Holidays!

I must say, it feels weird to say Christmas has passed. There is always such hustle right before the big day, to get cards out, packages sent, phone calls made, that by the time the day has passed me by, it feels like it never happened. That everything was just a big blur. I might feel that way, because I had such a busy weekend. It feels weird to have it wind down.
I spent my Christmas Eve night with my brother, his wife, and their son, Owen. We had a lovely dinner. The next morning, I headed back down to Venice to their house to watch Owen celebrate his first Christmas. Needless to say, an eight month old baby gets more excitement out of the wrapping paper, than the actual presents. It was still great joy to watch him partake in the holiday fun.
After spending the day with them, I headed down to Huntington Beach, where my Portland friends, Shannon and John Anthony were visiting her sister, Dawn, and Dawn's boyfriend, Mark at their house. Christmas night was filled with yummy pasta, bottles of wine, movies, and games. I had so much fun. I stayed the night and the next morning, we all headed to the Santa Anita Race Track for Mark's birthday. WIth bloody marys in hand by noon, we were able to place our bets. I pretty much broke even, which is a good thing. I spent what money I had left at the local H & M, because I felt it was my duty to give back to the economy. :) The rest of the weekend was topped off with cat-sitting for a friend and relaxing with bad Lifetime movies. Nothing beats that. At least I can say I survived another Christmas and only have a couple of more presents that need to be sent out fashionably late.

Back to Work

So, as you know, I just got back from a wonderful vacation (see below post) but now it's time to enter the real world. And in real world, I mean work. It took awhile to get back in the swing of things. I wanted to shut my office door and avoid contact with people all together, but for some reason couldn't get away with it. I did, however, decide to come back to work on a Friday, which was nice, my boss was out of the office and a lot of people were either already gone for the holidays are too busy in their own work to take notice of my return. Which gave me time to go through my 355 emails I had waiting for me. The good news is this week proved to add a little more fun into my day to day schedule. I got to cover The Biggest Loser Finale, which is always entertaining. The actual waiting process isn't. We sit in a freezing press trailer watching the East coast feed of the show and listen to other reporters comment back and forth. Then, 15 minutes before they reveal the winner, the press has to gather next to the stage and wait. As soon as the credits roll, we have to charge the stage with microphones in hand. It's a little maddening. Especially, since the winner had only 30 minutes to do press before hopping on a plane to do the Today show in the morning. Good news, I got the interview. It was quick, but that's just what I needed. In fact, I was able to grab all the interviews I wanted. It's almost a bit of a rush up on that stage. It's always flattering when Bob and Jillian remember me by name and Alison Sweeney makes her way across the stage to say hello. I must say. Not to mention, that damn show gets my tears flowing every time. So happy that Michelle won. The real tear jerker is next season's premiere, which airs January 6th, 8/7c. Ugh, I just plugged my own show on this blog.
Anyway, here's just a sample of what I did at the finale. There are a lot more on NBC.com. Ugh, there I plugged myself, again

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

I Am Baaaaack!

Don't you hate the feeling of coming back from a vacation. Why is that that the time it takes to actually get to your destination seems so long, but the vacation, itself, seems so short? I hate that. Well, this year, I made the pilgrimage to Buenos Aires, Argentina. The trip had been on my radar for awhile and initially being planned with a friend. The more and more research I did about the "Paris of the South", the more and more I was anticipating the trip. About a month before leaving, my friend had to back out due to financial reasons and was too proud to accept a loan, so I did the trek by myself and am so happy that I did. Not only was my experience amazing, but I was able to do all the things I had wanted to do, without the worry of a second person not having a good time. Of course, there were instances, I wished I had a companion to laugh with or to do a last-minute pub crawl with, but I survived. I had no big worries. In fact, the last two days of my trip, I had met an Aussie on my boat tour who was in the same situation, alone in Argentina. So, he and I teamed up, did our own pub crawls and went to a very nice dinner and had nice dinner conversation. Something you can't do by yourself, without looking like a crazy person. I visited museums, the Recoleta Cemetery, every district of the city, took a boat tour outside the city, took in a tango show, took private tango lessons, visited trendy hotels and restaurants for cocktails, drank delicious Argentine wine and did some wonderful shopping. I was impressed with myself for finding my way around, learning the culture, speaking the language and accomplishing a goal of always wanting to see this amazing city. Anybody considering a trip to South America should definitely look at the very cosmopolitan Buenos Aires. For those wanting to see my collection of photos, let me know, and I will be more than happy to send my album you way.

Long Weekend

I am writing my blog entry this week from the comfort of my living room, trying to block out the fact that in less than 12 hours, I'll be waking up to get ready for work. We had four days off for Thanksgiving and I was determined to make every minute count. But, in the end, I just did a lot of relaxing. I guess I needed it.
My actual Thanksgiving was nice. I spent it with my brother, his wife and baby son and all of her in-laws. They all flew in from the East coast were super-friendly made me feel very welcomed. After that, I headed to my friend, Morgan's relatives house, where I was included in a party of 60. I arrived just in time for delicious desserts and coffee. After that, I headed home and passed out. Falling asleep by 10 and even then, I felt I was forcing my body to stay up way too late.
The next day, I didn't do much shopping, but I had every reason to be super excited. I had acquired fourth row seats to the Los Angeles Laker game. My second-cousin's husband got them for me through work and I was able to to bring three friends. It was a blast. I have now made it a rule to not sit anywhere further than fourth row. I think that's pretty reasonable.
My weekend rounded off with a friend's birthday party on Saturday night and seeing "Four Christmases" with another friend on Sunday. Of course, I didn't really accomplish much cleaning from my to-do list or even start packing for my big trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, which takes place on Wednesday. But, that's why I have Monday and Tuesday night for, right?

NBC.com's Latest Star

I had a pretty cool thing happen to me at work today. I was featured in THREE different web exclusives for NBC.com. I know, this is a total shameless plug. But, it's not everyday, I can look on our site and see my face on the homepage. Then, go to the Days of our Lives homepage and I am featured as the front promote, then go to the Days Insider text blog, and it's my entry and photos and then go to the NBC Green is Universal website and it's my blog! Too much self-promo for one person to handle? Probably. But, what can I say, I am shameless.
Click here for the Green Blog.
Click here for the Days Insider Text Blog
and...
Click here for all of my interviews on the website. Remember, every Tuesday and Thursday, new ones go live.

Enjoy!

Day Trips

It's always easy to forget that there is so much to do OUTSIDE of Los Angeles. Yes, the city keeps you busy and there are always new discoveries, but every once in a while, you need to get inside your car and drive and that's just what I did today. My friend, Morgan and I drove to Santa Barbara for an awesome morning of wine tasting and site seeing. The drive was gorgeous and once we arrived, we were greeting with a light breeze and beautiful sunshine. We did a lovely walk downtown, then hit a great winery to partake in tasting wine and eating cheese and fruit. After walking around Santa Barbara, we got in the car and headed 45 minutes outside to Solvang. Solvang is a quiet little city that prides itself in looking like Copenhagen. It's the same city 'Sideways' was filmed. I had heard great things about it before, so I was looking forward to exploring. Only problem was the city was pretty much dead when we arrived at 5:30. We did manage to do one more tasting at the winery that happened to carry our favorite of all the wines we tasted, Presidio. After finding out we had to make reservations far in advance for the only Italian restaurant in town, we headed back to downtown Santa Barbara and had a lovely Italian dinner there. After dinner, we got in the car and headed back home to Los Angeles. The entire day was filled to the brim with our little adventure and it made me happy to realize that something like a little day trip didn't take much planning. It just takes a good friend to drive with and an open mind to just relax and be care-free. Something tells me I'll be doing more trips like this in the future! Have to love three-day weekends.

My debut!

This has been a very exciting week for me and not only because for the first time in my voting history, my chosen candidate won, but because I made my online debut as a host of my own web show! 

