sha in LA

and she's back...redux

The American Red Cross and Apheresis donation holds a special place in my heart. Donating platelets for me is a natural high. Frequent readers have heard read about many of my previous donations. Thanksgiving Day in 2004 was a particularly emotional one for me as well as my attempted donation last Thanksgiving 2006. However recently I had a thought, I wondered silently to myself if enough time had passed for me to try it again...then a day later the Apheresis Donation Coordinator called and posed the exact same question. I immediately said "yes" and scheduled my appointment for the obvious...Thanksgiving Day.

When I woke up this morning I visualized a successful donation and kept a positive attitude. I passed Iron and Blood Pressure with flying colors...no doubt due to the 2 pills I take every morning. (Yes, I have hypertension. Anyone who has ever watched me watch football wouldn't be surprised at that fact.)

Then the nurse tells me we will be doing one needle apheresis, it's a new machine, the anti-coagulant and blood are transferred through the same arm at alternating intervals. I was overjoyed at this. She knew of my past and said the odds were good that I'd be successful. And I was. My platelet donation today has the potential of saving lives. And for that I am grateful.

If you are able, (800) GIVE-LIFE

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Me. Circa April 2006. Yes, that's a real needle being inserted as the picture was snapped.

zoom zoom

I think I finally understand why I'm such an odd bird.

Behold a clip from my favorite TV show when I was a young'un...ZOOM!

Now behold my new-used ride...ZOOM ZOOM!

The car I have loved since I first set eyes on it back in 2002 (even through the slight body redesign in 2004) is now mine and I absolutely LOVE driving it, looking at it, sitting in it....yeah, you get the picture.

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you are cordially invited...

I'm a bad theatre company member. My theatre company should fire me now. Granted, I'm a valuable asset to their company as not many people possess the skills I have in the booth so technically speaking if they did fire me they'd be screwed.

Why am I a bad theatre company member? Because I've known for a while now that we will be having a special gathering this coming Wednesday November 14th and I have done zero promoting here, there and everywhere in between.

The gathering's official name is the 2007/2008 Elephant Season Launch Gala & Silent Auction and as I stated in the previous paragraph it's this coming Wednesday, November 14th....as in 2 days from now.

The evening starts early at 7:00 PM with Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres (catered by Phil Fox of Square One Dining)...that's also when the Silent Auction bidding begins. We have some great items to bid on and trust me when I say you will definitely come away with a deal or 2 on some of the items up for bid. This is a great way to get some holiday shopping done in a fun festive atmosphere while assisting a great cause....the fund raising efforts by our company for the upcoming season.

A small sampling of the items available:
- Tickets to the musical Wicked & Autographed Memorabilia
- A signed baseball from former Yankee's manager, Joe Torre
- A one night wine country retreat at the Meadowlark Inn, Santa Inez CA
- DCS Portable Outdoor Patio Heater, by leading Outdoor Appliance Manufacturer, Fisher & Paykel
- Hannah Montana and the Sweet Life Gift Basket
- AND MUCH MORE!

At 7:30 there will be a retrospective of the History of The Elephant Theatre Company: The Loft to Lillian Way featuring remarks by David Fofi and Don Cesario, the Artistic Directors of the Company. We will then have teaser readings of shows from our upcoming season with special guests Frances Fisher, Luke Perry and Richard Riehle.

ANYTHING by Tim McNeil
TOOTH AND NAIL by Gena Acosta
ASLEEP ON A BICYLE by Tony Foster
LOVE BITES

Auction Bidding will close at 9:30 and winners will be announced shortly thereafter.

Cocktail Attire is requested and the entrance fee is a Donation at the door. Suggested donation is $25 but any amount will be accepted (cash or check only)....unfortunately we don't have the ability to take credit cards.

If you're interested and available at this late notice we'd love to have you stop by. Please RSVP at either (323) 446-7596 or email: [email protected]

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an update from the homefront

So I'm back. But still not at 100%. Its been trying these past few days. I think my property management company is testing my will. Let me attempt to explain in detail here so you can fully understand.

The fire restoration/cleaning/storage company comes on Monday and unloads every single item I own in about 3 hours. The rest of the day is spent organizing and purging unnecessary items with a trip to Bergins for the Monday night football game and dinner. I had zero food in the apartment. Now mind you the PM company said I could move back on Monday but there was a leak from my toilet and bathtub into the storage area below and the plumber couldn't get here until Tuesday. ? Whatever. The storage area has no walls now because of the fire and it's been leaking for god knows how long so sorry, I most certainly am going to use my toilet and shower on Monday. Thanks.

Later on that night I get cold and go to turn on my wall heater and discover the pilot isn't lit. Then I happen to notice my stove isn't hooked up to the gas line. Great, no heat. OK, whatever. The gas was working on the day of the fire because the Gas Company came out to make sure everything was safe so I don't know how that happened....

On Tuesday the plumber apparently comes to fix my bathroom leak. I get home later that night and hear an odd squeak. After some investigation I realize it's the smoke detector. I take out the battery and it still chirps in my hand, sans battery. I put the chirping smoke detector in the trunk of my car and make a mental note to pick up a 9 volt the next day. Then I go to take a shower....yeah....that would have been nice but something obviously went terribly wrong with the plumbing situation and I wasn't informed of the fact that water now doesn't come out of my showerhead. Well actually it does, it dribbles. The diverter (knob thing that switches water from the tub faucet to the showerhead) is a useless piece of metal that just twists and does nothing. Fabulous. I'm cold (still no gas) and just want to take a hot shower. I have to take a bath instead. Not so bad but I just wasn't in the mood for soaking at that moment. Whatever.

On Wednesday I call the plumber and tell him the situation, he sends his assistant back to take care of it. The gas man comes at about the same time. One issue was resolved the other wasn't. I now have heat. I still don't have a shower. Baths are nice for kids and lazy weekends. I want my shower back and fear this will drag out longer than normal.

Oh and did I mention that the stairs and landing leading up to my apartment have dry rot and most likely need to be demolished and re-done during which time I'll have to "sleep elsewhere."

Never ask the gods for "a little shake-up" in your life. Be happy with boring, old, routine.

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and she's back...

7 weeks ago today the Cleveland Browns won a big game over the Cincinnati Bengals and I was insanely happy. That same night/morning "the fire" happened and I was slightly terrified. Such a range of emotions in under a 24 hour period.

Today the Browns won another big game, this time over the Seattle Seahawks, and tomorrow I move back into my apartment.

This accounts for part of my recent absence as the past 2 weeks have been difficult on my psyche. But soon enough I'll be back...in more ways than one...

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