sha in LA

FB Free for One Week

I recently completed a mini challenge to myself; go FB free for one week. 

Last Tuesday I willingly deactivated my account. Thankfully, the powers that be at FB make it REAL easy to come back though. Simply sign in and everything is restored. Voila!  

And my thoughts on the experiment? 

Holy hell that was slightly difficult. What in the world did we do before the constant status updates of intimate and non needed info about many of our not so close acquaintances? It’s weird though, I really missed it. I think I may kinda like knowing that Joe Blow went on a 5 mile run in the rain, or that Suzie Homemaker is embarking on a major renovation project, and that Jane Workaholic just spilled coffee all over her desk. 

And why do I care? I dunno. Perhaps it’s because I don’t have a life. Strike that, I do have a life. I work 7 days a week, workout about 4 nights a week, do laundry, grocery shop and run errands on the other nights. I’m so busy I have no time for a real social life save for the time I spend in a bar…then again, that’s technically work so it doesn’t really count. I think for me at least, FB is a form of entertainment. Like a ½ hour sitcom that I can access whenever I want to see what people are up to or watch the latest and greatest viral video of the moment.  

I also realized that FB caters equally to all types of people. There’s the Creative ones who put major thought into posts; the Loners who never post but love to secretly read and stalk their friends and friends of friends who aren’t locked down; the Jocks that are very sports-centric in their posting; and a whole host of other “Breakfast Club types.” 

In the greater scheme of things, I’m not sure what it all means. But I do know that I’m back. Now entertain me.

 

X

 

          Dear Mr. Vernon,

We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong...but we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us... In the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain...and an athlete...and a basket case...a princess...and a criminal.  Does that answer your question?

Sincerely yours,

The Breakfast Club

                                                                                                                                                                

Dedicated to Marisa O'Brien; our proud Elephant warrior

Back in May of 2007 my theatre company, The Elephant Theatre, created a team and walked in the Revlon Run/Walk in support of finding a cure for Breast Cancer.

Little did we know back then that in late 2009 one of our own company members, Marisa O'Brien, would be diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer.

Close friends have banded together to help her out during this difficult time by preparing meals, taking her to chemo treatments, donating fabulous new hats for her sexy bald head and so much more.

But the fight continues. And the threat is still real for every woman alive. Which is why we as a company are walking again this coming May 8th not only in support of Marisa (Go Team Ri!) but for all women (and families and friends) who have been affected by this horrible disease.

I ask that you please consider making a donation to help fund important research into the cause and cure of women's cancers, prevention, education and support service programs.

There are 2 ways to help. 

1.) My direct fundraising site.

2.) Join us on Sunday April 25th for a Spin class at Pedal Spin Studio in Montrose with instructor Mike Lawless.  See flyer below for more details.  Suggested donation for the spin class is $20.

I'm super excited for the Spinning Fundraiser,  If you are a Southern California resident who spins, or even interested in giving it a try, then this would be a great chance to assist in a worthy cause and have fun at the same time!

Thanks in advance!!!

x

 

for the win

Skatie Holmes at Tom Bergins

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reflections of...

Last weekend I traveled back to the DC/MD/VA area for my yearly pilgrimage to DCLX; a swing dance event that happens every April. I grew up in the area and usually set aside some time to go visit the old neighborhood that I lived in for 18 years prior to moving to California.

My planned escape from Maryland was no secret to anyone who knew me growing up as I had pretty much decided by the age of 12 to leave directly after high school. That gave everyone a 6 year buffer to get used to the idea of me moving, and generally speaking I had little trouble adjusting to life 3000 miles away from where I was raised. However even though it’s been 21 years since I last lived in Maryland there are still places that haunt me when I return. Inevitably I’ll be driving down a street, one that I had driven on numerous times in my youth, and I will be overcome with waves of memories all hitting me at once, sort of like a movie where there’s a chaotic montage of images flashing through my head. Then the wondering of how my life would have turned out had I stayed and what was it that so deeply pushed me away from the area and to Los Angeles. Sometimes I think I never had “closure” with my old self and this is why I tend to get heavily emotional when I’m back there. Or perhaps it’s just sense memory causing me to be so reflective.

