December 23, 2009
2009 in Questions
(See also 2008 in Questions, 2007 in Questions, 2006 in Questions, 2005 in Questions, and 2004 in Questions.)
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Attend the world premiere of a film I cast at a festival across the country. Travel to Australia.
2. Did you keep your 2009 resolutions? Will you make more for 2010?
I actually don't make resolutions (I know, I always say that), but in 2009, I actually pledged a couple of things: "Say yes more," and, "More funny, more money." Absolutely, I said yes to lots of things I had become accustomed to saying NO to (in fear of over-committing, usually) and that opened up all sorts of worlds I'd not previously entered to such a degree. As for "more funny," no doubt. I laughed more in 2009 than I probably ever have. My friends--my family of choice--fill my days and nights with so much bliss and fun and memories that will last a lifetime (and we've only just begun). And regarding the "more money" part of things, surely, there was more of that. I need to get more specific in 2010, though. I want lots more. Like, I'm ready to build a sofa made of money. Let's do it Oprah-style, baby.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
This is weird, because this time last year, I mentioned a "bunch of pregnant friends," yet only a couple--and no one in the "inner circle"--gave birth this year, so I'm wondering who the heck I was thinking about last year when I answered these questions. Heh. Anyway. Two very dear friends are about to pop right now, so there will be babies in 2010 for sure! (And if Keith has it his way, there will be one here too.)
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yeah. An elderly great-uncle I hadn't seen in 15 years, the last director I worked under as an actor before I retired nearly a decade ago, and a fellow casting director who ended her own life. Not good. But, as they say, that's life, y'know?
5. What countries did you visit?
Woo hoo! I visited Australia, baby! That was awesome!
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Same answer as last year: a mortgage! But, I trust that we will buy our house when everything lines up for that to be our right and perfect house. I needn't stress about the timing, as it's not up to me anyway.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
Probably the day after my birthday, which is weird, because I usually don't do much "holiday association" as far as sentimentality goes. But July 12th, the day after my 39th birthday, was the day we gathered our dearest friends together for a blissful night filled with laughs, song, food and drink, and just pure LOVE. I realized how rich I am, as I sat up on stage, being serenaded by some of the best-looking men in this town, while a gaggle of the best-looking women--and non-singing men--danced on the dance floor below us. I've always known it's the simple things that make us truly happy people. And cultivating lasting, beautiful, lifelong friendships is a simple thing. You just constantly surround yourself with the best people on the planet and have no apologies for letting the negative nellies and poison playmates GO. That's a rich life, right there. I am so lucky.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Staring fear in the face (Does fear have a face?) and doing scary stuff anyway. Launching new ventures, building new partnerships, cutting off successful things at "easy tiers" in order to jump up to successful things at the bigger tiers, and trusting that my team is so fucking rockstar that there is no way these irons we have in the proverbial fire can't work. This is pretty dang amazing stuff we're doing. And I know we're going to look back on this year and say, "A-ha! This is when it all came together." I know that because I felt it as it happened. I continue to feel it as it's happening. I am so grateful for feeling the feelings. I've done that a lot this year.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I'm not big into calling "life lessons" "failures," because I truly believe we get so much benefit from the stuff that looks failure-like, in life. But, as with 2008, in 2009 I continued to be offered an opportunity to refine my picker. I s'pose I have to see this as a grand compliment to how enticing I make my world look, to the non-pro wannabes and high-end haters out there. Luckily, they are quicker and quicker to scurry away under the "discomfort" of living with transparency, which I provide a constant way to do. And the lessons cost me less and less, each time. The best benefit to all of this is the fact that I am rewarded with a monumentally more significantly important business partner, co-conspirator, and/or true friend at every turn. So, the "toll" for crossing the bridge into a higher tier is worth it. The rewards over here are much, much better. Cutting to the chase: No failure. Only lessons. And gratitude for them.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Heh. Twisted my ankle on Thanksgiving while in Australia. First full day there, and I became Gimpy McGee for the duration of my time with the Australian Institute for Performing Arts. It was hilarious. And I stayed in good spirits about it all. I mean, what choice did I have?
11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Y'know, I'm not sure I have a good answer for this. I celebrated with so many who behaved in beautiful, grace-filled ways this year. It's like the folks I used to look up to are more within my line of sight these days. I'm celebrating with the people who inspire me, more than ever before. That's pretty badass.
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Eh, if I have to answer this, I'd have to say--in general--folks who live without integrity. Those who talk out of both sides of their mouths. People who promise what they can never deliver and expect to get away with it, because their excuses sound so good to them. But really, I'm less appalled or depressed by anyone, these days, as I begin to realize that no one outside of ME is responsible for how I FEEL about anything that anyone else does.
13. Where did most of your money go?
Producing the 2009 Cricket Feet Showcase. It was pretty amazing. We reached our five-year goal--in many ways--in just over two years. But what we didn't reach was our financial goal for the showcase, which meant we went out of pocket several thousand dollars and were set to have to do that again--plus raise the price--in 2010 in order to do it at all. So, the showcase is now on hiatus. We know how to do it. We changed the game. And when Cricket Feet is in a place to need to lose 30 grand a year, we'll produce totally free showcases (which was always our goal) and rock this town again.
14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Again, I'll say Hacienda Hot Springs, because as I this post goes live, we're either just about to head off for--or are enjoying--another of our quickie private spa getaways. There is nothing so relaxing as this place and how I am while I'm there. And that's worth getting very excited about. So I do! At least twice a year. ;)
15. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Black-Eyed Peas' I Gotta Feeling. Especially the "lipdub" version of it. Awesome. Inspiring. A never-disappoint watch, for me.
16. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Happier. Always so much happier.
b) thinner or fatter?
Thinner, thinner, thinner. It's so exciting, being this close to goal. I set out, in December of 2007, to be the healthiest 40-year-old I could possibly be. I'll be 40 in just under seven months. I am going to reach my goal. That's phenomenal. I'm so proud of me!
c) richer or poorer?
Richer. Our money guy even told us we need to watch out for managing our net operating loss. I have no idea what that means. (Kidding. Of course I do. It's just funnier if I'm bumping into making more money these days.)
17. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Relax. Take breaks. Play. (And I played quite a bit, so I do honor and treasure that.) It's just because I work so damn hard that I'd like to add in a bit more downtime to the equation. I've earned it, and I'm reaching the age where I'd like to take a little of it. ;)
18. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Hurt. I had some back pain I could've lived without. My ankle too. A gut-wrenching gut ache that got really painful. That stuff is not so fun, and I'm finding ways to get in better balance so that my body doesn't have to scream at me in order to get me to take a break, once in a while. (See how this ties in with # 17?)
19. How will you be spending Christmas?
Basking in the afterglow of days filled with massages, hottubbing, saunaing, steaming, sexing, eating well, drinking well, and making our year-end list of things to welcome into our new year at the above-mentioned Hacienda Hot Springs. Our year-end getaway. So frickin' well-earned. Once we return to LA-LA Land, we'll celebrate Jewish Christmas by seeing movies and eating Chinese food with our orthodox friends. And then it's time to prep the breakdown for another casting gig. Yes. During the "break." I love it.
20. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I am constantly falling in love. With people, with things, with places, with my life. I have it so good.
21. What was your favorite TV program?
This was the year I got hooked on So You Think You Can Dance (thank you, Kathi). Still loved Big Bang Theory and The Mentalist. Go, CBS. Yes. I'm old.
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?
Without a doubt, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. I even did a vid about it, in January, calling it the best book of the year. It has had a profound impact on me. (And I've read a LOT of good books this year. Still finishing a few. Awesome book year. Thank you, so many wonderful friends, for recommending a year of great reads. This has been very good for me!)
24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Hmm... I'm not sure I made one this year. Well... let's say Glee, although that's really a cheat, since it's a show. But I found myself wanting random people in public places to break into song, constantly, this year. And I think that's got to be the effect of watching Glee and believing every moment calls for a good musical number.
25. What did you want and get?
Happiness. Peace. Love. Fun. Respect. Career advancement. Time with Quinn. Just good ol' goodness.
26. What did you want and not get?
That dang sofa made of money. Our first house. The shiba inu and puggle pups that come with our first house. Absolute financial security (heh, like anyone truly ever has that) so that we can produce our friends' great films, shoot the pilot of our great series, launch our great web distribution channel, and basically supply the world with awesomeosity on our dime, constantly.
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Ooh, Good Hair. I loved it. I loved seeing it with Tanya and Ryan. I can't wait to see it again. Brilliant. I'm a big fan of documentaries anyway, but this one was remarkably funny and well-structured. Loved it. (And of course, I'll say Another Harvest Moon is right up there behind that one, as I attended its premieres in Rhode Island and in Hollywood. And I had my moment. It was awesome.)
28. What did you do on your birthday? How old were you?
Hmm. On my birthday? Remember what I said about not being terribly tied to the actual days, in any way? Um... let's see. We saw Louis & Keely the night before (my third time, I think) and hung out with Diva Zappa and her mom a bit. Ate some cheese. Shopped at the market near UCLA after the play like a couple of old folks headed home after a play. So, probably my actual birthday was spent sleeping, writing (getting prepped for having my column turned in early, as is typical when I have anything planned on a Sunday, since that's my writing day), and hanging out in deep appreciation for all I've got in the world. As Sunday, the day after my birthday, was the above-mentioned "etched in my memory" day, spent with my family of choice, celebrating my existence--and the beginning of the end of my 30s.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Have I mentioned the sofa made of money? Yeah. As usual, I have everything I could ever need or want in my life (love, friendship, fitness, health, happiness, fulfilling work, laughter, peace) and even the money thing is just a bonus. I'd really like to be able to finance not only my dreams but the dreams of others whose work I believe in. That'd be awesome. Sorry... that will be awesome. Just wait.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Ah! 2009 was the year I got hip to color! (Thank you, Jill Kirsh!) I wore more red, more blue, more purple, and less less less black. But still wore jeans and chunky sandals and cool-ass, square-toed boots. I branched out with some of my jewelry (thanks to my beautiful friends who paid attention to my attempts to branch out and bought me things just at the edge of my comfort zone) and even put more drastic layers in my hair. I'm cute. Yay, me!
31. What kept you sane?
Laughter. My friends. (Both of which are connected, deeply.) Weekly meetings with the best people on the planet, who agreed to gather with me in an effort to work out career goals, remove personal and professional blocks, and co-conspire for our collective success.
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hello Kitty! I even went to her 35th birthday celebration exhibit when it made it to Los Angeles. I know, it's corny. Still... that girl is awesome!
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
Prop 8. I know it was last year, but this was the year that I got motivated to put my face behind the cause. I joined the silent protest and added myself to the thousand or so others who have gone in front of Adam Bouska to do the same. To the many thousands who have submitted their own photos. Let's end this discrimination and let us all get gay married if we want to!
34. Who did you miss?
My mom, as always. But what I miss is that I could hear her saying back to me what I still feel her sharing with me. What I miss is the knowing that I get what she's guiding me to do. But if I get quiet enough, I already have all that. And I know she's not missing me, as she gets to be in on so much more of what my day-to-day is like, now.
35. Who was the best new person you met?
Ryan Basham. Hands down. I've been the fairy godmother to a good many people for most of my life. It's my turn to have someone bring some magic and manifesting into my life. That's Ryan. And he happens to be one of the bestest male girlfriends a gal could ever have. I am very pleased to have welcomed him into my world, and onto Team Cricket Feet. World domination begins in 3... 2... 1...!
36. What valuable life lesson did you learn in 2009?
Say yes more. You can always pull back. Be open. Invite blessings in, and in they come.
37. What song lyrics sum up your year?
525,600 minutes
525,000 moments so dear
525,600 minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife
In 525,600 minutes
How do you measure a year in the life?
How about love?
How about love?
How about love?
Measure in love. Seasons of love
It's time now to sing out, tho the story never ends
Let's celebrate, remember a year in the life of friends
Remember the love! Remember the love! Remember the love!
Measure in love. Seasons of love! Seasons of love...
Posted by bonnie at 6:02 PM | Comments (2)
December 22, 2009
The Year in Review
(See also 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004.)
Take the first line (or so) from the first post of each month of 2009. That's your Year In Review.
January 2009:
Yowza
Is it possible that it's January 11th and I'm posting my first blog entry of the year? Truly, Facebook and video blogging and Twitter have collectively taken over my blogging energy.
February 2009:
Then and Now
So, last night was the book party for the 3rd edition of Self-Management for Actors.
March 2009:
Mar09 12 of 12
Oh, my lordy, what a looooooong day. I really need to get to sleep, because tomorrow (er, later today) is an even loooooooonger day and with even more meetings than the three I had today. Ack! And eep! And yay! :)
April 2009:
12 of 12 April 09
Hello the end of April 12th. :) I'm sooo ready to sleep. Today's 12 of 12 is an all in-house version, but a busy day, nonetheless. Not sure what 12 of 12 might be? Please stop by Chad Darnell's site for all the info. He created it and he's a badass. Please consider joining us next month! It's ever so much fun to see what's going on all over the world on a single day. :)
May 2009:
12 of 12 for May 2009
Well all right! This day was CRAZY busy and I'm typing up this blog entry using the 'puter we call The Chicklet (and she was bought after I got hired on my first casting gig, well over six years ago) b/c Keith decided to work on my 'puter (called Sid, bought 18 months ago, and apparently in BIG need of a defrag) and the most fun part of all of this is the fact that three keys are missing or misplaced on this 'puter, and I'm having to *really* watch myself to be sure I'm getting my letters right.
June 2009:
Worst Two Days
Today is one of the worst two days of the year (the other one is a month from now). Today is when it's been the longest since we've had Quinn with us. And a month from now is when it'll be the longest 'til we see him again.
July 2009:
"Another Harvest Moon" TRAILER
So, I mentioned before that I was thrilled that the trailer for Another Harvest Moon went live on the film's website.
August 2009:
Awesomeosity in a Bottle
You know that feeling you sometimes have? That feeling of, "I freakin' ROCK!"
September 2009:
Snow Leopard/MS Entourage/Address Book NIGHTMARE
Bear with me. I'm posting this at my blog, in a note at Facebook, in the tech forum at Apple's site, and that means it's going to be a nice, long read to get everyone up to speed in case there's a kind soul out there who can help with this ridiculousity. Keith is also taking a print-out of this whole thing to the Genius Bar tomorrow. Our last hope.
October 2009:
Suicide
Not sure I'll ever understand suicide. I mean, of course I understand the emotional heaviness, the absolute despair, the certainty that nothing will ever get better and that there is no hope. I've been there. I know.
November 2009:
Eeeeeeee! Australia!
Okay, so in just over a week, I board a big-ass plane for a long-ass time and travel into the future to arrive a day earlier in Sydney Australia.
December 2009:
12 'o 12 'o the last month 'o the '09, y'all!
I know, I know... it's getting down to the fact that the only blog posts I make are about the 12. Well, thank you, Chadtastic, for that. :) At least there's somethin'. :) And such.
===========
I have to say, this has been a pretty ridiculously good year. There were several times during the year when Keith and I talked about how very hard things are for everyone, but still we were able to find so much about which we could be grateful. We've got it so good. Sooo good.
Thank you, everyone, for being a part of our awesomeosity. Here's to a 2010 filled with greenlit projects, green money, green leafy vegetables, and all other good green things! It's a Kermit, Keriopi, Cricket Feet year!
Posted by bonnie at 2:04 PM | Comments (0)
December 21, 2009
2009 in Photos
One of the best parts about doing 12 of 12 is the year-end wrap-up it provides! Thanks again, Chad, for a lovely project allowing us to look back on how filled with gifts the year truly was.
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 8:31 PM | Comments (0)
March 1, 2009
Changes
Nabbed from Julie-O. (And I modified the years a bit, because it was so much fun.)
25 YEARS AGO TODAY (1984)
1) How old were you? 13.
2) Who were you dating? Dating? Eep! Not 'til my braces came off.
3) Where did you work? In my mom's home office, filing. And in neighbors' homes, babysitting.
4) Where did you live? Wynhill Drive, Atlanta.
5) Where did you hang out? Like, totally at Perimeter Mall.
6) Did you wear contacts and/or glasses? Nope.
7) Who was your best friend? Susan Waters.
8) How many tattoos did you have? None.
9) How many piercings did you have? Two, but could only wear an earring in one ear because the piercing in my right ear was mangled so badly when it was done. It's like I got to be trendy '80s with the one earring thing without even trying.
10) What kind of car did you drive? My mom let me ride shotgun in her Chevy Monte Carlo.
11) Had you been to a real party? Well, I'd have said "yes," but would've defined "real" differently, later.
12) Had you had your heart broken? Yep.
13) Were you single/taken/married/divorced? Just boy-crazy.
14) Any Kids? Nope. I still was one!
20 YEARS AGO TODAY (1989)
1) How old were you? 18.
2) Who were you dating? Avi Neurohr, long distance.
3) Where did you work? On campus at the "tutor house," doing academic peer tutoring. Then at Chili's on the weekends, bartending my way through school in a very short denim skirt.
4) Where did you live? Reed III, University of Georgia campus (stadium-adjacent, y'all).
5) Where did you hang out? On campus.
6) Did you wear contacts and/or glasses? I had just started wearing contacts.
7) Who was your best friend? Candace.
8) How many tattoos did you have? None.
9) How many piercings did you have? Two, but never wear earrings.
10) What kind of car did you drive? Toyota Celica: The Hatchmobile.
11) Had you been to a real party? Absolutely.
12) Had you had your heart broken? Yep.
13) Were you single/taken/married/divorced? Enjoying dating long-distance and flirting with the locals.
14) Any Kids? Nope.
15 YEARS AGO TODAY (1994)
1) How old were you? 23.
2) Who were you dating? Every loser in Los Angeles, I'm afraid.
3) Where did you work? Left Bank Management, i.e.: for Duran Duran, The Bee Gees, Richard Marx, Meat Loaf, John Mellencamp, Tony Toni Toné, Stephanie Mills, LA Guns, Luther Vandross, and Joey Lawrence.
4) Where did you live? Hollywood Tower, my first apartment of my very own, 6200 Franklin Ave.
5) Where did you hang out? Dan Tana's.
6) Did you wear contacts and/or glasses? Contacts.
7) Who was your best friend? Cousin Faith.
8) How many tattoos did you have? None.
9) How many piercings did you have? Two, but never wear earrings.
10) What kind of car did you drive? Mazda Miata: The Tictac.
11) Had you been to a real party? Nightly.
12) Had you had your heart broken? Yep.
13) Were you single/taken/married/divorced? Very single.
14) Any Kids? Nope.
10 YEARS AGO TODAY (1999)
1) How old were you? 28.
2) Who were you dating? No one serious. Just whoring around.
3) Where did you work? I was a working actor and hand model with a dozen survival jobs (see previous note about my jobs).
4) Where did you live? Psycho Roommate Hell, Moorpark Ave., Sherman Oaks.
5) Where did you hang out? The Backstage on Karaoke night.
6) Did you wear contacts and/or glasses? Contacts.
7) Who was your best friend? My Sissa Melissa.
8) How many tattoos did you have? Two.
9) How many piercings did you have? Two, but never wear earrings.
10) What kind of car did you drive? Mazda Miata: The Tictac.
11) Had you been to a real party? Nightly.
12) Had you had your heart broken? Yep.
13) Were you single/taken/married/divorced? Militantly single.
14) Any Kids? Nope.
5 YEARS AGO TODAY (2004)
1) How old were you? 33.
2) Who were you dating? Keith Johnson. We were even engaged and shacking.
3) Where did you work? In casting. Mostly from home.
4) Where did you live? Beechwood Canyon, Hollywood Hills.
5) Where did you hang out? Dan Tana's.
6) Did you wear contacts and/or glasses? Contacts.
7) Who was your best friend? Keith Johnson.
8) How many tattoos did you have? Two.
9) How many piercings did you have? Two, but never wear earrings.
10) What kind of car did you drive? Mazda Miata: The Tictac.
11) Had you been to a real party? Fewer and fewer, being coupled and all that.
12) Had you had your heart broken? Yep.
13) Were you single/taken/married/divorced? Engaged and holding.
14) Any Kids? No, but looking forward to more time with Keith's son.
TODAY (2009)
1) How old are you? 38.
2) Who are you dating? My husband.
3) Where do you work? In casting. In production. Online. In any large gathering place.
4) Where do you live? Seven blocks from the beach, Santa Monica.
5) Where do you hang out? Dan Tana's.
6) Do you wear contacts and/or glasses? Nope. Got the LASIK, baby.
7) Who is your best friend? My husband. Followed closely by a gaggle of Annas.
8) How many tattoos do you have? Two.
9) How many piercings do you have? Two, but never wear earrings.
10) What kind of car do you drive? Mazda Miata: The Tictac.
11) Have you been to a real party? Occasionally.
12) Have you had your heart broken? Yep.
13) Are you single/taken/married/divorced? Married and loving it.
14) Any Kids? My gorgeous stepson, Quinn (just not nearly often enough in-house).
5 YEARS FROM NOW (2014)
1) How old will you be? 43.
2) Who will you be dating? My husband.
3) Where will you work? In casting. In production. Online. In any large gathering place. On the air.
4) Where will you live? Ideally at a house we picked out years ago, just down the street from where we are now.
5) Where will you hang out? Dan Tana's.
6) Will you wear contacts and/or glasses? Nope. Got the LASIK, baby.
7) Who will your best friend be? My husband. Probably still followed closely by a gaggle of Annas. But who knows?!?
8) How many tattoos will you have? Two and maybe a third. Thinking about something...
9) How many piercings will you have? If I have my way, I may even have the two that are on my ears "filled in" and just be done with the idea that I would/could *ever* wear earrings.
10) What kind of car will you drive? Mazda Miata: The Tictac. And hopefully will have added an FX-45: The Doc Martin.
11) Will you have been to a real party? Suspect I will also be throwing quite a few, once we're in our house. We owe a lot of party karma.
