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February 27, 2002
Keith says we have the technology to do this: Snap Stream. It's like having a TiVo or RePlay TV. I am very, very excited to think we'll join y'all in this world of watching what you want when you want. Wheeeeee.
Posted by bonnie at 6:16 PM | Comments (0)
February 26, 2002
ActorsBon: First Contact
Dear Bonnie,
Thank you for your articles at Back Stage West. I read them online. You had a feature article on pilot season. At the end you gave us some very important CD name and address information. Thank you.
My question is, I am new about one year to acting. I just got my headshots a few weeks ago. I am SAG-eligible but have not joined as of yet. Should I send my headshot and resume (have done many indie films, etc., and many skills) even though they have not specifically requested a audition for a specific role? If so, do I send a short cover letter mentioning where I got their information? Please advise.
Sincerely,
- Leslie
Dear Leslie,
Thanks for writing. Hope your year is going great! Do you have an agent? Manager? If so, defer to them on their advice about contacting CDs directly. If you do not have representation, I would suggest that you send either a postcard or a headshot and resume to the CDs who are working on projects you feel you'd be good for. If you send a headshot, make sure to include a short, but professional, cover letter, introducing yourself.
Do not follow up with a phone call. CDs generally do not like receiving phone calls from actors. They do, however, generally like receiving a postcard following up on the submission, or alerting them to an upcoming performance (where they can see you work in theatre or on TV).
Just because you're "new" doesn't mean you should shy away from getting in front of CDs, just know that they are very busy during pilot season, and you may not get very far doing just a blind submission.
Wait for another month or so before targeting agents and managers. During pilot season, agents and mangers are really focused on serving their current clients. A dedicated mailing to CDs would be good right now, but only to commercial CDs or indie film CDs (no one doing a pilot). April will be your go-ahead time for the agent search. At that time, grab The Agencies, a guide by Acting World Books. I highly recommend it, for the most updated agency information.
Whatever you do, stay professional and courteous. I find it is always best to be honest about where you are in the business (that you are SAG-eligible, etc.). Do as much non-union work as you can, while you still can, and learn learn learn! Are you in a class, now?
Check out an actors' web-board like The Bone-Yard or Wolfesden. They are my favorite places to keep up on the business with working actors, managers, CDs, and writers. Lurk for awhile, and ask questions after you've searched the archives.
Oh, there are so many resources! Spend some time at Samuel French, looking through all of the guides and books there. And get connected with a group of people -- it's always great to have people to bounce ideas off of, run scenes with, share stories.
Let me know how it goes! Best of luck -- and thanks so much for reading (and writing). Have fun, keep at it, and keep doing good work!
Take Care,
- Bon
Posted by bonnie at 5:14 PM | Comments (0)
February 24, 2002
Chip! Love the Benz.
It's so bitchin'! Very very cool. Hey, is your hair really long?
Amy, the exploding dog thing sounds very creepy. Glad everything is okay.
Oh, here's my Trading Spaces self. Don't know this chick, so you'll have to tell me whether I should feel insulted or not.
take the which one of the trading spaces cast are you? quiz!
I WANT TACO STAND! I so miss it!
Oh, I learned, that when you travel far to visit a Chick-fil-A and then fill out a comment card, you'll get, not one, but FOUR coupons for free Chick-fil-As AND a personal note from the manager, who is also from Atlanta. I like that!
Chip, I love the long and weird pic. Very clean room, dude. Or is that why we can't see the floor? ;)
Courtney - help! We nurtured a little Jude Plant thingy and it got little roots and new tops, so Keith planted it and put it outside... and it died. Boo hoo! Now what?
Oh, and kick the ass of that evil neighbor woman.
Sorry... festive mood tonight. Got my article turned in and it's a new Alias in a few hours. Tah!
Posted by bonnie at 6:25 PM
February 23, 2002
Faith's Coke Cake
Coke Cake:
2 c. Flour
2 c. Sugar
1 tsp. Cinnamon
2 sticks margarine, softened
4 tbsp. Cocoa
1 c. Coke
1 c. Buttermilk
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Vanilla
(ask Faith about icing)
Preheat to 400F
Sift flour, sugar, cinnamon
Melt marg in saucepan, add cocoa & Coke & bring to rapid boil
Pour over flour mix & stir
Add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, vanilla - mix well
Pour into 9x13 pan, bake 20 min., ice
1/2 c softened butter
3 T cocoa
1/3 c Coke
4 c powdered sugar
beat until smooth w/ mixer
Posted by bonnie at 2:48 PM | Comments (0)
Coke Cake
2 c. Flour
2 c. Sugar
1 tsp. Cinnamon
2 sticks margarine, softened
4 tbsp. Cocoa
1 c. Coke
1 c. Buttermilk
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Vanilla
Use any chocolate fudge icing or, if you make your icing from scratch, use Coke as a source of liquid and sweetness, as it will really add to the "theme" of each bite.
