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.

Cute Shoes

Sped,

I'm wearing my Tsonga sandals today - just like the ones you got in Santa Fe (black w/ green flowers). I so rarely wear cute shoes I thought I should share.

Katchow

Sofie Update

After spending $222 at the vet, it turns out Sofie is fine. Dr Liz couldn't find anything wrong with her after the blood and urine tests. There's still the possibility she may have some physical issue, like a tumor or stone that isn't shedding crystals, but it's not likely. If the problem continues the next step is an x-ray. We're monitoring the situation, which is already better and we'll see what happens. It's a lot to pay for peace of mind, but worth it.

The groomers bill was worth it, too, even though the effects were nearly wiped out during the trip to the dog park. We still have to dremel her nails, but she did smell better. She so hates the groomers even though they seem very nice to her. I picked her up and carried her inside and she started trembling immediately. I had to hand her over and run out so she wouldn't freak too much.

Sick Sofie

The husband and I took Sofie to the vet today. She acts like everything is fine, but she's piddling a lot. Wednesday night was 7 times in 14 hours. And it's piddling, not just marking. I wigged out about the possibility of bad pet food but there are over 20 things that can cause "excessive uriniation" in dogs. Whatever it is, Dr Liz didn't find anything in a cursory exam. We'll have to wait for the blood and urine tests to come back. In the meantime, she's still getting the chicken and brown rice instead of dog food.

Have to say, Sofie hated every minute at the vet's office. From the time we walked in her tail was down. Then when the vet tech came out to get us, she hunkered down and didn't want to go. I had to pick her up before she got dragged away. She kept hiding her face while the tech did his thing and when he left, she perked up as if to say "he's gone, we're done, let's go". Poor girl. It's necessary but it's so hard to do to them. And tomorrow she's going to the groomers, which she also hates. It's a bad weekend to be Sofie.

SOUP!!!

For some reason, I've been thinking about a woman I met when Sped and I took our 2 week cross-country trip after college graduation.

We were in Berkley staying with a friend of Sped, someone she met while studying/traveling in Europe. One of the housemates was a woman whose greatest desire was to be a homemaker. Her heroes were June Cleaver, Donna Reed, and Betty Crocker. All she wanted was a house with a white picket fence and to cook for her family.

She was a pretty good cook, too. At least the soup she made for us was good. Of course, she didn't call it soup. I'm not sure if I can adequately describe how she said it, but if you were to say soup very loudly, in a higher than normal pitch, and with a rise at the end, you may have it. It was SOUP!!! Maybe kind of like a siren ("woop").

Anyway, I often wonder if she got her wish. I suppose she might if she got off the heroin. Hmm, a heroin-addicted Donna Reed wanna-be; sounds like a movie. But that does explain why it was SOUP!!!

Messenger Bag

The messenger bag I want is available again. Still don't want to pay $162.50 for it, but it's very cool. Maybe I should see if a costumer could get me a deal... Probably not.

Elvis Buddha

Meow

I saw this in a Phx magazine a while back but just now got it scanned. I need to send it to Cocktaildoll as I think she likes Hello Kitty.

I really need to call and see how much it is.

Lucky Dog Day

I'm going home! And I got myself on an earlier flight! Damn, I'm so glad to be going home. I just wish this show was over - too bad there are still 2+ weeks left. I'm ready to put the lid on KIA. Packing didn't take as long as I thought it would and it'll kill me to sit around for 2 extra hours. Might have to talk to the moron PS.

I have to shut my computer down and get it packed up. I can't leave all of it to Andy-Goat. I did manage to get to W-M last night to pick up a scorpion paperweight for the Haiku contest winner and some nightshirts for Granny. They have the best kind for what she needs. I put them in Fex today (on the company's dime). She'll have them Thursday.

This is it!

Last Night in Phx

This is it, my last night in Phx.

I was going to have the husband and Sofie pick me up on Wednesday, then realized it wasn't fair for them to drive 6 hours then turn around and go back. I also realized I didn't want to sit in the car for 6 hours, not get home until after 9, then have to go to work on Thursday. So I decided to fly home.

When I got in today, Megan was so excited to be leaving I got jealous. I thought about it for a while and realized the only reason I was waiting for Wed was because that's when the husband could come. I called T and got her approval and changed my flight to tomorrow. Yeah! Going home! Now all I have to do is finish packing. My office is done, just have to get the apartment cleaned out. I'm so excited.

Book List #32

Last night I finished Haunted Places: The National Directory by Dennis William Hauck. It's a state by state listing of a bunch of haunted sites, sacred areas, and ufo sightings. The husband got it for me because the building in Santa Fe where I was working was listed in it.

