At Least It's Nice and Sunny

I guess one thing about phasing out background is that my posts can be a little shorter and to the point now (and more frequent, kind of......sort of......hopefully, lol). I've still been working over night so I've been able to enjoy our sunny and 80 degree weather here. Don't hate! A portion of the Hollywood Hills caught on fire last week in case anyone didn't know. Right behind the Hollywood Sign. I live at the base of the Hollywood Hills, about 2 miles from where the fire was. Some apartment complexes had to be evacuated, but no residential areas were damaged. They got it under control. Scary.

So, I was working at the gym the other night. You would be surprised at the number of people that come in all through the night. It still amazes me. The regulars come in every night, and they know me know, so it's cool. Anyways, the other night I was at the front desk and it was about 3:30 am. I see this car park in the parking lot and this guy gets out and is walking towards the door. He has a huge bag on his back, coats in one arm, miscellaneous stuff in the other arm, and a cigarette in his mouth. He is dropping things because he has so much stuff. It was pretty funny. He comes right up to the front door and then throws his cigarette butt on the ground and steps on it. Now, I know smokers work out too, but I was thinking, "This guy is crazy. Who not only smokes a cigarette right before they work out, but literally right up to the front door?" I mean, it's like he wanted to smoke for as along as he possibly could until he got into the gym. He then walks through the door. I glance at my computer screen, and then at him, and guess who it is? It's Danny Bonaduce!!! LOL From the Vh1 reality show Breaking Bonaduce (and from The Partridge Family of course). He looks just like he does on the tv. He's short. However, he was REALLY cool. He was a nice guy. You know I keep it real and wouldn't lie. He also came back the next night looking for some punching bags, but we didn't have any. You never know who you're going to bump into in Hollywood. Now, I just need Mariah Carey to waltz in one night.

Also, I was at the grocery store the other day and I ran into Christine Taylor, better known as Ben Stiller's wife. She is pretty and thing, just like any other actress. I didn't talk to her though. I wantedd to, but like I said, I'm not that kind of person. I did want to say something though because I used to watch this show she was on years ago when I was kid. It was a show on Nickelodeon called Hey Dude! Is there anyone my age reading this that rememebers that show? I never missed it.

That's it. Positive quote:

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world."

~Harriet Tubman

I really hope everyone (in America at least) knows who Harriet Tubman is. As soon as I saw this quote, I had to use it here. It really puts things into perspective. When I think about what hardships people have gone through in the past, whether it be the slaves during the Atlantic Slave Trade, the Jews during the Holocaust, the Native Americans, the first settlers who set up camp at Jamestown, Virginia, or even my own grandmother who moved 7 young children from Jamaica to the United States, BY HERSELF, it makes me think the things I whine about now are nothing! I have no right to be tired or inconvenienced. I have goals damnit and I'm not stopping until I achieve them! Who's with me??

So, You Like Ripsi?

Geez, you guys must've really liked the video with the drunken Ripsi. According to my hit counter, I had more hits in one day (yesterday) than I have ever had in one day since I created my blog. I even had way more hits yesterday than I did when I talked about racism and Michael Richards. You know, racism, the deep seated issue that America has been dealing with since its birth! Haha....I actually think it's pretty funny. I watched that Ripsi video at least 15 times by now. Seriously, if you only watched it once, watch it 1 or 2 more times. It gets funnier the more you watch it because you pick up little details you missed the first time. In any case, I'm glad the video was amusing to you no life losers, because I found another, much shorter, video of Ripsi drunk again.



On to other things.........I know I have talked about the smog here in L.A. a lot, but I have to again. But this time, I'm talking about the LACK of smog!! And I'm loving it. I heard the there is considerably less smog here during the winter months and it is true. I think this has to do with 2 things. 1). Winter is when L.A. gets all of its rain. Which reminds me, I had to use my windshield wipers for the FIRST time 2 weeks ago. I moved here July 1st! That's crazy. So, the rain helps clear the smog and dust out of thr air and it makes a HUGE difference. The land here is really, really beautiful when you can actually see it. 2). The Santa Ana winds. This is a weather system that passes through L.A. every fall. Whatever smog is left in the air is most likely blown away by these winds. I can't even think of the words to describe it. The Hollywood hills right now look like they do in post cards. They are so clearly visible now from a distance. The other example I noticed while I was driving the other day. I was going to an audition I think and I was getting on the 405 freeway (the bane of everyone's existance here) from the 10 freeway. In order to do that, you have to go over this highly elevated ramp that provides a great view of the city. So, I'm on the ramp, curving southward, and I look to my left (towards the east) and lo and behold. In the distance, I see a huge snowcapped mountain! It was gorgeous. And I never even knew the thing existed!!!! I've been over that ramp many times, but thanks to the smog I couldn't even see downtown L.A. let alone this mountain. I figured it had to be the San Bernadino mountain range because I had just heard in the news that these mountains just got a fresh coat of snow and skiers were loving it. Seriously, it looks like Mt. Kilimanjaro. Look for a post from me in the near future about how we are destroying our planet and things we can do to help. In the pic to the right, just pretend the giraffe's aren't there!

