Los Angeles-Fake Tits & Stretched-Out Faces

There was some serious fire damage around Castaic and Pyramid Lake visible from the freeway going through the Grapevine. The smoke rising into the air reminded me of the first time I ever came to California and we were coming over the pass on the 80 and there apparently was a huge forest fire and the sun was setting and all the resulting smoke was obscuring the sun and if I just had had a camera, maybe I could have gotten a National Geographic cover-winning photo.

Speaking of photographic excellence, Amy was recognized as one of the 10 best young photographers in the U.S. recently in a magazine. Got into town and off the road just as rush-hour traffic began really setting in, thank God. Their house is a slice of New England down amongst the palm trees. Property values in this state are insane: Amy said their home was worth probably a mil now, nearly double what they bought it for five years ago-Julio said the same about their place out on the Delta; roughly double as well, but they've also put a lot of work into it as far as I know. Will I ever be able to afford property here?!?

Ate at Asanebo, a kick-ass sushi joint in Studio City, opened by one of Nobu's partners. Incredible food; had some amazing toro, actually enjoyed the uni, the in-house pear sorbet was delish! Went for the off-menu gastronomical challenge: "hoya", this foul-smelling, crazy red, alien-looking clam-crustacean creature that had the chefs all grinning 'cause we ordered it. It tasted like a handful of sand wiped off the heel of a dead hooker floating off the New Jersey shoreline; absolutely disgusting.