sha in LA

i knew them when....

Living in Los Angeles long enough can most likely afford you the whole "yes, I remember them when..." saying at some point in your life. I don't have any close personal acquaintances who I can say that about just yet however I don't doubt that one day, if I live long enough, I will. Meet 2 people who I believe are on the right track in their respective careers.

I've known Joe Rubalcaba longer than most people in my cell phone address book. We met years ago at good old Cal State Long Bitch, he was in the R/TV/F department and I was in the Theatre Department. I can't remember exactly how we met but I know that our friendship bonded over long hours on student films where I served as Script Supervisor and he was either doing Sound or Producing or Directing. These days he's focusing solely on Directing and making quite a name for himself. Most recently he directed a ROCKIN' video for Manntis which has been playing on that box like object that emits picture and sound...television I think it's called. Headbangers Ball...is that still around or am I dating myself??? He also directed a video for the Pillowz...I mean Willowz (inside joke) which just today the LA Times featured as one of a select number of local bands that are "up and coming." He's got vision, that boy. He'll go far.

Now let's transition from moving pictures to still pictures. Craig Havens is a more recent newcomer to the landscape of friend-om however our time together has been so quality that it seems like I've known him for much longer. The other day I had the pleasure of taking a look at a bunch of his work and was very much impressed with his eye for images, people and abstraction in everyday life. His photographs make me want to stare at them for long amounts of time, digesting every little nuance. He's currently photographing the St. Vibiana's construction progress for Sir Tom Gilmore. And he's well on his way to becoming known by the general public by just his last name like all those other big name photographers out there.

And there you have it. My future "I knew them when" people. Maybe one day someone will say that about me.

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bust a gut

Last minute reminder that tonight and tomorrow night I will be in the booth at the Lillian Theatre for the wildly funny Slap & Tickle.

Lots of funny sketches. Lots of funny actors. Drinks. Munchies. A laugh riot.

The not so fun part for me will be between 5:30 and 7:30 today when I will essentially be tossed a bunch of scripts (or not) and CD's with harried actors or actor/directors or actor/writers or some form thereof giving me cryptic notes on when to play specific sound cues/lighting notes and the such. It's madness really. I don't know how I do it. Overall there are usually about 8 sketches. Some are more intricate that others. It's all lights up/lights down with sound in between so really it isn't too difficult for an old pro like me however I would be lying if I said there wasn't a certain amount of nervousness as I start the show...praying that I've taken diligent notes and have all my CD's in order.

If you're interested, here's the info:

SLAP & TICKLE
Comedy Show
Katrina Benefit

Featuring:
Alex Alexander, Steve Altman, John Cariani, Mark Carnessale, Craig Carlisle, Joanna Daniels, Joe Dietl, Melanie Hutsell, Jim Hanna, Jay Huguley, Jeff Lewis, Valerie Long, Jayden Lund, Larry Harris, Rod McLachlan, Dee Ann Newkirk, Frazer Smith, Amy Scribner, Elizabeth Warner and Ben Zook

Tuesday & Wednesday
SEPTEMBER 27 & 28 2005
8:00 PM

@ The Lillian Theatre
1076 Lillian Way
(One block west of Vine, just south of Santa Monica Blvd)

$12 includes complimentary drinks and snacks

Free Street Parking

Doors open at 7:30, so get there early.
You remember what happened last time.

CALL FOR RESERVATIONS
(323) 417-9970

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Grand Canyon Railway

I've been to the Grand Canyon once. It was a day trip from Sedona, Arizona. I essentially stared in awe at the enormity of it and walked down into the canyon a few hundred feet and sat there and took it all in. Then I got back in my car and left. I always thought the Rails to the Rim trip that AAA offers would be fun. However now that I'm completely booked for the rest of the year I'll have to schedule this for early 2006.

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synchronicity

No, it's not a Police song. Is it coincidence? Chance? Fate? A sign? Whatever it is, I do believe I am on the correct path in life...

This weekend was synchronicity for me in so many ways.

Less heavy topics to come tomorrow and the following days.

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oh ladies....

Firefighter Festival of Hollywood. I don't think I need to say much more than that, really. Firemen. I'm so there.

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ooookay

Do you think this woman is over her job yet???

As many as 500,000 people in southwestern Louisiana, many of them already displaced by Hurricane Katrina, were told to evacuate. And for those who refused to leave, Gov. Kathleen Blanco advised: "Perhaps they should write their Social Security numbers on their arms with indelible ink."

who's a happy girl

I'm so excited for this weekend I feel like a kid in a candy store.

First up, bright and early Saturday morning I'm giving a USC Walking Tour. Then lunch with my cousin Kevin on campus. Tomorrow evening I'll be attending "Culture Clash in AmeriCCa."

Sunday morning is football and in the afternoon I'll be attending the final showing of "The Birds: A Tale of Ornithic Proportions."

All of it makes me smile. Although, the Browns could seriously throw a monkey wrench into the works if they have a less than stellar game...

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the wonder of it all

How can one random e-mail to an intriguing stranger develop into such a cherished friendship?

We make choices everyday that affect the outcome of our lives. The idea is to recognize this, accept it and make it work in your favor.

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drooling over development

Last night I sat down with my highlighter, red pen and latest issue of The Downtown News as this week is the quarterly Project Update on all that is happening Downtown. I only got through about 1/8th of the information before I was distracted by something else...but I must say, I'm very excited at how the landscape will be changing over the next few years.

When I first started giving my Historic Core Tour with The Los Angeles Conservancy back in 1999 I would tell my tour goers to take a look at Downtown in 2005 as the city would be changing dramatically over the next few years. Now I need to change my spiel and use the year 2010 as a marker instead as by that time, if all goes as planned, Downtown should be rockin'. Not that it isn't already...just MORE rockin' than before.

On a side note, I noticed The Kor Group has a lot of irons in the fire regarding building conversions/new construction in Downtown and Hollywood. HOT, HOT, HOT they are right now. In the words of the immortal KC & The Sunshine Band, Keep It Comin' Love.

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Brownies get a win

It's been a long time since I've seen the Browns pull off a win like the one they got yesterday in Green Bay.

Maybe it's because for the past 2 years they've seriously looked like poop. Or the fact that the few times they won last year were the only times I wasn't able to watch the game. But yesterday was different....yes, I was sitting on the edge of my seat up until the end just waiting for them to lose it in the final 2 minutes....but they didn't. They held on and won, scoring a clincher TD in the final minutes of the game. That made momma happy.

The Browns defense wasn't stellar but it was much better than anything I've seen in a while. Every time a GB receiver caught the ball we were there to stop further yardage progression. That's definitely a plus compared to the lackadaisical tackling of years past.

OK, OK, OK. I know Green Bay's defense wasn't anything to write home about either and I'm probably looking at this whole thing through rose colored glasses but hey, a girl can dream can't she??? Next week we will get pummeled....by Indy. Damn. It was fun while it lasted.

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