vancouver through my lens

We made a run for the Canadian border.


And this is the closest I got to a real Canadian Mountie.


This is the view from Stanley Park.


And another view, through the trees.


I really enjoyed Stanley Park, I wish we had one like it in Los Angeles (and don't talk to me about Griffiths Park). It was so pretty, very well maintained, huge, and with tons of activities. I didn't take many Patel shots, just stuff like this:


















As Jim mentioned on his blog, we enjoyed it so much we're considering going back in six weeks or so for an international fireworks festival, the Celebration of Light. Hopefully by then I will have figured out how to take pictures of fireworks displays that aren't crappy.

"zee money, yew have eet for mee"

Our second night in Vancouver, Jessica and Amy took us to dinner in Yaletown, which is a former industrial area in downtown transformed into one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the city. I couldn't help but feel that in about ten years, downtown Los Angeles is going to feel a lot like Yaletown. I can hardly wait, because I had a blast.

We had dinner at Capone's, this Italian restaurant with great live jazz. It was at the end of a row of restaurants, clubs and bars, on top of which were some great-looking lofts. The people, food, music, ambience - everything was wonderful, a really memorable experience. At one point Jim whispered to me, "I can't wait until they open a Capone's in our neighborhood." I'm crossing all my appendages.


Right after this picture was taken, we walked out, trying to figure out whether to stay in Yaletown or hit a club in Gastown. When all of a sudden, this panhandler comes up and talks to us with a really heavy French accent, I mean Clouseau-heavy. Hell, let's blogname his Clouseau. Anyway, Clouseau approached us and I didn't understand most of his rap because of the accent. He was pushing a fairly expensive bicycle and asking for money, that much I caught. But I guess he got tired of repeating himself because he was more than a little cranky, he was now just DEMANDING money.

He was going on about something and I'm not even going to try to write it out phonetically. So for maybe the fourth time I ask, "What? I don't understand a thing you're saying." He then said, "My Eeenglish, ees bad." To which Jim replied, "No your English is great, it's your panhandling skills that suck." Not to him, mind you, just me. And I'm a little tipsy. So of course I laugh, as I often do at all his jokes regardless of how funny they really are, and Clouseau LOSES IT. In French. Although he's absolutely livid, all I can think of is the Pink Panther and Clouseau saying, "Yew have for me, ze massage?" or, "Assbucket?" So I'm laughing and Jessica comes over with her leftovers and asks me, "Does he want food? Here, give it to him." So I hand him the leftovers and he pulls back his lips to show us his gums, and with his fingers in his mouth, screams, "I haf no teef... I het yew!" (Translation: I have no teeth... I hate you!)

I should've just offered him all the cash in my pocket if he would hoist Jim up on his shoulders like the Spiderman Midget did for Skip. Now that would've been a great vacation picture.

5th and spring, seattle

Last weekend, Jim and I spent some time in Seattle. Along with my brother Angel, we were on our way to meet other family members in Vancouver. We opted to fly into Seattle to see my cousin Lupe, and then drive to Vancouver.


(I forgot to take a picture of the Seattle Central Library here at 5th and Spring, designed by Rem Koolhaas. I suck.)

Lupe and her boyfriend Ciaran live a few blocks away from Seattle's 5th and Spring. I was afraid when she moved to Seattle that they would wind up in some soulless apartment mega-complex, but thankfully they live in a great, funky, historic, downtown neighborhood - plenty of restaurants and cafes to walk to, dangerously close to great shops and galleries, and her building is filled with artsy types, just like her and Ciaran. Look at Angel's pictures here. This is the view outside her windows.






And down the street.


We didn't have as much time to spend in Seattle since we were on our way to Vancouver. We managed to get in a few touristy things, though.



The town has a nice vibe, I liked it more than I thought I would. We'll be back.

relieved times infinity

It's done. I finished the screenplay this morning, sent it off, talked to the development exec right before she left for lunch, and she's "very excited". Me? I don't possess the vocabulary to explain just how I feel. Relieved is a huge understatement. Sure, there will be re-writes (bigshot producer told me to expect six, tops), but nothing as major as six weeks to write an original screenplay. BTW, I never want to hear or read another word about the South during Reconstruction. Screw socially-conscious period dramas, I need to write my "Asian Pie" screenplay and laugh all the way to the bank.

