Quiet Days, Fun Days...

Days at work have been pretty quiet, so not much to mention on that front...except a little (I'll call it an) incident.  On Friday evening, after Delaware's bosses, the Creative Director and the other Assistant, MD left, she thought we were in the bungalow by ourselves.   So, she keep doing this ridiculous 'Magic Mike' dance (since that's one of the screeners we got).  I told her she was banned from dancing and could stop laughing because she looked a hot mess!!!

Well, she just kept doing this silly dance and closer to my desk.  Before she knew it, my boss walked out from her office, just when she was really getting into it, and she was BUSTED!!!  My boss was like "You two sound like you're having WAY too much fun out here!"...and Delaware and I could do nothing but laugh.  My Boss joined in as well.  It was a funny end of the work day.

Afterwards, Delaware and I joined a couple of her friends and we went to see 'Oscars Under the Sky', which is where the Academy of Motion Pictures, plays classic movies outside.  This week's movie was WHITE CHRISTMAS, which I'd never seen before, and it was pretty good.  Bing Crosby was super young, and Dorris Day was SUPER thin.  But it was a nice night...it was cold so we bundled up with blankets, brought subs, and just hung out.

There was even real Hollywood Fake Snow!!!

Saturday morning I was all pumped to go Snow Tubing at a nearby mountain...unfortunately, there was no real snow, and the weather has been too warm for them to make snow.  I guess the fake Hollywood snow wouldn't be a viable option.  So I worked on some projects I've got brewing, and got my Mac fixed...(Which will hopefully be good for a while.)

Sunday, I was on camera, then went with a friend to see SkyFall again and finished the day off watching some new screeners that came in.

The days are winding down till I'm out of here...and I can't wait!  12 Days and Counting!

Concerning FFoDs, Friday on my way back from picking up lunch, Hill Harper was a gentleman and stopped his car to let me cross the street...even though he had the right away.

On Saturday, while searching around in Home Depot, I ran into Michael Jai White...he was looking for wood.

Hill Harper

Michael Jai White

Re-Count!

Somewhere, somehow I missed counted my days left till Christmas Vacation!...by TWO FULL DAYS!!! Wow.  Oh well...I press on...

Days to Go (Now):  16

The days are long...14 To Go...

Now that I've started the Go Home Countdown, the days seem to get longer and longer...especially since it is slow right now in the TV Development world.  I wish that my brain were more productive at work, or maybe it would help if I could bring my laptop to work...but that's not going to happen.

Maybe it has more to do with the sun going down at 4:45 p.m. than it does with this slow time.  Either way the day seems to sap me of all energy and creativity, and by the time I get home...well...sitting at my computer is the last thing on my mind.  Ah well...just another reason to try harder, and trust in God more.

Speaking of laptop, my Mac's hard drive is failing according to the repair people...and I can either, put a new one in, buy a refurbished one from them, or just bite the bullet and do what I've been dreading and buy a completely new one.  Decisions, decisions...and none really that important in the grand scheme of things.

Well, off for morning writing time.  But first, I feel like counting (some of) my blessings.  I thank God today for:

1. Having steady income!
2. Having a cool and laid back (even when it's busy) work environment and Boss.
3. Having a set time in the morning to devote to writing and working out (when I don't oversleep).
4. Having a great PC laptop that has not failed me yet!
5. Having the opportunity every morning to get some thoughts out of my head and my fingers moving.

I.  Press.  On.  

Days To Go:  14

(I know I haven't done this in a while, but it's because I haven't seen any lately.)

Today's FFoD is Kirstie Alley.  She didn't come into the office, but I saw her walking around on the lot. 

Mr. Washington!

Yesterday's work day was normal, reading, answering phones, blah, blah, blah.  After work was a whole different story.  I found out about a free screening of FLIGHT followed by a Q&A with the writer and some of the cast, including Denzel Washington!!!

Not the best Denzel pic, but I was pretty close

I get emails from a magazine/website called Backstage, which lists casting opportunities for actors.  I get it because I put out casting opportunities from time to time.  Anyways, when I saw this, I HAD to go.  My boss was kind enough to let me leave work like two hours early just so I could get there in enough time.

I got there in plenty of time, and even though the line was already to the street by the time I got there, I was still in a relatively good position...as later, the line went clear around the blog and most of those people didn't get it.

Good seats...and Denzel!!!

While in line, I befriended a nice Greek guy from Ohio.  I got a new cell phone and he was asking me about it.  Then we just kept chatting, since we had a good hour and a half left till they opened the doors.  Boy was I glad I met him, because once we got in, he had some friends that were in the front row, and he saved a seat for me.  So...I was very, VERY close and could see everyone's facial expressions.  It was good people watching, and Mr. Washington is just as charming in person.  That smile, swoon.

Now, they didn't allow picture taking during the Q&A portion, but that all went out the window after it was done.  So I tried to snap as many as I could in the dark light, with my new phone that I'm not all that familiar with!  I got two half way decent ones.  He was signing people's pictures, but wouldn't you know it...I didn't bring ANYTHING to write on.  I've got to do better!!!  (Even if I did have paper, by that time there was a huge crowd, and he looked like he was tired and trying to leave...but all the time he was very nice and graciously signed autographs...well scribbled them anyway.)

During the Q&A, they opened it up to questions in the audience.  Now, since it was 99% actors, most of the questions were stupid or trivial.  I hate to say that, but in my experience actors tend to asks stuff like, what advice would you give to a young actor...or just something off the wall that the panel can't really answer.  This night was no different.

One guy in particular, got up and said, "I have a two-part question."  (Which everyone hates, and even the moderator mockingly groaned at.)  Then he said "I'm from Denmark, can I take a picture with you?"  Then followed by..."I know, I'm an asshole for asking that."  To which Mr. Washington replied, "Ok, so you answered your first question, what's the second part."...then he laughed (as we all did) for quite some time, then Mr. Washington, after he calmed himself down, was like "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that, what's your second question?"