Last Saturday, NBC hosted their very-own Day of Days event for "Days of our Lives" at Universal Studios in Hollywood. NBC.com sent me with a video/producing crew to interview fans and actors from the show. I had my own little room where the actors came and chilled with me. I was nervous around the talent at first, but as more and more actors were being made comfortable, I was being made comfortable, right back! I still cannot see myself on camera, I hate it. But, it makes me feel very good to know that my work is being seen by thousands online. NBC.com has given me a great promote for it and I'll have new stuff going up every week for at least a couple of months. I hope everybody checks it out at the "Days of our Lives" website. I also hope to do a lot more fun stuff like this in the near-future!

Single in the City

Living in Los Angeles and being of a certain age, it seems like most of my friends are either settling down or looking for somebody to settle down with. I haven't felt that sudden urge to "have" to be with somebody and I don't really know if I ever will. Would I love to find my perfect match, of course, but is it something I will absolutely be incomplete without, of course not. So far, in my single life, I have traveled the world, taken up surfing, motivated myself to run a marathon and take the biggest step of all and that was to move to LA to pursue my dreams. Which is where I am currently at now in my life. 

So, when I get the news of a friend's recent engagement, a friend's blossoming relationship, or even a friend's early stages of dating a guy, I tend to get selfish and think, "how will this effect my life?" I feel bad to have the thought cross my mind, but I guess it's easy for me to think that everybody is in the same boat. They don't need to find a perfect partner in order to complete some of their lifelong dreams. I fully support all of my friends who do find that match that keeps them happy, because in the end, you want those closest to you to be happy in every way possible. I just need to make it my own personal goal to not get so involved with my selfish ways and to trust those friends with not alienating me. I like to think I am a person that's worth keeping around. Who knows, if and when I find that guy who I feel is my second half, maybe my single friends will be going through the same dilemma that I am going through right now. 

Homecoming

I just came back from a lovely three days in my old stomping grounds of Southern Oregon. It's funny how you don't miss things until you go back. This time around, I noticed the crisp air, the chilled breeze, the beautiful fall colors, the great family, and of course, the very fun friends. I left behind so much when I uprooted my life and moved to Los Angeles to tackle my dreams. Ever since I arrived, I have been go, go, go. Which would explain why I have done so much in the little under three years I have been here. When I went back home, it all made sense to me, again. I felt grounded. I was able to go out with friends that I hadn't seen in years and we all fell back into our comfort zones and acted like not even a week had gone by. It was amazing. The time flew by and didn't fly by all at the same time. I guess the slower lane of life can do that to one another. Needless to say, I am proud of every friend I have in Oregon for all they have accomplished, if it's not in career, it's with their marriage or their children, or all three!
I even went to my old alma mater, Southern Oregon University in Ashland. I walked around a bit and took pictures. It was beautiful and brought back so many memories that I don't want to let go of. I guess it is true that you can go home at any time and be just the person you were when you left. It's a great feeling and one that I will hold on to in the back of my mind for years to come. I will also remember to not stay away as long as I did this last time.

Blogger Fame

Ok, so it wasn't really my blog that got me noticed in the blogging community, but it was a blog! One of my favorite celebrity websites is Dlisted.com Michael K. tells it like it is without any of that celebrity kissing butt B.S. like Perez likes to do. So, I stay loyal to his site. Sometimes, he gets a little out of hand with his perverted comments, but sometimes, he hits it right on the dot. He also has a nice little little feature he titles "Hot Slut of the Day". Now, this is reserved for a random Dlist celebrity or just a plain random reference to a TV or movie character. That "Hot Slut of the Day" usually comes from his own warped brain, but sometimes, just sometimes, he chooses a suggestion that one of his loyal readers sends him.
Last weekend, I was enjoying YouTube clips from one of my favorite TV shows that never survived a third season, "Popular". It was on the WB and by second season, was moved to the kiss of death Friday nights, then after that, never heard of again. It was Ryan Murphy's first breakout before he created Nip/Tuck and helped launch the careers of Sarah Rue, Leslie Bibb, and Tammy Lynn Michaels. The show was hilarious, but also rang true to popularity standings in high schools today. So, satirical drama/comedy if you want to look at it that way. I knew Dlisted was a fan of the show from past references, but I had totally forgot why I missed it until I started watching these clips. And low and behold, I forgot the episode when Mary Cherry discovers a long-lost sister, Baby Honey Child, a cholita from the Bronx. So, I sent Michael K. the suggestion of Baby Honey Child along with the clip. And... he selected HER as his Hot Slut of the Day and dedicated it to me. I guess now I can say I finally made it in the blogging community. At last! Check it out!

My RIght Foot

It's been quite a rollercoaster for the my right foot this last week. I'll give you a brief update. Last weekend I surfed as usual, but later in that afternoon, I noticed my toe had a small bite on the top of it. It wasn't until Sunday that the irritation of my foot grew. By Monday evening, I was walking with a slight limp because my foot was so sensitive to anything it touched. I had a hard time sleeping that night because even if the slightest material brushed up against my foot, it was painful. On Tuesday morning, I woke up to my foot being almost twice the normal size. By this time, the little bite on my toe was looking like a giant tumor. I managed to painfully slip on some shoes and go to work. I swear, the swelling must have increased, because I couldn't even slip my shoe on my noon. After finishing up all of my assignments I drove up to our Urgent Care on the Universal Lot. Within minutes of being there, they told me they couldn't even help me because my foot was so badly infected. Hell, they couldn't even tell me if my foot was going to be amputated or not. They bandaged me up and sent me to Urgent Care in Encino, on my way to my place. So, I stopped home, first, got some decent giant slip on shoes that would fit and headed to Encino. They told me it looked like a bug bite that got severely infected, either from the ocean or from the sand or from just about anything. I was put on some pretty strong antibodies and told to keep the foot wrapped and clean. So, I did just that. My bandages were beginning to look pretty nasty on the hour, which didn't help when I had to interview Sharon Osbourne, David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan and Jerry Springer the next day. Jerry was the only one who noticed my bandaged foot and seemed genuinely concerned. Very sweet man.
The swelling has completely gone down and the foot is pretty much healed. I even managed to play two hours of tennis in Malibu on Sunday. The little bite has since turned into a little mark on my toe, but that's about it. Though, I had a friend convinced it was a shark bite and now my foot is on it's way to becoming a fin. Have to admit that would be cool. Just don't see it happening. Besides, I don't know how I feel about having a fin, but still craving sushi. Would that be cannibalism?

Fall is Upon Us

In my line of work, the fall season proves to be one of the busiest. We have new shows premiering left and right and we have old classics returning. Lucky for me, I chose to stick with all the classics, except for Kath & Kim, a comedy with Molly Shannon airing on Thursdays. As I have pointed out before, "The Office" remains one of my favorites to work on. It helps when you are a fan of the show.
Last Thursday, I was scrambling to get all of the updates for the website in place and not even working nearly as hard as the web producer I work with, Joya. She and i team up quite regularly and she was the one who I went to Scranton with the year before. Well, she instant messaged me on Thursday with a note saying to meet her in the hall. Instantly, I was unsure if I should bring weapons for a fight. Because, you know, stress can get the best of people. But, instead, she told me she was attending The Office premiere party in Hollywood and wanted to know if I could go, too. I was shocked and of course, flattered that she asked me. Of course, I said, "yes".
I ran home and changed into something casual and headed to Hollywood Billiards. The valet was crazy because clearly, everybody who was invited to go to the party decided to show up minutes before the show started. Once I was able to get my car taken care of, I walked in with Phyllis and Lesley (Phyllis and Stanley from the show) and loved what I saw. At the private party, they had giant screen TVs everywhere with the show on, a huge buffet set-up and an open bar. Everytime an act ended, people applauded and walked around and got drinks. I was able to see my favorites like Oscar and Craig Robinson and was able to see other NBC friends. I was even more flabbergasted to see Steve Carell, his wife Nancy, John Krasinski, and Jenna Fischer also there. The main cast never really show up to such events. They seemed to hang out together, but it was still a trip to see them making an appearance. I wish I had a little more nerve, or alcohol in me, I would have said something to John Krasinski, otherwise known as my soulmate! But, instead, we enjoyed the party and stayed and watched Creed, Craig, and Oscar shoot pool while I chatted with other backstage members of the show. I have to say, I don't think any of the other shows are going to be able to pull off the premiere night we had on Thursday with the cast of "The Office."