12) Will you have had your heart broken? Yep. But it's still held over from that first time. ;)
13) Will you be single/taken/married/divorced? Married and loving it.
14) Any Kids? By then, my gorgeous stepson, Quinn will be living with us full-time. Will he have any siblings? Only time will tell.
(comments from the Facebook)
Eric Loya
Wow. I liked so much of this, and so will not comment on most of it, since that would be way too long. But I did want to say that I'm very interested and excited about the addition of "On the air" five years from now.
March 1, 2009 at 11:00pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
*beams*
March 1, 2009 at 11:36pm · LikeUnlike ·
Domenic Tudino
I'm jealous that you live 7 blocks from the beach in Santa Monica. I live 5,000 miles from Santa Monica, it's a bit of a walk for me !
March 2, 2009 at 8:50am · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Seven blocks, baby. It's awesome. This morning (we had gone to bed with the windows open) the whole house smelled like ocean. It was a lovely way to wake up. I love it!
March 2, 2009 at 1:01pm · LikeUnlike ·
Deborah Cape
I was in Santa Monica....just over a week ago. Ahhh....I miss it so. :)
March 3, 2009 at 3:47am · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Isn't it the best? :)
March 3, 2009 at 12:07pm · LikeUnlike ·
Posted by bonnie at 8:38 PM | Comments (0)
February 13, 2009
25 of My Jobs
My buddy Patrick O'Sullivan did this list last week and I thought it was pretty dang cool. So... here's mine! Not tagging anyone b/c I so detest getting tagged by dozens of people on the same dang meme. So, here's my list. If you're inspired, you make one too. :)
25 OF MY JOBS by Bonnie Gillespie
1. Hand Model. I think I earned more money as a hand model than as an actor. Yup, I made you buy stuff by executing the "stroke and hold" in print ads worldwide. My mother was consistently mortified when she would call me and ask, "What are you doing today?" and my reply would be, "Oh, I have a hand job this afternoon." Heh heh. I loved freaking her out like that.
2. Traffic School Instructor. And not just any "traffic school." The Improv Traffic School. I can still do eight hours of stand-up comedy on the topic of the 1999 California Vehicle Code. It's hilarious. (Not really.)
3. Assistant to the President of a Major Recording Artists' Management Firm. This was one of my only "real" jobs. I was 23, living in LA, and got a temp gig that turned--quickly--into an offer for permanent work. I didn't *want* a permanent gig, but the money was really good and there was all of this health insurance and shit I thought I needed as an "adult," so I said yes. I helped identify Richard Marx's stalker, ate Thanksgiving dinner with Meat Loaf, and delivered pot to John Taylor's house. It was a cool gig.
4. Instructional Technology Coordinator. Another of my very few "real" jobs. I spent a year as ITC for Athens Academy. My job included teaching sixth graders how to produce newscasts in the school's TV studio, creating the high school radio station and getting it FCC-licensed, doing staff development on computer literacy and technology classroom integration for the technophobic teachers at the school, and running the computer lab classes (everything from "How To Use Excel" to "Getting Down with Power Point" and from "Hard-Coding in HTML" to "Typing 101." I still type 85 WPM and hard-code my own web pages. The students--some of whom are my Facebook friends--still call me "Miss G."
5. Pet Sitter. One of my favorite freelance gigs before I inherited my mother's cats. I would stay over at other people's homes (usually really nice ones) and play with their animals for 35 bucks a day. As long as my laptop came with me, I could continue to do my other work there too.
6. File Clerk at a Hospital. My briefest stint. It was a temp job at the Athens Regional Medical Center. I went in, filed medical charts in accordion-wall shelving (totally shitty for my claustrophobia) in a tiny room next to the morgue. Said I forgot my lunch and clocked out after 1.25 hours and never went back.
7. Graduate Advisor for WUOG. Yup. The "Athens, GA," "REM," "B-52s," "Love Tractor," "Pylon" WUOG. I had been a DJ there in the late '80s and eventually became the Promotions Director to the station as an undergrad, but it was when I went back for grad school that I actually got paid to play at college radio. Awesome gig. My duties included overseeing the exec staff, reporting to student activities, and overseeing nearly $100K in renovations to the station as we upgraded from 10K watts to 26K watts in the mid-'90s. It was a great experience and I actually was named College Radio Advisor of the Year, 1997, by the National Association of College Broadcasters. The award was presented by the Sklar brothers in Providence, Rhode Island. I thought that was really dang cool.
8. Academic Tutor. I've had this job a lot. I was a peer tutor in high school, working for an SAT-prep facility, doing both SAT-prep classes and straight-up academic tutoring after school. I also worked in college at the UGA peer tutoring facility (called the Tutor House, which I thought was adorable). My specialty was math (my SAT math score was near-perfect; my language score was low, but my grammar score was 100%. When I took my GRE, I scored near-perfect on the analytical section. They wanted me to consider law school). In Los Angeles, I returned to SAT-prep classes and academic tutoring through a company called ACE (A Competitive Edge). I'm actually still friends with some of the fellow actors I met on that survival job. One of the kids I tutored in 1999 is now an agent who pitches to me, regularly. I love this town!
9. Animal Socialization. I worked at the Athens Animal Shelter helping abandoned animals be "more adoptable" by playing with them and teaching them not to fear humans (which, depending on how they were abandoned, could be a really big task). Also cleaned cages and did other dirty work. But it felt good.
10. Youth Theatre Mentor. I actually had this job both in Atlanta and in Los Angeles, with different groups. In ATL, I worked for Hands-On Atlanta to create a group called Atlanta Cares Theatre (ACT). We went into inner city schools and did theatre sports and improv games with the kids, then took them to plays in Little Five Points, where they could see the arts in action. In LA, I worked for Heart Of Los Angeles (HOLA) Youth Theatre, mentoring young actor/writers who wanted to cultivate their voice, turn their "stories from the streets" into plays. We produced the kids' original plays, playing to an audience of hundreds in East LA. This is some of the most gratifying work I've ever done.
11. Online Bookseller Shopping Cart Designer and Webmaster. Yup. I'm a geek. Up until 2007, I still had this "survival job" from back in my actor days. I worked for a small publishing company in Los Angeles--mostly from home, though--developing and refining the online profile for this company, interfacing with Amazon.com for publisher details on the couple hundred college textbooks this publishing company put out, and maintaining the online shopping cart for these books. I'm sure much of what I know about publishing I learned in the eight years I had this gig.
12. Corporate Chilihead Trainer. I worked at Chili's from 1988 to 1991. Very quickly, I went from server to cocktail waitress to bartender to corporate trainer. I was in college in Athens but would drive home to Atlanta every weekend to sling drinks and train new employees (because the money was SO much better than if I had stayed in Athens working some crap college town job each weekend). I also traveled to other Chili's that were having their grand opening prep, to teach the future Chiliheads how to do the Chili's thing. My nickname was "Susie Policy." I never saw that as an insult. I still drive the car I bought with the money I earned in that awesome job.
13. Weekly Columnist. Everyone knows this one, I hope. I wrote for Back Stage West from 1999 to 2003, interviewing casting directors each week. And I've written for Showfax.com since 2004. Writing weekly columns for actors has been my longest-term job and certainly one of the most gratifying things I get to do. I'd probably do it for free. But don't tell my bosses that!
14. Audience Tester for CBS. When I first lived in Los Angeles (1993-1994), I had a very cool job testing audience members' love of or hatred for CBS shows. Y'know, those recruiter guys on Hollywood Blvd. or at the Grove or wherever tourists gather? They convince you to come upstairs to the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, sit in a dark room, watch a TV show, push buttons when you like or hate stuff, and fill out a survey, rewarding you only with a keychain-pen-doohicky? Yeah. I was the chick administering the tests, pulling out sheets of folks whose scores wouldn't be recorded due to disqualifying answers on questions when they arrived in the room (why put them through the tests after that? What a waste), and keeping the mood somewhat civil, after folks realized they were NOT going to a "show taping," which is how some of the recruiters would spin it. I remember writing a lot of letters home, during those show screenings. And I could live the rest of my life without ever seeing another episode of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Diagnosis Murder, or Bonnie Hunt's The Building.
15. Head Cashier. This job was funny. I had lied about my age on my work permit so that I could start earning money at an after school job before I was legally allowed to do so. Mom and I were struggling to get by, so we needed the additional income. No one ever questioned why I spent my whole first year working for Drug Emporium being driven to work by my mom. Heh heh. I started out as a cashier and was quickly promoted to head cashier, which meant I sat in a tiny mirrored room counting tens of thousands of dollars, wrapping bills, and rolling coins for the daily deposit. My fellow head cashier was a chain smoker and I was addicted to Diet Coke. To this day, I cannot get a whiff of a Diet Coke without smelling a dozen cigarette butts crushed in an ashtray commingled with the scent of MONEY. It makes me want to wash my hands.
16. Manager. Twice in my life, I tried my hand at management (and never while I actually worked for a management firm). In college, I managed a band called The Trenchcoat Club, booking them at a few clubs in Athens and sending out their CD to college radio stations and indie labels. In 2002, I managed 16 actors, a singer/songwriter, and a screenwriter. Cricket Feet hemorrhaged more money in the year I tried to manage folks than it ever has since. Luckily, I found casting was more my speed and I've been able to help more actors get jobs via my career as a casting director than I ever could have as a manager.
17. Peer Advocate. When a student at UGA would get busted for cheating, I was assigned a case, brought up to speed on both the charges and the letter of the law in the academic code, and then I would advise the student on how to handle his or her case in front of the campus judicial committee. So, I guess I was like a public defender? Nah. I was told not to say much, even if I could argue the case better. I was to advise well enough in advance that the student didn't feel alone, but even if I saw a hole in the case as the presentation happened, I was not to jump on it and defend the kid. Which sucked. Because a lot of times, there were some really good holes. Man... maybe I could've been a lawyer. Nah.
18. Babysitter. Standard pre-teen job. I started at the age of 11 and charged more than my fellow neighborhood babysitters because I could tutor the kids while I was babysitting. I also required that there be Pringles chips and Orange Fanta on hand for my snack.
19. Archivist. I worked for the Sundance Institute for a year as the head of their new archive initiative. The festival had been up and running for 20 years. UCLA had donated vault space and my position was created so that I could reach out to all of the past Sundance filmmakers, asking them to donate their film prints to the institution. Since most indie filmmakers were storing prints under their beds or in their closets, they were thrilled to ship their prints to me for our archives. I think this is where my love of indie film was born. I got to connect with some of the most obscure and prolific filmmakers of our generation and help them keep their babies safe. I also managed the box office at the Egyptian Theater during the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, as that was the venue in which the institute films were featured. Awesome experience, all the way around. And yes, Uncle Bob is that cute in person. Still.
20. Diet Counselor. This was hilarious. I was in college, I had lost 20 pounds on Jenny Craig, and I needed a job. So I went to Nutrisystem (yes, you read that right) and told them I had just lost weight and was so totally motivated to help others do the same. They asked why I hadn't tried to get a job at Jenny Craig. My response, "Um... y'all were the ones hiring." I think I lasted about a week.
21. Staff Development Instructor. After I wrote my master's thesis on the use of technology in the schools and disparity in technological savvy between the students and the teachers (specifically, the student-produced newscasts being created using Channel One-donated technology), I was hired to both produce a documentary on this situation *and* to teach staff development to the Athens-Clarke County teachers who were most technophobic. I had to create the curriculum and do a lot of demystifying. I actually really enjoyed watching these older teachers having "a-ha moments" about how much technology could help them do their jobs.
22. Technology Coordinator for the 1996 Olympics. Yup. I was the guy in charge of all technology at the Olympic soccer venue (the UGA stadium) during the '96 Olympics. This experience was so fucking gratifying and completely surreal. I got to do all of the computer junkie stuff that I love, *and* interface with people from all over the world, while enjoying first-class sporting events and tons of parties. Really dang cool!
23. Club-Level Bartender for the Georgia Dome. This was both an exciting and shitty job. I had to wear a tux uniform and sling drinks for MC Hammer in the executive suites for the Falcons games. Cool but not. I think I lasted about a month.
24. Phone-Order Taker. A holiday-season job for 1-800-FLOWERS. I answered phones, took orders for flowers, suggested upgrades, took credit card numbers, and processed the details for deliveries. Two or three weeks' work for extra Christmas money. I actually quite enjoyed this job, which is weird considering how much I detest the phone now.
25. Student Recruiter. OMG, I almost forgot this one. I was hired to fly around to other cities in Georgia (on a teeny tiny plane) to talk to "high profile juniors" at high schools, to get them to strongly consider coming to the University of Georgia when it came time to choose their school. I also gave campus tours at UGA several days a week (to prospective students and their parents). These walking tours were a blast and I still remember some of the bizarre "fun facts" I would share about the campus. Wonder how many of those "facts" were true.
Hope y'all enjoyed my list! I currently have the best job on the planet: Hollywood Hyphenate. Author, columnist, public speaker, casting director, producer, host of a really cool little video blog? ;) Yeah. I've got it pretty dang good.
(comments from the Facebook)
Michelle Zeitlin
a woman of many hats like me :) I get it! Michelle Z
February 13, 2009 at 9:59am · LikeUnlike ·
Jim Greenleaf
When I grow-up I want to be like you! Thanks for allowing us glimpse on how u roll.
February 13, 2009 at 10:11am · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Thanks guys. :) Yeah, Michelle. So many hats I could use a few more heads. ;)
February 13, 2009 at 10:24am · LikeUnlike ·
Jacquelyn Richey
I love that your 25 Things is a compilation of the many jobs you've had and gleaned information from! What a wonderful way to follow one's journey in life!! : )
February 13, 2009 at 10:26am · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Thanks, Jacquelyn. :) Patrick's list was so hilarious and inspiring that I decided to follow suit. I really have learned so much from each of my jobs. I'm glad to have had this journey. :)
(And I didn't even mention selling Michael Stipe all of those GAP T-shirts he wore--layered--at the music award show that year. LOL That was a hoot! I actually broke even working that job. Spent as much in clothes as I earned working there.)
February 13, 2009 at 10:29am · LikeUnlike ·
Brad Lee Zimmerman
Ah...one of the more memorable tag lines... "90.5FM has upped our wattage. Now up yours."
February 13, 2009 at 11:17am · LikeUnlike ·
Lee Beffort
Wow! That's pretty impressive, Bon.
February 13, 2009 at 1:15pm · LikeUnlike ·
Leah Cevoli
I will have to do this!! I lost 62 pds with Jenny Craig in '96--- and worked FOR THEM, for a few months afterwards. ;)
February 13, 2009 at 1:48pm · LikeUnlike ·
Amy Harber
And you got to play chauffeur for Hello Kitty!
February 13, 2009 at 2:54pm · LikeUnlike ·
Kerry-Ann Ellington
Fascinating list Bonnie. You're such an inspiration in any field you choose. Thanks for sharing... :0)
February 13, 2009 at 3:16pm · LikeUnlike ·
Patrick O'Sullivan
I FEEL SO HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS INSPIRATION!!!
February 13, 2009 at 3:19pm · LikeUnlike ·
Janet Torreano Pound
you're not that old to do that much! ok, i also did hand modeling. one job was for a toilet accessory company. i had a hand job for a ball cock. NO LIE.
February 13, 2009 at 4:25pm · LikeUnlike ·
Austin Sloan
Lots of interesting experiences. And my students think they will go into one career and stay. I don't know too many people who have done that.
February 13, 2009 at 7:35pm · LikeUnlike ·
Deanna Casella Hunt
Love the list Bonnie. Did you really deliver pot to John Taylor??? My favorite member of Duran Duran?? Oh how I loved him.
February 13, 2009 at 8:44pm · LikeUnlike ·
Eric Mofford
is that a young Jon Bernstein in that picture? Wow, Bonnie I knew it. Our paths have crossed before.
February 13, 2009 at 9:07pm · LikeUnlike ·
Bonnie Gillespie
Brad--I had *forgotten* that one! Awesome!
Lee--Thanks. ;)
Leah--Do it! Do it!... See More
Ames--That was "DJ Kitty," baby. :) Bought for $30 at Sanrio at the Georgia Square Mall. Sold three years later on eBay for several hundred bucks. Heh heh! Loved having that big-ass kitty head in my apartment.
Kerry-Ann--Aw, thank you! :) I just have fun. (And when I don't have fun, I quit quickly. Hee!)
Patrick--Totes! You lit the fuse, baby. Loved your list and knew I had to do one too. :)
Janet--NO WAY! That's PERFECT! OMG! The PERFECT hand job! LOL
AJ--I think the dream of working in the same job for 50 years and retiring with a gold watch is long gone. Luckily, I've LOVED having the opportunity to do so many things. I've learned so much.
Deanna--Absolutely. It wasn't the biggest part of my job, but certainly one of the perks. :) JT was a dream to work for. Nick Rhodes on the other hand? WHAT a handful!
Eric--Really? Wow! Yes, Jon *swoon* was one of my favorite parts of ACT. We met at Cinegym!
February 13, 2009 at 9:42pm · LikeUnlike ·
Amy Harber
Nick is such a diva at times...hahaha.
February 14, 2009 at 2:07am · LikeUnlike ·
Posted by bonnie at 9:52 AM | Comments (0)
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)
August 3, 2008
Twitter Survey: Couch vs. Sofa
Conducted a little survey over at the Twitter.
Survey: Do you say COUCH or SOFA? And why?
See... I say "sofa." And I don't know why.
I hear people say "couch" all the time and I find myself saying, in my head: "Sofa. They mean sofa," as if I'm having to try and translate a foreign word or something in order to understand them clearly.
So, I decided to let Twitter help me with a quick poll (heh heh... she said POLE) and here's what I've learned.
Devin Pike (my whore) says: "Couch - it's what my family always called it. In fact, I don't think I called it a sofa when I was shopping for one today."
Okay, so people I will make famous someday who currently reside in Texas say "couch." Got it.
Mignon Fogarty (AKA Grammar Girl--so her opinion counts extra) says: "I call it a couch (and not a sofa) because that's what my parents called it." And then, when prompted by another Twitterer, followed up to say: "Now that you mention it, my parents did call it a davenport sometimes too."
Frankly, I never even heard "davenport" until I saw Wayne's World and the station owner said, "I just see two kids on a davenport..." and I had to look it up.
Jonathan Nail (LA actor) says: "I say both couch or sofa. I guess it depends on the size of the couch/sofa, or maybe how richly it is covered. :)"
I find that fascinating. That size or decorative elements cause the name choice. Hmm. Okay. Still reading.
Kirstin Benson (a most awesome person) said: "I like to attempt to keep it even. (Yes, I do actively think about this.) But, I think couch is accidentally used more often."
I love this answer. It's so OCD. Love it. Love it, love it, love it. It makes me tap things in rapid, even counts.
Colleen Wainwright (AKA Communicatrix) said: "I'm ambidextrous, as I am a greedy, wordy type. Although I draw the line at DIVAN."
And it makes me laugh like only CoCo can. Although I have to confess I don't even know how to say the word "divan," but I'm eager to learn.
Elizabeth Tindal (AKA Beffers) says: "after much pondering, I would say that my preferred word would be sofa, although in some circumstances I might use couch."
And that makes me think it might be a southern thing, seeing as Beffers is in South Cackalackie.
Joni Harbin (AKA MCJ) said: "Sofa - because I am a true Southern Belle. Same reason I say pocketbook vs purse, Coke vs soda, and Daddy vs Pop :-)"
Which nails the theory. Although I've never said pocketbook, I do say Coke and daddy, so if sofa is like those words, that would explain my use of it.
Patrick Carlyle (a super-cool cat) said: "couch all the way. in fact, i don't think i've EVER SAID THE WORD "SOFA" BEFORE NOW!!"
And that makes me really happy. Because anytime I can make Patrick do or say something he's never done or said before, it's an "I win."
Um... so...
What have we learned?
Twitter is useful for quick and dirty surveys... and sofa might just be a southern thing.
Okay, y'all. With that, I'll sign off for a few hours. ;) Looking forward to more opinions, as always. (It's like the ants vs. fleas debate of '04. I totally won that one.)
Back after a nap. Y'all be good.
Posted by bonnie at 11:45 PM | Comments (10)
June 15, 2008
Concert Meme
Woke up to find this meme tagged on my ass via the ever-cooler Twitter. Thanks, CoCo! (And thanks for the movie recommendation too. Sounds very cool.)
Here is how it works. Copy this list. Leave in the bands you've seen perform live. Delete the ones you haven't and add new ones that you have seen until you reach 25. An asterisk means the previous person had it on their list. Two asterisks means the last two people who did this before you had that band on their list. And so on.
- The B-52s*
- REM (many, many, many times)
- The Pixies (ditto)
- Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians (tritto)
- Pylon
- Love Tractor
- Nine Inch Nails
- Jesus and Mary Chain
- Mr. Crowes Garden (high school version of Black Crowes)
- Bobby McFerrin (actually performed two numbers w/ him)
- Ray Charles
- George Winston
- Grant Lee Buffalo
- ELO
- INXS
- U2
- The Police
- Prince
- The Cure
- New Order
- The Smiths
- Love and Rockets
- Duran Duran (working for 'em)
- Richard Marx (ditto)
- Meat Loaf (tritto)
(Youch! Just one band in common with CoCo??? Wow! I'm surprised!)
Now, you, readerfriends. ;)
Posted by bonnie at 10:11 AM | Comments (10)
June 3, 2008
Experiment: Day Thirty
So, the Experiment is now over.
When Annie issued this challenge, she asked for even one person to share in response to her sharing something for which she was grateful at that moment. Some little thing. Or some big thing. Just something.
She ended up getting lots of shares. And I did too. And hopefully you did too.
I couldn't have known when I decided to join Annie on this journey that I would've needed 30 days of gratitude more than I could've anticipated. Seemed to be an easy meme to jump in on. Turned out to be essential to helping me deal with some professional and personal hits.
