Secrets Out!

Preparing to fly home for less than 48 hours to ring in my Grandma Jean's 85th year. I called and told her this morning, and got a great response. "Mary Anne, you just excited the crap outta me!" I told her I thought better of just showing up on her doorstep. (I mean, how much surprise can an 85 year old take?!) She confirmed she probably would have passed out, so I feel good about that decision. We've gotten really close over the last few years (weekly phone calls make all the difference!) and it makes me happy to make her so happy.

Of course I'll earn some cool aunt points with Ned by telling him I'm there to see his new glasses.

I also get to see Melody pregnant which is a bonus.

Crazy that I went home once last year and already this year I'm going this weekend, and then again for the extended amount of time in July/August for Baby Jett, and most likely somewhere around the holidays.

In other MAB travel news, I don't think I mentioned that my apartment number in Grand Cayman is #3. That's my favorite number! I'm SO excited. I've decided to postpone the marathon training I hadn't yet begun in order to focus on getting SCUBA certified. The coral reef down there is some of the best in the world, and I'm gonna see the shit out of it.

The boys and I have also decided to go kayaking in Austin which I'm excited about. I kayaked in Hawaii once on the open ocean so I'm hoping I do alright on the river.

All it took was a text from EK saying she is thinking about Paris this summer for me to be like, *I wanna go to Paris this summer. Not sure when I would have time. Apparently I don't like the idea of working this summer. If I could/can work THAT out, I would/will.

Today is the greatest...

...day I've ever known.

You can almost hear the Smashing Pumpkins, can't you?

Here's why:It's Girl Scout cookie delivery day!!!
I love me some Tagalongs.
They're going to sit here in their boxes taunting me all day, but I have to resist. I think when I got the shipment from my parents while I was living in Paris I ate a whole box in one setting. No bueno.

Other reasons we're so far so good this morning:

When I walked in my office, Ben was watching "The Philadelphia Story." I LOVE The Philadelphia Story!!

Then Nicole sent me this trailer, and I laughed out loud really big *twice.

In addition, it's day 11 of my 12-day work week, so I finally am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

I've got a story to write before heading to a screening for "Married Life."

But before I do, I was thinking as I drove to work this morning about Ned and his new glasses. That's right my nephew Ned got glasses. The story behind it is cute, in a sorta sad way. (He called me recently to relate it all.)

One night he and Matthew were in the kitchen with the tv on in the adjacent living room. Matthew read aloud something on the crawler of the tv. Ned was like "You can read that?!" Matthew replied just as shocked "You can't?!" After all, Ned is 9 and a half. Has he not been seeing well all along? Apparently not. When Ned was telling me the story he actually said "It's nice to see the world." Kinda hilarious, kinda sad.

I've worn glasses since I was two years old. In that time I've obviously worn a variety of frames and probably been called four eyes (altho being teased for my big lips is what I remember most). Well the other night at the Penelope premiere, Reese Witherspoon was talking to the guy ahead of me in line on the carpet and he was asking her what she had to deal with growing up. She was like, oh, I had these HUGE glasses. And went on to describe the ones we visionally challenged all had in elementary school. I laughed a little bit and she looked at me (obviously wearing glasses) and was like, yeah, you know what I mean...and then Oscar Winner Reese Witherspoon and I bonded over wearing glasses too big for our little faces.

I hope Ned is spared any major teasing. Then again, he'll probably be able to wear contacts.

I couldn't love this picture any more...

if I was the one holding the statuette...

(photo courtesy her blog)

ok maybe if I was the one holding the statuette.

Congrats Diablo.

THE Amy Heckerling intv

(because I mentioned it in a previous post...)
(from a post shoot sheet in November:)

I caught up with Amy Heckerling at the Academy Salutes Comedy event. She’s the scribe behind Fast Times and Clueless and the forthcoming I Could Never Be Your Woman
I think she would call it Fing awkward.