Emmys!

Ok, so I have been getting asked a lot if I went to the Primetime Emmys, like I did the Daytime Emmys. The answer is, no. And that's fine with me. The Emmys are boring and usually just a lot of sitting around waiting for people to get done with speeches. I enjoyed the Daytime Emmys because they had supplied bottles of wine at each table! Now, if I was every nominated for a Primetime Emmy, that would be another conversation...
That's not to say I didn't enjoy a huge benefit of Emmy weekend, the parties :) On Thursday, I attended the Radio Tour Party for NBC Talent at BLVD3 in Hollywood. A club I have been trying to get past the velvet rope in for almost a year. Well, it was my year. I managed to check out a few celebrities, but mostly partied with fellow NBC friends and of course, had to shake my groove thing to the awesome Neil Diamond cover band, Super Diamond. They were awesome, I even got on stage to dance with them and the keyboardist's wife invited me to all of their shows. Naturally, I was the last employee left from my crew at the club. The rest were celebrities, club goers, and Super Diamond fans. I have a reputation to keep up.
On Saturday night, I got on the list for the NBC Emmy party at the famous Spago in Beverly Hills. I managed to get all dazzled up and head over the hill just in time for my friends to get off work (publicity girls never rest) and go party. I pulled up to the party and was told I needed to be on a list to valet. I was shocked, I never heard of that before. They checked five lists and didn't find my name. They asked who put me on the list, I was afraid of getting people in trouble, so I just said it could be a mistake and drove away. I felt humiliated. Meanwhile, my friends at the party were continuously texting and wanting to know where I was. I told them I had felt too embarrassed for the night and was heading home. A few of the girls had offered to wait on the corner for me to make sure I got in. As I turned around, I realized I had been trying to get into the elusive EW Party the whole time, the NBC party was a few blocks down the road. I felt like such a fool.
I drove to Spago, had my car immediately valeted and was ready to relax with a glass of champagne and a nice bite made by Wolfgang Puck himself. I had an amazing night, hung out with great friends and even was told by Oscar from "The Office" that I made him cry because I didn't see him waving to me on Thursday night. I would take hearing that over a two-hour snooze fest called the Emmys, any day!

Party!

Friday night as the night of my birthday party. I held it at one of my favorite bars in Venice Beach, Beechwood. I invited a lot of friends, but wasn't sure who was really going to make the trek way out West for the night. Of course my birthday has to fall on a week where we are gearing up for fall premieres and then there is Emmy weekend. I guess friends didn't let a little thing like that stop them having a good time. I had about 40 people show up and it was great to see people meet new faces and get caught up with old ones.
In typical Maggie fashion, I was running around all over the place making sure people were happy and having a good time and mingling. I had two drinks in a course of four hours. It was my birthday, wasn't I supposed to be passed out on the floor by 10. Well, I guess when you are 29 you look past all of those crazy times and actually want to remember good memories. That's not to say I don't have a few more of those crazy times tucked away for a rainy day.

29!

So, I made to 29. Not that monumental, except, of course my last year to say I am in my 20's. That part feels weird. Like grasping on to the end of an era. My real birthday party is on Friday night and of course I will have my own separate blog post for that night.
But, for my actual birthday, it was spent pretty low-key, but surprisingly enough, it made me feel really good. I started the birthday at midnight on top of Muholland Drive in the Hollywood Hills. Just a time of peace and quiet and reflecting on all the things I had accomplished in my 29 years on earth and all the things I still want to do.
That morning, after I got my work computer up and running again after glitch problems, I was welcomed with a huge email chain of happy birthdays from co-workers. It was great. Then a small group from the NBC Print Department took me out to lunch. When I returned back to the office, I had a beautiful bouquet of flowers waiting for me from the Executive VP of Drama and the Manager of Daytime. It made me feel extra special.
The day wrapped up and the evening began. I picked up my friend, Morgan who got me a beautifully-card and lovely lotion and soap gift set and then she and I headed to Katsuya in Brentwood to meet my other friend, Kelly, who had a another gorgeous bouquet of flowers for me. A little later, my friend Erin joined us and cocktails and sushi and yummy desserts were shared by all. Except Nicolette Sheridan, who sat at the table next to us, and they were clearly having a pretty good time, themselves, with the empty wine bottles and six broken glasses that fell on the floor.
This birthday made me feel loved by those around me and those far away. I feel blessed to have found great friends and feel special for have kept the friendships with the friends that live far away. All in all, it was a great day to reflect on how important friends are to me and how I must make it a goal to tell them more about how they really do complete me. Something to start doing now, being the new and mature 29-year-old that I am.

Family Gathering

As you know from my post before this, I had attended my Great-Aunt's funeral. It was a tough day to get through, but with the closeness of family, we were al able to pull through.
I had my mom, Aunt Laurie and Grandma staying with me for the weekend. It was so much fun to have them all here, to listen to their stories, to hear them laugh, and to just have them be present. Made me miss a little of home and made me realize California can really seem like years away.
They had managed to fill the weekend up, fast and I wanted to offer up whatever help I could do. One highlight was paying a visit to my brother's baby son, Owen. It was so much fun and it was so nice to see a huge smile on my Grandma's face, again, after losing her beloved sister earlier in the week to cancer. It's funny how babies can remind us that we are nurturers and we are all capable of love, even through the hardest times. Needless to say, Owen's face was just what we had all needed to make us smile, again.
On Monday, the family came by my work, got a tour of Days of our Lives, met some of the stars from the show and then got to see The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. It made me feel so good to see them enjoying their last day in Los Angeles. I wanted to make sure it ended on a high note. It also made me feel so good to hear them tell me how proud they were of me and my accomplishments. Every once in awhile, it's easy to forget how lucky I should feel for the breaks I have had and the support that surrounds me.
That night, I had a great time just sitting up and talking to my Grandma. I miss that time with her. When I lived in Oregon, it happened a lot and it was something I took for granted. Now, I realize what's really missing in my fast-paced life in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, it's not something I can order from a catalogue or pick up at the store. It just seems like family is there when you need them the most and that should never be taken for granted.

Good-Bye to a Wonderful Great-Aunt

First things first, I have been very busy, lately, so my lovely readers are in the treat for some catch-up posts. This last week I was met with the sad news that my beloved Great-Aunt Peggy had passed away from cancer. She was a vivacious woman and I could only pray to some day have as much energy and have as big of a heart as she did. She had touched so many people from so many walks of life. She had never had a bad thing to say about anybody and always put herself second and people in need first. May the world be filled with more like her.
The last time I saw Aunt Peggy she had thrown herself her own type of service. She had thought that why should she wait until she passed on to have loved ones gather and celebrate her life. My parents were here for it, as was my Grandma, who was her sister. It was a great time to see my family from my mom's side and to spend some more precious moments with an amazing woman.
The service was bittersweet. A lot of tears were shed and a lot of smiles were seen. It was just the way Aunt Peggy would have wanted it and couldn't have been prouder to say she was part of my family and I hope to someday be recognized for such generosity and having such a warm heart.
You will be missed, Aunt Peggy.

Portland, Oregon and Slow Gin Fizz...

If you don't know what the title is about, please listen to the amazing Loretta Lynn song, "Portland, Oregon". It always puts a smile on my face.
I had a wonderful weekend in the Pacific Northwestern city of Portland and made me realize how lucky I am to be from Oregon. There are many things I took for granted while living up North, including tax-free shopping, friendly drivers, green living and blue skies. I went up for the long weekend to see some friends and plan a little escape from La La land. Every once in a while, I think it's healthy to do that and if the price is right, even better! I spent the majority of the weekend, hanging out, shopping, bar-hopping and taking in the fresh air. The trip went by fast for me, but was still worth it.
I have always been conflicted about Portland. The city, itself, if everything I have ever asked for and a lot closer to my friends and family in Southern Oregon, but obviously, my job in Los Angeles can only be done, well, in Los Angeles. If I could do what I do here there, trust me, it would be no question. But, at the same time, I feel grateful to be making a decent living in a town where everybody seems to try and end up falling flat. I have met some amazing friends and established great relationships for the short-time of being here. I guess I can say LA is appearing more and more like home, but trust me, I realize what Loretta is saying when she sings, "Portland, Oregon and slow gin fizz, if that ain't love, tell me what it is".

