SONIC YOUTH RULES

                                     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdP6UuNNHqA

    Just bought a ticket to see my favorite band in LA next week!

Bursting with so much excitement I think I might naturally combust.

Momma Mia It's Finger Tingling Not So Good

For the past week my right hand has been acting like it's a sleep during very important times of the day. During inappropriate times, example when my hand is needed doing other tasks. Like, holding a cannoli, or shoveling a meatball in my mouth, or while pushing the cart around my favorite Italian Market Claros in Orange County. 

Which brings me to my next point...WHERE THE HELL IS THE ITALIAN MARKET IN INDIANAPOLIS?? I found the Asian market, the Vietnamese store, the Hispanic market.....WHERE OH WHERE CAN I BUY MY BELOVED CAPOCOLLO, MORTADELLA,

SALAME AND FRESH PROVOLONE AND MOZZARELLA BALL 

Mom took me to Claros Italian Market yesterday and told me to pick out what ever I wanted. OH MAMA MIA did I fill up that basket, and yes, my hand was tingling the whole time.  http://store.claros.com/

 Oh the bitter sweetness of shopping at Claros, not only do I get enormously homesick walking down the aisles, I also feel slightly enraged! Why don't I have the luxury of pushing a shopping cart  through the aisles of an Italian Market in Indianapolis?  Then suddenly like a church bell ringing at Norte Dame Cathedral, I had am epiphany? Why don't I open up my own Italian market???  I mean really how hard can it be to order all of my favorite market place items and import them to Indianapolis?? Like a sledgehammer reality struck while I remembered how that kind of thought process takes money to bring to fruition. Oh well, I'll continue my search. If there are any investors reading, I'll do all of the hard work if you lay down some cash to help me open up a little piece of heaven like Claros in my small midwestern farm town.  I'm an Italian with hard working ethics who needs to have Panettone,  prosciutto, capacol and salami at her leisure. (Get that head out of the gutter, jeez!! Or was that just me?) 

Now back to the tingle fingers. 

I'll tell ya this finger tingling is really starting to bug me..Not because it is uncomfortable. I now understand why people are so effected by carpel tunnel that they need to wear one of those funny looking bowling glove fandangos around their wrists. My husband who is an editor always comes home asking me to massage his editing hand. Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't. On the days I don't  I give him my consent  to go a nice Korean spa  that are abundant in Los Angeles where he will get the greatest hand and 

 all over massage in the world. Now that I am experiencing this tingling I am feeling so guilty for not helping him more with his hand  situation. I mean he has a reason to have this feeling. He is constantly working with his hand on a daily, monthly, yearly  basis so he definitely  has validation to have a tingling hand thingy.  So why the hell am I having this?  Mom is trying to be so sweet, blaming it on all of the fabulous blogging I've been doing. WHAT????  Sorry to say that the time it takes me to write a post is about the same time a pack of wild coyotes ferociously attacks a chicken pen! I pump out my posts as quick and fast and it shows with all of my G. E. S ( AKA Grammatical Eye Sores. See past post)  

My step father the Chief has been telling me to do some very helpful wrist exercises. Every time I feel the tingles while I"m still baffled to why?  Why?  Where is my honey's wrist so I can give him a guilt ridden massage? 

Then like the church bells that were ringing at high noon on the day  I was born, it came! It's all of that bread that I've been kneading!

Oh Momma Mia!! That's not gonna stop me from making bread! If my Great Grandmother GG, the matriarch Italian female of our family can keep popping cavadilles, (or as most people would call them gnocchi) from under her fingertips well into her old age, then so can I! OH CLAROS WHERE ARE YOU IN INDY?? CAN I OPEN A STORE FOR  YOU??  PLEASE?? PRETTY PLEASE??

  

I'm Back!!

Writing today from my room in Orange County California where I grew up. I stepped off the plane and received a hero's welcome by my sis and auntie. We drove to mom's house where I tackled my 20 year old daughter who I have not seen in over 2 months. AHHHHHH!! It's not easy being away from her. I am writing in my old room at my parents house, which is now her room, or I should say her 'office'. Where she has been studying over  the past 2 years for all of

those incredibly hard essays and college courses. She is doing soo good. I am sooo proud of her. Of course I am the only one awake at this hour seeing as I'm still on eastern coast time. I try to get rest while I am away from the Littles but that damn sun it still rises not caring what time zone I am on. Christmas with the Littles and  honey was the best Christmas ever!

  I hosted a fabulous dinner on Christmas Eve. A meal I've never had the privilege to make and I must say...if I were participating in a Top Chef  Elimination Challenge, I'd still be in the game. I stuffed a 5 pound pork roast with a fantastic stuffing made of baby bella's, figs and marble bread. YUM!! Oh did I forget to tell you that I cooked the roast inside of a pastry? I made a hunter sauce with fresh baby bellas and vidalia leeks. YUM!! 

 Roasted garlic mashed potatoes, sauteed garlic spinach, candied yams, sweetened with real maple syrup, and brown sugar, and sure I put a few figs in with some nutmeg!! OK I'll stop now....Oh and yes and there was Eggplant Parmesan.......ok now I'll stop. Anyhow it was delish and soo much fun to prepare. I look forward to doing it again in the future. I would show you pictures but as you know

 being the hostess doesn't  allow a lot of  free time to take  pictures. Plus I hadn't opened up this yet!

I am so happy to be able to take photos again. Its  been years since I opted not to switch from my 35 millimeter to digital. It took me a while to convert. Just as it had taken me a long time to convert to beloved MacBook Pro. (husband calls my computer my boyfriend and named it Ty. Ty? Why couldn't it be Scott or Tom, he likes Ty)   Since I had been taking so many pics off of my BlackBerry I guess it was my turn to follow everyone into the digital world.  Having this camera will now enable me to start that non profit organization that I've  been dying to introduce and  should be launching in 2010. And yes, YOU WILL ALL BE A PART OF IT!! Stay tuned! 