(on I Could Never Be Your Woman) 1:19:54 "i don't know what the F is happening with it. the producer is a Fing gangster. i've been told every date that it's coming out. this week, it was supposed to come out today, there's nothing to say. it's just Fed up. (writers strike having an effect?) 20:12 no no that's a separate F up. (are you writing anything?) 20:18 no my father just died and i'm pretty bummed out. haven't Fing done a thing. i don't know what to tell ya. 20:25 everything sucks, ok? 20: 28 but i love judd apatow his films perk me up and i'm happy for him and it's great. 20:40 (comedy being recognized by the academy) it's the only thing i recognize. (fast times, clueless) 20:50 whatever. what the Fin ever. 20:55 what makes me laugh? anything by mel brooks, woody allen, eddy kanter, the marx brothers, judds stuff, i know they're not considered comedies but scorsese always cracks me up, alot of South park, family guy, you name it....

She wasn’t bitchy. It was really funny.

It was nice for you to meet me

Oh, out of the mouths of Brits...

I don't even know where to begin this catch-up. If only I were more diligent I wouldn't have to remember what I did 2 weeks ago.

I know it involved seeing Jason Segel's winkie in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and getting excited about my own upcoming beach trip. There was also the Cromeenes visit to LaLa land including a trip to Disneyland during which I realized what it's like to be an adult at a place like that. I also realized that the Finding Nemo ride is crap and nowhere near worth a 3 hour wait in line. Thank God for attractions like Space Mountain, Pirates and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. I also drank at the Standard for Kevin's last day and at Lola's for Katie's bday.

This past week is was mostly work with a side of work. Night events were my abusive boyfriend Tues, Weds, Thurs and Fri. I did, however, get to meet Tim Curry, Kristin Chenowith, Reese Witherspoon, Christina Ricci, JJ Abrams, Allison Janney and others. So again, I can't complain too much.

As I was watching "The Prisoner or How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair," it dawned on me that in my occupation we often have communication problems but they're nowhere near as detrimental as similar communication problems that must occur within our military. Or say, in an operating room. Kinda puts things into perspective.

Other movies I've seen since last we spoke:

"I Could Never Be Your Woman." Dear Paul Rudd, you're like a box of Heavenscent Donuts. I want to lick all the goodness off of you. I also thought Saoirse Ronan was cute in this straight-to-dvd movie with her ditties about pop culture. Definitely worth a rent. I watched "Quiet City" because it was up for a Spirit Award and I hadn't seen it. It was interesting but slightly flawed at the same time. "This is England." I moved it up on my queue after it won the Bafta. It was pretty heartbreaking but not the most depressing movie I would see all week. "Dancer in the Dark" took that prize. I had been warned about it, and after watching it was told that IMDB actually says not to watch it alone. Good GOD do I know why. My mind couldn't even focus on SNL to escape enough to go to bed. Startling. Watch at your own risk.

I'd Like to Thank the Academy...

For making me squeal and clap like a little girl several times this year.

I'm trying to get out of work and need to write a serious ketchup blog and several emails like whoa! but wanted to offer up my notes on the night's event. let's call it a post game wrap up.

I gotta say everybody looked better yesterday at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. Especially you Diablo Cody. What the heck was up with the Wilma Flintstone dress?? I'll also take this opportunity to say that I was AT the Film Independent Spirit Awards where not only was I witness to the Angelina baby bump first hand, but I also got to look at this face:

Yeah-uh! (which by the way I WAY overused this weekend and already need to retire.) Seriously tho.

Ok...back to tonight...

Once. where do I begin. I got the chance to see Glen and Marketa a couple of times this week and they thanked me for believing in them all along. I'm like puhlease. Thanks for making such beautiful music and a movie I could believe in. I love that Jon Stewart pulled Marketa back on stage to say her thank yous. I also love that when Jill announced she was from Reelzchannel in the press room Glen punched the air. Yeah-uh! (see what I mean with that phrase??)

Not to mention the beautifully amazing and wowing performance they gave on stage...I was nervous because yesterday at the Spirit Awards Marketa was super nervous but they were so great and the orchestra and the lighting and the guitar covered background. I mean I love Amy Adams and Enchanted, but this night belonged to my peeps.

Marion Cotillard. You shaved your EYEBROWS and HAIRLINE for this role. You embodied Edith Piaf like DDL became Daniel Plainview. I picked you in the office pool because I knew you deserved it. Honorable mention to Ellen Page who rightfully walked away with the Spirit Award and is super cute and totally deserving of awards for making me laugh and cry in the same movie.

Javier Bardem. While I'm fine with you winning, I wanted Hal to too. If you would have given it to him I would have loved you forever. Thanks for letting down Dixie Carter.