Preheat to 400F
Sift flour, sugar, cinnamon
Melt marg in saucepan, add cocoa & Coke & bring to rapid boil
Pour over flour mix & stir
Add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, vanilla - mix well
Pour into 9x13 pan, bake 20 min.
cool & ice
Sooooo ungodly yummy.
Posted by bonnie at 2:40 PM | Comments (0)
Okay, Bloggers, here we go...
Spied one of the stars of Barney Miller and Paul Reiser Thursday at Jerry's Famous Deli. Saw three TV stars yesterday whose names I don't know (like "one of the stars of Barney Miller" is a name), one of them was the backwards-talking-dwarf from Twin Peaks. Also recently spied Nestor Carnoball (or BatManuel from The Tick, Luis from Suddenly Susan). He was with his wife taking a tour of the Birthing Center at Cedars when we were waiting to hear how D's surgery went a couple of weeks ago. I was tempted to take the Birthing Center tour with all of these 8-months preggers ladies and their SOs. Al (D's sister) and I were daring each other to go on the tour together. Had the tour taken place earlier in the surgical day, we'd have gone, just to diffuse the energy.
On to the Blogs...
Amy - Thanks so much for the Spammobile info. I've shared it with my friends in TX, since that's where much of the current visits will take place. Very very cool.
Big Mike - Have you considered eBooks for your journey? I've never been a fan, but it seems, in terms of the heavy factor, that could be a good way to go.
Chipperonie! Love you, man. Still want to see photos of the Benz. Did you pick a license plate yet? Congrats on the digital camera. Can't wait to see what you put up! I give up on the best $750 you ever spent. Could you give us a hint? Keith was Ernie too, when we did the Sesame Street character quiz. So I guess I DO go for the same "type" of guy. Heh heh! Hey, do you want one of my camcorders? You know I have two. If you'd really use one, we could work something out. Oh... and why don't you just borrow one from the Newsteam? Please don't tell me they're still using those huge S-VHS cameras for field work. I think it's great to start sentences with "I"... that way you never have to justify for whom you're writing. You're writing about your experiences from your point of view and that's always great! I'm sorry you've been sick. That's a bummer. Oh, and I want your ReplayTV if you're done with it. Keith still claims that it is all evil spy device stuff, but I'm a big fan of having that sort of TV control. Does anyone know if there's a site that took the place of Prevue.com? I really loved that you could tell it to email you whenever certain criteria you selected would be on TV. Example: I wanted to know whenever John Cusack will be on TV. I would get an email for my viewing grid telling me when he'd be a guest on talk shows, when any of his movies would air, etc. When you go to Prevue.com now you get TVGuide.com, and it has a pretty good search function for that sort of thing, but not at all as cool as what Prevue.com's email thingy. Well... if you know of anything....
Courtney - Did you fly? That could be why you got so sick. Many times, if you're a little sick and board an airplane, the pressure and recirculated air can make you very ill. When was your birthday? I wish you a happy belated one, and hope it was fun! What is Cecelia cake? You should have Coke Cake. Have I told y'all about that? My friend Faith (fellow Atlantan) makes it for every major occasion and it is pure greatness. I'll put the recipe in the Food Blog. It's truly yummy and yes you can substitute Dr. Pepper for the Coke and it's delicious too. I'm all for People's Court and Blogging being considered a full day. Very good stuff, if you ask me! Good luck catching your stray cats. Once upon a time, Mom went on a campaign to get all of the local stray girl cats fixed, even if she then let them back out in the wild. At least that way, they wouldn't get knocked up. Good luck! Oh, your obnoxious woman in class... that's the person I call the Classhole. There's one in every class, and I really appreciate being able to pick that person out (because it means it's not me). Tee hee. Tell me about the Athens Academy Talent Show! Who was great? Anyone I know? Oh, and I love the hiding figurines thing. An old roommate and I used to do that with a pink glitter-woven shoelace. We'd get out on campus and discover it was tied to the back of our jacket or backpack or we'd pour a bowl of cereal and it would be the prize, etc. I think, now 12 years later, I actually mailed the shoelace to her as a baby gift. Great tradition, that! Keep it up!
Jocelyn - The Crazy/Cat Kid song has been in my mind for days. Thank you for that! Unless you saw it being poured in, I doubt champagne was in your Orange Kiss Martini. Most likely Triple Sec, Gran Marnier, or Contreau. The reason I doubt champagne is in there is that, if they're made to order, and not the special drink of the night, there's no way it's profitable for a bar to open a bottle of champagne for a splash in a drink. That's why most bars serve champagne in a Split form (two glasses per bottle). It's just more economical, if they're going to try to sell by the glass. Here's a few recipes from a bar drink site. Do some experimenting! Let me know what you come up with.
From Bar None Drinks.