In any event, he was super cool as was the other cast and the writer, and it was a nice night...especially after receiving news that my Mac was on the fritz and I needed to get a new hard drive or a new laptop.  I don't even want to talk about that.  

But back to my night...I mean, how could it not be a great night.  I left work early, to see probably the only celebrity that makes me feel like a groupie, met a new friend and got to see a great movie...again...all for free.  I didn't even pay for parking, which is quite a rarity in Hollywood.

On to conquer a new day!

Days till I'm outta here:  16!!!

The Count Down is on!

It is now December and the count down is on for my trip back home and I can't wait.  As always, I am EXTREMELY grateful for my job and my boss and going to a studio lot everyday...but I'm very much looking forward to down time, and family time, and only working on my own projects time, and sleeping in time, and goofing off time (ok, I do that one everyday, but you get what I'm saying.)

I am trying to finish a few projects of my own, so that when I go home, I can start developing some new ideas.  I have some more books I'd like to finish reading (but I have plenty of time to do that at work usually) and I want to clean out my closet.  All of this rambling does have a point...

The point is, I guess, is that as the last month of the year has arrived and the year winds down, I think about all the things I could have done more of, or better, or more consistently.  But thinking about the past (as the Borg would say--yes, that is a Star Trek character) is Futile.  Nothing will change my present or future by thinking about all the things I wish I had done in the past.  So, as this year winds up, I'm going to do my best to trust in God and accomplish all the things/projects I set for myself in this last quarter of the year.  (I can't really remember past that.)

Now...this week was pretty quiet.  Most of the days, me Delaware and the other assistant (we'll call him MD) were busy making copies of the Oscar screeners for everyone in the office.  Yep, this is the time of year that begins the Oscar campaigns (much like Presidential campaigns) and the studios and production companies send out 'screeners' of their movie to voting members of The Academy, and many of the guilds (director's, producer's, writer's, actor's) for their consideration.  THESE ARE NOT PIRATED MOVIES!!!!

I'll say it again, THESE ARE NOT PIRATED MOVIES...so I feel OK about making copies.  Thing is though, I've seen about 75% of them, because well...I'm not married or have kids or have a really demanding job...so I can go to the movies all the time.  In any event, I'll have LOTS of movies to watch over my vacation...and the ones I like, I'll actually buy.

Yesterday, Delaware and I went to the outlets (which by the way, was a bust mostly.  I didn't find ANY purses I wanted at Coach, and while I did find some at Michael Kors, and Cole Haan, and Kate Spade, and Tory Birch...they were ALL a bit out of my budget...sigh.  No new purse for me.)
Anyways, I was telling her about how at church, the Pastor again spoke on the verse that talks about two people being better than one, because one can help the other up.  I used to love that verse, but I don't now...just reminds me of always being a pair, and now I'm not...it's not the first time this subject and this verse has come up in our conversations.

At dinner, I really can't remember how we got to the subject again, but she was making jokes and saying she could be my pea in a pod, and then said...I can be your "Left"...and I started crying.  (Because Erika was the left portion of our pair, as she was left handed and I am right handed.)  Now, I wasn't boo-hooing or anything, just some quiet tears.  But it was short lived, and she made a joke, then I made a joke, then the conversation was back on the rise.

Perhaps that is something me and the Lord can work on for the remainder of this year and next...for me to realize....well I'm not exactly sure what it is I'm supposed to realize, but it's got to have something to do with the very name of this blog:  Pressing On...so I will do just that.

PS-One time for the MAGIC beating the Lakers...take that, Dwight.

Days Till I'm Out!:  17

Long Thanksgiving weekend...

This Thanksgiving holiday weekend was just what I needed....most of it anyways.  

Sweatshirt and hat to work!!!

My festivities kicked off when I was the only on in the office on Wednesday.  The whole of the other side of the office was gone...either out of town, or out sick.  My boss had a really important and time consuming doctor's appointment for her daughter, so she was out as well.  The only reason I was there was because she was expecting a call from the studio about one of her projects.  

They called, but not with any significant news.  Even though the phone only rang twice (once from the studio, and once from my boss checking to see if the studio had called) it was a very productive day for me personally.  Knowing that I was going to be the only one in the office, I brought my trusty laptop and did some writing. 

Feet kicked up...writing...at the office!

I put on some music, kicked my feet up, and wrote.  And yes, I wore a sweatshirt and a hat to work...and yes, I parked in my boss' spot right out front of the bungalow...and yes, I got to leave at1:00pm.  It was a GREAT kickoff to the long weekend!!!  After work I went to the movies and saw LINCOLN...and it was really good.  I love Daniel Day Lewis (he's the actor who played President Abe himself)  He's such a great character actor (which means he only plays characters...you'll never see him in the role of a regular guy)...he's so good, he could probably play Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr...if it wasn't so offensive for him to do so.  But I digress. 

The only con of the day was picking up a friend of my and taking him to the airport...he neglected to mention that his flight was leaving at 6 p.m. instead of 6 a.m...when I initially came to pick him...then of course I had to go back to his house in that evening.  Words of wisdom, don't say 'pick me up at 5:45am' followed by 'I'll get you some coffee.'

My boss' parking spot...mine for the day

Thanksgiving day was great...mostly.  Volunteering was (as always) fun for me.  I met an elderly  lady who used to volunteer with the Homeless Ministry at the church, and had her daughter drop her off so she could volunteer again.  Well, her age hindered her from doing much volunteering, but we became fast friends and I kept an eye out for her the entire time.   When cleaning was done, and the guests had gone, she was still here.  Her daughter had not come back, the lady couldn't remember her phone number, and no one knew how to get in contact with her. She kept saying "Please don't leave me until my daughter gets here"...and how could I, after her request?