So what does this mean? It means I am back among the living again. Last night Jim and I caught a screening of Chinatown, one of my all-time fave films, at the Orpheum, part of the LA Conservancy's Last Remaining Seats. We missed A Star Is Born because Jim didn't think I'd want to go, so he didn't get tickets. When I found out that was the film we missed, I fainted. Just kidding. I did faint, but that was for a different reason and, trust me, that story deserves its own blog entry.

Tonight, I'm going to blow off some steam at my favorite downtown supersecretlatenighthangout. Couldn't make it last week as I was in Seattle and Vancouver. But that's also for another blog entry. So we roll tonight, to the guitar bite... and for those of you who know of it and where it is, come on out and blow off steam with me! I'll probably head over around 10:30pm or so.

Last night, walking home from the Orpheum, we ran into my loftmate Lucas. He was occupying the corner table on the patio of Pete's - the table usually occupied by Kristin. BTW, has anyone seen Kristin lately? That's three nights that I didn't see her at her usual table. Anyway, I digress. A few tables away was a dear friend who we'll blogname Charo. Charo is a Higginite (resident of the Higgins building) and one of those cute, fun, unpretentious downtown chicks I love hanging out with. She was having drinks on the patio with these guys, and she asked where I'd been hiding. Then she dropped the line I'd been dreading, "You get engaged and now we never see you." Aaargh. Don't blame Jim, it's me, all me and that whole writing career thing. Hey, did you see that Super Lotto is up to $82 million?

overheard in downtown los angeles

Almost invariably it happens - Jim and I walk home down 4th Street late at night and someone from the bridge and tunnel crowd drives down the street cautiously. They spot us, a window rolls down just enough for someone to yell out the window, "Hey, where's Bar 107?" We're both tempted to give them wrong directions even though they're about 25 feet away from the door, a guy standing at the door checking ID, a big backlit sign, and a crowd of smokers taking a ciggie break.

Because my parents raised me to be polite (for the most part), I give directions, "Yeah, just go down this street about 24, maybe 25 feet and it's on your left side, right above that sign." BTW, no on has ever said "thank you".

Actually, I'll them whatever they want to know as long as they don't complain that 1) it's dirty and smelly, 2) that the homeless always hit them up for change, and 3) that there's no parking (even though there's plenty of street parking and a huge lot a half block away). I mean, for chrissake, you're in downtown Los Angeles, not the freakin' Promenade.

The other night around 11:30pm, Jim and I were walking home down 4th Street, as we always do, when a group of scenesters walk towards us. Just as they passed by, one guy says to his group, "Let's just go back to the westside."

Yes, please do go back. Because the westside is magical. Maybe you and your Expedition or Escalade can find TV parking or you'll cough up $20 for valet. And you'll only get hit up for change by stranded couple who "just ran out of gas and need to get home to the Valley" rather than a crackhead, and everyone's farts smell like oranges.

losanjealous recently reviewed Bar 107 and I couldn't help but tell them what I thought of the place.

eh, take off... you hoser

Jim and I are going to be in Seattle and Vancouver for a few days (a family thing). Except for the strip clubs and coffehouses in Vancouver, we don't know what to do or where to go. Any suggestions?

the bad girls club

I don't know any bad girls, at least not anymore. Not even when I look in the mirror.

Casting Call: Oxygen will introduce a new original series The Bad Girls Club this December. The show is a docu-soap that follows a group of "bad girls" who all live together in L.A. and in order to be in the club they must pledge to help each other change their devilish ways. If you are a bad girl and would like to be in the club, the producers Bunim-Murray Productions are holding open casting calls in June across the country. Submit a brief description to badgirls@bunim-murray.com or call 1-800-683-8832. More information is available at: www.bunim-murray.com.

busy week

Despite my deadlines, I've managed to get out and actually see and do things. Unfortunately, I haven't been very good about blogging about any of it.

This past Saturday Jim and I were on the LA Observed Night on The MONA Neon Cruise, the first one of the season. It was a first time for MONA and the cruise for both me and Jim, but I loved both and know I'll be back. There was a reception beforehand to help celebrate LA Observed's third anniversary. It was so nice to see Kevin and chat again. Eric Lynxwiler, who conducts the Neon Cruise, gave us a little museum tour. Eric said he was a little rusty, since he hadn't given a tour since last year, but he had no need for worry. I had such a good time on the tour and highly recommend it to Angelenos and tourists alike. I have to warn you though, Eric plays a little blue. At one point (I think it was when we were going past the TomKat Theatre in WeHo), Eric was reeling off a list of recent porn titles. Good times. I think my favorite part of the evening was when Eric was mid-spiel, and someone yelled out, "Trees!" Eric ducked, the trees brushed the tops of the open-air double-decker bus we were on, Eric popped back up and kept on talking without skipping a beat. Jim blogged about it and took a bunch of pictures, which I hope he puts up soon. I haven't had a chance to download mine from my camera, but soon, I promise. But make plans to take the tour this summer - they're every Saturday night and our tour was sold out.

