Jobs Part 2

I told my current boss about the 2 inquiries I got today not because I want to leave, but because I want him to know that I can get another job, that people call me to work for them rather than me having to send my resume out. Part of me thinks it's vain and the another part thinks it's a form of job security. And by "security" I mean "treat me right or I can can be on another show tomorrow".

Killing Time

The husband wanted me to amend something. He's not against stripes, just patterns. He says most patterns look stupid. He tends to be right... at least when it comes to the crap I pick.

There's an article online about coyotes and how they're spreading all across the country. They had a pic of one so now I know for sure it was a coyote I saw while walking Sofie.

Damn, there's something bothering me and I wanted to blog about it, but I can't remember what it was. My memory is terrible. I'll just stay logged in until it comes back to me.

In the meantime, should I be excited about the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando? Doesn't matter because I am.

The roses are blooming. We were so worried about them not making it and today 2 buds are opening. I'll take pics tonight and get them posted.

I can't think of it and I have work to do. I know how to log back in.

Jobs

My friend A just sent me an IM asking when I wrapped and would I travel to Germany... I had to tell her I'm booked until August but Germany sounds fantastic. Not sure what show it's for but MM says Speed Racer is shooting there.

I also got a phone call from an accountant I worked for a couple of days when I went down to help out on CWW at Paramount. He's doing Frost/Nixon and wanted to check my availability. I'd love to work with him, since he did DaVinci Code and will be doing Angels and Demons.

Random

The CNN website usually has a poll asking some "relevant" question about the day's news, usually with 2 options. I wish they had a permanent 3rd option where you could indicate "I couldn't care less about this issue". That's the one I would pick almost all the time.

Has Britney hit rock bottom? Who gives a shit?

Sometimes I get caught up in my job and how cool it is to be dealing with famous people. Today I sent paperwork for Will Smith to fill out so I can pay him. Wow - Will Smith. Then I realized this is probably as close to him as I will get - I won't even be able to say for sure he fills out/signs his own stuff. So while my job has its cool moments, pushing paperwork isn't one of them.

I'll let you know if I do get to meet him...

Fark has a thread going about boobs and I have to say I posted a comment. A woman was talking about having cleavage envy and I totally get that. I wish I could get that look but the girls just don't want to play along. I'm happy with my size, I just wish they were firmer and perkier. Maybe if I got a better bra...

And apparently there are women in the world who don't know if they can lick their own nipple. How can you not know that? As much as I hated KIA, I miss the office full of women where I could just open up that discussion and everyone would join in. I've gotten enough weird looks in this office to mostly keep my mouth shut about everything except the most innocuous. Bummer.

Cheat Day

Wednesday is my traditional cheat day, but I find I'm less interested in splurging as much as I used to. The husband and I get fast food for dinner, but I'm more likely to eat my regular food during the day than to have more fast food or take-out. I do have more off-plan snacks, but even with those it's not a free-for-all. I'm choosier about what I eat (where before I used to eat whatever was available).

Now if I could just limit it to Wednesday and not let it bleed into Thursday...

Rush at the Hollywood Bowl

Rush is playing the Hollywood Bowl on July 23rd and I really want to go. I emailed C and she likes them, too so we're trying to make plans. Just have to get the husband to say it's ok to spend the money... What do you think, husband?

Spring Cleaning

I've been unhappy with the state of my clothing for awhile now. Stuff was either too small, too boring, or too ugly. The husband took me shopping on Saturday to try and fix the situation. We got 2 pairs of jeans and 3 tops. I'm actually wearing a yellow shirt right now and I never wear yellow. It's growing on me. The husband doesn't like patterns or stripes so everything is a solid color. That may bother me at some point but I think I need that right now. I think I need to look normal.

I spent about 30 minutes going thru my closet yesterday, trying stuff on and getting rid of things that didn't work anymore. I was surprised to find some things fit again, but there were things in that closet that even a thin person shouldn't wear. I'm going to get rid of more - I just don't have the attention span to do it all at once. Now I need to find a sale... It's sad that as I unpack, I find things that I don't really want anymore. I wish I had realized that before we moved, but nothing can be done about it now. I just need to box it up and wait for yard-sale day at the complex.

