So how you doin?  :)  No, I haven't taken a picture of the Pretty Woman hotel yet - hold yer horses!!  I did get a chance to go to San Diego for the first time yesterday - to catch the Giants and the Padres at the new Petco Park.  Whee!!  San Diego, the little bit I got to see of it, that is, is pretty cool.  We had dinner at Dick's Last Resort - and I actually saw some folks I knew from back in the day at the Atlanta Dick's (remember Ron, "sexual chocolate"?  He's well and good and working in SD!!).  I also saw Peri and Head Dick himself, Steve. 
 
San Diego also sports many cigar factories with handrolled stogies -- great smoking in a state so opposed...
 
Not a lot on the celebrity front -- I brought Ian Ziering's family some sodas while they waited for a table the other day.  It's an interesting phenomenon -- you see someone on TV every day, then you see them in life... you feel like you know them, and you want to greet them as such--- you may know them, but they have no freakin clue who you are.  No idea.  So you have to stop yourself, before you come off like a crazy stalker person.  Crazy.  Today, Peter MacNicol (Ally McBeal, Ghostbusters 2) came in for lunch.  I ran his food.  Nothing spectacular happened.
 
I'm realllly tired today, can you tell?  I'm sure I'll be back to my witty self here soon...  Only a few more days until my trek across the country, part deux.  I hope I live through the work part to make it to the fun part....  Hard Rock in Vegas!!

Holdin out hope...  Namaste
 

San Diego skyline from the brand new Petco Park -- what a cool baseball field... kinda puts Dodger Stadium to shame ;)  

Barry Bonds at the plate July 27th in San Diego -- love him or hate him, he's one freakin awesome baseball player 

Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres 

Ok, I keep forgetting to mention the Pretty Woman hotel (the one with the fire escape - don't play like you don't know what I'm talking about) is on a little side street I drive down several times a week.  I keep forgetting to take a picture of it for you...  I'll see what I can do to remedy that ;)
 
Namaste

Are you excited, my people?  Cuz you should be... I've been working a ton, and you know what that means - celeb crap!  Yayyyyy.  ;)  Before I get to that, tho, it has come to my attention that the caption below an earlier Dodger Stadium photo ("a rare sight, indeed") is not entirely accurate, as the Dodgers are currently in first place.  Humph.  Fine, I'll amend my statement, but I'm not happy about it.
 
Get to it, you say?  I shall!  First off, awaaaayyy back a few months ago I encountered a gentleman in the bar area of my restaurant that I knew I recognized but couldn't place... just figured out it was D.L. Hughley (is that how you spell it?) -- can't get used to seeing him without those braids - but I like the new look better, don't you?  Let's see... as the week went on, Toni Braxton and several members of En Vogue stopped by (not together).  Toni was all undercover -- she doesn't do that in Atlanta!   On Wednesday I was thrilled to see Chris Elliott - what a twisted dude.  I also waited on Rick (former Laker, soon to be former Mr. Vanessa Williams) Fox.   On Thursday I walked past Mad TV's Nicole Sullivan on my way into work, and brought Norm MacDonald his baked potato later that night.  Yippee. My life is a thrill ride, let me tell you.  Friday was a doozie... first, I saw a Jackson up close and personal.  A real, in living color, Jackson.  With his own, natural nose.  Seriously.  It was Jackie, so don't get too excited -- although I'm pretty sure he's the only one left with his own nose.  But don't quote me on that.  Later, Britney Spears' family (mom, brother, and sister Jamie Lynn) stopped in for lunch, causing quite a stir amongst the 16-year-old boys in the mall (who all decided to pool their pennies and share a salad so they could sit near her).  The coup de grace, tho, came later that night...  hello A-list -- Leonardo DiCaprio came in with a few friends for dinner.  He's looking good, let me tell you - not fat or scruffy at all.  Really.  I personally think he's one of the best actors of his generation, but it's hard to get past his good looks.  When he looks good.  Which isn't all of the time.  But he looks fabulous now, so I'm seriously digressing here.  Ahem.  Last night was pretty quiet, but I did wait on one Fred Savage.  Let me tell you -- it's strange to hear a voice you've been hearing for years on your favorite shows ("The Wonder Years") and movies ("The Princess Bride" - you know you love it, don't lie) -- that same voice ordering a beer.  He hasn't aged a day, which is probably a detriment to his career.  Cool, tho.
 