 Another thing my honey bought for me for Christmas were 2 pairs of the cutest skinny jeans! Of course he had auntie pick them out but ooohh do they make my ass look GREAT!!! Thanks honey!  I LOVE MY JEANS!! I'LL WEAR THEM UNTIL THE DISTRESSED RIPS AND TEARS 

 ARE TORN RIGHT INTO A PAIR OF DAISY DUKES!! The Littles were happy with all of their gifts, and honey received a replacement Puma sweat suit and matching Puma kicks to don over the next year. Doesn't he look handsome? (We are not broken up as he mentioned in his guest post last week!) Now it is time to celebrate with my family here in California, who I have missed sooo much and have been whining like a baby until I stepped foot back into in this house. I bought a one way ticket so my return to the farm is not planned yet. SO I imagine I will be WHOOPING IT UP, and including you in every step! 

Happy holidays everyone..I'm off to eat enough Italian food to burst right out of my skinny jeans!! Until next time, I shall be CLICK, CLICK, CLICKING away documenting my every step!!

I love you honey thank you for a wonderful Christmas, I MISS YOU TERRIBLY!!

Happy Birthday Buddy

20 years ago I gave birth to beautiful baby girl, whom I thought would be my little boy. 6 years ago, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl,  thinking it may be my son! Five years ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl....again! 

5 and 1/2 years ago we went to Hawaii with all of the kids....I watched my 3 kids play feeling like there was someone missing. There was.

4 years ago today. You came! 

                                                 I knew you were coming. 

Hollywood Farm Attack Of The Raccoon Take 1

The time is 11 A.M, the temperature outside is a mere 40 degrees on Hollywood Farm.

ATTRACTIVE WIFE is baking a practice run of Christmas Eve dinner in  the kitchen of a 100 year old farm house. The kitchen counter is cluttered with fresh vegetables and baking tools. ATTRACTIVE EMPATHETIC HUSBAND enters the back sun-porch that joins the kitchen.

ATTRACTIVE EMPATHIC

 HUSBAND

Honey do you have anything I can feed this dying raccoon

 we just saw a mile away at the old bridge down the road?

DISTRACTED ATTRACTIVE WIFE

What? Raccoon? What are you thinking? 

ATTRACTED EMPATHETIC HUSBAND 

So you expect me to keep driving by it all day

 and try to forget it's dying in the street?

DISTRACTED ATTRACTIVE WIFE

Yes! If you feed it don't you think it will come and try to get to

 my chickens? Isn't it time to take our son to school?

She continues to pour yeast into  a mixing bowl. Empathetic husband starts to rummage through the fridge.

       

EMPATHETIC ATTRACTIVE

 HUSBAND

What about this pot roast? The kids wont eat these potatoes.

ATTRACTIVE WIFE

Seriously? It's a raccoon......raccoons eat chickens. We have 8 hens.

Case closed.

The DISTRACTED ATTRACTIVE WIFE continues reading the recipe for simple baked bread, something she has never done before and at the moment was not appreciating being distracted while accidentally adding too much yeast to the recipe. Attractive husband is still milling around in the kitchen hovering over the left over roasting pan that is still holding last nights roasted potatoes and carrots.  He leans in for a kiss and a squeeze.

EMPATHETIC ATTRACTIVE HUSBAND

OK, I'M going to take the boy to school, see you soon.

Distracted wife does not notice the missing roasting pan, and continues to knead the dough. Luckily she had set aside the remaining roast beef that she was planning on baking inside the bread. She puts the dough aside and sits at her computer to work on her blog. 

About 30 minutes later,  'baying' sounds that come from her hound dog can be heard from the front of the house. The hound barks when someone drives on the property, (their own personal doorbell some might say), but the 'baying' usually occurs when there is a critter around. no longer distracted the ATTRACTIVE WIFE gets up from her computer to see what the fuss is all about. 

 Upon arriving at the front porch to her dismay, she sees her ATTRACTIVE EMPATHETIC HUSBAND holding a 15 foot tree branch, trying to dissuade the vicious raccoon that had found it's way from the bridge a mile away, passed the electric fence and onto their front porch where it had currently puffed out the size of a bear cub and was attacking BOTH HOUND DOGS!! She screams, and flees to her head phones as she does not want to hear the sounds that are currently coming from her front porch! 

30 minutes later. 

EMPATHETIC ATTRACTIVE HUSBAND comes in the house with the  empty roasting pan.

          EMPATHETIC ATTRACTIVE HUSBAND

       Well the chickens are safe!

FIRED UP ATTRACTIVE WIFE

       Please get rid of it before the kids get off the bus.

EMPATHETIC ATTRACTIVE 

HUSBAND

       Well I think the dogs are going to take care of it....look!

She looks out the back window and sees the hound dog dragging what looks like a stuffed raccoon around the back yard as if it were a REAL STUFFED RACCOON. She drops it at the foot of the back porch and proceeds to play with the other hound!! ATTRACTIVE WIFE proceeds with her baking and only glances out the back once to see her EMPATHETIC ATTRACTIVE HUSBAND walking towards the back woods with the raccoon laying upon a shovel. The same shovel he was told by his mother to whack over the head of the raccoon, just in case it wasn't dead!  

The sun sets and rises again. ATTRACTIVE HUSBAND has yet another business trip and flees for the airport mid-day. 

LATER THAT DAY

Three small children play in the back yard of their 20 acres farm. Their MOTHER aka ATTRACTIVE WIFE is at the burn hearth that she built with no help from a man at all, and is burning the days paper products. Her Middle LITTLE starts screaming from the back fence!! 

MIDDLE LITTLE

    A RACCOON! A RACCOON! I SEE ONE SLEEPING IN THE BACK!!

Biggest Little and Littlest Little start running towards the back fence that separates the farm house property to the back property. MOTHER panic and screams for the children to get into the house!

Once in the house, BIGGEST LITTLE says.

BIGGEST LITTLE

    Mom, why is the raccoon sleeping in the field? 

Don't they usually sleep in trees?

MOM

    Honey I don't think it was sleeping. 

The dogs must have been trying to  save our chickens.

BIGGEST LITTLE

    Oh it was sleeping alright I could hear him snoring

 and his belly was going up and down!

After cringing and gagging and fighting off the goosebumps that were currently crawling up her spine, the MOTHER tells her children to go in the play room to watch their favorite show which would surely keep their attention focused on anything other than the fact that their MOTHER would have to go in the back with a shovel and finish the job that the man of the house could not do!