I'm of course happy for Diablo, but that wasn't a shock. I'm looking forward to reading what she says in her blog about crying...and not hugging Harrison Ford. I loved the hug Marion gave Forest Whitaker. It's called raw emotion people, and I am a fan (of seeing it on tv, in real life it makes me feel all awkward).

Big ups for Jon Stewart. Lots of good jokes...Cate Blanchett playing everyone, "and the baby goes to...Angelina Jolie," quip about Jack Nicholson knocking someone up, the monologue. It all worked.

Yay for Owen Wilson. Looking good.

Miley Cyrus. While I don't think you should have been there, you are surprisingly good with a teleprompter and were in better control of your nerves than most of the pros there. Katherine Heigl I'm talking to you. Your dress was cute. The rest of you I could do without.

I felt like I was stressed out a lot during this show. the acting categories were tough. i'm glad it's over and overall i'm happy about it. In addition, Reelzchannel (aka the network that pays my bills) went live for the first time tonight with a post show. So that was exciting and added some energy to the evening. I'm looking forward to next year in the hopes that we actually get some red carpet credentials so I can cross that off my list and move on. we estimate that some 1k crews are on the carpet. I can't begin to understand the politics behind the fact that we, a network about movies, don't factor into that number.

I'm peacing out. I'll try to write more tomorrow. I'm apparently having some sort of power source problem with my laptop which has limited my computer use at home. I've tried throwing money at the problem by purchasing a new battery and AC adapter, but neither have worked, leading me to believe that the problem is within. Wunh wunh.

Tomorrow is a new day. And the next thing I have going on is SXSW. Yeah-uh!

Keepin it Weird

I'll blog about Forgetting Sarah Marshall tomorrow, but right now I'll tell you that...

I'M GOING TO SXSW!!!!

Super excited. Ecstatic actually. Giddy like a schoolgirl. They all apply. A week in Austin goes right along with my plan for 08. Unfortunately right now they have me leaving the night before Joshua Radin plays (which is when most of the music starts). That's the only downside to this fest. First weekend is film, second is music. I'll try and work something out. Either way. I'm in Austin. For a week. For South by Southwest. So stoked.

As luck would have it, my brother, nephew and dad will also be in the Lone Star state that week. But they'll be like 5 hours away from me so unless they take a side trip, we'll have to relish in the fact that we're hanging out under the same blanket of Texas stars.

Taking bets on how quickly Gerrad gets tired of me saying "The stars at night are big and bright (clap) (clap) (clap) (clap) deep in the heart of Texas!"

Set this circus down...and open that jar, will ya?

So I could talk about a great Fryman Canyon hike and the nice people (and pooches) I met along the way . Or I could talk about the weird Disney junket I'm currently working that doesn't seem to end but involves the Anaheim Hilton; per diem, famous animators and their wives, space mountain and 101 dalmations. But I don't feel like it.

Instead I feel like posting the photo essay I recently alluded to. I bow to the master of photo essays, Ayrn, and offer you this:

Sometimes you need a boy around. Mostly when you want to eat some pickled beets and you can't open the jar.

So on a recent trip to Target I invested in a $20 As Seen On TV One Touch Jar Opener. Other gripper and OXO tool options just weren't cutting it (in fact cutting my hand is what sent me in search of a better option). And my new favorite pick up line (Let's have a conversation) wouldn't really sound as ladylike if I tacked on an "after you open my jar of beets" at the end. Long story short too late (I told you Ayrn was better!) I brought the motorized jar opener and put it to work.

At first it didn't want to work at all and I cursed the infomercials that bring me so much joy only to sell me a crappy product. But eventually, there was a turn and a pop, and thankfully, no mess.

At last! The lid was off!

Of course then I felt like I had to eat a lot of them because it was all such a process.

Luckily they were tasty...just like I remembered. I also remembered this week how much I like hard boiled eggs. A very productive food week.

Other stuff:

Someday I'll learn how to link to actual music files. Until then you just have to read the lyrics to the songs I'm enjoying at the moment. Craig Cardiff's Circus and Tim McGraw's Set This Circus Down. (I mostly just included that link because who knew their was a website called Cowboy Lyrics??)

