More Harry Potter

Cuz you just can't get enough, right? These are videos from the Grauman's Chinese event... (no celebs, just atmosphere... but who doesn't love atmosphere?).

Petrificus Totalus

Oh yes, I do indeed love Harry Potter. So much I dragged my butt out of bed early on Monday (and you all know how friggin hard that was for me right now - baby gets me up to eat at 6:30am) and walked over to Grauman's Chinese to see Harry, Hermione and Ron put their hands, feet and wands in the cement. What follows are my pics of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint - I know the pics aren't great, but I was across the street and my camera isn't exactly state-of-the-art. Some of the best shots are of the JumboTron... so it's kind of like I was standing out in the street in non-sensible shoes, in the heat with a whole bunch of Harry Potter fans, watching tv. Oh well, I was there and you weren't. Nyah.

The Honorary Mayor of Hollywood, Johnny Grant

Preeeeeetty girl.

Emma Watson gettin cementy.

Matthew Lewis (aka Neville Longbottom)

Oh, and yeah, I suck. I totally thought the thing was over, so I left the "cattle" area and crossed the street on my way home. Of course, that's when the cast came back out to sign autographs. See the guy in the red hat to the left of Matthew in this pic? That's where I was. I suck. Oh well, at least I was there. Nyah again.

Rupert Grint

Harry himself, Daniel Radcliffe. And if you haven't seen his episode of "Extras" yet, get thee to Netflix pronto. I'm waiting.

Whee. A week and a half till "The Deathly Hallows." Not that I'm counting or anything...

Linkage

Check out the links I have added over there ------->
It's cool stuff I think you just might enjoy.

I'm good like that.

In my neighborhood, in my nay-bor-hoooood

Cirque du Soleil did a free performance at Hollywood & Highland yesterday...

Hot Damn, Part 2

I. Can. Not. Wait.

Hot Damn

For those of you who don't know... 3121 is PRINCE, baby. Prince. Down the street from my apartment, 7 Fridays in a row, live at the Roosevelt. And then hosting a dinner party afterward until 4am. Can I go? Oh hellllls no. Why, you ask? Because His Purple Badness commands $312.10 for a ticket to said event, and $3121.00 for the show and dinner. Plus, it's after my bedtime.

I have a gay dream...

LA Pride Festival babies!!!

Who doesn't love a big gay angel?

Parade Grand Marshall (and former NBA player) John Amaechi

The GLBTG Disney cast members

Namaste... Wendy

On the street where I live...

... there are many strange and wonderful things. We have tourists a go-go, the occasional premiere/awards show/reality show finale, a nightly talk show taping, a "modeling agency" owned by a "super" model tangentially famous from her stint on a reality show, and grown men and women who dress up as comic book/film characters and harass tourists for photos (and occasionally get surly and arrested).

The El Capitan Theatre seen from Hollywood & Highland

The plaza at Hollywood & Highland set up for the American Idol finale

The Janice Dickenson Modeling Agency at Hollywood & Highland

Jimmy Kimmel Live

Namaste... Wendy

Again, Not Ocean's 13

Nope, still no Clooney. Sorry.

On the same day as the "American Idol" finale-eve, somebody thought it would be a good idea to have the "Mr. Brooks" premiere at the Chinese. Cuz I'm sure those two crowds were complimentary. Oh, and I should point out that we didn't hang around to see any actual stars, so all you get are pics of the setup. I'm betting you're beside yourself with glee. Glad I could help.






Namaste... Wendy

Been a long time since we rock and rolled....

Yeah yeah yeah... but in my defense, I've been busy.

Let's see... what's happened? Hmmm - Hal Sparks held the elevator door open for me at the grocery store. And boy, did he look irritated - must have been the colors in his hair. Or the fact that he's pocket-sized. Or the fact that I don't give a fuck about Hal Sparks now that he's not on Talk Soup. Take your pick.

Saw Ludacris at dinner, and he's pocket-sized, too. Everyone in Hollywood is pocket-sized. They also have huge heads. They are lollypops. Unfortunately, I did not come up with that little funny... but if you're out there in the flyover states, you can pretend I did.

Up in the canyon last week we passed Nick Zano, star of my afternoon rerun guilty pleasure, "What I Like About You." I also enjoy "Reba," since we're sharing.

Living down the street from the Kodak Theatre, I feel contractually obligated to report on the goings on over there... and before you get all excited and jump right out of your panties with joy, I missed the "Oceans 13" premiere. Sorry. Big huge posters announcing Damon, Pitt and Clooney's appearance, and I missed it. Yup, I'm awesome like that. But we did meander over to take in the American Idol melee, and I'll be sharing that with you now.

