Thursday, December 21, 2006

Merry Chrismukkah!

The best thing about living in LA is getting ready for trips home to the East Coast. When I go to the airport tomorrow, and the airport attendant asks me my destination, I can't wait to reply with "home." I'm sure that in LAX (which equates to hell on earth), they will not appreciate this answer, making it even more fun to say. I will enjoy every second of it.

There is no way that I'll be blogging at home - there's no need. These posts are all about the adventures in LaLaLand, baby. So sit tight, and I'll be back eventually. I just wanted to take the opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday! I've left you with something to relish during the next ten days - it's one of the greatest holiday websites ever: http://www.elfyourself.com/ Crop a picture of yourself, your beau, your dad - it doesn't matter, it's hilarious.

By the way, my friend Danielle and I totally gave the clean up guy at work cookies. I also took the liberty of taking bins of my company's promotional stress relief soccer balls that we hand out at trade shows and dumped them all in the toys for tots bin. Let's hope that upper management doesn't find out about that one! ;) Safe travels, and enjoy the break!

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Holiday Gifts

Is there a rule that exists that states who we should give holiday gifts to? Like the mailman or the babysitter... but what about that guy that comes into your office every night at 6pm to clean up your garbage and vacuum the floor? Should he get a present? I'm starting to think YES. I mean, he works hard. So I am taking a poll to see what the best idea to get the clean-up man at my office would be for this holiday season. Hurry, act quickly, only 3 more days until I fly home.



...who cares if he does not speak English - he still has a heart.

Do The Right Thing!

I just emailed like 100 of my friends to tell them to do this, and now I'm telling you too. Yes, it might be the second time this week, stop whining. I'm sorry. I'm a do-gooder. Instead of using Google.com try Goodsearch.com, it is powered by Yahoo and 50% of its ad revenue goes to the charity of your choice.

Here is a really cool article that proves that it's not fake - and it even mentions THON at Penn State: ttp://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist/strauss/2006-11-19-giving_x.htm

So this holiday season, do the right thing. And remember, if you aren't an organ donor, it's pretty cool to sign up to do that too.

A Holiday Laugh

A colleague at work showed me this - it needs to be shared. Enjoy.

http://glumbert.com/media/tonguetwister

Monday, December 11, 2006

Christmas, California Style

I love Christmas. SO much. I don't know if it's because it my mom's favorite holiday, and I was always forced to help decorate the entire house, or if it's just the warm fuzzy feeling that I get listening to Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole. I have been trying my best to get in the Christmas spirit - but I'm finding it really hard being out in California. When it's so warm out, Rudolph and Frosty just don't look the same. I keep asking myself, is it really December??? It sure doesn't seem like it. So I've been trying to investigate new and creative ways to celebrate Christmas, California style.


Most people, like the Griswald's, decorate their homes with spectacular lights. But did you know in California that they have Harbor Parades? Instead of decorating their homes, people decorate their boats and yachts and peruse around local harbors. And in most places, Santa shows up on a sleigh - but in Santa Cruz, he arrives on a surf board instead - red (with white trim) wetsuit and all! And don't forget about Disneyland, where Mickey decks himself out everyday in December for the Disney Christmas Parade.





Oh and I've learned to love another thing - outdoor malls. I never knew how much I could fall in love with an outdoor mall. Fresh air in between stores, outside kiosks to catch your attention, and either sunshine or the glow of the stars to keep you going during that last hour when you think you've just about had it with the holiday crowds. I recommend this experience to everyone.


But it's just not the same. No matter where you end up, I think that Christmas is definitely the one time of year that your roots stick with you. I cannot wait to get back to Pennsylvania to (hopefully) see some snow and cuddle up by my fireplace there. Mom's cookie tray is waiting, and there is nothing in Cali that can compare to that. December 22nd could not come soon enough!

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

TPIR - I took the Golden Road from...Pittsburgh, PA


Quoting one of the members of Team TPIR, "Getting to see the Price is Right is like being on drugs. You make a complete ass out of yourself, and although you can't really remember what happened, you know that you had one of the best times of your life."

TPIR is insane. The people that you meet in line camping out at 4am, the MC's, the madness that ensues when Bob Barker steps on stage. I recommend that everyone do this once in your life.

All I will say is this - of the 7 of us, 1 person did get called to "come on down" AND they made it all the way to the showcase showdown. AND all of us got ample TV time from screaming and yelling so loudly when it happened. So if you don't set your Tivo when it airs on January 23rd, well then, we just aren't friends anymore. Understand?

