Thursday, April 28, 2011

Online Giggles

Signing in to various websites is getting more and more involved.  They've changed "What's your mother's maiden name?" to all sorts of different questions.  And some sites require you attach an image, a word AND a password to your account in order to ensure it's you.

Thanks, I guess.  For protecting me from hackers.

On one particular site as I was scrolling through all my picture options, I knew EXACTLY which one to pick.  My friend Elaine had a crazy experience where she SWORE there was a baby rhinoceros in her room.  And every time I see one (ya know, all the time in Los Angeles), I think of her.

I hardly ever log in, but every time I do It's fun to have a giggle and a little reminder of someone special in my life.


Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Better

Went to Hotel Cafe tonight to see the Ditty Bops.  So good.  So good.

I know I've mentioned this before, but there's something about that place.  It feels safe and comfortable.  Not to mention, the music is always good.  It seems that every time I'm there I have a moment where I close my eyes and breathe it all in.

And then I just feel....better.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The Clapper

I've had my head down in work mode lately and especially tonight.  I was editing the 2011 Field Day Trailer and at some point the light in my office just turned off.

Thank you for being green...but arrghh.


Out of frustration (and clearly out of being a child of the 80's) I clapped my hands and grunted.


And, you guys, the lights turned back on.
Just like that.


Clap on, bitches.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Permission

First of all, the Railroad Revival Tour was pretty ridiculous.  Good bands, good people and best encore I've seen in a long, long time. I have more to share about the ear to ear smile on a 4 year-old's face, not to mention the total shock I think he went into.  However, I'm waiting on some pictures that will do that justice.

In the meantime, here's a teaser photo and also, this happened:

As we all moved closer to the stage to prepare for Mumford & Sons, a young couple set up camp right in front of us.  They noticed we had two cute kids with us, but didn't make a big deal.  A few minutes later, the guy turned around with a joint in his hand and with the most sincere eyes said, "Do you mind if I light up in front of your kids?"

I couldn't believe he'd even think to ask.  So kind.




Wednesday, April 20, 2011

It may never get old...

Hung out with my bro tonight while they were shooting a new music video.  Always fun to be on a shoot and be thankful that I'm not in production.  I admit that I AM a crazy event manager type, but film production is just so much hurry up and wait, load in, load out, pack in, pack out.  Ugh.

After the final loud out, we headed to an event for drinks and live music (ahem, some secret Strokes show) and just as the dance floor was getting crowded, the DJ played a Foster The People song.  It's exciting to hear it, it just is.  And feels like it always will be.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Well, thanks.

I was at Trader Joe's today wandering aimlessly around carrying an Easter Lily and a guy walked right past me, didn't turn around and said, "Those flowers look nice on you."  He just kept going and I was left standing with a smile on my face.

Happy Easter week!

Monday, April 18, 2011

This might be a three-fer

A few months back I posted an amazing video of an amazing 4-year-old singing "The Cave" by Mumford & Sons.

If you could see the look on his face every time Mumford & Sons pops up on shuffle, you'd probably make the same effort my friend Kenneth did to get that boy some tickets to their sold out show.  He posted an ad on Craigslist that included my blog post and simply asked for someone to have mercy on us (and the cutest kid in the world) and sell us face value tickets.

Welllll, it worked!  We just scored two tickets at face value to the Railroad Revival Tour from a lovely human being who isn't trying to sell her tickets for double what they're worth.

Faith in humanity: Restored.

(And I'm sure there will be a third post about this kid after we surprise him with a train ride down to San Pedro to see his favorite band live!)

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Excuse me miss...

I was headed back to our homebase at Coachella and I heard a voice from behind me, "Excuse me, miss...where are your stripes?"

I turned to see a very cute boy (man, I suppose) in a full length, pink with purple stripes, footed pajama outfit.  The pink was almost exactly the same shade of my solid pink dress.

I smiled and told him that he had clearly stolen all my stripes.  "And wow!, aren't you hot?!"
(ya know, it's like 100 degrees here)

He grinned and said, "I don't know.  Am I?"

"Ha, clever."

"Yeah, well I've been working on it all day."

Friday, April 8, 2011

Resolved.

I was selected to be on a jury, but our case was resolved pretty quickly.  Jury selection took two full days and we never got to hear full details or testimonies.

Jury duty is always so intriguing to me.  You live your life everyday in Los Angeles in your little circle of friends and think everyone is just like you.  And then you spend a day in court.  LA truly has every type of person.  I caught myself making immediate judgments based on people's answers to the judge's questions.  Just as I'm sure people were passing judgment on this blond girl in pig-tails from Santa Monica.