Star Sighting

The husband and I went over the hill to Amoeba Music on Sunday. I went to look for the new Rush cd while he went upstairs to check out the dvd's and replace our lost copy of Shakespeare in Love. When I got upstairs, I found myself 3 feet from Kevin Smith. He was looking at the dvd's, too. I noted his presence, thinking I finally had something interesting to blog about, then went off to find a used copy of YM&D. The husband and I wandered around a bit, picked up Gojira and Charlie Chan volume 2 then went down to pay. We ended up following KS down the stairs, where he was stopped at the bottom and asked for an autograph. As the husband noted, the glasses worked for a while but people started recognizing him. Anyway, KS went one way and we went another and we still ended up right behind him in line. That's where we spotted Snakes and even though I'm not sure I have a credit, we picked up a used copy. The husband warned me he was going to have to separate my movies from his collection so people wouldn't think he actually watched that crap ("Crap Movies the Wife Worked On" as opposed to "Quality Viewing Chosen By the Husband"). Whatever.

Ocean View

If I had done the MM surfer movie (and they were looking for payroll), I would have had an office right on the beach over in Malibu. Really, the building is on the ocean side of the Pacific Coast Highway and the acctg office is in the back. Nothing to see but sun, sand, and surf. Of course, the drive sucks and the accountant isn't a nice person...

Thursday

C and I went to Prosecco for dinner last night - I love their seafood risotto. We had a good time and she loved her wrap gift (an Angry Little Girl handbag that said F*CK all over it). I knew it would be perfect for her as it combined 3 of her favorite things: purses, the color green, and the word F*CK. I have risotto for lunch today - yum.

The husband said I could buy my fat replica so I ordered it this morning. He did say I wasn't allowed to bring it home - he doesn't want to see it. Not a problem during the week, but I may need to put it in a paper bag for the weekends so it's handy in case I'm overly tempted.

Man, it feels like Monday all over again. I'll be glad for the 3 day weekend. I'll have 1 day to do chores, 1 day to unpack stuff, and 1 day to lie around and do NOTHING. Heaven.

Random Caused By Bored

I decided to click on my profile and see how many hits I've had when I saw that my age is listed as 251. WTF??? Then I realized I put in a false birthyear - the husband says not to use the real year as a safety measure.

Eh, I'm bored. I have work to do and the important shite gets done (like getting start packets together for producers who we will probably never see and having the director's people send me revised/corrected paperwork) but the rest of it just kind of sits. I wonder what else I would do with my life if I had the opportunity. Bake stuff, maybe. I love to bake. I really should take some decorating classes, but really I just like to bake. I'd like to paint, too but no classes. Just buy some canvas and paints and brushes and go for it. Abstract stuff and flowers. Pottery seems like fun but way too easy to mess up. I don't like the failure option.

It'll get busy soon enough, we start shooting June 11th and they've got a Gaffer and a Key Grip on now. Plus construction is ramping up and there should be some drivers coming on soon. The studio requirements are becoming second nature, which makes me feel better about it all.

Vespa Clubs

I've been noodling around on the internet, trying to find a scooter club in SoCal to join/try out. I don't think I'm cool enough for most of them...

I don't ride my scooter on the freeway and I don't lane share. If anybody out there knows of a club that would fit, let me know.

And if anyone can tell me it's OK to ride a scooter that only goes 59 mph on an LA freeway, I'd like to hear from you, too. Yikes, that just wigs me out.

Gross But Motivating

The leader at my WW meeting has a 1 pound replica of human fat that is absolutely disgusting, but such a great motivator that I really want one. I finally looked for one online and they're about $30 with shipping. I've asked the husband to consider it. There is one guy who sells a 1 ounce version - you can carry it around with you more easily but I want the 1 pound version. It's much more visual and meaningful. Sometimes you go in and "only lose 1 lb" and it's nice to be reminded just how much that is.

Please husband?

Location Swap

We were supposed to shoot at a house in Calabasas, but it looks like we're going to end up in Walnut. Wherever that is... at least the homeowners aren't both lawyers! Always a mistake getting a location from a lawyer.

I finally returned a phone call from an accountant named Tallie or Taline or something like that - hard to understand. I didn't get to speak to her so I have no idea what show she's doing. She had called Friday to check my availability. I left a message that I was booked. Who would want to leave a show where you're the only chick? Even if it's 3 to 3 as to who likes men...