Sunday was another loftmates and friends dinner at the penthouse. Unfortunately, I didn't hear my phone ringing during dinner and a crowd of guests were stranded below, unable to access the penthouse. I checked my phone after dinner, around 10pm and was horrified to hear Catherine's voicemail saying that everyone was downstairs wondering how to get up. Yikes. I called them back, apologizing profusely. Andy answered and was really cool about it all. They invited us over, they were screening Brokeback Mountain at Adam's penthouse at 11pm. Unfortunately, I was beat. The heat was really getting to me and I had a screenplay to rewrite, so we didn't make it.

Tuesday night, Jim and I were listening to Dr. Ross speak about "What's Wrong With Philanthropy in LA?" at the Central Library. At the reception afterwards, I ran into someone I hadn't seen in a long time, Marie Condron, one of the co-founders of NewDowntown. Marie and her then-boyfriend-now-husband Ian moved downtown into the Santa Fe Building after attending one of the infamous penthouse loft parties from back in the day (scroll down to the last three paragraphs) and we've fallen out of touch in the last few years. We caught up a little over free food and beer at the reception. It was a beautiful election night, so after the reception, Jim and I walked over to the Bonaventure Hotel to check out the action. We only got as far as two trays of beer samples at the Bonaventure Brewing Co. But it was a nice night and I like walking home late at night, you really feel like a part of the city.

Yesterday, I returned an overdue book and we picked up some produce from the farmer's market. Then last night, we returned to the Central Library for yet another lecture series, this one was Don Lutz reading from his book, Doing Nothing: A History of Loafers, Loungers, Slackers, and Bums in America. I was thisclose to punking out and not attending, mainly because I wanted to go with my loftmate Lucas to the Greek (his assignment was to take pictures of Ashlee Simpson's new nose), but even that sounded like it would take too much effort. I did manage to get in a lot of work on the screenplay, so despite my slackerdom and because of my fear of it, we attended Don Lutz's reading and I'm so glad for it. See, I don't just party my way through downtown.

So I guess I'm not that much of a slacker. We walked home again and ran into Kitty and Jeremy getting their drunk on at Pete's Cafe. Jeremy was part of the group that didn't make it up to the penthouse for dinner on Sunday night, so I apologized profusely again. I gave Kitty a hard time about not finishing her novel, she said something about me pretending to be cultured, going to lectures at the library and shit, then we called each other whores, air-kissed and made up, then made plans to call each other to make plans for the weekend.

Today, I'm missing another Downtown Artwalk. I look outside the window and see all sorts of people gallery-hopping and I did want to check out the newly re-opened bank. But my cousins are in town from Hawaii, my godfather and aunt are in town from Guam, and we're all having dinner at my parent's house tonight. So tonight I also get to miss the Cross Cultural Film Festival at my favorite Filipino-owned and operated downtown cafe, Lost Souls, the wine tasting at my favorite Italian wine and coffee bar, Banquette, as well as the competing mini-grand opening at 626 Reserve (even though they actually opened a month ago.

Tomorrow, I knuckle down and really dig into this rewrite. Or I go to Disneyland with my cousins and Jim. I don't know yet. I'm on the fence.

Saturday, we're hitting the Franklin Avenue 100th Rate a Restaurant shindig at Cole's, maybe the annual Schmucklerfest, and hopefully MOCA's Night Vision so I can see Teka do her spoken word thing. If you haven't ever seen Teka, I urge you to do so (she's on at 9:30pm), she's very talented and entertaining. I met her a few years ago at a Poetry Soup in Carlye's house and I've been a fan ever since. Jim and I ran into her on the downtown artwalk last month, I was really surprised that she remembered me, but then again, she was surprised I remembered her.

I better get going if I'm going to be only a little bit late for dinner.

just breathe in and look up

Jim's family usually stays at the Bonaventure when they're in town. This shot is right after our "meet the in-laws" brunch, the morning of our engagement party.

go dutch tonight

Looking for something to do tonight? Get over to the Natural History Museum for their First Fridays Series, specifically Conversations Los Angeles Leiden: Nature and the City, a collaboratie exhibit between a group of Los Angeles artists and the Naturalis Museum in The Netherlands.