And on that note, I'll likely be going radio silence for a few days after this post. Facing some stuff for which I just need you to pledge me your vibes, your prayers, your white light, your quick whispers of support, your candle-lighting. I'll report back and be less cryptic, but for now, just keep me in your best, most positive thoughts and hope this launchpad of gratitude which we have all shared is going to be really powerful, especially Thursday morning. THANK YOU.
What did I learn from this Experiment? What were the results for me?
Well, I learned that I really do idle at grateful. I spend most of my time pretty dang blissed out about how good I've got it and all the miracles I witness daily. I also learned that I love and appreciate...
stuff...
the Internet, animals, water, the luxury of comfort, music
people...
my ex-beaus, actors, family, friends, Quinn, Keith, those who share their toys
conditions...
spontaneity, memories, happy surprises, my rockin' bod, laughter
work...
collaboration, being in demand, Hollywood, brain power
lessons...
perspective, epiphanies, modeling good behavior
and the magic that is the universe's clever ways...
irony, random cuteness, choices, getting away with it, change
And even though sometimes it took all the energy I had to actually drag my ass to the keyboard and get that day's gratitude post UP, I'm so dang glad that I did... every single time. It's a victory and evidence that discipline in all things comes from just showing up and doing it.
Keep the gratitude flowin', everyone!
Thank you, Annie.
Day Thirty:
I am grateful for this experiment.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 3:40 PM | Comments (2)
June 2, 2008
Experiment: Day Twenty-Nine
Those who know me know that I love to make lists and count things. ;) It's that best part of my OCD that gets a kick out of quantifying and creating order out of whatnot. Ah... feels yummy.
So, I knew when I started taking part in this Experiment, that I would enjoy watching others join in. That seeing comments left both on the Spynotebook version of my blog and the MySpace version of my blog would be a whole bunch of fun for me, because I could watch people chiming in, also being grateful, somehow connecting with whatever it is that makes them happy at any particular moment.
I chose not to interact like I usually do (by commenting back and "yes, and..."-ing everyone, making sure they know I appreciate their participation and friendship), but instead just to offer a simple "thank you" to each and every person who decided to share even a little anything... a laugh, a comment, a gratitude list, an anything.
And after 28.5 days of the Experiment, I find myself enriched by the experience of having had 79 individual commenters leaving over 400 comments, not to mention another couple dozen emailers, all taking part in the Experiment somehow. And that's not taking into account anyone who was inspired to take up his or her own blog postings of the same ilk, as I only kept up with those who showed up along my journey and shared their... whatevers.
I love this community, in all its diversity, openness, and beauty. Through our sharing, we all help one another feel less alone. Even for a minute.
Day Twenty-Nine:
I am grateful for "me too".
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 11:29 PM | Comments (0)
June 1, 2008
Experiment: Day Twenty-Eight
He is my partner.
He is my lover.
He is my best friend.
He is my husband.
He is Keith Johnson.
And I fall more in love with him every day.
Day Twenty-Eight:
I am grateful for love.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 1:21 PM | Comments (0)
May 31, 2008
Experiment: Day Twenty-Seven
Every day is different.
Everything is constantly changing.
I don't fear that. I actually kind of like it.
Whenever I worry that someone is incapable of changing, of improving, of being a better person today than he or she was yesterday, I remind myself that we're all constantly changing. Our cells are rebuilding and renewing themselves millions of times over. We are always in a state of change.
And that means there is endless potential for improvement, every moment, every single day.
Day Twenty-Seven:
I am grateful for change.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 12:27 PM | Comments (0)
May 30, 2008
Experiment: Day Twenty-Six
This will be another of those incredibly narcissistic-sounding posts. So be it.
When I look at the ways in which I've (almost) always earned a living, when I look at the things that bring me the greatest loads of pleasure, when I show up at the page (or, more correctly, at the keyboard and the screen) to do almost anything, I am grateful for my very mind.
The way I think. That I think at all, sometimes. ;) That I can put a few words in a certain order, email something to someone, and suddenly have more money in my bank account. That I can get on the phone with an agent, have a charm-filled conversation, and suddenly a deal has been negotiated that is so good for producers I end up earning a bonus for it. That really intelligent humor is as funny to me as the word "duty" is. (Heh heh. She said "doody.")
I do not take any of this for granted.
And especially as I face some challenges of the physical level, I am all the more thrilled that--as long as my brain can show up to do the job--the work will still be done. Somehow, that feels really important right now.
Day Twenty-Six:
I am grateful for my brain.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 3:20 PM | Comments (0)
May 29, 2008
Experiment: Day Twenty-Five
Not a lot to say on this one.
(I mean, the images really do say it all.)
I got a few really great things, when I married Keith.
(More on the really great things another day.)
I got an awesome husband. Natch.
I got an amazing, brilliant, beautiful sister-in-law.
And probably the coolest, most outstanding, and certainly the most perfect of 'em all...
I got my beautiful stepson.
Quinn.
And in just two weeks, he will be here again.
YIPPEE!
Couldn't be happier!
Day Twenty-Five:
I am grateful for my stepson.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 8:28 PM | Comments (2)
May 28, 2008
Experiment: Day Twenty-Four
This will be a quick one. I'm exhausted. Like... wow. Just hit a wall and I'm headed to bed without having finished even close to "enough" of what was on my list for today. Flat-out pooped. Zzz.
Still, here's the post. ;) (Gotta love the OCD for being a driving force in sticking things out sometimes.)
Today, Keith and I had a meeting in the West Valley. I think. Somewhere far, far away and in the 805 area code or something. (THANK YOU, ANNA!!!!)
We drove from our home to the PCH. Seven blocks straight to the beach. Clear skies, blue as far as I could see. Sea. Air. All of it. Blue and perfect. And with windows down, the drive was an enchanting experience. Just the last of the jacaranda still hanging around (Man, was it stunning a few weeks ago!), cool and lovely breeze and the smell of salty water, the chirps of birds. It was just "another day in paradise," as they like to say.
Our meeting was fantastic. Lunch after was a super treat. Came home to a load of work waiting but still couldn't put aside the feeling of love for "where we live" that the drive had left in me. Southern California almost always leaves me simply enchanted--yeah, that's just the right word. It's the sun, it's the skies, it's the water, it's the landmarks, it's the people, it's the VIBE.
That Keith and I can walk out the door right now and, in just a few blocks, touch the Pacific Ocean is awesome. I appreciate that every single day, even if I spend the whole day cooped up inside working sometimes. ;)
G'nite!
Day Twenty-Four:
I am grateful for where we live.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 9:13 PM | Comments (2)
May 27, 2008
Experiment: Day Twenty-Three
So, a week or so ago, Keith and I watched an episode of The Big Bang Theory (the best sitcom launched in the Fall 2007 TV season, and one that--thankfully--came back after the WGA strike) wherein the major plot point was a surprise birthday party. There's planning. There's problems. Hilarity ensues. You know.
Anyway, I got to thinking about one of the two or three surprise parties I've ever been "in on" (oh, and in case anyone thinks it would be fun to throw me a surprise party? Don't. Sooo not interested in that. Nope) and proceeded to tell Keith the story of Rachel Camp's 18th birthday party, held at Reed Hall on the University of Georgia campus.
Rachel and I had been roommates for a couple of weeks. Freshman year. Luck of the draw. Yeah, we both knew people we could've requested shacking with, but we both wanted to start fresh at college and see who we might end up getting to know. Me: Honor student on scholarship from Atlanta. She: party girl from Jasper, GA (a town with one red-light). But we totally got along. Even lived together for part of our Sophomore year. It was a good match.
Anyway, her birthday was just a smidge into our freshman year and something had to be done. We were tired of hitting Milledge Ave. for frat parties and no one had thrown a really good dorm party yet, even though we lived on the co-ed floor and all of our best guy friends were upperclassmen who always bought us booze. (Eventually, they would throw GREAT parties. I still recall fondly [most of] the 1989 Spring Fling.)
I sent Rachel to whatever movie was playing at the Tate Center, along with Stephanie and--dammit, what was his name? Yan? I can't remember--that guy she was dating already. Stephanie had broken her ankle in one of our intramural flag football games (we were soooooo badass), so she was on crutches, and her boyfriend was very sweet and took good care of her. Anyway, we sent the three of them to the movie and decorated the crap out of the third floor of Reed Hall as the traveling team hit the market and the package store for the good stuff.
After about an hour, it was time to pull off the surprise.
I called the ticket window of the movie theater--certainly manned by some fellow freshman not lucky enough to be on scholarship--and told him we had to get one of the patrons at the show OUT of that movie theater. NOW! I told him there had been a break-in at our dorm and several of the rooms had been hit. Rachel Camp and Stephanie... whatever her last name was... would need to come back to the dorm to report to the police what was missing from their rooms.
Of course, this is college town fun in 1988. They stopped the movie, turned up the house lights, asked for Rachel Camp to identify herself, and then--after a slow-clap from the audience as Rachel exited the theater--started the movie back up for the 250 people who remained seated.
Now, what made this *really* fun was that we never let Stephanie in on the plan. She was sure her room had been hit too. So as she hobbled back to the dorm on crutches, she was bitching her New England ass off. I could hear her coming up the stairs just swearing like a Patriot and I giggled all the more.
SURPRISE!
We all yelled as Rachel rounded the corner from the stairwell, and a wonderful party was enjoyed by all. It was awesome. And clever. And--now that I look back on it--totally and completely ridiculous.
People get arrested for pulling stunts like that. Or at least they get in trouble on campus, lose their scholarships, go on probation. Something.
It was a completely risky thing to do, but at the wise old age of 18 myself, how could I possibly know?
And luckily, it either didn't matter enough or wasn't "risky" enough in anyone else's mind to BECOME a big deal. It was, eventually, a tale on campus about "the night the movie stopped because of a break-in that never happened." And when anyone learned the punchline that the reason for that prank was to throw a great party, it always got even bigger "yippee" cheers.
As I told Keith the story, I both laughed like the kid I was back then and sighed over having become the adult I am now. I reflected on the kazillion things in life that I've gotten away with... by the grace of God, by luck, by clever calculation... whatever.
Point is, there's something to be said about all of the times I didn't get my ass kicked. I sure as shit learned plenty every time that I did get my ass kicked. I should probably at least be grateful for the times my ass escaped the boot, too.
Day Twenty-Three:
I am grateful for getting away with it.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 6:27 PM | Comments (2)
May 26, 2008
Experiment: Day Twenty-Two
One of the benefits to being a professional college student is getting to let the state pay for thousands and thousands of dollars of health care because it's a part of the "Student Activities Fees" you pay each year. When I was an undergrad, I learned that "health care" included "mental health care" and decided to see a therapist.
He was a total dick.
I went to him like a half-dozen times and he always made me feel like shit.
When I went back for grad school and realized the parking was better, the professors were better, and the health care practitioners were better at the student clinic when you flashed a grad ID card, I decided I'd try some of that free therapy again.
And by the grace of whatever stroke of "meant to be"-ness it is that aligned my appointment request with the right open slot, I ended up with Claire Scott, who I'm still convinced is one of the finest therapists on the planet. (Of course, I only have a sample size of TWO--Claire and that dick from undergrad--but I stand by my vote. Claire was awesome.)
Claire was so awesome in fact that when she finished her on-site residency via her doctorate and moved to private practice, I followed her there. Yup. I left the warm, free bosom of state-school-mental-health-care and spent 50 bucks a week to see Claire in a real office in town. (Yes, I realize I was still getting a steal of a deal. Sheesh, can you imagine? $50 for an hour of therapy? Anywhere outside of a college town?)
One of my favorite things that Claire ever said to me--and there were MANY favorite things, quite a few of which I cite to this day as ways to stay grounded, many more of which I mention to others as analogies for anything from living through bumpy romances to surviving a career in acting--was that everything is a choice.
Of course, I was 25 and I wanted to argue with her, because I was sure that I had lived a life in which there were a bunch of things thrust upon me and I know I didn't have a choice in the matter so what the hell is she talking about and blah-blah-blah-oh-shut-up-25.
She clarified that it's not about choosing the "what happens" part. It's about choosing the "how it happens" or, more importantly, the "how it feels" part of things.
As an example, she asked me to interlace my fingers. I did.
She asked me to notice which thumb was on top. Which hand was "dominant" in this instinctive act of interlacing my fingers as I clasped my hands in front of me.
Left. (Of course. I'm a lefty.)
She asked me to choose to interlace my fingers with the right thumb on top, the right hand being dominant.
Ew. It felt weird. I suddenly remembered an improv coach from when I was a kid, acting in Atlanta, who talked about brushing your teeth with "the other hand" just to get out of habits you don't even realize you have. I remembered learning that it was no harder to brush my teeth right-handed than left-handed... but it was different. It was a choice. But it was a choice I'd made so damn often THAT ONE WAY that it no longer felt like a choice. It felt like "the way it is."
Oh my God, I said. I think I get it.
Claire smiled. She advised, "Next time you feel like you don't have a choice, just interlace your fingers 'the other way.' Remind yourself that how you do anything--how you feel anything--is totally up to you. You always have a choice."
The other day, when Keith and I were sitting in the floor, taking our daily five minutes of meditation (which those of you who have been following the Experiment saw me start up on Day 12), we heard a car accident take place outside our home. When our five minutes were done, I headed to the window and watched one very angry man--kicking at the air, punching at the air, cursing at the air--and one very "just there" man--taking it all in.
Does it matter who caused the accident I didn't see? Sure. Maybe. To someone. Like an insurance company or a customer planning to make a claim. But regardless of the cause of the pain, it's the choice in how to handle it that we ultimately control.
It's almost as if, by releasing all control of how it should be, we get it exactly the way we would've wanted it in the first place.
Ah. That's nice. It's also nice if it doesn't work out like that. That's the cool thing about getting to choose how you react to anything. You can always do it "the other way" and see how that feels too.
Day Twenty-Two:
I am grateful for choices.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 8:27 PM | Comments (0)
May 25, 2008
Experiment: Day Twenty-One
Except for a few early years, I grew up alone with my mom. And seeing as she went straight from a high school cap-and-gown to a wedding dress, she still had plenty of growing up to do while I was growing up, so that worked out pretty well. She also "became enlightened" while I was still a child, tuning in to all things Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung and Unity Church and Reiki Healing and A Course in Miracles. In addition to being a Montessori kid, I'm the product of a New Age household. Tarot Cards, Viking Runes, real-live psychic friends. Yup.
As much as Mom and I would make fun of Born-Again Christians (sorry, Born-Again Christians. It's true. We made fun of you--especially the super, psycho-hypocritical ones to whom we're related), we were made fun of by those who similarly didn't understand what we were doing: opening our chakras, meditating, visualizing peace in our lives, using the position of the stars and planets to determine what kind of experience we were going to have in life.
But the coolest part of "growing up with my mom" has nothing to do with anything I've mentioned thus far in this post (I don't think) and has everything to do with what was at the core of every moment we shared, both as "kids" and "adults" in our lives together. We loved to talk. We loved to analyze. We loved to hypothesize and wonder about things and discuss options about why things and people were the way they were and how that mattered in the larger scope of this "life" thing we experience for such a short period of our soul's time.
In college, I would take a "skills assessment exam" as a part of becoming an academic peer tutor (so that I could understand the seven different primary strengths that were the ways that my students might learn things) and learn that I was primarily an "interactive learner," meaning I don't GET IT until I discuss it. I have to share it in order to process it. (Sure as shit explains my need to journal--and later, to blog--about every damn thing, eh?) My secondary learning style is "visual," meaning once I see it, I get it. That's FAR more typical for "smart kids" than the "interactive learner" score. And even more common than either of those two, for my peers, was "print learning." Nope. Not me. I actually scored lower as a "print learner" than as a "tactile learner," meaning I GET IT if I FEEL IT with my hands before I GET IT from reading it. (Again, with the irony, considering how much I must read as a part of my job(s), eh?)
Anyway, when I came home one weekend from college and talked with my mom about being an "interactive learner," she was fascinated and decided that that was true for her as well. That she could talk and "yes, and" with people all day long and suddenly understand something better. And this is not the same as "auditory learning," where you hear it and understand it. This is, "I gots to TALK TO YOU about it to really GET IT" kind of learning.
There was one point in our lives together, much later--like after I moved back to Hollywood after grad school--at which Mom sent me an email about that day's phone conversation (some kids don't like to talk to Mom every day. Honestly, I could've never hung up the phone with that woman and I would've been just fine) and signed off with the words:
I am never finished talking with you.
I weep as I type that. It was always such a wonderful thing to get to talk about ANYTHING, EVERYTHING with my Mom. And we NEVER ran out of stuff. Never. I know so many people who don't (who can't, who won't) have such a relationship with their mother, so I know--despite the hard times we faced together for many years there on our own together--we had it SO good.
Cut to: A few years after Mom passed away. My dear Cousin Faith and I had had one of our marathon phone sessions (this was before she moved away to NY to do her kickass radio show; we were actually neighbors, but still could only--sometimes--find time to chat on the phone or via email) and she said, before we finally used crowbars to make ourselves hang up: "I swear, Bon, I am just never finished talking with you."
How could she know?
And today I am grateful for my husband and my Annas (three of 'em; all of whom qualify as really, truly, besties) and even for my not-nearly-often-enough (but dammit, isn't it GOOD when it happens) friends with whom I'll share the same sentiment. With the right people, with the ones who GET YOU, with the ones you want to get you... there is never a period in the conversation. Only commas. Only semi-colons. Only ellipses (and only the good kind. Not the ones that leave anything out).
Wow. I'm just so glad to have people in my life with whom I can soak in that ability to learn, that hunger for information, that quest for laughter, that delight in LANGUAGE, that bliss that is SHARING! Just... wow.
Day Twenty-One:
I am grateful for communication.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 5:44 PM | Comments (0)
May 24, 2008
Experiment: Day Twenty
I've always had amazingly fine taste in music (if I do say so myself). I would "play DJ" when I was a toddler, then I would create mix tapes for friends in high school that would become "requested" by other friends and friends of friends until I had a little side gig of creating mixes for dozens at a time. A total musical theatre rat, I never met a Sondheim song I didn't like to belt out. Cole Porter makes me swoon. And as a child, I had the ambition of growing up to be Barbra Streisand. (Dear God, I was born a gay boy.)
My first "job job" was as assistant to the president of an entertainment management firm in Hollywood. I got to work with Duran Duran, Meat Loaf, Richard Marx, Tony Toni Toné, Luther Vandross, John Mellencamp, Stephanie Mills, Bee Gees, and Joey Lawrence (WHOA!). I got to work with each of them to a different degree, and I learned so much so quickly about the business of the music industry and the genius mind of the artist who creates and performs music. Between youth and that first "job job," I worked in college radio.
Yup. WUOG, 90.5fm. Athens, Georgia's college radio in the late '80s (REM, Pylon, Love Tractor, B-52s) and then again in the mid-90s. I started out as a jock (working the midnight to 3am shift on Monday mornings), eventually scored a "lunchbox" shift, then became the host of "Blank Generation" on Friday nights. As an undergrad, I became the station's Promotions Director, and when I came back to UGA for grad school, I was named the Graduate Advisor to the station. That was awesome. Getting paid to do something I would do for free? Badass.
My first ever concert was ELO, back in 1980. My most recent concert was the Pixies with Grant Lee Phillips at the Greek a couple of years ago. Outside of about two or three music styles I simply cannot endure (Country, Reggae), I am a huge music lover and I find that just a few bars of anything can transport me to some other place, some other time, some other mindset... and that is some pretty powerful stuff right there.
How can just a few notes arranged in a specific order evoke such an emotional response? Music is amazingly powerful. And I'm so happy to have had it so completely woven into my life from so many different directions.
Day Twenty:
I am grateful for music.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 3:16 PM | Comments (0)
May 23, 2008
Experiment: Day Nineteen
Keith and I have two tenets of our marriage.
1. Trust that we each have the other's best interests at heart.
2. Always go for the funny.
This morning, as we snuggled in bed, there was much laughter. Giggles. Guffaws. We just really have a lot of fun.
I'm reading comedic scenes for the showcase (scene assignments this weekend) and I'm just so impressed with all of the different types of comedy, all of the specific comedic "voices" out there. Some of this stuff is laugh-out-loud funny on paper, and that's just so dang cool.
I love to laugh. I really love to have fun. I so completely enjoy humor in (almost) all its forms (I never quite *got* what was funny about anything Monty Python-related), and I love that I have the kind of life in which consuming funny stuff is actually a part of my JOB. Very cool.
Day Nineteen:
I am grateful for laughter.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 3:03 PM | Comments (6)
May 22, 2008
Experiment: Day Eighteen
It's no secret that I'm a big girl. What's probably unexpected is that I'm also about as healthy as a person can possibly be. No high blood sugar. No high cholesterol. No high blood pressure. No trouble with my knees or any of the other things that "big girls" might experience. I'm actually pretty dang fit... I'm just a big girl (but getting smaller every day. Down 15 pounds since Valentine's Day; down 30 since Christmas. It's slow-going, but at this rate, I'll have a SMOKIN' bod by Halloween, and that sounds just fine by me).
Anyway, one thing that I am really grateful for is a whole lot of little things. It's my health. It's my cool-ass LASIK'ed eyes. It's my having awakened to the fact that wheat gluten isn't good for me. It's the genetic gifts that are my great skin, my perfect height, my stunning rack, my gorgeous hair, my rockingly-proportioned curves. And especially, it's my body's miraculous ability to bounce back after years of having smoked (non-smoker for over a decade now, y'all), loads of poor food choices, and those many foggy nights of heavy drinking.
Damn. Narcissist much, Bon? Well, yeah! Because if I don't think I'm a goddess, how can I expect anyone else to do so? And if I can celebrate my body at its current state--whatever that is, anytime--hopefully that will inspire folks who hate their bodies and do horrible things to themselves in the name of attaining some ideal shape or size to celebrate RIGHT NOW too.
