A Good Start, A Questionable Finish.

This morning I woke up, took the dough-head (my dog) for a walk, and then made a smoothie. I savor my morning, afternoon, and evening coffee as much as the next addict but there is something about a smoothie before starting work at 7:30 in the morning that makes everything happy.

Along with enjoying a smoothie I am getting all of my daily servings of fruits and veggies in this one cup. Okay, it’s more like two and a half cups because I’m no good as mental measuring. But getting all the healthy portions of my diet out of the way before 10 am means that it’s nothing but chips and pizza from here on out and no one can make me feel guilty for it.

In the spirit of a happy world and shooting on location today maybe I’ll catch up on things I have been meaning to write about since April. Then again, maybe not. I have nothing but a gluttonous day ahead of me and once this smoothie is gone it may take the happy/productive part of my day with it.



NOTE: My smoothie does not look nearly that pretty.

Nature! (minus many animals)

One of my favorite things about Los Angeles thus far is the ability to get out of the city. Beach, mountains, San Diego, Vegas, Joshua Tree... the list goes on.

This morning Steve and I took an early morning hike in the Angeles National Forest (http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/).

These are not the most challenging trails, but they do offer views, clean air, and a retreat from traffic. It's a short drive from home to be standing here:
(For those that are picky, that photo was actually taken in Switzer Falls which is a different trail in the Angeles Forest than we were on this morning.)

After getting lost, rather temporarily disoriented, on our hike out we stumbled across "The Pines." While we finally found what was supposed to be the end of the trail, it was not very pine-y since it was all burnt and empty. We finally hiked back up into the cloud where the car was parked and headed into La Canada for some brunch.

Some words about brunch. We were walking craving egg whites with avocado on wheat toast and eggs and bacon while walking. We then changed our minds to the "San Fran Omelet" and "Chili Omelet over Fried Potatoes" when looking at the menu. We both had the same reaction... interesting, now where's what I really wanted?

As an aside, I hope to live in La Canada some day.

AMAZING Coffee

I had the most amazing coffee experience this morning! The anticipation of trying out this place is two-fold.. actually multi-fold.

First, the name. Earth Cafe? No, who needs another one of those (no offense to Electric Earth in Madison which still holds a comfy-chaired spot in my heart)? URTH Caffe. Cheesy? Maybe, but I still took notice of it when first blazing the trail to Beverly Hills.


Second, patio! Enjoying a nice cup of tea or coffee under the sun? What did you say, I can bring a newspaper with me? And there's no winter here? Every one of my unemployed mornings have suddenly been planned.

Third, healthy? If you've got to savor that freshly brewed coffee every morning to feed your caffeine addiction, it might as well be organic. This is as healthy as coffee is going to get folks.

Fourth, timing. I've been driving past this place for three months now wishing it were closer to the office for lunch. Wishing it were closer to my apt to justify. But today, because of a misfortune yesterday, I had to be in Beverly Hills bright and early. Being that it's the day after St Patrick's Day made a coffee stop before seeing any work related anything all the more important.

I cradled my little unmarked to-go cup with great anticipation. After taking in the creamy caffeinated drink through scent, I slowly sipped my honey vanilla strong soy latte to my lips to experience my first burnt tongue thanks to Urth. But only a small part of my tongue got screwed by impatience, the rest got to enjoy one of the most amazing morning drinks I've ever had.

My only complaint is that it was too soon gone. Nothing else.

Anyone who comes to visit will undoubtedly be dragged here.

Anyone who did something stupid and needs to apologize now knows what to bring me.

www.urthcaffe.com

Raindrops keep falling on my head

Los Angeles is desert, or at least enough of a desert that the ground goes into panic when it rains. When I first got here the city was expecting “the worst rain storm in a million years!” I laughed after having just driving through ice and blizzards. Then it rained. When it stopped raining, people calmed down and the city smelled like urine.

Starting earlier this week, and continuing through this coming weekend, weather has turned back to rain. I haven’t noticed the smell yet, but I understand what all of the freak-out is about. Let me clarify, this is nothing compared to the first snowfall in the mid-west when everyone drives 10mph into the ditches. Nonetheless, this ground can’t take the water. Stoplights go out, intersections become pools, buildings flood, and people freak out. We are supposed to have three more days of this, and right now people are drying out offices, conference rooms, and editing bays while others are trudging along the roof finding the source.

UPDATE: And while my bedroom ceiling is producing a dripping sap now, at least my place doesn't smell like poo (Mindy, Steve, and Jesse).

Who said Los Angeles doesn’t have seasons? So far I’m marking Rain down as the first season of every year.

Video Games? GOOD for society

Last fall Mike, my Madison roommate, introduced me to Grand Theft Auto. Sure I’d heard of it before but it’s for teenaged boys who want to be bad-ass and aren’t, what could be worth looking into? Well it may be intended for teenaged boys but it is not just for teenage boys.