A Proud Democrat

With the DNC happening right now in Denver, Colorado, I have been given a restored faith in America. I look forward to a change in November, because if I remain doubtful, I lose hope and that is one thing that Democrats can't lose sight of.
I was and remain a proud supporter of Hillary Clinton. She was my choice for President of the United States. She represented what I wanted in a leader of this country and not only that, when she was neck to neck with Obama throughout the race, she did not back down. I have never been more proud of Hillary Clinton than I was as she endorsed Senator Obama for President last night. Her speech was moving and reminded me on why I am a Democrat. I thank Hillary Clinton for breaking another glass ceiling, for believing in America's potential and believing in women everywhere, including me.
I believe the American dream should be available for everyone and I believe that for the last eight years, we watched a President squash that dream for those who worked very hard and settled for just getting by. I didn't mean to have such a political post, but I had such pride running through my veins, again that I felt I had to write about it. I want to be able to look for a change in our country and see it in the next four years. I want to do my part in helping the Democratic party spread their message of peace, unity, fairness, and strength. Voting for a Democrat in the White House, no matter if it wasn't my primary choice, is better than a vote for the next four years to be like the last eight years.
Bring on November and bring on change and bring on Obama/Biden '08 and bring on the return of Democrats not backing down!
Below is a clip of Hillary delivering her DNC speech last night:




And below this is a clip taken from President Clinton's first Inauguration ball. Another fabulous memory of feeling hopeful and excited for watching change happen to our country. Enjoy!

No Sleep Til'...

This weekend was a bit of a rough one when it came time for rest. I am always one of those people who try to cram so much in during the two days a week that I have off, that I never seem to get any rest and wind up exhausted by the time Tuesday rolls around. It started on Friday night, when a couple of friends were hosting a "Farewell to Summer" party at this bar in North Hollywood. I went, it was fun and I was going to be very good and try to leave by 11 so I could surf at 6:30 am the next morning. I did manage to have a good time and then leave early. I got home, got ready for bed and realized my phone was left at the bar. I felt terrible. By this time, it as 1:20 am. I put on some clothes and drove all the way back to the bar. By this time, my friends had left and the place turned into what looked like a prisoners' after-party hang-out. I got shoved inside by an overzealous bouncer who was afraid the cops patrolling the neighborhood would fine him for overcrowding, then I got cat called by scary guys left and right. My group had left and all that was left was what looked like the casting for "Dangerous Minds Part II". The bartender didn't have my phone and so I left. Feeling terrible, for losing my phone and for being in such a gross place so late at night.
I checked my email when I got home and had a message from my friend, Meredith who told me she had my phone. I was completely relieved. Such a terrible feeling to not have your one and only phone.
I relied on my mental alarm clock to wake me up for surfing, but that was after only getting a couple of hours of sleep. I surfed, the waves were not great, but they were manageable. After that, I had to get ready for a friend's birthday party in West Los Angeles. After that, I had three other parties to attend, but got home and couldn't move. I literally couldn't peel myself off the couch. I was exhausted. I cancelled out and watched most of the epic "Giant". Great movie and want to finish it this week.
Today, I played a concussive game of tennis in Malibu, rushed home to get ready to drive over the hill and pick up my friend Morgan and hit the Beverly Center. I found nothing but a turtleneck. Not very exciting, but it was something. And now I count down the hours until I can take an evening nap after work. Lets hope Monday isn't a manic one!

A Boston Visitor

This last weekend, I was fortunate enough to have a friend visit me all the way from Boston, Massachusetts. Sarah and I hadn't seen each other in five years. I can't believe I am old enough to say I haven't seen a friend in five years. We met when we lived in the same dorm at UMass-Amherst. We stayed in touch and would get reacquainted whenever I would visit New England. But, now we had busy lives that included grown-up jobs. Crazy how life works out that way.
Anyway, her visit was very fun and the time flew by. It was an exhausting weekend full of Los Angeles sites and catching up. Makes me miss the friends who knew me before my Hollywood journey, even more. I am thankful for the amazing friends I have met in my short time living out here in LA, but when it's a friend that you can recall such great memories with, it makes the whole reunion that much sweeter.

Morning with The Hoff

Sometimes my job can be boring and simply eight hours behind a desk. Sometimes, it can be hectic filled with meetings all over the place followed by strict deadlines. And sometimes, my job can be a lot fun. I like days like that. For example, this morning I had to be in Malibu at 9 for a video piece titled, "Ask The Hoff". The reason I had to be in Malibu was I had to report to duty at David Hasselhoff's very-own Malibu beach house. I had produced the same feature last year, but at his house in the Mountaingate Estates in the hills. But, the beach house was something I had only dreamed of being invited to. It was something out of the movies. The waves literally came crashing right below his desk. When I joked that I should have brought my surfboard and call it a day, he offered up the invitation that any time I wanted a place to surf, I could use the house. Something tells me has forgotten that invitation by now. Oh well, at least he gave me a story.
While shooting the segment with my video producer, I also played David's assistant. I answered his phone, took messages. Meanwhile, he never stops. He truly is one of the hardest working men in show business and I guess that is how he has managed to stay relevant all these years. I give the man credit, his brain goes a hundred miles a minute thinking of ideas and contacts and ways to get his name spread to even further.
The shoot wrapped up at around 10.30 and I got a hug and a kiss on the cheek for all of my hard work. Thanks, Hoff! Look for the feature on NBC.com in September. Can't wait to see how the finished product turned out.

Earthquake

I survived my first earthquake this week and let me tell you it was not fun. I am sitting at my desk one minute, rocking back and forth the next. It was very weird to have something so out of my control be happening around me. There was no real damage in my area and after, we all gathered outside to compose ourselves and do a head check. After, we went back to work as if nothing happened. Of course, media outlets form all over blew it up a little more than what it was, but still. I went home on my lunch break and nothing was broken, even though the image of Costa Rican rum spilled all over the place was running through my head as I drove to my place.
Regardless, I can say I survived my first earthquake. It was not fun, it was not scary, it was just strange. Makes me really hope that this one is the last one for a very long time.

Busy Few Days

These last few days have been very busy for me. But, in a good way that involve a filled up social calendar. Sunday night, I managed to get myself on the invite list for the NBC Press Tour after party at the Beverly Hills Hilton. My biggest fear was feeling out of place, but that simply wasn't the case. I found a lot of friends there, some famous, some night. When the night ended at 10 pm, or shall I say, when the party ended at 10 pm, we just all headed downstairs to Trader Vic's to continue the mingling. I felt like I was at a prom after party, complete with guys dressed in loose ties and girls getting giggly with rum barrels. It was fun and it had me getting in bed by 2.30 am. That part, not so fun. Especially, when I had to get up four hours later for work.
After the very slooooow day at work on Monday, I headed out to another social function at the Sky Bar. The event itself was a young professional networking thing, that came with 20 dollar valet and 14 dollar cocktails. The lighting in the bar sucked, so whatever networking you were there to do, was getting quickly lost with the fact that no light leads to no reading name tags and seeing if that person was worth talking to or not to begin with. So, my NBC crew headed to Mel's Diner up the blog for six dollar food and gossip about the fact Pauly Shore was eating outside and making desperate attempts to get noticed by just about anybody. I ended my night with a small group of good friends from work, the real group of people I wanted to be talking to the whole night, anyway. On the way out, we passed the Stone Brothers, who were a comedian act from our reality show, Last Comic Standing. We chatted with them a bit and they even went as far to say that I should try stand-up because I was very funny and had great delivery and timing. So, thanks Stone Brothers. Because of that little push, I have a notebook full of comic bits and a new fire in my belly to get up on try an open-mic gig. Stay tuned!