I'm gonna go watch "I Could Never Be Your Woman" because I love Paul Rudd and it's what Amy Heckerling would effing want me to do. (I'll have to post the transcript of an interview I had with the Clueless/Fast Times scribe not too long ago...it's a classic.)

What my birthday says about me is true

Your Birthdate: June 3

You are more than a big ball of energy - you are a big ball of hyper.

You are always on the go, but you don't have a type a personality.

Instead of channeling your energy into work, you instead go for fun and adventure.

Witty and verbal, you can have an interesting conversation with anyone.

Your strength: Your larger than life imagination
Your weakness: You tend to be pretty scattered
Your power color: Lime
Your power symbol: Lightening bolt
Your power month: March

Weird. Lately when I think about decorating the dining room in my house I want really bad, I think of dark wood and lime green accents. No joke. Can't wait to see what March holds in store other than my grandma's 85th bday.

A lot of people ruin their lives to get in that book...

Subj line refers to my favoritest quote from "King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters." Which, by the way, I IMMENSELY enjoyed this weekend. It was the first of the Movies on the Moon Tower series. If you know me, you know I like the following:

1. fireworks
2. watching movies outside
3. phosphorescence
4. cake batter ice cream

The Moon Tower is the patio outside Casa del Sierra Bonita (where KDL and KBM live). They set up a projecter, and I can't tell you how amazing it was. I dare already call it "How I spent my summer vacation" (You know other than trips to the Caribbean, Bonnaroo, StL and wherever else I get the itch to go.)

We also watched Midnight Madness which is apparently the first live-action Disney movie. I like the idea of a city-wide scavenger hunt.

Friday I saw Audrey Tautou's latest movie Priceless. It was hard for me because you spend a good chunk of the movie not liking her, and that's difficult, but I guess the work of a good actress. It takes place in the French riviera which is always nice.

So I'm listening to the Ben Folds station I made on Pandora, and I'm super loving it because they rarely play other artists...it's just Ben over and over again. (My other stations mix things up more artist-wise.) When they do, it's Ben Kweller, or as is the case right now, Regina Spektor. Totes enjoyable.

Back to this weekend and the movies.

Sat morning I chillaxed to Mr. and Mrs. Smith. That movie is so hot and sexy and I love it. I also love how they used the Father of the Bride house. I also saw Rocket Science. It was a Sundance movie last year and just came out on dvd. I would say worth a rent.

Last night I hosted an intimate Michael Clayton viewing party. (gotta take advantage of the clean apt!) There was wine, there were cheese and crackers, and there was George Clooney looking super sexy in a long tie. After the movie, we tuned into the Grammys at apparently the worst part of the show (unless the whole thing sucked). Aretha was channeling the sun. It was not good. So we switched over to the BAFTA's. I think the producer must've been in love with DDL because they literally showed his face every two seconds. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I liked Sir Anthony Hopkin's speech. His optimism has increased ten fold since he told us life is effing shit last year at Sundance. I'm happy for him.

Ok, so I didn't JUST watch movies and award shows all weekend (PS Where was Ryry on E!'s Grammy carpet coverage??). I also cleaned my apt (except for the boudoir part), got a diagnosis on my computer, tried Pinkberry for the first time, did some laundry, and got my taxes done.

The government loves to punish single people for making good money. I super hate them for that. Because not only do I not get anything out of all those dollars, but neither does anyone who really needs them. For instance, the city of LA spent $25,000 to get Britney to the hospital the last time...some of those dollars were mine, and I do not approve of them being spent that way. Alas, there's nothing I can do about it.

Maybe I'll open an offshore bank account in the Grand Cayman while I'm there. I don't know the logistics of it, but it sounds fancy and I feel like people beat the man by doing it. I'd like to beat the man.

OH, and I made a superb photo essay of me finally getting a jar of pickled beets open. It was the breakthrough moment of the weekend. Unfortunately my computer is trying to break up with me and doesn't want to function properly, so I can't post those pictures yet.

Billy Joel's singing about how I've got a way. And I really need to write a story about "Charlie Bartlett." It opens Feb. 22. You should definitely see it. I saw it about a year ago and enjoyed it mucho. Mostly because I love drugs distributed for mental health wellness. I am not a Scientologist.