She couldn't do it either! PETA don't hate us for not baring arms!

To read the EMPATHETIC ATTRACTIVE HUSBANDS take on the visit from raccoon that day visit the post titled.

Tiger, The Wolf Man, And The Raccoon. 

We may live in the country....doesn't mean we ARE country! Thank God for animal control!!

MALIBU MORNINGS, UNGLAMOROUS PRODUCTIONS AND MOUSE HEADS (posted last fall 2008)

It has been a busy fall. I have been back to California to work on a music video for a couple of days. Most people I know who work in production rarely accept work on a music video, due to the fact that the budgets are low and usually the days are much longer than commercials as most music videos are non union jobs and can go on forever. The hours are long and the budgets are low so the amount of images wished to be shot by the record company and director are usually vast. I am one of the few to be able to work on a music video and be pleased.  All of my friends and family who usually take work on mulit-million dollar commercials and movies always cringe when I tell them I am working on a music video. One of the tasks that was required on this particular Lady Ga Ga Poker Face video was to retrieve signatures from the neighbors who live close to the location where the video would be shot. There is a title for the person whose to go door to door to receive these signatures,  they are called the Location Manager, who by the way make a pretty penny for their services. On this production, as I mentioned before the budgets are low therefore there is no room to pay a location manager. So this is the roll I played on this particular job. You see in prodution one must be able to wear many hats.  Oh woe is me? Really? I have to walk up and down a beautiful Malibu neighborhood disturbing people in the prime of their morning routines to ask, plead, and beg for their signatures and approval to shoot in their neighborhood? No problem. I knew that in a couple of months I would be back at the farm wearing layers of clothing trudging through the snow to let the chickens out every morning, so a morning walk through Malibu sounded FAB!! Guess how many signatures I received? Zero! 

 The first day I dressed in my sensible shoes, jeans and button down shirt, hoping to come off as professional as possible. After buzzing the gate at each and every multi million dollar mansion, I knew I was getting a once over through  the surveillance camera's that were pointing  directly

at me with my clip board and the all familiar location permits. No reply at all. So I was sent back to the production office in West Hollywood to retrieve a side of bacon that was missing from one of my co-workers breakfast. The last day before the shoot, I had to get at least ONE signature before noon.  I had four hours to try and get somebody to commit to signing. So this day I wore something different. I wore a little black dress. I teased my new blond hair with a windswept Malibu Barbie ponytail and off I went. BUZZZ! BUZZZ! BUZZ! I thought for sure that if they saw me looking as dashing as I did they would for sure think I was a neighbor making morning salutation calls. NOT!! Without a single signature, I returned to the office all

dolled up and preceded to run around Hollywood   in my little black dress. Thank God I was wearing it because on this particular day it was 99 degrees and I didn’t feel it one bit!! (I love little black dresses). I finally received a call from one of the residents agreeing to shoot. They were out of town. I understand why some of them would not agree. In the past there have been productions who promise they would be shooting only dialog scenes, and in turn end up shooting a punk rock video for 18 hours.

I sympathize with them as they live in their  luxurious neighborhoods for a reason. To enjoy the fresh ocean breezes and scenic views, to send their kids to the best schools and to enjoy the community. They did not agree to live on a back lot while they were signing escrow papers for their homes.  

I completely understand, when we lived in Venice Beach, we had a similar situation. An independent movie crew was shooting next door to our little cottage near the canals. Unbeknownst to us, the production crew sent our landscaper away without informing us of the shoot first and forcing us to cancel a BBQ we had planned. We did not take this lightly, I wont

tell you what we did to stop the production from shooting for 30 minute, or how we got our predominately Spanish speaking landscaper on the phone with the first AD. (Ok I will but you’ll have to wait for it) If you are reading this and work in production you know how messed up it is when somebody stops a shoot and delays the whole picture.  I know it seems like a power trip but hey, this was our community, and if the industry wants to continue to create magic in somebody else's backyard they need to respect the residents and abide by the rules of production. If that means blasting Cypress Hill's, "Rock Star" full blast next to a production trying to record dialog for 30 minutes to make a point, then so be it. I think we were only bitter because we had to deal with a lot of productions on a weekly basis while living near the canals in Venice. It’s not so glamorous when you spend all your time working on set and have to come home and literally be on set again with out the paycheck. It’s fine when you have notice, this particular day we did not get notice. Which was icing on the cake when we were forced to cancel a BBQ due to the production that was illegally shooting in the apartment building next door. We didn’t have the heart to call it in. Just enough heart to act like a couple of dicks.

Every time I work in production and go back to my farm town I love to share stories with my new country mom's as they have never had some of the opportunities I have and seem to get a kick out of my production stories. I usually have a celebrity sighting or two to share.  This time the only celebrity I saw and was given the once over look while crossing the cross walk on

Sunset Boulevard was Rick Rubin!! This was HUGE for me! Even the once over I accepted happily, after all I was wearing a little black dress. We crossed  Le Peer together going in opposite directions.  He gave me a quick look up and down with an approving the dress smile. I gave him a quick, “Good afternoon Mr. Rubin". I said with a smile and nod  attached trying to mask my star struck excitement. Once he realized I knew who he was....I receive the ever so famous smile turned to SMUG. That's OK.. He probably thought I was one of his ex floozies, as I of course was dressed like one at the time. Who is Rick Rubin you ask? Only the greatest music producer still living. Google him to see how many of your favorite CD's were mastered and fantastically produced by him. You will be as amazed as I am by this heavy set bearded man.

 One of the tasks I had to do to help bring the Lady Ga Ga music video for Poker Face  to fruition was to shop for hair and make-up. Oh woe is me. NOT! I was on a mission to find some boa  feathered fake eyelashes for Miss. Ga Ga to don during her shoot. First stop, Hollywood and Highland Sephora to pick  up some body  shimmering  lotions.