I have to admit, at first it sounded a little ambitious for the end of a difficult week. But this is the final First Friday of the season and the last chance to explore Sonic Scenery or the Mysterious Bog People after hours. I guess I could sit around and listen to what Ed Moses, Michael C. McMillen, and John Outterbridge (some of the artists participating) have to say about it all. That won't take too much out of me. Afterwards, Jon Hassel will perform his sonic sculpture, Solid State. I have no idea what a sonic sculpture is, but I have a feeling it goes really well with alcohol.

I haven't seen the Bog People exhibit yet. Jim and I checked out Sonic Scenery: Music for Collections when it first opened. I got a video iPod for Christmas (thanks again, Angel!) and had only been using it for going to the gym, but it came in handy for the music accompanying the exhibit. Nice tunes. I better make sure it's full of juice before we go.

June 2, 2006, 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
CONVERSATIONS: LOS ANGELES LEIDEN:
Nature and the City
· Admission $15, Museum members and students (w/ ID) $12.
· Tickets at www.ticketweb.com or by phone at (866) 468-3399.
· Located at 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007. Get directions.
· Public parking lot available on Menlo Avenue across from the Museum.
· Please enter the Museum from the South entrance closest to parking.
· For more information e-mail performances(at)nhm.org or call (213) 763–DINO.

hope for firefighters

Jim and I will be eating our way through Hope Street today, thanks to Hope for Firefighters 2006 - the largest annual firefighter's appreciation event in the country. Benefitting the Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association Widows & Orphans Fund, teams from local businesses will compete in various firefighter games, and most importantly - present a variety of food booths featuring a taste of the firehouse prepared and served by the firefighters themselves. Oh yeah, we are going to chow down.

I went last year and I don't remember much, just that I woke up with barbecue sauce on my chin.

dinner and a movie - last remaining seats

I just looked at my calendar and realized not only that summer is here, but that I've scheduled myself tightly.

Tonight Jim and I will be joining the L.A. Conservancy as they celebrate two decades of presenting classic films and live entertainment in the historic movie palaces of Los Angeles. The Last Remaining Seats will take up a few of our Wednesdays this summer (May 31 - July 5) as they're focusing on classic films that feature Los Angeles. Among others, the lineup includes "A Star Is Born" (1950), "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955), Chinatown (1974) and "The Mark of Zorro" (1940), which opens the series at the Los Angeles Theater.

It's a good thing that we got our tickets early, a few of the nights have already sold out. If they're still available, tickets are $18 ($15 for Conservancy members), though remaining tickets on the night of the event go for $20 (cash or check only) at the door.

Now the only thing left is to decide is where to dine before catching a show. Thankfully, a handful of downtown dining establishments are participating in "Nights on the Town", offering specials for theater-goers and anyone else dining downtown on Wednesday nights from May 31st to July 5th. Most of my downtown favorites are participating - Banquette, Pete's, Lost Souls Cafe, Rocket Pizza, Warung, Pitfire Pizza, and Restaurant Ensenada (one of downtown's best unsung), but I'm really looking forward to trying Cicada (4 course dinner for $50!). I used to go to Rex Il Ristorante back when they occupied the space Cicada is in now, so it'll be a nice trip in the time machine. There are a couple of other new places I want to try, 626 Reserve on Spring, and I hear there's a new Filipino restaurant on Spring called Asian Noodles (although they're not participating). Jim will have to make the call since I'm paralyzed by indecision.

I noticed the Series Star Sponsors at the bottom of their website - John and Donna Crean. Years ago I was at a party at the Orange County home of John and Donna. And when I say home, what I really mean is palatial estate. The party was a fundraiser to benefit Alzheimer's research and you couldn't swing a dead cat over your head without hitting a millionaire. They raised a lot of money that night and I know that night wasn't an aberration. Thank Buddha for the Creans and others like them, and all the good they do.

sunday night dinner at the penthouse

Loftmate Lucas celebrated a birthday a little while ago and we had a special Sunday night loftmates and friends dinner for him.

This is the view looking into the penthouse from our roof.


Tim loves to grill meat and is a wonderful cook. This is most of the dinner party, enjoying dessert.


I don't know who gave him the candy underwear, but I think it was Lucas' favorite present.


I loved Jim's reaction to the candy underwear.



After dinner, we gathered for drinks in our living room and checked out the downtown skyline.


Someone is enjoying the view from outside, on our roof.


Here's loftmate Tim and his girlfriend Bethany enjoying a laugh and a tender moment on the roof.


