Our Cross-Country Trek

So here's the news: Ellen and I will be moving to Los Angeles, CA at the beginning of August. One thing you may not know about is that I was cast in my first "big" movie. It's called Blue Like Jazz, and it's based on Don Miller's book of the same name. I'm insanely pumped about my role. I play basically the bad guy of the movie: a Russian exchange student who gives the main character all sorts of problems at his new university. Don't expect to see me in every scene, but hey, I'm in my first movie. This is a huge opportunity for which I'm SO grateful. So, while it sounds cliche and a bit stupid to say I'm moving to LA to be an actor, well....I'm moving to LA to be an actor. There you have it. It's going to be an immeasurable amount of work, study, and failure before I (hopefully) get something right, but I've been preparing for it for a long time, and I pray that I'm ready. I'm also really grateful that I have this opportunity to pursue a dream, and that I have a wife that is cool with (and in fact brought up the idea) just up and moving across the country.

This is great for Ellen because it gives her a chance to be in the central city for dance in the United States, where there are some great studios and classes for her to take. It's great for me because of the acting jobs and the school in which I'll be enrolling called the Beverly Hills Playhouse, where some killer actors have trained/are training. If you want to check their website out, click here.

So Ellen and I flew out to LA 2 weeks ago to do some apartment hunting, and I have to say I'm crazy excited about the place we found. We'll be living in Old Town Pasadena, which is only about 12 miles from downtown LA, but feels like a small community years from the big city. It was an amazing environment in which we both felt very safe and at home. We'll also be living about 4 blocks away from Whit and Laura Prottsman, some of my good friends from college. Rock my face. Also, Maria Williams will be living very close to us - another one of Ellen's and my really good friends. A sign? I think so.

Here are some pictures of the apartment we found. Be reminded that once we move in Ellen will be doing her wonders and decorating it beautifully, so look for updated pictures in August.








Here's one of the streets (Colorado, I think) in Pasadena to give you a feel for the town.




Go ahead and ask me if this amazing building (City Hall) is right down the street from our apartment.... Why, thank you. Yes, it is.


Anyway, we're both really excited to be making this really big step. Pray for jobs and a safe drive across the country. Thanks so much for your support, and more updates to come.

Yummy

Matt and I had a weekend of yummy food. We are on a "not eating out" budget for the month of May so we have had to get creative. On friday we went on a picnic. Matt's mom gave us a gift card to Whole Foods so we went there and got some food to go and then headed to the Botanical Gardens (thanks to Andy and Miranda for the idea).

Then on Saturday night, I was in the mood to cook a nice meal so we pulled out all the stops and made salad, steak, veggies, and peach cobbler. So good and so nice to really cook after such a long break!

Summer Reading List (2009)

Death Cab for Cutie Concert

If you've ever been to your absolute favorite band's concert, then you know what I felt like last week when Oliver and I went to see Death Cab for Cutie. What an incredible group of musicians and songwriters. Ben Gibbard has a way with words that makes me feel his music like I really never have experienced with any other music. Their music is poignant, beautiful, and brutal. Needless to say, the concert was amazing. Ra Ra Riot and Matt Costa opened for DCfC (both of whom were fantastic), and then Death Cab took the stage. They opened with Bixby Canyon Bridge - which I totally called before the show, by the way. They played some amazing songs off of their new Open Door EP, too. All in all, the night was amazing. Here are a few pictures for those of you who missed the show.

I like her

A lot....

Last weekend in 3 pictures....

I went to the lake last weekend with the sophomore girls from the bible study I have been leading.  Here is a summary....