  Sounds glamorous to some, but to those who know Hollywood Blvd. at 5PM know just how NOT GLAMOUROUS this route an be.  I knew I had to run in  and run out and then jump onto the 101 towards Canoga Park where the eye lashes were waiting for me at a salon that would be closing at 6pm. All to be done in a timely fashion.  After being stopped for an hour at one light on Franklin, which was supposed to be my short cut, I saw an open space, parked and ran, not walked, to Hollywood and Highland Sephora. As I entered the store I walked directly to the first sales person I saw. I told them what I needed and the large quantity and to meet me at the register. While at the register, of course I had to try out a few jokes as I am a stand up comedian at heart and always trying to get somebody to laugh. The sales person said I looked beautiful in my fancy black dress and that I needed some blush. So without stopping, I paid for the shimmering lotion, had my blush retouched and received the greatest little blush packet for myself, all while jetting toward the door.  Not kidding, he was literally putting blush and lip-gloss on me while I was in motion walking at the same fast pace I was, without missing a beat. Needless to say I was in and out of there in less than 12 minutes and received a make-over without jeopardizing the productions time and money. I even had a few tourists snap my picture as they had NO IDEA WHO THE HELL I WAS, or why I was getting such special treatment while shopping without stopping for a minute. It's called buying retail in bulk with cash! These sales associates are used to this type of shopping as I am used to killing 4 birds with one stone.  Usually a natural way of life for me, maybe that’s why working in production suites me so well.

Needless to say it was great experience for me, and I'll always be available to my friends in production whenever they need me.  I enjoy mixing my life's tasks and the money is great!

 Some may think that one would be getting taken advantage of by giving the other so many hats to wear on the job. I don't see it this way after I witness countless people in this small farm town who struggle on a daily basis to make ends meet. I was glad to be back and basking in the beauty of Autumn leaves turning colors, and the farmers rushing to harvest their fields before the frost arrives. 

Although I can't say I was too excited about stepping on a lone mouse head that was left as a gift of my return by our farm cat Roller. I guess he thought I was just dying to peel it from the ball of my foot so late in the evening.

Ahhh Home sweet home! 

The Tiger and The Wolf and The Raccoon: The Rule of Threes Written by Mr. Hollywood Farm

     

After ten years in a relationship with my one and only (who incidently broke up with me this week), it is gratifying whenever I discover some previously undiscovered similarity in our personality, upbringing, quirkiness, outlook, philosophy etc.  This one came while perusing her blog (yes, this one) and discovering her interest in the old horror movies of yesteryear.  Dracula, Frankenstein, Wolfman.  The big three.  Legosi, Karloff, Chaney Sr.  (if you think I am talking about a politician, please stop reading now). They were the fathers of the now so huge horror film market.  I discovered we both grew up staying up late to watch them all on our local friday night horror shows (in Indianapolis it was "The Sammy Terry" show, which featured a black robed host with a white make-up face sticking out of his hood.) 

     It is in this vain of the old horror classics that I dedicate this guest post.  They all revolve around TRANSFORMATION.  From dead to al

ive.  From kind to horrible.  From human to immortal.  They all remind me of Tiger Woods and Mohammed Ali.

When working with Tiger Woods two weeks go he was kind.  He was clean.  Happily married.  Had everything including the shiny, uncontroversial  image that being the first Billion dollar earner in sports demands.  It requires a muted social conscience on issues such as war, politics and religion.  Tiger has towed the same line as Micheal Jordan: Don't offend ANYONE and the money will follow. 

 The kind of thinking that must frustrate Mohammed Ali.  He spoke out against all three.  He asked why he should fight in vietnam, "They never called me nigger." He had nothing against THEM.  He tired of watching US.  The USA.  He was a patriot because he stayed and fought to make it a better country, instead of saying it sucks and leaving.  Or worse, yet, saying nothing.  When he had his bike stolen as an eight year old, he learned to box. When he had his dignity and respect stolen as an adult he spoke out. He changed his religion, he spent his prime earning years, The Undisputed, undefeated Heavyweight Champion of the World, in jail, because he wouldn't go kill for a country where he couldn't sit in the front of the bus, share a drinking fountain, or eat in a restaurant with his fellow citizens.  He was sent to jail because we weren't ready to listen.  He had become a "Wolfman" of sorts.  Saying and doing things controversial.  Why couldn't he just box?  Many people were going to vietnam, why couldn't he just be like Elvis and go be a hero for Truth, Justice and the American Way?  Couldn't he see the trouble that would come with losing in Vietnam, like we were being told?

     Already tiring of the VAMPIRE-mania that has taken over the airwaves and turned my once proud vampires into teen heart throb movies thin on mystery and story, thick on easily digestible plots and well built teens with gratuitous body shots to catapult it into the "HARRY POTTER" type of franchise, my attention now has turned to the as yet untarnished: The Wolfman.  Hollywood will release its remake in Febuary with Benicio Del Toro starring as the lead.  He claims it is true to the original (unlike the modernized version starring Jack Nickolson in "The Wolf").   It has Gypsies.  It has his approval.  Benicio is also a fan of the big three.  He confidently stated that it was not modernized like the vampire of today, or "The Wolf" of the nineties.  He told me about the Gypsies.  He recited the words Karloff, Legosi, Chaney Sr. (Or as he called him, "The father Chaney.")  It is exciting to see a true fan put his stamp on a true classic and I look forward to seeing it.

Just as Mohammed Ali did not become a monster when we sent him to jail, neither did Tiger Woods when he wrecked his car.  They both were some same.  There was no magical transformation like The Wolfman, Dracula or Frankenstein.  Ali and Tiger stayed the same.  Our PERCEPTION of them changed.  Leaving us to discuss there social disgraces.  We feed on Tiger fodder like brain candy.  We are comfortable with it.  It doesn't force us to ask the big questions about politics, war and religion.  Thats' why we won't send him to jail.  Its a distraction from the real issues that matter.  Thank you Tiger.

Watching Tiger get media mauled reminds me of the Raccoon I saw yesterday.  We have two coon hounds.  There was a raccoon waddling down the road in front of our house. He could have gone around our yard to get to the field of freshly cut corn on the other side, but he wanted its tantalizing tastes now.  He entered our yard and went straight for it.  Tiger was away on business and answered his phone and went for it.  He could have anything he wanted, he just didn't want to wait.  It didn't matter whio was around. To the point of carelessness.  