Speaking of movies coming out that you should see..."Definitely, Maybe" is in theaters Thurs (aka Valentine's Day). If you love love, or like Ryan Reynolds, Rachel Weisz or Isla Fisher, definitely check it out. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna see it again since I haven't seen it for a couple months. PS Straight boys gave it a thumbs up too. Like I said when I first saw it, it's what a rom-com is supposed to be.

Punch-Drunk Love

Sometimes I go to Presley's bday party at the Huntley and we get checked out not once, but *twice by Adam Sandler. Who, by the way, is currently sporting a mohawk for some reason.

I'm waiting to find out if I get to go SXSW afterall. There's been a lot of crazy shizz going down here at the ranch this past week, and that assignment would be like the salve the sitch so desperately needs.

Thoughts are with the people of Kirkwood, MO today. The Post-Dispatch reporter's account is chilling. Back in my local news days, I often dreaded covering council or school board meetings as they were incredibly boring. How lucky I was they were.

Back here in the LA area, the first swat officer in the depts 41 year history was shot and killed at a standoff the other night (another barely survived being shot in the face). With two brothers on "the force" back home, I can't forget the great risk these guys face on a daily basis (two officers were killed in the Kirkwood incident as well). When an armed assailant calls 911 and says "Come and get me" they apparently/seemingly have no choice but to follow his orders.

And I complain about my job (well just the bureaucracies of it, mostly).

Meanwhile Melody is currently in a seminar learning how to euthanize and decaptitate animals for her line of work.

I've got it pretty good.

PS I should have totally consulted this video before attempting to do my standup. I coulda learned a lot from that girl.

There's one in every crowd

Comments have been shut down thanks to a stranger who had to go and ruin the fun for everybody. Until I report said stranger to the powers that be and things are taken care of, comments will remain closed. In the interim, everyone I care about that reads this has my email addy, and should they have a dire need to reference something mentioned, can contact me there.

You know it's hard out here for a blogger...

Onto bigger and better things:

1. Tickets and hotel are booked for Grand Cayman, so "Life is Beachy When You're 30" is officially on. I wish I could leave tomorrow. I consulted my "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" book and it says the area is a top snorkeling and diving site. I had already planned on snorkeling, but figure I should dive as well seeing as it's famous and all. I'll just try to keep the scenario of Open Water out of my head.

2. A couple of interesting sightings last night at the Lukas Haas show at the Roxy. Ben Savage (you know him from Boy Meets World and being the baby bro of my first crush Fred Savage) stood next to us acting crazy for a few minutes. Topanga was nowhere to be seen. And Bud from Married with Children (who would be better fitted representing the Lollipop Guild (seriously SO tiny!)) was hanging in the VIP section. The highlight of the evening was a band called Biirdie and their song "Who Were You Thinkin Of."

I have been sidetracked by work and can no longer remember what else I had to say here. Excited to see Priceless tomorrow. It's Audrey Tautou's latest movie. I heart Amelie.

A couple of firsts for this week:

KDL and I walked home from the Sunset Strip last night. I don't know the distance, but it was all down hill and super enjoyable. Previously the farthest I had walked from my neighborhood was WeHo. As Jonathan put it, I like to walk places.

In addition, Jonathan, Lauren and I went to see a couple of coworkers do comedy Tuesday night. The venue was also hosting an Obama party and speed dating. Prior to the comedy the stage in back was used for open-mike storytelling. Tuesday's topic was Love Hurts. I didn't get up there, but if I did I would have told the following story. Mostly because it always gets a good laugh. And yes, it's true.

Girl meets guy on Nerve. (I should say here that said girl's friends set her up with a Nerve account without her knowledge. (not that she's against online dating, but still..)) So first date is set for a downtown LA bar. Arrival time is set for 10p on a Fri night. Smoking guy who matches pic walks up to bar. Girl is slightly disappointed, but keeps walking. Walks up to guy. He - right off the bat - says "you don't smoke." She says "no, does it matter?" He says no. Then he tells her he lost his wallet. She helps convince the bouncer to let him in sans ID. A cashier asks for a $10 cover. Girl pauses (she has cash, but wants to make sure he has some too in light of the wallet absence.). He does. Pays. Tells girl "that's your drink." This guy is classy. once in, he immediately heads for the loo. She heads to the bar for some Grey Goose. She assumes the immediate potty break is a bad sign. He returns with an "ooh. you bought a drink." then he says "i just don't feel the chemistry." YES HE DID SAY THAT. And I have outlined the ENTIRE convo thus far. (just so you know, it's much better performed live.) she says "ok, then I'll just be finishing this vodka tonic." to which he responds "don't you feel awkward?" to which she (now shooting the vodka tonic like a kamikaze) replies "no." he also says something about not drinking (making his choice of a bar meetup a bit unusual). Wait, it gets better. So on our way out, he stops at the cashier and asks for the cover back. I - I mean she - looked at him like "you've gotta be kidding me" and said, "I'm out of here."