Sightings and Celeb Scoop

Autumn Reeser, aka Taylor Townsend, sitting next to us at The Ivy with two young men, in what we believe was some sort of business dinner. We also actually saw her again the following day at The Grove shopping with a friend. Another 2 day in a row sighting. I love this girl - I think that she is hands down one of the best characters on television right now. Bye bye Mischa Barton! We don't miss you at all. That brings me to another bold statement that I'm about to make. I very much think that this year's season of The OC kicks Grey's Anatomy's ass. I was extremely stressed out when they were slated to air at the same time on Thursday night (especially since I still have yet to get Tivo), but after spending a few weeks changing the channel back and forth between commercials, I can say that The OC has held my attention so much more than Grey's. In fact, I think that Grey's has gone really downhill. Whoever writes for The OC is so witty and the one-liners used throughout it are unmatched in my book. So if you haven't caught an episode yet this year, make sure to check it out. (Oh, and they also repeat Grey's on Friday nights so you can just watch the repeat as you get ready to go out).

The Superficial - Because You're Ugly

I have officially been scolded for not writing on the blog for a couple of weeks. I'm really sorry guys. I tried last week, and blogger was just showing a bunch of error messages. I'll blame it on them (and all of the fun that I've been having).

I came up with an idea for all of you for the times when I don't post anything on my blog. Check out this site on a daily basis, and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

http://thesuperficial.com/

Seriously, read it. It's the best.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Sightings and Celeb Scoop

Gary Shandling TWO days in a row - how random is that? Once, outside of the Beverly Hills Hilton and then again on Elevado Road in Beverly Hills when running. I never thought that I would run into Gary Shandling, let alone twice in one week!


Lindsay Lohan on Sunset Blvd. driving a convertible Beige VW Bug (I believe that this may have been the freebie from Herbie since her recent car accident damaged her other car). She literally cut me off at the intersection of Doheny Road, and I followed her for about a mile. She was wearing huge black sunglasses and a Chanel hair wrap - I knew that it was her though because the wrap blew off every 2 minutes and she would check herself out at every red light in her rear view mirror.


Jon Cryer hiking with his family and 3 very strange mutt looking dogs in Ruynon Canyon the day after Thanksgiving. ahhh, Duckie!


Leonardo DiCaprio at Dough Boys in West Hollywood. NOTE: this was not my sighting, but my guest for the weekend who ran smack into him on the way to the bathroom. Nice work ABKane - not a bad sighting for a weekend visit.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Gobble Gobble

As of tomorrow, I'm going to be having way too much fun to blog (as was the case last week, sorry for no posts).... so I just wanted to tell everyone HAPPY THANKSGIVING!


Ode to Visitors - Just a Small Tribute

Visitors how I love thee.... You make the homesickness go away, especially since it is 87 degrees outside, and people are singing Carols. 3 sets of visitors in 3 weeks - how lucky I am. Hooray for visitors! You make the fact that there are Christmas lights on palm trees 'OK' at the end of the day. What would I do without you?

The Price is Right

Yes, it is true! On December 4th, I will be going on the Price is Right. It was decided among a small group of friends that we must see Bob Barker in person before he retires. As some of you know, 3 years ago in Avalon, I created the greatest drinking game ever - DRINKO. Similar to Plinko, I have a feeling that my practice that summer will make me an inevitable pick for contestant's row.


I am currently taking suggestions for t-shirt ideas. So far, ideas that have been brought to the table are "Pick Matt Davis," "Show Your Hot Face Bob," and "Long Live Bob." I'm not quite sure if I'm sold on any of them, so please feel free to email or comment with any other ideas. I believe that the show is going to air on December 5th, but I'll be sure to keep you posted. Set your TIVO!!!





9th Floor Please





As I have mentioned before, I work in the twin towers of Century City - two buildings that serve as a hub for many of the countries great corporations. Included in this list is Lifetime television network. Now we are lucky enough to work on the same floor as Lifetime television. What does this mean? Well, casting calls for one thing. My favorite days are those in which I go outside into the hallway to use the restroom and realize that a casting call for Lifetime is going on. People are out in the hallway fake crying, throwing fits, yelling loudly - it's awesome. I guess apparently too famous people come up to visit - and by famous people, I really mean once A list actors that are now looking to work for Lifetime. One day in the bathroom, a girl from the accounting department of Lifetime came in hyperventilating because apparently Jason Priestly was on the premises. My favorite thing about working on the same floor as Lifetime though, is the fact that Spike TV is also in the building. Every night, there is a Spike TV banner somewhere in the hallway when we leave for the night. My colleagues tell me that the janitors use it to take out the trash, but I secretly hope that there is some sort of rivalry going on between the two networks. How great would that be?








Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Comments

Everyone keeps asking me how to place comments on my blog. It's easy. Just create a user name and password - then click on the lower right corner of each post where it says 0 comments (or whatever number is there). Each time you read the blog, you can sign in, and post as many comments as you want. And now it's linked to google! I swear that it's not hard. And if you forget your password, just make up a new one. Or make it something easy, like cmorg or lalaland. If you are totally hip and blog savvy, you can even put your picture up there along with your profile! If you want to stay anonymous, just get a picture of someone that's really hot and put it there in your place :)

Remember, You Heard It Here First

Well you heard about the turmoil between Kevin and Britney here first. The news that they are getting divorced is out, and I am not surprised after last week's 'show' at the launch party. There are stories all over the internet, but this one is my favorite because it actually references the party I was at... Thanks for this G! I can only now hope that the sequel to Toxic will be out right after the holiday season! Fingers crossed.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23373669-details/Oops%2C+I+did+it+again%3A+but+this+time+via+text+message/article.do

Sightings and Celeb Scoop


Danny Bonaduce eating lunch at The Palomino restaurant in Westwood. And he was with some really hot girls. How does that guy, or any dead beat celebrity for that matter, pull it off? I bet they were hookers.


Monday, November 06, 2006

Orange County

1 hour South of Los Angeles, sits one of the wealthiest areas of the country - Orange County. Celebrating the much anticipated season premiere of The OC, I decided to head down to Orange County myself this weekend to check it out. (By the way, I was pleasantly surprised at how good episode 1 was...I questioned whether or not they could do it without Mischa, but it was pretty good). There is a reason why so many filthy rich people live in Newport and Laguna Beach - because it's absolutely breathtaking. A much slower pace than LA, Orange County offers a small town feel with views and charm that are unmatched.



I mean, really... who could turn down an offer to live in Southern California with views like this?




Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Name that Celeb


Oh wait, that's right - you knew that I was going to his party! I cropped it to try to trick you. Didn't work, huh?

Well, today I am running on 2 hours of sleep (we did not get home until 5am) and I must say that an official Hollywood Halloween party is completely worth the agony that you feel the following day. In this town, it's the one night that people can leave their homes incognito, and blend in with the crowd. The launch party was incredible - it topped any Upfront party that I'd ever been to in New York. It was in one of the Gower Studios, and included buffets of food and drink, a hookah bar, dancers hanging from the ceiling, and many A list celebrities. My favorite thing though about the party is the fact that they made the entire studio smell like a burning pumpkin. I have no idea how they pinned it down, but I love that smell, and found it fascinating that someone actually invented a way to do it. Paris & Nicki were there, along with Mary Kate & Ashley - and of course Britney, dressed in a pink wig and giant sunglasses. Kevin rolled around the entire night with his posse and actually hung out with guests as you can see from the pic above. And I will say this - he is really good looking in person, I do not think that Britney is crazy. He's got a certain something about him. Although people.com gave the following report http://people.aol.com/people/article/0,26334,1553615,00.html, I'll tell you some behind the scenes info that I got from the party. Britney and Kevin were supposed to perform together - and I'm not quite sure what happened, but neither ended up getting on stage. For a launch party, that's extremely disappointing. I mean Kev, at least give us a little rap to make it worthwhile! The couple was fighting all night, and whatever they were arguing about kept them from getting up on stage. I would say that they probably aren't on the greatest of terms right now, but then again, I know nothing about the context of what was going on. Regardless, it was pretty cool of Britney to dress in disguise in order to give Kevin the spotlight.

And let's not forget about the parade in West Hollywood near my house beforehand. My roommate Kris and I had a party after work, and then walked down to Santa Monica Blvd. to take part in the festivities. I have never in my life witnessed so many people dressed up in costumes, having so much fun. It is known as the best Halloween party in the world, and now I know why. I'll have to post some pics later in the week, but for now - it's bedtime. Finally.

Monday, October 30, 2006

Say It Ain't So


They are saying that Reese and Ryan have officially split. I pray that this isn't true. If my favorite celeb couple can't make it, there is likely no hope for anyone.




I also just received insider reports that Ryan has been seen out at clubs dancing with other women - and yes, I was told that he is even hotter in person. Poor Hollywood - marriage just does not seem to be working for anyone. Today is a sad day indeed.

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Do Blondes Have More Fun?


I love change - I pretty much thrive for it. So I decided this past weekend to go brunette. It was a very spontaneous decision, but I think that this will be a good experiment if anything to see who really has more fun....blondes or brunettes?

Don't worry, it's only semi-permanent, so it should rinse out in about six weeks.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Trick or Treat Federline Style

So what is everyone planning to do for Halloween?
What are you going to be?

I am going to be "Devil in a Blue Dress" this year - you know, like the song. I've got the dress, red high heels, red fishnet stockings, and all the devil props (including a pitchfork to poke any good looking young prospects with!) I can't wait. West Hollywood is throwing the 19th annual Halloween Carnavale right on Santa Monica near my house. It's supposed to be one of the biggest Halloween parties in the world. And I've also been invited to K-Fed's album release party...I'm on "the list." The catch is that it doesn't start until 2am. So I am really going to have to catch some zzzz's on Monday night in order to rest up for the event. Will Britney be there? I hope that her mom stays home with the boys so that she can attend. Anything you are dying to ask her? Let me know, because you just never know what might happen at an exclusive party like that!




