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December 29, 2008
The Year in Review
(See also 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004.)
Take the first line (or so) from the first post of each month of 2008. That's your Year In Review.
January 2008:
Help me understand this, please.
Now, I've not done much "office time" in my working life. (Some. Enough. Believe me; enough. Rolling around on a plastic pad behind a desk gives me hives.)
February 2008:
Introducing our April 2008 Showcase Director!
I am very excited to announce our new director for the April 2008 Cricket Feet Casting Actors Showcase, Chil Kong! (I mean, c'mon, can you have a more badass name than that?!?)
March 2008:
Keith's b'day
Tomorrow my Keith turns 50.
April 2008:
I love my showcase cast.
I know I say this every time.
May 2008:
You ride in the Humdrumvee. I'm taking the Funvee.
Just bought tickets to see Iron Man again. Second time in under 48 hours.
June 2008:
Experiment: Day Twenty-Eight
What is there to say?
July 2008:
Cricket Feet Showcase! RSVP Now!!
Cricket Feet Casting ACTORS SHOWCASE July 9th & 10th, 2008 -- 8pm -- FREE The Colony Theatre, Burbank
August 2008:
All or Nothing
I'm stressed. The task(s) of updating Self-Management for Actors is overwhelming at times. I need to simplify, to break it down into much smaller list items, to ask for help.
September 2008:
Twitter has ruined me for blogging.
That's really all it comes down to.
October 2008:
The Secret to My Success
I was asked tonight (at my most amazing talk at SAG--seriously, it was one of my best-ever speaking engagements and it just so happens they taped it and will be putting up online. Oh, and I looked seriously cute too) what my secret is.
November 2008:
A Brand New Day
Everybody look around
'Cause there's a reason to rejoice you see
Everybody come out
And let's commence to singing joyfully
Everybody look up
And feel the hope that we've been waiting for
December 2008:
Bon on The Answer B!tch at E! Online
Hee hee. I particularly love the Ishtar of it all.
===========
What a flippin' badass year! Yay, 2008! I am posting this on December 29, 2008, the TENTH anniversary of my move to Los Angeles after grad school. (Yes, I also lived here from August 13, 1993 to mid-September of 1994, but this time was "for real.") I am so thrilled with all the life I've lived in this decade! Thank you to everyone who has joined me along for any bit of this awesome journey. I am grateful to you all for your support, love, the lessons, friendship, and general rockstarness. :) Here's to the next TEN!
Posted by bonnie at 1:03 PM | Comments (0)
December 26, 2008
I Saw 42
I saw 42...
(X) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(X) Grease
( ) Pirates of the Caribbean
( ) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At Worlds End
( ) Boondock Saints
(X) Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
( ) Neverending Story
( ) Blazing Saddles
(X) Airplane
Total: 4
(X) The Princess Bride
( ) Anchorman
( ) Napoleon Dynamite
( ) Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
( ) Anger Management
( ) 50 First Dates
( ) The Princess Diaries
( ) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 5
(X) Scream
(X) Scream 2
(X) Scream 3
( ) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
( ) Scary Movie 4
(X) American Pie
(X) American Pie 2
( ) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 10
( ) Harry Potter 1
( ) Harry Potter 2
( ) Harry Potter 3
( ) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
(X) The Wedding Singer
( ) Little Black Book
( ) The Village
( ) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 11
( ) Finding Nemo
( ) Finding Neverland
( ) Signs
( ) The Grinch
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
(X) 13 Going on 30
( ) I, Robot
( ) Robots
Total so far: 12
( ) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
( ) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
( ) Along Came Polly
( ) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
( ) Never Been Kissed
( ) Meet The Parents
( ) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
( ) Joe Dirt
( ) King Kong
Total so far: 12
( ) A Cinderella Story
(X) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(X) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Final Destination 3
( ) Halloween
( ) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving X-MAS
( ) Flubber
Total so far: 14
( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
( ) Practical Magic
( ) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
( ) Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
( ) The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 14
( ) The Day After Tomorrow
(X) Child's Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
(X) Ten Things I Hate About You
( ) Just Married
( ) Gothika
(X) Nightmare on Elm Street
(X) Sixteen Candles
( ) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
( ) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 18
( ) Bad Boys
( ) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Slevin
( ) Ocean's Eleven
( ) Ocean's Twelve
(X) Bourne Identity
(X) Bourne Supremacy
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
( ) Ice Age
( ) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
( ) Curious George
Total so far: 20
(X) Independence Day
( ) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
( ) Christine
(X) ET
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My Boss's Daughter
( ) Maid in Manhattan
( ) War of the Worlds
( ) Rush Hour
( ) Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 22
( ) Best Bet
(X) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
( ) She's All That
( ) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
( ) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
( ) Ever After
(X) Wizard of Oz
(X) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
(X) The Terminator
(X) The Terminator 2
( ) The Terminator 3
Total so far:27
(X) X-Men
(X) X-2
( ) X-3
( ) Spider-Man
( ) Spider-Man 2
( ) Spider-Man 3
(X) Sky High
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
( ) Catch Me If You Can
(X) The Little Mermaid
( ) Freaky Friday
( ) Reign of Fire
( ) The Skulls
( ) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
( ) The Hot Chick
( ) Shrek
( ) Shrek 2
Total so far: 31
( ) Swimfan
( ) Miracle on 34th street
( ) Old School
(X) The Notebook
( ) K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf's Tribe
( ) A Walk to Remember
(X) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
( ) The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 33
( ) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
( ) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
( ) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
( ) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
( ) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
( ) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
( ) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Total so far: 33
( ) Baseketball
( ) Hostel
(X) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
( ) Elf
(X) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History X
( ) Three
Total so Far: 35
( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
( ) Monsters Inc.