Well, I guess I'll go ahead and post ONE MORE video here. I worked on a semi-porn set today but I don't feel like talking about that right now. I'll write about that in a day or two. I know I know....the suspense!! Haha Back to Ripsi. This chick has problems and now she is getting kicked out of the house. Oh, and as for the show, it's called Bad Girls Club. It comes on Oxygen, but I still don't know anything about it. It's kind of like The Real World on MTV, except its all girls that live in the house.



Ahhh....where do they find these people??? Ok, I'm done with Ripsi now. I swear!!!

The First Rain

I have been in L.A. for about 3 and a half months now and it rained for the first time yesterday, since I've been here. It wasn't very much and it lasted for only 30 minutes or so. It's just amazing to me: 3 months with no rain. It rains every other day in Ohio. I'm surprised it wasn't acid rain that melted everyone's skin away considering all the smog here in L.A., hence the picture on the left. Plus, it's October, and the average daily temperature here is 75 degrees, whereas in Ohio it's in the 50's right now. I've never lived anywhere but Ohio before and I'm not used to such a steady climate. I love it.

I only worked two days this week which sucked because I was bored out of my mind. There is so much to do in L.A., but it's not really fun when your other friends are working and you don't have anyone to do them with. Wednesday I worked a show called All of Us which is a show on the CW network starring Duane Martin and Lisa Raye. Tisha Campbell (Gina from Martin and My Wife and Kids) was guest starring that day. In real life she is married to Duane Martin. It was cool. I was in a restaurant scene and everyone on the set was really laid back. Nothing special happened that day. Oh, but guess who was directing this particular episode? It was Alfonso Ribeiro aka Carlton. Makes sense. Will Smith created the show. Alfonso was cool but he's gained A LOT of weight!

Friday, I was back on Vanished. I played a hotel staffer. Once again, they gave me some good camera time. There was a small fight scene, scuffle rather, in the hotel lobby, and they needed another person to step in and help. So, naturally they approach me to do it among the other 20 extras, haha. BUT, still no speaking lines. I should've just asked them for a line. That's how one of my friends got a line in a show. Oh well. This time I will watch the previews on Monday nights so I can be 100% positive when this episode is going to air, then I'll let everyone know. By the time this episode airs, hopefully I'll be doing something bigger and better anyway. Who knows. Hollywood is brutal.

The only interesting thing that happened to me this week was someone that I ran into, and actually talked to in the grocery store earlier this week. This person can be considered a legend. At her peak, she was a huge music star. I think she had hits starting in the 60's and going on into the 80's. So, I'm walking around in the grocery store and coming around the corner I see a head full of some big, wild hair. This woman is wearing a purple, suede sweatsuit and pushing her grocery cart. She turns her head toward me, and I'm looking right at Diana Ross!! THE Diana Ross from the Supremes. I kind of froze for a minute because I'm standing right in front of someone who is really famous, and then I just said, "Hi, Ms. Ross". She said, "Hi, how are you?" I said, "I'm fine", then we went on our merry ways. She was nice, and she's the most famous person I've met since I've been here.

Well, remember the Japanese video from my last post? My mom and sister thought it was stupid. They didn't even laugh. I don't know why I think it is so funny, but I do. I said I'd post part two, so I still will. If you think it's dumb, then don't watch it, but I think it's hilarious. They tried to get creative and add in some scenes with actors. My random observation for this video is that the camera guy keeps zooming in on the girls' shoulders, of all areas. Just something I noticed.




Ok, that's it for Japanese videos. I'm over it now, lol