Long story short, I (and a couple other people) stayed and waited with her...one couple even offered to take her home (as she did manage to remember the address).  Just as we were getting her into the car, her daughter pulled up and thankfully she got home ok.   I was a bit upset because there's no way I would leave my grandma, or mom, or aunt or god mother, or anyone up in age, anywhere. 

Thanksgiving Sides

Thanksgiving Turkey breast...Yum!

That ordeal, though I was glad to be of help to the nice, elderly lady, made my Thanksgiving dinner with Chicago delayed.  But, even though we started late, we had a good time, with good food, good conversation and a good football game...(Patriots vs. Jets)  And I have to say, my turkey breast was quite tasty!

The rest of the days were filled with rest, shopping, movies, hanging out and putting up my Christmas tree and balcony lights.  I good few days indeed.  

My Tiny Christmas Tree

I should be crawling into bed right now to get ready for tomorrow's back at work...but I'm just too nice.   An hour ago I picked up the same friend at the Burbank Airport.  In about 5 minutes, I'll be going to pick up Delaware from LAX...and I'm not too happy about it.  Especially since I asked her before she left if she needed a ride back, and she was like No, I"m taking the Supershuttle.  Yeah, until yesterday when she texted to see if I could come get her instead.  Ugh.  I guess it's my own fault for saying yes.  

My festive balcony

Oh well, this long weekend is almost over, and like the preacher talked about today in church, I won't dwell on things I can't change.  But...I will press on.

We will play...

Delaware and I playing Ping Pong!

You know the old saying...when the cat's away, the mice will play!  Well, when the bosses are gone, we play ping pong!!!

Delaware's side of the company just finished wrapping production on a sitcom that will air in January.  Because they are the executive producers, they get some perks...like confiscating a ping pong table used in the show.   While I don't often get to relish in their goodies, this one is for the office and it is fun!  (And I'm better at it than I remember!)

The last few nights, after the bosses have gone, we roll out the ping pong table from the copy room and play!!!  This week, it has been what I look forward to.  We crank up the music, roll out the table and hang out.

Tomorrow I will be the only one in the office...so there will probably be no ping pong for me. The Creative Director left yesterday, the Big Bosses will be out of the office starting tomorrow.  Delaware will be on a plane back East at 6am, the other assistant was out sick today and won't be in tomorrow, and my boss has to take her daughter for genetic testing (which takes up a half a day).

I will only have to be there half a day, but it will only be me.  I don't really mind actually.  I mean being the only one in the office is nice!  I do it every morning.  I look forward to the quiet and tomorrow I plan on bringing in my laptop to get some writing done; I doubt the phone will ring much, if at all.   Besides that...I could be unemployed, so I dare not complain when I'll get paid to sit in a quiet room with ample time to write for a half day...getting paid for a full one.  It is truly a blessing.

I'm watching the classic "To Kill A Mockingbird" and working at writing...this is nice...and I press on. 

"Pre-GIving" Activities

The week was pretty quiet, but things picked up once the weekend arrived.

Saturday, after waking up early to try and avoid too much bustle at the grocery store, I spent some time with my tutee.  since I can't spend the required hours with her, I am no longer her 'official' tutor, but we continue to meet.  We usually just talk, so she can work on her English speaking skills, and lately, I've been giving her (what I think are) fun assignments.

I bring a movie (or pick out one from the library) for her to watch and make her write a one page synopsis.  This particular week was the first mostly coherent paper that she turned in.  It had quite a few flaws, but it was the best one she's completed to date.  To her credit, she completed her first paper on INCEPTION, which would have been hard for anyone, not to mention someone who's first language is not English.  One of her other attempts was for DIRTY DANCING.  It was better...but she still didn't grasp the whole story.  This one was for JUMPING THE BROOM, and it was much, much better.   She felt good about herself, which made me feel good about her improvements.

Saturday night I went to the first 'Pre-giving' celebration with Delaware and her friends and it was very fun...even without being drunk (which everyone else was).  I brought corn pudding, better known to this group as 'crack bread' because they just can't get enough...and this batch was a particularly good batch and was a big hit.  After dinner, we split up into teams and played 'charades'...and even though some people got a bit too competitive, it was a good time.

Sunday morning was supposed to be spent at the barn, but it has been raining here for the past three days or so (which I love!) and so conditions at the barn were not ideal.  Unfortunately I ended up just spending the morning in, even though I was now able to go to church.  It's bad, but I convinced myself that since I'd already hear the sermon for today last week (It was a week when the Pastor would be on the East coast and he would be preaching via video...and I was on camera last week and taped it) that it would be ok if I lounged around the house.  I know, it's bad, but it was nice.

Sunday afternoon and evening, I went to the second 'Pre-Thanksgiving' dinner at my co-worker's home. It was very nice of him to invite me and I had a really nice time.  His party had way more people than the previous night's festivities, and a good amount of toddlers/babies running around.  He's married with a 4 year old, so his friends are mostly the same...and about 95% were in the TV industry, so the conversation was a lot like being at work.  But again, it was fun and the 'crack bread' was a big hit.

Tomorrow starts a new week, but it looks like it will be a very quiet and very short one.   My boss has doctor's appointments all day on Wednesday with her daughter, Delaware and the Creative Exec on her side won't be in on Wednesday, and there's a rumor going around that Wednesday could be a half day. (Here's hoping!!!)  Till then...I press on.

PS--(Nerd Alert) I just saw an advertisement for "Treksgiving"...a Star Trek marathon on Thanksgiving, and I'm excited!  Although, I am supposed to be at a friend's house after the morning of volunteering with Feeding the Homeless and she's not into sci-fi anything.  Maybe she'll have pity on me and let me watch there as we cook and fellowship!