(X) Titanic
( ) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun of the Dead
( ) Willard
Total so far: 36
( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
( ) Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
(X) Hook
( ) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian
( ) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
( ) Waterworld
Total so far: 37
( ) Kill Bill vol 1
( ) Kill Bill vol 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
( ) Kingdom of Heaven
( ) The Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave AKA the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
( ) Army of Darkness
Total so far: 37
( ) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
( ) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
( ) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(X) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(X) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
( ) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 39
(X) The Matrix
(X) The Matrix Reloaded
( ) The Matrix Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
( ) Team America: World Police
( ) Red Dragon
(X) Silence of the Lambs
( ) Hannibal
I Saw 42
Nabbed from Julie Inmon's Note called "I Saw 106".
(comments from the Facebook)
Patrick Carlyle
42?! THATS IT!? waaah
December 26, 2008 at 3:23pm · LikeUnlike ·
Joni Harbin
I saw 89, but the sad thing is, I only remember the basic plot or details about a third of them.
December 26, 2008 at 4:11pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Crazy, right, Patrick? I know! I think it's b/c I read so many dang scripts and see so many festival indies that I just never really get it up for the studio blockbusters. But some of those I *really* do need to see. In fact, I've never even seen Casablanca!
LOL Joni. That's awesome. I think. ;)
December 26, 2008 at 4:16pm · LikeUnlike ·
Chris Berube
I realized that I had seen 243. Then It occurred to me that I need a life.
December 26, 2008 at 4:47pm · LikeUnlike ·
Chris Berube
Oh, and see Casablanca, in it's day, it had all the makings of an "indie"...and it's not too bad either.
December 26, 2008 at 4:49pm · LikeUnlike ·
Joni Harbin
Plus, after you see Casablanca, you 'get' a lot of other inside/homage type stuff from other movies and TV shows.
December 26, 2008 at 4:52pm · LikeUnlike ·
Chris Berube
and a newfound respect for Bogart. You know originally they almost cast Ronald Reagan to play that part.
December 26, 2008 at 5:12pm · LikeUnlike ·
Erik Patterson
I've seen 137. You must rent Shaun of the Dead ASAP. :)
December 26, 2008 at 5:16pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Kiki--That's the one I felt worst about. I actually HAVE that film on DVD and haven't popped it in yet. I suck THAT much! :(
December 26, 2008 at 5:43pm · LikeUnlike ·
Erik Patterson
BonBon, you don't suck at all. But when I was scanning your list, Shaun was the only one that I was like OMGWTF about. Pop that sucker into yer dvd soon. I don't want to overhype it, but it's pretty rockstar.
December 26, 2008 at 5:48pm · LikeUnlike ·
Deborah Cresswell
Casablanca is a stupendous film. An incredible cast. As with most films in those days, they are about characters, relationships and story. Its not about car chases, falling off buildings and exploding helicopters. I LOVE movies from this era.....tons of them!!! (Chris....I *suspect* this is what makes you compare it to an "indie" -- because in its ... See Moreday it was actually a *blockbuster* -- they just didn't call them that -- they called them GREAT MOVIES....heee!
In modern times, "indies" are my favorite films, because they focus more on characters... and I would probably consider some of them the *best* films I've ever seen. But I think it is important to note that CASABLANCA is a classic, and is considered by many film historians as being among the greatest movies ever made
December 26, 2008 at 5:50pm · LikeUnlike ·
Alex Collins
wow, I'm a loser...170 is my score...holy crap!
December 26, 2008 at 6:32pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Shaun of the Dead is in our DVD player as soon as TMZ is over! It WILL be done! :)
December 26, 2008 at 6:47pm · LikeUnlike ·
Arvell Poe
Shaun of the Dead is one of my all time favorite movies. I watch "shaun" ALMOST as much as I watch the Die Hard series. My wife hates it when either movie comes on...hahahahha. SPeaking of zombies, I just watched "Dance of the Dead." Have you seen that movie yet?
December 26, 2008 at 7:29pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
'bout 17n minutes into Shaun. Not loving it yet. :\
December 26, 2008 at 7:30pm · LikeUnlike ·
Arvell Poe
Just wait...you will. And if not, oh well...watch somethin' else... but you will. trust me.
December 26, 2008 at 7:35pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
I always give a movie (or script) 'til the 2nd act to woo me. :) Otherwise, I'd never have a relationship!!!
