Art

I walked Sofie into the defunct cafeteria of our rented warehouse and found artwork on the walls. 3 of them are pretty generic, but the 4th is a Kandinsky. I put it up in my office and I'm planning on taking it with me at the end of the show. It's in a super nice frame and everything.

Done?

I really don't want to do the work that's on my desk - all contracts and crap for above the line producers and the director. I hate dealing with their paperwork.

Anyway, I just finished reading the archives for Barmaid Blog. It seems she's stopped writing on a regular basis though. I really enjoyed her work and often wonder what it would be like to have an audience like that, but I don't think I ever will. I'm not a great writer and I don't really have that much to talk about. I try but most of the time I forget to blog when something interesting happens and by the time I think to do it I've forgotten the details.

Maybe I should give it up.

There Could Be An Issue

The finance exec at the studio called our Production Office Coord not only incompetent but the most arrogant person she's ever met. Nice to know we're not the only ones who don't like him. His nickname is TAB, which stand's for TA's Bitch (TA being the UPM).

Misadventure

Did I mention I got a speeding ticket just outside Needles, CA? I was going 91 in a 70 and the cop busted me. I pulled over and she wrote it up and that was that. Until we realized that she must have scared Darby because the next thing we know the cat is taking a dump in the dog's bed.

We pulled over again and the husband got out with a bottle of water and a roll of toilet paper (which we are so glad we brought) and cleaned it out as best he could. She didn't do that the rest of the trip, luckily.

Anyway, I just called to find out how much the fine would be and the court clerk said they wouldn't have it in the system for 3 to 4 weeks. I was hoping to get it taken care of asap but I can't. Seems odd they put if off for so long.

We Made It.

Ok, it's been a long time since I posted but it's been a long trip.

The 1st night we made it to Santa Rosa, NM. The weather was fine, the hotel was nice, all went well.

The 2nd night we hit bad weather in Little Rock, AR. Snow, ice on the roads, etc. We decided we'd better drive on so we didn't get stuck there (not knowing the forecast). It's less than 150 from Little Rock to Memphis, TN and it took us 8 hours to get there. We only made it up to about 20 mph and there were 2 times we just sat for 20+ minutes waiting for the tow-trucks to haul the jack-knifed trailers out of the way. We were exhausted.

The 3rd night was spent in Roanoke, VA. It was cold but no more weather/traffic issues.

We got to Boston about 10pm Sunday night and checked into the final hotel. A really nice Hilton with a fantastic bed. But after staying at Super 8's across the country with free internet access, it really pissed us off that the Hilton wanted $10 per day for access. WTF?

Got to get back to work, more later.

Waiting to Go

My day has been so slow and I have so much to do at home before we leave. I'm just sitting here waiting for my paychecks to come through so I can process them, pack up my stuff, and go home.

About the best thing that happened today was seeing the husband when he brought over my stuff to ship. Whenever I see him somewhere different than normal, I flash back to our first date and seeing him waiting for me at the theatre. I hadn't realized until then how handsome he was.

I emailed my old assistant and told him I missed him. It was nice having someone to work with who I didn't have to train and keep an eye on. I also asked him to get me Hugh's autograph but didn't go so far as to ask him to get it on one of those bathing suit shots. Hubba hubba!

Anyway, I think I'm going to go ahead and start packing my office. There's only so many games of freecell a person can play.

And Jorge, if you get the part can I call you Jorge?

Star Comment Sighting!

You have to go back to Monday March 3rd and read the blog and comments - so cool.

And OMD is not a typo - it means Oh My Dog (since I don't believe in God but I do believe in my dog).

I've Been Sick

I've been sick and my boss sent me home early on Wednesday and Thursday and told me not to come in on Friday. So I spent most of the weekend sleeping and resting around and between my basic chores. I finally went to the doctor on Saturday because any exertion left me breathless and sweaty. I have an infection, most likely bacterial since it's responding to antibiotics. I also have an inflamed chest wall from all the coughing I did earlier in the week - that's what's causing the shortness of breath. So I have meds for that and an inhaler to keep me from coughing. Lovely.

I was supposed to go home early yesterday, too but I had to wait until I got my payroll in and it was my assistant's first day and I didn't leave until 6 (which technically is early). I feel better today but that's how it usually goes.. I'll have to see if I lose steam as the day progresses.

Got a lot to do to get ready to go. Have to check the weather reports for the southern route and clean and do laundry and pack and et al. I'm not worried - it'll all get done. I know I'm going for 6 months but I don't have to take my entire life with me. They have laundry and stores on the east coast. Anyway, this morning is take the cats to the groomers. Should be fun trying to round them all up.

Star Sighting (right from my desk)

They're casting for the movie around the corner and down the hall from me and I can see everybody coming in from the elevator right from my desk. Not that I recognize them all by name but a lot of them look familiar. It's hard not to stare at those - when you know who someone is right off, you can register it and move on. When they look familiar but can't be placed is when the staring starts. Very embarrassing.

I did see and recognize Jorge Garcia walk by (Hurley from Lost). I hope he gets the part.

Long Drive

I've been doing some research online about the drive to Boston. Mapquest wants to send us through Denver, Des Moines, Chicago, etc (the northern route) @ 2994 miles. I was thinking of going I-40 (the southern route) @ 3126 miles. The benefit is keeping south of any real winter weather.

