Cultured By Brooke

I've mentioned her numerous times before, and rightfully so! My sophisticated friend Brooke has lead me on another intoxicating adventure... Brooke is as cultured as they come. Her personalized style and eclectic palate is refreshing and almost unheard of in L.A. (Let's face it, most people in Hollywood follow trends.) Somehow, Brooke has her finger on the pulse of what's hot, without being a "follower." Seriously- I can't even get her to Tweet the hilarious and off-the-cuff one liners that effortlessly explode from her lips! She's witty, gorgeous and the coolest chick you'll ever meet.
Tonight's journey involved a trip to the Echoplex in Silver Lake to see the dynamic band Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
People overuse the word "corky" however, in this case, I think it's an appropriate adjective.
The band features two missed matched guys with the perfect balance of stage presence and passion.
It doesn't hurt that their voices sound killer together too!
The bands sound is youthful and energetic.  But don't let that fool you... the nearly packed house was entirely mixed with young and old, men and women, gay and straight, hipsters and plaid wearing preppy's - all dancing (in their own special way) to Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.'s music.
I loved their heavy percussion full of rhythm and tempo changes.  In one song the lyrics promise to "take you there" and they really did! They push the audience past uncomfortable, into outrageously intense in the best way.
It was an excellent night. Rocking music and a night out with the fabulous Brooke Kivowitz!

Busy Day

After weeding through a ton of emails, three meetings, two trips to the bank, a massive PR push, and pre-production work for our next parody (an OSCAR special...) I'm happy to call it a day!

Farm Fresh Fun!

Today some friend and I visited a local Farmer's Market in Los Angeles.
Mar Vista to be exact!
Fresh fruit and vegetables.
Breads and spreads.
Organic soap.
It was a wonderful day.
Below is a "Be For" and "And After" of the day.
I think it's self-explanatory...

There's Plenty Of Work To Do...

But today is Saturday, and I really need a break.

That's the funny thing about work... No matter how much time or energy you spend accomplishing a task, there will always be more!  I'm a classic overachiever.  I want to do more, more, more! However, sometimes doing more actually involves doing less.

So, I'm shutting down my laptop and my brain and I'm going to enjoy the rest of this weekend!

Friday Night Lights... Out.

Remember how exciting Friday nights were in High School? 
High School football games, movies with friends, ice skating at the mall...
It was a thrilling time full of raging hormones, nervous energy and Drakkar Nior.
Now, I get excited for Happy Hour with friends and a movie on the couch!
I guess I knew that I couldn't stay young forever...
I just never imagined it would be lights out at 11:00 PM in my (EARLY) thirties!

Spaghetti Dinner

One of my favorite childhood memories is Sunday Dinner!

Waking up watching. Watching cartoons until mom or dad told me I had to get in the shower and get dressed... Then off to church.  

Once church was out, I was eager to get to my grandma's house.

I'll never forget the smell when I'd walk into the house!

The aroma was so enticing I could hardly wait to dig into a huge bowl of spaghetti and meatballs!

As I got older, I sat and watched both of my grandmas prepare their unique recipe for the sauce.

Eventually, I started making the sauce with them...

Now, I'm on my own.  I've created a nice hybrid of both recipes that either grandma would be proud!

I love having friends over for my version of spaghetti dinner.
(Even if it's not Sunday...)

The aroma is the same, and so is the love from which it was prepared.

But I don't think it'll ever taste quite as divine as it did as a child!

Rehearsal

I love the smell of a dance studio in the morning.

The energy of a new project.

Laughing with friends between breaks.

I still have just as much fun as the first time I walked into a rehearsal!

Too bad my body hurts four times more!

Blogged Down...

Spent the entire day working online-
Updated my Twitter account,
Revamped our YouTube Channel,
Posted on Facebook,
Skimmed the gossip sites,
Now it's time to put my computer (and brain) to sleep!

Communicate!

If three people overheard the exact same conversation at a party, I'm confident that there would be at least three different exaggerations of the story-

Six Word Essay On Sleep

I just need six hours, please!

Life Is An Adventure- Part (???)

Some days I'm performing.
Some days I'm producing.
Some days I'm judging.
And some days I'm dressed up like a Grape, plugging a product, posing with Carmen Electra!

WORKed Over!

Fighting for money that's mine;
I shouldn't have to work this hard to get paid!
It's starts at the top-
The merge will never happen.

I'm Going to Need A Bigger Clipboard!

Woke up early this morning with a loaded agenda-
By the time I fed the puppies and myself, did my morning workout and took a shower I was ready to begin!
Sat down in front of my computer and got sucked into a Google Search black hole!
Aside from the fact that I read up on the latest celebrity gossip...
I've accomplished absolutely nothing in the past hour and a half.
Which wouldn't be an issue if the past two days weren't filled with exactly the same!
I've got to start crossing things off my list, or I'm going to need a bigger clipboard!