It was an ok read; some of the entries were fairly basic and didn't give a lot of detail, while others were more in-depth. They talked about photos that had been taken but didn't reproduce them in the book. It really needed a more careful proofreading than it got - nearly drove me nits with all the left out words and duplications. And I couldn't believe the addresses that were listed. Seems like a good way to get stalkers and crap looking for ghosts.

I thought about passing it along to N because she likes this stuff as much as I do. If the husband was still coming to get me then I would've traded it in at the bookstore, but I guess now she can readit if she wants.

Tired and No TV

When I came home yesterday from running errands, my Direct TV box and remote were gone. I didn't notice the box at first. I spent about 5 minutes trying to find the remote, then realized the box was gone. Weird, as no one told me they were coming to pick it up. I guess someone got overzealous...

It's not a big deal, really. I brought work home so I wouldn't be crazed on Monday and this just makes it easier to concentrate. I tried listening to the music on my computer, but it started skipping. I'm not sure how a computer skips, but it did.

Anyway, I'm sitting at the table picking my way thru timecards. I meant to start yesterday but I passed out on the couch. I don't know why I was so friggin' tired. Maybe it's all catching up to me. I slept off and on all day, then called Sped around 9pm. We chatted for an hour then I crawled into bed with my national directory of haunted places and finished it. The husband called around 11(?) and said good night. That was it for me.

I can't wait to go home.

Google Maps

I got this from my friend CH, the pilot.

If you've ever doubted Google maps for directions, then you are about to get edumacateded! -- C
1. go to www.google.com
2. click on "maps"
3. click on "get directions"
4. type "New York" in the first box (the "from" box)
5. type "London" in the second box (the "to" box)
6. click on "get directions"
7. scroll down to step #23

It's genius!

Huh?

Sped, what do you mean? Are you going back to the firm in Oceanside? I guess that's a good thing. I knew you weren't really happy but I didn't realize you were switching back. The commute is soooooooo much better at least.

And going to SF for a tat is fine by me!

It's Not a No

I finally got a chance to ask the husband about the tattoo and he asked me to wait. Which is fine.

But I hope you'll try to respond on the blog sometime...

Another Bail-Out

A (Clooney) show that I turned down is looking for help. T got a call from one of the finance execs at the studio, asking if her payroll person was available (he didn't know it was me). Apparently the payroll acct on the show is behind and they want someone to come in for a couple of weeks to help out. He doesn't want it getting around because the key acct doesn't know.

What I don't get is how the key doesn't know the payroll person is so far behind that the studio exec is looking for help. How does that happen?

Funny thing is, I've helped that payroll acct before on a Myers movie. I did extras while she wasted time putting happy face stamps on the paycheck envelopes. No wonder she's behind.

Unmotivated

Good Friday is a union holiday and nobody worked. I ended up going in for a few hours to get caught up on a specific project. Then on Saturday 4 of us went to Bisbee again. We stayed at the same cottage and visited with Cobin and Ray. Man, I love that place. I want to load up the husband and the dog and go there for a week of doing nothing but laying around. Knowing we were going made me buy a piece of clip-in hair (blue) and wear it for almost 2 days. I think I'm going to get some dye and try it for real, but not the permanent stuff - just the stuff that washes out. That's what Bisbee does for me, though. Makes me want to experiment and have fun without caring what others think.

We got back today around 1:30pm and I made my way into the office. I couldn't care less about doing payroll. I got a little bit done, separated timecards from starts and checked some coding, then left to pick up T at the airport. I brought the shit home with me but I haven't touched it yet. I did warn T that I was absolutely unmotivated today and that it would most likely wait until tomorrow. I just don't care anymore.

Sped wants me to get another tattoo and she wants another one, as well. I wish we'd made plans for her to visit me here, but it's too late now. I'll have to go down there soon, but I'd like to be at home for a bit before I travel again. And I think I'm going to wait on a brand new tat and just get the one on my hand touched up.

Right now, I just want to lay on the couch and watch tv, but I'd better try and get thru the easy timecards so tomorrow's not such hell. Blech.

Job Hunt Over?

That woman at Sony works fast, I've already gotten an email from an accountant.

The new show is called "Lakeview Terrace" and stars Samuel L. Jackson and Ashton Kutcher. There's a woman in it too, but I didn't recognize her and don't remember her name. It's shooting in LA and the offices aren't too far from home - just over in Glendale. It's a 7 week shoot and about 4 months of work.

I wrote back to him today and said I was interested, told him my rate and said if that wasn't a problem we should talk. Today's a union holiday so I don't know when I'll hear anything.

I did tell T on the way to the airport about it and her comment was "oh, shit". Maybe she should've sent her emails sooner...

