the one where i blame my dog

Photo courtesy of trainedmonkey.com

My Shih Tzu, Wonton, has commandeered my laptop to update his blog.

saturday at the loftydog's bark-er park

Is anybody else headed over to The LoftyDog Academy's Open House at the Bark-er Park? It's downtown's only indoor dog park and one of Wonton's favorite places to hang out (he loves to slide down the doggy slide). Stephen wrote it up on Angelenic and took some great pics, check it out if you haven't already. As they mentioned, it's a membership dog park, which gives me some peace of mind since they screen the dogs to ensure they're healthy and flea-free. The Open house is from 2pm -5pm today - it's a good way to try out the park and their facilities before committing to a membership. Wonton and I hope to see you and your downtown dog there!

The Loftydog Academy
525 South Hewitt
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-617-BARK (2275)

Open House: Saturday, September 6th, 2pm-5pm

Regular Hours:
Monday - Friday, 7am - 7pm
Saturday & Sunday, 10am - 5pm

playing catch-up

I realize I've cheated you. A lot has happened between January 10th and May 30th and we need to do some catching up:

Jim and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary in January. Couldn't be happier.

I got my hair cut. It's short. I liked it a lot, but now I think I'm bored with it and want to try something new again.

Wonton was fixed and was a grumpy conehead for a while. But then in April we celebrated his first birthday with a party at The LoftyDog's new space at the Barker Block. Good times. Most recently, he underwent eye surgery to kill off the hairs that were growing inside his eye and poking his eyeballs. Post-surgery he looked like he'd been punched in both eyes, but it was successful and he's recovering nicely.

I finished that screenplay that I had been working on since Jim and I were first engaged, and now I'm halfway through another. I've got a July 1st deadline on this one and then I start outlining the next screenplay, which is based in present-day downtown Los Angeles. Are you ready for your close-up, Historic Core?

I'm taking a film financing/producing class at UCLA Extension on Wednesday nights. My producer is teaching the class and he's amazing. Last semester his class was filled with entertainment attorneys (a partner from my attorney's firm took the class), this semester, not so much. But the case studies and his insights are incredibly helpful. I think I learn more when he veers off-topic.

Jim and I had both been volunteering a lot of our time to the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, but we've really stepped back from that. We both put in a lot of time, a lot of energy, and because of the leadership we didn't feel like it was a good use of our time to continue. You can read a little bit more in the comments section of this blogdowntown post. It's quite the kerfluffle. I'll continue to support worthwhile activities and volunteer for specific projects, but mostly I hope that the upcoming elections bring about a drastic change in the leadership so that we can remain involved and active in our community.

You've probably heard about Raw Materials and Winstead Adams Projects, our new venture with my brother-in-law James. That's been keeping me very busy, but I'm amazed at how much I'm digging the work. Maybe because I'm spending more time talking to artists than I thought I would. Have you come to see any of our shows? We'll be open for this month's Downtown Art Walk (we're a sponsor!), which is this Thursday. Stop by and say hi if you're in the neighborhood, and take a look at some amazing works of art.

I know I'm leaving out a lot of stuff, but I'll probably blog about stuff as I remember. And I promise I won't let that much time go between posts again.

busy days ahead

I haven't written much about what's really been going on with me, there's been so much "doing" rather than reflecting, and unfortunately the lack of activity on my blog shows that. As the WGA strike continues and we head into the holiday season, I'm afraid it's not going to get any easier.

Tonight is the Downtown Art Walk, which means Jim and I will take Wonton to The Lofty Dog for Yappy Hour. We've been taking Wonton on twice-daily walks and anytime we head north on Main or Spring past 4th Street, Wonton assumes he's headed for The Lofty Dog and damn near runs the whole way. I hope we'll have time to check out a few galleries and MOCA's Murakami exhibit, but I look at my pile of things to get done and I don't think it'll happen.