December 26, 2008 at 7:36pm · LikeUnlike ·
Lenny Jacobson
177 .. Only embarrassed by half of them.
December 26, 2008 at 7:43pm · LikeUnlike ·
Eric Mofford
Interesting list. I've seen 146 of them. Very few more then once.
December 26, 2008 at 9:04pm · LikeUnlike ·
Eric Loya
Good grief! I've see a hundred and seventy of those movies. Wow. I think it's interesting that you seem to have a habit of watching the first two movies in a franchise, and then not continuing to the third. Except for the Scream trilogy. Awesome. The Screams changed my life when I first saw them. Rock on.
December 26, 2008 at 11:21pm · LikeUnlike ·
Diane Namm
I saw 103 -- hard to believe, and yet it's true...no wonder i'm no getting anything done....
December 26, 2008 at 11:29pm · LikeUnlike ·
Tamika RS
I've seen 137. Jeez, if I got out to visit the world, that number would probably be much lower.
December 27, 2008 at 3:11am · LikeUnlike ·
Miley Yamamoto
Wow...I counted 131...and one of them wasn't Sixteen Candles...I didn't have much of a movie life in the 80's...
December 27, 2008 at 4:57am · LikeUnlike ·
Susyn Elise Duris
I saw 80 - omg I am embarrassed...
December 27, 2008 at 8:03am · LikeUnlike ·
Caroline Timm
I've seen 102 of those and I usually am the one who is getting yelled at for not having seen movies (I think my saving grace is that a lot of those were kids films and I see the kids ones since I HAVE kids. But even if you DON'T have kids- you gotta see films like FINDING NEMO. So much going on in that film for adults "He says 'it's time to let go... See More!'". OY! Love. And Shrek? It's brilliant. Funnier for adults. Swear to God.
My husband and I took the AFI top 100 list and started crossing them off at one point...now the list and what's left to see only stresses us out - like our DVR list of shows piling up. Too little time!
December 27, 2008 at 8:35am · LikeUnlike ·
Phil Lander
This list is rigged! If you score low it's embarrassing and if you score high it's embarrassing!
BTW I highly recommend Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and Ewoks Caravan of Courage...
December 27, 2008 at 10:54am · LikeUnlike ·
Erik Patterson
I'm so sad you didn't love Shaun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 27, 2008 at 11:14am · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Eric--Isn't that weird? I noticed that about me too! No idea why I don't go to the third. Very strange indeed!
Tamika--Considering you watch each movie TEN TIMES, I'd say that's a LOT of watching you're doing!!!!
Caroline--I noticed lots of kids films on the list too. :) When Quinn is in town, we see several (or THEY do. I only go sometimes). ;) I've heard I need to see "Finding Nemo." I'm sure I'd love it.... See More
Phil--Hilarious! Rigged Facebook memes! LOL LOL LOL
KiKi--Me too. :( Oh well. Not really into zombies. *shrug*
December 27, 2008 at 12:31pm · LikeUnlike ·
Nancy Wolfson
I double dare someone to post a reading list. You know. One with books...
December 27, 2008 at 2:41pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
What are these BOOKS you speak of, Nancy?
December 27, 2008 at 3:18pm · LikeUnlike ·
Caroline Timm
WAIT- BONNIE- that is the EXACT thing I was logging on to type. hilarious. great minds... :) We should all drink together. I bet we'd be fun.
December 27, 2008 at 3:24pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Hee! I *think* books are what those Kindle Reader Thingys replaced. Hard to know. It's from long, long ago. :) And yes. I think you're probably right! :)
December 27, 2008 at 3:25pm · LikeUnlike ·
Erik Patterson
It's okay that you aren't into zombies, I still LYMI forever.
December 27, 2008 at 11:01pm · LikeUnlike ·
Posted by bonnie at 1:29 PM | Comments (0)
December 22, 2008
2008 in Questions
(See also 2007 in Questions, 2006 in Questions, 2005 in Questions, and 2004 in Questions.)
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Trust more deeply than ever before. I know, it's vague, but it's all I can come up with. I really did just TRUST like crazy in 2008.
2. Did you keep your 2008 resolutions? Will you make more for 2009?
I don't really do resolutions for each new year. I always have goals, and those change more frequently than annually, so... sure! That said, I am actually going to resolve to spend less time on The Facebook in 2009. That'll be easy. I'm set to be working my arse off and there will be no time for the endless hours of Word Twist anymore.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I don't guess so! Hmm. But a whole bunch of friends are knocked up right now, so next year should be interesting. ;)
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not super-close. Old friends. Old family.