Orange Martini (would be clear)
3 oz. Vodka
1/2 oz. Triple Sec
Dash of Orange Bitters
Citrus Martini (not clear)
4 oz. Lemon Vodka
1 tsp. Grand Marnier (Or orange liqueur)
1 tsp. Lime Juice (Fresh)
Jamie's Martini (not at all clear, but sounds tasty)
3 oz. Vodka
1/2 oz. Triple Sec
1 oz. Orange Juice (Fresh)
1/4 tsp. Sugar
Soul Kiss (also not clear)
1 oz. Whiskey
1 oz. Martini and Rossi Dry Vermouth
1/2 oz. Orange Juice
1/2 oz. Dubonnet
Sara - I too am 53% evil! I was so sure I'd be more evil than that! Dangit!
Stephanie H. - I too am Zoe. I did not copy the code or grab the image on that one, though, since I have no idea who or what Zoe is. I was so going for Oscar the Grouch.
Okay, so here's my news: The guest speaking thing went really, really well at the acting school. I've gotten tons of email and calls about it. Over 50 people stayed for my little shpiel and they had tons of questions. It was very gratifying. Keith and I went out after for our belated Valentine's Day dinner. We went to the Pacific Dining Car, an enlarged train car restaurant that's been in downtown since 1920. It was really romantic, very laid back, and just perfect. On Sunday, after Keith and I attended a Bridal Expo (dear GAWD, how awful is that?!) I checked in as Nurse Bonnie and stayed with D for most of the week. Her further bad news has really taken its toll on her. And me. Whenever I come home, I get very sad and over-manic. I know that's all a reaction to having to put on a brave face for D so much of the time. So, long week, but I was able to do a lot of my work for the paper from D's, as her dad had just bought her a new scanner, fax, printer combo dealy and that helped me a lot. The book deal memo is in place. I'm very nervous, but excited. It's a good thing. We attended my friend Barry's film screening last night. It was great. I've seen the film a few times now (it's one of the ones on which I did makeup) and this time was my fave, just b/c the crowd was so into it. Very cool. Fabiana, Barry's wife, is having a baby in a few months, and I'm putting together a shower for her. Just got off the phone with Sissa, my best friend from UGA days, whose wedding I'm in at the end of April. I'm going to be doing a whole East Coast tour thing, since she's in Tampa. So, I hope to get to see everyone in Athens after that week in Florida. Anyway, I'm now talking wedding gowns and bridesmaids' dresses and such and it's all just very bizarre, to me. Another old friend from Athens is in LA and we'll be going out for crab nachos on the Santa Monica Pier tonight. That'll be nice. Tomorrow night, I go back to Nurse Bonnie duty for a long week of doctors visits (and Intro to Chemo Class, which D wants me to attend with her). Keith starts his new job at Yahoo Monday. He's very excited, even though he'll never be home anymore. It's a short-term contract, so we'll endure the stress on the relationship and then sit together and count all of the money to make us feel better.
Cats are good. I'm good. Life is good. Just busy, busy, busy, as usual. Love reading y'all's Blogs, so thanks so much for keeping me entertained and amused. XXOO
--
Bon
Barry's book
On The Psycho Ward: "We almost went to Vegas for a honeymoon, but we spent the money on a new fence instead." [Leeming, 5/28/01]
Posted by bonnie at 2:36 PM
February 22, 2002
For X-philes holding your breaths... Mulder will return for X-File finale
Posted By: Elizabeth Tindal
Entertainment - Hollywood Reporter
Thu Feb 21, 2:02 AM ET
Duchovny will reprise role for 'X-Files' finale
By Nellie Andreeva
LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- The Mulder mystery is solved: David Duchovny has cut a deal with Fox to star in "The X-Files' " two-hour finale and to direct an upcoming episode.
"X-Files" creator Chris Carter said that recruiting Duchovny for the series' May 19 finale was crucial in order to give the show a proper send-off on the small screen and to set up the story threads for the next "X-Files" feature. Duchovny left the show last season after settling a lawsuit he filed against Fox over his share of the syndication profits from the 20th Century Fox TV production.
"He sees that it's the right thing to do, given all that we've done together, and it fits in with where we are taking the show" in the future, Carter said. He wouldn't discuss plans for the theatrical. "Everybody wants to do it, including the studio, but right now I don't want to get ahead of myself. I just want to finish the series," Carter said.
Carter wouldn't offer any hints about the story line of the finale, which he is writing and which will be directed by co-executive producer Kim Manners. It will reunite Duchovny's character, Agent Fox Mulder, with Gillian Anderson's Dana Scully, who has had a new partner for the past two seasons, Agent John Doggett (Robert Patrick).
Duchovny also is set to direct the April 28 "X-Files" episode, based on a story idea he co-wrote with Carter and executive producer Frank Spotnitz. "It's an interesting story because it involves the return of Mulder or someone we believe is Mulder," Carter said.
Duchovny helmed two episodes of "The X-Files," one of which guest-starred Jesse Martin and was written by Duchovny. The other featured his wife, Tea Leoni, and Garry Shandling.
Duchovny, who co-stars in the upcoming Steven Soderbergh film "Full Frontal," is represented by CAA and Melanie Greene Management.
Cynthia Littleton contributed to this report.