I enjoy it. I like that I can have a military tank fall from the sky that I then use to take over Los Angeles. Where else can I pick up a hooker, and then kill her only to take her money? Even better now is that I can drive through neighborhoods in San Andreas that I recognize.

It is a game that allows me to do all of the things deemed “socially inappropriate” or “illegal” in real life. Who wouldn’t want to be able to do all these things after a long day of work? Parent’s shouldn’t be complaining about the violence of these games, they should promote them as an alternative to stealing cars and out-running cops in real life.

So everyone go get this game, get tattooed up, spend too much time in the gym, and take back your neighborhood.

YouTube in the Classroom

In high school we were happy when we figured out how to hook up Cable in the Classroom. All the rooms were equipped with it, and quite a few teachers let students turn on Garfield, American Gladiator, Price is Right, The White Shadow, etc.

Now in college we're much more mature. With wireless buildings there can be television playing right in everyone's lap. But rare is the day when a teacher willingly projects the video, one worth watching, for the class to watch.

When a VHS of Super Fly wasn't going to track no matter how much anyone begged, someone suggested youtube. Sure enough, the crack dealing opening montage was waiting for us. But afterwards youtube suggested some other videos we might like.
"Can we watch Sneeze While I pee next?" "This is the dangers of using You Tube in the classroom, and why no one else does it." Now Smith didn't let us watch it then, but class was almost over and I'm quite sure most people saw that video before starting their homework/drinking for the night.

Thanks youtube, you always know exactly what videos I won't want to miss.

It is cold here, and only getting colder.

People are leaving a "Thanksgiving Counseling and Recovery Night" party, none of whom are bundled up enough for the late night/early morning cold. All of our cars are parked in a line along the street each sporting a think shield of frosty ice. Cranky engines turn over, headlights are flipped on, and defrosters blow on high as shivering people climb out with ice scrapers in hand. Slowly people forfit the battle accepting small holes of visibility as they take turns pulling out of the neighborhood creating what looks like an advertisement for a vacation agency. Instead it is just another winter night in Wisconsin as people drive the cold route home.

Just moments before everyone was sharing warmth inside carrying a glass of wine in one hand a smile on their face. Until sleep overs start getting planned for this weather, I'm moving to Los Angeles.

Ring Tone

My phone rings, I answer the phone. My phone vibrates, my pant pockets are too small and I don't feel the vibration through my bag.

After tiring of my current ring tone, I am looking for a Twisted Nerve ring tone. It'd be perfect. It wouldn't be too annoying for the times I forget to silence my phone in lectures, meetings, church, funerals, etc. And as an added bonus anyone who recognized it would either get a little worried about what would happen next or laugh at me - either of which I'm fine with.

I don't want country, I don't want rap, and I don't want a song that I can hear every five minutes on the radio. It's this or Bach Suite in G major which I also can't find online.

If someone is friends with Bernard Herrman or a descendant of Bach and could help me out I'd owe you a cookie.

Taking a Fall Break

My complaint of Fall weather arriving late was voiced and more impressively, heard. Fall is here; the air conditioner is still in my window allowing all of the cold night air to hit my face and a venturing limb while the rest of me stays warm under my big puffy comforter. No complaints I love this weather, it’s just that I think I had forgotten that Wisconsin gets cold as December approaches. I packed indoor clothes for the fall/winter while completely overlooking any warm hats, jackets, shoes, socks, etc. With this, we got cozy in the car headed up north with Sabaka (my dog), my roommate Mike, and his dog Chunks for the weekend.

While enjoying my days off I got to take Saba for a walk in the woods. I’m not sure if it was her first time in woods, but it was our first walk in the woods together. After an hour pre-coffee walk across the morning frost I was finally awake.

ATV stands for all-terrain-vehicle, so you can understand my frustration with signs posted in accordance to city ordinances reading “ATVs must stay on pavement” because pavement is not the only terrain that my current ride can go on. In fact that isn’t why I hopped on this thing, thankfully most of the ride wasn’t that way. Mike soon went through a rock garden with me holding onto the back. And while I didn’t take on small boulders my first day out I did find out how fast these things can go and played in the mud. I also fell sucker to getting drenched in cold muddy water thanks to Mike. Sunday morning three of us also went out on some other back trails around lakes and through beautiful woods with leaves everywhere and crisp air hitting my face. It was a lot of fun, little kid fun where the more speed and mud the better. I’m also glad to now add a 4-wheeler to my list of possible get-away vehicles.

We also did Wisconsin, fall, up nort or whatever else you want to stereotype the things we did. Saba came on her first hayride, we went to a bonfire party out in the woods, went to some classic hunting bars and we set up targets in the woods to shoot with little rifles and pistols. All things I haven’t done in a while, and enjoyed getting back to.