Well, I'm off to work again -- very busy right now, trying to get myself together financially and mentally for my upcoming trip.  I'm sort of looking past the stressful part of the trip and forward to the vacation part -- I've never been to the Grand Canyon, and I'm telling you -- I can really use a few days poolside in Vegas.  Caesar's Palace, baby.  15 days and counting.
 
August 5th is approaching...  I love and miss my mama every day.  Wish her a happy birthday, will you?
 
Namaste...
 
 

View from Dodger Stadium. 

Sunset over Hollywood from Dodger Stadium. 

Downtown L.A. from my seat at Dodger Stadium. 

Alllllrighty then.  Did I rollerblade down Sunset today?  No, I did not.  Did I go to the gym and work out?  Well, I went to the gym, but didn't really exercise any as the spirit didn't move me.  Did I eat a bunch of crap (including my first In-N-Out Burger - wheeee!) and sit on my butt and watch movies and be altogether bad today?  Why, yes, yes I did.  Thank you for asking.
 
I watched The Cider House Rules (yes, I know I should have seen it ages ago - get off my back already!) and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which really was much better than I had heard.  Oh yes -- and the most important part of my day -- the Aqua Teen Hunger Force v2, and Sealab 2021 dvds came out today -- wahoooo!!!  If you haven't checked out these little tidbits of absurdity, go here and see for yourself!
 
That's it, I'm tapped.  Forgive the shortness, I must go sleep.  Cuz my day's been exhausting, I tell you, freakishly exhausting.  Ahem.
 
In-N-Out Burgers rock.  Seriously.

Tomorrow I'm rollerblading down Sunset and into Beverly Hills -- I'll try to take more pictures, if I can avoid falling on my butt. 
 
There are stresses in my life, and things I can't control... but the world is a beautiful and wondrous place, and I am alive and healthy. 
 
Namaste

The Capitol Records building -- home of fabulous music, and a great scene with Robert Englund in "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane." 

A zoom-in on the Hollywood sign -- cuz you can't really see it in the other picture, and I don't want anybody going "well... you can't reallllly see it very well, how do we know that's the Hollywood sign and not some rich guy's house? You've done that before, you know" -- so here -- nya nya nya. Ahem. 

The Hollywood sign - I can actually see this from my car as I drive up, but this is a much nicer picture (and not so much a driving hazard - driving and taking pictures is hard!! I could never be a paparrazzo!). 

I parked on top of the parking deck at my gym and took some pictures of the surrounding area -- just to prove it, here's my gym from the deck... Bally's Rocks! (do I get some sort of discount now?) 

Hi there! It's been a busy week, so here goes!  I've got news, pics, celebrity spam, and... my quintessential Hollywood moment!  First off, Blogger here has added easy-peasy HTML, so my little blurbs will be much more colorful for you -- I know you're thrilled!  Remember, Blogger.com for all of your Blogging needs!
 
On Thursday, heading to work from the gym, I had a very important Hollywood moment.....  I passed Angelyne in her pink Corvette.  Don't know who Angelyne is?  Visit her website...  This woman has made a career out of her billboards, her pink Corvette, and her bodacious ta-tas.  She's looking a little long in the tooth, but still a thrill to see a true Hollywood legend up close and personal.
 
A pause in the action here to give mad props to my girl Donna -- she landed her dream job with Habitat for Humanity in Atlanta!!  She's been volunteering with them since age 14, so it's a fabulous opportunity.  Yay!!!
 
Ok, back to the good stuff :)  Later Thursday, Ms. Gladys Knight (sans Pips) came in to dine - guess she likes to eat something other than chicken & waffles on occasion (those of you in Atlanta will appreciate that one).   Friday night brought in Olympia Dukakis, and Saturday Night Live's Rachael Dratch - yay!!  That chick is seriously twisted.  In a really good way. 
 
