February 28, 2005
Lei-ing Low In The 70's
February 25, 1977
Didn't go to gym today.
Georgie & I skipped.
Went out with Debbie, Lisa, Wendi,
Mary, Kim, April and Debbie.
Went to Wendi's for a while
then to the game then to McDonald's.
Drove around for a while.
Had fun.
February 28
Went to the Pizza Hut for lunch.
Georgie called after school.
Julie & I went to the store after supper.
Saw Bob.
Came back to my house and worked on my lei.
Boring.
February 27, 2005
February 25, 2005
Someone Take The Wheel
It seems for now the incessant rain has subsided for the Oscar weekend. I'm sure they would've built some insane canopy at the Kodak Theater so the do's wouldn't have gotten done, but wouldn't it have been interesting just once - just once to see the stars dealing with a little real life? (I apologize if someone's house actually fell down a hill...) DJ said the other night that if he were nominated for an Oscar he'd take the subway to the Kodak. There is a Metro stop that dumps you off right under the Kodak but I informed him that I thought they closed it for that day. He says, "ah, c'mon, you think if Brad Pitt wanted to take the subway to the Oscars that they wouldn't let him?"
The subway here is much more of a beautiful thing than most people think. It certainly has its shortcomings like it doesn't go all the way to the airport. Or Beverly Hills or the Westside. (Wouldn't want the hooligans from the Eastside coming to Rodeo Drive...but what about the maids and the gardeners who take five buses for two hours just to get to work?)
But on this past wonderful Wednesday evening, I got on the Metro at Universal City and DJ got on at Vermont and Sunset after work and we met on Hollywood Boulevard for cocktails, food and rock 'n roll. The FULL MOON had the mad in full howl at the Henry Fonda Theater as Paul Westerberg brought His Only Friends to rock for TWO AND A HALF HOURS! It was as if he couldn't stop playing. (What might he have been on?) He'd call it quits and then they'd just play three more songs, call it a night - three more. After an hour and a half they didn't care how they sounded, what they were playing or saying but they just wanted to keep rocking. We half expected to see the curtain close on them as they continued to wail. His Only Friends weren't The Replacements but admittedly they kept up with a wiley and unpredictable Paul. The clouds had parted for the evening for the first time in days (weeks?) and the rock gods were laughing and the Minnesota werewolf was in customary biting form, incessantly raining his slovenly brilliance upon his prey.
February 23, 2005
Lookin Up In Heaven
It started out that the rain was nice to sleep to, stay in and watch a movie or bad TV. Now I feel like I am having Chinese water torture! But it's not a drip, drip, drip - it is drench, drench, drench. I am starting to feel very grey.
An X-Ray Of The 70's
February 23, 1977
Went to McDonald's for lunch w/ Debbie,
Debbie R. & Robin.
Had x-rays in the morning.
He said I bruized my cartilage real bad like a sprain.
Went to Robin's to get my candy for Beau Dance.
Bob called later.
Author's Note:
Ugh, Beau Dance. What a ridiculous high school activity disguised as feminism. The girl asks the boy to the dance, arranges and pays for it. AND in my school's case the girl spends a week or five, depending on the insanity of the girl, threading hundreds to thousands of pieces of penny candy into a lei or some other sugar inspired artwork for the guy to parade around while he spends the night expecting to get more than lei'd while the girl is just praying no one else shows up in the same dress and of course someone does.
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February 22, 2005
Hatin' The 70's
February 19, 1977
Came home from Debbie's at about 2:00
and the doctor came over.
He said I ripped the cartlidge in my knee.
I have to have crutches.
Couldn't go out at nite so I just watched TV.
Got to bed real early.
February 20, 1977
Lisa came over for a while.
Bob called.
Got my crutches.
Oh, they're a pain.
Sat around at night.
Ann bought me the album KANSAS!!
Yeah.
Debbie called at night.
February 21, 1977
NO SCHOOL
Lisa picked me up for lunch &
went to Mr. Steak w/Lisa, Elaine & Sue.
Went back to Lisa's office for an hour.
She cleaned my teeth.
Stopped by Eby-Brown.
Came back to my house for a while.
Bob called at nite.
Did some homework.