Faux Stone

I ordered some samples of faux stone to use around the fireplace and it came in today. Have to say it's kind of ugly at first look. Seems a bit orange yet dirty. But then again, it's growing on me. This will end up being something the husband will have to get involved in, at least minimally. They do have other colors - that may solve it because the website pics still look good.

Bunny Suit

They're shooting a Comedy Central pilot today and even tho I have no idea what it's about, I do know there will be a man in a bunny suit running up and down the halls of an office building. Kind of surreal.

Coyote

Saturday morning, I got up at the usual 5 am to take Sofie for a walk. I have to get up at 5 during the week and it's just easier to keep the same schedule on the weekends.

Anyway, Sofie had been pulling to go towards the church all week, so I decided to take her that way since we had the time. We walked down the block, then up and around to the parallel street. It was dark there, not a lot of lights from the houses or anything. I don't know what made me look backwards, but there in the middle of the street, as calm as you please, was a coyote. It had seen us but Sofie hadn't seen it. When I stopped, it looked at me and I said "go on" - I surprised myself by how calm I sounded. It walked on a bit and when it stopped, I said "go on, get out of here." I was still calm, not yelling or anything. Well, it walked past us and headed off to the left sidewalk, disappearing behind a car. I kept watch to see where it would reappear but it didn't. It must have gone back the way it came but I didn't see it go anywhere and that's when I started to freak out. I picked Sofie up and walked her down the street to where the lights were brighter. I put her down but it wasn't until the bicyclist passed us with the radio blaring that I felt safer.

I'm sure the coyote came out of Griffith Park, down the river all the way to my neighborhood. They come down looking for food and several people have lost cats and small dogs to them. Sofie's 23 pounds but I don't know how hungry that animal was, especially after the fire. I think I'll have to consider carrying a big flashlight or something.

Sly Little Dog

Sofie's bed is usually on the floor in the study next to the husband's desk - when he's working she would lay down and watch or nap or chew on something, but she'd be right there with him. A couple of weekends ago, we took Sofie to the groomers and when she came back, we discovered someone had left a surprise in her bed. We think it's Quincy because he's the most mean-spirited of the 3.

Anyway, I washed the cover then realized I'd have to wash the foam bed itself, as it stank. When I finally got it put back together and back in the study, Darby decided she wanted it. She'd climb in and growl and swat at Sofie whenever Sofie tried to climb in with her. Sofie would have been happy to share, but Darby was having none of it.

The husband called me today to tell me what Sofie was doing. She'd get in front of Darb and drop her front end down, then turn around putting her butt in the cat's face. It's her way of saying "play with me" and "sniff my butt, we'll be buds". She did this until Darby got annoyed and got up to confront her. Then Sofie scooted around and jumped into the bed! And now she won't share. Serves Darby right.

Either way, I've ordered another bed (the same kind) for the cats to share in the study. I'm pretty sure Darby will be the only one to use it, but that's ok. I'm just hoping it's too small for Sofie to want...

Dancing Cat

I snagged this from Fark - it makes me think the cat was about to get caught doing something it shouldn't be doing and broke into an impromptu dance as a distraction.

I really need to take more pics of my own kitties. Especially Darby now that she's appropriated Sofie's pet bed and smacks the shit out of Sofie every time she tries to climb in.

LVT Update

AK is no longer in this movie - he passed to do that film in RI with C Diaz. I feel like I should be more bummed, but it's not like I'm a huge fan. Hopefully they'll get someone better.

Boomshine

I figured out why I like this game - it looks like fireworks. I love fireworks.

Training

Tomorrow I have to drive down to Culver City and go to a training session at the Sony lot. It's going to suck for several reasons:

1) The drive to Culver City will take at least an hour each way (it's less than 20 miles on mapquest).
2) The training involves going page by page thru the manual.
3) Most of the training will be on the accounts payable side, which I don't really care about but will have to sit thru.
4) The AP guys will have to sit thru my payroll stuff and I'm afraid it may give certain people ideas about their ability to do my job.

That's all I can think of now, but I'm sure more will come to me and/or will reveal themselves after tomorrow.