Grant it, we were nowhere near IN LOVE, so the topic of Love Hurts doesn't really work, but I guess I was just ready to tell you that story.

And people wonder why I don't enjoy dating. THESE are the sleeze, folks!

Anywho, I wish you calmed days and more fun than uncertainty.
If you need a little pick me up...check out the Family Ties Reunion. The Keatons are no Seavers, but they'll sure put a smile on your face. Sha la la la!

Exciting Things...

In I've Got Baggage News...

The luggage company responsible for fixing my suitcase torn by Delta on the way home from Sundance called. They can't fix it. So they're sending me a new one. The guy then began describing the new one, assuring me of the brand (I've never heard of it, but mine wasn't exactly a Samsonite), the size (it's a little bigger), the color (it's the same - black), and the features (still got rollers and a pulley thing).

In Things On Their Way to My House Thanks to Netflix News...

Rocket Science
The King of Kong
Dancer in the Dark

In Screeners Are My Boyfriend News...

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Michael Clayton

(all those movies make me want to hole up in my apt under a blanket on my couch and stay there until I've had ample time to digest their greatness.)

In "Do I Make You Horny?" (the slobbering lispy version) News...

my mouthguard is ready

In Take This Job and Covet it News...

writing 3 stories a day is getting super old...I feel like I'm working at the plastics factory with Roseanne and Jackie attempting to make quota whilst getting yelled at by a young George Clooney. On the flipside I just got assigned a junket in which I'll get to interview Rachel McAdams which makes me happy. It's just like they say in the Facts of Life theme song, "You take the good, you take the bad..." (another inadvertent Clooney reference!)

In What, You're Not Friends With Lukas Haas? News...

that show's tomorrow night, I'm looking forward to it.

In Once is Never Enough News...

Glen and Marketa were at the Oscar luncheon yesterday. This means they're in town. I'm super sad I didn't give them my phone number so they can't call me and we can't be hanging out. I've got a hunch on where they're staying, but I'm trying to not be a stalker so they'll stay friendly and not get scared.

Ok, enough distracting myself...I've got to get to work on a piece about geek to chic makeovers in movies.

There Will Be Celebrities

Sorry, I'm writing a couple of stories for our Producers Guild Awards special today and they're both about There Will Be Blood, so I've kinda gotta one track mind in the creativity dept.

For the second year in a row, in no particular order, I give you:

Celebrities Spotted at Sundance:
(most of these are interviews, didn't really have a lot of street sightings this year)

Michael Rapaport
Charlize Theron
Jared Leto
AnnaSophia Robb
Mischa Barton
Mary Lynn Rajskub
Lea Thompson
Olivia Wilde
William Hurt
Maria Bello
Kristen Stewart
Tom Hanks
John Malkovich
Colin Hanks
Tom Arnold
Emily Blunt
Adam Scott
George Romero
Randy Quaid
Dennis Quaid
Sarah Jessica Parker
Thomas Haden Church
Jay Baruchel
Stanley Tucci
Patricia Clarkson
Emily Mortimer
Woody Harrelson
Kate Mara
Eduardo Noriega
Robert DeNiro
Nick Cannon
Melonie Diaz
Mena Suvari
Paul Giamatti
Kristen Wiig
Billy Crudup
Paul Schneider
Jason Ritter
Colin Firth
Patti Smith
Nick Stahl
Virginia Madsen
Alan Alda
Matthew Broderick
William H Macy
Felicity Huffman
Luke Wilson
Sean Combs
Phylicia Rashad
John Stamos
Sanaa Lathan
Michael Stahl David
Josh Lucas
Jacqueline Bisset
Lukas Haas
Illeana Douglas
Dennis Hopper
Meg Ryan
Alan Ball
Michael Madsen
Eric Balfour
Ellen Page (I saw her the next day back in LA, but I'm putting it here because it was one of my most favoritest sightings ever.)

