Growing up in LA, you couldn't help but know someone who was an actor/producer/writer/director/music editor "in the industry". Most of the time it seemed perfectly normal but now that I think about it, it did make for some remarkable childhood memories. Like when the Los Angeles Dodgers came to my friend Katherine's 10th birthday. Or when my schoolmate Michelle had a rollerskating party and Dorothy Hamill joined us.
As my mom reminded me back then, kids in Kansas don't generally get to say they showed off their freestyle moves to Dorothy Hamill. (Actually, what I really remember was how glad I was that I was wearing my jeans with a pink roller skate patch on my tush. I was super sure Dorothy was impressed.)
Inevitably I ended up dating the actor/producer/writer/director/music editors. I never got to a level where there were paparazzi pics of me with anyone (unless one shot in Teen Beat counts) but the experience was sort of surreal in any case. I mean, in Kansas, when the girls go out on dates do the guys say, "I'd order the tempura, but it's horrible for my skin and I've got an audition for a Crest commercial tomorrow."
I'm actually a second generation Los Angeleno so my mom and I have always had that in common. Did I ever tell you that Natasha Gregson Wagner could have been my stepsister? Anyway, it's a long story.
In any case, later in life I worked at Warner Bros. and got exposed to the more traditional Hollyweird stuff like learning the names and phone numbers of every agent in town by practicing with index cards, and remembering what execs were and weren't speaking to whom and why, and (of course) getting coffee for celebrities and getting screamed at when it wasn't non-fat-soy-with-whipped. So with all those fine skills, when I left the business what I was ultimately left with was... well, very little -- except an amazing talent for witty/snarky color-commentary during the Oscars and an impressive record of winning every Oscar pool I ever entered.
This is why it was so strange to be in my room at the Marriot in Boston tonight and turn on the TV and realize I completely forgot the Oscars were on. And I have no idea who's nominated. And I doubt I've even seen more than 3 of the movies.
Who'da thunk it?
You can't take LA completely out of the girl though. In only a few minutes, I'd ordered wine (yes mom, occasionally I drink alone and it's OK) and settled in for good night of solo snarking. I mean, did you see the look that Penelope Cruz gave Ellen after the insinuation that she was Mexican? ¡El horror!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Oscars
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Just sixteen days...
since my last update and yet so so much has happened...
Grandma Anderson passed away on Feb. 7th. Jane was a devoted wife, a loving mother, an indulgant grandma, and a proud great-grandmother. She also had a great gift for crochet, a wicked sense of humor, a love of dancing, and the instincts of a classic and true matriarch -- to feed and worry about the well-being of every member of her clan (especially the boys.)
She'll most certainly be remembered through her recipes, but we will also miss her every time we wrap ourselves in the warmth of her hand-made blankets. Or find one of her "hug coupons" in our scrapbooks.
Before she passed, Grandma told us how happy she was that we were such a "great couple" and she knew she didn't have to worry about us. Just a few days after her service -- on the 15th -- we celebrated our 10th anniversary. As the day passed by, I thought of her and her comment more than a few times. I take a lot of comfort from that approval. After all, she was the Anderson family matriarch, and she knew a thing or two about love - she and grandpa were married 66 years.
So in her spirit -- here it is -- we're shooting for at least 56 more. I think it's the best way to honor her (and Grandpa), and I know she won't mind when we break her record.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Brrrrrr
Today's high: 0 degrees. -13 with wind chill.
Last year in our shiny new condo we wouldn't have noticed the sub-zero temps. But in our old crickety bungalow, we can feel the wind and cold blowing in from every corner and seam -- especially in the kitchen. We didn't manage to get the baseboards installed before winter so now we put on wool socks and slippers to get coffee in the morning.
Apparently we're going to have a few more days of this. I don't think we're ever going to get the cats off the radiator.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Not my best birthday.
I'm sick with a really awful cold, and the Bears just lost the Superbowl.
If it weren't for the yummy piece of chocolate cake I had a halftime this whole day would be utterly pathetic.
That's the magic of chocolate cake, people.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
We're way past passion. This is mania.
As I drove to work this morning I noticed several kids walking to school bundled up in Bears hats and scarves. At my office there were dozens of people wearing jerseys. And as I drove home I was floored by how many cars were flying Bears flags. This is an amazing thing to be a part of. Even the city skyline is rallying for the Bears... 