Maybe he wanted to get caught just like that raccoon wanted to die.  Maybe he was tired of vanilla.  So that raccoon waddled into our yard past the hounds.  They were a little perplexed, as most raccoons fear them and run not towards them.  That Raccoon arched his back and walked not by them, but towards them.  He encouraged them to leave with hissing sounds.  They began to circle.  I went to get a big stick to try to push him past the electric fence he had climbed under.  He wanted to go through our yard no matter what the consequences.  He would not leave.  I could have gotten the whole thing on video, but the inevitable end seemed too macabre.  When he would charge one dog the other would nip him from behind.  The parlay continued for twenty minutes, until the Raccoon started realizing the comfort of a tree may be wise and crossing the yard was perhaps, unwise.  He tried to climb a nearby tree but was batted down by Rounder the black hound.  Then he tried again and Abbey the Treeing Walker batted him down.  He still charged, them, rather then run.  I tried again to get him to cross the fence with the stick.  When I realized it was hopeless I left, not wanting to face what made me uncomfortable.  I poked my head out once and saw Rounder shaking the Raccoon violently in his mouth like a shark or crocodile does its prey.  The second time I poked my head out I saw the raccoon stretched like a kite, front right leg pulled by rounder, back left leg pulled by Abigail.  I will spare you the details of the end.  All the excitement spared me from balancing the check book like I should have....  maybe I'll just turn on the TV. 

 Oh, what do you know, its Tiger.  More breaking news.  More mistresses have come out.  Sex addiction, really, like David Duchovny....  I'll balance the check book later.

LONG LIVE MOHAMMED ALI.

 

Top Chef Wanna Be

I religiously watch Top Chef every season. I know I said that reality TV is the spawn of the devil but I just can't wait to see what the Quick Fire Challenge will be each week. I am totally intimidated by all of the Chef's talents and techniques, at the same time I want to be competing right next to them. Alas, I am able to  do so in the privacy of my own home. If I were able to relocate my farmhouse back to Silver Lake, I would  invite all of my closest friends to my Quick Fire Challenge Dinner Party On The Farm. The day would start at the one of the 3 Hollywood Farmer's Market's which are flipping incredible. I am so absolutely amazed at the gorgeous produce that is showcased at these markets. 

Hollywood, http://www.hollywoodfarmersmarket.net/ 

Silver Lake, http://www.sunsetjunction.org/farmersmarket.htm  

Echo Park, http://www.sunsetjunction.org/farmersmarket.html 

Fingerling potatoes,sunflower produced chicken eggs, fertilized chicken eggs, duck eggs. Mushrooms of all different types. Fruits, and seafood to die for. FRESH FRESH FRESH!! EVERYTHING IS GORGEOUS!

I can't wait for my next visit! As I sit here chattering my teeth and look at my garden deteriorating from winter. Booo hooo! Wahhh!!

So now that I'm  shut in on the farm, I've been experimenting and cooking away.

Watching Tracie Norfleet  on Chef Academy has totally excited me and I try to prepare the meals they prepare every week on the show. 

SO here is my attempt at the bread. And I probably would have failed but I like to think perhaps not.

It was fun to watch the yeast rise, and I was concerned about the dough not having any elasticity. But then I remembered the spray bottle trick Chef Novelli showed his students. 

All I could find at the time was this spinach cheese ball that was slipped into my grocery basket by one of the kids. SO I plopped it onto of my rolled out dough, to bad the cheese spread was vile.

 

                                        I looked in the fridge for some, "quality filling" for my bread. 

I took my second lump of dough and put last night's pot roast inside. Delish! It was a little dry

 so I whipped up some Au-jus and MOUTHWATERING!!

Vampire, Shmanpire. I'm Hot For Wolf Men!

                                                   http://www.thewolfmanmovie.com/ 

                                                         (Check out the movie trailer)

“It’s Saturday Night. Time for, Chiller Theater, With Chilly Billy Cardille.”

(Pronounced CAR-DILLY) Bellowed  Bill Cardille behind an echo effect.

Between the ages of 2 and 8, I lived in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Yes, I was  a Pitt resident in early 70’s. My Grandfather helped build the Steel Building and carved our names in the building during it's construction. We were Pitt residence when the Steelers were winning Super bowl rings on an annual basis, and mom was dating their star linebacker. (Yes I'm talking about Jack Lambert.) I remember having Steeler Day at school what seemed like EVERYDAY. We knew a cheer song for the team that every kid would sing on the playground during recess. (Wish I could remember it now)

There wasn’t a kid in the state that didn’t know  every players name, and jersey numbers.  The town was on fire for their football team, just as I‘m sure they  are now. Another legacy of  living in Pittsburgh at a younger age was the Chilly Billy television show, The Chiller Theater. Chiller Theater would air all of the old scary movies. I remember the first time I ever watched or even knew that The Chiller Theater existed. It was one afternoon when my mom took us to downtown Pittsburgh, where we promptly found ourselves on a television set. I was 5 years old. Mom was on set doing some man’s hair. I hadn’t a clue who this person was or where we were as mom was always traveling somewhere taking are of someone's luscious locks.  This trip I was was fascinated. As I am writing this, I'm suddenly realizing  that this must have been the very first time I was ever on a real television set. It all makes sense now! We finished up at the studio, got back on the bus, and mom told us we could stay up late the next night to see ourselves on TV. This past August Bill Cardille celebrated 52 years in Pittsburgh television broadcasting. I imagined that this show was a tradition for many kids in Pitt.   We stayed up to see ourselves and I fell  asleep shortly after before the monster movie began that night. This didn’t stop  me from staying up late the proceeding Saturday night to see the macabre madness that came from some of Universal Monster movies. Like The Mummy, which was my sisters favorite The Invisible man whose murderous spree freaked us out. Then there was The Creature From The Black Lagoon, and Swamp Thing, which kept me riveted. But I have to admit that my ultimate favorite legacy was,The Wolf Man. I don't know why I could relate with the Wolf Man, but for some reason, I felt sorry for him. Which was totally odd being that I had a considerable fear of anything with a large amount of hair on their bodies like, gorilla's, chimps and dudes from the Planet Of The Apes.(Ok I didn't want to mention this as I am afraid it will turn into a post all of it's own but I was chased by a real chimpanzee when I was an infant while my mother held me, I think this was why I was petrified of these type of things. DON"T ASK! I'M LUCKY TO BE ALIVE)  

 http://www.chillertheatermemories.com/TheLab.html

http://www.davidwlindberg.com/2009/09/chilly-billy-cardilly-pittsburgh-wpxis.html                                  