Ok, let's see if I can manage to slip some pictures right here into my post...  hang on!  I've been noticing all of the cool stuff I see as I drive along during the day, and I've tried to keep my camera around to share with you...  Ok, I can't figure it out, so I'll add them in a minute here ---
 
 
 

What's up, cats and kittens? It's been a fun-filled weekend!! Yes, I'm aware that traditionally weekends are Saturday/Sunday, but since I had Tuesday & Wednesday off this week, that's my weekend. Again, I must refer to the "this is my reality" clause at the bottom of the Blog. :)

So, I had a great weekend. I got a kickin new pair of Rollerblades at a skate shop in Venice Beach, and spent Tuesday afternoon blading around the paths between Venice and Santa Monica Beach. What a trip!! First off, the facilities are great -- it rocks being able to pull up and skate whenever (although the sand is a tricky one -- got my first road rash today not allowing for the sand on a sharp turn). Secondly, you just can't beat the sights. Looking past the tourist throngs (another benefit to having a weekend during the week -- the throngs are a little lighter), there are multitudes of personalities thriving on the beach - the skating, electric-guitar-playing Rasta dude, the sweaty, half-naked Muscle Beach dudes, the Jimmy Buffet-wannabe serenading passersby (and the Jimi Hendrix wannabe, and the God-knows-who wannabe...)... I couldn't possibly paint a picture as vivid as this place. Fun.

We had dinner at a fabulous Greek joint in Malibu -- Taverna Tony's. Evidently, this place kicks it like Taverna Plaka in Atlanta on occasion - not as often, but since the food is infinitely better, I'll cut Tony some slack.

Tell you what, I had so much fun on the beach I took myself back again today -- spent an hour or so rolling around (more fun than the gym - still fighting the family thigh curse), and rewarded myself with an hour on the sand. I live 20 minutes from the beach, and it's taken me this long to get there. You bet your sweet bippy I'll be back soon. 20 minutes -- a workout and a tan -- ain't nothin to complain about there.

No celeb sightings at the beach, so I'll recant the events of the last few days at work -- Saturday brought in a legend, one Sherwood Schwartz. Name doesn't ring a bell? He's only the man who brought you "The Brady Bunch" and "Gilligan's Island." Wow. Sunday brought the return of the woman who would be Mary McDonnell -- this time I'm pretty sure it was her. I think. Again, anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of one Mary McDonnell on Sunday...

Our mall features a pretty big AMC theatre, and I frequently hear our guests talking about who they've seen in line for tickets (the ticket booth is outside near our restaurant). This weekend, evidently, both Chris Rock and Serena Williams (not together) enjoyed a trip to the movies. Did I see them? No, I did not.

I took a bunch more pics for you to enjoy, but apparently my camera decided not to work. We've had a conversation, and I don't think I'll be having that problem anymore. So, more pics for you soon. ;)

Shout out to my ATL homies -- can't wait to see you all in August!! My trip will be short, but let's definitely make it sweeeeet. ;) I want my trip to be as fun as possible, even though I'm sure it'll be a little stressful... in fact, I plan to party in Atlanta on Tuesday, pack up Wednesday, finish up Thursday and hit the road for a couple of days... then I'm stopping in Flagstaff and hitting the Grand Canyon for a couple of days, and then to VEGAS baby - and the Bellagio for 3 days. Ohhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhh. You know what that means for you? More travel pictures!!!! Ahem.

Let me tell you -- I have stress in my life, but I also have a lot of wonderful-ness... people and places and experiences and love and beauty and joy and life. It is a powerful thing to love and be loved, give joy and experience joy, to touch the world around you and be touched by it. Life is not as complicated as we make it -- our feelings are not always fact. Open up, take it all in. Have a doughnut, go skating by the beach (or in the park or down the street or in your head), soak it all up.

Live. Love. Namaste.

View of Santa Monica Pier from the roller blade/bike trail between Venice Beach and Santa Monica Beach. 

Lots of folks playing basketball in Venice Beach... and one guy playing the electric guitar right in the middle of them. I've got nuthin here. 

The basketball courts in Venice Beach -- you may recognize them from "White Men Can't Jump."  

Muscle Beach in Venice Beach -- luckily, the guy on the right stopped doing squats before I snapped this pic... Evidently, it's cool for sweaty, long-haired guys to work out in tiny gym shorts (and nothing else) right in front of God and everyone... but then again, it's absolutely true -- in Venice Beach, nothing's shocking. 