Sony

I just sent my resume to an exec at Sony. She's the little sister of a producer I worked with on EA. I told her I would be done around May 7th, so we'll see if anything comes of it.

Is That A No?

Husband,

Should I take your lack of response to my tattoo question as a no?

da Wife

The Weekend

I'm not very good at posting, but I'm pretty good at writing to N. So I've started saving my emails and copying them into the blog - works for me...

T and I went to Bike Week out in Scottsdale on Saturday. She had a friend working at the Suzuki booth and he got us in free. It was pretty cool but kind of last minute. I had on sandals but I could've test driven a bike if I'd had on closed toe shoes. It was fun to people watch and to check out the bikes and gear. We also got fake tattoos - T got a spider crawling out of her cleavage and I got a Chinese Fu dog on my arm. They had a Vespa booth but they only had 2 Vespas showing (it was with the BMW's). They didn't have any gear or swag so that was disappointing. Then we went out with her friend to what seemed like a great bar with outdoor seating on the patio - white couches in groups. After an hour or so, the real crowds started showing up and it was an upper-end meat market. Not my kind of place but the food was good (appetizers/tapas).

The director's wife went home to Canada and he took the opportunity to go to Vegas for the weekend - they had to send a Teamster with him to make sure he made it back ok. He missed the first wrap party, which was as class-less as the kick-off party. They're having the "real" wrap party next Friday but a lot of people are trying to get out of town after wrapping Friday morning.

Um, Husband?

I forgot to ask, can I get a new tattoo while I'm in the hell that is Phoenix? I got an airbrushed Chinese Fu dog at the bike show on Saturday and it's put me in the mood.

What do you think?

News From N

N writes:

"I have to tell you another story. C was making courtesy calls to vendors who hadn't cashed old checks (this was a while ago but we just started laughing about it again). So he had to call this one guy who was some bit player on MV. He played a trailer trash guy and lived in an actual trailer park so he had perfect training. The guy never got his check blah blah blah. So C tells him we will cancel and reissue. The guy starts calling him the very next day wanting to know when he is going to get the check because his mom's boyfriend's kid's sister's cousin needs something. He calls up every day until the check is actually sent to him. So a couple of weeks go by and we didn't hear from him again. Then it starts up again, the guy is calling C for his residual checks from the movie! It was fricken hilarious! Because C is trying to be all polite to this guy who thinks his shit don't stink because he is an actor now and all he is is some trailer hick who happened to get lucky and get a gig that paid him enough to cover his meth bill."

I told her I was going to blog and and she replied:

"Make it sound better than how I wrote it though... It came up today because he just called a crew member about a check he hadn't cashed for hotel reimbursement from eight months ago and the guy started complaining he hadn't gotten reimbursed for some gas receipt. Then started telling C his life story and C is like "dude, I just wanted to tell you I was canceling and reissuing a new check for you, I don't care that you bought a new house you asshole.""

People are really weird about their money...

Hottie Bald Guy

N said she saw the X-Files boss waiting for an appointment at the studio. He's got a goatee going. I always thought he was a hottie and now with facial hair? Swoon...

Actor Gossip

CP (the actor who wrote pig fucker on the Exhibit G) is wrapped on the show but wants to stay in Phx and keep his apartment and his rental car. He's screwing the 2nd camera assistant - which explains why he called himself pig fucker (I can't stand the 2nd AC- total bitch). The POC and UPM said no, it's a liability issue and he wasn't allowed. AF, another actor, is having relationship issues and asked if she could stay here. The UPM told her yes. CP found out and called the UPM and whined about it, so the UP gave in and they are both staying. The UPM decided he would make it seem like we needed to keep them for possible added scenes or something and we would use the free days from their contracts... When I heard this, I asked T why he didn't just change the work/finish to a work and then put them on hold. They are Schedule F players and we own them for 7 weeks... why waste the free days on some bullshit? So that's what we're going to do - and now that they're still on the G, we have to pay them per diem. Can you believe this shit? And why am I the only one to think of the hold plan?

This Show Still Sucks

I can't stand the Production Supervisor (who I am now going to call DASH for dumb ass shit head). She's a fucking moron and I was shaking with frustration by 9am due to the emails she wrote me "answering" my questions. Plus, I didn't get electric timecards until sometime after 4 pm yesterday and the grips came in with the morning run today. I sent an email at 3:30 Monday saying I didn't have them and there would be no checks this week. The UPM wrote back asking when they would be coming and could we get faster payroll company turnaround. I wrote back asking him what he would prefer I not do while I accomodate the late cards... SAG or box rental checks.