Ugh - both of those numbers depress me.

I really just don't want to get stuck in snow and although preliminary forecasts look fairly clear until NY, it's colder on the northern route and therefore may be more likely to snow.

Anybody got a tips for me?

s.w.a.t

I just finished reading the script for s.w.a.t and I think the movie is better than the script. They definitely made it funnier but it's been a while since I saw the film so I don't remember other differences.

I do think it took a really long time to get the new team set up and into action. And I didn't care too much about any of them from what I read. All a bit stereotyped...

Anyway, another one down and tons more to go.

Sick-ish

I'm getting sick and I think it's because it's slow enough on my new show for my body to think I'm not working and it's losing all resistance. It's a phenomenon that happens to most people in the industry when they get done with a show. It's so busy during shooting you will yourself to stay healthy enough to work and then when it slows down all the accumulated germs attack and you're too weak to fight it off anymore.

Correction

Sorry, the director isn't complaining about $3000/month not being enough - he's complaining about $3000/week not being enough. He fuckin' can't find a place to live at $12,000 a month? Nope, he wants $20,000.

Asshat dumbas.

Cheap Bastard

The director on this movie has got to be one of the biggest asshats I've ever worked with. First, he wanted to know why we needed more than 3 accountants, then he complained $3000/month wasn't enough to find housing in Boston, now we find out he wants to use his budget money to hire a nanny instead of an assistant. He figures he'll just have the production office coordinator do all the work of his assistant on top of running the office.

The man is making more than $7 million on this show and he's complaining about not getting his personal expenses covered. Meanwhile, they cut our housing rate by $5 a day...

Sped

It looks like I'm going down to Sped's house this weekend. We haven't seen each other since Xmas and I don't know when we'll see each other once I go off to Boston. It should be nice.

Other than that, I don't have any great plans this weekend. More chores and getting stuff ready around the house. I'm glad we ended up with an extra week for all this crap.

Done and Done

It's official - we leave for Boston on March 6th. The date can't change because I've arrainged for a house/pet sitter to start then and that's that.

I actually found a lovely couple to watch things for us. They had great references and seemed quite nice when I met them at Starbucks last night. We'll have them come by next weekend to get keys and meet the kitties, learn about the basics of the house, etc. I'll be so glad if this works out - it'll save us a ton of money.

I still have to let the neighbor know they're going to be there so he doesn't call the cops on them! Too bad I can't seem to find his phone number.... Husband, do you have it?

Anyway. Our vet has changed clinics and thanks to the husband we know where she's gone. I've already made appointments for Sofie and Darby to get checked out for the trip but I still have to contact the old clinic and get the records. I asked the new place to do it and they tried, but the old place said I had to call for them. Lovely. I'm sure people switch vets all the time but it makes me uncomfortable. Then I remember how much I don't like the other vets and realize I have no choice. Tomorrow for sure.

They're casting for male singers for HSM3 right now. I think I'll try and grab something else for the girls before the end of the week. I have several things to get in the mail this weekend - books for my dad, stuff for Sped, and the sign I already stole for E's girls.

Upgrade

I just got a monitor upgrade at work - 22" monster! I feel like I should scoot back in order to see the whole screen at once.

This should be good for watching dvds at work. Or blocking people's view of me as they pass by.

Happy Birthday?

Why is it people sing Happy Birthday like it's a funeral dirge? I know there's a point in time when you don't want to get older but it's still supposed to be a celebration. If you can't sing it in less than 7 seconds you are singing too slow.

Poor Sofie

I took Sofie to the dog park yesterday (it was the 3rd time in as many days) and not 2 minutes after we got there she was being mauled by a schnauzer.

We entered the gates and walked over to the picnic table, passing a man with a dog between his feet sitting in a lawn chair. The guy was talking to the dog and I had the thought the dog must be new and scared. Well, I sat down and opened my book and heard this aggressive snarling. I looked around and then down to my feet and saw the schnauzer go at some dog's neck. It took me a second to realize it was Sofie! By then the guy had gotten to his dog and pulled it off and I picked Sof up and put her on the table, running my hand over her throat to make sure there wasn't any blood. It hadn't broken the skin but Sofie was terrified and covered in slobber.

I had the urge to pick her up and take her out but then realized if I did it might make her scared of coming back. So we sat for a minute and then walked down to the other end of the park. The man had put his dog back on the leash but they didn't leave either. It took about 45 minutes for Sofie to relax enough to play but she always knew exactly where that dog was and never strayed too far from me. At one point the dog was within 10 feet and Sofie wanted me to pick her up but I didn't - it was so hard not to coddle her. She did get extra attention from the other dog owners who asked if she was ok and scratched her bum.

After about 15 minutes of almost regular play we went home. The schnauzer was still there, still barking, growling, and jumping at every dog that got too close. I almost felt bad for it - it obviously needs the socialization.

Taxes

I got our taxes done today and I'm happy to report we are getting a refund. Now, normally we don't like to get a refund - we prefer to break even or pay a little. But with the trip to Boston and the need for a cat sitter I'm happy for the extra money.

I guess I should change my W4 allowances. Time to break out the tax tables and calculator!