This is the first show I've done where I've actively chosen to not help out with the AP in the beginning. I usually try to kill time by doing filing or whatever, but it's never reciprocated and I'm sick of it. So this show, I'm keeping to myself.

Missing

I feel bad about the little girl in Portugal who went missing, but c'mon... her parents left her and her siblings alone while they went to dinner. Who does that and doesn't think something bad is going to happen? Did they think they were safe because they were in some resort?

I do hope they find her and all is well but I also hope other parents learn some kind of lesson from this.

I'm Stealing This One

N sent me this on Friday:

This day is dragging along like a dog who has an itchy butt....

Brilliant.

Rhode Island

MC called me on Saturday to see if I'd work a show for her in Rhode Island. I would so love to work with her again, but 1) I'm booked and 2) I don't want to go out of town anymore this year (unless it's on something REALLY good). I told her to call me sooner next time...

Funny thing is both shows will star Ashton Kutcher.

Rose Bowl

I went (by myself) to the Rose Bowl flea market yesterday. I found the glider set that I wanted (2 glider chairs with a table attached in the middle that holds an umbrella - included). It was $330 but it's sweet and I'm very happy with it. I also bought a set of fossil rock bookends, an austrian-crystal toe ring, and a wrap gift for C. T doesn't do wrap gifts so there's a chance no one else will either, but I'm more than happy to keep the bag for myself!

I also potted the rose bush we got in honor of Betty. The husband and I picked it out on Saturday and I decided to repot it after our 5am walk. I didn't think the husband would be interested but he was. I really am sorry. But it needs a better pot so we'll pick one out and repot it together.

Besides my great purchases, I also got a nasty sunburn on my upper arms and neck - at least I wore my hat!

Fireplace

I just ordered 2 samples of faux stone for the fireplace. I intend to take down the tacky mirror that's up there now and make it look like a stone fireplace with a chunky wood mantle. Still working on that last part...

My Office

I've managed to get myself hired into an all male office. The acct, 1st, key 2nd, and clerk are all men. There is a chance the 2nd 2nd (still not the 4th Sped) will be a female, but the only female I know they've interviewed took another show. They were going to hire N, but she got a raise and bailed. So it's going to be a different experience than KIA where we talked about waxing, breast makeup, and anal bleaching...

Did I mention the one habit my boss has that's going to drive me bonkers? When he laughs, he actually says "hee hee hee". I don't know if that's his polite office laugh or if he has something for those truly funny moments, but one can only hope.

Old Pics

My brother sent me some funny animal pics a while back and I liked these 2, but I didn't want to save the email anymore - can't stand having 2 pages of emails...

The first one was called "Sad Kitty" and the second was "This Is Gonna Hurt".

Matt'ism

This morning, Matt coined his firm Matt'ism and I though you would enjoy hearing it too. Simply stated...

"Jesus was a baby, now he is a statue."

Marti and I believe he will get to know the school counselor quite well.

- from my brother in FL (back in August) about his son who goes to Catholic school

Bathroom Candy

The office building I'm working in is very swank. I think it was specifically built/designed for productions. My office has one wall of windows and the view is fairly nice.

One weird thing is the bathroom. Sure, it's clean and spacious and decorated, but there's a dish of candy on the counter. At first I thought that was nice, now I think it's gross. Who's going to take candy from the bathroom? Ugh.

Barbarians

I don't know what kind of barbarians I've gotten in with here, but they don't have Freecell on the computer! What am I going to do now to kill time? Thank dog for the internet...

2nd Day, New Show

I started my new show yesterday (Lakeview Terrace). I'm not really off that damned KIA as I'm still fixing things and doing a bit a payroll but I'm in my new office and that counts.

It's weird working for a different studio, having to learn their policies and procedures. I have to say I don't really like it, but I do need to branch out a bit. Working for one studio all the time only gets you screwed in the end.

I had to step away and look at the fire - Griffith Park over by I5 is burning and the smoke cloud is amazing. It's not anywhere near us damage-wise, but we have a great view of the flames and the water choppers.

Anyway, I'm not happy about being in the dark about stuff, but I ask questions and try to learn. It'll be ok. I can do the payroll already and that's the majority of the job. The paper-pushing can be learned.