February 22, 1977
Went to McDonald's for lunch.
It was terrible at school on crutches.
They hurt so bad.
Stayed in T's room for an hour after school.
Got a letter from Bruce!
Wow! What a letter!!
Bob came over tonight for a while.
Robin and Debbie called.
February 22, 1978
School makes me sick,
I can't take it.
Watched TV after school.
Tried to call Tony
but had to talk to Scotty.
He makes me sick too.
Went to work.
Boring.
February 21, 2005
February 19, 2005
An Old Passion Renewed
Pro basketball has not been able to hold my attention all season. The soap operas. The money. The BS.
Never been much of a college basketball fan, however as I write this I am watching the Fighting Illini at 26 - 0, trying to make it 27 against Iowa. It holds some interest for me as my niece goes to Illinois ("I work at an Italian restaurant and I make pasta for the basketball team almost every day. I guess they're pretty good...??), as did many of my Aurora friends way back when.
But the real deal lies in high school basketball. Loved it when I was in high school, I was always there crying foul. It's so close, so accessible, so passionate, so quick. Last night after a DVD viewing I was surfing channels and came across the Crenshaw High game. Yeah, baby, Crenshaw! Boyzz in da hood! Go Crenshaw! Wait a minute - they're playing Jordan. Isn't Jordan where our friend Chuckie teaches? Yeah! Go Jordan! How can you NOT root for #23 in a Jordan uniform? Shoot, they all can shoot free throws better than Shaq... Jordan ended up upsetting Crenshaw in the final moments (and in comes the security) and they go on to play Fairfax in the tournament. I called Chuckie this morning and told him, "I'm there! We're going to that game! Call me." Gotta support the fight to get out of the hood. Maybe a couple of these guys will actually end up going to Illinois or Iowa.
Another Day Another River
Thunder and lightning and rain, oh my. A dog has had barely enough time in the last three days to do its business. I know my pup doesn't want anything to do with it. I open the door, he comes running, looks out and promptly runs back to the couch. The best part is the news. STORM WATCH OH FIVE! Horrible things have happened of course. There is a house on Laurel Canyon that folded in half and crumbled down the hill - I pass it on the way to the dog park. Still its funny to watch the local stations competing for that Emmy and it's all about the rain, (I have no excuse - I have no other news) not the LAPD shooting a thirteen year old kid, not Social Security, not suicide bombers... Oh, of course at the top of the news is always Michael Jackson and Robert Blake...
Did I ever tell you that I had a poster of Robert Blake in my bedroom? It was "IN THE 70's" of course. It was his Baretta days, with the Cockatoo on his shoulder. They should really syndicate that show again. Later - IN THE 80's, I shared a drink with him. His drink, actually. I was having dinner at the Improv and he and my friend Mario were dining at the next table. (Mario has been Blake's friend FOREVER and was the one bud to be with him when he was released from prison for house arrest. "What are friends for?") Anyway, "Bobby" was having a liqueur that he was questioning its flavor, so he just held it out to me and told me to taste it. So I did. And that was that.
February 18, 2005
February 18, 1977
Went to McDonald's.
Went out at night with Debbie, Georgie, Lisa M., & Debbie R.
Was having a real good time until
I fell and hurt my knee.
Stayed over nite at Debbie's.
February 18, 1978
Lisa came and got me and we went to lunch.
Went shopping with Brendan.
Went to Dekalb at night.
Saw Tony and everybody there.
Had a good time except
my car screwed up.
February 17, 2005
Trouble Doll In The 70's
February 17, 1977
Went to McDonald's at lunch.
Talked to Georgie and
we decided to double at Beau Dance.
Talked to Julie after school.
Debbie called.
Sat around all night and watched TV.
Bob called and then Georgie called.
February 17, 1978
Went to Robin's for lunch.
Then a little trouble in Hoban's class.
The lady's crazy.
Went drivin' around with John & Debbie after school.
Went to work
then to Dekalb with Robin and Joy.
Steve's floor had a party.
Good time.
February 15, 2005
Clowning Around In The 70's
February 15, 1977
Went to McDonald's for lunch.
Bob called after school.
Was going to go to play practice but
Sarah didn't pick me up.
Bob called again and got mad at me cause
I wouldn't let him come over.