Posted by bonnie at 10:50 AM | Comments (0)
February 19, 2002
ActorsBon: Not To Sound Cheesy
Dear Bonnie,
I just wanted to send you a quick note thanking you for a great discussion on Saturday at AIA. In case you were wondering, I'm the guy who asked about "Feedback." I guess the follow up question was not clear. I wanted to find a balance between getting feedback from CDs without having to jeopardize your relationship with them. I guess, with everything, it can be done through relationships and proper communication.
I really enjoy your column in Back Stage West and am an avid fan (Although I did not want to say it publicly without sounding... cheesy). The information that you gave us is not only helpful but special. Keep up the excellent work and I'll hopefully see you again.
Sincerely,
- Aaron, Future Working Actor
Dear Aaron,
Thanks so much for taking the time to write to me. I love what I do (both writing for and talking with actors), so it's always a bonus to be thanked for doing what I love. I would say, as far as feedback goes, try to get it from sources other than CDs right now. During the February-March pilot season, even CDs who aren't doing pilots themselves feel the stress of the schedule. So, if you are in a class or doing plays, working with others in the industry, ask for feedback from those folks right now. You'll get some info that you can learn from as well as maintain your relationships with casting professionals (without taxing them right now). Hope that helps! Thanks again for being a fan! We all need those, right? ;)
Take care, and keep doing good work!
- Bon
Posted by bonnie at 5:11 PM | Comments (0)
February 16, 2002
Ah... another great episode of BH9
I usually don't bother watching them unless they're from The Brenda Years, but this one was the one where Hillary Swank says good-bye and Val is cleaning toilets at the Wyatt Clinic as a part of her probation. David just sold a song to Jasper's Law. Oh, life is good -- except for Brandon, who cheated on Kelly with Emma. No, I am not at all troubled by the fact that this has spawned an intense conversation on the difference between men and women and monogamy and genetic predisposition with my fiancé.
I'm ramping up for a big day. There's an Open House at an acting school. Keith will be attending as an actor type and I will be attending as a guest speaker slash industry professional. Dear GAWD, I'm getting nervous. I don't know why... as I'm just going to be saying to a group the same things I say in my column each week or to actor type friends of mine about the business-end of the industry... I guess it's just that whole "something new" thing. I know I can do it, just have to go do it.
After the open house, we'll go feed Cleo the Wonder Cat and Woody the Cockatiel (these are Rose's parents' animals, and they are all up north at a wedding). After we do the feeding and litter box scooping, we'll call D to see if she wants company. D is my friend who had the double mastectomy last week (why I haven't been Blogging--been playing Nurse Bonnie) and she got her pathology report yesterday. More cancer. More surgery. Definite chemotherapy. If anyone has information on how we could get her hair made into a wig, please let me know. So far, I'm only finding info on how she can donate her hair to Locks of Love for kids. Also, a sad tidbit: it takes ten heads of hair to make one wig, so she can't really get a wig made out of her own hair only. Anyway, coming on the heels of having lost Mom to cancer, this is a pretty emotional experience.
But, I am encouraged by the happy feelings I get when I read the SpyNotebook blogs. There is just something so right with the world that is inhabited by Chip and his technology.
--
Bon
Barry's book
Psychoism: Interim general manager Dave Wallace has made it clear that he doesn't want the job, but will stay in the position for as long as it takes for them to find an actual qualified replacement. Just one step on the way to making things right with the world. [Rose, on The Psycho Ward, 4/19/01]
Posted by bonnie at 12:11 PM
February 15, 2002
Postage Due
I'm going to start right off by saying that I have no idea whether these things exist in places other than LA and New York, but I'm writing about them anyway because they rock my frickin' world.
Postcard racks.
Have you seen these things? I remember the first one I spied. I was on vacation from UGA (combined with a radio conference for WUOG) in New York. This was August of 1996, just after the Olympic Games. I remember that because my hair was short and blonde, which was how I'd worn it for my job as Technology Coordinator at the Olympic Soccer Stadium. Not that this has anything to do with anything -- it's just how I remember when things happen.
I was eating with our music director at a cool dive in the Village with a sidewalk elevator/lift thingy outside the window. Dew Drop Inn was the place. On the wall between the restroom doors, there was this rack of postcards. Twenty different kinds of postcards and about 100 of each kind, in handy little slots.
I wondered if I could nab a few of these postcards and send them home to friends, bragging about stealing postcards during my first trip to New York in 20 years (and that previous trip was before I'd think about writing postcards home, I'm sure). Then I saw the statement, "Free Cards Brought to you by... blah blah blah." No idea what the "blah blah blah" was, now, because I was enchanted by the words Free Cards.
New York was my new favorite place to shop for stationery.
And then, one summer later, when I visited LA... holy shit... postcard racks. In every restaurant.
That may just be why I moved here. I can't recall.
See, postcards are cheap to mail. I think we're at 21 cents postage on a postcard these days, and that's about what I remember letters going for, back when I was a kid with pen pals all over the country (and Canada, eh, but those hosers required extra postage, so I didn't write to them as often). And I can just about say everything I'd need to say to catch someone up on my life in the space of a postcard.