Maya's Wedding

I spend my Fourth of July weekend in Boulder, Colorado to attend one of my closest friends, Maya's wedding. I was a bridesmaid for the first time and it was fun and emotional. First off, I instantly fell in love with Colorado. Such a clean, beautiful, and friendly state. I arrived on the fourth and was just in time to attend the rooftop picnic at a local pub for a meet and greet of sorts for wedding guests. Later that evening, we donned on our dresses, rehearsed for the wedding, and then went to a fabulous dinner on the outskirts of town. After dinner, a group of us went out bar hopping. It was a lot of fun.
The next day was the bridesmaid brunch, followed by pictures, a little rain, then perfectly clear skies for Maya to walk down the aisle. I am usually the one to never get emotional, but watching Maya and her husband, Jim, recite such beautiful vows made me get choked up. I actually had tears falling! It was very special to see two people share in such a bond and it was also an amazing feeling to see a friend that I loved so much be so happy. Maya and I have a friendship that goes back more than 20 years, so needless to say, she is a very dear to me.
The next couple of days, I was solo in Boulder while the rest of the parties left. I met new friends from New York who were in town for a wedding, too. It was fun exploring the city with strangers, because by the end of our trip (we both shared a shuttle back to the airport) we could call each other friends and I really hope we all stay in contact.

Mom and Dad Visit

This is going to be a double post because I had such a busy couple of weeks. So, forgive me. I had a wonderful visit from my mom and dad last weekend. They stayed very busy, especially since they had a new grandbaby to visit and a family gathering for my mom's side of the family. It was super-fun and it was great to see them. I stayed busy with work, but took a day off to spend with them. I always like it when parents come and visit because they still get that little kick of taking care of you. My dad bought me a new microwave because I didn't have one, my parents felt I needed new towels and my fridge fixed so it opens the correct way. I tried stopping them, but it was of no use. So, I am happy to say, that I let them show me how much they missed me.
Hopefully, since meeting my nephew, I'll be expecting a lot more visits from them!
I just got back from Colorado tonight, so I'll post about that trip very soon. Just have to get my rest, first!

Daytime Emmys

I am a still a bit in recovery mode from Friday night, so please forgive me. After all, the Daytime Emmys was an all-day event. I ended up taking the entire day off on Friday and now am thankful for it. There is no way I would have pulled everything off and still made the Emmys in time. From the time I woke up (8:30 am) to the actual time of the ceremony, it was go, go, go. I had a hair appointment, errand running, make up appointment and had to be in Hollywood by 4.30. The make up took a bit longer and by the time I got on the 101 to Hollywood, I was already ten minutes late. To top it off, parking was full and and Hollywood and Highland was closed for the red carpet. It took 30 minutes alone to turn around the block to try my hand one more time at the parking under the theater. Finally, I pulled into the garage (that had been labeled "full", but changed last-minute) and I parked. I rushed to the theater doors and handed my ticket to the security. They saw how visibly shaken I was, afraid I was going to miss the entire event. I had to keep it together for my makeup job, alone. They ushered me in and I didn't feel so bad when I saw Finola Hughes in front of me. I even made a crack to her that if they don't let HER in, we would really be in trouble. Well, they did let her and I both in and we found our tables. Mine was actually closer to the stage than hers ;) 

Our table didn't produce any winners that night, but it did produce plenty of bottles of wine. The entire ceremony was fun and the cast of Days was in very good spirits, despite being shut-out for the night. After the show, dinner was served, but I was too busy hunting down the one woman I was dying to meet that night, Miss Susan Lucci. I succeeded and managed to even get a picture with the pint-sized diva. I realized most actresses oblige to take a picture with you if you use the words, "perfection" when describing them to their faces. 

The night ended with the after-party, more drinks, and dancing at the NBC party at Twist, above the theater. There was a fun turn-out and everybody was in high spirits. The party ended at around 3 am with a bunch of women and some very achy feet. The next morning, after some heavy napping, I drove down to Huntington Beach to visit a friend from Portland. It was the perfect escape to relax after the mayhem of Friday night. Those events are fun, but exhausting. Now, on to the perfect quiet Sunday, before the craziness of work hits on Monday. 

VIP

Last night, I was reminded on how sweet life is on the other side of the velvet rope. Days of our Lives actor, Darin Brooks hosted a VIP event at AREA, a very A-list club in West Hollywood. Darin was working with a sponsor to celebrate his Emmy-nomination for Best Younger Actor in a Daytime Series. When I pulled up to the club, there were already people in as little clothes as possible lining up outside the club, trying to get in. Meanwhile, I spotted the red carpet and was quickly ushered in by Darin's publicist. No lines, no cover, just an open door waiting for me, and about a dozen photographers taking pictures of anybody that appeared to be "somebody". Once inside, there was our table, a group of the young Hollywood up and up having a good time with bottles of Grey Goose at the table. I mingled a bit, danced a bit, and mingled some more. A few of the actors present happen to be guys I would be sitting with at next week's Daytime Emmys. It was a fun way to break the ice and get your name out there.

But, by the time I got home, I quickly realized why I am not a "club kid". From the very beginning, trying on a dozen outfits that just didn't look "right, wrestling to try new things with my hair, to actually taking the drive over the canyon to sit in heavy pimp-mobile traffic on La Cienega, to paying $20 to park my car, to getting into the club, the overpriced drinks and super loud music and cheesy come-ons by guys in cheesy open collar shirts and jackets, it was a bit too much sensory overload. I went because I was on a list and didn't have to face the humiliation of being just another girl trying to get into a club. I did have fun, but it's definitely a once every two month kind of thing. If that. 

It was very nice to be treated like VIP on a Friday night, but if I am ever really on that VIP list on a regular basis, I wonder how many times I have to oblige my VIP duties and show-up. Can't a VIP just sit at home and enjoy a DVD of "Out of Africa" with a little ice cream. Because, quite frankly, that was my other alternate plan if this party was a bust. 

Oh yeah, a good thing to remember... just because you pay $20 bucks for valet at the club, there is a big sign that reminds you that still doesn't mean you are getting in. You have to love Hollywood!

All Good Things...

I was saddened by the news that my choice for Democratic Presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, was forced out of the race. I have always admired Hillary for her smarts and her ambition and her willingness to put herself in the line of media fire and not back away. She was the first First Lady of my generation to have a brain and an opinion and that is something to be admired. 

I was hoping to witness history and to watch a woman take over role as President of the United States, God knows we have been watching man after man make poor decisions in the name of our country, it was about time to see what a woman could do, in my opinion, she couldn't do much worst. At the same time, I look towards the future and I remain positive. The idea of a woman even getting this far in the race says something. The fact that Hillary only lost by a handful of delegates says something. It says that this country is ready for a change. 

I am not a conspiracy theorist, but do take notice that the media had an obvious "darling" in this race. Unfortunately, Hillary was painted as a desperate female who didn't know when to let go. One of Obama's aide's went so far to compare Hillary to the doomed Alex Forrester in "Fatal Attraction". If that's not sexism, I don't know what is. There are times when, as a woman, I think we have come so far and when I read comments like that, I realize we still have even more of a ways to go. 

I still cling to hope that there will be an Obama/Clinton ticket and there can be a bridge drawn between both candidates. If not, I am getting my stickers ready for Chelsea Clinton 2028!

I Survived

I am writing you from the comfort of my lovely couch with my feet propped up on my table. I woke up today at 3.15 to get ready for my 22-mile walk. We hit the road, literally, at 5. The first few miles consisted of hills that I did not remember before. Needless to say, it is a good thing that I didn't remember them, because I might have backed out of the walk. I managed to complete all 22 miles, despite the heat and blisters. We had a great group of friends at our finish line ready to greet us with yummy food and beers. I would have thought beer after a long walk like that would have been the last thing I wanted, but I was wrong. It was delicious! Now, I am keeping my fingers crossed that my feet can carry me throughout the day tomorrow, where I have to be back at the beach covering a Days of our Lives photo shoot with the sizzling hot stars. Poor me, having to watch half naked hunks parade around the beach while they get their photos taken. Please, take a moment tomorrow to feel sorry for me ;) 

22 Miles!?

This Sunday, I have agreed to participate in a 22-mile walk from Zuma Beach to the Santa Monica Pier. Why? I have no clue. The group of guys that I surf with have started this tradition years ago and last year I joined them. It was shortly after I ran the LA Marathon, so the idea of 22 miles seemed relatively easy. It wasn't, but I survived it. This year, there was no marathon I ran. Instead, my weekends consisted of surfing and a few beach walks/jogs every now and then when the waves weren't there. Needless to say, I am completely nervous about the walk this year. Not only is it it this Sunday and I already need new shoes, but it starts at 4:30am!!! It's going to be tough. I'll let everybody know on Sunday night if I survive. Wish me luck. 

