Tuesdays

Tuesdays are my days to play housewife. This morning I took my standard 40-minute walk around the neighborhood, took out the recycling, went to the post office, got my car washed, did the dishes and made lunch. I also managed to fit in some work on the enormous excel sheet that is consuming my working life. The car wash was rather exciting. It was my first time at this particular car wash (Handy J - voted best in the valley by LA Magazine!) and I was a little intimidated. It's not surprising that LA-ers are crazy about keeping their cars clean so the garage-like thing attached to the gas station doesn't quite cut it out here. I had been going to this place around the corner from us that has an early bird special M-T-W from 8am - 10am, but I wasn't thrilled with the results. When a coupon came in the mail for Handy J, I thought I'd give it a try. I was thoroughly impressed.

Handy J is one of those car washes you walk through while your car is washed -- it reminded me of the places we used to go to in Pittsburgh when I was a kid except here there are little tables and chairs for you to sit at while you wait for them to finish up your car. When I got out to the tables there was a girl about my age and a guy a bit older with large sunglasses on. I couldn't see where they had taken my car to finish it up (wash the windows, hand dry the whole thing, etc.) so I was a bit twitchy trying to figure out when it was done. At one point the guy asked me and the other girl if either or us had an SUV and it turned out it was the other girls. As she left to get in her car the guy and I started talking. Neither of us had been to the place before but we both had heard good things. He said he knew it was pricey but it he had heard it was worth it. I told him about the coupon I got in the mail and he seemed interested in it. As he was leaving to get in his Mercedes (like, the car wash was too pricey for him!) I realized I recognized his voice. All I could think was "Rob Morrow but geekier," and that's when it occurred to me: It was Miles from Murphy Brown!



















After "Miles" left a woman sat down next to me and we started chatting. I told her I was new to LA and she asked if I was liking it. I told her I did, but that I was still frustrated that I couldn't find work on a college campus. She asked for my card and told me that both she and her husband worked at UCLA. Very exciting day at the car wash!

Today's Man

Tonight SMS and I had the extreme pleasure of watching a film called Today's Man.

The film is a documentary about a young man named Nicky who has Asperger's Syndrome. I managed Nicky a few jobs ago at Manhattan Theatre Club and I'm in the film for a minute or two. It was hard to separate how much I loved the film with how much I loved BEING on film but I can honestly say, hopefully objectively, that it's a great film. SMS liked it because he said it showed the world from Nicky's perspective, in that most of what Nicky says in the film sounds perfectly reasonable and all of us "normal" people appear to be the ones with the problem. Is seems if we were only able to see the world the way Nicky sees the world, we wouldn't be so exasperated with him all the time -- and in the film it becomes apparent that his way of seeing things is no better or worse than our's, it's just different.

Anyone who read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and liked it will love this movie. So will anyone who has heard my numerous humorous Nicky stories but didn't quite believe them.

Today's Man will be part of PBS' Independent Lens series and will air nationally on January 8th. I'll send out and post reminders as that date gets closer.

For now, I'll leave you with one of my favorite Nicky stories, as to me, it really sums up what it means to work with someone who has Asperger's.

Nicky and I had weekly check-in meetings. To facilitate the meetings I asked him to keep a steno notebook with him at all times so that he could keep a list of his questions and concerns for us to go over at the meetings. At each meeting the notebook looked more and more haggard, many pages were ripped or falling out. I asked Nicky to please keep the notebook in better shape and he told me it wasn't his fault, it was a bad notebook. I explained to Nicky that I had carried Steno books in my bags for years and none of them looked like that. I went to my office to get my bag and brought it into the room where we were meeting. I pulled one of my Steno books out of my bag and showed Nicky that it was in pretty good condition even though I had been carrying it in my bag for months. Nicky looked at the book and very matter of factly said "Well you book is closed!" So I asked Nicky if maybe when he put his notebook in his bag he could close it. He said that sounded like a good idea and from that point on, we didn't have a problem with the notebook.

That's the thing about Nicky. He would do just about anything I asked, as long as it made sense to him. And there were lots of things that most people would do naturally, that they would do without a second thought because it was natural to them, that would never even occur to Nicky.

While I worked with Nicky I was often frustrated but seeing him on film helped me remember how much I enjoyed it, how rewarding it was and how much I learned from him. I may be considering another career change!

Cats Cats Cats!