Talked to Debbie for hours.
February 15, 1978
Went out with Lisa at night.
We went to Bob's.
Had a good time.
Watched Ali vs. Spinks.
Author's note:
First of all I want to say - remember when you could watch a major fight like that without HBO and pay-per-view? Well, some of us do, anyway.
Second of all - it was a different Bob in 1978. 1977 Bob will soon be broken up with. 1978 Bob was Lisa J's boyfriend who would end up marrying Julie who often shows up in these calendar journals dating Dave, Steve, Dave again and so on.
Third of all - I am getting ill just reading how often I ate at McDonald's! I do believe I was a Quarter Pounder With Cheese (AKA Royale w/Cheese) kind of girl. And fries of course - I'm Irish after all. Well, now don't ya know that some years later I can no longer eat bread or cheese! The clown did me in! I hate clowns.
February 14, 2005
Happy Valentine's Day
On this anniversary of the passing of our girl Chelsea, I wish all pet owners a Happy Valentine's Day. Also, I can announce being officially in business as a Pet Sitter & Dog Walker and going by the business name of Angels Walk with little Chelsea as my logo mascot. We miss the old girl but she inspired me in many ways including my artwork and in wanting to spend my time with many more dogs and pets.
Please visit the new website for details! I love talking poop with people!
Celebrating Early And Late In Life
DJ and I went to the Steak Joynt Sunday evening to celebrate Valentine's early - to beat the crowds. Last year we were stuck in a mania of date-night trying to get a bite to eat. We were enjoying our first Stoli martinis served up by the Joynt's maestro Jimmy, when a departing birthday party of four stopped right at our table. The 75ish-year-old birthday boy handed the cake box to his woman friend and said, "Here, hold this, I have to drain my main vein." Precious! Couldn't have asked for a better start to our celebration. Cheers!
Valentine's In The Land Of I Wish It Were Make Believe In The 70's
February 14, 1977
I got a carnation today at school.
It's so pretty.
Practically everybody got one.
Bob got a pink one.
Mine's white.
Talked to Sarah today.
Went out with Lisa and Elaine at night.
Drove around.
It was pretty fun.
February 11, 2005
The Apology Of Suburbia In The 70's
February 11, 1977
TGIF - West vs St. Charles
Walked to the store during lunch.
Debbie came over after school.
Later, April, Scott, Lynn, and Jenny came over.
We all went to the B-Ball game.
Went to McDonald's after.
Drove around w/ Ed B. and Fitz.
That was boring.
February 11, 1979
Worked all day.
It was a drag.
This weekend did me in & it's not over.
Tony called. He's home!
I can't believe it.
Went to Debbie's for a while then to Tony's
but he wasn't back from Chicago yet.
Missed each other again.
Oh well, tomorrow...
February 10, 2005
The Anthropology Of Suburbia In The 70's
February 10, 1977
Stayed home from school.
I have a cold.
Watched TV all day. Bob called.
Today was Senior Skip Day.
Went over to Steve's apartment tonight with Lisa.
Got home at 9:00.
February 10, 1979
Went home from Debbie's about noon.
Went out to FV later w/Deb & Wendy.
Went to Rusty's party then up to Dekalb
to Cathy Sealer's and then Crayton Bodie's for a while.
That was a rush, he wasn't haven' a party
but we were there.
C. Duck & Nate At The Hotel Cafe
The Cahuenga corridor was movin' and bluesin' last night when friends and drinkin' buds C. Duck & Nate played a set of their sweet tunes minus a band but not without the violin backup, the harmonica, the banjo and the dobro.
"You can tear out my heart
But you'd better take my liver too
'Cause it won't be of much use when I'm through..."
Chris - AKA C. Duck
February 09, 2005
The Anthropology Of Suburbia In The 70's
February 9, 1977
Ordered the Valentine's carnation for Bob.
Went to McDonald's for lunch.
Started getting sicker by the hour all day and night.
Called DeDe at night.
Watched TV.
February 9, 1978
Went to Robin's for lunch.
Had to go to Joliet West for Area Conference.
Our act got gonged but West won first place.
Went to Kevin's after we got back.
Author's note:
Area Conference was for DECA - Distributive Education Clubs of America.