Free time

One thing that I can say I have done well out here with is finding activities to get involved with during my free time. Working in this business, I surround myself with people who give their entire lives to their jobs. Seven days a week, 12 hours a day. I think that would be absolute misery. Those people may make more money than I do, but are they really happy with their lives? 

I could never imagine devoting so much time to just one thing. Life it too short for that kind of mentality. Since moving to LA, I have managed to train for a marathon, run a marathon, learn to surf, play challenging games of tennis, hike, and practice Pilates all with the use of my free time away from work. And that is just a few of the activities that I enjoy doing. Now, I can't imagine those activities not in my life. Except for maybe the training for a marathon, that might have been a one time thing ;) But, who knows what the future can hold. But, point of the matter is, life is too short to not be doing fun things on the side. Work is not everything and every once in a while, it's a good idea to remind yourself that. Speaking of free time, these are just a couple of pics of me enjoying mine a few weekends ago in Malibu.

Sore Loser

I know we are taught at a young age that winning isn't everything. But, we all know that, in some small way, that is a lie. I mean, winning can be everything. Look at our nation's democracy. If a candidate doesn't win an election, they don't get to be President. Period. Then decisions are made by the winner and the loser doesn't get a say in them, at all. Professional winning sports teams get trophies and the right to claim victory and parades to come home to. The losing teams don't. Obviously, winning can mean something. But, not in this case...

I played a good game of doubles tennis at the Malibu Racquet Club on Sunday morning and I found my competitive edge coming out a little too much. It's tougher when playing doubles, because when you screw up, you screw up for two people and vice-versa. The game was getting heated and my tennis partner and I were missing shots and losing our focus. I felt bad because the disappointment I had with my own playing was rubbing off on my teammate. She was getting nervous and her game began to lack, as well. At the end of our losing match, I felt defeated and exhausted. But, it was also a great opportunity for me to look at myself and my behavior when playing. Sure, it's great to have a competitive side, but in these kinds of cases, it's best to remember that, yes it's true, winning isn't everything. Unless, of course there's money on the game you are playing ;)

My New Nephew

The day seemed so slow today but that was because I had big plans after work. I got to meet my older brother's first newborn son, Owen tonight. It was amazing. He was so small and adorable. It's hard to believe we were all that tiny at one time in our lives. For only a week old, he's very observant and kept looking around the room, looking for things and faces he recognized. 

It was pretty awesome to say the least. He's a very lucky boy to be born to such wonderful people as my brother and his amazing wife. I look forward to watching my nephew grow up and have to admit it's going to be a little weird hearing him call me "Aunt Maggie" for the first time. But, it's has a ring I could get used to. Afterall, as long as I am the cool and hip aunt and remain that way, I'll be just fine. :) I have a close friend who has a couple of sons and I like to consider myself one of their cool, hip "aunts" , as well. It's kind of fun having a reputation to keep up! 

Wrap Party

I had a fun Friday night tonight that actually reminds me on why I love my job. Tonight was The Office wrap party and for some strange reason, I was on the invite list to get in. I was completely shocked when I received the invite, but never the less, I took advantage of it. The party took place at the Santa Monica Pier and it was completely shut down for us. The rides, games, food, bar, and photo booths were free. It was insane. Well, it was insane that people pay such an absurd amount of money for that kind of thing to begin with, but anyway. I had a lot of fun. I was able to bond a bit with my boss and hang with fun people from the show. I didn't get the chance to take pictures which was a bummer, but I didn't want to look too cheesy, either. John Kraskinski didn't show up, which was a bummer, but I did get to meet Rainn Wilson, who seemed nothing like his character of Dwight. I saw Jenna Fischer, but just missed Steve Carell, who had to leave early to be with the little ones. Oh well. Still a fun night and also a great reminder on why I am lucky to get paid to do what I do. 

Pictures

Oh yeah...I learned how to upload pictures into my blog. I am so happy. I think I knew how to this whole time, but was just lazy to actually do so. Now there is more reason to read my blog! 

Whirlwind Weekend

I am just now catching up from quite an exciting, but sleep-deprived weekend. One of my closest friends from Memphis came out for a visit this last weekend and it was up to me to show her what LA had to offer. I made sure to cut no corners in this action packed three and a half day weekend. The two of us took LA by storm and I have to say I hadn't had fun like that in a very long time. I love when people visit me because I get to do the cheesy things in LA that I usually would take for granted. It sort of brings an innocence back to me. Reminds me of how I used to view LA before I actually moved here. I forget about all the sights and the scenes and I don't get to appreciate that kind of stuff when I am by myself or with another LA native. So, the more people from out of town that visit, the better. As long as I don't wear myself, or my bank account, out!

I was sad to see Melissa leave because it just reminded me of how close we are and how infrequent we see each other. I guess that's what happens when you get reunited with long-distant friends. You have such an amazing time with them but then are quickly reminded on how far away they are. Maybe that was the kind of attitude that was behind Carole King's "Far Away". One of my favorite songs. 

On a happier note, I became a real first time Aunt this week! My older brother and his wonderful wife gave me a nephew! I haven't met him, yet, but, I can't wait to spoil him with hugs and gifts. If he's anything like me, he might just go for the gifts ;) 

The Biggest Loser Time

It was that time of year again. Time to cover The Biggest Loser Finale. I always love covering this event because it's a joyous occasion. You get to watch these people who have made amazing transformations both physically and mentally. Everybody is in great mood and proud of their accomplishments. This season was a bit chaotic because the finale was taken place at an unfamiliar location, the Sony lots. It was a lot bigger then what I was used to, making it more chaotic. But, once we settled, we watched the results and then, like always, were released on to the stage after the show was done, and grabbed who we could for interviews. 

That is always the fun part. Your heart beats fast and you hope you succeed in grabbing who you need and hope you don't flub your interview and then when it's over, you wish you could do it, again because it was so much fun. 

I guess there is always next season for just as much fun. Until then, I have Nashville Star and America's Got Talent Finales to look forward to :)

Expect the Unexpected

One of the best things about living in LA is that I have come to expect the unexpected. What was planned to be a simple and relaxing evening ended up being a night of fun and networking. 

Work was pretty slow today, so I managed to play catch up on some projects. After that, I went my weekly Pilates class and had a great workout. I came home and decided the night was a bit too early and with two washers down in my building, there was no way I was going to get laundry done. So, what was a girl to do? Well, I cashed in my RSVP at the Roosevelt Hotel's Tropicana Bar where a huge tech party was going on. I made some pretty cool contacts and collected some pretty good business card. Across from the pool was another party with an awesome DJ. So, I managed to finagle my way over there and found myself at a very cool GQ Magazine party. Needless to say, the tech party and the GQ party looked very different from one another. I stayed with GQ. Once again, met some cool people and had some fun and still managed to get myself in bed by 12:30. Pretty impressive stuff. 

And I promise, tomorrow night is devoted to laundry!

Comedy night

Most Mondays go by super slow for me. None of my assigned shows really need support on this day, so it's spent playing catch up on work from the week before. That's why when I have plans on Monday, it makes it so much better to start the week. Today was one of those days. 