Drama!

There was some drama yesterday...not particularly the kind I like, but not like previous week's drama in the hospital.  This drama was based around one of the writers my boss is working with and how the studio is basically being a little shady with him.

There are 3 basic steps in developing a show before a script for the pilot is even written.
 1.  The pitch - where the writer and producers go and tell the executives what the story is all about.
 2.  Story area document - where the writer does a 2 page treatment with a little more detail than the pitch
 3.  The Outline - The writer expands the 2 pages to 10-12 pages with even more detail.

All of which get scrutinized by the studio/network and sometimes making the writer do the documents several times over.  Which has been the case with this writer.

Long story short, after making him do revision after revision after revision of the second step, they want him to pair up with another writer because they say he just isn't getting it.  Well, to this writer that is both an insult and an embarrassment...and boy did he let my boss know it.

From about 4:00pm yesterday until my boss left at 6:30pm, we were on several calls with him cussing people out and them (my boss and the other bosses) trying to console him.  After it all, (I'm pretty sure) my boss was crying because she felt so bad for him.   It is a precarious situation, and him being the artsy type, didn't make anything better for his emotional breakdown.

Ah well, it made for an interesting afternoon...we'll see what pops up today.   I press on!

Uneventful Days...

The past few days have been quite uneventful...and I suppose that's ok, except it doesn't much help in making an interesting post.

I sat here staring at this computer screen trying to think of something noteworthy to write that recently happened...after 10 minutes, I got nothing.

Maybe something will happen today...perhaps over the weekend as I do have some interesting plans.  Stay tuned...I press on.

Victory!

Yesterday, after waking up super early, standing in line (though a short one) and completing my civic duty by exercising my right to vote, I prepared for the day's doctor's visits and tests.

To be honest, I wasn't terribly nervous and I went to get the tests with no jitters or butterfly friends flying around in my stomach.  Now, the actual test was not pleasant at all!  So when they told me all was well and they would see me when I was 40, I was like, "I don't know if you'll see me then...This was not fun."  I was pretty much violated by a machine!  The ultrasound wasn't too bad.  Though, for both tests I had to go back in the rooms and repeat parts of the tests after they spoke with my doctor.  (It is really convenient to have everything in one place...they just called down or maybe even walked up there to ask questions.  It makes everything so much quicker.)

(The only thing I don't like about the facility is the $11.00 parking ticket, for which they DON'T validate!  Ugh, I sound so LA...but it's true.   You have to pay to park nearly EVERYWHERE that isn't in the Valley.)

Back to the issue at hand....though part of me felt like a hypochondriac (since this is the second 'episode' that has caused me to get medical attention where it turned out nothing was wrong with me) I was very grateful for the prognosis.

The rest of the day was pretty normal...and besides some election talk in the office...pretty quiet.

So, VICTORY!  This little issue is in my past, and again I am healthy (though obviously I always was).  Thank you to those who offered up prayers and concern...and who always have my back.

Perhaps now I can get it in turbo gear and get some writing done!  I press on.

October...November...

October has ended and November has arrived...and I'd love to tell of all the wonderfully interesting things that happened during the changing of the months that kept me from updating the blog...I'd love to, but that won't happen today as nothing neither wonderful, nor interesting happened since the last post.   My days are pretty low key which is fine (for now) because unlike my low key days of the past, I'm getting paid for these.

I will say that my boss and I have been chatting a bit more.  Perhaps it's because she asks more questions now that she knows about the accident or maybe it's because we go off on more tangents when talking about work.  Which ever it is, it's nice.  I mean, most of the day I mind my business and she minds hers, but it's nice to have a bit of a break in parts of the day.

This week however, I do hope to capitalize on 'my' time more, because I've got some personal writing goals that have either already passed or are quickly approaching with the year coming to an end.  I've prayed for something to happen, and yet I have not done everything I can to insure that I am prepared for it when it comes (as I am believing it will).  I have no one to blame but me.  BUT I've always been better at the start and finish of something than the middle...so, I will let that fuel me to finish what I need to get finished in the short amount of time I have left.

Tomorrow is, along with Election Day, a day that brings me a little bit of worry.

(OK, Election Day doesn't much worry me, because at the end of the day, I believe God's will will be done.  I'd be a shifty Christian [at best] if I thought everything rests on what 'We The People' do (or do not do for that matter).  I don't really talk politics because I believe it's your right to believe what you believe, and it's not always particularly relationship building to voice opinions on such matters... I have blocked people's news feeds on my FB account because they just go too far with spouting their views, that, outside of FB they would likely keep to themselves.

That said, I really wish I hadn't changed my voter registration to CA...I care more about what's happening in FL than in CA.  So...after tomorrow, I will re-register in FL.  I mean, that was the only 'legal' thing I've done since living here.  I still have a FL driver's license, FL tag, FL phone number, and up until just a few months ago, I still had FL health insurance.  So, I might as well change it back, right ;))

Back to the day that brings me some worry.  At my Dr. appointment last week, something was found and so I have to go for additional tests tomorrow.  My heart believes all will be fine and everything will come out favorably...it's my mind that acts shady sometimes, causing worry, however small.  But again, I believe God's will will be done.  So, prayers requested that all will turn out fine.

I did see two movies this weekend:  WRECK IT RALPH and FLIGHT.  I really enjoyed both, and the latter surprisingly talks about God's Will and how HE orchestrates things for a purpose.  It was really good and I would say go see it!  (Though I am a bit biased since Denzel Washington plays the lead...and he really can do no wrong in my book!)  Wreck It Ralph was really cute, so even if you're not into animated movies, I would say check it out.

Off to the next part of the day...hopefully something really interesting will happen today that I can share tomorrow!  I press on.