So, Mae has been on Kitty Prozac for a month now -- and it's working! No more cleaning up pee from the carpet twice a day, no more waking up with a start in the middle of the night to the sound of our nearly 20lb. cat "marking" the carpet where she had just peed. We're getting more sleep and Mae is using the litter box for No. 1 and No. 2! The bad news is that the vet is keeping her on the Kitty Prozac for six months! We can't argue with it, as it's working, but six months! That's a heck of a lot of Prozac!

Caution: Fire Danger, Pt. 2

In New York City before September 11th when a subway train stopped unexpectedly between stations commuters would groan, audibly and in unison. In the weeks after September 11th, when a train stopped unexpectedly, the silence was palpable. People looked each other in the eye and shared a moment of silent terror.

I was reminded of that today while getting the oil changed at JiffyLube. Typically in a crowded waiting room, if you heard the siren of a fire truck go by, I'm not sure anyone would even react. Maybe you would think to yourself "I hope they make it in time." Or maybe, if you knew a firefighter, you would say a prayer to yourself for his or her safety. Maybe you would think about the family the truck was rushing to save. But not today. Today people looked up from their magazines. Instead of thinking about one family, I thought about the 350,000 homes that have been evacuated and the 10,000 people at Qualcom Stadium. E, my friend in New York commented that it would be weird to live somewhere where "raging infernos" are sort of "normal." She's right.

SMS and I are still safe. We can see the smoke in the sky, but today I haven't smelled it so much. I know of people who have been evacuated (friends and families of friends, parents of co-workers) and my thoughts are with them and with everyone personally impacted by this amazing and frightening display of nature.

Caution: Fire Danger

Since Sunday morning various areas of Southern California have been on fire.
Sherman Oaks doesn't appear to be in any immediate danger however you can hear fire engines racing by and you can smell the fire in the air. I can actually feel it in the back of my throat. There are warnings not to do outdoor activities and to stay inside with your AC on. The temperature is expected to reach 100degrees today, so that won't be a problem for me.

I'm keeping up to date on the fires on the LAFD's blog and you can, too, here.

Photo by the Top Shotta, July 2007, Northern California.

My Kinda Weekend

SMS and I have had a nice run of visitors and houseguests over the past few weeks. It has allowed us to get out and explore LA, spend time with friends and family, and eat at some fabulous restaurants! It was a good, albeit, exhausting time.

We're not scheduled for visitors for a while, and that's ok, too. This weekend was filled with local friends, old and new, food and downtime.

Friday afternoon SMS and I hung out at the Four Seasons in Westgate with our friends the McMs. Currently the McMs (J, B, their 10-month-old, M, and their two dogs!) are living in one room at the Four Seasons while they wait for their house in Agoura Hills to get ready. They recently drove here from Brooklyn, all five of them, and we're happy to have them around. J is working at the Four Seasons and B is comedian and director -- we met them on our honeymoon (which was also their honeymoon!) and in New York we saw them about once a year. We hope to see them more often out here!















After a dinner of ribs with the McMs we headed back to our 'hood to watch our friend's big night on Moonlight. Then off to bed!

Saturday we hung out around the house, did some damage at Ann Taylor Loft (thanks to my in-laws' birthday gift card!) and then headed out to meet a friend in Silver Lake for amazing (and cheap!) Thai and drinks at the Red Lion.



















Today I met a friend from New York for brunch in Los Feliz and then hiked with L in Wilacre. We just got home from an amazing performance by Mark Morris Dance Group and now it's off to bed...after I finish watching the Steelers (hopefully!) beat the Broncos.

And in case you're wondering what Henry and Mae did all weekend? They watched leaves blow by the sliding glass door!

Apologies....

...for the unplanned hiatus...

I've been feeling bad about not posting, but I have been writing, a story, the first in years. Will post it if I like the outcome. In the meantime, I received this today:

Lindsay to me
9:49 am Wednesday, October 17

"its been 9 days since your last blog entry. for your fans who sit in front
of computers all day, that is a bit like torture. i recommend adding more
pictures of my boy henry..."

I was going to post pictures below, but "Blogger" was unable to perform my request. Will try again later. Thanks for your patience!

*UPDATE*

You learn something new every day...

We got to talking about the Steelers' logo this weekend while watching the kick-a$$ game...this is what we found out:

"When the Steelmark logo was created, U.S. Steel attached the following meaning to it: Steel lightens your work, brightens your leisure and widens your world."

This prompted a discussion about what "brightens your leisure" could possibly mean. Then the Steelers scored another touchdown and we decided that's what it meant!

4 and 1, baby!

Before and After, the personal edition

BEFORE










AFTER


Great day in Pasadena!