I left work at 6 and headed to Hollywood and met my friend for happy hour drinks then we took in an Improv Olympics showing that featured our Office favorites, Ed Helms, Oscar Nunez, and Kate Flannery. Angela Kinsey was noticeably missing because her pregnancy due date is approaching in a few weeks. I can honestly say it wasn't the best show I have taken in, but never the less, it was entertaining. I realized how much things had changed for our favorite Office cast when I saw Oscar after the show. We were trying to have a conversation about the Office returning, the cast and the show overall, but we kept getting interrupted by fans wanting pictures of him (not me). I can see how that side of fame and get annoying and I also can see that my dear friend, Oscar, has developed quite a fan base. For that, I am proud of him.

Speaking of proud, I am especially proud of my dear friend, Jenny, who gave birth to a healthy and beautiful son tonight. Congratulations to her on the wonderful addition to an already wonderful family! 

Lazy Bones

So after a long day at work, I decided unwind and to my gym's Pilates class. I really love the class and the instructor. She modifies the workouts specifically to fit everybody's needs and levels. Tonight's class focused on abs and legs. But, there were a few girls in the class that just plain refused to participate in some of the workouts. I just found it completely rude to the instructor and the class. If you can't do the advance level, fine, but don't just lay on your back and wait for the class to be done. I know it really has nothing to do with me and more to do with them, but I couldn't help but be annoyed. I wanted to say to them, "really? You can't just lift your leg up and ACT like you are doing the workout?" So, this entry is more of a rant than a real issue going in my life. 

They looked awkward and I had to bite my tongue continue to do the exercises to the best of my ability. But, all I can say is....they bugged. 

Small World

I was feeling a bit homesick on Easter Sunday, so I decided to open up the sun roof and go for a nice drive. I ended up  just North of Santa Barbara at the Camarillo Outlet Mall (surprise, surprise). I did my fair share of shopping, thanks to a giant sale at Banana Republic and ended my trip at the Adidas store to pick up new shoes for tennis. As I was browsing the aisles for shoes, I noticed a familiar face. As I searched further, I confirmed my suspicions. I ran into my old co-worker and main anchor of the TV news station I used to work at in Oregon. I hadn't seen Brian in almost two years and randomly enough, he was road tripping with his family and they stopped at the outlet mall as a pit stop. So, out of all the days to go shopping, I choose Sunday, out of all the places, I choose Camarillo and out of all the stores, I choose Adidas and out of all the times in the day, I choose late afternoon and I saw a face that reminded me of the great times I had in Southern Oregon. It was nice to play catch up and it was nice to be reminded that it really can be a small world after all. 

Sick Days

We are given sick days for a reason. The reason of course is to stay home from work or school and get better. So, why should I feel guilty for taking a sick day? I can't pinpoint the exact time in my life that all of a sudden my work proceeded my health in order of importance, but I would like to find out. I have worked at the same job for two  years and have have only taken one sick day. Then, on Wednesday, I was feeling sniffly and knew that I needed to rest because I was running my body ragged, but still emailed my boss to let her know I would be in coming later that day. When I arrived at, I realized I probably should have just stayed home the entire day. But, a part of me felt guilty for coming in late! We are given five free sick days a year, if you don't use them, they go away. Why even give us those days or let us know we have those days if they don't want us to take them. 

Of course, then I work with co-workers that take super-advantage of those sick days and decide to over extend them by calling in sick at the drop of a hat. I guess I don't know what is better: never taking a sick day because I am so dedicated to work that I know things won't get done without my presence, or crying wolf and taking sick day after sick day knowing like people like me will pick up where I slack off? I guess there is no real answer, except I should be expecting my next sick day around sometime in 2009. 

FIve Years of War

It was brought to my attention that today is the five-year anniversary of the war. It really seems like just a year ago the majority of our nation were protesting the invasion of Iraq and hoping the Bush Administration would back down, realizing their moves would be haste and irrational. Well, obviously, that didn't happen and instead, we did invade and not only that, we re-elected the man who wrongfully led us into war to begin with. Sometimes, I think it's a bad dream, but it's not. Instead, it's a scary thought to be living in a nation of war and peace. We watch network news with lead stories about Britney Spears breakdowns and Lindsay Lohan drunken rampages. I guess the war is just too depressing to follow-up on. But, with attitudes like that, it's really no wonder why we are going into the fifth year of this unnecessary war to begin with. 

Here is hoping that 2008 brings some global changes that will work towards peace. Along that note, I will sign off with my favorite John Lennon quote- "If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, there would be peace". 

Sad, but true. 

A Fork Stuck in the Road

I celebrated my two year anniversary at my job last week and it was kind of bittersweet. I was reflective of all the things I had accomplished since arriving, the awards, the famous people, the friendships, the travel and so on. But, when is it time to call it an end to a run and continue a journey somewhere else. I know my place of work is not going to be with me forever. I know that I have other goals I would like to accomplish and other things I would like to try. But, I guess what I really want to know is when do I end the run I have been so accustomed to for the last two years. I look at hit TV shows and wonder when the producers or actors decide that it's time to create a finale. When does that fire in the belly decide it's time to be put out? So, I guess that is where I am at. A fork stuck in the road. I am at a town with amazing possibilities and opportunities. I guess all I can really do is nurse that fire and I will know when it's time to spring from those work doors and on to something new. Until then, I guess I can enjoy a few more of the work perks that come my way. 

Aches and Pains

How do I know it's time for me start hitting the gym, again? When I decide to go surfing and a 60-year-old man is less winded than I am when paddling out past the waves. Or...when I decide to go for a five mile steep hike with three other women and I am in last place. I survived, but I HATE being in last place. So, I am back on my health kick. I am given one body and I haven't treated it the best these last few month. Less gym time, my parties, more junk food. It's time to get back in shape. I am only 10-15 pounds away from my goal weight, the closest I have ever been and for some reason, I always feel ready to sabotage myself around this time. I need to turn that attitude around. Maybe it's covering The Biggest Loser that is making me feel this way, or the fact that the finale is around the corner and I'll be facing the trainers and I want to impress them, or the fact I have friends visiting next month, or the fact I have a Vegas reunion with friends I hadn't seen in years coming up, or the fact I am in a wedding in Boulder, but, whatever it is, I feel ready to achieve my goal and to keep it!

My next assigned show is Nashville Star, I wonder if I will begin to feel the urge to take up country singing? Hmmm. 

Oscar Weekend

How do you know it's Oscar weekend in Los Angeles? It takes forever to find detours in Hollywood. That's right. I literally have to maneuver my own driving schedule around because Sunset is shut down. It's a strange feeling to be in the actual city of the Oscars. I think this every year. 

Sometimes I feel like I am not living up to my full potential of the Hollywood life. But, what is the full potential? Coke-fueled parties every weekend? Hooking up with a new up and coming actor every weekend? Partying until 6am and waking up at 4 the next day? Because you live in Hollywood, does that mean you have to go out in a blaze of glory? I often find myself asking these questions on days where I really did nothing the night before. Well, tonight, I am going to a party at the whiskey bar, 7 Grand, downtown. Don't think I'll get too crazy, but I can leave it up to anybody's imagination on the amount of fun I'll be having. If I end up on a E! Hollywood True Story, I guess then and only then will I know the true amount of potential I had to party it up in Hollywood. Oh well. 

President's Day

No work on Monday is always a good thing. Feeling tired and restless and in need for more sleep on Tuesday is never a good thing. I had a whirlwind weekend with a friend in town which included sushi at Katsuya in Brentwood, a stay at the Downtown Standard, drinks on their rooftop bar, dinner at Dolce in West Hollywood, and another day touring Alivera Street in downtown Los Angeles in search of delicious traditional Mexican food. I always have the most fun when people visit me. It gives me the excuse of checking out LA's hot spots and considering that I might be doing my friends the favor, instead of myself. I ended my weekend, alone and catching up on my Brothers and Sisters online. That's right, started my weekend with Eva Longoria holding a door open for me and calling me "hun" at Katsuya and ended it with watching TV online and learning that I can chat on Instant Messenger using my voice. (I owe a thank you to my friend, Chris, for calling me on IM and forcing me to discover the fun little addition to my computer) Now, if I can get a little sleep so I can get this thing called Tuesday out of the way!