I am just dying to see K-Fed perform. I mean, did anyone see his appearance on RAW? He is really something, that Kevin. So talented. I might just have to throw my bra on stage!

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Sightings and Celeb Scoop

Ms. Jay (apparently from America's Next Top Model) at Ralph's grocery store on the corner of Beverly and Doheny. As we were picking out fresh cookies, he came up, grabbed a box from under us, and declared "I'm just going to have to smell the box" (then took an enormous sniff) and looked at us and said".... honestly if not, I could eat all of them in one sitting." He then threw the box back on the pile, turned his head and scurried off to the soup isle. I honestly had no idea who this person was, or the fact that I should have even cared what he was saying, but I was told that other people would appreciate the sighting!

That Song

Here is the YouTube link for that Scissor Sisters song that I was talking about, for those who told me that they have no idea what I'm talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuDi9XkbXzg

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Did Everyone See Grey's Last Week?

One of the story lines on last week's episode of Grey's Anatomy told the story of how Meredith had to have her appendix removed. The entire comedy behind the situation was that she was drugged up and saying ridiculous things to other people on the show. I had a serious flashback from my own appendectomy last year. When I was waiting for an operating room (and was all morphined up), I proceeded to tell my good friend Paige how pretty she looked...at least 387 times. I also decided in my head that I had to the HOTTEST 3 doctors (2 surgeons, 1 anesthesiologist) at HUP that night. Typically at HUP this doesn't mean much - trust me, I've checked out the goods. But that night, they definitely were hot, and they loved me as a patient. Paiger, were you watching? Because I couldn't help think of you.

The Hollywood Gym Experience

So I've been having a VERY hard time finding a gym to join in LA. First, the prices are outrageous. Everyone in this town is so freaking superficial, that they are able to monopolize the fact that the only thing that most people care about is your looks. Take Equinox for example... it's the 2nd best gym in LA (LA sports club, which I did work out at once thanks to my friend Danielle that used to work there, has a wait list of unseemly proportions). As for Equinox, well I had a free pass to go there for a week. My experience there was unlike anything I've ever witnessed in my life. One day, there was a girl who was actually running on the treadmill in her underwear. Yes, they were spandex, but they were still underwear. Then, a girl got up next to me the following day on a stairmaster in a bikini top and a pair of UGG boots. She was also holding ten pound weights in her hands and looked like she was going to fall over because they were heavier than her. The icing on the cake though was when I saw a guy (who was definitely not straight) in skin tight WHITE gymnast pants that said "JAMA" on the back. This sight was so frightening that I decided that skipping a meal the following day would leave me better off than returning to this horrible place. I turned in my week pass after only 3 days.

By the way, I googled "JAMA" and I think it stands for The Journal of the American Medical Association... or maybe Jamaica...or Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association. Needless to say, I'm still gym hunting.

Are They Playing this Everywhere?


Are they? I'm very curious - it's the new song by Scissor Sisters called "I don't feel like dancin'" I can't figure out if it's just happening here in LA or if it's become a national phenomenon. Apparently people in the UK go crazy for this song, and as much as you at first think it's going to annoy you, you cannot stop yourself from dancing in your car uncontrollably. It reminds me of that Jumba Wumba song that came out our freshman year in college. Everyone goes nuts. If you haven't heard it yet, download it, and provide your feedback - I'm just really wondering what everyone else thinks. I feel that any song that uses the line "Your two step makes my heart pound" is priceless.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Oktoberfest!


Well, I'm heading up to San Francisco this weekend, and I cannot even begin to express how excited I am. San Francisco is one of my absolute favorite cities. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. In fact, my job application to move to SF is actually what landed me in LaLa. And you know what, fate works in weird ways. My friend Nora and I (who were roommates in Munich 2 years ago) have planned a fabulous weekend to attend Oktoberfest there to celebrate a reunion weekend together. Beer steins, men in suspenders, what could be better? Nothing, I tell ya - absolutely nothing.

Sexyback Sucks

And I'm still sticking to it. JT's new album REALLY is not what it's cracked up to be people. I've said it before, and I'm sticking to my guns. Justified is ten times better than FutureSex (is that even what it's called?). I proved my theory last weekend at the Cabana Club. The incredibly awesome DJ there played Sexyback, but then immediately played Like I Love You following it. The crowd went crazy when Like I Love You came on - the dance floor escalated from a 5 to a 10 in seconds. I'm just saying that sometimes the old is better than the new.

So let's just talk for a minute...

...about the Sunset Strip. Which is my hood. Which is probably the most famous 10 miles in all of California. I could throw a stone at a number of extremely historical musical venues including The Roxy, The Key Club, The Viper Room, and Whiskey A Go Go. Which is pretty cool. History has been forged in this area, and I'm happy to experience it.