The press setup

TV Guide's "Idol Tonight" getting ready to shoot -- that's Justin Guarini and Kimberly Caldwell talking to their director, El Guapo... who was actually the AD on a little (and I do mean little) film called 2001 Maniacs.

Kimberley Locke

Guarini making the most of it...

And yes, it's the fucking chick who cries every time Sanjaya "sings." I'm quite certain this is a sign of the apocalypse.

Next stop, a premiere I didn't hang around for. Why? One word: Costner.

Namaste...

Randomness...

Ok, it's been a while since I've dished the dish, so here goes. Forgive my pregnant brain - these are bits and pieces of what I can remember, and I'm quite certain they'll be out of order. Deal. ;)

First off, I'm on the phone with a casting director for a game show I'm trying out for, telling her one of my pasttimes is blogging celebrity sightings for my peeps in the hinterlands (all the while strolling through Whole Foods, mind you), and who walks by? The Mac Dude himself, Justin Long (of course, I immediately think of Jeepers Creepers). I'm really hoping he didn't realize that he'd be the subject of my next blog, but then again, oh well. He's a Mac, he can take it.

Have I mentioned I think Ellen Greene is stalking me? After seeing her at Trader Joe's, I ran into her again at the regular grocery store. Hmm. I know I'm awesome, but still.

I've decided that most people in Hollywood are pocket-sized. Seriously, Taye Diggs could fit in my pocket. He's one fine lookin man - saw him at another Whole Foods all dressed up in a suit with those fabulous glasses... but dang, he's petite.

Ok, I know I'm missing someone, but alas I can't remember. I shall let you know when I do. Promise.

Namaste...

Burn, baby, burn!!

In case you missed it, a couple of teenagers tried to burn down Hollywood (ok, Burbank)... it was behind my apt., so I didn't see it first-hand, but here are some cool pics I snagged just. for. you. Swear.

Everywhere, everywhere...

Ok, so I've been remiss in reporting my "star sightings" - sorry 'bout that. A week or so ago, we had lunch at the News Room in Beverly Hills, and while waiting we saw Saturday Night Live's Kristen Wiig - she's tiny. Pocket-sized really, and sadly not like her "a-hole" character. Cuz that would have been cool. On Wednesday we were walking through the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, where celebs "supposedly" hang out but I have yet to see one... until now. We just finished getting our gelato, and Luke Wilson walked by, all Mr. Hollywood himself. Seriously - hot blonde on his arm, beige blazer, shades, you name it. I had to look twice, because he was such a stereotype. But fun... normally when I see folks out and about they look like hell at the grocery store (just like me!!) - so it was nice to see a little glitz for a change. ;)

I'm pretty sure we saw Jane Wiedlen from the Go-Go's, but I'm not completely sure it was her.
This is my world, so I'm deciding it was her. Yay me. Then again, I'm thinking said tiny person was a bit busty and had a little more junk in the trunk than I think Jane has nowadays... and I'm not quite sure why she'd be talking to a clown named "Silly Billy" on the street in the Promenade, but then, in this town just about anything goes, really.
I know I'm missing one, but I'm tired. So maybe it'll just have to be a tease for later. ;)

namaste...

Suddenly... Ellen

Dragged my tired butt out of the house long enough to go to Trader Joe's for a few staples (and a quick Slurpee on the way...), and it was as fun as it ever is (one should refrain from going to TJ's on a weekend if one can avoid it - craziness). However, whilst navigating the deli aisle, I had the pleasure of seeing Ellen Greene. I'm telling you, I almost wept. I'm actually happy she and her husband left soon after, because me, in all of my pregnant hormonal glory, may just have become a blathering idiot. I did get to hear her speak several times, and wow, is that voice distinctive. I have to admit, I'm more than a little disappointed she didn't break into "Somewhere That's Green" right then and there. Dammit. Love her.

Namaste...

ps - Oh yes, tomorrow is Golden Globes day here in Hollywierd, and boy, are those chickies going to be cold. It's supposed to dip below freezing tonight - I'm thinking the red carpet should be interesting. We, however, are not hanging around for the fun - we're off to Long Beach to see some fishies with the little man. A friend is working the event (and has been all weekend) - I'll be sure to report any decent dish.

pps -- The above friend (and my girlfriend) were with Britney Spears when the whole "passing out" thing supposedly happened at Pure in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve. Let me tell you folks, the tabloid press is an amazing creature. Not only did she NOT pass out (or fall asleep or do anything of the sort other than leave), the writers from the two "magazines" that reported this.... were in the bathroom when she left. Nice. Believe it or not, Ms. Brit-Brit was actually within her wits, wore underwear, and was very well-behaved. I know, you're devastated.