Chunks likes to ride on the ATV and her, Mike, and I can all fit at once. I took Sabaka for a short ride on my lap. She hated it, and jumped off at the first opportunity. She did however run with the 4-wheeler at full speed following me around. After a short while I heard a whimpering and looked back to see Saba trying her hardest to keep up at a full sprint but slowly dropping behind. She was beautiful running at her full stride, head held low, and ears tucked back through the grass. And as a bonus she’ll sleep really well tonight.

The West Wing Season One

I am quite a few years late on this, 8 to be exact, but last week I finally started watching Season One of the West Wing. As a fan of Aaron Sorkin, and a fan of tracking politics you think I would have gotten on board with this sooner, but I didn’t.

The writing is smart, fast paced, humorous, and full of interesting commentaries on all things politics and human nature. The acting holds up to the writing and it is all-around good television to be watching.



I am almost done with season one and already getting sad about the fact that there are only three more seasons for me to watch.

And I’m just going to put this out there, but if anyone feels compelled to give me seasons 1-4 I would not turn down the gift. It would go nicely next to Sports Night, Studio 60, and A Few Good Men . No, I did not realize that I was collecting all of Sorkin’s work until recently.

Out of the 2-d world and into 3-d, it’s October now, where is the fall weather?

I have discovered theatre!

I didn't exactly discover theatre in the way that Christopher Columbus was said to discover America. Nor did I discover theatre in the way that one discovers a newfound love of theatre; I’ve liked theatre for years as long as whatever I’m going to see is willing to try and hold my attention for three hours –I need to fit the word “theatre” in this sentence one more time, theatre.

With my slacker/hands-on/fun course of the semester I’m in stage lighting 101 (actually 366, but it’s basically 101). So today I spent five hours climbing around up on catwalks focusing lights on my TA’s red hat below. While it was tons of fun, it seems a lot more fun to be the one designing the whole show.

Anyways, some things I discovered:
1. If you’re over 5’6 and walking around in the Hemsley Theatre catwalks, watch your head. I am more bruised today from pipes and grates than I was two days ago.
2. While putting up a show in the Hemsley Theatre use gel R361 (Hemsley Blue) your production will gain extra funding from the University. Not really, but I think it should be so.
3. Speaking of gels, I set a light with a bright “porn star” red. If this didn’t garnish enough energy, when I dropped the gobo it was nothing other than jagged bars, aimed behind a curtain. This show might be worth seeing after all.
4. Theatre folk have lights that are a lot easier to get results from. For starters, they have shutters and a rotating barrel. I’m sure there is a reason we don’t use ellipsoidal lights on set; what is that reason? Then again maybe outside of the university setting people do get to play with those on set.
5. Everyone in theatre is a “rock star.” Even those of us who should never take the stage with intentions of singing are called rock stars. Who knew?

After years working with TV and film I’m not sure how I missed out on theatre. It’s not what I want to do for the rest of my life, but they seem to have a lot more freedom to do abstract things with lighting and sets. Everyone should try it out on a free weekend when they feel like breaking into a theatre house, that means you rock star.

Character Colbert's reaction to Time's Person of 2006

17 December 2006
The Colbert Report:
Time Magazine’s 2006 Person of the Year Issue
aka Procrastination


This week, Time Magazine will announce its person of the year for 2006. CNN had a special about how they choose Person of the Year and I made one of our interns watch and report to me the inside scoop. I’ll tell you America, it’s looking pretty good for me.

Now I don’t think they have released the issue yet, but stay tuned America….

Bobby: Actually Stephen, they did release who the Person of the Year was yesterday.

Stephen: Yesterday?! Why have I not seen it?! Who is it?! Is it me? No, I don’t want to know don’t tell me on air. Why did you not tell me until the show? Horrible idea, why would I not be shown this immediately?

Bobby: [blank stare with a shrug]

Stephen: [Starts his next segment, then turns back to Bobby…] The pressure is killing me! Who is Time Magazine’s person of the year?

Bobby: It’s… “you”

Stephen: What? It’s me? I can’t believe it, this is so wonderful. Quick, Chuck, throw up the graphic for “who’s honoring me now” [graphic enters with audio] Wow, Time, I can’t… I can’t believe, I’m honored and… just… shocked… Well not completely shocked, I mean, I understand why you would… but…

Bobby: Ste-Stephen, actually it’s not…

Stephen: Bobby, I’m sorry I yelled before. I’m glad you waited until now to tell me…

Bobby: I don’t think you under-

Stephen: Where’s the magazine? I need to see what picture they used of me on the cover!

