sha in LA

it was fun while it lasted

It looks like my platelet donating days may be over. Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond my control I have developed a possible allergic reaction to anti-coagulant. Never fear though, I can go back to giving whole blood. It's just the world of apheresis was so inspiring. I really felt like I was saving a life when I donated and somehow it gave me a natural adrenaline high that was amazing.

There's a slight possibility that on a different type of machine I may succeed however that chance is slim and not necessarily recommended by the nice nurses at the American Red Cross. So henceforth it'll be whole blood donations and the hope that one day my phone will ring and it will be the National Marrow Donor Program saying that I'm a direct match.

1-800-GIVE LIFE

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it's the little things

Just stopped off at the video store to pick up a movie. On the way out I nodded at the resident homeless man who makes that section of sidewalk his own. When I got in my car I remembered I had a good amount of leftover Turkey Day dinner from the restaurant I had just eaten at. I grabbed the container, walked up to him and offered, "do you want some turkey dinner?" Him: "Turkey? Yes, thank you so much." Me: "Happy Thanksgiving."

That's not the first time I've had that type of encounter on Thanksgiving. Leftovers would have been nice, but I don't need them.

I hope to continue my giving ways tomorrow morning, looking something like this:

Apheresis.

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Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer

It's funny but I absolutely can't stand the fact that as of 2 days before Thanksgiving the Christmas music begins to rear it's ugly head. What's even more funny is that my next show, which opens this Saturday night, is a Christmas themed show. And what's even funnier than all of that combined...I love it!

The new show is Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer and is being produced by those crazy SpyAnts kids.

Yes, I said Red-Hosed Reindeer not Red-Nosed Reindeer. Use the image above and let your mind run with it. There's also gay elves, an evil Santa, an alcoholic Mrs. Claus and the Abominable Drag Beast. It's a very funny show and I've got at least 87,000 light and sound ques so I'll be getting busy in the booth.

Re-live your youth and see the Rudolph story that's just for adults.

Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer
The Elephant Theatre
6322 Santa Monica Blvd.
(between Cahuenga & Vine, SOUTH side of the street)
stret parking only
Thursday - Saturday 8pm
Sunday 7pm
November 25 - December 17
Reservations: (323) 860-8786

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Wilshire Walk 2006

Saturday morning, 5:45am, came quick. Especially after getting to bed at 1am just a few hours before. I contemplated sleeping in a bit and joining the walkers at 8am for the official kickoff but decided that I wanted to experience the full effect with the early morning breakfasters at the Downtown Standard.

At around 8:15am we were off. About 30 people, most of whom didn't know each other, gathered together for the great Wilshire Walk of 2006, coordinated by fellow blogger Mike of Franklin Avenue. A little congregation of people who share a love of this city so much that they really wanted to experience one of the great Boulevards in all it's glory. Up close and personal.

We made a few stops in many of the beautiful churches along the way and were even able to get into the Park Plaza. After a few minutes of milling about in the grand lobby I happened to be near Mike and the elevator when he said "hey, who wants to go to the roof?" In about 5 seconds flat there were maybe 7 of us in the elevator and we were on our way to the rooftop. Once there we were afforded a-freaking-mazing views. On our way back down we had a little difficulty getting the elevator doors closed so we were forced to walk down about 11 flights. Then someone in our party received a phone call from a friend downstairs, a security guard was kicking everyone out. Oops. After a swift and stealthy exit we all had a great laugh about the adventure.

One of the main motivations that kept me going was the prospect of having drinks at Trader Vic's in the Beverly Hilton where Santa Monica & Wilshire inersect. That being said, every time we passed a closed cocktail lounge the topic of Trader Vic's came up. Nathan & I dreamed of sipping on frothy beverages with umbrellas in coconut mugs while the rest of the group continued their journey Westward. Imagine our despair when we found out that it was closed and wouldn't open until 5pm!! It was about 1pm and we were in the BH, our group split into 2 and took a quick lunch break. My group went to a lovely little Thai restaurant on Little Santa Monica with interesting artwork in the bathroom. Be sure to check that out in my photos.

After lunch it was decision time. Keep going or turn around and head back Downtown? I had started to get a little tendonitis or something in my right foot, which made it painful to walk but with the excitement of possibly making it all the way to the end I plugged on towards Westwood. Big mistake. Halfway there I really started to be in MAJOR pain, having to walk on just the ball of my right foot because walking normally shot pains straight up my leg. Joy. Nathan started to get blisters because for some reason he decided to wear big black boots instead of sneakers. Finally we made it to Westwood Blvd. and I had to officially stop. I was in horrific pain. Nathan and Kolby bowed out as well. Kolby had good reason...he was wearing a 40+ pound backpack in preparation for an upcoming hike in Nicaragua and his feet were in really bad shape at that point. The 3 of us limped and hobbled to a nearby Jamba Juice to rest. After about an hour Kolby decided to take the bus to Santa Monica and meet up with the rest of the group at Border Grill while Nathan and I took the bus back Downtown. Yes, Nathan rode a bus...I should have taken a picture as proof.