A Long Week and A Long Catch up Post...

This is a long post, so buckle up and enjoy!

It has been one long week…and a few things have happened that were NOT uneventful.   This string of non-uneventful events started on Saturday.   (And by the way, I am completely aware of the ridiculous, use of double negatives in choosing to use 'non-uneventful' as an adjective…but I don't really care and it's kind of funny.)  So…it all started Saturday…

 

…when I single handedly took down a vagrant who'd snatched an elderly lady's purse in Target.   It was like everything s-l-o-w-e-d d—o—w--n.  I saw him (boldly) take the purse while she was alone in the bleach aisle and then as he strategically run down specific aisles.  The fact that I spend at least 3 days out of the week at Target, pretty much makes me pro, and so I was able to somehow determine where he was going, beat him there, trip him and take him down.  He was running so fast, that his face plant was inevitable…and it was hard!  And on his spill down to the floor, he got a hold of my arm.  Not the bionic one…the one with nerve damage, which is probably worse.

 

The lady I.D.ed him, we got her purse back and the authorities took him away…but my arm was hurting as a result.  Now, everything in the previous paragraph was just an elaborate hoax that popped out of my brain.   I know. I know…but its seems like lately, the most action I get in my life comes when I just make it up.  The only truth out of it was that my arm was and has been hurting since last Saturday.  Nothing sharp or ridiculously painful, but rather a dull, nagging, aching hurt. From what?   I really have no idea, but that seemingly simple thing was the start of this interesting week.

 

Sunday the arm still hurt.  Monday evening it became hard to breathe.  Now separately this two things would never get too much attention from me, as it  happens from time to time post accident.   The fact that they happened together made me a bit nervous, which I believe in turn caused my blood pressure to go up, which cause me to become even more anxious.  The last bit of anxiousness probably made my stomach unsettled which made my appetite leave me. 

 

The internet is the downfall of anyone looking to diagnose themselves, and according to the internet, I was having a heart attack.   That fact didn't affect me terribly, as it took me about a day and a half to even decide to go to the hospital.   It was about 10:00pm ish and I'd just taken Delaware to the airport.  Before I picked her up, I was texting with Six Foot, and she was like you should go to the hospital, and I'll take you.  I told her no, but after leaving the airport, I changed my mind.

 

I drove home, she picked me up and off to the emergency room we went.  I was probably the most nervous when I first got in because they took me in almost immediately for an EKG…and since I was complaining of chest pains and left arm pains, they were required to do so.  I'd seen them done on my father and grandmother but had never had one...at least that not that I know of.   The actual test was no big deal, and when they told me it was OK and sent me back to the waiting room, I felt much better.  I wasn't a heart attack. 

Six Foot immediately saw the difference in me when I came back.  I was obviously less nervous.  So, we sat in the waiting room, chatted, watched 30 Rock until they brought me back to a room for more tests....that was probably around half past midnight.  We chatted and caught up more in between all the normal test stuff.  (It was an unfortunate way to spend time with my friend, but glad she was there.)  

The final call was that it was the scar tissue in my lungs that was causing the discomfort and my arm...well, they didn't really give me any reason for that, but that because it was hurting perhaps I was holding my body in a weird way, which rubbed against the lungs, causing discomfort. 

I was going to go to work the next day, I mean...I didn't have a heart attack, but Six Foot talked me into taking the day off to rest and I'm glad she did.  While I was there, I emailed my boss to give her the heads up.  After I was discharged, I went home, and called the parent.  It was the middle of the night for me, but just the start of her day...then I slept. Woke up, moved to the couch and slept some more.  Moved to the floor and slept some more.  Ate a little bit, then slept some more.  Checked some emails then slept some more.  

My boss sent two emails.  The first was "What's happening? Are you OK?".  The second was "Take care of yourself, you don't have to come in tomorrow if you don't feel like it, I can handle things here, and please let me know if you need me to pick anything up for you...food, prescriptions, anything."  She is really very nice.

This is getting really long...

The next day I come in, and felt like I should tell my boss about the accident which is really the cause of the ER visit...mainly because she was asking what happened.  She was like, you can go home when ever you want, or if you need to stretch out sometimes on the couches in the conference room do it...whatever you need to feel better if you're not feeling good.  She even told me I could go home and then come back for the CBS Diversity seminar I'd asked if I could go to (since it was happening during work hours).  And I did.  Went home, stretched out, took a nap, then came back for the seminar where Mellody Hobson spoke.

                               

She was an interesting speaker.  She was funny, honest and informative.  She's on the board of a million different companies, and I won't even pretend to know how she does it,  but I'm glad I was able to go.

Check out her website:  http://www.arielinvestments.com/about-ariel/

Friday I had a follow up appointment with my new doctor and I really like her a lot.  She's pretty young, funny, has a great bedside manner and really listened to me.  Can't get much better than that for a doctor...except, maybe that she was also Harvard educated...guess that's just a cherry on the top.  God sure knew what he was doing...because I would not have chosen her based on her name alone.  But I'm glad the person I chose (via the insurance website) wasn't available, because then I wouldn't have been referred to her.  I have to go in for some follow up tests next week, but I'm believing they'll come back just fine. 

The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing and working on my arm...which still hurts.  I have to ice/heat it three times a day and take the pain meds 3 times a day...so says the Dr.  Otherwise, if after a week it's still hurting, then she may have to refer me to a physical therapist...which I would prefer not to have to go to.  So, I'm trying to do right.

I did go to the movies...I saw Cloud Atlas.  It was...interesting, but I have mixed feelings about it. Very mixed feelings...so I can't say run out and see it, but if you're curious...eh, why not.

Sunday there was an earthquake at church, but I didn't really feel it.  Enough people felt it for the Pastor to mention it.  I was on camera, so maybe I was just focused on my job.