Gossip From Set

The Key Grip got fired last night for "tickling" an extra who didn't appreciate it. He'd also shown up to work drunk several times and made gross sexual advances toward most of the female crew members. Oh, and he grabbed some guy's crotch, but I don't know if it was crew or extra.

The On Set Dresser was told to stop talking to the female extras after he told several the reason they weren't being featured more was because you could see their thong panties and no one wore thongs in the 80's.

The extras casting director reported she was being stalked by an extra who left graphic sexual messages and sent her several pics of himself with automatic weapons. They got a restraining order on him and the studio's security department is looking into it. We spent hours trying to find out what his real name was until the APOC remembered we had an injury report on the guy. Apparently he'd stabbed himself with a pen on set. Intentionally.

I can't wait to get out of this town.

Book List #31

Yesterday I finished Faking It by Jennifer Crusie. It's so friggin' hot in my apartment I can't sleep and I tore thru it. I picked it up at a library sale and wasn't sure if it would be good, but for $1 I gave it a chance. Quite good, with a cast of characters odd enough to make you interested but not so out there to put you off. I hope she brings them back in another book. I should check on that...

Did I mention the apartments suck? They don't turn on the air conditioning until it's 90 degrees for 3 days. Since we're working nights, a lot of our crew was trying to sleep in the hotbox conditions and we got them to turn it on sooner. Unfortunately, the system isn't AC, it's a "chiller" which is akin to having someone suck on an ice cube then blow at you from 4 feet away. Not effective. They bought fans for everyone but I didn't get one until last night when T gave me hers. It was the first decent night's sleep I've had since it started warming up.

Not Cute

The steadicam guy came in today to get his paperwork in order (I'd given it to the moron over a week ago but she didn't deal with it). He showed us pics of his 4 cats and sat around chatting. Finally he commented that every girl on this show was cute, that he'd been told by the regular camera op that this was the best show in a long time for cute girls.

I heard him say it and immediately thought of how it didn't apply to me. I have such a negative image of myself and how I look that I can't possibly imagine anyone would find me cute. I know there are fat chicks out there who are cute, even beautiful. I just don't see it in myself

Especially today with the retard-girl hairdo...

Class Act

The actors have to sign what's called an Exhibit G. It's the form used to record the hours they work. One of our actors decided it would be funny to sign his name as "Pig Fucker", "Boner Pie", and "I'm Rad" on 3 different days. Gotta love 'em. Oh, and this isn't a newbie - he's been on a couple of well known tv shows.

I made a total stink about it because as much as I cuss, I found it offensive. Plus, those are legal documents and are sent to the Screen Actors Guild and the studio.

SPED!!!

Sped,

I went to Cosanti on Saturday morning and bought myself a bronze Paolo Soleri bell. It's not the prettiest, but it has the most wonderful sound - like a big gong. I love it and can't wait to put it up on the patio.

And it wasn't Arcosanti, it was Cosanti in Paradise Valley (I didn't have time to go to Arcosanti, after all I worked 7 days last week and 6 days every other friggin' week).

Anyway, I really want to get you a bell for Christmas, but I'm afraid it's too personal with the sound each one makes. I'd hate to pick one out and have you hate it. There were some I thought were too high pitched and some that sounded very minor key.

The other option is the ceramics. They have all sorts of shapes and sizes of ceramics, from 3x3 to 12x12. They even have round and light switches. Most of them are in a nice shade of blue or tan.

So what do you think? Unless you can make it to Phoenix for a weekend, I'll be forced to choose for you - bell or tile? Of course, I could go back and call you from the shop and have you listen over the phone... wonder if anybody's done that before?

Some Kind of Joke?

This is how KIA runs:

Friday A.M., March 9 wrap notes for PR

1) Friday morning, 7:30am, March 9, while the electricians were striking set, the 120' Condor broke down in the middle of the street at the intersection of 56th St & Wonderview. At first it was suggested that operator error was the cause. All efforts were made to move out of the road. When it became obvious that the Condor could not be moved in time to make turn-around, the Electrians made every effort to leave before they would receive a forced call. It is my understanding they made their out time. FG, BB Grip, expressed in-depth knowledge of Condor operations and was asked by CM to assist. He, too, was unable to move it. RS, BB Rigging Electrician was then called to provide assistance JF Transportation Captain, called Hertz and a towing company to assist. CM called Phoenix Police Film unit to secure the street, however, Police Unit never arrived. JF, JS and CM provided lock-up on the street while waiting for the above support services. FG was released about 10am. He is waiving his turn-around. RS arrived and assisted tow truck driver while Condor was towed from intersection. Hertz mechanical support diagnosed that the controller in the basket, which engages wheels to transmission, to be faulty. After an hour of repair efforts, he still did not have it fixed and offered that we should get a credit for our lost time. The mechanic suggested that the control arm which engages the transmission feature we were using, probably did not work when we recieved the shipment, but that we did not notice it until we needed it. RS said that we have a back-up standing by to be delivered. We should not incur any deliver fees for this. The mechanic was asked to leave a detailed report re: the malfunction.

