American Idol
I live in an apartment building with 40 units in Los Feliz on the border of Hollywood, Little Armenia and Thai Town. This puts me in quite a multi-cultural area, to say the least. In my building I’d guess there are only 6 units of Armenians but in true European (albeit Eastern European) style, they have at least 3 generations living in each apartment which measures no more than 1,000 square feet. Therefore, they spend a lot of their time in the common areas. Their kids run amuck in the courtyard, driveway and pool. The old men set up a tent under which they sit all day and play backgammon and drink delicious-smelling Armenian coffee. The ladies stand on their balconies drinking Armenian coffee and gossiping from 6am until midnight, off and on.
So you can pretty much guarantee that it’s never quiet in my building and in the rare moments of silence, you’ll find me smiling like the Cheshire Cat at my computer in the dining room, or lounging on my couch with a book, or lying on my bed deep in thought seemingly staring at the wall.
The other day, I was in the bathroom probably picking at my face or something, and I could hear the kids outside in the driveway. I hear them in the afternoons a lot - playing basketball, learning to swear, calling each other cheaters, etc.
This time, instead of being annoyed at their noise pollution, I actually laughed out loud. This one 10 year old who is working particularly hard at becoming the next Armenian Thug Gangsta in his basketball jersey and shorts was singing to himself in a tuff voice, "Automatic supersonic hypnotic funky fresh work my body so melodic…"
I about died! Missy Elliott and Ciara??? He might as well been singing Mariah Carey in falsetto.
