Dude, ita. That resume sounds like a job. A crappy one that doesn't pay.

Yeah, there's a cantina in Century City called Pink Taco. Yeeks. Really?

My friend worked there! She used to insist she wasn't a hooker. And I pointed out that she doesn't even really like Mexican food. Why else would she work there?

My rent, for a studio that does not have a kitchen but does have a very deep bathtub and windows (believe me, that's a bonus) is $850. And car costs (not including gas), which are pretty mandatory to pay in LA, are $300. Together that's about 60% of what I make a month. Student loans eat up a significant chunk of the rest of my take home. I enjoy fantasies of home ownership because they come with the assumption that one won't have to move, and can paint and decorate to her heart's desire, but I'm nowhere near able to afford it. Sad. But that should change in about four years, when nearly everything is paid off, and I'll have had a couple more raises. And I keep reminding myself that I'm only 26. It's not really urgent that I own my own home, despite how much I drool over things like bedrooms, kitchens, and curtains.

The first place I lived in when I moved out to LA was a converted garage. Technically a one-bedroom, but really more of a studio. I paid $1100/month for it. Add that to the massive car expenses, and...yeah.

Ha! My studio is a converted garage! I like to brag that it was a two-car garage. But, yeah, no bedroom. Or kitchen. Those are too fancy for me just now.

Hey, Danny Strong is on Leverage!

Alibelle, my first and second places out here were converted garages! Since I'm not good at the roommate thing and don't like apartment buildings, I'm sure I'd still be in one if ND and I hadn't started cohabiting.

My friend worked there! She used to insist she wasn't a hooker.

Oh dear, your poor friend.

Totally, Kristin. I prefer living without a kitchen to living with a crazy roommate. I don't think roommates come in any flavor other than "crazy." Also: "remarkably dirty." But yeah, there are some days it seems worth it to move in with a guy just for the rent break.

Oh dear, your poor friend.

It was pretty hilarious. She'd be like, "I get really great benefits!" And the only response could be, "I'm sure you do." Endlessly amusing.

Though not as amusing as this store in the mall near my house in NY called Sid's Pants. There was nothing that wasn't funny about that. Especially since it smelled funny in there too. So we were all of about 13, and all we could talk about was how "it smells funny in Sid's Pants." "Yeah, come meet me. I'm in Sid's Pants." "I do all my shopping in Sid's Pants." "I only like to browse in Sid's Pants." "Why do we always hang out in Sid's Pants?" Etc.

Well I didn't get a rent break, but now I'm in a place that's three times as big and I pay the same as before, so I'm good with that. And yes on the most roommates are crazy thing, Kristen and Allyson being the lucky exceptions that come to mind.

But Kristin, your converted garage was adorable!! All IKEA-riffic!

Alibelle, what do you mean it doesn't have a kitchen!? How can it not have a kitchen? Doesn't that mean you end up spending all your leftover money after rent and car and student loans on eating out??

I have seen "Pink Taco" in Century City, but was always afraid to go in. The Century City mall kind of scares me, really. Even though I've spent a bunch of time there. Mostly I just went to the Borders. And the fancy grocery store and the food court.

Well I didn't get a rent break, but now I'm in a place that's three times as big and I pay the same as before, so I'm good with that. And yes on the most roommates are crazy thing, Kristen and Allyson being the lucky exceptions that come to mind.

Well, that's kind of a rent break in that your money goes much further. And yes, Kristen and Allyson are the exception to the rule.

Alibelle, what do you mean it doesn't have a kitchen!? How can it not have a kitchen? Doesn't that mean you end up spending all your leftover money after rent and car and student loans on eating out??

Yes, yes it does. I kind of made a kitchen, but the lack of sink and counter space is still a pretty good deterrent to doing actual cooking very often. I have a fridge, and a microwave, and a big toaster oven, and a semi-functional hot plate that my cats like to turn on when I'm not home so I have to make sure it's unplugged when not in use, and a stand mixer. And I bought a couple of TV stands to use as portable counter space. So it's all very functional, but I can't leave it unattended for more than a second or kitties get in everything and knock stuff over, and sometimes when you're cooking you need a sink, so I have to run to the bathroom to use that one and come back before the cats do anything too dangerous. And all the larger dishes need to be washed in the bath tub. All in all, it's more of an adventure than I'm up for all that often. But it really does make you think up creative one-dish recipes that you can stick in the oven in a disposable container thing. It has also given me a whole new level of appreciation for cereal.

I still harbor resentment against the Century City mall for the time I was forced to pay $23 for parking because I was there for more than four hours and forgot to get validation at the movie theater. That's just flat-out highway robbery.