2) There was some confusion this morning over the Technocrane. MF, Rigging Grip, was told by TS at wrap, that the crane was to be ready to use at a moment's notice, this evening, March 9, 2007. I reiterated to M that the Technocrane was cancelled last night by DW, and that the technicians were to arrive shortly to strike the crane. Although I knew they were sleeping, I tried to reach DW, EP/UPM, and DB, 1st AD, to confirm any verbals that may have been communicated, differing from last night. When I did not speak to anyone, I went off Call Sheet, which did not list Technocrane working tonight, and told the technicians to strike the crane.

NB:3) A 20' single genie lift is to be delivered by around noon for work on the windows in the back of the house.

4) An additional piece of scaffolding was ordered to be delivered today for lights in the back of the house.

Best, C

How it's normally done:

1) Condor malfunctioned at wrap and had to be towed from street.
2) not a PR note issue
3) not a PR note issue
4) not a PR note issue

As N said, it's like the Three Stooges.

Haiku

We are holding a haiku contest and I have written several that are a bit too specific for the general public. But I must share one that describes my time in Phoenix thus far:

Welcome to Phoenix
Breath deep: dust and pollution
Sinus infection

We haven't gotten a lot of entries and some of them have to be disqualified for being over-syllabic (I know, not a word), including Topher's entry. We're supposed to pick a winner and give out the prize tomorrow but it's not happened yet. We don't even know what the prize will be...

Next is the limerick contest.

Book List #30

This morning I lolled in bed finishing Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber by Adele Lang. It was meant to be a light-hearted bit of chick lit fluff (and that's not an insult, by the way). But the main character is a mean, bitter, self-obsessed bitch that I found annoying after the first 3rd or so. It still had its amusing moments so I kept reading but it really did turn into some sort of pathetic farce. I just don't buy someone being as bad that and not coming to a grisly end. Unless she was just stupid.

Either way, the only thing I'm grateful for is the author didn't have the "heroine" suddenly realize what a monster she'd been and go through some sort of redemption. She kept Katya as nasty as ever to the bitter end.

Not a fun read, though.

Apache Trail

Went to set late last night to hand out checks. It wasn't fun but I don't want to spoil my day off by talking about it now.

I'm going out to drive the Apache Trail today. I want to do/see something other than the walls of my office and/or apartment. It's a 40 mile drive but I'm not sure how much I'm going to cover. A lot of it is unpaved and I don't know if I'm up for that in the Dodge Charger. I had planned on taking it all the way around to Casa Grande National Monument, but we'll just have to see what happens.

Did I mention while I was in Bisbee I flashed my bra-covered chest in order to get some Mardi Gras beads? I've always wanted to do that but didn't think I'd get the chance.

More Griping Abt the Job

The Prod Supervisor is convinced she knows my job better than I do. She keeps trying to screw around with overtime days and we keep telling her she can't. We got an email today where she tried to claim the Rigging Grips started a new week on Saturday. Um, no they didn't. And if you meant for them to, it didn't happen because nobody told me.

That's one of the sucky things about this job. People make all of these "secret squirrel" deals and don't tell the one person who has to generate the paychecks. Then I get yelled at for going by the rules instead of the "deal". I end up telling them they can make whatever deals they want but if no one tells me about it, it doesn't happen.

Going to dinner now with the acctg office.

Sped, I owe you a phone call or at least an email. For now, thanks for calling on my birthday. It meant more than you know. I'm a crappy friend for not getting back to you. But to show you how it is here, I'm working 6 day weeks and today asked if I could work a 7th... ugh. My boss is worried I'm going to burn out but it'll be fine. It's just crazy at the start.

$20 Bet

I bet the 2nd 2nd AD that the UPM wouldn't notice if she put a longer out time on her time card than technically allowed by the DGA. We'll see what happens. I just don't think he pays that much attention...

CWW

I just got a phone call from CWW - they're doing a reshoot and the payroll person is leaving. I told them I was booked thru April (and my boss piped in "and beyond"). Their 1st Asst yelled out to remind me how much fun they were. They actually were fun, but the work was crap and I wouldn't have had to go if the payroll acct wasn't such a slacker.

Book List #29

Next I read Impossible Things by Connie Willis. I love her work and would read anything she wrote.

