joshua wilsher

This is LA

I have been doing a good job of spending little money this week. As a result, there has been little excitement in my life so I've been living vicariously through the going-ons of fellow patrons at the hostel.

I spend half my time at the Cotel (I just shower, sleep, work and eat there). Never one to enjoy spending too much time around my owns digs, I've been hanging out at the Venice Beach Hostel (not to be confused with my place - The Cotel). I was introduced to a few people there by Daz and Rick - they had stayed at this hostel when they first arrived in LA.

As I mentioned, I have enjoyed hearing stories from fellow travellers.

The first night at the Cotel I ran into a guy who I thought was crazy. It turns out that he just has Alzehimers - poor guy. Word around the campfire is that he was once a champion bodybuilder and was Arnie's mentor when he first arrived here from Austria. The story had some credibility - while old and a little shaky, he was obviously a bodybuilder. As for the Arnie association, he's always decked out in Schwarzengger apparel. I need to find out his last name so I can Google it.

One of my room mates at the Cotel is Daniel from Sweden. He has been traveling on money he won. He became quite a celebrity in his homeland when he went on, and won, a reality tv program called 'The Bar'. His winning of $130,000 was taxed at 57% by the Swedish government. His net winnings then had to be split with his twin borther (who was also in the show) as they had made a pact that if either won, they would share their winnings.

My British mate, Kevin (or so I learned last night, K Deliscious), almost had to leave the hostel last night as his funds were exhausted. He was going to buy a lottery ticket with his last couple of dollars but then thought he'd have better chances walking across the road to the managaement company he's been in talks with for the last couple of weeks. He was lucky enough to finally find someone in the office. Anyway, they gave Kev some money and next week he goes into a studio to record some tracks so he can take the tapes up to Interscope Records on the 12th for his meeting with the bosses.

But what is most entertaining is a little gem I've come across for all my Mount Gambier peeps. There is an Aussie from the Mornington Penninsuala at the Cotel who was telling me he has a mate who's moved to Mount Gambier for work. His mate is so interested in Mount Gambier culture that he's created a myspace page for the town. You're gonna love it. Oh but not now. It seems I can'tfind the adress. Friggin myspace - its always difficult to find things on there. Anyway, sorry, next time!

Flying to Calgary soon. Happy New Years!

posted by Joshiesmoov @ 3:56 PM