Yeah, I know... hard to believe... but trust me, if I have more than a postcard's worth to say, I just scrawl my URL and make people drive up my hit counter.
I'm realizing that I write a lot about writing. How does that phrase go? "I write, therefore I... write?" Yeah, that seems about accurate.
Okay, where was I?
See, I have this whole OCD-organizational fetish thing going on. So, I can't just pick up postcards. I have to categorize them when I get home with them. Yes, it's true. I have an entire box filled with blank postcards, free from these racks, all in some sort of systematic filing strata, the evidence of years of accumulation.
I could write a postcard a day to every person in my address book for the rest of my life and never run out of postcards.
This can't be healthy.
Posted by bonnie at 1:44 PM
February 12, 2002
ActorsBon: Intuition on High
Dear Bonnie,
I have read your comments on Scientology's involvement with the seminars that are held there. I inquired about being addressed with these issues and was assured that they did not wish to convert me or teach me abut their religion. I was however offered for the film to be shown. If I do the course offered, should I be concerned about the religion part of Scientology being introduced into the course?
Thank you for your time,
-Beatrix
Dear Beatrix,
I would just go into any situation, wherever it is hosted, with my intuition on high. There are many, many places where actors spend money to further their craft, and it is always a risk as to how much each workshop or event or seminar is worth. I would say, if you ever have a feeling that you are not getting what you paid for, move on, rather than trying to stay longer to see if it suddenly becomes worthwhile. It's usually pretty easy to tell in the first few moments whether or not something is right for you. Just be aware and you'll do just fine.
Good luck to you, and thanks for writing.
- Bon
Posted by bonnie at 5:09 PM | Comments (0)
February 8, 2002
I have no idea...
what this is, but some spy should check it out.
More later.
Posted by bonnie at 11:07 PM
February 5, 2002
ActorsBon: An Interesting Pickle
Dear Bonnie,
My manager has a few very notable clients, and then there's someone like me. She tells me, "even though you're in a few films with one lead at Sundance 2001, and two of them are nominated for indie spirit awards, you won't be seen by agents [and I guess casting directors too] until you land a job."
Hello, Catch-22!
Although I have no blockbusters behind me, my resume is strong with film and some TV (New York work) and I have video to prove it. I've gotten everything on my own (aside from the four national network commercials this year). I've read others' insights on what an unknown, working actor should try, and my hands feel loosely tied. Should I sit back, type and send short letters to CD's, NOT send letters to agents, and hope a CD "gets it" then brings me in where I ultimately book a role (in LA) so a "strong agency" sees I will make them money? Or is my manager snowing me? I'm from the east, after all.
Thank you,
-Christopher
Dear Christopher,
Hmm... interesting pickle you're in. I can only give you an example of what happened to a friend of mine in a similar situation a couple of years ago. He was sick of getting all his own work and having his theatrical agent tell him there was just no way to get him sent out on commercials "at his level" -- and he had good credits! So, he got together his two-look postcards (done litho by ABC Pictures for about $100 per 1000) and sent one to each commercial CD and provided his theatrical agent's contact info only.
Well... the agent starts getting calls from commercial CDs, ready to see him for this role and that role. Agent calls my buddy and says, "Well, you've got guts, going around me... but you got yourself some work... and kept me in on it... so, I'll sign you across the board."
Boom! He's working more now than ever.
Risky move, but it worked for him. So... I guess my advice is... try getting your manager some commissionable work (yes, you'll be doing all the work... again) and then see what she says. March is not the time to try and land an agent anyway. It's pilot season, which means they are all currently focused on their roster of clients, not taking on new ones.
Now, if, in a few months, your manager is still discouraging you from getting an agent, I'd consider going ahead and submitting to agents anyway. Email me again after trying the mass postcard mailing and let me know how that went. CDs (generally) love postcards, so go for it!
Keep doing good work -- and thanks for writing.
- Bon
Posted by bonnie at 5:06 PM | Comments (0)
Courtney, m'love!
Thank you for loving my Blogs.
Renee had a baby (Ella) in late March (maybe the 30th??) of last year and she's gone from being a punk rock botanist to being a really cool mom. I miss her! Keith and I looked into renting her house, but it's in Pasadena, and that's a bit far out for us. Keith rides his bike everywhere (in LA! Shock!) so proximity to all things was important in our decision. Anyway, Renee works with me at the publishing company (most of my coworkers are out of state -- God bless the Internet). The first pillow I ever crafted was a gift for Ella. Hmm... maybe I'll put it up here.
Renee sent that out via email with a note saying, "Bonnie made this (the pillow, not the baby)." Made me laugh!
Okay... panic attacks over. Thank goodness. Why am I up at this hour? No idea. Tried to sleep. Nope. So, I'm emailing with my friend Barry (who will perform the wedding... I used to say "who will marry us" but that sounds weird.... especially since Bar lived in Utah for a while). His new book is POD with Book Locker and I am SO proud of him. It's a collection of essays and one of them is the one he wrote to me the day Mom died. It is so sweet. Anyway, he's special.