Have to say the first story, The Last of the Winnebagos, was not a good choice for right after the husband and the dog left. I sobbed as I finished it and had to call the husband to calm me down. I was ready to go home right then. But I stayed and finished the book and it was as good as her work always is.

Book List #28

I started Life of Pi before the move and it got lost...

I feel like I picked up something else but can't remember what it was, so this blog will be about the book I picked up at the used bookstore (Bookmans) in Phx when the husband was here.

St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves: Stories by Karen Russell is a weird little collection of short stories that don't seem to go anywhere. They don't follow the basic pattern of a story, at least as far as I could tell... Several of the stories just sort of stopped and others trailed off. I liked them, don't get me wrong. The ideas of some of them were exotic and just that little bit off-kilter. But it took some time to adjust.

Blech

I'm kind of hoping someone will come along and just pinch my head off so I can be done with this show.

The UPM is a prick and the Prod Supervisor is a moron. I told C yesterday she needed to stop being nice to the PS - it's not making things better and it's making C mad. Today I reminded them that I haven't been nice to the PS for a while and you don't see her back here bugging me every 20 minutes with some bullshit.

The UPM didn't want to pay the non-union crew for the holiday until we had to remind him 1) it's industry standard and 2) not paying the office staff means not paying ALL the non-union crew including the DOT guy and the director and producer assistants. Of course, now we're paying everyone.

Hate them all.

Harry's Wand

I followed the link on girlfiend's blog to the NSFW pic of Danial Radcliffe from Equus. Have to say he's a good looking guy with a nice package, but I'm a bit thrown off by the non-circumcised aspect (T calls it a "sea slug").

But, as my mother would say, he can put his shoes under my bed any time.

Home, Home, Home

I'm flying home tomorrow night and I'm very happy about that (so happy that I stayed late at work so I could do online check-in and print out my boarding pass right at the 24 hour mark).

I have appointments to get the taxes done and to get my hair done but best of all will be seeing the husband, the dog, and the kitties. I've really been homesick for them lately and need them near me. I have to be careful to not pack the short time home with chores and crap. That's a bad tendency of mine. I want to do the minimum outside the house then spend as much time as possible just being with them.

Anyway, I've got my pass and it's time to go home and sleep. T has Handsome tonight so I should rest easy, unless I'm too excited about the trip...

I am thinking of going brown with the hair instead of red...

Handsome

It looks like Handsome has found a home with a friend of T's back in LA. We just have to get him there. I think they're planning on meeting at the CA/AZ border... and she's planning on keeping the name.

He went to the vet today. He's doing fine even with his rocky start. The change in diet is causing the diarrhea and both of his testicles have dropped. Such a good boy.

Lucy

Sweetheart's new name is Lucy. It's a good name.

Puppy Pics

Sweetheart
Handsome
so sleepy

Sweetheart and her new dad

Accounting Puppies

We rescued some puppies from the scary trailer park next door to the office. We were going to just steal them because the owner had left them outside in the rain and cold without any shelter. Then C decided to talk to him first and we bought them instead. They stank and I ended up taking them back to the apartment for a bath in the kitchen sink.

We started calling them Handsome and Sweetheart - that's what I call dogs at the dog park when I don't know their names. They're pit bull / shar pei mixes and they're pretty damn cute. Sweetheart has already found a home with a friend of one of the PA's. We grilled him fairly hard before we decided he'd be good enough. He took her home today, promising to email and bring her back for visits. I hope he comes up with a good name.

I have Handsome at home tonight. He didn't feel that well today and spent a lot of time in my lap. It was hard to get my work done - they have been quite a distraction. And the potty-training! Lovely.

Anyway, T has a friend who may take him this weekend. We'll see what happens.

Phoenix Security

I was about to go home until I heard the best story...

We have 3 different security companies on this show, working in various places. There have been issues with all of them - mainly not showing up for a shift. But there is one guy who takes the cake.

During his shift last night, he "finds" the keys to the picture car (a Cadillac) and decides to take it to Burger King. On his way back from BK he gets pulled over because the Caddy doesn't have license plates. The cops discover he has a warrant for something and he gets arrested and the car is impounded. Fuzzy on the details here, but he gets released and goes back to work. Upon his return, he decides to go into the director's trailer and raid the craft service then crawl into bed. He eats the loot, leaving the wrappers under the covers, and takes a nap.

The transpo coord finds the guy this morning still asleep in the trailer. The guy yells at the coord for not having plates on the car, blaming him for getting pulled over. When they finally get down to the impound to claim the Caddy, they discover the hubcaps have all been stolen. And it's full of BK wrappers...

As the husband says "Phoenix - proving Darwin wrong."

Very Secure

The Costume Designer had to kick in the door to the gold room on Sunday because no one had bothered to give her a key.