And I think that's it. or if it's not it it gives a good representation of who I recall seeing. It's really freaking me out that I'm not putting it in alphabetical order, but we're all just gonna have to deal. I have to go continue writing copy for the special. And then I have to write the piece on Paris.

Life is glorious.

Bradley Day Lewis, is that you??

Plaid is the new black.

No right minds could wrong be this many times

Title refers to a line in Sara Bareilles' song "Between the Lines."

I'm eating Wheat Thins and watching a BBC America documentary called "Super Skinny Me." It's about these two journalists who attempt to slim down to a size 00. It's really crazy. Doctors forced the one to stop the experiment because she got too into it. The other made the goal of the 00. In the end, they lost something like 15 pounds each and, as the one who had to stop put it, "learned that not eating makes you go mental." They both have since began eating normally.

Alright, so enough of that...this week has been CRAZY. I realized last night that the next time I have 2 days off in a row, it will be a month since I've had 2 days off in a row. I'm kinda going nuts.

So...ketchup.

Monday night I saw The Hottie and The Nottie. It's Paris Hilton's new movie. I don't know which was worse, this movie or 27 Dresses. Paris basically plays herself (I just interviewed her this morning and she even told me as much). The "nottie" is the girl who played Al the tomboy on Step by Step.

Oh also on Monday I watched Jim Carrey jump off the suicide bridge in Pasadena. Luckily he was attached to a bungee cord and survived.

Briefly I need to mention the juxtaposition of the current documentary on BBC America..."476-lb. Teenager." Is this what BBC America is usually obsessed about?

Anywho so Tuesday I got fitted for my nightguard (awesome) and used American Idol as a mood elevator. Wednesday my lady doctor (who reminds me of my Adopted Grandma Delores) wished me well in the world of romance. (Her exact words were: I hope the stars align for you this year, and that he's a really cool guy who wears condoms.) Yeah, that wasn't awkward. But she means well, and I appreciate her for it.

The show "The Moment of Truth" premiered while we were at Sundance, and Brooks, Emily and I knew it was going to be addicting, and it is. This week's episode was no different. I mean, who doesn't enjoy watching other people ruin their lives? As Emily put it, it's that trainwreck you can't help but being glued to. Not surprisingly there's apparently no shortage of people willing to reveal their innermost secrets on national television for a few thousand dollars. Apparently that's the only place they feel comfortable ruining their marriages or families or careers.

I interviewed Jessica Alba Thurs night at the premiere for The Eye, and I dunno, I just don't get what the big deal is about her. Luckily she wasn't feeling good, so she didn't have the energy to be bitchy (as I heard she can be). It might impress you to know that she learned braille and classic violin for the role. Others might like to know that in these first few months of her pregnancy (I think she's in her second trimester or something) she's gone from a 32b to a 34d.

Saturday I took a nearly 7 mile hike along a ridge overlooking the ocean in the Pacific Palisades. It was simply beautiful and reminds me how much I love being by the beach and how much I take it for granted. I've already told my coworkers who live in the beach communities that they'll be seeing a lot of me when the weather warms up.

Saturday night thanks to Kait was treated to a reading by Bestselling Poet Mary Oliver. I'll be honest, when I first saw the 80 min no intermission runtime, I was like uh oh, this might be a lot of culture for me. I had read her poetry, but I was not prepared for the effect it would have on me coming out of her mouth. Less than half way through I was taking notes, writing down lines she was saying that I was connecting with.

"let our minds rattle our tongues"
this is in reference to early morning convos she had with her lover

"are you breathing a little and calling it a life?"

"nothing important is ever easy, at least for the first 60 years"

"doesn't everything die at last and too soon?"

My favorite poems of the evening:

The Journey
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Wild Geese
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

I'll try to be better at updating throughout the week so that we don't have these long posts once a week.

And I know I have yet to do the Sundance Celeb List. I have it at work, so I'll try to put it on here tomorrow.

Hi mom.

Oh and people often ask me why I'm not on air. This is why.