It's a Xenophobic World After All...

Last time I was at Disneyland, I was six. From what I can remember, not much has changed. Except there's a new theme park across the way called "California Adventureland" which I read has been a bit of a flop, since its theme is southern California and who needs to see a fake Hollywood sign when the real one is only miles away? This is indicative of the xenophobic attitude that still defines America and particularly Disneyland. Why not set the adventure in some exotic place instead of their own dreary backyard? The effort to deny this reality is sadly apparent in the old favorite, bittersweet, sad yet heartwarming exhibit/ride called "It's a Small World After All".

You are on a boat that slowly (oh so slowly) winds around creepy yet somehow charming displays of dolls of every ethnicity as depicted in various Disney movies; Arabs on flying carpets, Chinese from the Ming Dynasty, Dutch with their wooden shoes and bonnets... (didn't see any Canadian dolls which was a surprise seeing as Disney owns the image of the Mounties) - while the endless drone of "It's a Small World After All" plays incessantly with a sickening Christmas theme blended in. Yes, it's a very small world from the viewpoint of Disney Hollywood - and the rest of the world is made up of little cute dolls in colorful costumes.

There were other sad, dated rides like "Star Wars" where you are seated in a theater that rocks and jolts you through simulated space while an annoying R2D2 yaps Star Wars dribble. It took all my will power to stop from throwing up my lunch.

There were some good rides too: "Raider of the Lost Ark", "Matterhorn" and best of all, "Space Mountain" which takes you on an exhilarating roller coaster ride through almost pitch black punctuated by planets and stars. We did that one three times.

While Campbell, J and I reverted to our adolescence, Elena reverted to preteen screeching excitement, making us take pictures at every single ride and exhibit. The big highlight for us all was seeing Mickey's house and actually meeting Mickey! Although somehow, we got separated and Elena got her photo with an alternate Mickey.

Great day but suffice to say, I won't need to go back there for another thirty or so years. Maybe they'll have some new stuff by that time. Still, one can't be depressed after a day in Disneyland - and maybe that's the idea.

Oh, one other thing. There is a robot Lincoln who appears from behind a red curtain. He stands up and reads the Gettysburg Address. I've never really listened to it and frankly I was moved. Talking about the freedom that Americans hold so dearly, he said that no one in the world could take that freedom away - not even the most formidable attack on American soil could do it. Only Americans themselves could take away their own freedom. Wow, this guy was so ahead of his time and how those words have been misconstrued into a national psyche of fear. But I won't get into politics - not yet anyway. And don't get me started on health care...

FROZEN YOGURT: LA is so far ahead of the game in terms of trends, especially food trends. Here, you get frozen yogurt by weight. It's all about choice and getting exactly what you want. If you want $3.48 worth of yogurt (with choice of several dozen delectable toppings) that's what you get. We got our FYs, sat on a deck and watched the scene in Boys Town on a hopping Friday night. No need to pay cover charges for great entertainment.

STAR SIGHTINGS: Definitely slowed down this week but we made up for it today with a total fluke sighting of Canadian home boy Michael Cera carrying an ironing board on a Silver Lake street. He checked us out and gave us a nice smile. Must have been the BC plates.

I am starting to get the hang of the iPhone and its awesome power. I'm beginning to think it can do everything, including getting me a manager and selling my script and TV series.

This no TV thing is getting to us - so I got a subscription to the LA Times and we connected to J's Dad's TV through our computer by some miracle of technology called "Sling Box". We caught the last half hour of the Golden Globes which was happening just two miles from us at the Beverly Hilton. There was talk of crashing - but it never really materialized and it started raining buckets. Elena called around 11 and announced she was giving it a try. Security there is crazy and there was no way. Paris Hilton got kicked out last year for trying. We got a text a half hour later from Elena saying she was in. We are still waiting for reports.

Apparently it is going to keep raining - all week - record rain falls for LA and they have already started handing out sandbags to those in vulnerable areas. For us it just feels like home and it's the perfect weather to start to get to work.

Campbell started working on his show with Larry this week. I started to put together my package for managers. J worked on sexying up her wardrobe and organizing her charts. We got almost everything on our to do list done. We are ready for action. Ready to take LA by storm!

Eh in LA