To learn more about my neighborhood, and the history behind it, I found 2 good websites. To put it into perspective, I live right near "D" on the map of the first link:

http://www.seeing-stars.com/Streets/SunsetStripMap.shtml

http://www.pubclub.com/losangeles/sunsetstrip.htm

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Miller vs. Morgan - Place Your Bets

Has anyone read Sienna Miller's comments in the latest issue of Rolling Stone? It's a whole lotta nonsense. It's obvious that Jude Law is brainwashing her, because she states that monogamy is overrated. Yes, Sienna, at 24, it should be. [Well, that's my opinion anyway]. But in the long run, that theory isn't going to get you much but an ugly STD.

She also calls Pittsburgh "Shitsburgh" - and obviously being from Pittsburgh, I'm offended. At first, I wanted to put on my boxing gloves and throw her into the ring, but after thinking it though, I can see why such a trendy, hot, label whore of an actress would say that about a city that doesn't even know who Marc Jacobs is... Oh Sienna, if you just weren't so perfect and beautiful and always looking so fashionable and of course having lots of sex with Jude Law, I might just get mad at you. But somehow I can't - there's a reason why I haven't lived in Pittsburgh since I turned 18, so I'd probably lose if we fought.

WCD

















West Coast Depression, or WCD as I like to call it, gets the best of us. It's something that I always "heard" about. It usually hits after a long weekend with East Coast friends, when sitting in bumper to bumper traffic on the 405, or when someone throws up on your leg at a bar where you are paying $10 for a drink. It is UGLY, and best to avoid at all costs.

This past week, WCD hit an all time high for cmorg. Leaving the Atlanta airport last week, I got a little bit teary (side note: these tears only slightly resembled those shed on the 2000 flight from Sydney to LA, when the entire US Water Polo team tried to comfort me and cheer me up. Poor guys - if only they had one a medal, maybe I would have paid more attention...). Planes and airports have always had the ability to make me sad - it makes me think about what I'm leaving behind. The GOOD news though, is that WCD usually disappears when you are least expecting it. Sometimes it fades into the sunshine, or maybe it jumps off of one of those lookouts on Mulholland Drive, I honestly don't know. But for those of you that caused this recent case, I just wanted to thank you. The pain can sometimes teach us lessons and shed light on what is important in their lives.

ps - this picture was posted for those that would enjoy the following comment:
oooooohhhh, so you a baby?

Smile Honey, All of America is Watching You!

Smile Honey, All of America is Watching You!

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

1,2,3 - Count 'em! 3rd Times a Charm!

Ain't that the truth. Everything happens in 3's, and bridesmaid appearance #3 is this weekend in Atlanta. Will I top the embarrassing moment that happened in DC?
Only time will tell.
Get your cameras ready!

10 hours on a plane + seeing 20 of your closest friends + an open bar +
a dress that was altered one size too small =
ONE OF THE BEST WEEKENDS EVER.

HOTLANTA, here we come.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

We love you Steven! Thanks for being brave.

Most people that I am close with know that I struggled with liver disease, and that I am a huge proponent of spreading the word about making sure that you know you are healthy. And sometimes because of this, I get really fired up and lecture other people.

Some people might be annoyed with this post - but honestly, what the hell is a blog for if you can't express your opinions? So stop reading here if you don't want to hear this rant. (You know what, even if one person learns something from it, it's worth it).

Steven Tyler revealed today that he has been struggling from Hepatitis C, and recently went through interferon treatments to clear the virus. I just want to say that I very much admire him for speaking about his experience, as I always feel that this is the right thing to do when having gone through a tough time. It's better to come clean, and allow your experience to help others.

If you haven't yet heard the story, you can check it out here:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15020874/


Now here is where I will lecture you...

Hepatitis C is called the "silent killer" because so many people either do not know about it, or do not know that they have it. Over 3 million Americans have the disease, and 75% do not know it. You can have the disease for years, and have no symptoms. Only 5-10% of the people who contract the virus get symptoms at the onset of the illness. Hepatitis B is now not as common due to the vaccine that you can get at an early age, but it is spread in similar ways. The number of cases of Hepatitis B is reduced each year, whereas the number of Hepatitis C cases is rapidly increasing.

When it comes to Hepatitis C, you MUST ask your doctor for an HCV blood test - even if you go to see him, and ask to get tested for HIV and every STD in the book, they will still not test you for Hepatitis C. You must ask for the test.

Hepatitis is a blood borne virus, and is often spread through needles. It has the ability to be spread other ways, however, and within the past 5 years, doctors all over the country have seen a very LARGE increase in cases from cocaine use (yes people, that sh*t does make your nose bleed on the rolled up dollar, even if you aren't noticing it).

So get tested. Don't get any tattoos or piercings. And lay off the drugs, huh?