Today, the Outlook for most of the lot is not working because of the connections being based in NYC...which is obviously in a bit of disarray because of the hurricane.  It's weird because some people, like Delaware have LA connections, but most people have NY connections.  I don't know why, but I was annoyed that she had a connection.  I've been agitated more with her lately...not sure what that's about, but I'll try not to harp on it.  

That was a really, REALLY, long catch up, but it's done now and so is this post...I press on.

Vaca's over...

My Boss has been calling in and working from home the last few days, but today she actually came in. She was mostly catching up on reading and what not, and she was only there for about 4 hours...but, it's safe to say my vaca is over.  I'm not complaining, just stating the facts...it's good because it means her daughter is on the road to recovery.  It's (I won't say bad) but different because I won't have my days to myself.  But it's really all good.  Silly side note: Today was the first day I picked up lunch in about 4 weeks.

She had one meeting today, and it was pushed for about 15 minutes as my Boss bit her tongue and it wouldn't stop bleeding.  She was in the bathroom, called me in and I watched for a few minutes as she tried to stop the bleeding with several napkins in her mouth.  I finally got her some salt water, which she said helped a bit, but it was still bleeding some.  I was, admittedly, a bit grossed out, but it finally slowed down enough and she was able to go on with her meeting.

Tomorrow she has to take her daughter to the neurologist so she probably won't be in...so, I guess it would be more accurate to say that my vaca isn't over...just more intermittent.

After work todayI had planned to go volunteer at my church's Feeding the Homeless ministry, but I ended up having a dinner with a guy I met a while back on the Lot.  He was an interesting guy and it was good conversation.  I think he could be a good friend...and I'm always open for that.   It was nice, but I am looking forward to volunteering next week.

I'm actually tired. I'm going to bed.  Oh, today's FFoD was Greg Kinnear.  He's really fit and good looking...but he wasn't overly friendly.  Maybe he was having an off day.  Ah well...I press on.

Another Weekend

Rain!

It seem like since my boss has been out with her daughter that most of the interesting stuff happens on the weekend.  Well...more of it anyways.  Work is pretty routine now; I read, I try to write, I answer phone calls and emails (which are minimal these days) so not much to report.  Maybe I'll start making up stories...but not today.  

Ice Cream Sandwich

Thursday and Friday were pretty rare days here in Cali as it rained both days.  It was so great...even though many of the natives didn't know what to do with themselves...as if rain were the first signs of Armageddon.  It's pretty funny, but was a welcomed treat for me (outside of it making my car dirty.)  Also on Thursday, the production had an ice cream truck come out.  (Productions will bring out special treats on occasion for the cast and crew.  They've done it pretty much on every production I've been on...it's a relatively cheap way to keep everyone happy.)  This ice cream truck allowed you to pick your cookies and your ice-cream.  I chose double-chocolate cookies, with butter-pecan bacon ice cream.  That's right, butter-pecan bacon ice-cream.  People out here surprisingly make bacon something special and weave it into a lot of dishes.  It tasted like vanilla to me though. 

I also got a new mattress and it is SO nice.  I've always slept well, but now I can honestly say that I've made my having to get out of bed that much more harder.  (and I fully realize that that statement could have been more grammatically correct.)  

My new memory foam mattress

Friday I made a tasty shrimp primavera and it was Yummy!  With the rain and what not, I just felt like enjoying something warm and cozy...but making it myself also made it healthy and affordable!

Shrimp Primavera

Saturday morning I ended up tutoring my adult literacy student.  She's returned from Iran and still would like to continue with me.  I can only see her on Saturdays now, so we'll see how it works out.  

Saturday afternoon Chicago and I went to The Grove (basically a fancy mall in a swanky part of town) and enjoyed some free swag and makeovers provided by Redbook, who was having a women's event...basically to love yourself.  It was a fun was to spend the afternoon.   The only drawback was that we didn't have our third 'gang' member, Six, because she had the flu.

We finished off the night at the movies watching ARGO.  It was really, REALLY good.  I hate to admit it, but I understand why it's already drawing Oscar buzz.  It has a great deal of suspenseful and tense situations, which is what makes it so good.  Go see it!

Chicago's Makeover

Well, Sunday was spent doing what I like to do on a Sunday...church and chillin.  Tomorrow is another week.  I may or may not see my boss...but, good news is the treatments are working, so please continue to lift her up in prayer...and pray that I'll be able to make better use of this current free time I have...because I know it won't last forever.

I press on...

Chicago and I...missing our third.

Weekend...

I look like I'm holding it, but I didn't pick it up!

Emmy!

 The weekend started when the whole office went to the this week's taping, and I stayed in the office holding it down until 7pm.  So, since I was there alone, I decided to get a photo of the future.  That's right, that's me and an Emmy award.   It belongs to Delaware's boss, but one day I'll have one of my own.  I didn't pick it because it would be just my 'luck' that it was rigged to an alarm, or I would drop and break it, or something as equally detrimental would happen...so, I played it safe.

STOP CANCER 5k/10k Run/Walk

Saturday was mostly uneventful, outside of having to get my Mac fixed and having brunch with a new friend.  My Mac was being a little shady, but is working perfectly now thanks to Ron who was able to fix her in a few hours. My new friend is the assistant to one of the managers my boss works with and we got along really well.  She wants to be a manager one day, and also produce which could be beneficial to me as I'm leaning more and more towards writing.  The rest of the day was spent doing some writing and doing some relaxing. 

And this is the cheap gas!