5. What countries did you visit?
Once again, I didn't even leave the STATE this year.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A mortgage! We really caught the house-hunting bug in 2008. Seriously hardcore. We're on the hunt for a home to buy in 2009 and just the "getting started" of it all (meeting with mortgage guys, meeting with CPAs, meeting with credit advisors, meeting with realtors, doing drive-by check-outs of the houses that meet our criteria, shopping online) has really fired me up for buying our first house in 2009. Ooh, and the timing couldn't be better, as the economy goes! Some of the houses we're looking at would actually cut our monthly rent in HALF. I'm so down with that.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
November 4th. Yeah, I was sick as a dog and spent most of the day in bed, but crawling out of bed to watch the Obama acceptance speech was a wonderful (albeit strained, due to my overall weakness) task. I thought I would cry even more than I did, but I think my sadness over Prop 8 passing in California tempered my glee.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Just getting through it! I know that sounds like a cop-out. I could say, "Losing 50 pounds." I could say, "Keeping Keith from killing someone who wronged me." I could say, "NOT having cancer." I could say, "Creating amazing new relationships with some really phenomenal people." I could say, "Starting up an ongoing actors' workout/business of the business class." I could say, "Churning out the book in 4.5 weeks." I could say, "Loving Keith more and more each day." I could say, "Reaching the five-year goal for the showcase within just two years." I could say, "Earning associate producer credits on two films I cast." I could say, "Being quoted in E! Online." I could say all of that and then some, but I think the biggest accomplishment of any year, really, is just enjoying the ride. Because isn't that the one constant? It is a journey... and choosing to enjoy every bit of it is the real challenge. That happened for me this year.
9. What was your biggest failure?
The times when I didn't enjoy the journey. When I questioned myself. When I doubted my instincts. When I lost my patience. Luckily, all of that stuff happened a teeny fraction of the time in 2008. So, as big failures go, that's pretty dang good.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yup. I had me a cancer scare! Had a biopsy and everything! It was terrifying and, thankfully, NOTHING. The tech who said she was "removing a significant number of abnormal-looking cells" was shocked to report, two weeks later, that there was no trace of cancer in those cells after all. Damn straight! Lovely Miss AnnaVo put me on the right track by reminding me that my health, my happiness, my life is totally within my control. I got on the Abraham audio file path and meditated my ass off. Vibed that cancer shit right OUT of my body. Damn straight!
11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Well, I would say Obama until he asked that bigot to do his inauguration invocation. I'm pretty dang bummed about that and what a slap in the face it is to all of my gay friends and family. I would say Knowshon Moreno until he had a game or two in which he took a nap instead of continuing to play the most amazing UGA football I've seen since the Herschel Walker days. I guess my point is, I can come up with a bunch of people whose behavior merits celebration... and then they're still human. And human beings fuck up sometimes. They make NOT great choices. They don't think things all the way through. They behave with integrity 95% of the time and then take a nap or make a bad decision. I do it. We all do it. And we are all STILL deserving of celebration because it's not any one thing that makes us good or spectacular people. It's a life filled with MORE integrity-filled choices than non. It's a life filled with MORE excellence than not.
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Amazingly, 2008 presented the opportunity for several high-end wannabes to cross my path, promise the moon, have me buy it, have me bust ass on their behalf, and leave me holding the proverbial bag--with my reputation in jeopardy--when they actually had exactly the wannabe-level-moon to hand over at delivery time. The good news is, I learned to trust and honor my instincts. I learned that everything is forgiven if the problem is communicated about before it becomes a problem. And I learned that we all define our own personal level of integrity differently. I prefer surrounding myself with people whose words match their actions.
13. Where did most of your money go?
Printing the 3rd edition of Self-Management for Actors, fo' sho. Thank you, good people, for buying it! Much appreciated! :)
14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Hacienda Hot Springs. No doubt. Even wanted to go back one more time this year, but ran out of moolah. Ah well... next year!
15. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Pink's So What. Hilarious and so much fun for sing-along-ing!
16. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Actually happier, simply because I understand happiness better.
b) thinner or fatter?
Ooh, baby, thinner. Thank you, BistroMD and Wii Fit for shaving off 50 pounds and 6" off my waist thus far. Keep on rockin'! It's a process. I'm still in it/on it. Loving every day.
c) richer or poorer?
Hmm. Technically richer. That's pretty cool.
17. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Is it weird if I say "exercise"? I mean, considering that there are more days this year that I worked out than did not? I guess it's true that you do kind of get addicted to it. Not sure... I mean, if I had done it more, I might've been full-on obsessed and that's never as healthy as maintaining balance. I mean, what I really love about my weight-loss "program" this year was that it really boiled down to: Make more good choices--and make them better--than you make bad choices (and keep those less-bad than the good choices are good). That's the only thing that works over time. Because anything too rigid, and I rebel.
18. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Eat cheese!! Eesh! I became a mouse this year!
19. How will you be spending Christmas?
Snuggled up with my hubby in our fleece sheets. I really do hope I can convince him to stay in bed longer than he likes to. He's an "up with the sun" kind of guy and I'm hoping I get a good few hours of quiet cuddling and snuggling for Christmas.
20. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Again, I fall in love every minute of every day. Keith remains very fortunate for this truth. As do I. :)
21. What was your favorite TV program?
Did I say The Big Bang Theory last year? It's just so consistently funny. But probably The Shield this year. Damn. What an amazing run! Congrats to all involved at every level. Such a wonderful show.
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate. I've got no time for that nonsense.
23. What was the best book you read?
Hmm... probably Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. That was a gift from an awesome new filmmaker/badass actor friend of mine. Really good stuff. Haven't finished it (my curse: I'll start about ten books before finishing any one of them all the way), but will before the year ends.
24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Shazam app on Nancy the iPhone. Holy crap, never have I enjoyed discovering a whole BUNCH of new music with such efficiency before using this thing!
25. What did you want and get?
Health and fitness. Absolutely.
26. What did you want and not get?
Damn lotto! $207M... it was *so* ours! We seriously have good plans for that money!
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Iron Man. No question. Saw it three times in the first week it was in theaters (yep, paying full-price all three times) and bought it the instant it became available on DVD. Yummy!
28. What did you do on your birthday? How old were you?
Technically, I started my birthday OUT with the Cricket Feet Showcase gang, since the closing night of the July showcase took place on the night before my birthday. We closed down some Burbank billiard hall and I didn't pay for a drink all night. :) It was fun and social and sweet. Really love those actors and that crew so much! I spent the rest of the "day" of my birth resting and recovering from the weeks of showcase production, catching up on emails, and kissing my sweet husband. I turned thirty-great! (That's 38.)
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The financial security to not give a second thought to "where the money's gonna come from." One of the burdens of living a freelance lifestyle is that--when a gig you've been counting on goes away--you've gotta get a little creative about how the bills are gonna get paid. Luckily, getting creative also comes along with the freelance lifestyle. :) So, we made it work. We always do. But to never have to even THINK about HOW anything is gonna be covered... that'd be "immeasurably more satisfying."
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Amazingly, I was a wee bit more fashionable in 2008! Losing weight meant I could go from "the big girl stores" to "the big sizes at the normal girl stores" and that meant cuter jeans and cuter cami tanks and cuter duster tops. Yes, still "jeans, cami tank, duster" every day, but they're CUTER now. :) Hee!
31. What kept you sane?
For the last part of the year, Puppy Cam! I know, it's crazy, but those sweet little puppies playing and sleeping and eating and growing just really gave me a sense of peace, every time I tuned in. (And I tuned in a LOT.)
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Obama! Followed closely by Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart, of course. Seeing Taye Diggs in the flesh did nothing to lessen the lust I feel for that fine man, either. Um... what was the question?
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
Duh. The election. I tried not to say much out loud, but DAYUM, did I embrace the brand new day of the history that was made, this presidential election! Now, I'm of course saddened by the hypocrisy that is Prop 8 passing in California, but I am very encouraged by the fact that this unconstitutional bullcrap passes by a smaller margin each couple of years. We'll see the end to this violation of civil rights within the next decade. Mark it.
34. Who did you miss?
My mom, as always. Also really missed cousin Faith who has now been in New York for a couple of years and that's too long to go without seeing someone I used to have Gimlet Night with every few weeks. But we have a plan of attack for a 2009 visit! Woo hoo! Haven't been to New York since '04. Can't wait!
35. Who was the best new person you met?
This one is always tough, but especially this year. I met so many awesome, amazing, creative, wonderful, smart people and to single any one of them out would be unfair to the rest of them. I know, it's a cop-out, but I'm taking it. I met many "best new people" this year.
36. What valuable life lesson did you learn in 2008?
Just BE.
37. What song lyrics sum up your year?
I once had a grip on everything
It feels better to let go
I'm not over
I'm not over you just yet
Cannot hide it
You're not that easy to forget
I'm not over
Was it all a joke, never had control
I'm not better on my own
Can't explain this thing, or what I mean
I'm trying to let go
I'm not over
I'm not over you just yet
Cannot hide it
You're not that easy to forget
I'm not over
Posted by bonnie at 3:40 PM | Comments (4)
December 20, 2008
Random Share Meme
Random Share
THE RULES: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you, good and bad. At the end, choose 16 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
1. I can't whistle.
2. I'm a former traffic school instructor (for the Improv Comedy Traffic School). Yes, I can still do eight hours of stand-up on the 1999 California Vehicle Code. Jealous?
3. I plan to open Somebody's Basement with Keith Johnson within the next five years. It will be most awesome.
4. The next edition of Self-Management for Actors will be in two volumes.
5. For someone who sleeps very little, I enjoy sleeping quite a bit.
6. I could watch a 24-hour marathon of The People's Court and enjoy every minute of it.
7. When I'm paying our bills, I still secretly feel like I'm sitting at my mom's desk, writing out checks for a zillion dollars to my best friend on the old checks from my mom's old account from my childhood, when she would keep those old, useless checks for me to "play" with. Sadly, these checks I write now actually always get cashed.