Skip and Lucas share a laugh and a tender moment.


That's all I have from that night, but I'm sure with summer here, there will be more Sunday night dinners, more pictures and more laughs to come.

i sometimes blog elsewhere

I posted something to LA Voice the other day about a few upcoming events in downtown Los Angeles this summer. It got a couple of anonymous comments about how awful downtown Los Angeles is. Jim suggested I just shrug it off and not comment. So of course I did. I'll never learn.

house m.d. at the penthouse

A while ago the cast and crew of House, M.D. shot segments of a two-part episode in the living room, kitchen, bathroom and ledge of the penthouse. Jim posted a screenshot of the episode on his blog and here, finally, are the shots I took.

This is the hallway after the anteroom/entrance to the penthouse. They used it to hold some of the air conditioning equipment needed to cool the place down while shooting.



They painted this awful green color that really pops on television, but looks awful in daylight. This is the entrance to the main set, our living room.



For the episode, the penthouse was transformed into a filthy cop's apartment. This is one of the bathrooms, with the addition of a fake sink and toilet and painted to look like a moldy bathroom.



This is the kitchen, transformed into a nightmare.



Two shots of the living room, taken from opposite ends. They wanted to use my bar for the set, so they slipped me some paper and here it is below.





The roof was jammed with all sorts of equipment.




Nice view, don't you think? I'll be posting more pics of the penthouse during one of our Sunday night loftmates and friends dinner. That way you can see how we really live, and not the television version of the penthouse.

place your bets on the sale of the alexandria hotel

A while back there was a lively meeting for all the tenants of the Alexandria re the proposed sale to the Amerland Group and what it would mean for all the tenants. It has been very quiet since then. A while ago (a few weeks or a month, maybe? I can't keep track anymore), there were a round of inspections by the City (don't know which city agency, I heard this through the hotel grapevine), which the Alexandria Hotel failed. So the sale didn't go through as planned, though I don't know whether that means they just have to clear the next round of inspections before the sale can go through, or if the Amerland Group realized it would cost too much to make all the necessary repairs/changes to clear inspection.

I haven't seen hotel staff doing anything other than the usual maintenance, so I figured Amerland realized there was more going on with the Alexandria than they bargained for, and that the sale was off. Then yesterday, I was walking past Pete's when I saw the Amerland guys outside on the patio around 2:45pm, just like they used to do before they announced they wanted to buy the Alexandria. I considered going back and chatting them up, but I needed a nap.

Don Garza finally noticed my blog post from back in March (way to stay on top of downtown happenings, Don!). So if any of you read Don's blog, don't mention it to him yet - let's see how long it takes him to notice this post. We can set up a betting pool - pick a day and if Don blogs about it on the day you pick, the winner and a guest gets to come to a penthouse loftmates and friends Sunday night dinner*. And if you want to wager on the sale of the Alexandria, you can also pick a day when you think the sale will go through - the person who picks the date closest to the completion of the sale gets to bring his/her date to dinner, too**. So step right up, place your bets in the comments section and let me know what you want for dessert.

*Don Garza is ineligible to play.
**Friends and employees of the Amerland Group, employees of the Alexandria Hotel, and the involved city agencies are ineligible to play.

david hasselhoff's "hooked on a feeling" video

The. Best. Thing. Ever.



(Thanks to Mike at Franklin Avenue!)

cross that off my list

I turned in my screenplay on Monday afternoon. I got off the phone with the prodco's head of development (let's blogname her my new BFF, best friend forever), bathed in relief - they wanted to meet in a week or so to discuss my next writing project. A whole week to goof off, kinda. Woo hoo!

Jim and I went to Paramount Studios that night for a Mission Impossible 3 screening/Q&A with writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. These guys wrote for a few of my all-time favorite shows, Xena, Hercules, the first two seasons of Alias, and they are writing the highly anticipated (by me, anyway), Star Trek XI. I completely forgot that my new BFF would also be at the screening, until she called and asked me to save seats for her and "Tito", a legal and biz affairs guy from Fox. The screening was packed to capacity. At one point, a crowd of hostile people surrounded me and Jim, ready to beat us up for the only two seats available in the theater. Since everything hinges on whether or not my new BFF likes my script, I was ready to kill anyone who approached the two saved seats. When I was a talent manager, I was often referred to as a "baby-eater", which was ridiculous - I've never eaten a baby. But I would eat a baby if that meant my new BFF would give my script a thumb's up.

