Running Through Fields of Hitch-Hikers

One of my New Years' resolutions is to read and write more; so here goes.

It's a new decade as well as a new year. My last semester at LMU is about to begin. While the thought of all of my friends dispersing and continuing on with their respective lives saddens me, I'm ready to be done with busy-work and lack of sleep. I look forward to this semester however. I'm excited to become more involved in the service organization I belong to, Sursum Corda, especially with the events in Haiti as of late. I'm also really excited to be in my first department production this March, Cole Porter's "Kiss Me, Kate." Even though we didn't have class, we began rehearsal this past week. Typically we rehearsed from 10am to 6pm daily. It's been a lot of dancing. My body has just recovered from soreness. It's good for me though. I felt like I was a member of conservatory. I'm having so much fun though. I love the talented people I work with. Our rehearsal was very productive because we were able to get a lot done which is good because we open March 4!

This year I have been starting to feel more and more like an adult (even though I will probably still look like a teenager for quite some time). I think having my own place off campus has a lot to do with it. I find myself worrying about what to make for dinner and which bills are due when. I found it interesting that while I was at the house I grew up in in Sacramento over winter break, I couldn't wait to get back to my "home" in Los Angeles. Even though the food is free and it's nice to see the family, it kind of stifles your adulthood a bit sleeping on your twin-sized bed in the same room you've lived in since you were in grade school.

Even though I hope to stay in LA after I graduate, I'm very wise to the fact that God really puts you wherever you need to go so this semester I'm going to try and explore Los Angeles a little more. I've lived here for almost 4 years and I really couldn't tell you where a lot of our famous landmarks are or even why some of them are famous. I also want to spend more time "living." I think as Americans we get to focused on what's next and what's new. Last night, one of my roommate's and I dressed up and went to sushi and then the movies. We were the only ones dressed up and looked completely out of place but it was just fun to be silly and in your 20s and in LA. Especially this semester when everything will be so future focused and career obsessed, I need to remind myself to just "be" sometimes. It's been especially hard recently to just "be" after my car was broken into, and my laptop stolen, but I'm sure there's a silver lining in there somewhere.

Ok. I'm done.

Sorry

I'm really quite terrible at updating this thing.

a season of change

Fall is most definitely my favorite season. I believe it is the season with the most significant change. As we enter, the leaves on the trees are still fresh and green, the days long, and the grass dry. However at the end of Fall, the days are very short, the weather is much colder, and the leaves fall to the ground. For some of us (those who don’t live in L.A.) there is even snow. I think the best part of fall is the part we’re in right now; the midst of Autumn where the air has gets a bit nippier as the days go on, the leaves change color and the fall wardrobes come out. This Fall in particular has been one of change for me. To start off, I’m 22 now. I thought I’d be more upset about this than I actually am but I’m just another year more lived, another year wiser. I don’t live on campus anymore which has kind of disconnected me a bit from campus life. This is good for me though…I think. I don’t want to be too attached to the school I’m about to leave. I spend Mondays and Fridays interning at Sony Pictures for their Television Production department now and I think I’ve started to discover my niche. At first I felt sort of awkward walking around the studio almost as if I had snuck on and someone would find me out. However, now I feel as though I belong there and I really enjoy what I do so hopefully I can turn it into something fruitful after I graduate in May. I think all the time about how last time this year I was spending the weekend in France and Switzerland for my 21^st and how I thought I would never ever be able to leave Europe because of how happy I was. Now, I’m equally as happy with where I am and what I’m doing. When I was younger I couldn’t handle change and would attempt to avoid it or stop it at any cost. However now, I accept it welcomingly because I never know exactly what it will bring. It’s quite exciting actually.

What I've Been Up To

The New York Times just published an article mostly about Sony Pictures Entertainment's two co-presidents but also a bit about the culture and working life at the studio. I've included the link for those who are interested about where I've been spending my Mondays and Fridays.

Sony Article

Just a Quick Note...

So a couple weeks back when I was moving into the apartment I was organizing my closet and came across an envelope marked "Timmy D." This is a nickname of mine so I opened it thinking one of my roommates placed it in there while I was doing something else. I read it and thought it an awkward note for either of my roommates, who are girls, to write me. I asked all my friends about it and they all denied writing it so it must have just been left there accidentally which means the former resident of my room must have also been Tim D. Weird. You can read the note below:

Timmy D,

When you and I met, we were surrounded by bizarre circus animals at Agnew's old home with just-as-bizarre homecoming dates.

Now, we're on the verge of being surrounded by our closest friends and family in Kentucky and the Mexican beaches, ready to marry two beautiful and bright girls.

And between then and now we've managed to have some pretty damn funny memories! Such as, recruiting trips to Butler, wild Northwestern parties, Cubs classic in San Diego, and overly competitive games on the diamond as tuning fork captains.

But it's your loyal and trustworthy friendship, and your personal courage and a strong sense of family and respect for siblings and parents that stand out for me, Tim.

Thank you for all that you do for me, and may our bond continue to grow, even if it's from a 4-hour plane ride away!

-Pat

Moving In...Pt. 1

For those of you who are interested, my new address is:

Timothy DeRodeff
5710 Crescent Park East Apt. 113
Playa Vista (or Los Angeles), CA 90094

No Sweat

Today I saw a girl with one arm riding a bicycle and talking on her iPhone at the same time. The most jarring thing to me was how easily and gracefully she was able juggle everything and balance all at once.

Summer is quickly coming to an end and that means more and more is being added to my plate on a daily basis. I'm also moving out of my summer apartment and into a more permanent place down the street. I am excited to move because the new place has a lot more extra space and I will get to have my own bedroom and bathroom. I bought a full sized bed recently which I've never been able to do thus far in life. However, we move in Sunday and school starts on Monday which kind of cuts it close. This week I have to find a suitable mattress and other domestic things such as these that grownups do. Luckily I was able to go home last weekend and have mom help me in acquiring my basic apartment needs.

Finding an apartment was a headache in itself. It's difficult to compromise on an apartment with two other people in the first place. It makes it even more difficult when the two other people are from out of state. Finally, though, I believe that we found a place we are all content with.

As for right now, I feel as though I'm in limbo. My car is packed to the brim with various apartment necessities that I am unable to move into my apartment until Sunday. I brought a few items from my car up to my room but it's difficult because I share a small room and I feel as though I'm taking up more space than I actually have. To add to this, one of my future roommates is staying with me until we can move in this weekend so it feels as though we are constantly stepping over each other as well as my other roomies; a veritable balancing act. The former owner of my bed and mattress recently decided she wanted both back so she came and took them which forced me to take my roommate's mattress and sleep on that for the time being. I feel bad because I can only offer my friend who's staying with me a mattress to sleep on. I figure we're college students though, we've slept on a lot worse.

I'm looking for internships for the fall semester within the film, fashion, and magazine industries right now. I hope to find an internship that will be able to lead to a profession after I graduate in May. It has been difficult to schedule interviews, however, because my car isn't doing very well so I don't like to drive it very far and most of my possessions are still packed in it so I don't really want to advertise this fact. I talked with the Dean of my department and she really encouraged me to be in a couple more performances this year to bulk up my resume which means updating my headshots and the resume and other actor-ly things like that. Sounds fun, but it's one more thing I need to schedule in.

Needless to say when I saw that girl on her bike today it put everything in check for me. Moral of the story for my life (today) - I probably couldn't ride a bike with one arm without breaking a sweat if I tried but I can get my life together for the beginning of the school year with two (arms).

- Tim