The reason I am mentioning all of this is because my husband just returned from working with Benicio Del Toro for the past 2 weeks and told me how he and Benicio had a discussion about the new Wolf Man movie he has completed shooting with Universal which will be released in February. He will be playing the Wolf Man. Yeah!! According to him, this film is sticking to the original concept of the film that was made by Universal in 1943. I think Benicio is exactly what I need to get over my fear of apes. Vampire Smanpire, Mr. Del Toro will be the sexiest Wolf Man ever! This is one hairy flick I wont miss!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MediaMatch.com Offers Hope To Current Production Woes

ATTENTION: This is an old post! I wish I just returned from Califronia after 9 luxurious days. 

I'm reposting in hopes of getting another free month subscription.

 I think I just found my dream job!!

  Back on the farm after 9 luxurious days in California. Again with the lunching and dining. This was another laid back trip. No work this time and a little guilt because picking up a few days is always good. Our industry is not flourishing. Back in the day, before writers and actors played with crew member's futures, there was overly abundant production work available in Hollywood. Companies bid against each other and directors competed for the next high end beauty ad campaign. Then the writers strike, causing the industry to stop and stand still. This seemed to give reality TV a wide open door, creating continuing mayhem within the production industry. Companies took the high road. Ad execs lost funding to vacationing ad campaigns of the past. What does this mean? 

Well back in the day there were the BIG JOBS. BIG JOBS were long traveling jobs. I used to have a running joke with a work mate about how ad agencies planned summer vacations around summer ad campaigns. Companies like Fanta, Revlon, and telcos would literally travel to 5 different countries  to shoot 30, 60, and 90 second spots. The spots would air for all but a month before the next campaign was written. Now things have changed. Decade old production companies are closing their doors and prop houses that dressed the sets of your favorite TV shows and movies have been sold. Crew memebrs who spent their entire careers working on sets making movie magic are looking for opportunities outside of the industry. In case you haven't heard, California is going bankrupt and now other states are giving outrageous tax exemptions which is drawing work out of California. My theory: all the peeps who have not worked in production in months are living off of unemployment which in turn is causing the state to become bankrupt. 80% of the entertainment industry is now collecting unemployment. Along with the damn state taxes. So I am writing about all of this depressing information for one reason only. To introduce the use of http://www.media-match.com/ Folks the work is no longer in Ca, it's time to look elsewhere. Mediamatch.com is yes another social network, but do not be alarmed, this is to help those who work in production get production work. http://www.media-match.com/ is a site where one can list all of their talents and abilities in the production field.  I have been using Mediamatch.com for the past 3 years. I am very impressed with the type of work offered: writing gigs for television, copy editing gigs for television series, camera assisting for independent films. Yes there is reality TV work offered, but in the same respect, (well not the same respect since reality TV is the spawn of the devil), there is a ton of television series work, and studio work available also. There is also movie work available, although most of the film work is offered outside of California. The one thing that veers people away from posting their abilities and talents on http://www.media-match.com/jobsboard.php   is the fact that there is a one time annual fee of  $60. Along with the fact that once the 60 bucks is paid, there is then the tedious task of filling out a media match profile. 

Yes, profiles for social web media outlets are overrate, but please do not be discouraged by all of the questions that are being asked about your experience.  It is to help match you with the perfect position. Look at it as another avenue for your resume or reel to be viewed by professionals who are looking to hire you.  The reason for all of the questions is that Media Match uses the answers to "match" you with available jobs. That way you don't have to continuously look at the job board on the site. You do not have to wade throughout the sea of posts for that position that you are looking for.  Media Match will email all of the jobs that fit your professional category straight into your inbox.   No searching for you, they do all of that. The profile that you painstakingly filled out is not in vain, it allows the high end companies to look for well experienced crew members like you. It helps them wade out the 'riff-raff and wanna bees' and gives them access to the real professionals like you. 

 It doesn't promise anything but gives hope and direction that there is STILL work out there. Maybe not in CA, Media Match is a great avenue to see what work is out there and where. Another advantage to media match.com is, you can advertise yourself, and market yourself in more than one state. You can advertise all over the country. I wake up to at least 6 production job offers a day in my email box. Jobs offered in Chicago, to New York to LA.   Now if only I was the mom who could trust another to raise my children, I would jump on all of them. It sure is nice on the ego to know that there is work out there interested in you. 

SO that's my media match sh-peal! Media match has also made a deal with bloggers, if I blog about their service, I get free membership for a month. So jump on it folks!! Lay down the 60 bucks and fill out that profile or start blogging, I promise you wont regret it.

When I came home, I was amazed at the fence that my honey had worked sooo hard to build while I was away, He really is a phenomenal man. I am so please he has chosen me to be his life partner. How the heck did I get so blessed? Back in the day when I was single and lonesome, deep in my heart I knew he was coming,  I knew I had a love for a lifetime somewhere out there and when he walked into my life that one day long ago on a Sprint television commercial set, I knew it was him. He will also tell you that, he just knew I was the one. (Can't say that it was as instantaneous as me), but once he knew there was no second guessing, no self doubt, no, "I'm not sure." Just pure 100%, We just knew. I just knew that he was the one God created for me. 

So while I was away whooping it up at Hollywood parties and fantastic lunches and dinners with wonderful friends, he was watching my babies and building a fence around the 3 acres around the house. Now Abigail can run free. She is no longer tied up or frustrated enough to give me a black eye, or pull my Middle Little around out doors by her sleeve. (I came home to a badly bruised baby girl), she can gallivant around the property at her free will, and dig out any mole or chicken killing critter, and chase her nose. Never mind that he accidentally mowed down my hydrangea bed while I was away. It was my fault for not keeping up on the weeds around them this summer. I was to busy holding down the fort while he was slaving away fro some hot shot director.  Oh well,  there are far more seeds to be sown and well they weren't thriving where I had planted them anyway! 