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Sightings and Celeb Scoop


Florence Henderson at the newly opened French 75 in Century City. As soon as I saw her 2 tables from us, I felt that I needed to be on my best behavior and bit my tongue to keep myself from swearing. I don't care what anyone says - Mrs. Brady is the bomb - and she looks damn good for her age. It made me think...is the Brady Bunch even on TV anymore? TV Land, maybe? It should be, that might be one of the only classic television shows that could stand the test of time.

Special Guest Blogger

A few weeks ago, someone approached me to see if they could be a guest blogger for LaLaLand. Obviously this isn't the place to just let anyone rant, but knowing some of his work - I agreed. Let's just call him "Corey Jackson." We recently both moved, and got into a discussion that debated the perks of NY vs. LA. Below is post from this guest blogger about the dynamic nature of the two cities, and the always proven fact that opposites attract. I have a few comments of my own about the topic, but I'll save those for another post...




A couple of weeks ago, I packed up a U-Haul with only my essential possessions (since my new room is roughly the size of a shot glass) and headed for the greatest city on earth, New York. As I drove up the NJ Turnpike with the stench of warm garbage and broken dreams wafting through the truck, the Manhattan skyline came into view and I couldn’t help but think how lucky I was to now be living at the heart of it all. After this, anywhere else in the world would be a significant downgrade (save, of course, for the wonderful city of Philadelphia).


Not coincidentally, I came to this conclusion prior to several perspective-changing events. First, the living quarters. Priced at just under 3 years salary for a Peruvian alpaca farmer, my charming apartment has no air-conditioning, little natural light, a bathroom door that opens directly into the toilet After these experiences and others (which may compel me to write my own blog), I began to reconsider my previous position. Could a dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker (for 2 weeks) like me really call the Big Apple the greatest place ever? How might NYC compare to LA? They are always juxtaposed as opposites, but could opposites attract?


As I reflected more deeply, some important similarities began to surface. Beautiful women. Done. Celebrities. You bet. Nightclubs. Great restaurants. Check. Antagonism between police and minorities…well, that’s pretty much everywhere, but Rodney and OJ essentially guarantee that LA’s got the number one spot on lock. All of these things, of course, are key ingredients to defining a world-class city.


Additionally, LA’s real estate is pretty reasonably priced for what you get. Of course, this is relative to NYC’s bastardized definitions of “affordable and “reasonable”, which are laughable to anyone else on the planet. Further, the people, while shallow and flaky in their own way, are still entertaining. If I say “Aggressive New Yorker,” you probably envision every Yankee fan or resident of Brooklyn. Conversely, “Aggressive Los Angelan” conjures up images of Ari Gold who, though slightly sociopathic, leaves me in tears with every verbal tirade and indecent sexual proposition, not to mention his classic tirade at Josh Weinstein’s beach party in Season 1. Even the vegans in LA are better, employing individualist laissez-faire attitudes to meat and dairy consumption, as opposed to the militant activist vegans of my fair city. And I’m not going to start on the many ways in which Malibu trumps the Hamptons…


However, for all the respect due to the Left Coast, in NYC you can still go out on a Saturday party until at least 4 AM, then drive home and fondle some real breasts whilst eating a legitimate slice of pizza, then wake up and drive to a bar on the highway with no traffic to cheer for your city’s (two) football team(s). So, while I refuse to relinquish NYC’s title of “the best city ever” just yet, I will, on behalf of this fair city, recognize that LA is a city worth recognition and merit. And that’s about as great of a compliment most Manhattanites will ever give.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Orgasm Lip Gloss - And More

Sephora to me is like a candy store to a 5 year old. I can spend hours in it, testing out all of the different products. I recently spent my "birthday money" there on new make up and HIGHLY recommend the Bare Essentials line that's made from an all mineral form. They say that you can even sleep in it, and it won't make you break out. Everything is in powder form, and their brushes are the best I've ever used. You can get a starter kit that includes 2 foundations, a bronzer, primer, face illuminator, and 3 brushes for only $60. It's worth every penny. I'm also a huge fan of benefit's eye brow gel, and Cargo's lip gloss.


I think that the best purchase that I just got this week though is top rated "Orgasm" lipstick from NARS. It's the perfect pinky shade just to give you enough hue and glow to grab anyone's attention. I highly recommend this product - man, I should be a spokesperson and get paid for this! Oh, but I love sharing beauty tips. You can check out their glosses here: http://www.narscosmetics.com/acb/stores/1/Lip-Gloss-C11_category_7.aspx



Speaking of skin care and make up, don't forget that I am still a NuSkin vendor. I buy my makeup at Sephora, but I get all of my lotions and face creams, etc. from NuSkin. Honestly, I've noticed that people comment on my skin all the time now, and it's totally from the products. Their fine line wrinkle serum is the BOMB, and I love their daily skin lotion. It makes my skin the softest that it's ever been. Also, there is a division of NuSkin called Pharmanex. This company made the only vitamin supplements approved for Olympic athletes. I was first introduced to them at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games when I worked there. The supplements are TOP quality. I take an anti-oxidant dose of (decaffeinated) green tea daily, as well as a multi-vitamin. You should check out their websites to see if you are interested in any of the products:

www.nuskin.com
www.pharmanex.com

But remember! If you want to order something from NuSkin or Pharmanex, let me know FIRST! I can give you my vendor number and HOOK YOU UP BIG TIME.