Once in Downtown we decided to get that drink we had talked about all day long. The Daily Grill wouldn't be open for another 30 minutes so we looked around and I pointed to the Bonaventure and proclaimed "I wanna spin!" So the BonaVista Lounge was it. We arrived at 5pm, after numerous 360º rotations we left...at 1am.

What an amazing and eventful day in so many ways. When others heard of what we were doing (walking the entire length of Wilshire) and why we were doing it (just because) they looked at us as if we were insane. Maybe we were. But when we all looked at each other yesterday we saw complete strangers as instant best friends. Thank you Mike, for organizing this. Schedule willing, I will be a participant in future walks.

Photos from the adventure can be found here.

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she dances, she walks

Last Saturday night into Sunday morning I participated in the 24 Hour Cancer Dance-A-Thon. I reached 82% of my goal of obtaining $500 in donations...that's a total of $410 raised. Not bad for getting into the swing of things late in the fundraising category...pun intended.

I arrived around 7pm after a semi-grueling drive from Hollywood to Irvine and running into a surprising rainstorm shortly after entering Orange County. Who knew rain was in the forecast? They sure do things differently down in the OC.

When I arrived I found Lenny & Claudia holding down the fort, or should I say hammock. Our base camp consisted of a freestanding hammock with purple fuzzy blanket, tent frame (sans tent but lighted with ornamental holiday lights) and a large banner proclaiming us the Swingpit Survivors. Needless to say the hammock proved to be a big hit not only with our own team members but with others as well. The evening was pretty consistent with a band playing for about and hour, then a lesson for a half hour and DJ for the remainder half hour. Then the cycle would repeat...except for the late, late night hours...then it was mainly DJ'ed music in between the lessons. The format worked out well, giving those who wanted to participate in lessons a chance to learn new things and those who wanted a break the ability to do so.

Eileen Dovbish was our team leader and Lenny & Claudia were our team heroes. They stayed the ENTIRE time. I don't know how they did it. Amazing.

Pictures are here.

Now on to my activities that I have planned for this coming Saturday. Mike, over at franklinavenue, is planning a "Wilshire Walk" to commemorate his 10 year anniversary in Los Angeles. The day will begin with a hearty breakfast at 7am at the Standard Hotel then walking the entire length of Wilshire from Downtown to Santa Monica, and he's inviting EVERYONE to join in on the fun!!! My very good friends Eric & Phil did this a few years ago and said that it is tiring and will definitely be difficult but well worth the journey. I'm planning on doing the walk but I'm giving myself an "out" somewhere around the Beverly Hills area. That stretch of Wilshire just past the Santa Monica Blvd. crossover is just brutally boring until you get to Westwood and that doesn't even thrill me much. Who knows though, maybe I will make it, all 16 miles....

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Dance-A-Thon

This coming Saturday I will be participating in a 24 Hour Cancer Dance-A-Thon to raise funds for Cancer Research through The City of Hope. Last year swing dancers united together from all over the Southland and raised $52,000. I was unable to attend due to theatre commitments, however this year I'm available and extremely excited to be taking part in this worthy cause.

Teams can consist of up to 29 people and one person from each team must be on the dance floor at all times. Our team, Swing Pit Survivors, has only 11 members so far and unless we recruit more people we'll really be dancing hard for our donations.

I am dancing in honor of my grandmother, Katie, who lost her battle with numerous forms of cancer when I was 14 years old. It was February, near my birthday, and she was near the end. I remember seeing her on February 2nd of that year and silently thinking to myself "please don't die on my birthday." Teenagers, we only think of ourselves. Her passing away on my birthday was something I assumed would cause me grief for years to come. Well, she must have heard my silent prayers that night because she passed away on February 14th, a day that has a much different meaning for me now.

Katie was a trendsetter in her day, doing what she wanted, not what others expected of her. A good part of my personality stems from her spirit. It was a lifetime ago that I saw her last but I can remember so much, so vividly.

We all share similar stories I'm sure. Cancer is that dreaded disease that most people are far too familiar with in one way or another. And while amazing strides continue to be made in the way of Cancer Research we still haven't found a cure. Please join me in the cause to help raise money for The City of Hope Cancer Research. More information on the Dance-A-Thon can be found on the link in the first paragraph and if you'd like to make a donation on my behalf I'd be forever grateful. My personal donation page is here.

Thank you.

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but enough about me

It's opening soon...

Eric just gave me a disk full of snaps taken over the past few adventures. I just had to share this one because it struck me so...2 beautiful ladies.

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