Namaste one more time... ;)

It's all coming back to me now...

And not some Meatloaf-covered-by-Celine-Dion song, either. Just remembered I saw Laura Leighton (of "Melrose Place" fame) at my trusty WeHo Target... and can I tell you, that chick is TINY. I know she's had a couple of kids, but you'd never know it. She looks gooooood. I could probably put her in my pocket, should I choose to. Which I do not, thank you, I do not.

For Reals?

We were in San Diego this summer and visited the little seaside village, where we came across a quaint little toy shop. Or so it would seem. In what universe are these "toys" acceptable? I'm not so liberal obnoxious that I can't see little boys with toy hunting rifles (I am from Michigan, after all)... but a toy Tec 9?

Why is it ok to give your son a toy M-16 with his name painted right on it?

And really? A toy Peacemaker? Mini-Matic? Terminator, for chrissakes? This is where the level heads and peace and love need to come in, people. It ain't right. It ain't even ok, no matter what Whitney says.

Snakes on a Red Carpet

My awesome friend Lin on the red carpet for the premiere of her film "Snakes on A Plane." Which was pretty cool, actually. Seriously. I thought it was freakin funny.

Old Friends

On our Thanksgiving trip to San Fran, I finally got to catch up with my old friend Leslie and her husband Louis. Dang, we go way back... Really have to see this girl more often - she's just as awesome now as she was in high school when we used to cruise around in her 19' station wagon...

Cats A-Go-Go

Evidently the cats like the new couch.

One more thing...

Ok, I know I promised pics, but there's just one more thing... I started this blog in a different place and time, a different mind. I've talked a lot about love and the world and the wonder of it all, and I need to revisit that for a minute. I took a chance on my life and I think I won big... I look at where I am now versus a few years ago and it amazes me. I don't have any more money, I don't have any more fame or success (ok, if you've seen my crappy movie on cable you may disagree, but really...), but damn... I have a husband who takes care of me in every way possible. I have a beautiful child that amazes me every minute of every day, and we have been blessed with another, coming in just a few months. I look around me and want to cry all the time - and no, it's not the hormones. Ok, maybe it's the hormones. But damn, how often can you say you have everything you've ever wanted? No, we don't have a house or two cars or a big savings account. No, we don't know where we'll be in 5 years or how our lives will pan out. But we have love. Do I sound like a Hallmark card? Fuck off. I don't care. I never thought I'd have a partner who would be there for me in a marriage and as a parent, and believe me, that's huge. I don't know how I'd raise a child without David. There are millions and millions of people who raise children alone every day, and they have my utmost respect. I can't fathom it. I've always wanted to have children, but never imagined the love and pain and humility they would bring. I am responsible for this tiny being. What he eats, what he wears, what he's exposed and not exposed to. He is his own little person, but he depends on us to keep him safe.

Life is a journey, and it's gotten so interesting. It's so easy to get sidetracked with bills and cleaning and diapers and teething... but I have to tell you, I'm still amazed. I'm amazed by my beautiful husband who comes home from a hard night at work and still stays up with the cranky/vomity baby (and gets up throughout the night if necessary) so I can sleep. I'm amazed by my son, who after vomiting all over his bedroom at 2am, runs around giggling and "talking" a mile a minute. I'm amazed that the tiny bundle of cells that made me violently ill for weeks on end has somehow become a tiny person that kicks and turns and already has a personality, even though we won't see him until (hopefully) April (he also gives me horrible heartburn, but that's another story). I'm amazed to watch my little brother and his daughters... and my older brother and his almost-grown children. We've all come down our own roads... I know my mother is proud of all of us. I just wish I could tell her about all the amazing things I'm witness to every day. But I'm sure she knows. She's the one who made sure I knew to look out for them.

Love comes at you from out of the blue. Believe in it, trust it, know it's going to change your world and turn it upside down. It will take you in directions you never expected and never dreamed. It will bend you and twist you and make you learn more than you ever thought you would about yourself, if you're paying attention. It will break your heart every day and put it back together every night. It will lay you out naked on a slab, and you will be thankful. You will remember your past and acknowledge it as necessary to have brought you to this day.

Live it up and run naked in the rain, folks -- love is a warm blanket around your soul.

Am I hormonal? Possibly. But I'm in love, so who cares. ;)

Namaste...

Imagine

Imagine all the people
living lives in peace

In case you've been living under a rock, you know we've decided to name this child Lennon... Not many have asked, but just in case you were kind of wondering (and even if you weren't, because this is my world, thanks), there are many reasons. First, we love the name - it's beautiful. Second, we believe it radiates love and hope and peace... things sorely lacking in society today. We are trying to live our lives in a peaceful manner, and I suppose we're making a bit of a statement. Is that a lot to put on a small child? Possibly, but I'm sure he'll be able to deal with it. We want our children to have a wide open world view, and know where we're coming from. Does that make sense? Do I care if it doesn't?