Mostly it meant that we had jobs and got credit for it, aside from going to business competitions and selling boxes of chocolate turtles... The Gong Show was an addiction for me. I did a mean impression of Chuck Barris. That particular Conference had a gong show talent show so my friends and I concocted an "act" where I was Chuck Barris - hat and all - and they came out as an act on the gong show...a show in a show in a show basically. Any way, the crowd was screaming and hooting and the "judges" thought they were calling for a gong so they gonged us. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
February 9, 1979
Took Brendan to get his car in the morning.
Came back and slept the rest of the day.
Went to work.
Debbie and I went to Ward's at 11.
Went out with Deb, Dave ?, and Greg O'Neill.
It was a crazy night.
Got to Debbie's at 6.
Can't Argue With That
From The LA Times Food Section Today:
"Toffee at its best
This assortment from Valerie Confections, a new Los Angeles-based company, takes toffee to another level, enrobing crisp, delicate toffee in a layer of Valrhona bittersweet chocolate to marvelous effect. The classic toffee is the best rendition we've ever tasted. The almond fleur de sel toffee is a revelation. Ginger, mint, orange and almond aren't bad either. Available at Le Sanctuaire in Santa Monica, Joan's on Third and Susina in Los Angeles, the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills or by phone at (888) 706-1408. About $20."
You Go Val! If you call today I'm sure they can accommodate on last minute Valentine's Day orders!
February 08, 2005
Desperate But Not Serious
I get that Desperate Housewives is a guilty pleasure. I have a couple of those myself in regards to cheesy TV but DH ain't one of them. My friend Gene was cast in one of the early episodes so we sat down to watch and cringed through the whole thing before he finally showed up in the last five minutes.
And of course awards shows are a guilty pleasure and increasingly in the love/hate form. We sat down Saturday night to watch the Screen Actors Guild Awards for which DJ is allowed to vote. However, he so doesn't care that he asks for my input especially in the TV categories. We had our ballot marked and got the pen ready to check off actual winners. Out of 13 categories, we had voted for only four winners. It was almost like as soon as they announced the category I knew how it was going to go. You could feel it. It's all a crock. Jennifer Garner? Teri Hatcher? Wait - aren't the voters ACTORS? Obviously most of them out-of-work actors that can't afford to pay for HBO! In fact I'm certain 90% (or more) of SAG members are unemployed as actors. DJ commented in his always snarky voice, "It should be called the Waiter's Guild".
And it was those 90% that were unrepresented and forgotten at the SAG Awards - the ones that spend their last cent on headshots, live in crappy apartments and wait on the other 10. God love 'em.
The Anthropology Of Suburbia In The 70's
February 8, 1977
Had three tests today.
Bob got his glasses.
Went to McDonald's for lunch.
Was going to go out with Lisa at nite
but she changed the plans.
Watched TV. Bob called.
Talked for a long time.
February 8, 1979
Last day of school for a while.
Long weekend ahead.
Debbie had a party tonight.
It got pretty wild.
February 07, 2005
February 05, 2005
February 02, 2005
That's What Vodka Drinks Are, Mmm, Mmm Good
The New York Times got together a tasting panel and surveyed Vodkas - sipping them straight up. The results were, by all accounts - surprising. Eyebrow raising. Makes ya wonder about all things "hype". Is that plural for "hip"...?
"After the 21 vodkas were sipped and the results compiled, the Smirnoff was our hands-down favorite....
...at the end of our tasting it was Smirnoff at the top of our list, ahead of many other names that are no doubt of higher status in stylish bars and lounges. Some of those names did not even make our Top 10. Grey Goose from France, one of the most popular vodkas, was felt to lack balance and seemed to have more than a touch of sweetness. Ketel One from the Netherlands, another top name, was felt to be routine and sharp, although Mr. Klemm did describe it as "a good mixer." ..."
The whole article can be viewed here or go to their website and do a search for "Vodka tasting".
Makes me want to visit Rueben at Musso's and have him mix me an Absolute martini - the classic Nora order that he assumes to pour me every visit and I strayed from over the last year just to take the "step up" to the goose or the ketel. Ah, hell - anything but the Well is okay by me.