However, once the general what-do-you-do and where-are-you-from questions were answered, I was blown away by what we all had in common.  Out of almost 60 jurors, it appeared that nearly 80% of us had either been raped or assaulted or knew someone very close to us who had.  I was floored.  We were all different ages, races, local and not.  And hands just kept going in the air as the judge repeated the question to new jurors, "Have you or anyone close to you ever been assaulted or raped."

The defense lawyer did her best to try to keep things light when it was her turn to ask us questions.   But, for me, hearing the word rape had already changed my demeanor.  Both the defense lawyer and the judge were questioning jurors on specifics of their incidents.  Where?  When?  Did you know the person?  Did you call the police?

Whoa, hold on.  Who's on trial here?

Even though we never made it to the actual case, the experience was intense for me.  Hearing stories from people who clearly wanted (and needed) to be heard.  Hearing from a brother who knew his sister had been raped, but wasn't sure of the final outcome or if he even really believed her.

I AM that blond girl from Santa Monica and I started to feel guilty and naive.  But I also had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the family and friends I have.

And that defense lawyer...well, she managed to make me smile and shake my head in embarrassment (for her).  She asked us all at once if we had ever been in a stormy relationship.  And if we had, did we know what make-up sex was.  Everyone giggled and shook our heads yes.  She then asked, "Does anyone NOT know what make-up sex is?"  A little old Asian lady in the front row raised her hand.

"Oh, okay.  Well, Juror #9 can you please explain to Juror #17 what make-up sex is?"

"Uh, sure.  It's, like, the best sex there is."

Thursday, April 7, 2011

There should always be time for a deserved high five.

Per usual, I was running late to jury duty this morning.  I was literally running from the parking garage to the crosswalk and had to slow down briefly to wait for the light.

There was a little girl and her father waiting and I barely acknowledged their existence. I was adjusting my bag to prepare for a good run and I heard her say, "I lost my tooth."

The light changed and I stepped into the crosswalk but they stayed behind.  She said it again, "I lost my tooth."

Still hustling forward, I turned to see if she was talking to me. We made eye contact and she pointed at the hole in her mouth and said, "Like right now! I just lost my tooth."

I regret that I thought I didn't have time to run back and give her a high five.  Lame.  But I did smile and scream back, "That's awesome!  I hope the tooth fairy comes tonight."

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Juror #10

I begrudgingly headed to jury duty today.  Which is funny, because I'm kind of a nerd and actually really like jury duty.  But this time around, it seemed to be getting in the way of my life, not to mention having me up at the crack of dawn.

Turns out, the day wasn't all that bad.  And because I'm a nerd, I take the whole secrecy thing pretty seriously.  So I'm not gonna share just yet.  But looks like I'm on a case starting tomorrow and I already have good little bits to share.

Just can't do it until the case is over.

So, until then....here's a fun LA jury duty tip for ya:

If you're summoned to the 210 W Temple Courthouse and need to get to the 11th floor...go ahead and wave to the people waiting in the massive line at the floors 2-11 elevator and hop on the 12-19 elevator.  Walk down one flight of stairs...and viola! you're there in half the time.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Why are kids always right?

I was over at a friend's house tonight and as it became past bedtime and the ever popular...witching hour, my friend's kids were starting to get a little slap-happy and pushy.

The three year-old, after specifically being told not to, grabbed a full glass of water and started gulping away.  His dad grabbed the glass, put it on the table and looked at his son with those disciplinary, but smiling eyes and said, "Honey McChild!  You are, you arrre..."


McChild ducked under his dad's arms running towards his room saying, "Sweet.  I'm sweet.  Sweeeeet."

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Observant, much?

I have a piggy bank made out of a coconut that I got in Costa Rica (ahem, humble brag) last year.  Since then, I've been adding coins to it and not paying much attention.

Today, as I was adding money to the little guy's back, I realized every time you put a coin in his ears wiggle.

That thing was worth every penny.

Friday, April 1, 2011

It doesn't get much better.

I got a text from my roommate that I had a present waiting for me at home. [Exciting!]


Gift fly-bys are awesome no matter what.  And SECRET gift fly-bys are even better.  Looks like girl's handwriting on the note...but I have NO IDEA who it's from.

Um, awesome.
(and Happy Easter to YOU, mystery gift giver)