I've taken to keeping my camera in my purse so I can capture these little bits-o-Hollywood for you... unfortunately, two of the pics I took yesterday didn't turn out so I'll have to try again (alas, my little HP camera is somewhat less than state-of-the-art, and is tres sensitive). Anyway, until I can get it right, I'll tell you about my photo ops yesterday -- first off, from the front steps of my gym (Bally's in Hollywood - natch), I have a stellar view of the Capitol Records building, mere blocks away (I can also see the Hollywood sign if I lean out over the parking deck). I know for a fact there are a few of you out there who will enjoy that little tidbit (mad props to my CMU homies). On my way to work from the gym, I go down Sunset Blvd., past the Arclight Dome, Amoeba Music (again, one for the WMHW folk -- the most rockin' music store I've ever encountered), and Hollywood High School... I make my way to Santa Monica Blvd through West Hollywood (heyyyy -- shout out to my Ansley Park boyz) to Beverly Hills, which is part of the original Route 66. Such an eventful drive, and I'm still not bored with it.

Ok, enough of my Hollywood virtual tour -- I've got celebrity dish for you. I know, it's about time, eh?! Thursday brought out Pete Sampras (again lol) - who almost ran me over on the way out the front door. I'll take it. ;) For you "90210" fans, Mr. Ian (that's eye-an, if you please) Ziering came in for dinner. The coup-de-grace of the evening, however, was one Russell Hitchcock. Yes, you heard me, the blonder half of Air Supply. No, I'm not leading you on - would I lie to you about a star of this magnitude? I may be all out of love, and so lost without you, but I wouldn't tease about this! LOLOLOLOL Seriously, our GM was going batshit over this guy -- the magnitude of stardom that passes through our doors on a daily basis, and he's going nutty over Air Supply (and don't play like you don't sing along when "Lost in Love" comes on that radio station you play in the car when nobody else is with you). The one thing I've learned about celebrity in a town chock full of it is this: you can get immune to seeing "celebrities" day in and day out... you can treat it as a game, or just another interesting facet of living in Hollywierd... but one day, you'll see someone who has done something that made an impression on you at one time (made a movie you loved, sang a song that moved you, fueled your fantasies), and you'll have an organic reaction. A true, from-the-gut reaction you won't be able to stop -- even if it's a little embarrassing... Case in point -- I become a jiggly, wobbly, screechy little 13-year-old when in the presence of either Rick Springfield or Darryl Hall. Couldn't help it if I tried. So as much as I'm enjoying bashing my dear GM for his Air Supply weakness, I have to admit I understand.

It's a beautiful day here in SoCal -- wish I could hit the beach, but alas, it's back to work for me. Gotta get some more Blog fodder!!

;) Namaste

Spidey at the Arclight Dome... I took this from my car on the way home from the gym, so you don't get the full glory of the camp here -- but you get the general idea. ;) 

Ahhhh... I've broken. I gave in. I just. couldn't. take it. any. more.


I had a doughnut - ok, I had two. I'm not ashamed, in fact, I thoroughly enjoyed it. We got there at exactly the right time -- our doughnuts were still hot (take that, Krispy Kreme) - we actually had to wait for them to fill our custard-filled.

Ahhhhh.... I'm sure I need to work out excessively now, but I'm certainly much happier.

Enjoy the pictures - if you click on them, you can see them larger on your screen.

I'm off to get my hair did - gotta look as fabulous as I am! ;)

This is a cool pic of myself and Robert Englund from my movie set that an extra sent me -- I'm not sure, but I can make a safe bet Robert's telling me about surfing here... very cool guy, that one. 

A bunch of my cousins (and brothers and sisters-in-law and niece and nephews) with my Grandma -- there sure are a lot of us... there are actually a bunch missing here! (back row: Bill, Meaghan, Ashley, Makalyn & Allyson, Austin, Danica, Kira, Adam, Brad, Erica, Alex & Trista; front row: AbbyGael, Connor, me, Grandma, Jennifer and Steven)  

My Mama's sweet Ollie -- still kickin it in Columbus with his good buddy David! 

Me & my baby brother on his wedding day. Sniff. 

My nephew Alex & I stylin and profilin 

Steve & Jen -- sorry about the sunspot, but every picture I took of them had the same spot, no matter where I took it. I'm thinking it was my Mama looking over them. Whether or not that's true, that's what I'm going with. 

Dad & Sherry, my Aunt Fran & Uncle Doug 

My Uncle Doug and Matthew having a heart to heart 

Jennifer, Steven, Alex, Erica, Me, David, Adam, Laura & Bill 

Ashley & Makalyn