Today was Soup, Bananas, and Milk Day - MMM, MMM, Bueno


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PS - I'm lying.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Love Your Liver and Live Longer


Words to live by... everyone will be happy to know that I had my latest check up today with the head of Hepatology at Cedar's Sinai, and I've been given a clean bill of health. In fact, my test results were so good, that he said that although he loved meeting me, he never wants to see me again! Lucky really pulled through for me, I couldn't be more excited about the news!



I also found out today at another appointment that the HPV Vaccine is now available to young women. One thing that I didn't know is that it's really only recommended for women 18-26, so ladies - if you are like me and recentrly turned 27, run to your doctor now to beg him/her to get you approved for the vaccine. It's a hefty price of $600, but will provide you 100% protection against cervical cancer. I'm definitely going to do it - my first shot in the series of 3 is on September 25th. I can't wait!

Hooray, the Smurfs are Gone!


I finally repainted my bathroom a lovely color of sea blue. Ahhhhhhh...... So much better.

Monday, September 11, 2006

5 Years - But Not Forgotten. Proud to be An American Today!

SNOGGING

This is hands down my favorite new word. Basically it means to make out. It just reminds you how fun British words can be. You can say SNOGGING, and it will sound totally pretentious even though it's likely that you don't mean for it to come across that way. Go ahead, try it.

These links might help to explain it:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1443007.stm

http://english2american.com/dictionary/s.html

But you can also check out one of my FAVORITE sites that I used to use to teach all of my ESL students the English language with.....

www.urbandictionary.com

Urban dictionary is the bomb if you are trying to 'stay in the know' and keep up on all the hip lingo. Trust me, if you've ever taken an ESL class with Ms. Morgan, you know all about this and have practiced making cool sentences with celebrity gossip magazines during class activities.

La Dieta Secreta de Jagger y de Kristi


My co-worker and good friend Danielle and I have decided to try out a 7 day eating plan so that not only will we look GREAT selling translations to people in the Los Angeles area, but also for big upcoming events in our lives. Thinking about it now, I have no idea how Danielle even found this, all I know is that it's from a team of on-air morning disc jockeys in San Diego. The whole premise of the diet is that you substitute 1-2 meals with a vegetable soup throughout the week. We made the soup last night after a successful day at the Brentwood Farmer's Market, and let me tell you - it's damn good.

Today is Day 1 - Fruit and Soup Day. MMMMM, Fruit and Soup. YUM. I'll have to keep you posted as this goes on - knowing me, I'll either loose 20 pounds by Wednesday or be eating chocolate cake for dinner tomorrow night. Anyone like to place any bets?

Monday, September 04, 2006

Sightings and Celeb Scoop

Sighting: Matthew McConaughey running on Carmelita Avenue in Beverly Hills. Equipped with an ipod, t-shirt with the arms cut off (yes, the arms are as ripped as you'd imagine), and bandana holding his hair back.... I still cannot believe that I didn't fall flat on my face. We were the only 2 people on the entire residential street, but on opposing sidewalks.

The funny thing is that once we ran past each other, I looked back to digest what actually had happened, making sure that it was really him- and guess what? He looked back too. For whatever reason, I'm not sure, but at least I know that I've still got it if I can catch the attention of the sexiest man alive for even a split second. Or were my shorts just riding up my ass? Well, let's hope not...

I knew that running would pay off! F the ten pounds I want to lose- I'll keep it up just for moments like these.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

This Town is Off its Rocker!


Why? Because of the Emmy's of course! Streets are closed, businesses are shut down for the weekend, and booze is flowing like Niagara Falls. It's an exciting time to be in the City of Angels, and I only hope that Grey's Anatomy comes home with at least one win for winning my heart this year.

I can't wait until People and Entertainment Tonight come out tomorrow to tell us who was dressed best, and who looked like a total nightmare. I personally thought that Sandra Oh looked atrocious, and that Jeremy Piven looked adorable.

Any guesses before the final verdict comes in from the fashion police tomorrow?

In-N-Out Burger


The West Coast has a hidden gem that most people probably take for granted. Sure they have beautiful beaches, infamous wineries, and lush state parks. But they also have In-N-Out Burger. If you have never visited California, I suggest the one thing that you do while visiting is to stop here for the experience. It is the epitome of 'bang for your buck' and I love it. That guy from Super Size me should try to eat In-N-Out for 30 days. Although I'm sure that some of the same health risks would be the same, I don't think that there would be any complaining.