This is the body I've got. I'm taking really good care of it lately and that feels awesome. I had an epiphany a few months back that led to this shift in my behavior, and it involved taking a look at how much energy, how much time, how much WORK I put into every single aspect of my life... except for taking care of this physical container that has to transport my brain to all of the places I force it to go to work so hard. And why not start giving a little of that energy, that time, and that WORK to the gift that is this miracle of a body?
Done.
And my body is responding in beautiful, sexy, happy ways. I celebrate this miracle every day! And THAT is awesome.
Day Eighteen:
I am grateful for my rockin' bod.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 1:08 PM | Comments (2)
May 21, 2008
Experiment: Day Seventeen
Last week, Keith and I drove up Wilshire, headed to a meeting, and while we were stopped at a redlight, I noticed a group of young men standing on the sidewalk next to us, each with a tuxedo in a hanging bag. One at a time, the guys reached over and hung their tux-bags on a tree branch. They joked around and horsed around and played around on the eve of a pretty important day.
We laughed to think about what it was their counterparts were doing. How their dresses were certainly not hung from a tree branch anywhere. How there was probably no horseplay going on while they received mani-pedi treatments and all that.
Monday night, during our dinner of green corn tamales at El Cholo, delivered (along with bonus drinks and loads of laughs) by our favorite waitress-slash-photographer Rachael, a hummingbird buzzed all over, dipping into the flowers overhead. We stopped our chat (oh, such bliss, having a long-overdue dinner with the lovely Anna Vocino) and giggled. I said, "Hi, Mom," as usual, and we just enjoyed the bliss that was patio-dining weather in Santa Monica in May.
Yesterday, while killing two hours between auditions for The Mikado Project and the first Cricket Feet Showcase cast meeting, I was approached by an actor who recognized me from my column. He had just moved here from somewhere else and wanted to take the opportunity to thank me in person for helping his move go so smoothly, having had access to my columns for the past four years at Showfax. He came up to the table and said, "Hi, Bonnie." I searched his face, hoping to recognize him from somewhere. Have I called him in? Has he submitted? Have I CAST him? Why does he know me? And it was all column-related. (So, I must look like my photo. Heh heh.) That he recognized me, felt compelled come over and thank me, and pretty much made my day was really nice and totally unexpected.
Today, one of our former neighbors stopped by, having moved away after getting engaged a couple of years ago, bringing her new baby to show off. Keith learned our landlord's oldest daughter starts kindergarten soon. How time does fly! A neighbor stopped by the other day with kitty treats for Archie, because he had been watching her from behind our screen door, and saw her giving treats to her kitty, Garbo (on whom Archie has a "from different worlds" crush, watching her lie on the patio, flicking her tail).
This is all just a random list of cuteness. And I needed that today. I had to choose to MISS taping of the showcase testimonials for our grant-proposal and sponsorship video package because of... ugh... let's just say "some unpleasantness" associated with a project of which I'm a part. And after a 20-minute phone meeting with the powers-that-be regarding getting that shit all straightened out, I received an email from Keith sharing a recipe from Tamika, who wanted him to let me know how much she missed me at the shoot.
The recipe?
Tamika's Aloetini
Trader Joe's aloe, honey, and cane juice
Ciroc vodka
I am all over that randomness. ;) And Keith will be bringing the ingredients home with him tonight so that I can report back on whether it's as yummy as it sounds.
*sigh*
It's a whole lot of little things that make you smile, sometimes.
Day Seventeen:
I am grateful for random cuteness.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 3:16 PM | Comments (0)
May 20, 2008
Experiment: Day Sixteen
We live across the street from a church. Actually, there are three churches within two blocks of us. Think about that. Two blocks. Three huge churches. Methodists and Baptists and Catholics, oh my!
(Fun fact: We've voted in all three of these churches. Or some common room within each of these three churches. It always feels so "small town" to me to go vote at a church, but I still say my coolest-ever polling place was the Smart & Final in Miracle Mile. I mean, c'mon! Choosing a world leader next to the jumbo-sized cat litter? That's effin' poetry right there.)
As a gal who's never really experienced organized religion outside of the time when I was too young to have it leave an impression on me that I can mentally or emotionally access now, I find the whole parade of dress-up, file-in, pray-and-sing-together, and stand-around-smiling-after to be quite entertaining, from my window.
I always take time, when I hear the church bells ring, to go within and be grateful, to thank God for my awesome life, to thank the Universe for the wonderful lessons, to appreciate the miracle that is living at all. And as I see these folks leaving church each day, I get a warm-and-fuzzy feeling, knowing they've all just felt their own connection to whatever it is that they believe, and they're all better people than they were a few minutes earlier.
And then they get into their cars and fight to get out of the parking lot first, cutting each other off, laying on the horns, sometimes even getting out of cars and yelling at one another with their fists punching the air.
And it is THIS ritual that I find endlessly amusing.
Day Sixteen:
I am grateful for irony.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 11:23 AM | Comments (2)
May 19, 2008
Experiment: Day Fifteen
In my former LA life (back in '93 and '94, the first time I lived here), I assisted the president of a major recording artists' management firm. Basically, I did everything from creating a program that could calculate the Billboard Top 100 before it came out each week based on sales reports and information in the trades, running "supplies" over to the homes of "creatively blocked" rock stars, working with police to track pop stars' stalkers, and spending hours on the phone with one very drunk new wave star from the '80s whose divorce was killing him, four bottles of Merlot at a time.
My real job, though, was doing whatever it took to make my boss look awesome. And he was pretty awesome, so this wasn't too tough. But it was certainly a LOT of work. And this was the first "real office job" I ever had (and the last, pretty much). I rolled around on a plastic pad behind a desk for 50 hours every week, answered phones, sent faxes, drafted cover letters for recording contracts, bundled show tickets for VIPs, approved set models, forwarded fan mail, and endured a LOT of meetings in which people yelled about the importance of everything as if we were curing cancer with this singer's next album's cover art.
In the bullpen, there were three assistants' desks. Mine, the-ever-changing-desk-occupied-by-Carol's-ever-changing-assistant, and Harvey's. Harvey was a career assistant. He had been working in this position for years before I got there and stayed in it years after I left. Older than I, he acted at first like he might want to mentor me into "how to assist an exec in the music biz," but I had no interest in getting very good at this job (beyond the level of "very good" I get at anything I ever attempt to do), because I had moved to LA to pursue my acting career and this was just a survival job. A 50-hour-a-week survival job. Yeah, right. Golden handcuffs, anyone?
Now, I earned a buttload of money in the year I was in this position. And the perks were amazing. Free computers for my home use, free trips home when I missed my mom, a Cadillac of health insurance plans, and all the "rock and roll lifestyle" trappings I might want to tap into at any time. Not bad for a 23 year old who once ate "government reduced lunch" at public school. And that meant Harvey was certainly doing even better than I was. And because he was getting married soon and planning a family after that, I could imagine that the money was even more important to him than it was to me. (I was just happy that I could send home money to Mom when she needed it and pay off my car note. And buy furniture. And toys.)
Anyway, Harvey was a cross fellow, let's just say. Gruff, NY-like, he would answer the phone: "_____'s office!" as if he were accusing the caller of interrupting some very important flow. And then he would sternly grill the caller to determine whether _____ should receive the call. And then he would listen in on the call in case there were action items for him, based on _____'s conversation. And if another call came in while he was listening in on _____'s calls, he would be even more angry when he would answer: "_____'s office!"
Me? I'd never answered the phone for anyone other than myself at this point in life, so I decided to try, "Good morning, _____'s office," with a nice, Southern lilt to my voice and an upturned end, as if asking what I could do for the person so kind as to call us today. Every morning, "Good morning, _____'s office," over and over and over. Smiling. Laughing. Making friends with assistants in other bigwigs' offices and enjoying this very novel job I had in this crazy Hollywood place.
Within a couple of months, I heard Harvey answer the phone, "Good morning, _____'s office."
*blink* *blink* *blink*
Couldn't have been. No way. I totally didn't hear that right.
And then it happened again. And again. And again.
Holy crap. I modeled behavior that resulted in a change in someone else, rather than letting my choices be molded by the behavior of someone older, more experienced, more down-with-this-gig, more powerful. I could've easily become the gruff, busy, grunter Harvey showed me how to be with his repeated behavior, but instead, he became friendlier, he became more open, he smiled.
That was really cool.
And as I type this up, I realize I answer the phone, "Casting!" nowadays. Very fast, very busy, very much a habit I picked up working in casting for Fox back in 2003. I think it's time to add my "Good morning" back. That extra few seconds doesn't cost me a damn thing and maybe it'll feel good to hear... and to say.
Day Fifteen:
I am grateful for modeling good behavior.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 11:24 AM | Comments (0)
May 18, 2008
Experiment: Day Fourteen
As I waited hours for my relative to show up--she had prepped me for her trip; told me she'd be here Tuesday night and ready to have cocktails and sushi--I realized that there's something nice about kissing 40.
When I was younger and a relative would pull this shit on me: make a promise, make a plan, pledge to insert himself into my life despite the poor fit if I'd just make room and then leave me waiting like Kelly Taylor--always counting on the rich, world-traveling dad that never showed--I would curl into a ball, cry, and remember that it's all just backup for my mom's philosophy that I'm totally alone and lucky to have her and a kitty.
Now, I wouldn't spiral into a coke binge like Kelly Taylor did the umpteenth time her dad was a no-show/no-call after setting up a meeting, but I sure would bank the experience of my relative's flakiness and use it as a way to push others away. Many a relationship in my life suffered due to the track record of "loved ones" shitting on plans they made to spend time with me, usually after having me go out of my way to accommodate their schedule.
The nice thing about aging and losing attachment to most irrelevant things is that when that sort of thing happens now, I'm relieved to have the free time I wasn't counting on, excited to have the house cleaned for no good reason, and happy to know that "family" isn't defined by sharing a bloodline. Those folks are relatives. And no one says they HAVE to treat anyone right. Nor does anyone say I have to stay open to their repeated screw-overs.
Sure, plans change. And communication about changes is all I've ever needed. But most of the people I'm related to are really crappy at communicating. And I've made a career out of it. How 'bout them apples?
Day Fourteen:
I am grateful for choosing my own family.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 12:55 PM | Comments (11)
May 17, 2008
Experiment: Day Thirteen
It's hot. Really, really hot.
Okay, it's probably not that hot, but I'm a weather wimp. Extreme temps in either direction and I'm useless. But especially when it's hot. I get achy and migrainey and, well, it's ugly.
So, my delightful husband, keeping an eye on what the weather was planning to do today, set up our most amazingly wonderful essential AC in the bedroom, loaded a bunch of episodes of great TV onto a spare computer, and sent me into the cold space, so I could continue to get my work done.
Ahh...
Much better.
Day Thirteen:
I am grateful for the luxury of comfort.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 2:57 PM | Comments (0)
May 16, 2008
Experiment: Day Twelve
My mom had a temper. Big time. She didn't often get angry, but when she did, it was scary. Not "beat you down" scary. Just intimidating. A powerful woman suddenly less in-control than she was at every moment of every day otherwise... well, that looks terrifying to a kid.
I'm realizing--as I deal with my own issues of rage and out-of-control and temper--that the problem isn't the anger. It's the obsession with being IN control in the first place. That's what makes the wheels fall off. That is what's scary.
So, today, I pledged to take five fucking minutes out of my day--every day--and sit in the goddamn floor and just be. Stop trying to control everything. Stop trying to stifle the anger that boils up when everything is "under control." Take the phone off the hook, sit there, breathe. Just fucking be.
And it was amazingly simple.
Not easy. But simple.
As much as I loved my mother and cherish all the ways in which I am exactly like her, I do not need to fulfill her need to always have everything under control. It is not my responsibility to continue her legacy in that way. I'm not making anything better by standing on the neck of anything I can't control. It's my neck I'm standing on, by behaving that way.
Day Twelve:
I am grateful for epiphanies.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 1:20 PM | Comments (0)
May 15, 2008
Experiment: Day Eleven
Last night we showed up to showcase auditions and found out they had given away our room. Double booked the space. We'd be down the hall and about a hundred folks who'd been told to go to one room would have to read signs and find us in another room. And who was in "our" room? Twinkie. Twinkie Byrd.
Now, those who know me know that Twinkie has been a friend of mine since she began the transition from associate CD level and music video casting into major studio feature film casting. (Stomp the Yard, anyone?) Back when I was a columnist for Back Stage West, I interviewed Twinkie and she STILL uses the bio I wrote for her in her press materials. Says no one ever did as good a job capturing her essence as I did. And when I started making my transition into casting, she mentored me through a bunch of hurdles. And will continue to do so, I'm sure!
So, while others might think, "Uh-oh. Room foul-up. Bon's not gonna be happy," the reaction instead was, "Twinkie!?! Where is she?" And when one actor left the room after auditioning, I burst past the casting assistant and ran straight in, into the warm embrace and squeals of my friend. We hugged and cooed and laughed for about one minute--I didn't want to be more rude to the waiting actors than I already was, by jumping in front of whomever was about to audition--and she told me she'd come down to our session room when she wrapped.
And she did. She came in on our sessions and watched four actors audition, giving her feedback and just sharing her general, awesome vibe with the room. She told me she was going to steal my husband, to which I replied, "That's okay. I can always come visit y'all." It was awesome. And it was all a happy surprise.
When we finished auditions, we headed over to a restaurant to do the usual post-audition casting decisions debate and strategy session. Who was in the parking lot but Erin. Erin Quill. Chil's awesome wife and someone of whom I've been a fan since going to see the first ever 15 Minutes of FEM a zillion years ago. She joined us at the restaurant and provided HOURS of comic relief to a sometimes tedious and patience-pushing process. She and Keith must've been separated at birth. They are both totally silly and brilliantly dry. And unapologetically inappropriate. It's awesome. By the end of the meeting about casting decisions, we were in tears from having laughed so hard.
As Keith and I drove home--after walking blocks and block and blocks to get to his car (another one of those things that could've felt like a burden, but instead felt like a wonderful surprise opportunity to walk slowly with our arms around each other, my head on his shoulder, sighing contentedly)--I talked about the bizarre world in which such strong, opinionated, passionate personalities can all be friends and colleagues and coworkers. Oh, how lucky we are to be here, living this life!
Day Eleven:
I am grateful for happy surprises.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 3:25 PM | Comments (0)
May 14, 2008
Experiment: Day Ten
If I had known how popular going into casting would make me, I would've done it in high school.
I said that five years ago after putting out the breakdown for the first feature film I cast. It was like, by hitting "submit" on the breakdown confirmation page, I had initiated a change in my life from which I would never recover. I've even had to disable messaging at MySpace because of my career choice. The emails, the calls, the faxes, the snail mailed submissions... they NEVER. STOP. COMING.
Even when no breakdown is active, there are emails, calls, submissions. Pleas for general meetings. Declarations of love for all opportunities.
And I love my job. Monday, I was up before 7am to deal with casting issues taking place in other time zones. By 10am, I had logged work hours on six different feature films. Issued offers to name actors, set up meetings with up-and-coming actors whose work we know, helped a producer get her SAG Guaranteed Completion Certificate, started in on a character breakdown, and had a strategy session to plan next offers.
And that's just the work that's related to projects I'm casting. Which is just a fraction of my work life. There's the writing, the speaking, the producing too. Never stop, never stop, never stop.
As many times as I find myself wishing for a break from the constant phones, emails, and "others," I have to say that it is certainly better than the alternative. I have casting colleagues who will reach out to me, asking how I find projects to cast... how I get on producers' radar... how they might find some leads, write up some bids, get some WORK. *shrug* Outside of the very first film I cast, for which I answered a crew notice in Back Stage West, I've never had to work that hard to find work. It finds me. And that's pretty dang badass.
Day Ten:
I am grateful for being in demand.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 12:13 PM | Comments (2)
May 13, 2008
Experiment: Day Nine
This one is going to seem really simple. And I guess it is. Isn't that the point of this experiment to some extent anyway?
My favorite beverage is water. Yup. H2O. I love it, I love it, I love it. Drink nearly a gallon of it a day.
I grew up a Coca-Cola child (and still have stock in the company, thankyouverymuch), in a household where my mother would drink a can of Tab (and, come the '80s, a can of Diet Coke) twice each day. The diet stuff always gave me a migraine, so I would occasionally have a Coke or a Sprite or a Fanta or a Dr Pepper or a Fresca... but it was never a daily habit.
Until I started working at the Drug Emporium on Roswell Rd. in Sandy Springs.
I lied on my work permit to get a job before I was legally old enough to do so and then, before I was legally old enough to earn a promotion to Head Cashier, I got "in" that door too. That meant I spent hours in a tiny room off the front of the store, counting tens of thousands of dollars, wrapping coins, binding bills, and balancing my employees' tills. I don't remember my direct coworkers' names, but one was a petite squeaky blonde white chick and another was a robust loud funny black chick and both chain smoked and drank sodas like there was no tomorrow.
So, within a few months of starting this job, I began to associate piles and piles of money with the stench of ciggies and the taste of sugary, syrupy soft drinks.
When I quit that job to begin work as an academic tutor in my junior year of high school, I noticed that whenever I would sip a soda, it would "taste" like that memory. And I didn't like it. It's not that I disliked the job... it's that sharing a tiny room with two adult chain smokers when you're 15 and healthy is something that feels weird at some point. Anyway, I decided, officially, to "go on water" at that point.
And outside of my regular beloved Ciroc Gimlets and occasional glasses of wine and champagne or other cocktails, water is pretty much all you'll ever see me drink. I have perhaps three cups of hot tea per year. Never coffee. Never soda unless I'm just really craving one and even then, it's a quick hit.
I will never be in my car without a bottle of water. I will never be at my desk without a bottle of water. I will never be at a speaking engagement without a bottle of water. I freeze 'em, half full, so that it's like I'm drinking ice water (because I do prefer my water with TONS of ice). Of course, with kitties that love to scurry and a workspace covered in paperwork and computers, "ice water" in a nice glass with a wedge of lemon is a bad idea. *sigh* The things we do to adapt to our critters' needs to play.
Anyway, I love water. And I love that I live in a community that spends a great deal of energy keeping its tap water clean. Yup! In Santa Monica, you can drink water right out of the tap, which I love, love, love to do. It's some of the cleanest water going. :) And that makes me very happy.
See? Toldja. Simple.
Day Nine:
I am grateful for water.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 8:04 AM | Comments (0)
May 12, 2008
Experiment: Day Eight
Today is Day Eight of the Experiment but it is also 12 of 12. For the better part of two years, I've been taking part in Chad Darnell's photo essay meme and it's been really cool for a few reasons.
1. It gives me an excuse to stop every month and record a bit about what my life looks like. No matter how mundane, exciting, or otherwise it is, it is recorded and shared. I don't often stop and look at my life, so this is a wonderful reason to do so.
2. At year's end, it provides me with a look at what was going on in my life, at least during a few of the days, throughout that year. I imagine that there will be a time when I say, "Ooh, look at that decade's worth of photos from back when I was doing 12 of 12!"
3. By looking at others' photos from the same time, all over the world, I get a "small world" experience, even if only via the Internet. I enjoy seeing how similar and how different we all are.
Shortly, I will post this month's 12 of 12 and it'll just be another set of many photos snapped and shared... but I am appreciative for the reason to record what's going on, and to share too.
Day Eight:
I am grateful for creating memories.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 8:13 PM | Comments (0)
May 11, 2008
Experiment: Day Seven
(Technically, this post should be titled: "This blog post is for Kim." She's been waiting patiently for it. Thanks, Kim.)
Last month, we mounted the fourth rockstar edition of the Cricket Feet Showcase.
After having spent years trying to figure out how to produce a showcase, it took a single post--in fact, as a part of a meme very similar to this one, wherein I posted at a MySpace Group an "observation of the day" each day--in which I said, after having attended another showcase, how much I still wanted to produce one of my own, to get this thing started. My producing partner Eitan hopped on board, willing to do all of the stuff I didn't want to do, and it turns out our skill sets compliment one another's pretty well.
I mean, it would seem that we know what we're doing. And in just a very short period of time, our showcase has gone from the 68-seat venue of the Promenade Playhouse (ah, how I miss that pole) to the stunning 268-seat Colony Theatre.
About 120 actors have done about 70 different--almost all original--comedic scenes with four amazing directors in front of nearly 1500 audience members... the majority of those folks agents, managers, casting directors, producers, directors, showrunners, writers, development execs, and on and on and on.
And just 16 months ago, this was just a random post about how I still really wanted to produce showcases... but didn't know how to get started without a (no, not "a," "the right") producing partner. Because twice previously, I had met with potential producing partners about producing showcases and we always got to the same spot in the process and crapped out on it. Not this time. This team is the right team. As one of my newer producing partners commented last week, "This is a fool-proof system. How did you know how to create this system, just starting out?"
And that's when I realized that maybe I can call myself a producer after all. Because my brain just works like that: here's what I want it to look like, here's what we need to do to achieve that vision, here are the potential potholes in the road, and here's how to avoid them (and here's how to fix--with as little stress as possible--the problems caused by having others on the team who refuse to avoid the potholes we've already identified), repeat.
So, when I was asked to exec produce a film late last year, I said yes. When I was given a producer credit on a film I cast earlier this year, I accepted it. When I was asked to produce and exec produce, respectively, two more films by a director I had hired for the showcase, I leaped at the chance. When I was offered producer credit on two more films I'll be casting in the coming months, I accepted again. And what is it I do for these titles? I fix stuff. I fix a lot of stuff before problems even arise. And I learned how to do this by something as simple as just trying it out, confidently--albeit tearfully, my first time out with the April 2007 showcase, because I was just so humbled that anyone would believe in my ability to produce anything before I actually had done so, ever--with a great support group of producing partners who embrace the collaborative spirit and face every day with an excited, "Let's see what this might be when it grows up," attitude.
Our showcase now has an indie music department, a grant-writing specialist, an entire committee of script readers and punch-up writers. And we're headed for corporate buy-out at this point (or at least corporate sponsorship) due to a business model that works: we're all in this for the best possible overall experience, we defer to those who have our best interest at heart as decisions are made, and no divas are allowed (except for me).