Sunday morning was an early one...I volunteered at a local 'Stop Cancer' 5K/10K Run/Walk.  It was a good time and I enjoyed seeing all the racers.  There were even dog cancer survivors, who also completed the race.   Later (after spending WAY too much on gas) I went to the barn and was able to ride this time.  The trainer was offering the 'crash course' again, where she gives mini lessons to a group of 4 with each taking a turn on the same horse.  It felt good to be in the saddle again, even though my legs are quite upset with me today.  

Me riding Cassie, a draft cross

The trainer said she could tell I had sound training, and gave me compliments on my leg, my outside rein, and my balance (my horse people know what I'm talking about).  She said next time, she's gonna get me over some crossrails...a challenge I might be up for.  

Today was another, quiet day at the office.  We had a few big pitch meetings this week, but they have been pushed for about two weeks.   With my Boss out with her daughter, and the other Bosses in the midst of running a show production and moving to a new house, it just wasn't good for now.   So, it actually works best for my Boss, as she won't have to worry about what's going on in the office and can focus on her little girl.  My Boss basically has to watch her day in and day out and log her seizures. Apparently on Sunday she had about 100.  They are small and short, but still serious.  Please continue for her healing and for strength for the family. 

That's about all for now.  Perhaps tomorrow I'll be more productive all around....I press on.

Funny Story

Today, just as was parking at work, I got a text from Delaware saying that she had a situation.  Now, once before at work she said she had a 'situation' which basically meant she wasn't feeling well after a meal.  So naturally I thought she was feeling under the weather.  Then she sent another text.  Apparently, she'd forgotten her clothes in the car and was naked in the bathroom.  Ha!!!

Now, she often showers in the Bungalow because she goes to the gym on the lot in the morning and doesn't really like to shower at the gym.  Both the men's and women's bathroom in the bungalow have a full shower.   So, I went to the office, got her keys, went back to the parking garage to her car (she has an assigned spot) and brought back her clothes.  I guess it's not all that funny in hindsight, but it was funny to me this morning...and an interesting way to start the day.

No new news on my Boss' daughter, but I continue to keep her in my prayers.  

I feel like I'm not making the most of this new free time I have...I mean I read a lot of scripts, mostly old submissions to keep busy in between scheduling stuff, which is good for work, since I'm at work. But I feel like I could be using at least some of the free time to write.  Even though I have to kinda do it clandestinely, since I feel bad for doing personal work at work, but I don't have much else to do.  When I'm not reading or scheduling, it just seems like wasted time.

I'll figure out a way...tomorrow's a new day.  All the failures of today are in the past.  I press on.

Weekend Fun!

At work on Thursday, the height of my work was ordering 100 cupcakes on behalf of my boss and her daughter for the doctors, nurses and other children on the floor.  It was a sweet gesture...and not just because it was tasty confectionaries.  On a positive note, the didn't find any underlying issues that's causing the epilepsy, so she is able to start her drug therapy.  Continued prayers much appreciated.

I would say that the weekend officially started on Thursday when I came home to find a little treat (the FAMU sweatshirt from V.S. waiting for me at my door.)  Thanks KB!!  

Friday was a pretty chill day with the exception of getting to see my first taping of a scripted sitcom.  Delaware's bosses started shooting their new sitcom to premiere in January sometime.  It was quite nice to be on set and just hang out with the producers and other crew on the floor...without having to work.  I was off the clock and really there just to watch and chill...which was a nice ending to the day.   

Karaoke!

After the taping, I joined 6 Foot and some other friends from MasterChef at a local bar for karaoke night.  And while I'm not big on doing karaoke, I do like to watch people do it and it was very, very fun.  And the best thing about it was that while people were drinking, that's not all they did...and there was actually something to do.  So I will likely go again.

Saturday, Chicago and I went to Universal Studios since I got a free ticket for the month (just for being an annual member) and she'd just broken up with her boyfriend the week before and needs some fun diversions.    It was fun and the company was great.

Batman Live!

Sunday after church, I went to see BATMAN LIVE with a friend at the Staples Center, and while I was initially apprehensive about what I was walking into, after getting in and seeing all the fabulous sets, visual effects and hearing the wonderful sound design, I was instantly glad that I decided to go.  I guess the best way to describe it would be a Batman themed Cirque de Soliel show.  Good fun. 

The Asylum set  Batman Live

Today Delaware and I had a mini slumber party, as today's temp was 109!  Now, her apartment doesn't have AC, is on the second floor and therefore often holds heat in.   Delaware and I have the same issues of sleeping in the heat;  it can be done, but it's not ideal.  So, she asked me last night if she could by pass the heat and sleep over my place since I have AC...and so, she came over after work, made lasagna, and we watched a couple of DVRed shows.  

Jokers' Head, Batman Live!

Friday's FFoD was Paula Abdul and she is SUPER TINY!!!  Definitely a dancer's body, but very petite.   She was pretty nice though.

It was a nice end to a quiet day and a fun weekend.   It's well beyond my bedtime, so until tomorrow...I press on. 

Continued Prayers

Yesterday was a slow day, quiet day as it was a Jewish holiday and many of the agencies were shut down.  I got an email from my boss saying that they still were didn't have any update on her daughter and that she wouldn't be in for the rest of this week or next week...so I immediately began to pray, because that sounded serious.  

Today, one of Delaware's bosses asked if we had heard anything from her (my boss) and none of us had, so she read us an email she sent.  Basically her daughter (who's only about 9 months old) has a rare type of epilepsy called West Syndrome, and today she was having an MRI and a lumbar puncture to gather if there are any underlying causes to her condition.  They don't think there are as she is developmentally on track, and she even pulled herself up yesterday and stood up!  So, they are hoping for favorable test results today and if so, then she will start her medical treatment, which is a 9 week process.  She said her daughter was in the 1% of people who have this rare condition...then made a joke that she wasn't in 'that 1%'...so it seems like her spirits are better. 

So...now there are some specifics to keep in prayer.  