Every morning, I check Wonton's eyes, clean out any schmutz and apply the ointment that his veterinary opthalmologist gave us. Yes, our vet referred us to a specialist for Wonton's eye troubles. Yes, I realize this ups my ridiculousness rating considerably (as if it weren't high enough, what with Wonton blogging). At least I don't take him to a psychic or a therapist, but I'm getting off the subject. This morning, Wonton threw up on my comforter and his Hello Kitty blanket. Might have something to do with him trying to hoover up whatever he finds on our floors, or his eating the orchids off my orchid plant, or chewing the monkey sock slippers Jim's mom gave me last Christmas. I threw the bedding in the wash and Jim took Wonton out for his morning walk. He was probably trying to keep me from insisting on taking Wonton to the vet in a panic, like I did last time. Now he's napping (Wonton, not Jim), nestled inside the wooden basket that he normally tries to chew apart.



I was on a conference call with a WGA strike captain the other night. That, and some questions aimed at an entertainment attorney and a few producers, helped to clear up a few things as regards what I can and cannot do during the strike. I'll write about that in a separate post, it deserves more, um, reflection.

In other writing news, I'm working on a graphic novel. I'm in the outlining stage right now, but I do have a few panels written and have been lucky enough to get some sage advice from a friend and a seasoned pro in the field. I'll post more on my progress as work, um, progresses.

I've been meaning to check out one of those $15/hour foot massage places in San Gabriel, on Valley Boulevard. I'll probably need it after walking the picket line. Who wants to check it out with me? Anybody?

Oops, look at the time. If you're out Art Walking, stop by The Lofty Dog and say hi to me, Jim and Wonton (and other downtown dogs)!

bits and pieces

I'm back, I'm jetlagged, and I lost my cell phone somewhere in Germany. I think the reason I lost it is because it had a Hello Kitty charm attached and I tend to leave at least one Hello Kitty item behind whenever I travel. Yeah, I suck.

I'll try to get my pics up quickly but I still have a lot of work to do. I finished my rewrite while I was in Germany (yay me!), but I want to print it out and give it another once-over before I send it in to the producer. Then I'm going to light my big fat Cuban cigar and try not to think about rewriting any more until I get the notes back from my writers group and the producer.

Lots happened while we were gone and lots more about to happen, so let me just run down a few:

* I read that 'gina had a big grand opening in Little Tokyo while I was gone. Does anybody want to come with and taste some 'gina on Wednesday night with me, Jim, Shannon, Neonboy and the Gentrifier? That's Wednesday night, 7-ish, and let's call it "A Taste of 'Gina".

* My ex-loftmate and grill master extraordinaire, Tim Swiss, was nominated for an Ovation Award. Yay Tim!

* The Fashion District is launching its own Fashion District Farmer's Market at Santee Village (7th & Los Angeles Streets). Every Wednesday from 4-7pm, you can stuff your 100% hemp or canvas tote bag with organic produce and whatever else they're slinging. There will be a DJ at this week's grand opening, and you can also get a free Fashion District tote bag. Woo hoo, if it's free, it's for me!

* Next weekend is the Brewery 2007 Fall Artwalk and i-5 Gallery Show. The twice-annual Brewery Artwalk is designed to showcase Los Angeles Fine Artists selling gallery-quality fine art at studio prices and the i-5 Gallery showcases works by Brewery tenants.

* Two weeks away from our puppy, Wonton, and he's all grown up. He's got balls now.

* And finally, a draft version of the Downtown Los Angeles Filming Special Conditions is online and available for public comment.

I will have my Oktoberfest 2007 photo essay up as soon as I can stop laughing at Jim's pics of drunken me ordering more beer, and also some really nice pictures and stories about Heidelberg, my new favorite German city.

missing wonton already

I just dropped Wonton off with Karen, who'll be watching him while Jim and I are in Germany, and I miss him already. I keep looking up from packing, as if I'm going to see him poke his head out from behind something that he shouldn't be chewing on. Then I realize he's not here and I won't see his cute little face for two weeks. He's just a dog and I'm getting all misty-eyed, I can't imagine what it would be like with a child. How do you people with kids do this?

downtown is so bloggy...