I like to refer to us as "millenium hippies." We're not crunchy, obnoxious, in-your-face anti-societal folk, and we're not crazy Californians. We do, however, think that people should think before they act. We belive food should be natural, and you should know where it comes from. Do I still enjoy a Coke and Doritos from time to time? Of course I do (especially since I'm pregnant... I eat whatever I damn well want lol). Do I avoid giving my 15-month-old foods laden with high-fructose corn syrup of questionable genetic origin (never mind the fact that Americans are now eating more corn per day than is even remotely healthy), additives and chemicals to make it sweeter or a brighter color? You're damn right I do. My child eats organic yogurt and cereals. He eats wheat bread whenever possible. He eats only natural fruits (although not always organic) and vegetables. Any juice he gets is 100% pure, not fortified with additional sweeteners or fillers. The milk he drinks (from CostCo) comes from cows who have not been treated with growth hormones. If I had my way I would only give him organically grown meats, but that's not fiscally possible right now. We are not rabid about what he eats, but specific within reason. There will be a day that my child gets his hands on a Twinkie or a Red Vine or soda or some other nasty wonderful food... but that day is not today, and I will not be the person to give it to him. It is my job to protect my child from the dangers of this world, and he will know that the food he puts in his mouth should serve his body, not destroy it. He will know there is definitely a time and a place for a Snickers, don't get me wrong. I just want him to know when that is.

So anyway, we're naming our kid after a Beatle. The nursery is already decorated with John Lennon bedding. We're stoked. ;)

I've rambled on long enough... time for the crazy pics of Hollywierd.

namaste...

I know, I know...

Let's get it right out in the open -- I suck. I've hardly posted over the last year, and for that I apologize. I'll try to be better, I promise... and not in an Ike Turner "baby, I mean it" way, but for reals. Guess you'll only know by tuning in, huh?

So where to start? Ok, for the last year or so we've been living in Los Feliz, which while very pretty, is pretty boring. Yes, celebs live there, but no, I didn't really see them. Ok, save for that one Adrien Grenier sighting at my Albertson's. But did I see Kiefer Sutherland bar-hopping on Hillhurst? Nope. Not once. Did I see David Lynch at the really cool open-air wine bar 2 blocks from my apt? Nope. And don't think I didn't peek in every time I walked by, either. So anyway, we've moved back to Hollywierd, and it's on babies, it's on. David likes to take Jack to our local Ralph's on Sunset for people-watching. Seriously, it's the hipster grocery store. I'm perenially underdressed when I go there. I also don't think I'm quite cool enough to frequent my local Starbucks. Or skinny enough. Thank god I'm pregnant and I have an excuse to not wear skinny jeans. Dang.

I'm seeing celebs all the time now, and every time, I'm thinking of my poor bloggies not getting the scoop. So let's see if I can recall a few... My OB's office is always good for a few character actresses... so far I've seen one chick from a couple of CSI's (remember the one where the chick was basically a vampire, freeze-drying body parts and making them into shakes? she's pretty awesome), and a chick I really dig who's done pretty much every Law & Order (she's a redhead... always plays bitches... I'm sure that narrows it down). I also saw the other hot chick from "Mulholland Drive" the last time I was there. I'm certain I could come up with names for you, but seeing how I saw these nice ladies in my OB office, I should probably afford them a modicum of privacy. Probably blew that part already. Sorry.

Our Christmas trip to Indiana was awesome, but got off to a slow start. Due to a storm in New Mexico, we had a 5-hour layover in Las Vegas... which got us into Indy at the crack of 5:30am. Ugh. We did share the plane ride with Megan Cavanagh (Marla Hooch in "A League of Their Own" and a righteously funny character actress), and she was very entertained by Mr. Jack. She was really nice so early in the am, and unfortunately still had an hour drive ahead of her to Bloomington. Thank goodness we booked a hotel room across the street from the airport. Yay us.

Man, I know I'm forgetting a bunch... that's what I get for not logging on enough. Grrr... Oh well, I'll update more as I remember. Or see folks, as I am wont to do on a more regular basis nowadays.

Since I made it home from Indiana still pregnant (unlike last time, as I'm sure you all will recall), it looks like I'll actually deliver this child at Cedars Sinai. Unlike last time, though, I don't know of any celebs due the same time as me... we'll see what happens. ;)

I have several pics to upload, so I'll do that separately...

Until then, namaste folks, namaste...