That's it for now, fellow Spies. Oh, wait! Spy-wise, I saw Edward Burns last week at the coffee shop. I think that's it for sightings. Hard to see celebs when you can't leave the house. Moving past that, now, so there should be some spy activity to report here before too long. XXOO, all.
Posted by bonnie at 12:58 AM
February 3, 2002
Dera - I hardly watch ER anymore. Dr. Weaver, though, does direct quite a few of the episodes now, so I'd think (I'd hope) she'd have some ability to direct the theme of her character. I have heard the whole show has gone down in the past couple of years. Did Dr. Benton really leave? And is it good to have Susan back?
I cannot explain anything Britney Spears-related. Chip is your guy for that, I'd gamble.
Shelley - try drinking while watching Leaving Las Vegas. That'll do the trick!
Still watching the PopStars2 marathon... will switch soon to Alias, if that's on tonight (need to check... I think we missed one episode during Sundance... SO addicted to that show), and then go to The IT Factor on Bravo during commercials (we missed the first 1/2 hour at 6pm today).
Has anyone else become addicted to Cheaters? It's the worst bad TV ever... and I love it!
Posted by bonnie at 8:29 PM | Comments (0)
Thank you, Chip for the 411 on the P'Zone. I think we'll do the rest of the English Muffin Mini Pizzas here tonight, but consider that for another day. Gotta get past the whole, "Rooty Tooty Fresh-n-Fruity" aspect of the name.
I am so going to try The Grit's Yeast Gravy... but see, I don't cook. I even have a George Foreman Grill and haven't used it (it was a housewarming gift... uh... 10 months ago). Not that I would use the Grill for the Gravy, but you see what I'm trying to say about cooking and me.
I'm still happy about having found the Chick-fil-A in Redondo Beach. Yum, yum, and more yum.
Posted by bonnie at 8:23 PM | Comments (0)
Hi! I'm reading "An Invisible Sign of My Own," by Aimee Bender. She's the author who did the collection of short stories called "Girl in the Flammable Skirt," which was really well-received. I'm only through the prologue and chapter one right now, but I love the main character (a 20-year-old woman with OCD who uses the beauty of numbers and mathematical formulas to keep herself sane).
I also just bough "Micro Fiction," a collection of short shorts; "The Freedom Writer's Diary," about students writing to change their world; "How to be an Adult," by David Richo; "An Unquiet Mind," about a woman's journey with manic depression (yes, you are detecting a theme here); and "Feng Shui for Dummies," which I hope will make all the other self-help books I bought useless in my world.
Ha ha!
Posted by bonnie at 8:17 PM | Comments (0)
Let's see: 
catsonbon.jpg Here's the cats on me when we got back from Sundance.
This is the view from the condo they put us up in: 
viewfrcondo.jpg Not bad.
Keith in the snow. 
keithsnow.jpg
And celeb spotting at The Egyptian Theatre. 
celebspotting.jpg
Now... let's see if I know what I'm doing here.
Posted by bonnie at 8:08 PM | Comments (0)
Chip... yes, let's put CricketFeet.com on Lucy.
Woo hoo! We already have the domain name(s) -- got .net and .org too. Cricket Feet is what I get when I'm happy: when crickets rub their feet together... happy sounds! Anyway, I'll send you content once I have some. It's our little computer consulting company thingy, so it'll just be a logo and some info on rates and what we do, etc.
I got rid of all of the crap on my Athenstown account. Dear God, I do NOT want my penis enlarged! How did I get on these mailing lists? Anyway, thanks for the Blogger invites. I'll get right on those.
PS - doing Blogger stuff and getting rid of crap email is a good way to get past a panic attack.
Dera: yes... Sunday night is sad night here too. I think it's just the whole wind-down/gear-up thing (and, for me, it's when I would always talk to my Mom -- we talked more than once a week, but always on Sundays). So, PopStars2 is doing the trick right now. The IT Factor on Bravo is also good. Keith and I love Alias, and that should be on soon. Hope that helps.
Okay, Jocelyn, I did it too:
Take the Which Beatle Are You? Quiz.
All right... time to check out some Theme Blogging. BTW, cookie or no cookie, I am still having to log in over and over again... BAD "remember me" check box. You lie!
Posted by bonnie at 7:58 PM
Stephanie H.
I so want to see your hats!
Posted by bonnie at 5:42 PM
Kate
Not that Will & Grace is the place to go for lawyer jokes, but did you see this week's episode, where Will finally started introducing himself as a professional tennis player b/c the jokes were getting to him?
I'd join a comic book legal eagle (or squawking hawk) ring or something!
Posted by bonnie at 5:38 PM
Chip
(Hey, can you see that I'm posting a new Blog after reading each Spy's new post) I want a P-Zone. Is it any good? Should I order one right now? Is that football match still going on (which might keep my order from arriving within the hour)?