8. My stepson is awesome.
9. I almost always sit in lotus position (but I was brought up to call it "Indian Style").
10. I don't own a coffeemaker. Or a hair dryer. Or a cell phone (technically).
11. Nothing is sexier than proper grammar, proper word use, proper spelling, proper punctuation, and--of course--dang-fine smarty-pantsness in general.
12. But funny trumps all. As long as it's smart funny. I don't get Will Ferrell.
13. I seriously get giddy every time I see an actor I know on TV. And considering the fact that I'm in casting, that means I'm giddy pretty much constantly while the TV is on. Which is always.
14. I still have my first-ever "new car" (which was my second-ever CAR). It's The TicTac. And she will be 20 years old on August 11, 2009. We're buying her a paintjob for her birthday. Or maybe Mazda will do that. (Thanks for the tip, CoCo!)
15. I refuse to toss out the 200 mix tapes that are in a box under our dresser in the bedroom. I am convinced that Keith WILL get those imported into iTunes so that I can enjoy the exact mixes I bopped out to in the '80s and '90s.
16. I cannot turn up the volume on anything that measures volume numerically in any increment other than 5's.
Thanks, Communicatrix! That was fun! :) (To see Colleen's awesome list: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=50090786893 <-- go there.)
(comments from the Facebook)
Bonnie Gillespie
Okay, CoCo, I've done it! :) Loves me some lists!! :)
December 20, 2008 at 3:22am · LikeUnlike ·
Angie Curry Saint
this is awesome!
December 20, 2008 at 5:33am · LikeUnlike ·
Tess Lindberg
Okay... I have a couple of questions now... Somebody's Basement? Would be - what? How do you not own a cell phone - technically? :-) Working on my own facts!! Thanks for the tag!
December 20, 2008 at 8:19am · LikeUnlike ·
Sarah Baker
I can't whistle either, Bonnie! Actually, I can sometimes now make a random, off-key whistling noise, but I can't whistle any different notes at all.
Oh well. We can do other cool things! :)
December 20, 2008 at 8:52am · LikeUnlike ·
Phillip Kelly
I hear when you cross things off lists it releases the same things in your tiny brain that are also released during orgasms...Wheee!
December 20, 2008 at 9:44am · LikeUnlike ·
Fawnda McMahan
too many numbers....i'm an actress not a math person
December 20, 2008 at 10:00am · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Angie--Thanks! Fun, right?
Tess--Somebody's Basement is a place we're going to create in the next few years. I'll tell the whole story in a video at some point, but it's an artists' collective, a rehearsal space, a casting space, a screening room, a library/resource room... basically a go-to place for classes, casting sessions, small screenings, rehearsals, etc., and it all looks like Somebody's Basement! :) http://somebodysbasement.com/
Sarah--Yeah! Like Word Twist!! :) And being cute. :)... See More
Phillip--I think that almost has to be true. I do loves me some lists!!!
Fawnda--Dude! How do you calculate your residuals??
December 20, 2008 at 11:50am · LikeUnlike ·
Fawnda McMahan
i don't count it I spend it.
December 20, 2008 at 11:56am · LikeUnlike ·
Eric Loya
Oh, my. Okay, so I was literally two days ago having a conversation about how sexy proper grammar, etc. is (says the guy whose sentence just wrapped around on itself a few times). Seriously though, a long, passionate, heartbreaking conversation about the hatred of "lol" and "ur" and people who don't know what that extra "o" at the end of a regular... See More "to" means. Oy. People!
I was also recently having a less dramatic conversation about Will Ferrell. I kind of get him. I don't always like him, but I think I get him.
For fear of monopolizing your comment space, I'll end by saying that I also -- no joke -- HAVE to turn things up by fives. Try living with a slightly older sister whose sole purpose was to annoy you, and a mom who genuinely couldn't see why the damn thing shouldn't just be set at, say, thirty-seven, or some other such stupid number.
-- Eric
December 20, 2008 at 1:12pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Those people exist to terrorize us. Keith is one of those (like your mother). At least I hope he's like your mother and not like your sister, because intentionally driving me crazy would just be mean.
I'm not so down on LOL and "text speak" because I think it has its place (and when CONFINED to that place, which I never enter, a "UR" is probably ... See Moreokay), but the you're/your thing will seriously send me over the edge.
Almost as much as actors who use "principle" on their resumés instead of "principal." Ahh... I feel another video topic brewing!
December 20, 2008 at 1:16pm · LikeUnlike ·
Eric Loya
I suppose that I agree that text speak has its place, but even when I text, which is rarely, I just can't bring myself to "ur." Sometimes -- SOMEtimes -- if I'm in a huge rush, I maybe won't check my text-y spellings, or make sure that I've capitalized all my "I"'s. And I instantly hate myself.
December 20, 2008 at 2:16pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Oh, I'm not saying that *I* would ever do such a thing!! Believe me, there's a big difference between being okay with others getting all casual and US doing it. ;) It's like, I'm not gonna go changing the volume levels in others' homes, or go hang their clothes in color order. But god help them if they mess with mine! :)
December 20, 2008 at 2:18pm · LikeUnlike ·
Deborah Cresswell
Heee! This looks fun. But how do you know if/when you've been tagged? And how do you join in if you have NOT been tagged?