I Forgot

to mention the best bit about the emails from Wednesday... I never actually wrote anything on the I9. It was just a ruse so I could let her know her little ploy to hide her age was in vain.

Ha!

How I Spent Wednesday

Or,
Why You Really Shouldn't Get Into It With Film-Chick.

CM,
I wanted you to know that while cleaning my files, I filled in your birth year (it's required). Even though you took the time to white out your birthdate, it's common knowledge that Arizona driver's licenses expire when you turn 65. Since I have access to a calculator, I did the math. Really, how vain is it to hide your age? 54 is not that old.
Sincerely,
film-chick


F-C,
An Arizona drivers license is issued for 25 years, mine does not expire at age 65. I never fill in my birth year because of age discrimination against women. Many women do it. You have assumed incorrectly, F-C, and I did not give you permission to adjust my paperwork. Is it the payroll accountant's job to judge vanity, too? My, my.
CM


CM,
It's my job to make sure the paperwork is filled out correctly and your fear of age discrimination cannot get in the way of me doing my job. Many of the things you have done on this show got in my way, but this will not be one of them.

The license may have been issued for 25 years at some point, but now it is issued until the age of 65 (see Section 2, page 7 of the Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide). If you were in a group who got a license before that went into effect, then so be it - I don't really care. I stand by the date I put on the I9. And unlike you, I did not attempt to disguise the fact that I added info to/"altered" your paperwork and I did not try to hide it from you. So permission be damned.

Saying that "many women" do it is a pathetic excuse akin to being a child and whining that all your friends are doing it. It's a legal document and must be filled out completely. Some studios will not allow a person to remain employed for something as stupid as being afraid to put down a birthdate (and yes, I speak from personal experience of having to tell a hair person to either fill it out or go home).

As for judging vanity, I did that as a woman - it had nothing to do with being the payroll accountant.
F-C

And if a license really is issued for 25 years, why is yours only good for 21? Maybe you should have thought that one out a little more...

F-C,
I take full responsibility for not putting my birth year on my I9. I stand by my intent and if you impose false information on my I9, I will provide guidance from an authority who can help me demonstrate my rights as an American citizen. It is against the law to force an American citizen to prove they are an American citizen, which is a catch 22 when a company requests information on an I9.

I feel you have been quite impertinent towards me. This is a prime example. As you have expressed no comradery as a co-worker, I know you only as a payroll person, therefore, I take exception with your need to vilify my character.

It feels to me that you do care in some obtuse way you care about me, as you have spent so much time to judge me. But I feel you have (below) expressed a need justify you meddlesome bully tactics. I feel sorry for you, F-C, and I forgive you.
CM

Oh CM, where to begin...
An I9 does not attempt to prove you are an American citizen. It proves you are eligible to be employed in the USA. Maybe you can have your authority explain that to you more fully.

I don't really care if you choose not to fill out your paperwork completely. The fact you are going to take responsibility for it surprises me, because it'll be about the only thing on this show for which you haven't tried to throw someone else under the bus.

I'm upset you think I'm being impertinent because I was going for rude. In all the years I've done this job I have always felt that people in higher positions than mine deserved my respect even if I didn't like them. You were the exception. There was nothing about your job performance that demonstrated to me you were even slightly capable of fulfilling the tasks your title required of you. Sure, you directed traffic around a condor and found a sound case, but those are not job descriptions of a Production Supervisor.

I do not care about you CM except to note your name as someone to avoid at all costs in the future and to make sure you know that there are people in the film industry who do not think you are capable of doing the work for which you are paid - it has nothing to do with your character. I don't care about your forgiveness and will sleep soundly at night just knowing I don't ever have to work with you again.

Done and done.

(I haven't done anything to the emails except adjust the names).

Hottie McHottiepants

Small pic, cute guy! This is the DOT Compliance PA from KIA. He was a really nice guy but not as cute in person (almost, but not quite). He may be an actor some day...

BMW Ring Help...

Does anybody know/remember a BMW commercial where the woman in it was wearing an emerald ring? Well, it may not be emerald but it is green... A friend of mine would like to buy that ring but she can't find any info on it. I've never seen the commercial and have been googling the internet, but I'm not that good at searches. If anyone actually reads this blog and has a clue, please let me know.

At least I managed to find Hiro's messenger bag, even if I can't afford it.