Every time I get cabin fever I jump out only to find that the ground is too hot every where else. The roots of this tree of life that I am growing  are firmly planted in the soil of this farm. It's always nice to get out and see the world, not as nice and meaningful and fulfilling as it is to jump back in.  Oh and the great news is....the kids go back to school TOMORROW!! YIPEE YAHOO YAHHAA!!! Let the real writing begin, and the painting and the designing and everything else I wasn't able to accomplish this summer because all of my free time was  fully engrossed with my children who I am so blessed to be called "Mom!",  a million times a day.  

Wow, And Thank You! 3 Cheers For My Littles!

After an extremely long 12 days since hub has flown away, I am holding in my bearings. The long trips are soooo much easier now that our Little's can, walk and talk, and dress them selves, and put their belongings away. They have really been absolutely amazing. Yes of course there are THOSE DAY. You know the ones when you look around and you notice the extra amount of work that needs to be done in the house, on the property, in the car, in the room, and the other room, and the big room, and the small room. So you PANIC! 

Your really hoping that the ghost of Joan Crawford doesn't make an appearance, and then you sigh and realize, you haven't even had your tea yet. Yes, my Little's are my little solders. 

I really, really, really, believe that their Montessori education in preschool is the reason for this. I would love to chit chat on and on about Montessori but that's for another post.

Today's post goes out to my Little's. My Littles whom I remember telling 12 days ago while driving home from dropping daddy off at the airport.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Photo taken by Stephen Linsley 

"Hey guys, lets see how many compliments we can get from others while daddy is away!" In the confinement of our car, with no opportunity what so ever of GETTING a compliment IN the car. This is a technique I started when they were all old enough to start rationalizing with mommy. Don't you love that stage of child development. When you can start making deals, and mental contracts. I didn't promise them anything, just used my a really exited tone!

Tonight, after I took Grandpa for his evening ride, we picked up my famished little Littles  from the gym and we went to our favorite Chinese restaurant Dragon Palace. It was buffet night which meant, no waiting, no "I've got to go to the bathroom!", x three (well four with Grandpa.  We sat down and I immediately became server extraordinaire, and began to serve everyone. While also tending to the removal of jackets, and mittens, and scarves, Grandpa included.  Rolling up sleeves, and folding up walkers.   Oh by the way did I mention it was 16 degrees? I told my self I wasn't going to start complaining  about the cold weather yet because we have friggin 6 more months. (Am I to young to become a snowbird?) 

Eventually we all sat quietly, eating passionately, (remember the famished part?) I asked the waitress if I could get a bottle of the house sake bagged and ready for departure as we left. Everyone was eating. Little buddy had about 3 bowls of egg drop soup, and Grandpa had a hefty few bowls including a mile high plate of fried rice himself. 

Biggest Little was wailing about getting some ribs, and stating, "I don't see any ribs on the buffet, can we get some ribs?" I shout at my lowest to the  waitress as she walked past our table about ordering ribs. She repeated about 100 times. "You order? You order? No buffet. You order?" Yes I shook my head as I took my  first bite.

 "Have we already been here for 25 minutes?" Predicting my growling belly 15 minutes after we leave. 

Little Buddy says, "Mom did you order?" smiling at how considerate he sounded at a mere 4 years old I answered, "Yes dear."  Middle Little said. "Oh yes, I've had order." Biggest Little says. "What does order taste like?" Enter the ribs.

The teen hostess is now crouched near my seat. "You know the sake is $$.$$ dollars right?"

With a freaky look I said. "CUT the sake." as if I were on set.

Of course the the trips to the  bathroom started shortly after. Next, seconds for everyone. GROWL, I look at my plate. What was I eating again? I knew I had to drive Grandpa back home to the next county over, I didn't dare go near the steaming and fresh General TAO's they just put out due to the absence of my gallbladder. It's 13 degrees by now. 

I start missing Grandma as she is at home recouping from her hip replacement surgery.   I take a pic of my crew to send to Grandma's phone. Don't want her to miss Grandpa living in the moment with his daughter in- law and only  grand children and Alzheimer's. He loves going for rides with me. He grabs a rib.  I stand up and to take a picture on my CrackBerry, but polite enough to make sure that I am not bending over in front of that Nice Couple I noticed sitting across from us earlier. They were gone so the bending began at my leisure.  I am proud, and look like I have just crawled out from under a rock. CLICK! "Wait, Middle, your not in the picture." CLICK!

After I sit down, the waitress comes to my table and crouches down. I'm assuming she is going to tell me what the hostess told me earlier. She did not. What she did tell me was that, the Nice Couple just paid for our entire dinner, and complimented on how well behaved my children were. After crying and trying to cover up my small elated breakdown, I wiped my eyes and said. "Wrap up that sake." 

After looking at the fuzzy picture closer, I can see the Nice Couple in the background. In times like these I am glad to be in a small town, because I know I will one day get to say thank you to that Nice Couple one day.

With daddy coming home in just 2 days and with more than one compliment behind us while he's been away. Bravo to you my Littles I needn't hang Santa over your heads any longer. You've  just received one of your biggest compliments ever.

Top Chef Academy

Ok guys, you have to start watching Top Chef Academy to root for my old boss. I don't mean she's  old, I mean she WAS my boss back in the day when I was working in-house at one of the most prestigious production companies in LA. Her name is Tracie Norfleet and  she ROCKS!! Working beside her, and learning the business through her eyes way way better than film school.  I learned everything from her and the amazing people that surrounded us. She is one of the hardest working mother's I know and I am so pleased to see her have a fantastic time doing something that she loves. Besides working that is.  For any of you reading who have worked with her you know how much she loves working! And how good she is at what she does! 

For those of you who follow this show I urge you to try and make the bread that was featured on last nights episode.  Check local listings in in your area and keep watch for my home girl! 

SHE IS AMAZING!!!! YOU GO GIRL!!

http://www.bravotv.com/chef-academy

Random Tuesday Thoughts

So in the blogger world apparently Tuesday is for random thoughts. SO here it goes.

