things like interview invitations or valuable speaker visits), and will not fall through the cracks yet again. I am waiting for just the slightest opportunity to call bullshit on that entire school, and don't think for a moment I will hesitate to do just that.

As a Roommate:

Worst of all, living with people who treat me as a second-class citizen first enticed me to give above and beyond, but has now sucked the enthusiasm out of me. It's a shame when you want to leave an entire city and all of its opportunities only TWO WEEKS early because of [mainly] two CUNTBAGS who you see for literally a few hours a day, if that. One was almost the sole cause for stress, and while I will be sad to see her go, her announcement of imminent departure has certainly brought a relief. However, increasingly since--and especially tonight--the other has been growing an attitude and an ego on par with her in exodus. Just tonight, after cleaning for the afternoon before THEIR guest comes (as I have done before for their other visitors), murmured remarks were made with "I love that..." that I can only assume were along the lines of "look who's finally cleaning" or something of paramount bitchiness. In fact, I've cleaned up ahead of and behind them for weeks now, keeping mental track of what I clean when to assure myself I do, indeed, give more than the others. Because of this, there is not a chance in HELL I will be paying the same amount for rent this coming month. Giving more rent than I have been able to afford in the past is fair, and indeed I have wanted to up my contributions since my arrival, but I was told IN DECEMBER I could live here for less until I could afford more, and I have not been able to. Finally, I can afford more, but not that much. Truthfully, I gave up a bedroom of my own because I could not pay equally (which I was told is fine, and that's why I decided to move in). Things have not changed, and I have been given no private room, so I will not pay for one. Fuck fairness, this is on principle alone. I am not treated like an equal member of this house, so I refuse to give an equal amount to it. I could say "sorry" if I meant it, but I don't, so, to those people who continually complain about other people or get mad for nothing or pick fights or behave like blind, arrogant hypocrites: Get over yourselves.

Cross your fingers for the battles coming that I need to fight. I'm not going to pick them, but I am no longer giving in, and since I basically have to repeat my Senior year of college, I'm going to do it VERY differently. However, don't worry or misread me--I'm the same person, and will still behave the same way in my daily life. I just mean that if someone pushes me now, I'm going to push back.

Interjection...

Before I write the post recapping my recent-ish life events, I just have a quickie for the afternoon:

I'm starting an "overlooked" tally for the week. So far: Roommates: 2; SCAD: 1; Erika: 4. Sick of it.

Last night...

...totally gets its OWN post.

After missing out on Violet's thrift shopping, I was fairly certain I wasn't headed out for Morgan's birthday or anything, but Jorge told me we'd been invited over to christen Joshua's new place. We left around 10p, and after driving around, parked in the usual lot in West Hollywood. We walked the numerous blocks to Joshua's apartment building, and then went up for the party, which was nice and relaxed. After a while, we left, and lo and behold.... trapped in the elevator. Eight gay guys, a lesbian, and a black woman, and let's estimate that four of those gay guys are fairly drunk. In a small elevator, those five or so have the brilliant idea to jump, so they do, and the elevator gets stuck between floors, and the most shocking thing is that they were surprised. When you meet new people, it's very telling about a person to see how they act under pressure. Granted, intoxication can skew the behavior, but for the most part, I'd say it's fairly accurate.

There were definitely some queens in there who aren't winning Survivor anytime soon.

There's a lot of juicy goings-on to mention, but we'll just say that in the ~45 minutes or so of our imprisonment, there were impromptu photosessions, Facebook uploads, Twitter updates, and a flask of Vodka. Looking back, it was kind of a fun time; at the moment, it was much less entertaining. Once again, though, this is totally proof that we should have a Reality show.

Afterwards, we went to "Hot Dog" which is apparently some theme night at the Palms. I ran to Here around 1:30a, barely got in, and wished Morgan well. I said hey to the ladies and queens and briefly met Chi Chi La Rue, who obviously was done for the night. :)

Anyway, I meet up with the remaining crew who've wandered over from Hot Dog for some pizza, and then we head back to Josh's so Jorge can sober up a bit and we can just hang out some more. There was talk about us spending the night, but we eventually left. When we finally headed for the parking garage, it was pushing 5a... and the garage was closed. A few attempts at contact [and breaking and entering] later, we went back to Josh's. I had to uh... jump the fence, but we got into the building just fine and stayed there for the night. 

This morning, we woke up, had a lovely brunch at some place on Melrose (Le Pain Quotidien, or something like that), and then got the car! There was some worry, since they had no Sunday hours posted last night, but we made it. An eventful 16 hours, to say the least.

I think I'm going to walk to the thrift store that's SOMEWHAT close to where I live (like, 45 minutes away :/) and then hopefully hit Target...? We'll see what happens.

It's a Quickie ...ok, but it ended up being long. haha

OH MY FUCKING GOD, what the hell, today??

I slept in far too late, and Violet's Monday debut has me worried now for multiple reasons. I don't know if she's getting a sound check or just going on a one-shot, come hell or high water. I need to get her something to wear, but have no idea what. She does need new shoes, that's a given, but the less money I can spend on everything else, the better. Hello, rent is coming due. But the thrift store I want to hit is closed Sundays and Mondays, and it'll be closing in forty minutes, which is not enough time to get there, let alone shop. 

Facebook literally has Down Syndrome or something, because EVERYTHING on there takes forever now, when it doesn't take any longer for me to do anything on almost any other website.

Erika has taken LITERALLY three days to revert to her apparently normal policy of flakiness. I worked two days, and then she strung me along for one day, repeatedly putting off our getting together until she just stopped getting back to me. Now it's the weekend and she apparently has to take some miniature trip, though when it's happening or if it has already, I've no idea. If I'm supposed to be her assistant, she's keeping me from fulfilling any part of that job requirement, and if I'm just another employee, I am outraged that she has basically ignored my repeated requests for a sit-down about my money, her money, and how our partnership is going to work--let alone her not giving me hours after repeated unfulfilled promises of work to pay my rent.

*****SUPER EDIT*****

So, there was a bunch of stuff here yesterday, and though I still have the same qualms and will, I'm sure, repeat the same frustrations, I just don't feel like having it written up. There was your glimpse, and I doubt people read this really anyway, so I'd bet no one saw it--which is fine. As expected, I was totally over it within the hour.