Valentines Day

Nothing really new to report when it comes to Valentines Day. No surprise gifts, chocolates or flowers. Which, I didn't expect, but still...
Maybe I have been watching too many romantic movies and come to expect a 'secret admirer' to reveal himself on this day. This would explain why all of a sudden I have gone from romantic comedies on my Netflix to tearjerker dramas. Might I recommend The Queen and Oridnary People as must-sees.
So, to all of those who are lucky enough to have found a love to share this day with , Happy Valentines Day and to all of those who have love is coming from a flat cardboard box or wine bottle, might I wish them an even Happier Valentines Day.

Improv Madness

Monday night proved that I could really hob nob with the rest of them. I attended the Hollywood Improv Olympics that featured Oscar Nunez, Angela Kinsey, Ed Helms, and Kate Flannery from The Office and Mo Rollins from MadTV and was emceed by Kate Walsh from Private Practice. Before the show started, I kicked it with fellow early bird, Oscar at the bar. We had a beer and chatted a bit until the show was ready for him to prepare. They entire two-hour show was hilarious. Kate Walsh was surprisingly funny on stage and the actors all seemed to mesh well as performers. After the show, I had a few more words with the crew from The Office, then headed to valet. While waiting for my car alone on a sidewalk, Kate Walsh and her brother stood next to me to pick up their cars. They lit up their cigarettes and we actually had cool conversation that included the words, "you're funny" from Kate Walsh to yours truly. It was a a very cool moment. Will she remember me? No. Did I even remember what I said that was so funny? No. But, at least I can say I rubbed elbows with a star in Hollywood and held my own. Right?

Asking a Hunk

Ok, so somedays I love my job and somedays I hate my job. Most of the time I consider myself lucky to just be working in an industry that I love (when there isn't a strike) and an industry that remains highly competitive. Friday was a day where I was grateful for my job. I created a feature called Ask the Hunk for Daytime on the website. Basically, I choose a "hunk" from the soap opera I work with and interview him using questions fans have submitted. 

I started shooting this feature in November. My first hunk started right off the bat as a crush. To this day, I don't know if he was being charming or being serious when he gave me his number and suggested we get together. I still have the number and the curiosity in my pocket. Maybe I'll get the courage to lock down a date with him in the near future. 

Last Friday, I got to interview a completely different hunk. A very sweet guy who happens to be a veteran on the show. A veteran who is also hunky and only in his mid-30's. He was fun and very charming, but also had player written all over him. He knew how to work the camera and when a group of female fans showed up to watch our interview, he totally played it up. It was amusing to watch. So, spending half my day with a Daytime hunk was a fun day. I have another hunk who is actually even more charming and a lot younger to interview next Friday. Don't envy me, just remind me of these days whenever you see me around complaining about this industry and this job ;)

Auditions

Today had me in Hollywood extra early for the Last Comic Standing auditions. I couldn't believe how many people were in line. The sad part was that most of them were standing in line for nothing. They had already chosen the select few that would be passed to the next round the previous day. There were all types of "comedians". Were they all funny? The answer is "no". In fact, most of them were damn right annoying, which makes me realize why they are still trying to break out into this business by standing in a line for hours waiting for their big break on a reality show. Sadness.
The real highlight of the day was working with two of my favorite people from NBC, Oscar and Angela from The Office. These two are so much fun to watch in action. And I can honestly say they are super-delight in person. Even after winning a SAG award last weekend. They always remember your face, your stories and greet you with big hugs. As shallow as it might sound, it does add a little sunshine to your day when a celebrity thinks you are somebody worth remembering. Now, that's real sadness, isn't it? Oh yeah, and I met this hotness, too! http://www.dlisted.com/node/21611

MySpace Politics

So, living in LA means having to be part of a social network. It's commonly one of the first questions that gets asked in the first five minute of meeting somebody, "Are you on Myspace or Facebook?" If so, obviously, that person will check out your page, your pictures, "request" your friendship and have access to your web life. And those familiar with the website know that as soon as you enter somebody's page, you can see who their "top friends" are. I always find that a bit weird. I feel like I am transported back in high school, trying to get accepted into the cool "Top 12" group, or whatever. And if somebody has me on their top list, I feel it's my obligation to put them in my top list. Well, imagine my surprise when I was spying on other pages with a co-worker and he pointed out that I was the only person at work in my boss's top friends list. Something that had just been changed recently. So, immediately, I had to think long and hard on who I would remove from my top list and exchange it with my boss, in case she checked. I still scratch my head on what I did or how I made it there. But, I guess, like in high school, it's cool to just accept the invitation to be in the cool group instead of questioning why. Though, I am still left wondering, was there a motive behind this move. Damn these Myspace politics!

Sad news

I am sure it's no shock to anybody by now that the very talented and gifted actor, Heath Ledger passed away today. This kind of news always hits hard and I don't know why. We live in a country where soldiers are dying everyday for a war they are unsure they are fighting in the first place. You can't open a newspaper without reading of a tragic car accident or murder. I guess this one hits home because we felt like we actually knew Heath. I remember looking at pictures of him walking his daughter, Matilda, on the streets of Brooklyn and trying to decipher which parent she looked the most like. I remember reading quotes from him describing life as a father and falling completely in love with him all over again, like the feeling I saw 'The Patriot' for the first time. I think the biggest reason this hit home was the fact I felt I was welcomed into his life. He was a celebrity, I was supposed to know all the good and bad details of his life. And now, personally, I grieve for his family, the mother of his child, and most of all, his daughter. Heath left this earth, like many before him, too soon. And whatever the outcome is of how and why this happened, one thing is for sure, it's another tragic story of a gifted actor who expired too soon.

Rainy Dayz

The LA weather has been throwing us through a loop in recent weeks. I woke up early yesterday morning and played a great game of tennis, followed by a delicious breakfast in NoHo. It was the kind of day you wished would last all weekend. Sun makes me smile. Nothing more left to be said. 

Well, today, a morning hike had to be cancelled because it was simply downpour. If you would have told me that I was on an overnight tequila bender and ended up in Seattle, I would have believed you. Now, I find myself in sunlight, again. I don't know if it's global warming, Mother Nature playing a trick on us, or just simply January in LA. Regardless, LA is keeping me on my toes and throwing monkey wrenches in my plans. I guess that is what life is about. Isn't it?

Celebrities are Crazay!

Friends often ask me about my celebrity encounters. It's not uncommon to run into one from time to time at your local Starbucks. I recently had a friend tell me I should write down who I run into, so I won't forget. Well, I never took that friend's advice, so now I can't really remember who has graced me with their presence. I can say that most recently, I held a not so insane conversation with Paula Abdul at my local Borders' Books, where we talked shoes and fashion and the both of us were browsing her feature in the latest In Style Magazine. She appeared normal and friendly, if normal is having a very effeminate assistant answering your cell phone for you and ordering your dinner. But regardless, I was shocked to hear a mere few weeks later, Miss Abdul had a complete break-down in LAX regarding lost luggage. According to witnesses, she was crying hysterically and kept repeating the same three names over and over. And now this whole Britney mess. I really don't know how or where or when it happens, but I truly believe that celebrity does cause a form of insanity. Doesn't have to mean complete overboard hysterics, like Miss Spears or Paula, but celebrity cannot be the best thing for somebody's mental health. The constant need for acceptance and assurance from a mass population of people is not healthy. So, the more and more people that I come across in this town who are in search of being the next best thing has me scratching me head. Is it the money, the fame, the power that draws people into such a life? And if you are not looking for such a life while living in this town, are you considered settling in a way? I have been told many times that I should pursue my comedy career. I now find myself in the delicate position of being in a profession where my work gets credited, but not rewarded with massive amounts of money or attention and finding myself leaning more and more to the direction that there is something more out there for me and I really could break out in this town. The question is can I handle it? I guess I have to make sure my friends and family are there for me if and when I decide to take this wild and crazy quest for fame. I also count on these friends and family to keep me from releasing a crazy Scientology tape to the public. Which this tape seems to be this year's equivalent to the "celebrity sex tape". Be prepared for an interesting 2008.