Internet Censorship!

I just found out that our U.S. Senate is trying to pass a bill that would censor the things that we do on the Internet!
I'm so confused...
If they censor the Internet, how are all of the closeted, gay Republican politicians going to cheat on their wives with the Twinks they'd find on Grinder?  If you ask me, it seems like Big Brother is really trying to keep their secret porn stash all to themselves!
Typical- rich, dirty, old white men that want to snoop on everyone else!

Leap And The Net Will Appear!

...Maybe.
Today I woke up in a bad mood. I was frustrated and feeling sorry for myself.
I hate that quality in people, especially myself!
So, keeping in mind my goals for this year- I took a deep breath, counted to 10 and released all the nasty doubt.
I decided to do three bold things that could help me around my current situation.
I put myself out there entirely-
So far the risk hasn't returned a profitable investment...
But I'm confident it will.
Every time I've jumped,
I've soared!

Can You Act Like A Fruit?

One of my earliest professional jobs in the entertainment industry was performing as a costumed character for a major production / theme park company...

So it seems appropriate that well over sixteen years in this business I will once again be sporting a plushy costume!

Thankfully, I've grown as a person since my first gig.  I understand a job is a job!

And in this economy, I'll gratefully jump into the red tights and ill-fitted headpiece and "act" like a strawberry!

Golden.

The food is prepped.
The alcohol is chilled.
The table is set.
The pre-show is on.
The red carpet judgment has begun.
The guests are near.
The party is on...
The dream continues!

Heaven on Sunset Boulevard!

Sometimes indulging is necessary!

Eavesdropping. Namedropping. And joining the Gay Mafia!

Nothing good ever comes from eavesdropping...

Namedropping is a completely different story!

I'm sitting at Starbucks in West Hollywood listening to all of the conversations around me.

It's remarkable how casually people name drop in this town!

It's a small world, and an even smaller industry...

You'd think that people would be a little more discrete when bashing a famous diva.

Nevertheless, the Who's Who of the Gay Mafia sit here day in and day out writing their scripts, dropping their resumes and networking...

So naturally I'm working my ASS off to become a member!  I guess I'm going to have to exploit my Lance Bass story!

If you can't beat them... Join them!

Becoming A Man Part I

I discovered that I didn't want to be a plumber when I was nine years old, in a crawl space with my dad while he was moonlighting on  a neighbors master bath "redo" in order to surprise my mom with a tennis bracelet for their anniversary.
I thought about many things on the cold, damp, California dirt, underneath that 1970's track home.
Aside from the obvious judgments; dirty finger nails, working on your back in dark nasty places, dealing with peoples SHIT... I knew that plumbing wasn't for me.
When my dad worked, I saw a sense of pride. Commitment. Art.
He worked with such a meticulous expertise.
I knew that even without the hanging safety lights and the blow torch, my dad would be able to fit a pipe with his eyes blindfolded.
As I watched my dad cut the pipe, and explain to me what he was doing as if it were perfectly logical, my mind wondered off in a thousand different directions.  I was panicked!  I didn't know how I was going to be able to tell my dad that I had no desire to go through all of this trouble for a girl!
I just remember looking up and saying aloud, "Dad, I don't think I want to be a plumber when I grow up."
And I'll never forget his reaction.  He chuckled and got a grin from ear to ear and said to me without skipping a beat, "Son, you can be whatever you want to be when you grow up."
I could hear the pride and relief in his voice.
It wasn't until I had a conversation with my dad as an adult for the first time, that I realized how much he sacrificed for me.  I don't think my dad wanted to be a plumber when he was nine either.  Somehow, he was able to put his dreams on hold in order to help mine come true.

Do Your DOOTY!

I'm freezing my ass off sitting in a mid-seventies court house holding room located in downtown Los Angeles with an eclectic group of slightly annoyed people.
We were all called (an hour and a half before they "needed us") for Jury Duty.
I'm not sure if it's the lack of faith I have in our court system as of late-
Or the fact that if I'm asked to serve on a jury this week or next, I will be missing out on several big auditions, which means the potential loss of income...
Either way, I do not think of this experience as a "wonderful opportunity" the clerk excitedly proclaims it to be!
Still, I'm fascinated by the entire process-
Calling people two hours before they need them, allowing people off the hook because their "Basic English" isn't strong enough to understand a trail (Didn't they all have to pass a citizenship test to even be considered for jury duty?) Finally the nuts who ask the same question that has been answered three times before...
Thank God I can find humor in watching as a group of mix matched adults try to maneuver their way around casual conversation. It's like the High School cafeteria all over again!
At least by now, most people are able to assimilate with the people they know they'll be able to tolerate. Of course there's always one that can't take the hint. Those are my favorite moments.
Hey, if I have to be stuck doing "something wonderful" for my fellow citizens, at least I get to watch something brilliant while I sit and turn into an icecap!

A New Year, A New Project!