And there is nothing in crafty for those of us working today except for the crap the extras wouldn't even eat.

Bisbee Pics

The main street The old jail
The courtyard of our "garden cottage"
The Lavender Pit (copper mine)
The statue dedicated to the miners (T is convinced it has a boner and I'd say she's right)

Kick-Off (whatever)

I'm just about to go out the door and have dinner with my boss/friend T. Then we're headed to the kick-off party for Kids In America. Neither of us really wants to go, but feel we'd better at least put in an appearance. They had talked about having it at the nice restaurant across from the apartments, but decided to go with some cheesy college bar over in Scottsdale instead. Very classy choice if you can judge by the website (www.dosgringosaz.com).

Anyway, Bisbee was fantastic. It's still a small mountain mining town without the mining (that ended in '74). Not a lot of tourists and even fewer tourist-crap places. I have to go - will write more and post pics later!

Bisbee

We're leaving for Bisbee in about 2 minutes. I'm really looking forward to going - never been there before. I hope it's as cool as it's supposed to be but I'm prepared for it to be Gatlinburg next to a mine... A lot of the places we go turn out to be nothing more than Gatlinburg with X.

I'll post pics when I get back.

Miss you husband.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I finally went to a clinic yesterday and got diagnosed with a sinus infection. I'm feeling better after only one dose of antibiotics but I'll be glad when it's cleared up. The husband is here and it hasn't been much of a visit with me being sick and working until 7.

I left work early yesterday to go to the doctor, then we took the dog to the dog park. She really needed to run and seemed to enjoy it. At one point, she decided the best way to cool off would be to lay down in the water. As if that wasn't enough, she proceeded to roll around in the dry grass. I made her hang out a bit longer until some of it wore off.

The UPM gave everybody in the office a pink rose this morning. Very sweet of him. I gave everybody a pair of "Lucky Lovers Message Dice" and the clerk gave everybody a copy of a cd he had burned for a birthday gift last year (he had extras). So far it's been a good day. And I even resisted the urge to call this blog "Happy VD!"

Padre's

17 people showed up tonight. It was an excellent restaurant, everybody seemed to have a good time, and the producer paid for dinner...

Almost makes me wish I hadn't gossiped about him so much. And that I'd tried the pomegranate margarita.

Friday Night Dinners

Last Friday night the accounting, art, and set dec departments went to a tapas place. There were 7 of us and we had a great time. So good, in fact, we decided to set something up for tonight. C found a Mexican place who would take reservations and set us up in our own spot on the outdoor patio. She sent an email to the 3 departments to see who wanted to come. It seems as if everybody wanted to come. It looks like there will be around 20 people from all different departments, including one of the producers. Hmmm... we may have to be a bit more selective in the future. It's not the kick-off party.

I'm going to go but don't plan on staying long. The husband is coming tomorrow and I have some stuff to do before he gets in. And I don't plan on drinking, so I don't want to get stuck paying more of the bill than necessary.

Worth It?

Nothing new can come into your life unless you're grateful for what you already have.

Husband, your reason for wishing for money and success is admirable, but your lack of faith is tearing us apart.

Sick (me) & Stupid (CM)

I've been drinking Airborne all day, trying to get rid of this congestion. I think it has a lot to do with walking outside in the mornings and sucking in all that cold dry air. Sadly that isn't going to stop so I'll just have to hope drugs will do the trick. Now that I look at what I've written, I don't know that Airborne is what I really need... it's not really a "you're already sick" kind of thing. It's a "don't get sick" kind of thing. Oh well, can't hurt. But I should stop by the store and get something more drug-like.

Our Production Supervisor is a moron. I sent her an email today telling her to do her job. The production office is supposed to roster clear all the LA union hires and it wasn't getting done. She wrote back to say she'd be happy to do it, but she didn't know in advance who was getting hired. Then she included an article of the Arizona constitution detailing the right-to-work clause. It was about a whole other issue.

My boss wrote back about that in length but my repsonse reiterated my concern about the roster clearance. I told her that someone knew in advance who was getting hired because these people weren't buying their own plane tickets and per the studio, they had to be cleared before they got on the plane. She wrote back again about the right-to-work stuff and I had to reply that she could talk about it all she wanted with my boss, all I needed to know was whether she was going to do the roster checks. I haven't heard anything since.

We are so over this woman. She's making this job harder than it needs to be - we're all having to do our own jobs plus some of hers to make sure things get done right. It's not right that she's making as much as she is.

But so far she's the only really difficult person on the show and if it stays that way, it'll be fine.

