Amid my daily wandering, I find myself regularly passing the Hollywood Center Motel on Sunset.

Built in the 1920’s, remodeled in the 50’s, and looking as if not much else has been done since then, this dilapidated wonder has been used as a location for numerous films and certainly oozes “character”, but one has to question who in their right mind would ever elect to book a room here (yes, it’s still operating as a motel; all be it a super creepy one).

Enjoying Juicy Burger on Hollywood Boulevard. Or, should I say Juicy Burger #3, which is located about one hundred yards from #2.

What better way to start out my new life than New Year’s Eve on Hollywood Boulevard?

As expected, the area was a complete madhouse. Walking from La Brea to Vine, I managed to take in the throngs of tourists, club goers, mentally ill, and miscellaneous strollers in all their festive revelry. Then, thanks to a wrong turn and poor security, I managed to accidentally crash a televised New Year’s event.

Grauman’s Chinese forecourt,nationally televised, and barely ten feet from the stage! Only, the event was Jamie Kennedy’s New Year’s Eve special; a disastrous production, filled with D-list celebrities, and a hundred or so disenchanted guests. After watching Macy Gray mumble through some disinterested banter with host Kennedy and hearing that Bones Thugs and Harmony were next to perform, I made my exit (unfortunately, I missed the event’s fist fight and on-air profanity highlights).

    The new year was ultimately greeted from my seventh floor balcony.

On December 21, 2012, I closed the door on my, less than adventurous, life of the past fifteen years.

And set out on a new adventure.