Yesterday's FFoD was Dr. Phil, and he was a nice guy.  Really tall/big guy...and he must have just finished a show because he was very caked up with makeup...and not just the stuff you get at Target, but the heavy-duty stage make up!

Also yesterday, Delaware said to me, "do you realize that for the better part of a month, you have not had a boss..."  

I do realize and though I currently wish the circumstances were like when I first started instead of what it is now  (vacation vs. child illness)...it's been pretty nice.  And not so bad when the Boss is here either...so I am very, VERY GRATEFUL!!!  All praises to God. 

This day is just starting, so I'll probably post again later...till then, I press on. 

--
awc
~ Get Lifted ~

Another Day...but prayers needed.

The day was a standard day...but unfortunately my Boss wasn't in again today because she had to take her baby daughter to the hospital.  I'm not exactly sure what's wrong with her, but it must be serious as she sent an email to the other bosses stating why she wouldn't be in, and she didn't call once to check in.  I only found out that she was hospital bound when I called her house to roll a call.  So, while I don't know specifics, I do know that prayer changes things...and so I ask for your prayers on behalf of m Boss and her daughter.

And because I don't want this post to end on a low note, I have a story.  Today Delaware and the other assistant for that size read a script that was submitted to them by a smaller management agency and they talked about it bad!  So bad, that they decided to do an impromptu 'table' reading of it...where we all take parts and read it aloud.  As an aspiring writer, I didn't want them to talk bad about the script, because the writer obviously loved it enough to write and finish it, and I know what it's like to believe in your work.

That said, it was not the best script...by a long shot...but it was (sadly) good fun acting it out with voices and all.  We only got to like page 9 before we couldn't take it any more, and laughed and laughed and laughed...then we had an interesting conversation about politics...then it went back to silent town.

Also, I saw a trailer for '42' a story about Jackie Robinson...check it out below...

Till next time.

awc0619 sent you a video: "'42' Official Trailer [HD]: The Real Life Story Of Jackie Robinson, Baseball Legend"

awc0619 has shared a video with you on YouTube '42' Official Trailer [HD]: The Real Life Story Of Jackie Robinson, Baseball Legend by ENTV The official trailer for '42' the real life story of baseball legend Jackie Robinson. Starring Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford and Alan Tudyk. Featuring the music of Jay-Z. For the full story read Deadline.com http://www.deadline.com/2012/09/video-42-trailer-jackie-robinson-movie-chadwick-boseman-harrison-ford/ Help center • Email options • Report spam ©2012 YouTube, LLC 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066

Highlights...

Justin Long - Jeepers Creepers
Dodge Ball...
and other silly movies

Friday was a pretty chill day, and the only FFoD was Justin Long, who was a nice guy.   There was some excitement on the lot as the shuttle was flying over.  We must have been the only ones who forgot or didn't know the time of the shuttle's passing because the rest of the lot was standing on roof and cheering.  We heard them cheering, just didn't know why until later...after the shuttle had already made two passes above our location.  One of the other bosses was pretty hot about it and just couldn't let it go.

Saturday I went to see "End of Watch" and then stayed for "The Master."  "End of Watch" was really good...very violent, very emotional and surprisingly very funny.  I say, go see it...just know that it's not meant for the faint hearted...or children.   (I saw at least 3 kids running around under 8 years old...not cool.)

Sunday, I worked camera at church, and as always it was fun and challenging.  Afterwards, I had some lunch, took a nap, caught up on TV, took a walk, took another nap, did some reading, then called it a night.

Monday was another slow day at work, but also productive; meetings set, calls returned, and emails answered.  While listening in on a call, one of the agents was talking about her hamster and how its had quartezone shots, been put on 'wheel' rest, threw out his back running on his wheel too much, then got a tumor and just today survived an operation to remove it.  This hamster is a trooper...even if she's paid a million times over to keep it alive than she did to buy it.  It just sounds silly (not to mention made up) when I write it, but when she told the story it was super funny.

So, those were the highlights...I got a little work done today after work...hope to do better as the week moves on...day by day, step by step...I press on.

Fun Guests

David Koechner
'Anchor Man' & ''Talladega Nights'

Yesterday we had a fun guest in the office...his name is David Koechner and he was really funny, and very personable.  He came in for the other boss' and after speaking with Delaware (who set up his meeting)  he came to my side of the office, extended his hand and introduced himself.  I shook his hand and told him my name was Angelica.  He responded, "I'm gonna stop at Angel." I told him, that's what my family calls me.  He replied, "Now see there, we're family.

Joyful Drake
BET's 'Lets Stay Together'

Normally people only get that privilege when they are family or I've known them for a while, or they've been introduced to me as Angel...but this guy was so funny and nice, that I didn't tell him he had not yet earned the right.  After his meeting, he came, shook my hand again and said "Bye, Angel."

Today, Joyful Drake came in and she was cute and fun.  Apparently she wrote a funny script and the Other Bosses want to work with her.  Yay for her!!!

On a different note, I was listening to a phone call with my boss and one of the agent's she works with (as I often do...it is encouraged, for keeping abreast of things...and also good for learning.)  Anyways, the agent was talking about a writer that a certain network paired them with to work with developing and pitching an idea for them.  Now apparently this writer, who's got some nice feature film credits and smaller TV credits to her name, is lazy.  She's basically had the agent doing a lot of the work she should be doing, and she will be getting the created by credit without doing the work to earn it.

It was just interesting.  She told my Boss to never, ever in her life work with this writer, and that she wouldn't last long in this industry, with a work ethic like hers.  Just another lesson learned to carry with me to the next levels certainly in store for me.

It's not that late, but I am tired.  One more day to go!  (Not that I don't like my job and am extremely grateful for it...its just right now, I'm still working for the weekend!!!)


I press on...