One of the many goals I'm working on in 2012 is to continue writing a daily blog entry.
I started writing daily entries as a resolution in 2010, in search of a positive way to stay focused on creativity.
It was tough at first, but it became a wonderful way to keep the energy flowing.
In fact, I didn't realize what a huge impact the blog was for my career until three months into 2011, when I was no longer sharing my daily thoughts and stories. It was more difficult for me to think creatively on a regular basis. Not to mention the lack of positive energy.
The daily blog entry was a major contribution to my outlook on life, career and happiness.
So midway through 2011, I picked up on writing daily.
Obviously, I have every intention to continue the blog in 2012-
However, yesterday it dawned on me that I could incorporate another one of my 2012 goals into my blog!
I want to write about my life. More specifically, the relationship I've had with my father throughout my life.
My dad has helped shape me in every way. Now, as an adult, I'm able to see how important our relationship has been. He gave me the tools to become the man I am, and I want to honor him by sharing my story.
So, occasionally I will write about special moments that bonded us in a wonderful way. Hopefully at the end of this year I'll have a meaningful story to dedicate to my dad!

Back on Track!

2012 is now officially in full force.

The holiday vacation was long and wonderful-

Now it's time to blaze a new trail!

It can be so overwhelming coming back to a mound of mail, taxes and numerous projects!

But, I have to stay true to my personal goals for 2012.

Among them; release the stress, focus on productivity, positive energy and faith.

Once I take a deep breath, the path clears.

I'm back on on track and ready to climb new mountains!

I Love My Dad.

I found a new hero today.
It's not the first time I gained a new strength from him;
He has given me the best survival guide for life-
He gave me everything I needed.
He makes it look so easy!

Six Word Essay about Traveling 16 Hours Across Country!

My entire body aches to the bone!

Goodbyes Are Hard!

No matter how old I get, or how long I've been away from home...
Saying goodbye to my loved ones is painful.
I made a promise to myself a few years back that I would not spend time feeling sad about leaving home- it's the choice I've made to follow my dreams. It's a rough sacrifice, but as long as I continue to pursue my goals, I have to accept the pain.
But as I watch my grandparents, aunts, uncles, mom, dad, sister and even my niece grow older, saying goodbye becomes a lot harder!
In the end, I know we've all worked hard to appreciate the time we have together, however fast and furious it was!

Ready. Aim. Fired Up!

It's not everyday that I get fired up...
In fact, the last time I shot a gun I think I was about 15 years old and still in Boy Scouts.
So I was grateful that my dad was able to take the afternoon off from work and take me out into the country for target practice.
It was an awesome way to spend quality time with my dad, while getting a better education about gun safety.
Not to mention I need to learn how to shoot like an expert if I'm going to replace Tom Cruise in MI5!
In all seriousness, shooting a gun is not at all like you see in the movies! It's a lethal weapon that can end lives, and will, if you don't know how to properly use one!
Which is why I'm so thrilled that my dad took me out and trained me-
I consider him and expert.
I also feel much more aware about guns, and I'm a pretty damn good shot too!

Six Word Essay on Family Bonding

Beer makes a good time great!

Clean Sweep

Clearing out closets always stirs up something...
Usually it's dust.
Today I helped my grandma reorganize her kitchen, and the memories came flooding back-
Sunday dinners, Christmas baking and grandmas stories about cooking with her grandma.
Nostalgia at its best!
Now-
The pantry is clean and clutter free.
I picked up a few family treasures and I got to spend the afternoon bonding with my gram-

Crazy. Stupid. LOVED IT!

My favorite part of vacationing at home is the time I get to spend with my family.
Though I must admit, it's not quite the fantasy I imagined returning home would be when I was a kid.
How could I know that my parents would get divorced, happily remarry and continue on with their lives?
How dare them!
As we eventually all discover, life is complicated.
It can't always be perfect.
However, with every passing day it becomes more clear that the beauty of life is in the imperfection.
Spending the day antique shopping with my dad and grandma-
A day with my mom and her husband; coffee, an afternoon watching football with beer and snacks, a delicious dinner made by mom, a surprise visit from my sister, her husband and my adorable niece, topped off with a heartfelt and entertaining movie...
"Crazy Stupid Love"
Which is also the inspiration for this blog entry.
The point, I'm grateful for my life.
I'm happy for the good, the tough and the unexpected. Most of all, I'm appreciative for my time at home with my family.

Resolved!

Once the coffee kicks in and helps eliminate the remnants of the New Years Eve spirits... A beautiful new day begins!
With it- comes a fresh year. Opportunity to improve past success and correct the missteps.
It's no surprises how much I love a goal... So naturally, New Years resolutions are right up my alley!
Today, I sat down and focused on outlining a few new goals I'd like to achieve. In addition, I expanded on several larger objectives that I began to work towards last year.
Today, my year is full of possibility.
I'm resolved to begin every day this year with that in mind!