Downtown Los Angeles is so bloggy (3rd bloggiest in the country, to be precise) that even our dogs blog. In addition to blogdowntown and the blogs on their blogroll, there's Urban Memo, Skid Row Dude, a condominium, and an automated pay toilet. I saw Bert this weekend, he told me he's giving it a shot as well and today, my dog launched his blog, (213)dog. Yeah, I didn't know he could type, either.


He's a very smart dog, but I don't think he knows what he's getting into.

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that a piece of tofu named Tofujii is also blogging.

cry "attica" and let loose the dogs of downtown

I'm exhausted. Last night, Jim and I took Wonton out for his debut to the downtown social circle - Dog Day Afternoon at the Cathedral. Wonton has been out before, playing with his sister and other dogs while waiting to get groomed at The Lofty Dog. This was different. This was bigger. And it was one of the best events I've ever attended downtown. The plaza was filled with dogs, their owners, and friendly downtowners without dogs. Wonton was so excited, I thought he was going to shake his tail off.


Photo courtesy of trainedmonkey

Jim blogged about it, that's his pic of Wonton interacting with Tank, an English Bulldog. Since we both had our hands full managing Wonton, we didn't take many pictures of him with Joe's dog Ruby (they got along swell, Wonton let Ruby have three of his treats), the hosts of the event Buddy and Joaquin (and their owners Hal Bastian and Monsignor K), or any of the pony-sized dogs that Wonton bravely approached. Thankfully, Ed and Don were there with their cameras. Don blogged and posted some pics of me and Wonton. I love this pic that Ed took of Wonton and yet another large dog, and this pic of Wonton getting sniffed by Ben's dogs, Luca and I forget the name of their other dog.

After a while, Wonton calmed down and just made his way through the plaza, greeting dogs and charming people. At one point he tried to sniff Buddy's butt (he's a Golden Lab), but was knocked down by one sweep of Buddy's wagging tail. Hilarity. We met some other downtown Shih Tzus and their owners - Kimberly and Kloey, who just moved downtown from Las Vegas (welcome to downtown!) and Dalai, another Lofty Dog customer. Unfortunately, we didn't see Wonton's sister, or his brother Tubby, both downtown dogs. Co-organizer and downtown booster extraordinaire Hal Bastian said he wants to organize another downtown dog social, so hopefully they can make the next one.

Next up on Wonton's list of things to do - my mom's birthday lunch at our loft this Saturday, The Lofty Dog's Yappy Hour during the Downtown Art Walk next Thursday, and he's launching his own blog. Yes, a downtown dog blog. Stay tuned.

"where's my treat?"

Fresh from getting groomed at The Lofty Dog, Wonton poses for the camera, seconds before tearing his brown and white polka-dot carrier apart.

Wonton had quite a day at the groomers. His sister, Lily, happened to come in for a groom as well. They licked, romped, and caught up with each other. It was really difficult to tell them apart, they look so much alike.


Now that Wonton has all his shots, he's available for playdates. He's so low to the ground and, as puppies do, he mouths everything. So we can't take him for walks downtown, but we are looking for a stroller so he can explore the neighborhood with us. There was one that I liked at The Lofty Dog, but it was pink and Wonton wants something a little more masculine, so we're still looking.

Besides our weekly forays to downtown Farmer's Markets, Wonton is looking forward to two upcoming canine events: 1) Downtown Dog Day Afternoon at the Cathedral, on July 31st, and 2) Yappy Hour at The Lofty Dog (which coincides with the monthly Downtown Artwalk) on August 9th. Maybe we'll see you there!

meet wonton

Meet Wonton, our new Shih Tzu puppy!

photo courtesy of jim

Yes, he's on my Hello Kitty rug. That's not happening anymore, let me assure you. We had his toys all ready for him when he arrived, so he had a great time checking out his new pad and romping around.


Then he went down for his nap.



He's already crate-trained, housetrained (for a puppy), and we're told he sleeps through the night and is a late riser. I'll let you know if I've been lied to.