Last night, I got to celebrate a social gathering with showcase alumni from all four casts we've had so far (casting for showcase #5 on Wednesday) that included bowling, competition, and more laughs than I can remember counting. (I bowled an 88. Hee!) Somehow, we've been fortunate enough to attract not only the most talented actors in town, but also the coolest, nicest, dearest, funniest, sweetest, most genuine PEOPLE here too. What a blessing!
Day Seven:
I am grateful for collaboration.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 2:55 PM | Comments (4)
May 10, 2008
Experiment: Day Six
Pets are pure love. I remember my first pet. It was a dog. I wanted a cat. But my dad was not into cats and convinced me I could have a dog and be just as happy. So we got a beagle mix and I named it Tabby. It eventually went back to its original owners. ;)
My first cat was named Tabby Two, I Love You. My mom told me I had to shorten the name when we took him to the vet for his first visit. So, it became Tabby Two, I Love. (Man, I was a sassy, stubborn kid. Was? Shut up.)
My second cat was named Muffy, because I learned we would be moving to a very "muffy and biff" part of town. I didn't know what those words meant, but I knew I wanted to fit in, so I named my cat Muffy. My boy cat. *sigh* So damn close to cool.
When my mom passed away, I inherited her two cats: Archie and Ebony. Now, I've never been a fan of white cats named Snowball or grey cats named Smokey so I sure as shit wasn't into a black cat named Ebony. So, on the day I left to meet Keith in person for the first time, the niece of my pet-sitting friend said she looked like Salem from some TV show. And since she's a girl cat, that would make her Salema.
And then came Thwok to the mix, because she was just too cute not to take home. And I've always wanted something named Thwok. This kitty prevented a child from ending up with that name. When we become homeowners in the near future, we will have a Shiba Inu whom I will name Gotham. Again, saving a child from a lifetime of teasing.
In the periods of time in my life when I came home to no pet, I worked as a pet-sitter as often as I could, just so I could walk a dog, pet a cat, chatter with a bird, feed a fish, anything to have a little pet-love in my life. Because pets are pure love. They want very little from us and they give us so much.
Day Six:
I am grateful for animals.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 3:18 AM | Comments (2)
May 9, 2008
Experiment: Day Five
Yesterday was tough. Keith drove the check over to the extortionists' home after enduring another round of debate with me about how fucking unfair the whole thing is and how there's a part of me that would love to let 'em try and sue for it, thinking about all the stuff for which we could countersue... and then there's the part of me that (as a brilliant friend suggested via email this morning) knows it's a small fee for "cutting a cancer out of our lives."
I wanted to write the check for five times the amount, just to say, "Here's how little the money means to us, you fucknuts." I also wanted to include a note that talked about how we had been looking forward to investing in a film they're dying to get produced, but since they'd rather bend us over for this bee-ess, they can choke on a check of this size instead of getting to enjoy our help in realizing their dreams. I did neither of these things, even after Keith told me "the whole story" of how things went down the other day, which included this "industry professional" with "decades of experience" talking shit about *my* business model and *my* sense of professionalism, in providing anything other than "straight casting services" to producing partners. (Yeah, dipshit. I'm gonna follow *your* business model and see if I can someday be as successful as you are after 20 years. Oh wait. I've already eclipsed your success in just five years. Tell ya what... when my friends who are showrunners, exec producers, legitimate industry pros with track records that you jack off to tell me that my decision to act as producer, punch-up writer, and full-service casting director is a bad idea, then I might take it under advisement. You've got no room to talk to me--or worse, about me to others--about what builds success, jayhole. Screw off. You live in fear. Enjoy the stew.)
*sigh*
(What was that in Day Three about trying to stay out of "egoville" on this? Bleh.)
So, because something had to be done to shake off the hoodoo of the day, I cracked open the lovely bottle of champagne a showcaser gave me (yummy!) and toasted with Keith to our successes, not being afraid to just be DONE with an issue--and people--in whose peer group we would never wish to stay for long anyway. Within an hour, we were giggling like teenagers. Our neighbor with the really strong-smelling pot sparked up and we giggled at him and his daily ritual. We watched a rerun of some old sitcom and giggled at the silly storyline and amazing work of the brilliant actors. We teased and played with the cats and laughed and laughed and laughed.
And then we bought tickets to see Iron Man for the third time, walked to the liquor store to buy hooch that would fit in my purse, and walked to the movie theater hoping I wouldn't get frisked at the door.
We sat in the movie theater and made out like teenagers. We giggled and drank and watched the movie we almost know by heart at this point and giggled and kissed some more. Then we went out for a bite and more booze at a favorite hole-in-the-wall near the theater. And then we walked home, giggling and teasing and piggy-back-riding and then falling-into-dewy-grass wrestling. And then we came home and had sex for hours. Just like teenagers.
It was awesome.
Of course, we're senior citizens, so today's been a big ball of "recovery" from all that irresponsible, silly, not-thinking-about-tomorrow behavior (which is probably worse for Keith than for me, as he's on set all day and I'm here behind a desk for most of mine), but it's totally worth it, as Keith's little emails from the set remind me.
We had a blissful night of silly, reckless, not-about-anything-important living to remind us that life is a hell of a lot bigger than our bank balance, being right, or losing "friends" that were never friends in the first place. Life is about having fun, being in the moment, and finding bliss in something as ridiculous as leaving a way-too-big tip at the dive bar because the math was just "too hard" after all that drinking and silliness. I love that my life includes infinite opportunity to make new choices and change up the vibe of the whole damn day.
Day Five:
I am grateful for spontaneity.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 5:46 PM | Comments (2)
May 8, 2008
Experiment: Day Four
I spend most of my days with actors, talking with filmmakers about actors, preparing actors for auditions, negotiating terms of contracts for actors, watching actors working, sleeping with actors (okay, just one. My husband the actor. Fine. I'm not a swinger).
For all of my grousing about actors who can't read, desperate actors, clueless actors, bafflingly bizarre actors, I have to say that actors are some of the finest, coolest, most creative, brilliant, inspiring, courageous people out there.
They bring life to fictional characters in ways that make us certain they surely could--and do--exist. They recreate nonfictional characters in ways that make us lose track of what the "real" people looked or sounded like. They help us understand our emotional connections to this world we inhabit, they provide catharsis, they make us think. Their talents give us an escape into worlds we don't know--and their commitment to their performances make us sure we do know those worlds after all. They make the unreal real somehow.
And all with the lift of an eyebrow, the sparkle of an eye, the twitch of a lip, the slowing of a breath.
It's amazing... the talent... the in-the-soul instincts that can change the world for us sometimes. Nah, it's not curing cancer, that acting thing, but it sure as hell is making our lives a better place most days, whether we realize it or not. And that I get to work with these folks as intimately and as DAILY as I do is simply awesome.
Day Four:
I am grateful for actors.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 2:13 PM | Comments (0)
May 7, 2008
Experiment: Day Three
I remember my mom having said to me--when I was in a situation where someone in our family owed me some money and was treating me very unfairly--that I should just let it go and consider it "a two hundred dollar lesson."
Whenever Keith finds himself in a similar position, needing to counsel me about the fiery passion I feel for fairness and my overwhelmingly logical approach to most conflict, he'll say, "it's a two hundred dollar lesson, honey."
And what that means is that there is a point at which my energy, my spirit, my soul is worth far more than what I would gain, were I to fight for what is "right."
Cut to: We're in a situation now where a "friend" is fucking Keith over. And not for a small amount of money. And while I can line-by-line choreograph the truths that would have us winning this fight in any court, should it ever come to that, I hear my mom's words. I hear Keith reminding me of my mom's words. I remember that as "right" as we are sometimes, it's just not worth the bother.
And getting to have those thousands of dollars may feel satisfying in the short term, but releasing ourselves of the need to fight--putting down the rope in the tug-of-war contest and just walking away--might actually be more liberating, more grace-filled, more important in the long run than "winning" right now. And, hey, we've learned the lesson. We were never "friends" in the first place, really. You got the money... and it cost you a friendship. And you fuckers get to live with that.
*sigh*
But if I'm truly grace-filled, I don't ever get to those last couple of sentences. I just realize it's not worth the fight. It's not worth the stress. I live in such a state of abundance that it's not even worth worrying about the money part of it at all. Just take the lesson and move on. Let it go.
So, I guess the fact that I do get to that "brat" state from which I lash out at them and know I will never look at them the same way proves that I do have an ego. But the fact that I have chosen to put down the rope and walk away proves that I don't have as big an investment in "being right" as I used to. And that's progress.
Day Three:
I am grateful for perspective.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 4:59 PM | Comments (0)
May 6, 2008
Experiment: Day Two
This may make my husband uncomfortable, but I doubt it. He's pretty secure about this sort of thing.
I have the most wonderful exes.
I think there are maybe two of 'em out there with whom I'm no longer in contact. And that has to do with the fact that when I was 15 and 19, respectively, I made some not-unselfish choices, probably. (And, y'know what, I'm still sometimes sorry about having been that kid.) But pretty much every other guy I've truly, really loved--given my heart to and taken his in return--is still in my life, at least via this great Internet.
And I love that. So many women can't say that they still stay in touch with the majority of the men who touched their hearts this way. I think it means my "picker" is pretty dang good. Even if I grew up broken. Even if I never trusted any of 'em to be in my life for more than 18 months 'til Keith came along. We did okay.
Day Two:
I am grateful for having the best ex-boyfriends on the planet.
(What is the Experiment? It is this.)
Posted by bonnie at 2:21 PM | Comments (4)
May 5, 2008
Experiment: Day One
Okay, so in a "look at how many ways in which my online life can intersect" kind of way, I decided to check out what it was that had MCJ blogging about things that made her grateful every day.
Turns out she read about it on the blog of the guy who calls me his "future pimp." (This is also the guy who created the 'zine for which I wrote that led to the meeting of my hubby.)
Turns out he read about it on the blog of a cool chick whose work I first became aware of about two years ago when Babes McPhee and I had a double-feature date on my first wedding anniversary, when we went to see CoCo do spoken word (and CoCo, of course, would go on to get me hooked up to do spoken word) and Annie Sertich was one of the more hilarious and brilliant folks we saw.
And she is the creator of this Experiment. So, here goes.
(From Annie's post about starting up:)
Will you do something with me?
Share with me.
What you're grateful for.
For 30 days.
I don't know why, but I need it. Cuz my head is filling with vomit and Smiths songs.
Even if it's just one person.
I'll share something. And you share back. That's it. A word. A story. A picture. A complaint. A song. Your name. Anything.
This isn't some new age Oprah "a-ha" movement. Or some manifest your dreams deal-e-o. It's just old fashioned "let's be positive" junk.
Let's see where it leads.
So, here's my Day One (and it's appropriate to all of the link-ups in the above ramblings).
I am grateful for the Internet.
Posted by bonnie at 9:33 PM | Comments (2)
April 7, 2008
The Six-Words Meme
As mentioned in my comments section recently, the lovely Beth tagged me to do The Six-Words Meme, and so I have done it. ;)
The Six-Words Meme was originally started by Smith Magazine. There is now a book. The history is thus:
Legend has it that Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in only six words. His response? "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." Last year, SMITH Magazine re-ignited the recountre by asking our readers for their own six-word memoirs. They sent in short life stories in droves, from the bittersweet ("Cursed with cancer, blessed with friends") and poignant ("I still make coffee for two") to the inspirational ("Business school? Bah! Pop music? Hurrah") and hilarious ("I like big butts, can't lie").
Without further ado, here is my effort:
So completely overfilled with good things.
The rules...
1) Write your own six-word memoir.
2) Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you'd like.
3) Link to the person that tagged you in your post, and to the original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere.
4) Tag six more blogs with links.
5) Leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.
6) Have fun.
So, now I shall tag... hmm...
CoCo
Def Jam Becca MC (I bet it'll have something to do with poop.)
Liz
Frances
JefBot (I bet it'll have something to do with comic books.)
JoJo (or whomever her guest blogger is this week)
Posted by bonnie at 10:21 PM | Comments (2)
February 17, 2008
4 Things About Me
Damn you, AnnaVo, for not only sending this to me, but for predicting in your responses that I would blog my responses. Damn you, brilliant goddess woman!!!!!!! ;)
4 jobs I have had:
1. hand model
2. Improv comedy traffic school instructor
3. instructional technology coordinator for a pre-K through 12 private school
4. records room attendant at Athens Regional Medical Center (room located next to the morgue. I lasted exactly one hour and 15 minutes in that position)
4 places I have lived:
1. within a mile of Hartsfield-Atlanta Airport
2. all over Athens, GA (the finest college town on the planet)
3. Hollywood Tower (yes, that cool building by the 101 with a spectacular view of the Hollywood sign)
4. seven blocks from the beach
4 TV shows I watch:
1. ANTM (with support reading material)
2. Heroes
3. Free Radio
4. Iconoclasts
4 places I have been (other than where I live):
1. Hawaii
2. Madrid
3. NYC
4. Vegas, baby
4 people who email me regularly:
1. Google Alerts
2. Keith
3. Yahoo Groups notification bots, MySpace notification bots, The Biz notification bots, etc.
4. Some guy named "g!ganT1c fU*#$ticK" just started emailing me 60+ times per day this past week with all sorts of wonderful offers to buy \/!@gRa and C1@Li$. Yay. Lucky, lucky me.
4 favorite foods:
1. lobster from The Palm or Dan Tana's
2. cheese plate from Il Moro
3. Reese's peanut butter eggs (yes, they taste different than regular "cups")
4. 101 Salad from the 101 Coffee Shop (holy, hell, I may go get in the car for that right now)
4 places I would rather be right now:
1. Copperwynd
2. La Costa
3. some really beautiful home I own in the future a few blocks from here
4. sitting atop an enormous pile of tax-free cash money
4 people I think will respond:
1. AnnaVo (no, not because she wants to do it again, but because she believes pets deserve treats for doing their tricks correctly)
2. CoCo if she's bored or looking for some way to take a mini break from work
3. Keith, but he'll do it verbally
4. my cool-ass sister-in-law Liz
4 things I look forward to this year:
1. traveling internationally for a casting gig
2. publishing the third edition of Self-Management for Actors
3. seeing the actors get a good deal without having to go on strike at all
4. Quinn's annual visit
Thanks, Anna. :) That was fun. Now I have to get back to writing my column!
Posted by bonnie at 4:57 PM | Comments (2)
December 23, 2007
2007 in Questions
(See also 2006 in Questions, 2005 in Questions, and 2004 in Questions.)
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Produce actor showcases for industry buyers.
2. Did you keep your 2007 resolutions? Will you make more for 2008?
I don't really do resolutions for each new year. I always have goals, and those change more frequently than annually, so... sure!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Technically, Eitan's wife gave birth after I did last year's post, but that was still 2006. Um... a bunch of not-as-close close friends gave birth, but no one in the "inner circle," so to speak.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. My great aunt Bonnie (yes, after whom I was named) and my great aunt Heddy. Tough year.
5. What countries did you visit?
Honey, I didn't even leave the STATE this year.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A slammin' bod. I'm just gonna put it out there. I'm pretty much as badass as they come... and you add in the body that I had a few years back and you've got "the total package." So, let's get back to that ass. ;)
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
Probably October 23rd, since that's when my spec script got an audience at Tuesdays@9. It was huge, for me.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Producing the showcase and having loads of industry folks come out to scout talent, just because I promised them the actors would rock and they'd have a good time. Usually, your first time doing anything in this town is scary and sparsely-supported. Somehow, my reputation was good enough to take care of the "support" part of things. It was still dang scary.
9. What was your biggest failure?
That's tough. I certainly wish that we had hosted another Hollywood Happy Hour event this year. I'm sad that's over (or on such permanent hiatus that it's not coming together anytime soon). A part of me wishes I'd made the biggest life change I had started to make mid-year (but I celebrate that I'm moving forward on faith that not having made the change is okay, because there's hope... maybe). Deciding to go back on the pill means I'm not looking to have kids, like ever, and there's a sadness attached to that realization. But I don't know if any of that is failure as much as it's just LIFE, y'know?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Ugh! Getting three teeth bonded... that's pain, baby. It counts! And I threw my lower back out, like, three times. Ugh.
11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Steve Carell's, for damn sure. The jury in Eric's murderer's third trial.
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Where do I begin? AMPTP? Any number of politicians with a collective sense of entitlement? My husband? The paparazzi? Members of my family who fleeced another family member out of over a million dollars? Seriously. Where do I begin? Cowards, all.
13. Where did most of your money go?
Probably Sid and Nancy. Or, collectively, Dan Tana's. It's a toss-up, really. ;)
14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The showcase. The web series based on the showcase. The trailer for Broken Windows. Getting to see my writing "come to life." Several times. Meeting with a superagent.
15. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Probably "Hey Ya," simply because it was the Uma Anthem. We even made it the curtain call to our first showcase.
16. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Same.
b) thinner or fatter?
Same.
c) richer or poorer?
Same.
17. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Write. Seriously. I know I write all the time, but now that I'm stretching this sitcom muscle, I need to develop some major discipline in my non-non-fiction writing routine.
18. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Sleep. Yes, it's true. I've started sleeping more than my standard three hours for every 30 I'm up... and it's weird. To me.
19. How will you be spending Christmas?
Probably (hopefully) recovering from a massive hangover after having played over at the Vo-Tarqs on Xmas Eve. (This is the first year in seven that we've not done the "orphans gathering" for Christmas. I figure it's because I hired one of the hosts of this annual event this year and now our relationship is different. Eh. Whatevz. Life is bigger than that. I just hope I'm wrong.)
20. Did you fall in love in 2007?
I fall in love every minute of every day. Keith is very fortunate for this truth.
21. What was your favorite TV program?
"Studio 60" for the first part of 2007 (y'know, when we thought it might survive) and then probably "The Big Bang Theory" or "Chuck" or "Heroes" for that brief period of time we got to watch "real" shows before the strike. Since then? Um... I'd say shows like "The People's Court" and reruns of "90210." *sigh*
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate. Not even the meanies who hate me. Nope. I don't hate 'em back. Life's too short for that nonsense and I'm just happy I've learned new ways to deal with the massive amounts of hate flung my way this year. Being high-profile will do that to a gal. *shrug* No biggie.
23. What was the best book you read?
Probably "Created By..." (but seriously I read a bunch of great books this year. I've already blogged about 'em. Good stuff).
24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
VHS or Beta, probably. (Although there have been a few.)
25. What did you want and get?
Happiness, fitness, success as a first-time producer, new opportunities based on the success of previous courageous ventures.
26. What did you want and not get?
A spot in the Warner Bros. TV fellowship. Goal weight. The truth from some people I trust... every single time.
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Oooh. Good question. Um... is it disingenuous to say "Broken Windows" now? Hee! It was really good. I also really liked "The Simpsons Movie."
28. What did you do on your birthday? How old were you?
I think--not sure--I did absolutely NOTHING on my birthday. Yes, the exact opposite of last year's birthday. ;) I'm old. I'm 37. (And seriously, they should just go ahead and call "37" "40," since at 37, people feel that it's totally appropriate to approach you and say things like, "Oh, so. 37. Decided on no kids then?" and other asshole stuff like that. I remember turning 29 and having people say, "Oh, gosh! Are you okay?" Like I needed to back up my body's hard drive for the Y2K virus or something. There was going to be complete system failure at 30 or somesuch. Yeah, well, 37 is the new 29 and the assholery is much deeper.)
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Immeasurably? Hmm. Probably having Quinn live with us year-round (coming soon!!!!) and making buttloads more money.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Same as always: jeans, black cami tank, and a duster. I'm so predictable.
31. What kept you sane?
Ciroc vodka, my cats, my friends, sometimes Keith, and always laughter!!
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hmm... that's tough. This is the year I met more of my favorite "famous" people than ever before, but I guess... um... I was most cray-cray-crazy about Harvey Levin. I know, I know. That's disturbing. But it comes from a good place. I so totally loathed him for the past five years. Like, seriously, found him icky. And then I realized what he was doing, ingratiating himself as the expert on all celeb legal issues. And then he launched his TV show with everyone OTHER THAN HIM as the star. Brill. And that EP move (with years of strategy in place) is worth fancying in my book--at least for 2007.
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Strike. I know, I know. Outside of Hollywood, it's not political, but babe, here, it's THE hot-button issue. And it's still stirring me.
34. Who did you miss?
My mom, as always.
35. Who was the best new person you met?
Y'know, I've been dreading this question. I really, honestly, sincerely swear that I met at least a dozen "new people" who rocked my world in 2007. At least. And these are people whose impact in my life will be felt for years--if not decades--to come. So, I'm gonna punk out and leave it at that. 2007 was filled with intersections with great new people. Yay!
36. What valuable life lesson did you learn in 2007?
That sometimes it just takes getting through it to get through it.
37. What song lyrics sum up your year?
Darlin'
My lovely one
I know you could deceive me if you wanted to.
Dreamin'
Is all I do
I said I wish I could be somethin' that I might've been.
If my time is up,
Well, my head ain't down.
I swear I've seen your face around.
If you find I'm undermined,
I was only tryin' to meet you.
I never questioned it.
I just believed her... and the joke.
I guess that's just as well.
When my time is up,
Well, my head ain't down.
I swear I've seen your face around.
Leave your body undermined,
I was only just glad to meet you.
Posted by bonnie at 8:57 AM | Comments (6)
December 20, 2007
The Year in Review
(See also 2006, 2005, and 2004.)
Take the first line (or so) from the first post of each month of 2007. That's your Year In Review.
January 2007:
It's Quiet... Too Quiet
And I know why. Within a few hours, agents and managers will hit their offices and start in on follow-up calls for the auditions 250 of their clients had with us before this town shut down at close-of-business on the 15th of December.
February 2007:
*glee-filled giggle*
Heeeeeeeee! Welcome to the cast, Mister Keaton.