Good weather, good food on M's recommendation (though my salad came with black beans in it...and beans WERE NOT listed on the menu! it's ok though, i picked around them), good FroYo (thanks DB!), and nice husband. Also, I am thrilled with my new haircut, but there is something in my 'after' picture that makes me even happier...do you know what it is?

My money says EHC will....please write-in with your thoughts!

Happy Weekend!

**UPDATE**
While one loyal reader and old friend guessed that I was pregnant (incorrect, but seriously, that would have to be some haircut!) erica did write in with the accurate information.

For years and years and years I have been looking for a red heart necklace to replace the one given to me in college by my junior year roommate which broke a few years ago on my bathroom floor. I have been looking for it, SMS has been looking for it, erica has been looking for it and yesterday in Pasadena, we found it!

SMS had gone into the bathroom and I was wandering around a courtyard with a jewelry store. I saw it and thought, "this may be the happiest day of my life." Seriously, I thought that. And not in an over-dramatic way but in a way that acknowledged that somehow, all was right with the world. Even if I didn't walk away from the store with that necklace (and I really didn't think I was going to), it was good to know that the necklace existed.

When SMS came out of the bathroom we went into the store. The necklace was expensive, but almost an exact replica of the necklace I had broken back in Brooklyn. And SMS bought it for me on the spot! O Happy Day!

The funny thing is, as I wandered around Venice Beach today I caught myself looking at all the jewelry stalls for a red heart necklace...I had to remind myself I had already found it!

Sort-of Live Blogging my Birthday, Pt. 2

Two loads of laundry down. Almost done with the Ikea shelves. Finally found a cleaning lady who is coming this weekend! Good Stuff.

Had a wonderful dinner with good friends and wanted to share some photos:

View from my walk in Wilacre Park today.

Months ago, way back in June, which seems like some other life, to be frank, I was given a going away/birthday present from my co-workers at my old job. I got a substantial gift certificate to the Gap and a book about hikes in LA. I told everyone that on my birthday I would be sure to take a hike and think of them. And that's exactly what I did!

Birthday Dinner (would have been a better picture if my eyes weren't closed!).

I am so lucky to have good friends here. I felt especially lucky to be with them tonight. L brought the balloon, K&M brought the cake and man, did we eat like champs!

My birthday wish is that Mae stops peeing on the carpet. I know you're not suppose to tell, but I figure if you all wish with me, we might be able to make it happen!

Anyway, if you want more pics, there are tons of photos from September here and picture from our trip to Cambia, CA here.

Lots of love to all and thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes on my facebook wall, this blog, by phone and by email. Hope to see you all soon - come visit - just as soon as Mae stops peeing on the carpet!

Sort-of Live Blogging my Birthday

So this morning started off with lots of well-wishes emailed over night from friends and family. It feels great to be so loved.

After milling around the apartment a bit I took the recycling to Whole Foods, I took SMS' car to get washed at the early-bird special and I stopped off at Jamba Juice for a smoothie on the way to Wilacre where I took my first "solo" hike in the park.

On my hike I got a few phone calls from friends and family, some who sang and some who "fake sang." They all made me smile.

Towards the end of my hike I was lost in thought, listening to a song that always makes me think about how much I love my husband, when I ran into Richard Kind!

Pretty sweet, right? I introduced myself as a former MTC employee and I told him about the reading I saw him do of Sarah, Sarah and how amazing he was. He was very gracious and when I told him my name he said, "Hi, I'm Rich."

Then, just as I was about to get in my car, I heard from RT, a good friend from New York who had been surprisingly MIA since my move. It was great to talk to her -- aren't birthdays grand!

Though I must admit, there were some low-lights to my day so far: peeing at the port-o-potty at Wilacre is NOT recommended and then my former employer called to say I owed them money for my September COBRA. I told them they were mistaking, and let's hope that is that!

32 years ago, RIGHT NOW! (10:20am Eastern Time)

Happy Birthday to Me!
by Cracker

I was having a good sleep
in my car
In the, parking lot of the
Showboat Casino hotel

I say, "I remember you
you drive like a PTA mother"
You brought me draft beer
in a plastic cup

I'm feeling thankful
for the small things, today
I'm feeling thankful
for the small things, today

Happy, Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me
and to you

...

I remember you
I crashed your wedding
With some, orange crepe paper
and some Halloween candy

A sometimes
I wish I were Catholic
I don't know why
I guess I'm happy to see your face
at a time like this

Happy, Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me
and to you-ah

Seriously, it's a much better song with music.