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.