March 2007:
Uma Benefit Update: LOWER PRICE!!
Hi Guys, This just in! WE'RE LOWERING THE PRICE TO $30 PER TICKET!!!!
April 2007:
"Hey, Bon! Y U No Mo' Bloggy?"
Because I'm so FREAKIN' busy, y'all! Seriously! WOW. Producing a showcase is some WORK.
May 2007:
Cricket Feet Casting: Actors Showcase
Hey everyone, I'm really excited! After a great inaugural showcase last month, we are now producing the second version of the Cricket Feet Casting Actors Showcase under the direction of Emmy Award-winning director Anna Christopher!
June 2007:
Casting Is Exhausting!
Let me be more specific. Casting for the showcase is exhausting!
July 2007:
The Actors Voice, 7/2/07
Hi Everyone! Here's how tomorrow's The Actors Voice starts out.
August 2007:
Showcase News: Director HIRED, Call for SCENES!
It is with great yippee-filled glee that I announce our November 2007 showcase DIRECTOR, the inimitable rockstar hyphenate: Annie Wood!
September 2007:
The Actors Voice, 9/3/07
Hi Everyone! Here's how today's The Actors Voice starts out.
October 2007:
Fixing a Hole
It's like magic when this happens. (And it doesn't happen often.)
November 2007:
Call Me a Cockeyed Optimist
I really thought we could make it through. No WGA strike. No work stoppage in Hollywood. I had hope. I had optimism. I had delusions.
December 2007:
Saturday Night Search Party
Holy hell, has it really been a year since my last BonBlogs Search Party? Wow! Yes it has!
===========
Moral of the story? 2007 was a year of WORK, y'all. I think I'm feelin' that.
Posted by bonnie at 4:26 AM | Comments (0)
December 13, 2007
2007 in Photos
This is my attempt at doing the year-end 12 of 12 without actually having done all 12 of the 12s of 12 this year. ;)
What a great year! (Look for more recaps to come in the next few days. I'm using these memes as ways of procrastinating work on SMFA, 3rd ed. Hee!)
Posted by bonnie at 6:05 PM | Comments (2)
December 5, 2007
9 Things
Okay, so I'm gonna do this survey thingy (nabbed from the lovely Sarah) and then I'm gonna tell you something really sad about my biggest reason for wanting the strike to be over.
9 Lasts
Last dollar spent: parking at Tuesdays@9.
Last cigarette: I'm sure I took a drag off someone's at some drunken party somewhere at some point, but I haven't had an entire cigarette in a long while... and I then coughed for days.
Last beverage: ice water.
Last movie: A Beautiful Mind (and I swear I am certain I'm meeting fictional people ever since I saw it).
Last phone call: hmm... I don't really do the phone, but I left a message for Keith last night. Last call received from someone trying to buy Casting Qs (good luck with that).
Last song played: "Bootystitious" mash-up of Destiny's Child and Stevie Wonder (greatness).
Last bubble bath: two weeks ago, with this yummy chocolate bubble bath stuff that a manager friend gave me (along with chocolate scrub and chocolate lotion and a cool CD by one of his clients... plus a bunch of headshots, of course). Hee!
Last time you cried: yesterday? Day before? Definitely.
Last thing you ate: Houston's takeout sushi! Yum!
8 Have You Evers
Have you ever dated a best friend: of course.
Have you ever skinny dipped: of course.
Have you ever kissed somebody and regretted it: of course.
Have you ever lost someone you loved: of course.
Have you ever been dumped: nope. Wow. How'd I miss that?
Have you ever been drunk and threw up: of course.
Have you ever run away: during a fight, in anger, swearing never to come back. Sure.
Have you ever wanted someone you thought you couldn't have then found out they liked you: of course.
7 States You've Been To
Georgia, California, New York, Hawaii, Texas, Florida, Utah...
6 Things You've Done Today
Made an appointment with my chiropractor.
Washed my hair.
Answered emails.
Watched an episode of 90210.
Printed copies of my scene for next week's Tuesdays@9.
Confirmed a meeting and a playdate for Friday.
5 Favorite Things
Humor.
Intelligence.
Freedom.
Laughter.
Cuddling.
4 People You Can Tell Anything
Keith.
Anna (not telling you which one, because this answer allows me to name three people at once, which is appropriate).
Milissa.
Faith.
3 Things That Make You Smile
My cute car.
My cute cats.
My awesome life.
2 Things You Want To Do Before You Die
Travel the world with no limits on length of vacation or money spent.
See The Bucket List. (Heh heh... get it?)
1 Thing You Can't Live Without
My faith in everything.
And now... ready for my big, fat, selfish reason I want the strike to end?
I am so freakin' tired of using the same MySpace profile photo for the past five weeks! I'm the type of person who changes her profile photo several times a DAY, for cryin' out loud.
Posted by bonnie at 1:31 PM | Comments (3)
July 28, 2007
My Superpower Should Be...
Yeah, it's lame to make my first blog post in days a super-quick silly quiz, but here it is.
| Your Superpower Should Be Mind Reading |
 You understand people better than they would like to be understood. Highly sensitive, you are good at putting together seemingly irrelevant details. You figure out what's going on before anyone knows that anything is going on! Why you would be a good superhero: You don't care what people think, and you'd do whatever needed to be done Your biggest problem as a superhero: Feeling even more isolated than you do now |
Sooooooo busy. I love it. I'll check in next week at some point. I promise! *beams*
Posted by bonnie at 5:19 PM | Comments (1)
June 19, 2007
Meme from Amy the Writer
Originally nabbed from Amy the Writer.
1] What was the highlight of your weekend?
Lots of anniversary sex.
2] Whose car were you in last?
Mine. The TicTac.
3] What color shirt are you wearing?
Black cami-tank.
4] How long is your hair?
Almost to my butt.
5] Who's on your mind right now?
Quinn and his cool dad Keith.
6] Last movie you saw at the theater?
Eesh... probably something I cast. A New Tomorrow, maybe?
7] Last thing you ate?
Guacamole!
8] Last thing you drank?
Water.
9] Where did you sleep last night.?
My bed. With Keith. Duh.
10] Are you happy right now?
Absolutely!!
11] What did you say last?
On the wall on the way in. (To Quinn, about where the light switch is for the kitchen.)
12] Where is your phone?
Between our two printers.
13] Favorite comedian?
David Spade, lately.
14] What color are your eyes?
Blue.
15] Who came over last?
Eitan. (To see Quinn's three-room fort.)
16] Name the last three things you bought?
Dinner at El Cholo, dinner at Burbank Bar & Grill, Dinner at El Cholo (and this is over the past two weeks or so).
17] Who do you hate?
Ann Coulter. She is the reason anyone ever uses "the c-word."
18] What are you listening to?
Quinn sighing.
19] What is your weapon of choice?
Elbows of death. (Ask Keith.)
20] What's your favorite smell?
Oh my goodness, it changes so frequently. Ginger. Fresh-cut lemon.
21] Does someone have a crush on you?
Oh, yes. Everyone! ;)
22] What were you doing at midnight last night?
Rubbing my husband's back as he slept.
23] What was the first thing you thought when you woke up?
Dear god, Quinn sleeps less than I do!
24] Are you left-handed?
Yep.
25] Spell your name without vowels:
Bnn Gllsp.
26] How many pairs of jeans do you own?
Goodness... 20?
27] What colors do you wear most often?
Black and denim.
28] What's for dinner tonight?
White corn tortilla burritos! Homemade!
29] When Is Your Birthday?
7-11, baby! Only a few more shopping days!
30] Who was the last person to send you a txt message?
I don't "txt."
31] Last time you went swimming in a pool?
Last year while Quinn was here. We went to La Costa Resort and Spa for our anniversary trip and spent a lot of time in the water.
32] Where was the last place you went shopping?
Pavillion's, probably.
33] How do you feel about your hair?
Best hair in Hollywood, baby! ;)
34] How's the weather?
Freezing! I love living at the beach!
35] What's one thing people are always saying to you?
Thank you.
36] Have you ever visited another country?
Sure. (Spain, mostly.)
37] What's your standard greeting when you answer the phone?
Casting.
38] Do you own a pair of handcuffs?
I used to. Down, pervs. It was seventh grade and I got 'em on the Washington DC safety patrol trip at some "sell crap to tourists" store.
39] Do you use the word pussy?
Absolutely. I use all the words we've got!
40] Do you put ketchup on your eggs?
Ew. No.
41] Do you put mayo on your burgers?
Where would I put it? I can't have a bun!
42] Have you kissed somebody in the last two weeks?
Even in the last two minutes!
43] Who did you dance with last?
Quinn.
44] Song playing?
None. Watching TV.
45] What color is your underwear?
Yellow with little blue flowers.
46] Do you want platinum or gold for your wedding band?
It's platinum. And it's lovely.
47] Do you think that the tobacco companies should pay for people's medical bills?
Um... I think we should have universal health care. How's that?
48] What scares you?
Failure.
Woo! That was FUN! :)
Posted by bonnie at 9:57 PM | Comments (3)
May 28, 2007
37 Secrets About ME!
Nabbed from the lovely Sarah.
Be honest no matter what.
1. What is your natural hair color?
Strawberry caramel.
2. Where was your default MySpace picture taken?
Well, it'll change in a minute, but the one that's up right now was taken on the set of a feature film I worked on in 2001.
3. What's currently on your feet?
Gold-toed socks, baby.
4. What's your current relationship status?
Married.
5. Does your crush like you back?
Well, my deepest, most intense crush is with myself so... yeah. Probably. I'm a narcissist like that.
6. What is your current mood?
Good. Ever better.
7. What color underwear are you wearing?
Pink with little hearts on it. Yes, really. I am "that girl."
8. What makes you happy?
Life.
9. If you could go back in time and change something, what you would change?
I'd be born with an unusually fast metabolism.
10. If you must be an animal for one day, what would you be?
Probably a cat, because they generally have it pretty damn good (at least in this house).
11. Ever had a near-death experience?
Yup.
12. What's something you do a lot?
Work.
13. What's the name of the song stuck in your head right now?
This Is the Day by The The (damn M&M's commercial)!
14. Who did you copy and paste this from?
See intro. It's Sarah. I like to attribute. Call me old-school.
15. Name someone with the same birthday as you?
So few people rock it 7-11 style. It's like Suzanne Vega and Peter Murphy and Sela Ward and Mindy Sterling and Lisa Rinna and Greg Grunberg and Li'l Kim, and that's it! (But y'know what? I like that company, quite frankly. Only two of those are people I've met in person--and, no, I don't know *anyone* who is *not* famous with whom I share a birthday. Seriously. I've never met a single person in "real life" who does the 7-11 thing, outside of two of those I just listed above.)
16. When was the last time you cried?
Earlier today when I was watching a retrospective of Hayley opening case #25. Seriously. I was the kid who cried when people hit a dollar on "the big wheel." I'm that much of a sap.
17. Have you ever sang in front of a large audience?
Oh, hell yes! Many times.
18. If you could have one super power what would it be?
Super-ego. Like, I wouldn't doubt myself. I wouldn't hate myself. I wouldn't be certain I'm broken. I would just trust that this is exactly the way my life is supposed to go.
19. What's the first thing you notice about the opposite or same sex?
Um... the fact that they're either the opposite or same sex?? Is this a trick question? Am I too old to get the open sexuality-ness of today's generation?
20. What do you usually order from Starbucks?
I don't do the Starbucks. Honestly, every gift card that's ever been given to me for Starbucks (and there have been a bunch) is regifted. Sorry. I don't do coffee.
21. What is your favorite color?
Silver.
22. When was the last time you lied?
Hmm... I told one of the kitties that if she came to me, she would get a treat. What I really meant was, "If you come to me, you will get a treat and you will get your claws trimmed," because that's what happened. Luckily, she believes (and the others believe it too) this *every* time. Otherwise, claws would run this house.
23. Do you still watch kiddy movies or TV shows?
I don't even understand this question. It's all kid-stuff!
24. What are you eating or drinking at the moment?
Cabernet.
25. Do you speak any other language?
Oh, this is where I get embarrassed. I so totally should. I spoke Spanish fluently as a Montessori kid. Much later, I took three years of Spanish in high school, traveled to Spain twice, took a year of French in college, and took a year of Russian in college and lived with a Ruskie for two years. And I think I can pretty much say next to nothing in any of those languages. I hope to learn ASL before too long. That's my goal.
26. What's your favorite smell?
Donna Karan's Chaos.
27. If you could describe your life in one word what would it be?
Integral.
28. When was the last time you gave/received a hug?
Moments ago.
29. Have you ever been kissed in the rain?
Sure!
30. What are you thinking about right now?
This weird teeth-grinding thing that I've started doing and how I might learn to stop doing it.
31. What should you be doing?
Um... I don't like the word "should." I figure I'm always doing what I should be doing, or else I'd be doing something else, right?
32. What was the last thing that made you upset/angry?
Someone calling repeatedly and not leaving a message. Really, when I page through the caller ID and see repeated calls placed by the same person with no corresponding message, I'm all sorts of angry. WTF? Do you not know me AT ALL?!?
33. How often do you pray?
Define "pray."
34. Do you like working in the yard?
Like, in prison? No.
35. If you could have any last name in the world, what would you want?
What a weird question! Considering we can all take on any new name that we want, why would I want a name other than the one I have and NOT take it on?
36. Do you act differently around your crush/BF/GF?
After my mom passed away, I learned that it doesn't matter how I act in front of any one person... it's all seen by those who are in on the jokes (AKA my mom, her mom, my great aunt, etc.), so I'm not really getting away with anything anyway. I am actually, really my totally authentic, imperfect self in front of everyone. Except it's only around my closest-closest people that I wear no bra.
37. Name one song that reminds you of an ex?
Hmm... "She's Like Heroin" by The Gun Club. I had two ex-beaus in high school who would sing that to me and change the lyrics to say, "Bonnie Gillespie's like heroin to me," with great passion. Ah... gotta love the high school lovers. Sometimes Keith will say I'm like Dr Pepper to him. Sometimes.
Posted by bonnie at 10:42 PM | Comments (2)
May 15, 2007
I've seen 34 out of these 206 movies
Got this movie meme from Jenelle (who has seen 189 of these 206). Does anyone else find it ironic that I'm a film casting director who doesn't SEE FILMS? Eh, well... I see a buttload of indies (and a read a TON of scripts), so let's say I don't really SEE MAINSTREAM FILMS. How's that?
Okay, so here it is...
If you've seen over 85 movies, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 206 movies on this list. Copy this list, go to your own MySpace account, and paste this as a bulletin or blog entry. Then put an X next to the movies you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click "Post" at the bottom. Have fun!
(x) Grease
( ) Pirates of the Caribbean
( ) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
(x) Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
( ) Neverending Story
( ) Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane
Total: 3 of 9
(x) The Princess Bride
( ) Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
( ) Napoleon Dynamite
( ) Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
( ) 50 First Dates
( ) The Princess Diaries
( ) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total all together: 4 of 20
(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
( ) American Pie Naked Mile
Total all together: 9 of 32
( ) 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 all together: 10 of 42
( ) 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 all together: 11 of 53
( ) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
( ) Lemony Snickets: 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 all together: 11 of 65
( ) A Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Final Destination 3
( ) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving Christmas
( ) Flubber
Total all together: 13 of 77
( ) 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 all together: 13 of 87
( ) 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 Longest Yard
( ) Gridiron Gang
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
( ) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
Total all together: 17 of 104
( ) Bad Boys
( ) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Sleven
( ) Ocean's Eleven
( ) Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x) Bourne Supremacy
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
( ) Predator
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
( ) Ice Age
( ) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
( ) Curious George
Total all together: 19 of 120
(x) Independence Day
(x) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
( ) Christine
(x) ET
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My Boss' Daughter
( ) Maid in Manhattan
( ) War of the Worlds
( ) Rush Hour
Total all together: 22 of 131
( ) 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 all together: 24 of 141
( ) 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
Total all together: 24 of 147
( ) Baseketball
( ) Hostel
(x) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
( ) Elf
(x) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History X
( ) Thr3e
Total all together: 26 of 157
( ) The Jackal
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Full Metal Jacket
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
( ) Monsters, Inc.
(x) Titanic
( ) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
Total all together: 27 of 167
( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
( ) Hulk
( ) Dawn of the Dead
(x) Hook
( ) Chronicle Of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) 28 days Later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
( ) Waterworld
Total all together: 28 of 177
( ) 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 all together: 28 of 187
( ) 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 A New Hope
(x) Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back
( ) Star Wars Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks: The Caravan of Courage
( ) Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
Total all together: 30 of 195
(x) The Matrix
(x) The Matrix Reloaded
(x) The Matrix Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
( ) Team America: World Police
(x) Silence of the Lambs
( ) Hannibal
( ) Red Dragon
( ) Anger Management
Total: 34 of 206
Put: "I've seen ??? out of these 206 movies" in the subject line and repost.
Posted by bonnie at 3:18 PM | Comments (6)
February 7, 2007
Hee! I'm Collins!
You're Collins! You will do anything for your friends. Very emotional, you're not afraid to cry. You can be so attached to someone that when they're gone, you're completely torn. You can be seen as very odd at times because of your actions, but you don't care.
Take this quiz!
| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code
Posted by bonnie at 2:45 AM | Comments (2)
December 24, 2006
2006 in Questions
(See also 2005 in Questions, 2004 in Questions.)
1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Get taken to lunch by an entertainment attorney to discuss "packaging" me with his producer and filmmaker clients on future $10M+ feature films. Oh, also... join MySpace.
2. Did you keep your 2006 resolutions? Will you make more for 2007?
I usually don't *do* resolutions, as I use my birthday as MY new year (and pledge to leave some things behind and invite other things in, each new age--at my birthday). But New Year's Eve 2005 at BBBC's, Keith and I actually wrote down a list of things we welcomed into our lives for 2006. Truly, the Power of Intention and the Law of Attraction is strong, as we hit about 90% success on that list. We'll be doing it again this year (although I think we'll need to write it up before we head out for the evening's activities, as we'll be in a much more festive location to ring in the new year this year (than last).
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Well, Eitan's wife is in labor right now, from what I understand. So, the answer was going to be NO (and I guess *technically* it still is NO), but I think we have a 2006 baby coming into the gang shortly.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
A kid who came close to being cast on Mr. Personality (and who I later introduced to a fellow casting director friend of mine--and they dated for a while) died in a bicycle accident in February. CD Phyllis Huffman died. We weren't close, but she was a mentor of sorts. Lovely, talented actor Victoria Sparks passed away this summer. She had auditioned for me several times (and was a Georgia gal), so that was sad. Still, nothing compared to last year's losses.
5. What countries did you visit?
I'm a homebody. As usual, just this one.
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
I would really, truly love to ALWAYS have that feeling that I've flirted with a few times recently: When you can spend and spend and spend and never once feel like you're looking over your shoulder for the "uh-oh... maxed out the card" moment. REALLY enjoyed the several months this year where there was a LOT of financial freedom. So, it's not something we *lacked* in 2006, just something we want *way* more of in 2007. That, and the really cool feeling when your clothes don't fit because you've dropped weight for no apparent reason. That's been cool this year too. Hee!
7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
Man! That's tough! I actually just scanned through my whole calendar for 2006 in an attempt to find THE THING that really will stick with me, and it's just bizarre how much STUFF I'm going to remember forever. I mean, there were screenings, awards, investor table reads, and many "first time at this level" casting experiences. Plus Keith became a recurring character on "the most watched show on the planet" for 2006. We had blissful spa experiences, major quality time with Quinn, and I met some really amazing people in 2006. I guess, though, if I had to choose, it'd be my birthday that stands out. It was perfect. I sat on a barstool at my favorite place from 5pm to 1am and pretty much everyone I love and know showed up to give me some love. That's a pretty cool way to ring in a new year. I mean, if you get to choose it, that's a good marker of time.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting the casting files in order. This is in big part thanks to my Rockstar Intern. We got the headshots organized and built the Casting Wiki (Keith gets thanks for that too). I built the cubbies and am simply thrilled with my current workspace. I know that doesn't seem like a big deal, but it's something that impacts my working life every single day. And an efficient Bonnie is a happy Bonnie. Despite how much I embraced inefficiency this year.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Hmm. I think I lost my temper once at someone with whom there will likely be no "fix." I'd like to say that's my fault, but honestly, the more time away from it, the more I realize their unwillingness to forgive is the reason we're not past it all. That's SO really not a failure, but I just can't think of anything else.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
A few sniffles and Santa Ana Winds-induced nosebleeds, plus a Thanksgiving mini-migraine (barely a blip compared to my pre-gluten-free mega-migraines), but that's it. Oh, and bumps and bruises because I'm clumsy... but, eh, whatareyagonnado?
11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Cousin Faith's. She wasn't sure she was ready to take a career jump that looked like a "weird" choice. She told me that she had asked for guidance and then the phone rang with this radio opportunity. Unsure whether she should take it, she asked for my advice. I told her that since she asked the universe and she was given the answer, she at least should give it a shot and see what comes of it. Well... bless her cross-country move and the launch of her new show! I'm so excited for my cousin and her brave choice to just see what's out there. Runner-up: My stepdad's. He's just a freakin' rockstar and I'm so proud of his GRACE.
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The biggie is someone about whom I won't blog, because if I do, it'll be much less surprising when the cops show up and book this person for a felony. Let's just say you may call yourself a "devout Christian," but I never saw anywhere that Jesus said, "Steal everything and lie, lie, lie." Enjoy the handcuffs. Can't wait to see you on "COPS." More specifically, certainly W still holds a top spot on that scale. Oh, and again with the vague: also a very small, cowardly friend who hasn't had the balls to apologize to me in nearly six months. And I totally called it. Just two days after "it" happened, I mentioned that it was going to be one of those things for which I would instantly forgive the person, but for which that person wouldn't even bother coming around to check in about, months later. I guess I just have to enjoy the fact that, eventually, they all do come around. And I'm still here. Same as always. Way ready to move on.