Oh, I went to your Exchange Server yesterday (didn't know it existed until then... due to my own oblivion) and it says I have 19 pages of mail. Dear God, can I delete some of that mess? Keith told me not to, in case it wasn't just to ME, but I'm pretty sure you've got it set up as my own account and I can filter, delete, and whatnot from there, yes? BTW, you are a technological GOD and I am so impressed! Keith has been futzing with his Linux box for two days now and he's only getting an inch into it each time... good progress, but slow. We're still trying to get CricketFeet.com up and running.
How was Applebee's? Did you have anything yummy?
Posted by bonnie at 5:34 PM
Mike
I'm so jealous. I want guacamole and salsa and chili and tortilla chips. I just had a can of soup and some saltines. So underwhelmingly yummy.
Out here, we call that tea stuff Bo-Bo Ball Tea. It was really popular last summer among some coworkers at the publishing company. I could never get into it. Too weird, that combination of textures.
BTW, after having Chick-fil-A lemonade yesterday, water is too bland. I want everything so sweet a spoon stands up in a glass of it.
Posted by bonnie at 5:27 PM
Amy
Go here to locate your Chick-fil-A. I'm sure there's gotta be something within road trip range. Of course, you could do like me (before I found the Redondo Beach Chick-fil-A) and request, every time someone flies in from ATL, that they hit the Dwarf House and pick up a Chick-fil-A, a Dwarf Burger, and a fried apple pie.
It's a small favor, but always appreciated by this Hotlanta native. Hope this helps.
BTW, I am in Day Two of panic attacks. Any advice?
Posted by bonnie at 5:24 PM
Oh... movies to look for... ones I saw at Sundance:
- One Hour Photo (starring Robin Williams). It's a creepy suspense thriller. I loved it. Totally bought him in the role. Most criticism of this non-violent (but potentially very violent) psycho story was that viewers couldn't get past Robin Williams being anything other than Robin Williams. Well, I went on the journey. Except for some third-act exposition I could've lived without, this was a good film, for sure.
- Human Nature (starring Tim Robbins, Patricia Arquette, Rhys Ifans). Fun, campy, low-brow sex farce with singing and a French research assistant. This one will hit wide release, I'm sure, so go if you like well-written (but below-the-belt) humor.
- The Kid Stays in the Picture (documentary; Bob Evans' life story, from the novel). I like Hollywood history, so for me, this was a really good movie. Also, some of the artistic technique (turning still photos into moving pictures by freezing certain elements and moving others) was really nice. Cool old school studio stuff. I liked it.
- The Jimmy Show (starring and directed by Frank Whaley). This was hard to watch. Human drama, the sad stuff that goes on in a life that's going nowhere. Great performances, especially by Ethan Hawke, but such a hard-luck story, I had a hard time enjoying myself in the journey. Whaley plays an everyman with a hard life who goes to Open Mic Night everywhere in town, trying to get through his issues by making them jokes. He is an awful stand-up, which just makes his sadness more... sad.
- I Lost 20lbs. in Two Months (Ask Me How). Wow! This was, by far, my favorite Sundance film, and it was a seven minute short. Brilliant. It's one long sentence from a guy who is obsessed with his former girlfriend. One of the pounds he lost was from cutting off all of his facial hair and mailing it to the ex with a letter reminding her how she once said she loved every hair on his head. Another pound was lost running from the dogs her mom set loose on him after he stood in her lawn with a boom box oveer his head, poised to play "In Your Eyes" (but the tape was cued up to "Shock the Monkey"). With a great bass-beat soundtrack and sense of humor that doesn't quit, this is a film that I'm recommending to everyone I know. Of course, there's no info on future screenings available at the film's website. For what it's worth.
Posted by bonnie at 10:25 AM | Comments (0)
February 2, 2002
Oh... and Chip...
Best Picture Ever?
Undisputed YES from here, babe!
Posted by bonnie at 8:04 PM
Blogger Beware...
Okay, I'm composing this one in another program, only to paste it in at Blogger... just in case.
Let me start by commenting on Blogs I've read and then I'll tell you about my past couple of days, days ahead, and other such stuff.
Sara: thank you for the Yeast Gravy recipe. I have given the recipe to the chef (read: fiancé) and hopefully we shall enjoy some yummy potatoes and Grit-style gravy very soon. I can't wait! Keith's recipe for dinner tonight: English Muffin Mini-Pizzas and Caesar Salad. Yummy!
Jocelyn: you have made my day with the Where Are They Now on Scott from 90210. As you may or may not know, my Debt Pop Culture Category (yes, from the short-lived but brilliant Lifetime game show starring Wink Martindale -- when, oh when will this show make it to The Game Show Network?? I mean, you're whipping us with Greed... can't you share the love?) is Beverly Hills, 90210, The Brenda Years. Well, when I was at Sundance (oh, and we just got the photos back, so Keith's scanning those in right now and I'll share a link after I get them uploaded, for your perusing pleasure), I worked with a guy who claims to be unbeatable at 90210 trivia. Pff! So, we've been emailing back and forth and he's stumped me once so far and I've stumped him three times (ha!). Anyway, this is a nice little thing for me to share with him (and, of course, I mean "rub in his face"). So, thank you!