Thankfully, she didn't want to chat much. Tito congratulated me and Jim on our engagement, then it was air-kisses, a "let's have lunch this week, call me" and they were gone. I like to delude myself into thinking that she rushed home to read my script instead of watching whatever season finale was on that night.

I slept most of Tuesday. I had all these plans for things that I would do with my week off - do laundry, write a few restaurant reviews, blog about everything that I haven't had time to blog about in the last six weeks, re-pot an orchid, get a Thai massage at Pho Siam, organize my shoes/handbags/clothes/script library/CD collection, write thank you notes, drop off dry cleaning, get my car washed, call my trainer/go back to the gym, shop for a wedding gown, etc. But all I've been able to do is sleep. I had another screening tonight, but I cancelled. Sleep sounds so much more appealing to me. The danger is very real that I just might sleep through the week instead.

engagement party wrap-up, part one

I didn't take any pictures of the engagement party, but everybody else sure did. However, I haven't received any of them yet. As soon as I do, I'll throw them online here or somewhere.

I was in a really bad mood Saturday afternoon. The elevator got stuck on the penthouse level, with everyone on the first floor unable to get upstair and me, all alone in the penthouse, with a wrenched arm and twenty minutes behind schedule. It all worked out, they got the elevator to work again but Jim and I ended up being very late to our engagement party.

One of my bridesmaids, Elizabeth, came over to tart me up. Although she was late, Elizabeth managed to calm me down. Her husband, Jason, was also a big help. He made Jim a drink while he was getting ready (he looked a little nervous, too) and helped Jim with that whole square in the pocket and making sure all tags are off his clothes thing. (Thank you Lizzie and Jason!)

The four of us finally left Jim's place about 40 minutes after our party had started and walked hurriedly down Main Street to Adam's Penthouse on Los Angeles Street. As we approached the corner of 5th and Main, we hear guys yelling and see some sort of physical altercation happening right in front of the Bert Green Fine Art Gallery. It was a drug bust. Elizabeth and her husband don't live downtown, so I check their expressions to see how they're doing. I suggest a left onto 5th rather than continuing on Main and everyone agrees.

Now this is the best part - we turn and aren't even halfway down the block to Los Angeles Street when we hear a gospel choir singing. A few steps further and we see - a gospel choir singing on the sidewalk. Knowing how much I love gospel choirs and that the screenplay I'm working on right now involves a gospel choir, I look to Jim and wonder - did he arrange this?

With a big smile on his face, Jim says, "That is so random." Okay, he's not responsible. I think I like it better that he didn't arrange for it.

Walking down Los Angeles Street to our party, Jim and I just looked at each other and both said, "I love our neighborhood."

Pictures and an explanation of why Cousin Angel had hickies all over his face and neck to come in the next few days.

freaking out a little bit

I'm so excited about my engagement party tonight. Jim and I were at Adam's the other night when they delivered the set-up and I thought I was going to jump up and down like a little kid. My aunts from Hawaii arrived Thursday night, Jim's parents arrived last night and Cousin Angel's flight from Chicago comes in this morning while we're all at the "meet the in-laws" brunch. I don't know why I'm a little anxious about that. Although my parents are O.G. and old country, I'm sure they're not considering how to bring live chickens and a pig along as some symbolic offering or dowry or something. Yeah, I'm trying not to think about it.

Jim thinks we may have overestimated our guests and ordered way too much food and booze. I'm not familiar with that concept - too much food and booze? What does that look like? I've heard of it but I don't think I've ever seen that.

Our original plans for entertainment fell through earlier this week, but we lucked out and were able to get this amazing singer, Hope, to perform a little mini-concert at the party. She's signed to Atlantic Records and is actually recording her album with Trevor Horn in London, but is here on a short break and was available. Hope played the Viper Room earlier this week, did anyone catch her set?

Thankfully my dear friend and music industry mentor, Violet Brown hooked us up with Hope. Yes, that Violet Brown. I've mentioned her several times to Jim, but only referred to her by her first name. When I told him who was helping out with entertainment, Jim tapped out something on his keyboard and pulled up iTunes and the Eminem track where Steve Berman of Interscope says Violet Brown told him to go fuck himself because his record is a piece of shit and asked, "That Violet Brown?" Yes baby, that's her.

I'm trying to relax and not get freaked out, but the karaoke machine we ordered still hasn't arrived. And I'm not wild about what I'm wearing tonight. I don't want to start listing the things that might cause me to freak out, but I think those two things are enough to send me sprialing out of control. I think I'll stop writing now and go eat some ube ice cream.