13. Where did most of your money go?
I think we paid to print the second edition of "Self-Management for Actors" in 2005, so that would leave our anniversary trip with Quinn to the La Costa Spa and LegoLand (two days of LegoLand, baby). We really overdid it, but it was SO worth it. Quinn is only here once a year and we wanted to have an amazing time. We did. I seriously can't wait to go back. I think I had about six straight hours of spa treatments bookended by room service, champagne, and hottub fun with the boys.
14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The midterm election results. Rockstar cool.
15. What song will always remind you of 2006?
"Here It Goes Again" by OK, GO. I mean, really. Those treadmills are SO 2006!
16. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Always happier. Daily.
b) thinner or fatter?
Actually thinner, according to my clothes. Yay!
c) richer or poorer?
Suddenly poorer, but that's not indicative of the whole year, just this month, suddenly. Damn taxes and reckless spending!
17. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise. I probably exercised manically 250 days of the year. The problem is, all of those days took place before October, which means I feel like a slug now. Of course, I've dropped weight since I *stopped* exercising (weird), but my point is that I really enjoyed the daily walks, Pilates, overnight trips to the pool at the gym, etc., and kind of had to back-burner all of that when my career got way too busy to fit it all in. Eh, quality problem, I s'pose.
18. What do you wish you'd done less of?
OCD rituals. I actually have a lot of them in check, but the few I still have were really raging this year (but I know why, so I have a shot at putting them in check next year).
19. How will you be spending Christmas?
Same as every year since the tradition began in 2001: Orphans' Christmas with our friends. We may not see each other much throughout the year, but we are always together on Christmas, which is really dang cool.
20. Did you fall in love in 2006?
I fall in love every minute of every day.
21. What was your favorite TV program?
"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" followed closely by "Saved." Man, if last year was the year of the sitcom, this was the year of the episodic drama. Rockstar good stuff.
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I hate no one. Life's too short for that nonsense.
23. What was the best book you read?
Okay, this will make me seem like a total narcissist (and maybe I am), but "Self-Management for Actors" (2nd edition) rocks my socks and seriously makes me think I could resume my pursuit of acting and DO SOMETHING, since the advice in it is so good. Now, that said, please know that I enjoy MOST some of the contributions by others--not just my writing (but I do love my writing. I mean, if I can't love it, how can I expect anyone else to?!? Actors should feel the same way about their acting, dammit)!
24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
OK, GO for sure. And not just because of the video.
25. What did you want and get?
More time with Quinn, a Roomba, a raise, a deeper sense of trust with the person who lied to me most last year.
26. What did you want and not get?
The kick-ass house on 16th Street (that's okay... we'll have it within the decade), a film I cast qualifying for an Oscar, less clutter in my house.
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
"Little Miss Sunshine."
28. What did you do on your birthday? How old were you?
See number 7, above. 36.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More than one thing: world peace, infinite money, a permanent weight of 150.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Same as always: jeans, black cami tank top, duster.
31. What kept you sane?
My sense of humor.
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Barack Obama. C'mon, 2008! Let's do this thang!
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
Does it count as a political issue if it's a political person hitting on high school kids who are looking to learn about the government, volunteering their time as pages? If that counts as political, then that's gonna be my biggie. I'm embarrassed and infuriated about Mark Foley and people on both sides of the aisle who kept the scandal quiet for far too long.
34. Who did you miss?
My mom, as always. Also Quinn. Seems the more time you spend with someone, the more you miss him when he's gone.
35. Who was the best new person you met?
Jessica Bendinger. Definitely. Kiki Longpost comes in second. For reals.
36. What valuable life lesson did you learn in 2006?
Stuff is just STUFF. It can all go away and nothing else matters. It's the people, it's the love, it's the sense of centeredness. That's all that counts.
37. What song lyrics sum up your year?
The times that we were close were far and few between
In the darkness at the dances in the school canteen
Did she close her eyes as I did and we held each other tight
And, "La la la la la la la la la," means, "I love you."
She danced with me and I still hold that memory soft and sweet
And I stare up at her window as I walk down her street
But I never made the first team, I just made the first team laugh
And she never came to the phone, she was always in the bath
In the end, it took me a dictionary to find out the meaning of "unrequited"
While she was giving herself for free at a party to which I was never invited.
Posted by bonnie at 5:10 AM | Comments (3)
December 19, 2006
The Year in Review
I know it's early to be doing this, but I'm in a listy kind of mood, so here 'tis. Enjoy! (See also 2005, 2004.)
Take The First Line From The First Post Of Each Month Of 2006. That's Your Year In Review.
January 2006: Flickering Image Film Festival Please join us Saturday, 7 January 2006 at the AFI Mark Goodson Auditorium, 2021 Western Ave., Hollywood 90027 for the screening of the ten winning films for the 2006 Flickering Image Film Festival.
February 2006: *giggle* What do Scott Foley, Julia Stiles, Tracy Pollan, Judith Chapman, Leslie Charleson, Chris Coppola, Jenna Von Oy, Christopher Masterson, David Anders, Andrew Bowen, Jessica Hecht, Richard Riehle, and Harriet Sansom Harris have in common?
March 2006: How To Make Me Happy for Three Bucks Buy me something way geeky, way useful, and way cheap. You'll have my heart forever.
April 2006: Not new, but... seriously one of the funniest things I've seen about the whole navel-gazing navel-gazing that is blogging.
May 2006: *ahem* So, we have to get from Point A (home) to Point B (USC) through Point ¡Sí, se puede! for an industry event this evening. Ack.
June 2006: Could you use that in a sentence please? As I upload demo reels to the Cricket Feet Casting server for the director of Salvation, Texas to watch (sort of pre-prereads), I have the Scripps National Spelling Bee on ESPN.
July 2006: Best Anniversary Present EVER Now, the trip to La Costa Resort and Spa was pretty dang amazing, as anniversary presents go. But, c'mon... can you BEAT THIS?!?
August 2006: August? Wow. Is it really August already? Holy cow, this year has flown by. (I know, I know... people always say that sort of thing. Blah blah blah.)
September 2006: Happy September As Keith and I went for our walk last night, he mentioned that yesterday was Maria Montessori's birthday.
October 2006: Hee! How much do I love my sister in law?
November 2006: Faith's PRI Show Debuts Friday From today's Washington Times: Fair Game--Public radio is no longer just for baby boomers and news junkies, it turns out.
December 2006: First Casting Announcement Woo hoo! Congratulations to the first actor cast in Broken Windows!
Posted by bonnie at 2:53 AM | Comments (0)
November 23, 2006
Thanksgiving Quiz
Well, it's not a Thanksgiving Quiz really. It's a "Bon woke up at 2am after having tried to go to sleep at a normal hour and she was bored bored bored and not at all interested in working *gasp* so she found an old quiz she'd saved from her niece Tiffany and is finally going to post her answers to the dang thing because, really, it's just been a way long time since she's done a quiz or a blog entry" quiz. Is that a better title for it?
1.) Where were you when the ball dropped for 2006?
Big Bad Bobby C's house. (Make sure you watch his new show, premiering Monday on TBS.)
2.) How did you get the idea for your MySpace name?
Bon is the basic nickname I've always had. *shrug* Not terribly creative, I know.
3) What are you listening to right now?
Watching old Law & Order episodes back to back on TNT. Listening to that, plus the waterfall kitty water thingy in the kitchen, Keith's frankenputer whirring.
4.) Has the death of a celebrity ever made you cry?
Definitely.
5.) What color underwear are you wearing?
Heh heh... animal print of some sort. I know, I'm such a pornstar.
6.) Do you live in a zoo?
Sometimes.
7.) What did you do this morning?
Woke up late, took phone calls from agents and managers, worked on the early offers we put out for Broken Windows, and continued list-updating for this early stage of casting.
8.) What did your mom do for a living?
Charlsie was a world-renowned astrologer.
9.) Where do you work?
From my home.
10.) Are you happy?
Blissfully.
11.) What are the last two digits of your phone number?
40.
12.) What was the last concert you attended?
Pixies at The Greek.
13.) Who was with you?
Keith.
14.) What was the last movie you watched?
Hmm... probably What the Bleep?!?, but I'm not sure.
15.) What do you dislike at the moment?
The clutter in my home.
16.) What food do you crave right now?
Chocolate, probably. (Although that stuffing looks reallllly good... damn gluten!)
17.) Did you dream last night?
Probably.
18.) What was the last TV show you watched?
Law & Order.
19.) What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
My mother's (first) wedding band.
20.) Name someone on your Top 8 who is just like like you.
Who the heck is in my Top Friends right now? Hmm... I change it every week in honor of birthdays, so I'd have to check. Let's say my book and Hollywood Happy Hour are most like me. ;)
21.) What is the last thing you ate?
Cheddar cheese "chips" and homemade guacamole.
22.) Who is your best friend of the opposite sex?
Keith.
23.) Who last IMed you?
I don't do the IM.
24.) Are you on any medication?
Nope.
25.) What side of the bed do you sleep on?
The side closest to the door. Always.
26.) What color shirt are you wearing?
Black tank top. I'm cold.
27.) What color is your razor?
Lavender and white.
28.) Who is your favorite boy?
Quinn.
29.) How many tattoos/piercings do you have?
Two tattoos. Two piercings.
30.) What are your favorite stores?
The Apple Store, MAC Cosmetics, Body Shop, IKEA.
31.) Are you thirsty right now?
No, but I really should drink something.
32.) Can you imagine yourself ever getting married?
I can remember it. ;)
33.) Who's someone you haven't seen in a while and miss?
Mitchell Fink and Pamela Newlands have really been on my mind lately. Missing them.
34.) What did you do last night?
Wednesday night? Went to bed early and snuggled with Keith.
35.) Do you care what people think about you?
Sure, sometimes. Doesn't mean that "care" changes what I do or how I act.
36.) Have you ever done something to instigate trouble?
Oh, yes.
37.) Do you like your nose?
Yeah, since I grew into it at about 19.
38.) What color is your bedroom?
Lots of yellow, deep red, and rust/brown accents.
39.) When was the last time you worked out?
Some would say living with Keith is a workout.
40.) Do you have any pets?
Three cats.
41.) Do you like pedicures?
Sure!
42.) Where do you live?
By the beach, baby.
43.) Are you an aggressive driver?
Never. Life's too short. And my Do Not Eat iPod is a great driving companion. (And I'm obsessed with being early, so I'm never in any big hurry to get anywhere. That helps.)
44.) Who is your cell phone carrier?
Cingular. But I only use the "phone" for email.
45.) What color is your car?
White.
46.) What is your favorite color?
Yellow lately.
47.) Do you like mustard?
Sure, Dijon mustard.
48.) What do you tell yourself when times get hard?
Life is not about what happens to you. It's about the grace with which you handle it.
49.) Would you ever sky dive?
Probably.
50.) What character from a movie/TV most reminds you of yourself?
Stewie.
51.) Have you ever bid for something on eBay?
Sure.
52.) What do you think of Angelina Jolie?
She's gorgeous. And she's the one actor Keith will never be allowed to act opposite. Sorry, just playing the odds on that one.
53.) Do you enjoy giving hugs?
LOVE hugs. The world needs more of them.
54.) Would you consider yourself to be fashionable?
Lord, no. I am so my mother's daughter in that respect. I find something that I think looks good on me and buy about ten of IT, so that I can wear it all the time. Boring boring boring.
55.) Do you own a digital camera?
Yup. My dad and SM gave me their old one in December 2000. Yes, that's still the one I use. Yes, it weighs more than my computer.
56.) What celebrities have you been compared to?
Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Sara Jessica Parker, Annette O'Toole... more listed at my Little Known Facts page (which hasn't been updated in like forever).
57.) Who is your favorite Star Wars character?
Yoda.
58.) Does it annoy you when someone says "I'll call" but never do?
Nope. I hate the phone.
59.) What books, if any, have made you cry?
Oh, the Places You'll Go! because Mom gave me a copy when I was in undergrad and wrote love notes to me all through it.
60.) Where would you rather be right now?
La Costa Spa. Hawaii. Copperwynd. Catalina.
61.) Are you a jealous person?
Not even a little bit.
62.) Do you ever feel guilty after eating meat?
Good lord, no. Meat is yummy. Especially when it's all buttery and stuff.
63.) If you were born the opposite sex, what would your name be?
Mom always said there was no chance I was going to be born a male, so she never even contemplated male names. I truly believe, had I been born a male, that Mom would've authorized a radical operation. She was so OVER her sons at the time.
64.) What's your favorite fruit?
Crisp Granny Smith apples. Yum!
65.) Did you enjoy this survey?
Well, sure!
Posted by bonnie at 4:19 AM | Comments (1)
November 6, 2006
I know, I know
I haven't blogged in a million years. I'm working my ass off. But I did take a quiz I saw on my rockstar intern's blog.
| What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio. | |
| The West | |
| Boston | |
| North Central | |
| The Inland North | |
| Philadelphia | |
| The South | |
| The Northeast | |
| What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes | |
Um... seeing as I'm a full-on Hotlantan, how the hell is that even possible? Sure, I've "gotten around" but I've lived in exactly two states in my whole life: Georgia and California. Period. Ooooookay.
Y'all vote tomorrow, okay?
Posted by bonnie at 11:05 PM | Comments (2)
September 25, 2006
Quizzie from Sterling
I grabbed this quiz from Sterling. His answers are fun! Mine... mostly boring. Hee!
Q: WHAT MADE YOU SMILE YESTERDAY?
A: Yesterday as in Sunday? Technically yesterday? Um... flirting and wrestling with my hubby. He's ticklish (and I'm not), so I always win. But he did elbow me in the nose. Bastid.
Q: WHAT WERE YOU DOING AT 8 THIS MORNING?
A: Aw, crap. I guess I have to use Sunday morning, since this morning hasn't had an 8am yet. Um... I had gone to bed at 7:10am, so I was probably just hitting some good sleep.
Q: WHAT WERE YOU DOING 15 MINUTES AGO?
A: Eating grapes and making my HILMMAKS list for a meeting tonight.
Q: SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO YOU IN 1995?
A: Started working on my Master's Degree. Oh, wait... that didn't happen TO me, did it? Hmm... What happened TO me? Hmm. Man, if life is a series of choices, does anything ever really happen TO us? I'm gonna stick with the answer I gave first.
Q: HOW MANY THINGS DID YOU DRINK TODAY?
A: One thing. Water. And lots of it.
Q: WHERE DO YOU KEEP YOUR CHANGE?
A: In the ashtray of the TicTac.
Q: BEST ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
A: Ben & Jerry's peanut butter cup.
Q: SOMETHING YOU ARE EXCITED ABOUT?
A: The HILMMAKS meeting and Keith's most-recent booking (he may actually make the good SAG insurance this year. He's on fire. YEAH, baby).
Q: WHAT SIZE SHOE DO YOU WEAR?
A: 8 1/2. But I wear two of them.
Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY SISTERS?
A: Only emotional ones.
Q: ARE YOU VERY RANDOM?
A: Eh... probably not. Though I can be. It just has to be something very non-random about which I'll appear random. Does that make sense?
Q: DO YOU WANT TO CUT YOUR HAIR?
A: Good Lord, yes. I always wait WAY too long to get my hair cut. Way. The dude always lectures me when I go in for a trim. "You can't GO six months between haircuts, darling!" Whatevs. It's a very low priority.
Q: ARE YOU OVER THE AGE OF 25?
A: By 11 years! Woo!
Q: DO YOU TALK A LOT?
A: Constantly.
Q: DO YOU MAKE UP YOUR OWN WORDS?
A: See Urban Dictionary. I submitted so many words, I became an editor.
Q: ARE YOU TICKLISH?
A: Nope.
Q: ARE YOU TYPICALLY A JEALOUS PERSON?
A: Not even a wee little bit.
Q: NAME A FRIEND WHOSE NAME STARTS WITH THE LETTER "J":
A: Joni. Not just a friend... she's My Cousin Joni (MCJ). Woo!
Q: WHAT DID THE LAST TEXT MESSAGE YOU RECEIVED SAY?:
A: I don't text-message.
Q: DO YOU CHEW ON YOUR STRAWS?
A: Nope.
Q: DO YOU HAVE CURLY HAIR?
A: Nope.
Q: WHAT IS THE NEXT CONCERT YOU'RE GOING TO?
A: Goodness. I haven't been to a concert in two years--and that was the Pixies concert at the Greek (effin' greatness) which was a huge big deal for me. I can't even guess what big event would inspire me to go to another concert at this age (honestly, you can get too old for the whole thing... and suddenly prefer wine and cheese and a picnic blanket at the Hollywood Bowl with all of the other old timers).
Q: WHO IS THE COOLEST PERSON IN YOUR LIFE?
A: Bob Brody. No question about it.
Q: WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
A: Grapes.
Q: WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU SAID TO SOMEONE, AND WHO WAS IT?
A: "I love you," when I put Keith to bed and came back to work.
Q: DO YOU WATCH TV?
A: Constantly.
Q: HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOVIE DONNIE DARKO?
A: Nope.
Q: DO YOU HAVE WORK TOMORROW?
A: *snork* I have work every day. I love working.
Q: EVER BEEN HUNTING?
A: Scavenger hunting. Does that count?
Q: IS MARRIAGE IN YOUR FUTURE?
A: Only to the extent that it already is in my life. ;)
Q: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAID "I LOVE YOU" AND MEANT IT?
A: Just a couple of hours ago. (Oh, and PS, I mean it *every* time I say it, even when I do the corny "LYMI" thing online. I'm serious about my love-giving.)
Q: WHAT SHOULD YOU BE DOING RIGHT NOW?
A: Filing away my "used material" for Showfax columns. I have a binder of "raw material" that is pretty well organized (thank you, brilliant casting intern Julie for working on headshots one day so that I could file column stuff, plus sides and contracts from previous projects I've cast), but my "used material" archive needs attention. Stupid busy work that doesn't impact anyone other than me (and my eternal quest to protect copyright for the future me) but I need to do it.
Q: DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME?
A: Only about a zillion.
Q: DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT?
A: Oh, yes.
Q: YOUNGEST PERSON IN YOUR FAMILY?
A: Um... wow. Depends on how "family" is defined. Relatives? All of them? Eesh... I have no idea who has had a kid recently. My immediate family? That'd be me. I'm the baby. MY FAMILY? That'd be Quinn, my stepson.
Q: IS DRUG FREE THE WAY TO BE?
A: Ugh. Unfortunately, yes. I enjoyed a healthy decade-long prescription drug addiction and MAN do I miss those good pain killers! But my personality paid the price for that junkie-self I was and I'm lucky to have any relationships that withstood that horrific time of getting clean in '98. Happy to be straight now... and man, am I glad booze is legal! ;)
Q: ARE YOU A HEAVY SLEEPER?
A: Hmm. Probably. I only sleep a few hours a day, but when I sleep, I'm pretty much down for the count (even if that count is only 180 minutes).
Q: LAST TIME YOU USED A SKATEBOARD?
A: Um... 1986, when I bought one for my boyfriend's birthday (autographed by Christian Hosoi).
Q: WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
A: Listening to (and watching) The Amazing Race (TiVo'ed). Still mad that TiVo bumped off all of my old "feel good favorites" to grab the new season's premieres (although I do love me some Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and Shark).
Posted by bonnie at 12:21 AM | Comments (5)
September 19, 2006
Hmm.
I've never watched the show, so I'll have to take this quiz's word for it. (Nabbed from Tara the Great.)
You are Christina Yang. You are incredibly determined and very blunt... yet somehow very likable
Take this quiz!
| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code
I am mad at my TiVo. It taped so much stuff for me that it started bumping shows off. Dammit! I had saved some really great stuff just to have when I was bored and needed something fun to watch. All gone now. Dammit. I know it's my fault for having tried to grab all of the first episodes of the new shows and stuff (and having had like no time to watch anything lately), but dangit!! Grr.
Oh, in GOOD news, apparently I won KiKi's 2006 Lindsay Firth Jam Out with Your Clam Out Competition. I am honored. Truly. I have so many people to thank. So much of my life has led to this point, one at which I have been able to come up with so cheeky a phrase as to win this prestigious award. I can only hope to be a contender again next year. *sniffle*
Posted by bonnie at 11:22 PM | Comments (5)
August 1, 2006
Cliff: Quick Bonus Round
Bonus Round
Mel Gibson's publicist
Tom Cruise's publicist
Star Jones' publicist
*snicker*
PS--Speaking at IndustryRSVP tonight. Woo!
Posted by bonnie at 4:40 PM | Comments (7)
July 30, 2006
Cliff: My Challenge
Okay, Cliff-lovers...
Here's my list of Cliff rounds for you to enjoy. Post your responses in my comments section or at least share a link to where you've posted the responses so's I can go see 'em. Have fun!
Instructions: You must sleep with one of the following people, live with one of them, and throw one of them off a cliff. What do you do?
Round One
Will
Grace
Karen
Round Two
Jaclyn Smith
Kate Jackson
Farrah Fawcett
Round Three
Peter
Paul
Mary
Round Four
Larry
Curly
Mo
Round Five
Brandon Walsh
Brenda Walsh
Donna Martin
Round Six
Reggie Jackson
Peter Jackson
Michael Jackson
Round Seven
Frank-N-Furter
Brad
Janet
Round Eight
John
Paul
Ringo
Round Nine
Bruce Lee
Brandon Lee
Jet Li
Round Ten
Ralph Lauren
Tommy Hilfiger
Donatella Versace
Round Eleven
Anderson Cooper
Jon Stewart
Stephen Colbert
Round Twelve
Rick Dees
Ryan Seacrest
Howard Stern
Round Thirteen
The Divine Miss M
M. Butterfly
M. Night Shyamalan
Round Fourteen
Pete
Linc
Julie
Round Fifteen
Mr. Coffee
Mr. Clean
Mr. Whipple (PS--happy 90th birthday Mr. W!)