Bands to Check Out

My roommate took me to Molly Malone's this past week to check out 2 new bands. They rocked, and you should check them out:

Slow Car Crash: www.slowcarcrash.com

The Steve Carson Band: http://www.scbmusic.com/

Retreat from City Life

Traffic. Smog. Star Maps. These are all things that LA is known for among natives and visitors alike. Most people forget though, that the hills surrounding this great city are filled with hiking trails to escape from the hussle & bussle of daily life. This weekend, I visited Runyon Canyon Park, which was a great little trail that leads you to awesome views of the city. Things like this not only clear your head and get your heart going, but put things into perspective. And really, even from that high up - I still couldn't see the smog! I guess LaLa Land isn't so bad after all.
















If you are ever in the Hollywood area, and are looking for a great outdoor activity, I would recommend checking these trails out. And you might even recognize the park bench at the top of the trail from an episode from Seinfeld! Here is the link to learn more about Runyon Canyon Park: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runyon_Canyon_Park

Sightings and Celeb Scoop

SIGHTINGS OUT ON THE TOWN:

Paris and Nicky Hilton at the Stone Rose Lounge at the Sofitel in West Hollywood. When arriving at the hotel, with Paris driving, the duo was BLASTING "Stars are Blind." Did it just happen to be on the radio at that moment? I'm not so sure, but seemed like self-promotion to me.

If you check out Paris' stats, it says that she's 5'8", but I think 5'8" only with 4 inch heels... Seriously. But they both looked great in person, I will vouch for that.

Most Embarrassing Moment?

Have you ever been forced to answer the question "what was your most embarrassing moment?" I feel like this is something that is usually asked in a really annoying ice breaker activity. Until last weekend, I really don't know how I would answer that question. As I promised to report though, I absolutely humiliated myself at a wedding rehearsal last weekend during my bridesmaid duties. Luckily, when doing so, only one person saw - but I figured that it makes for a funny story.

Here's the scene - in the heart of Washington DC, in the land of preppie, I decided to dress accordingly in white pants, a white tank top, and a sear-sucker striped blazer. During the church rehearsal, I thought that it would be best to keep the blazer buttoned completely to the top- as it seemed like the right thing to do in a very established cathedral. To everyone's disdain, the church was getting hotter and hotter.... so as the events were ending, I decided that the blazer had to come off. As I unbuttoned my blazer though, I hadn't realized that my tank top underneath had fallen down to my waist!

That's right everyone - In the National Catholic Cathedral, the very same church were JFK was laid to rest, I flashed God. Luckily, since it was by accident, he openly forgave me. Please note that I posted a lovely picture of the bride and groom here instead to divert your attention from my embarrassing tale.

Monday, August 14, 2006

Always a Bridesmaid!


I am in 3 weddings this year, which keeps me very busy. I am always the bridesmaid that you do not want to rely on for important things. I'm not really ashamed to admit this. I send gifts from Hustler in lieu of pretty cards with white pansies on it. I always try to be good in this role, but weddings are not yet my forte. For those of you that need help like myself, check out this website: BridesmaidAid.com

Bridesmaid appearance #2 is coming up this weekend. Location: our very own Capital, Washington DC. Republicans and Democrats alike will be fighting for my attention on the dance floor! I'm sure that I will have a lot of hilarious stories upon my return, so sit tight until then and continue to enjoy the best month of the year!

Happy Birthday to me.



27. It does sound a lot older. But I am definitely ready for it. And I love the fact that I asked a number of people out last weekend how old they thought I was, and the oldest response that I got was 24. I love birthdays - not only for the attention, but because I always sit down and really think about the things that have happened in my life the prior year.

This year was a fantastic one - I graduated from an Ivy League school, found a great job, ran a ten-mile race, moved across the country, Penn State won the Orange Bowl, The Steelers won the superbowl....I LOVED 26. So many accomplishments. But I am even more excited for 27. I don't know why, but I think that good things are going to happen. I can just feel it.

Why do I avoid Blogging?


Because I would much rather be doing this! We have decided that we officially have the best pool in LA. It's always the perfect temperature, regardless of whether you pop in before work or at night after a long day's work. Equipped with a BBQ and sound system, it's our new best friend. The favorite thing about our apartment though is the view from our roof. I actually haven't taken any pictures of it yet, but will do so soon. It is totally makeout central.

The Movers Finally Came!


But half of my things were either broken or stolen. Note to everyone: NEVER EVER use a moving service from a google search, and always take out extra insurance to cover lost or damaged items. Your stuff will show up looking like this - and your movers will be aggressive ex-cons who try to bribe you for every penny that you are worth.