December 20, 2008 at 5:29pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Consider yourself tagged, baby! :) I just tagged a bunch of people who were on an email survey I'd done just a few hours earlier, plus a few folks who had just updated their status when I was glancing at my friends list to think of who else to tag. :) So, you're TAGGED! Do it! :) XO
December 20, 2008 at 5:33pm · LikeUnlike ·
Deborah Cresswell
Heeeeeeeee~ Okay.....;-)
December 20, 2008 at 5:35pm · LikeUnlike ·
Sarah Logan
This was soo much fun.. And I thank my car, "Betsy," every time she gets US home safe. :)
December 21, 2008 at 6:32pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Oh! And Tess--I own an iPhone, which means I do *technically* own a PHONE, but I don't have it set up as a phone. I use it for email and web surfing and all of the cool apps and calendar and contacts... but there's no voicemail or phone or texting set up, so I *technically* DON'T have a cell phone, right? :) That's why I tell people to shoot me an ... See Moreemail for quickest contact. I check email all the time. But when I'm in a meeting away from the home office, I'm ALL THERE. I don't want/need the distraction of calls/texts from anyone while I'm with someone else. :)
December 21, 2008 at 9:28pm · LikeUnlike ·
Annie Humphrey
I love that you still get a thrill from seeing people you know on TV, I do too. I 'bout peed myself when Sarah B was on Kath and Kim, and I grin like a loon the whole way through every episode Free Radio. No matter how jaded I think I am, it still gets me every dang time.
December 22, 2008 at 7:17am · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
And that, dear Annie, is how we know this is our dream job we're livin' here. :) Once we get jaded, it's time to stop. :)
December 22, 2008 at 11:01am · LikeUnlike ·
Annie Humphrey
yes, that or once you've contract scurvy/malnutrition due to being po'.
December 22, 2008 at 12:15pm · LikeUnlike ·
Deborah Cresswell
Just in case you think I got lost, I am DEFINITELY gonna do this....I've just been interrupted every time I sat down to make a list, what with packing, and address-changing, and holidays.....So it will suddenly appear one day....heee!i
December 26, 2008 at 6:35am · LikeUnlike ·
Ashley Bean
Okay, how can you not own a coffee maker??? And with your beautiful mane, no hair dryer? Sounds like gift ideas to me!
January 26, 2009 at 9:31pm · LikeUnlike ·
Phillip Ward
These will do! : ) Hope you're well.
January 26, 2009 at 10:28pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Annie--Hilarious. And sad.
Deb--Looking forward to it. :)
Ashley--I don't drink coffee! True story. :) And maybe my lovely hair is lovely due to lack of drying. Who knows?!? I think I had one in high school, but that'd be the last time.... See More
Phillip--Thankee. You too! :)
January 26, 2009 at 11:12pm · LikeUnlike ·
Tenaya Cleveland
My favorite is the one about raising volume in increments of 5. I think we all have a little OCD in us, don't we? Oh, and the writing checks for a zillion dollars.
These are cool.
I never took much time reading these things, but now I'm really enjoying getting glimpses into friend's lives in this way...... See More
Love and hugs,
Tenaya
January 27, 2009 at 10:08am · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Yes. Absolutely. No question about it. ;) Just enough OCD, methinks. :) Love and hugs RIGHT back, missy!
January 27, 2009 at 4:45pm · LikeUnlike ·
Eric Halasz
Same here for #9! In fact...I'm doing it right now!
January 28, 2009 at 1:59pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Yay! :)
January 28, 2009 at 8:18pm · LikeUnlike ·
Cris D'Annunzio
Write a comment...ok, Gillespie. Just remember, you owe me. And I'm not the kinda guy you wanna owe. Just ask your friend Fox.
January 29, 2009 at 2:44pm · LikeUnlike ·
Annie Wood
love it. cool. okay, you owe me nine more. :) and i still have my mix tapes too!!!!
January 30, 2009 at 9:29pm · LikeUnlike ·
Patrick O'Sullivan
thanks for sharing. i have noticed you are a lotus sitter and yes, funny does trump all.
January 31, 2009 at 12:21am · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Roger that, Cris and Annie. I actually have a whole page of FAQs on the Cricket Feet website *and* a list of "little known facts" about me on the Bonsite. :) So, you can get your due anytime. ;) There's a bunch.
Right on, Patrick. :) Hee!
January 31, 2009 at 11:44am · LikeUnlike ·
Blake Robbins
You prefer to sit "Native American" style? I wish I had been tagged when it was only 16. Much Love Bonnie!
January 31, 2009 at 11:58pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
16 was when it was old school, babe! :) I do--pretty much daily--sit like that. :)
February 1, 2009 at 12:00am · LikeUnlike ·
Mirelly Taylor
#2 ( hillarious) and #10 (are you human?) and#16 (I totally get it)
February 3, 2009 at 12:17pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Love you, girl! :)
February 3, 2009 at 12:24pm · LikeUnlike ·
Melinda Augustina
#6 - I will not tell.