Oh, and I think the people who yell on Milledge have no lives and they just wish they could be as cool as those who dwell in homes on Milledge Ave. Oh, and yes, yell back. But act like you're just doing it for fun. That'll learn 'em.
Dera: yay! So glad you're Blogging too! It really is an Athens Academy reunion! Happy b'day to your aunt! That's so cool! Your comments about neurotic pets remind me of what a neurotic pet-owner I am (Chip can concur. When he babysat my cat for a week while I was out of town, I wrote up a three page instruction manual on the care and feeding of my 17-year-old baby. Yes, I was teased mercilessly for having written such a thing, but I would've been a bad Mommy, had I not done so). I take care of pets here in LA when rich folk go out of town and I have learned that I am nowhere NEAR as neurotic in writing my pet-care manuals as these folks can be. Anyway, your story just reminded me that pets are nowhere near as neurotic as their owners... at least in my experience.
Chipperoonie, my love: you are a cornucopia of Academy kid contact! I'm so jealous! I think you had my ideal day: hanging with kids, doing technology, watching Bev9, and eating at the T-stand. If anyone can score a recipe book of my T-stand faves, I will be way happy. BTW, no one in Cali has even HEARD of Queso Dip and that right there is just sad! Speaking of sad... the end of the Evil Monkey era. Sniffle.
Shelley: I don't even know what an Xtracycle is, but you are my hero for being so fit. I didn't even walk to the market today. I drove. I did walk to the coffee house yesterday for tea with ReBecca and then walked, again, to the same strip of shops for dinner at Birds last night... but the market is something I wouldn't come back from either buzzed from caffeine or cider, so no walk there. Pff! Anyway, I'm still impressed with you. Fitness is a good goal. For everyone but me.
Courtney: I love you! Okay, I have a friend I made out here who is originally from Ohio and has now moved to Virginia who could be your twin in about a zillion different ways. I knew today, when I saw the photo you posted in the What We're Looking At Blog (no, Chip, my feelings aren't hurt at not being invited to any of those cool Theme Blogs), that I had to ask if you are, in fact Renee Burkhammer. Are you? Have you been fooling me all this time?
Oh, I loved your Scientology story. Too funny! And I am SO composing this elsewhere and pasting it in. Damn that Blog for stealing my brilliance. Oh, but Ev did write me back right away. What a cool guy!
Big Mike: thank you for the cookie advice! I got rid of the cookie that was stored and went back through the process... happy me! The new cookie is a happy cookie! I'm in! To stay! Yay!
Okay... what was today like? Uh... I had a gigantic panic attack today which was totally unfun, but I got through it and realized I was in desperate need of pantothenic acid. We'll see if that helps. So far, I'm still shaking. I hate that. I so thought I was done with panic attacks in my early 20s. Pff. This stuff bites! Anyway, post-panic attack, we drove to Redondo Beach, home of the closest Chick-fil-A to us. I became quite happy. The lemonade was even authentic. So so so happy: me! I also learned that Donna Karan Chaos is no longer made due to the fact that her dead hubby designed the fragrance for her. Of course I would buy it before he kicked it and fall in love with the fragrance and not be able to buy it ever again. Drat!
What else... oh, came home and Keith wanted to teach me how to ride my bike but I'm still to frightened of breaking a bone or two, so we'll do that another day. Instead, gave him a pedicure and made him watch Get Shorty, which he'd never seen. He got his new headshots in the mail today, which was very exciting. Next, they'll go to ABC Pictures for typesetting and litho printing. Man, I'm so glad I've retired from acting. Oh, yes, Chip, I think it's The Chamber that got cancelled. The Chair is definitely shooting next week and then taking a short hiatus (yeah, we'll see).
Yesterday was coffee with ReB, who is secretly married (Canadian) and now getting officially married. We had all sorts of "how to get married dirt cheap" talks. There are some pretty decent ideas for that, even in this godforsaken town.
Okay, I am now having a huge debate with the fiancé over pixel vs. inches and putting his headshot up on the website... blah blah blah. Y'know... it's fine for the boy to have his technology, but he shouldn't be allowed to debate about its uses.
About to watch Cops... our Saturday night ritual. Yes, I'm looking for family members. So is Keith. Made for each other, or what?! See, Chip, your family was just too law-abiding for me. Going to the club tomorrow for lunch? If so, tell them all I said hello and I love them muchlee. XXOO, Bloggers. Perhaps more later tonight. If not, I'll post again Monday (car's going into the shop for brakes, so I'll be house-bound). 'Bye.
--
Bon
My epiphany of the night: I live my life like an interviewer on the red carpet. I'm listening to you. I'm asking (somewhat) intelligent questions. I'm right there with you. But I'm constantly looking just over your shoulder, in case someone better is coming up the path. Now, that's deep. [from Dead Laszlo's Oscar Wrap Edition, 2001]
Posted by bonnie at 8:00 PM