So last spring after we bought our latest batch of chicks, we raised them indoors and then placed them outdoors with the rest of them. Let the pecking order begin!! The older ones literally peck the newer ones when ever they get to close to the old ladies. Then the line begins.

Of course the 2 left from our first batch, 'Princ

ess, and Little Red, (named after her brother who was a rooster name Big Red). Princess is the one I seem to be always rescuing and flipping tending to wounds on. I know I HATE IT!! But she loves me..(Did I just say out loud that a chicken loves me?)

Anyhoooo, there are only 7 now. We lost one due to my hound dogs curiosity a few months ago when Granny was here and relived her youth, (see post, Hound Dog Finally Succeeded)

It must have been frightening for the rest of the chicks to see their sister get mauled and pulled by her neck through the chicken wire by Abigail, (Am being to random at this point?)

Every morning when I release the chickens from their camper shell...(Another random thought, we use a  camper shell as a hen house...HOLLYWOOD PEOPLE...WE MOVED FROM HOLLYWOOD A CAMPER SHELL SEEMS LIKE THE REASONABLE CHOICE FOR A CHICKEN HOUSE DON'T YA THINK? (All caps not shouting just driving the point home)

So I release them from the camper shell....they all escape and head for the water. Then there is that one red chicken, it's not Little Red, it's one from the new batch. We didn't handle the new batch as much when they were babies so they are a little sketchy. Production Red is the one I am speaking of, (that is her God given scientific name. I stopped naming them a long time ago, when Princesses's sister Jasmine , who was the first to go on my watch...see past post) SO Production Red has flipping been attacking me every morning. Literally! Now occasionally one will get mad when we take the eggs away, as they like to sit. They call them the 'sitters'. Sketchy Yellow, (another random name for one of our hens) she used to sit and I had to fight to get the eggs, but since I kept pulling her off the nest by her back feather she has since  stopped.

Now it is Production Red who is giving me grief. If I wasn't wearing my rubber wellies she would for sure have drawn blood. Her body gets all big and she literally chases me out of the pen while I am trying to protect myself with the water jug I carry in every morning.

 "What the hell is your problem?" I say as I'm flipping over the fence onto my back trying to get away from this crazy ass chicken...."Stop, I say trying to intimidate her with my size.." She did the same thing and puffed up the size of a Hawk and flew up onto my head! 

ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING RIGHT NOW?? WHERE THE HELL IS MY REALITY TV CAMERA CREW TO CATCH THIS STUFF? I SAY AS I AM NOW ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE  WITH A CHICKEN ON MY HEAD AND THE I CAN HEAR THE DOG'S COLLAR JINGLING FROM THE BACK FIELD AND REALLY??? I HAVE A CHICKEN ON MY HEAD NOW?????

SO I swatted her off just before the hound came barreling up with her gorgeous howl. I checked myself for chicken poop and turned to seee where I had thrown her and there she was, literally getting 'Gang Pecked" by the rest of the girls. She ran to the other end of the pen as the hens started drinking from the water Production Red was desperately trying to get to. I can hear them now. 

"How, CLUCK dare she CLUCK...try to escape with the yellow haired, CLUCK, tall, loud mouthed, CLUCK CLUCK CU... lady, CLUCK."  Then it clicked! Production Red was at the bottom of the pecking order and wasn't getting any water. OOHH I FELT SO BAD FOR HER. (Not really.) 

SO I went in the house and refilled my jug and went back out. There she was running up to me just as she used to.   I went around the camper, and found a bowl and poured water in it and she near drank the whole thing. POOR THING! No I am not feeling sorry for a chicken. I mean if I hadn't figured it out I would have for sure have let her loose on the hound. But today.....she was spared.

How is that for random Tuesday?

It's Here

So it's here! I'm not well, really not well at all. I know it looks pretty but to me, it's a sure sign of the winter blues that will be inching it's self closer and closer within each snowflake! Blogger mommies and friends...please tell this Los Angeles native how to have fun in snow! Really I need to dump this "NO SNOW" attitude! The kids are happy for it. I need to get on the, "It's snowing! " with excitement train. Any suggestions?  I am booking my trip back to California TODAY!!!  If I can help it I will be cheering in the New Year on Los Angels soil! You can bet I'll be working on my tan!  

Burning Meditations

It's official! It's freaking cold out here! So it never snowed like the weather man stated a few days ago, but there might as well be snow on the ground with the high of 24 degrees in the air. I was told yesterday that I had a crack in my tire and there is only one tire place that I trust in this one horse town so I am house bound with the Littles until tomorrow.

We still found time to go outside. As I mentioned in a past post, I started to build an outdoor sitting area so we have have our bonfires in peace. We used to h ave them closer to the house, until a local farm hand felt he needed to join us occasionally by driving onto the property and staying for 25 minutes at a time.

There is something exhilaration about burning trash. I never burn plastic only the paper products. Is this bad? Am I depleting the ozone layer? But it's so fun!! My burning fetish has taken over the gardening, since gardening is out of the picture until May! Same type of meditation process, the burning that is.

After moving to the farm from Los Angels 4 years ago we have gotten used to, 'the weening of the calves' across the street. The babies are removed from the pasture they've  been sharing with their Mommas since birth this spring and are moved down the road.  Then the momma cows wail and moo endlessly for a few days. 

Here is a pic of them saying their good byes! 

Yesterday was the first time I have actually watched the farmer pack the babies in the trailer. Those Momma cows knew what was  coming as this occurs every season. My oldest and I watched while I narrated for each and every cow that tried to rescue their own from getting 

on that trailer. It prompted me to start on my next children's book.

Daddy is still away. He is working on a multi-million dollar ad campaign, featuring Benicio Del Toro, directed by Bryan Singer, (Usual Suspects). This campaign, that will only air in Europe, will keep my husband away for an additional week. I'll be fine! The kids are easier now that they are getting older, especially when I can hold Santa's visit over their heads in exchange for  good behavior.

The hound dog is donning a special winter jacket. I'm sure the red neck hunters we rescued her from NEVER put a jacket on her. She sure looks snazzy in it, don't ya think?  After posting this pic on Facebook, a friend left a comment. "Is she waiting to get her hair colored?"