Whatever the reason for my melancholy I will probably never fully know, but I remind myself that I am who I am today due to my experiences and I love the life I have created here in Los Angeles.

You can take the girl out of Maryland but you can’t take Maryland out of the girl.

 

x

focus people, focus

x

calling all my weather-god readers

The last time I called upon my readers to concentrate on good weather for a specific time period you came through with flying colors.

That being said, I'm going to call upon your powers again.  Now focus on the below picture, the sun needs to stay in the Thursday, Friday and Saturday blocks for the lovely city of Washington, D.C. next week:

 

Thanks kindly for your assistance in this matter.

x

psycho kitty

I think my cat Stretch has separation anxiety issues.  Or he's simply bored to death while I'm not home.

There's this toy that he loves, it's a stick with strings attached to it.  Mostly he likes to attack it when I wave it around as he's sitting in his playcube.  Sometimes he gets all focused and tries to chew off a portion of one of the strings, but it usually takes a few months of good solid playtime to really destroy the toy and render it useless. 

Over the past 6 months he has had 3 of these particular toys with the most recent one introduced to him yesterday. 

I came home late this evening to find this:

Yes, he chewed off all 8 strands of string at the base.  And while I was setting up the shot, he had to get in there and gnaw away at the stub.

So my cat needs a chew toy that he won't demolish in a day and ingest but keep him occupied.  I wish there were greenie bones for cats...

x

8 on 8th

Midway through the 8th Street Walk today we realized we were 8 deep.  The Gentrifier, 3rd Street Larry, Jessika, Shannon & Kevin and April & Edgar joined me in my quest to explore the little loved 8th Street.  As the troops were gathering at 8th and Flower this afternoon the adorable Carmen and her daddy John stopped by to bid us a fond farewell on our journey westward. 

8th Street cuts a swath through the city that ranges from urban wasteland to mini mall haven, 70's stucco nightmares to million dollar estates and everything in between.  Roughly 3 hours and 6.5 miles after starting out we arrived at our final destination, Tom Bergins, for a much needed drink and bite to eat. 

I was very happy to have some newcomers joining in on the festivities and, depending on how much pain they are in tomorrow, wonder if they will ever decide to join me on one of my crazy street walking adventures again.  I guess time will tell, I've got a year to plan my next adventure...

In keeping with the "8" theme, here are my favorite 8 pictures from the walk.  Photo-editing wasn't too difficult seeing as how I only took 33 snaps in total.

Enjoy!!

 
Multi-family residential on 8th

 
Over the shoulder randomness of the other Shannon, April and Edgar.

 
Motel Inn on 8th

A note for Sophie...

The source of our mini detour onto Wilshire Blvd.

 

A tree that looks like an Elephant???

 

Mmmmm, sure...Elephant.  [everyone saw it.  me, not so much]

 

The finish line, Tom Bergins.

x

The re-scheduled 8th Street walk - 3/15/09

*So the good old calendar is telling me that next Sunday is March 15th and that is the day that I rescheduled the 8th Street Walk for. Consider this a gentle reminder. Of course, in true So Cal weather fashion, I just checked the weather.com report and it’s supposed to be just like today allllllll the way up until SATURDAY with showers on Sunday. Balls! Man, can’t I get a break? It’s beeeutiful out today. So everyone needs to think “Sunny and 70 on Sunday” until you wake-up on Sunday morning...OK?** Thanks.

Oh, one other minor adjustment, I will be starting the walk at 1pm since we will have extra daylight...so meet at 8th and Flower around 1pm.

*Post written on Sunday March 8th.

** Wow, the power of persuasion must be working already, I sent this to some friends yesterday in an email and weather.com is already saying that Sunday will be Sunny and 70.  Weird.  Keep it up, please!!!

x

8th Street Walk postponed

I’m going to postpone my 8th Street Walk for one month due to a cold that I got last week which is still lingering.  It seems to have settled in my chest over the past 24 hours. 

I did a walking tour this morning, which probably wasn't the best decision on my part, and being outside in the cold and wind didn't help things out.

I have emailed all the people who had personally confirmed attendance; if you never  contacted me and were "on the fence" then I hope you get this update in time.

Thanks for understanding.  Weather (and health) permitting we will go on March 15th!!

x