Bobby: Well, here is the issue [walks it over to Stephen at the desk]

Stephen: [Looks into the issue that has a mirror for a cover] Wow! I look stunning, and I’ve never seen this photo before. In fact, I don’t even remember the photo shoot. Anyways, People I take this honor and with it I commend you! You have built a sense of community and collaboration amongst all of your viewers and change the world and through the time and time again that you come into our offices, living rooms, and bathrooms across the world and not only change the way we see the world but changing the way the world changes. You have created an active community that engages your viewers, and I am just so proud that you have seen that in me. I am honored to be labeled the person of the year for 2006. But really, you and your readers are the heroes that all of us honored over the past 29 years – including me this year represent.


Link to Time Magazine Person of the Year Article: http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/16/time.you.tm/index.html
(note that the magazine will be available for viewers to see and therefore see that Colbert does not hold the title to himself)

bored

Wentworth Miller to break out of prison, plan spolited by FOX following his every more with cameras.

Teacher deducts points for using the improper form of "there" during oral presentation.

Understudy for improv show gets frustrated wtih lead for inconsistency of preformance.

being American?

During the late 1910s and earls '20s, immigrant workers at the Ford automotive plant in Dearborn, Michigan, were given free, compulsory "Americanization" classes. In addition to English lessons, there were lectres on work habits, personal hygene, and table manners. The first sentence they memorized was "I am a good American." During their graduation ceremony they gathered next to a gigantic wooden pot, which their teachers stirred with 10-foot ladles. The students walked through a door into the pot, wearing traditional costumes from their countries of oragin and singing songs in their native languages. A few minutes later, the door in the pot opened, and the students walked out again, wearing suits and ties, waving American flags, and singing "The Star-Spangled Banner"


It is like making a dessert with little kids when you let them choose how you make it. You put in all sorts of good things like mac & cheese, brownies, cookie dough and fruit loops, blend it all together and get a dull colored ill-consistant mass of goop. And odds are it tastes like you found it in the gutter. Is this what we want, something that looks good individually but we force it through a massive digestive system to become assimilated turds?

Great to teach our culture, immigrants probably will benefit from adapting to our way of life to a degree, and we all love singing good 'ol American songs (does Pink Houses count?). But I'm American and don't wear suits and carry a flag everywhere (heck, most Americans carry a Canadian flag abroad). Though to be fair, I also don't march around in a lehderhosen carring a fork full of sourkraut (though I wish I could speak German better, even with very few cases where this would do me any good).

Lou Dobbs, I'm talking to you. Don't cancel St Patricks Day, b/c sometimes even a German girl likes to celebrate all things Irish.

A person can stay who they are and adapt to a new culture without conforming.. this part of the article scared me. Then again this was 1910, and as a woman I didn't have much of a vote back then.

Did anyone else have a reaction to this, or have I reached a point of sleep deprivation where I've got an opinion about everything?

there's nothing up in there

So really there are few thoughts running through my mind worth writing about... so I will leave y'all with a photo taken inbetween parties last weekend.

condoms were filled up like balloons all around campus

People are trying to stop universities from offering free condoms to students on campus. You know they're still going to get the condoms, right? Students will just have to go buy some themselves. And what does that mean? Less money to buy alcohol to cure a thirst. Which means they'll have to settle for being just a little bit less drunk come night fall keeping their standards for a guy higher. This leads to less sex! And who wants that?!

Oh, that is what you guys were going for.. well then I’ll be done talking to you. Good day.

wasting a vast wasteland

I’m reading all these pages about networks trying to target a younger generation- my generation. When do people like me watch TV?

Daytime between classes… but reruns of Three’s Company, Boy Meets World, and Dawson’s Creek have that covered.

Nighttime. No, not your nighttime Mr. 47YearOldExecutive.. OUR nighttime. It is encroaching upon midnight here and I just thought about turning on Letterman to see what’s on… Late Night TV starts and ends way to early.

Now I understand your concern in risking production of first-run shows for this time… but what will it cost you to re-air shows tonight? Take off your Bass-o-Matic infomercials; Grandma is asleep and it’s a Monday the week of exams so I’m not drunk enough to buy anything. Put on what I missed all through “primetime”!

I focus on buying groceries and paying rent, I don’t have a DVR, and I’d use my VCR but something unidentifiable has been jammed in there for quite a while now. So replay primetime starting around midnight, and anytime after that just throw on old Price is Right episodes and some cartoons… cartoons made around the time of Felix, before they turned crappy.

As for drinking nights on campus (Thursday through Saturday on exam weeks; Monday through Saturday during regular weeks), start playing Price is Right earlier. Throw in some movies that I can unplug my brain and stare at for a few hours too while you’re at it- so far Comedy Central is best at this.

You don’t have to try too hard to attract us. Don’t play things early in the morning (before noon) and throw in some gross fast-food ads during the night. If you do this, we'll be there. This is a time when many stations air color bars and tone… I tried watching those when I got home last Friday, but after an hour of not being able to figure out the plot I put in Earth Girls Are Easy (1988) instead. And watched it twice.