Guest Post #2: Ron and Chan

After a pretty fantastic few days of infiltrating the Chowdhury/Nguyen household, we thought it proper to ask for some perspective from our hosts. Thus, our second guest post from Ron and Chan:

""Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to begin our descent into Los Angeles. The sound you just heard is the landing gear locking into place. Los Angeles weather is clear; temperature is 72. We expect to make our 4 hour and 18 minute flight on schedule. We have enjoyed having you on board, and look forward to seeing you again in the near future." -- First lines from The Graduate.

Ron and I waited anxiously for our four house guests to arrive Thursday night. We prepared kimchi quesadillas and vegetarian chili in case they hadn't already eaten dinner. They arrived around 10 pm and seemed happy and relieved to stretch their legs in Eagle Rock, the place that would be their base for the next few days. After dinner, Ron and I figured we would gently introduce them to LA's money grubbing and valueless culture by watching Double Indemnity.

Their first full day was a work day for us grown ups, so the four of them headed to Venice Beach to touch the Pacific Ocean and party with the struggling screenwriters and actors, independently wealthy, and part-time yoga instructors that popluate the westside. In the evening, we reconvened over Wise or Otherwise and The New Yorker Caption Game.

"You must follow a wild duck for a long time in the manner of a chicken to attract a rooster." -- An old Vietnamese-American saying.


On Saturday we hit the ground running with a tour of downtown-- Union Station, Disney Hall, the Bradbury Building-- capped off with lunch at the reliably mediocre Clifton's Cafeteria (hello animinatronic raccoon!). Then at night we ate garlic sauce, with a side of chicken, at Zankou on Sunset before heading to the marquee event of the weekend: The Graduate at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Benjamin: I'm just...
Mr. Braddock: Worried?
Benjamin: Well...
Mr. Braddock: About what?
Benjamin: I guess about my future.
Mr. Braddock: What about it?
Benjamin: I don't know... I want it to be...
Mr. Braddock: To be what?
Benjamin: [looks at his father] ... Different.

Sunday was mostly packing and brainstorming on next steps. Ideas included Joshua Tree, Route 66, Grand Canyon. They left in the morning and the house was quiet and empty. Ron and I didn't know what to do with ourselves. These thirty-somethings can't remember the last time they stayed up past 2 am for three nights in a row. Thanks for the visit. We had great fun. Bon voyage, amigos!"