Blah

I'm not sure what's up with me but I haven't felt that good all day. I didn't sleep well because I kept getting woken up - took me awhile to figure out I'd left my window open. Then when the alarm went off, I was in the middle of some dream about being a dorm-mother and some other dorm-mother kept stealing my kitchen gadgets. My throat's felt like it wants to hurt, but it's limited to aching when I swallow. I don't have a lot of energy and everything is just sort of sore. I'm going to have to crawl into bed early tonight and see if extra sleep helps.

Good/Bad News

I finally found the messenger bag Hiro carries on Heroes but it's $162.50 and I can't find it in stock anyway. Damn. I guess the one from Red Tango for $45 may be it by default. Think birthday present husband...

WW Gyp

I finally made it to a WW meeting today. I had wanted to go last week before my birthday but it just didn't happen (I had a mini-goal set). Turns out I was up .8 but I'm not unhappy - it could have been worse with the eating out during the move and starting here in Phx.

What I am unhappy about is the local franchise doesn't honor the monthly pass. I pay $40 a month to go to meetings and get internet access. It's been great. But when I set my card on the counter today, the woman told me they don't have them here. She did give me a complimentary weigh-in but said I'd have to pay next time. I asked her if any of the Phx meetings honored the pass and she said no. I have to find an 800 number and check but if no one takes them, I'm going to plan on going to a meeting when I go home to visit. I will have the husband bring my scale from home and I'll weigh myself every Tuesday. I'll miss going to meetings every week but I have to say I don't think anyone would be as good as Sheila at the meetings in LA - she's fantastic.

Anyway, I'm not going to regain my weight just because I can't attend weekly meetings. I'm going to do just fine on my own for 3 months.

Safety First

The electrician came out to the house today and fixed the wiring in the attic. When they installed the stairs, they decided it would be ok to just snip the wires to reroute them, then put them back together with duct tape or something. A bit of a fire hazard that... So now it's fixed and we can stop worrying about it.

Status Update: Phx

Did I mention I was in Phoenix? It seems like so long ago since I last wrote anything. I traveled in on Monday and got settled into my apartment, then jumped right into work. It was a bit confused, not really knowing any of the deals, but it's payroll - pretty much always the same. We went out to a great restaurant Monday night and I was going to get the steak tacos but everybody else was ordering them and I hate to duplicate. I ended up with some delicious scallops. I'll get the tacos next time.

The office is a pit - used to be some engine repair shop. By the time I got there it was workable, but they only got desks and chairs the Friday before! And it's usually cold but we have space heaters. Today we got floor lamps so we could turn out the overhead lights. I don't understand how people can spend day after day under those nasty things. I also swiped an ottoman from the costume office next door. They don't come in until tomorrow and they'll never miss it.

The apartments are fine - nothing special but livable. Although I do enjoy the gas fireplace... There's a canal nearby and my boss and I have been walking in the mornings. I know I'll have to find some sort of boot camp soon but it's better than nothing.

So far, everybody in accounting is getting along. Three of us worked on EA so that should be ok. The 4th seems pretty cool and she has the 2nd cutest dog in the world. I'll have to take a pic of her. Foxy was going to be the office dog, but M is allergic to her. We're going to restrict her to "Foxy Fridays". It's not that bad since she has a very shrill bark and tends to go after people who come into the office. Luckily she's all of 10 pounds.

It's getting late and I have to get up to walk. T will kill me if she gets up that early and I don't. But I want to, so it's ok.

Outta Here

We've moved and I'm about to leave for Phx. The house is a wreck, but it'll be nice once it's all unpacked and sorted out. More later...

Philly?

I picked this up from girlfiend and the beagle mom, but I don't know that it's all that accurate... I lived in Indiana for the first 9 years of my life then Tennessee until I was 25. Most people think I have a southern accent. I don't think it's all that noticeable unless I'm around other southern people - then my drawl really kicks in. Whatever.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: Philadelphia Your accent is as Philadelphian as a cheesesteak! If you're not from Philadelphia, then you're from someplace near there like south Jersey, Baltimore, or Wilmington. if you've ever journeyed to some far off place where people don't know that Philly has an accent, someone may have thought you talked a little weird even though they didn't have a clue what accent it was they heard.
The Midland
The South
The Inland North

Holiday Cats!

And last but not least, here's my ill-fated attempt to make Christmas cards using pics of the cats in a Santa hat. Notice the death stare from Baxter...

Holiday Pics #2!

My sister and I made Christmas cookies and put them in a tin that I remember from forever. It was nice to continue that tradition. Of course, Sofie made herself right at home at Grandma and Grandpa's house...

Holiday Pics!

This is the magnificient tree topper my parents have used ever since I can remember. Like I mentioned before, the light patterns on the ceiling rotate when the bulb heats up.
Pretty, isn't it?