#8 - had no idea. What a lucky kid!
#11 - that's what the nuns tried to tell me, too...hmmmm...
February 3, 2009 at 3:26pm · LikeUnlike ·
Nevada Katt
You're Awesome! Ha the Tic Tac... God I remember my pops first car in the early 80s it was a Gremlin! It resembled a yellow TicTac actually... and it had those 8track thingamajigs... geez Im old!
February 5, 2009 at 7:12pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Hee hee, Melinda. :)
George, the car-love is serious. I drove my 20 year old baby all over in the rain today and was so happy to have such a beautiful wonderful TicTac. :)
February 6, 2009 at 12:42am · LikeUnlike ·
Brendan Brandt
i got a paintjob once on my birthday too...
great list!
February 6, 2009 at 11:28am · LikeUnlike ·
Clark Coffey
My fav - #11. Okay, I'll accept this as down payment, but I'll be looking for those other 9 ;)
February 6, 2009 at 12:54pm · LikeUnlike ·
Miki Yamashita
#11. Dang fine smarty-pansness? No wonder we're friends. :-)
February 6, 2009 at 4:57pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Hilarious, Brendan! :)
#11 is badass. And it's just TRUE. SEXY stuff! :)
Love you people. XO
February 6, 2009 at 5:53pm · LikeUnlike ·
Posted by bonnie at 3:21 AM | Comments (0)
December 19, 2008
2008 in Photos
Year-end 12 of 12. Thanks again, Chad, for a lovely time. And hooray!!!!!! on being cancer-free! ;)
Another amazing year! More year-end reviews to come. :) Ah... love the reflecting. So many lessons, so many discoveries, so much love!
Posted by bonnie at 2:29 PM | Comments (5)
December 12, 2008
12 of 12 for Dec08
Welcome to the last 12 of 12 for the year! New to 12 of 12? Visit Henry-free (and cancer-free) Chad Darnell for all the info. (Love you, Chad! Keep kickin' cancer's ass!)
10:37am: So, I've checked enough email to kind of wake up, but I ask Keith to come back to bed and kiss on me a bit. He does (and with Keith travels Archie, pretty much always). The bed is warm and awesome. And soon the boys are sleeping and I'm up and at my desk to start my day.
11:45am: Watching Airline (Am I the only one who loves this show?) while Thwok perches and supervises the beginning of my work. I must dive into the headshots awesome intern sorted yesterday and get rid of like half of that big stack. That's the SHORT-term goal.
12:31pm: I've brought another stack of headshots onto the sofa for sorting (more on this in Monday's column) and Thwok helps by chewing the corners of the actors whose headshots make her the most happy. Or horny. Or something. Hard to tell. She's a cat.
2:58pm: Keith is up from his nap and out the door to a Chevy audition. That's part of the active casting wall behind him. There's more further behind him, as this particular portion of the wall is in use for a prequel/sequel we're casting (two films, duh) and we have to space out the "worlds" so we don't get confused as the LOIs come in. Woo!
3:31pm: Ah... Word Twist on the Facebook. Oh, how I love it. I missed one word this round. LIED. LOL Okay, last round (for now), then back to headshot purging!
5:07pm: Do actors feel it when their headshots bite the dust? This is bin three on day four of The 2008 Headshot Purge. (More on this at a recent video on my Facebook page. It's really not personal!)
6:52pm: Okay, so I was invited to two (actually, three, but I know that third one, no one expected me to attend, but it was sweet for 'em to ask, of course) parties tonight and the way I handled the conflict over which to attend was... go to neither! Classic punk-out option. Awesome. Ever-helpful Thwok approves of this decision.
7:19pm: Just before the lottery and we're so totally gonna win $207M tonight! Yeah! Somebody's Basement, here we come, bitches!
8:11pm: Bah! Our lottery ticket is now a paperball toy for kitties. Dammit!
9:29pm: Keith is reading another script sent over for a casting bid (YAY!) while Salema sleeps nearby. I'm so loving this "dead season." Rockin' my socks off, all the indie film casting gigs comin' through here!! (Whether I take 'em on or not, I LOVE that they're happening!!)
9:49pm: Gotta fire off one last photo for 12 of 12. It's Archie! Yay! The people love the animals! :)
Thanks, everyone, for stopping by. And thank you, sweet Chad, for another wonderful 12 of 12 experience. :) Kiss, kiss! Be well!
Posted by bonnie at 11:13 PM | Comments (9)
December 2, 2008
Bon on The Answer B!tch at E! Online
Hee hee. I particularly love the Ishtar of it all.
Thanks again for the hook-up, CoCo. This was definitely more fun than my Star Magazine experience two years ago.
Still, it's all fun. :) I love my job(s). I really love my life.
Posted by bonnie at 2:59 PM | Comments (3)