Round Sixteen
Bubbles
Blossom
Buttercup
Round Seventeen
Tyra Banks
Janice Dickinson
Nigel Barker
Round Eighteen
Chandler
Ross
Gunther
Round Nineteen
Rebecca Romijn
Randy Quaid
Mel Gibson
Round Twenty
Laura Palmer
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Emerson Lake and Palmer
Posted by bonnie at 11:55 PM | Comments (16)
July 28, 2006
Cliff (Day Two)
KiKi posted the first day of CLIFF (my responses are here) and now Babes has posted the second day of CLIFF (and my responses are below).
Instructions: You must sleep with one of the following people, live with one of them, and throw one of them off a cliff. What do you do?
Round 1:
Burt Reynolds (Throw off a cliff.)
Burt Bacharach (Sleep with. I do adore those new Geico commercials.)
Tim Burton (Live with. What fun toys he must have!)
Round 2:
Molly Ringwald (Live with. We have similar tastes in music and '80s trivia, I'm sure.)
Molly Sims (Sleep with.)
The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Throw off a cliff. I mean, she's unsinkable, but can she keep from going SPLAT?)
Round 3:
Batman (Live with. We could fight crimes together!)
Snoop Dog (Throw off a cliff. Again, I'm not big with the bong owners.)
James Dean (Sleep with.)
Round 4:
Annie Lennox (Sleep with. I do love musicians.)
Anne of Green Gables (Live with. We could talk and talk and talk and talk.)
Li'l Orphan Annie (Throw off a cliff. I've always been jealous of her Daddy Warbucks.)
Round 5:
Jimmy Dean (Live with. Yummmmm. Sausage.)
Paul Newman (Sleep with. More yum.)
Betty Crocker (Throw off a cliff. Gluten.)
Round 6:
Ashley Merrick (Throw off a cliff, simply b/c I have no idea who this is and I'm not feeling up to a big risk right now.)
Ashley Judd (Sleep with. She's pretty.)
Ashley Simpson (Live with. She can pay all of the bills.)
Round 7:
John Lithgow (Live with. We'd have fun. I'm sure.)
Steve Martin (Sleep with. Not sure why.)
Leslie Nielson (Throw off a cliff. And don't call me Shirley.)
Round 8:
The Jolly Green Giant (Sleep with. Ho Ho Ho!)
Andre the Giant (Throw off a cliff. But I'd need help.)
They Might Be Giants (Live with. Loves me some TMBG music!)
Round 9:
Henry VIII (Sleep with.)
Richard III (Throw off a cliff.)
Mary Queen of Scots (Live with.)
Round 10:
Jesus (Live with.)
Moses (Throw off a cliff.)
King David (Sleep with.)
Round 11:
Oatmeal Creme Pies (Live with.)
Nutter Butters (Sleep with.)
Lady Fingers (Throw off a cliff.)
Round 12:
Brad Pitt (Throw off a cliff.)
Jennifer Aniston (Live with.)
Vince Vaughn (Sleep with.)
Round 13:
Babes
KiKi
Bon (I think I'd have to throw myself off a cliff to avoid having to choose which of my bestest blog friends I'd have to sleep with and/or live with. YOU CAN'T MAKE ME CHOOSE!)
OH... and two more from KiKi (sent to me via email):
Round 14:
E.T. (Live with.)
Gizmo (Throw off a cliff.)
all of the aliens at the end of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (Sleep with. Yeah, baby.)
Round 15:
Tanya (Throw off a cliff... and all her antibiotics too!)
Coral (Sleep with. Something about that nosering.)
Tina (Live with. She's funny!)
Posted by bonnie at 5:20 AM | Comments (9)
July 27, 2006
Cliff
Okay, I think KiKi may have officially come up with a way to cheer my ass up. At least for tonight. (Note: I have not read ANY of the answers at KiKi's blog. I just copied the questions and here are my answers.)
Instructions: You must sleep with one of the following people, live with one of them, and throw one of them off a cliff. What do you do? (feel free to explain your answers)
Round One:
Jake Gyllenhaal (Live with. He seems clean and orderly. And he's cute to look at.)
George Clooney (Sleep with. I'd live with him except for all of the pranks. I'd seriously get tired of every day being April Fool's Day, despite the fact that he's hot.)
Matthew McConaughey (Throw off a cliff. I do not love bong owners.)
Round Two:
Jessica Alba (Sleep with. Hello! HOT!)
Jessica Simpson (Throw off a cliff. Too much drama and product.)
Jessica Fletcher (Live with. She'd make me breakfast and make the bed. Good roommates, those British.)
Round Three:
Lance Armstrong (Sleep with. No chance of getting knocked up. Oops... too soon?)
Lance Bass (Live with. Everyone needs a gay best friend!)
a bass (Throw off a cliff. Will start to smell otherwise.)
Round Four:
Betty White (Live with. She'll take care of the pets.)
Rue McClanahan (Sleep with. I mean, c'mon... she's just an old-timey Samantha.)
Bea Arthur (Throw off a cliff. And, BTW, *shudder* on this whole round.)
Round Five:
John Kennedy (Sleep with.)
Robert Kennedy (Live with.)
Ted Kennedy (Throw off a cliff.)
Round Six:
Mother Teresa (Live with.)
The Pope (Throw off a cliff. I mean, bless a luxury car and piss me off.)
Ghandi (Sleep with. And, again, *ewww*.)
Round Seven:
Bert (Throw off a cliff. Total control freak.)
Ernie (Live with. He's fun.)
Oscar the Grouch (Sleep with. A gal's gotta slum it every now and then.)
Round Eight:
Paper (Live with. I LOVES me some office supplies.)
Rock (Sleep with. Think about it.)
Scissors (Throw off a cliff. And again, KiKi, I think you're twisted.)
Round Nine:
Mary Kate Olsen (Sleep with. She won't remember it.)
Ashley Olsen (Live with. She's used to cleaning up after her sister.)
Pontius Pilate (Throw off a cliff. Only b/c I worry I'll be called something really evil by people who know who this guy is, if I say anything else.)
Round Ten:
Marcia (Live with. So much fun to share clothes with!)
Jan (Throw off a cliff. I mean, enough with the whining!)
Cindy (Sleep with. That lisp has to be good for something!)
Round Eleven:
Freud (Sleep with. Irony is fun!)
Jung (Live with. Holy crap, would we have some good talks.)
Sartre (Throw off a cliff. Just 'cause.)
Round Twelve:
an apple (Live with. Love apples. Diverse.)
an orange (Throw off a cliff. Hate oranges.)
a banana (Sleep with. Duh.)
Round Thirteen:
Lenny (Live with. He's the most easy-going.)
Squiggy (Throw off a cliff. That voice!)
Urkel (Sleep with. Once you go Urkel...)
Round Fourteen:
Tom Cruise (Throw off a cliff.)
Kate Holmes (Sleep with.)
Suri Cruise-Holmes (Live with. Since it's a fictional baby and there will be no crying.)
Round Fifteen:
George Bush Sr. (Throw off a cliff. Since he created Satan.)
Ronald Reagan (Sleep with. Just for kicks.)
George W. Bush (Live with. Because I could just rearrange the furniture and confuse the hell out of him. Hours of fun!)
Thanks, KiKi. You're one sick puppy!!!
Posted by bonnie at 11:34 PM | Comments (5)
June 21, 2006
*yawn*
Busy busy busy bee. I'm all kinds of exhausted.
That was nabbed from lovely Ali, who is Bettie Page.
I think I shall sleep now. Yeah... that feels about right. Happy SUMMER, y'all.
Posted by bonnie at 1:45 AM | Comments (5)
May 29, 2006
10 Years Ago
10 years ago, from Ames:
Ten years ago today, it was May 29, 1996.
1) How old were you?
THEN: 25.
NOW: 35 (no Hollywood math, there).
2) Where did you work?
THEN: WUOG (grad assistantship as advisor to 200 students at the 26,000-watt FM [yes, I'm still FCC-licensed]), had just been hired to shoot a documentary for the Athens Clarke County School System's technology initiative and was gearing up to work as Technology Coordinator for the 1996 Olympic Soccer Venue.
NOW: seven blocks from the beach, technically (heeeeee), casting movies, writing books and columns, starting up on a few new really cool projects I'm WAYTOOEXCITED about.
3)
4) Where did you live?
THEN: 635 Oglethorpe Ave., Athens, GA 30606.
NOW: between Wilshire and Montana, total Westside diva.
5) How was your hair style?
THEN: I was probably JUST starting to grow out "the Rachel" at that point.
NOW: long, straight, red... boring, boring, boring.
6) Did you wear contacts?
THEN: Acuvue Disposables.
NOW: Nope.
7) Did you wear glasses?
THEN: from bath to bed each night and from bed to bath each morning.
NOW: Nope.
8) Who was your best friend?
THEN: I always had a lot of friends, but my truest-bluest was probably HRH John Chambliss at that point. But there was the radio gang, the old-school buddies, Engine Room team. And mom, of course.
NOW: hmm... Keith, of course, and probably every one of these fine ladies, just for starters. But I'm so much more about a bunch of good friends than one bestbestbest friend. I guess I always have been.
9) Which of your pets were still alive?
THEN: Muffy was 15 and goin' strong.
NOW: Archie, Salema (both mom's kitties), and Thwok are ruling the roost with gusto.
10) Who was your boyfriend/girlfriend?
THEN: I was single and ready to mingle, baby!
NOW: ditto (kidding, honey). First anniversary is in a couple of weeks. Ack!
11) Who was your celebrity crush?
THEN: John Cusack.
NOW: Jon Stewart.
12) Who was your regular-person crush?
THEN: probably the bouncer at the Engine Room.
NOW: Jon Stewart.
13) How many piercings did you have?
THEN: two.
NOW: two.
14) How many tattoos did you have?
THEN: one.
NOW: two.
15) What was your favorite band/singer?
THEN: Robyn Hitchcock, Pixies, REM, Queen.
NOW: ditto.
16) Had you smoked a cigarette?
THEN: I was a "bummer-smoker" at the Engine Room. I think I pretty much quit on New Year's Eve, 1996.
NOW: non-smoker who hasn't bummed one in a loooong time.
17) Had you gotten drunk?
THEN: it was grad school. What do you think?
NOW: not this week. Yet.
18) What kind of Car did you drive?
THEN: the TicTac, age seven.
NOW: the TicTac, age seventeen. Woo! My Miata is almost a freakin' classic, baby!
19) Looking back, are you where you thought you would be in 2006?
hmm... not sure that I thought about where I'd be in 2006. The big deal was imagining where I'd be < Conan >"in the year 2000" < / Conan > which was the year I would turn THIRTY. That was sooooo huge-looking. Since I had chosen to go back to grad school to delay adulthood, I'm guessing I didn't have much of a plan in 2006, other than "stay in school, throw bullseyes on the Engine Room dart league, and have fun."
20) Any idea where you'll be in 2016?
I'm guessing I'll finally be a homeowner, have a kid (plus have Quinn living with us), and be teasing Keith about the fact that he's 50.
We shall see.
Posted by bonnie at 2:24 AM | Comments (3)
May 24, 2006
ABCs of Me, Baby
Tried to sleep, woke up cranky, decided to do a long-ago bookmarked meme from Beau, who calls it "slam-book silliness."
Accent: Somewhat Southern, although not always.
Booze: Ooh, yes please!
Chore I Hate: Vacuuming.
Dog or Cat: Three cats (which are technically one cat, one puppy, and a monkey) 'til we have a house with a yard, at which point we will have a dog.
Essential Electronics: My Mac (Zed), my iPod (Do Not Eat iPod), my Treo (the SixHundy), TiVo.
Favorite Cologne(s): Do people still wear cologne? I'm a scented lotion kind of gal since Donna Karan discontinued Chaos.
Gold or Silver: Platinum with a white gold chaser.
Hometown: Atlanta.
Insomnia: Check.
Job Title: Author, Casting Director, Columnist, Public Speaker, Career Consultant.
Kids: Quinn, my stepson.
Living Arrangements: Shacking with my hubby, three cats, and once a year my stepson in our 2BR apartment seven blocks from the Pacific.
Most Admirable Traits: Honesty, Loyalty, What-You-See-Is-What-You-Getness.
Number of Sexual Partners: More than one, fewer than 100. That's all you really need to know.
Overnight Hospital Stays: Probably when I was born.
Phobias: Claustrophobia.
Quote: "Live your dreams! If you don't, someone else will."
Religion: I'm a mutt.
Siblings: Two way-older brothers.
Time I Wake Up: *snork* That's funny!
Unusual Talent or Skill: Near-photographic memory, OCD-enduced recollection of the tiniest details from the most casual of encounters.
Vegetables I Refuse To Eat: Mushrooms, radishes.
Worst Habit: Conditional love.
X-rays: Wrist, neck, back, hips, chest, teeth, knees, ankles... goodness, I should glow.
Yummy Foods I Make: I burn water.
Zodiac Sign: Cancer with Libra rising and Libra moon (and my Venus is afflicted in Leo, or so I'm told).
Okay, I feel a little better now. ;) Ready to go for that walk! Hurry home, Keith!
Posted by bonnie at 12:01 AM | Comments (6)
May 20, 2006
Noooooooooooo!
Could it BE any worse?
| Your 80s Heartthrob Is |
 |
Lovely. Thanks, Def Jam.
PS--Deadline for this week's column got bumped up. I shall be out of touch even more than I thought I would be this weekend. If you were sending me headshots for the article, YOUR deadline is like... now! (And thanks!!)
Posted by bonnie at 9:30 AM | Comments (6)
May 15, 2006
Dang!
ONE question about money and power and I'm freakin' Mr. Burns!
| You Are Mr. Burns |
 You have big plans to rule the world, and you'll destroy it in the process if necessary! You will be remembered for: the exploitation of the masses Life philosophy: "One dollar for eternal happiness? I'd be happier with the dollar." |
I took a similar quiz like four years ago and was Krusty the Clown. Got this version from Stumbler Rattus.
Posts to come on topics such as the column and requests for participation in the "recreating photos" part of the game PLUS an explanation for the odd yellow hue that has cast itself throughout our apartment.
Posted by bonnie at 1:44 PM | Comments (2)
May 13, 2006
Google the Oracle
Since iPod the Oracle was such a hit (and I know that my attempt at 12 of 12 will likely be boring, weak, and lame), I'm posting my experiences with Google the Oracle. (I'll post the 12 of 12 later.)
Stumble Upon sent me to ShinyFire and I only slightly modified the questions for coolness, then used Google Images to get the answers. ;)
What is the coolest thing in the world?
What is the dumbest thing in the world?
What is my favorite drink?
Where do babies come from?
What's my favorite food?
What will I get for my birthday?
What will be the last thing I see before I die?
If i were a goat, what would i look like?
How much fun is sex?
How hard do I rock?
Hee!
Posted by bonnie at 1:12 AM | Comments (4)
May 12, 2006
London Calling
From Bored Athenians:
| You Belong in London |
 And London is diverse and international enough to satisfy many of your tastes. From curry to Shakespeare, London (almost) has it all! |
Not sure where "Sidney" is, but I'm game!
Posted by bonnie at 4:08 PM | Comments (6)
May 10, 2006
iPod the Oracle
This quiz/meme came from Kiki and Babes... but if you click on every link therein you will end up at the end of the Internet, where this surely began (and don't call me Shirley)!
The idea is, ask your iPod (as if it were your Magic 8-Ball) to answer the following questions. Use SHUFFLE and do not skip songs to get the better/cooler answer. Believe me, the iPod KNOWS its shit! See here:
QUESTION: How does the world see Bon?
IPOD SAYS: "Party's Fall" by Siouxsie and the Banshees
Through rose-tinted glass you still remember
The gladness, not sadness, only laughter
My happiness depends on knowing this friend is never alone
On your own
A party on our own
We'll have a party all our own inside
QUESTION: Will Bon have a happy life?
IPOD SAYS: "Pretty in Pink" by The Psychedelic Furs
She doesn't have anything
You want to steal
Well
Nothing you can touch
QUESTION: What do Bon's friends think of her?
IPOD SAYS: "Dazzle" by Siouxsie and the Banshees
The stars that shine & the stars that shrink
In the face of stagnation the water runs
Before your eyes
Dazzle
It's a glittering prize
QUESTION: Do people secretly lust after Bon?
IPOD SAYS: "Orange Crush" by REM
Follow me, don’t follow me
I’ve got my spine, I’ve got my orange crush
Collar me, don’t collar me
I’ve got my spine, I’ve got my orange crush
We are agents of the free
I’ve had my fun and now its time to
Serve your conscience overseas (over me, not over me)
Coming in fast, over me
QUESTION: How can Bon make herself happy?
IPOD SAYS: "Everlong" by Foo Fighters
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
QUESTION: What should Bon do with her life?
IPOD SAYS: "Sweet Talkin' Woman" by ELO
I was searchin' on a one-way street
I was hopin' for a chance to meet
I was waitin' for the operator on the line
(She's gone so long)
What can I do
(Where could she be)
Oh no, no don't know what I'm gonna do
I gotta get back to you
You gotta slow down
Sweet talkin' woman
You got me runnin'
You got me searchin'
Hold on sweet talkin' woman
It's so sad if that's the way it's over
QUESTION: Will Bon ever have children?
IPOD SAYS: "I Wanna Destroy You" by The Soft Boys
A pox upon the media
And everything you read
They tell you your opinions
And they're very good indeed
I wanna destroy you
And when I have destroyed you
I'll come picking at your bone
And you won't have a single atom left
To call your own
QUESTION: What is some good advice for Bon?
IPOD SAYS: "What You Need" by INXS
Don't you get sad and lonely
You need a change from
What you do all day
Ain't no sense in all your crying
Just pick it up and throw it into shape
QUESTION: How will Bon be remembered?
IPOD SAYS: "In a Big Country" by Big Country
So take that look out of here, it doesn't fit you
Because it's happened doesn't mean you've been discarded
Pull up your head off the floor, come up screaming
Cry out for everything you ever might have wanted
I thought that pain and truth were things that really mattered
But you can't stay here with every single hope you had shattered
QUESTION: What's Bon's signature dance song?
IPOD SAYS: "Dig for Fire" by Pixies
there is this old man
who spent so much of his life sleeping
that he is able to keep awake for the rest of his years
he resides
on a beach
in a town
where i am going to live
and i often ask him
"are you looking for the mother lode?"
huh?
no.
no my child, this is not my desire
and then he said
i'm digging for fire
QUESTION: What's Bon's current theme song?
IPOD SAYS: "Gigantic" by Pixies
And this I know
His teeth as white as snow
What a gas it was to see him
Walk her every day
Into a shady place
With her lips she said
She said
Hey Paul, Hey Paul, Hey Paul, let's have a ball
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big big love
QUESTION: What do others think Bon's current theme song is?
IPOD SAYS: "Turn You Inside Out" by REM
I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do
Given the choice
Given the heart
Given the tool
Given the word
Given the cheers
QUESTION: What will they play at Bon's funeral?
IPOD SAYS: "Pretty in Pink" by The Psychedelic Furs
She lives in the place
In the side of our lives
Where nothing is
Ever put straight
She turns herself round
And she smiles and she says
'This is it'
'That's the end of the joke'
She is gone
But the joke's the same
QUESTION: What type of men does Bon like?
IPOD SAYS: "Oh! Darling" by The Beatles
When you told me you didn't need me anymore
Well you know I nearly broke down and cried
When you told me you didn't need me anymore
Well you know I nearly broke down and died
Oh! Darling, if you leave me
I'll never make it alone
Believe me when I tell you
I'll never do you no harm
QUESTION: How's Bon's love life?
IPOD SAYS: "There She Goes" by Sixpence None the Richer
There she goes
There she goes again
Racing through my brain
And I just can't contain
This feeling that remains
Posted by bonnie at 4:57 AM | Comments (4)
April 27, 2006
This has got to be a joke.
Nabbed from Shouting into the Wind.
| You Should Be a Joke Writer |
 Whether you're spouting off zingers, comebacks, or jokes about life... You usually can keep a crowd laughing, and you have plenty of material. You have the makings of a great comedian - or comedic writer. |
Oh, and I know that this will be two entries in a row in which I send folks to WWdN, but you seriously need to read this post and remember that the best way to prove you ARE somebody is to be calm, normal, and not batshit crazy paranoid a-hole jaggoff actor-types.
PS--T-minus 17 hours 'til I see the best movie ever. (Oh, and is it odd that the next I'm-so-excited-about-it movie on my list is Wordplay?)
PPS--Anyone ever set up a rather large, non-private Wiki before? Any advice? Thankee muchee in advancee.
Posted by bonnie at 6:07 PM | Comments (1)
April 22, 2006
As Promised
A quiz... and a FUN thing!
Congratulations! You scored 48!
You haven't quite managed to scale the heady heights of geekdom, but I have to admit, you've got potential. Keep working on the Latin. Average Joes tend to be the most popular and successful types though, so don't let your mediocrity get you down. Famous Average Joes include...actually, just about any famous person you can think of.You scored higher than 29% on geekpoints The Sexy Geek Test written by littlecellist on Ok Cupid
And...
You KNOW you want to!
Posted by bonnie at 9:31 PM | Comments (6)
April 13, 2006
What's Your Theme Song?
| Your Theme Song is Back in Black by AC/DC |
 I've been too long, I'm glad to be back" Things sometimes get really crazy for you, and sometimes you have to get away from all the chaos. But each time you stage your comeback, it's even better than the last! |
Posted by bonnie at 2:31 AM | Comments (5)
April 10, 2006
Class of '88
Nabbed from MCJ.
Your senior year in High School is supposed to be "the best year of your life." Let's see how much you remember:
1. Who was your best friend? Candy Klein, who was away at college. God bless the Delta dad and long weekends at CMU.
2. What sports did you play? I was more of a mathlete than an athlete. I did, however, letter in sex.
3.
4. What kind of car did you drive? 1980 Toyota Celica... "The Hatchmobile."
5. It's Friday night, where were you? Getting into some sort of trouble with my guys (the Greenstein twins and Avi, plus Snoopy and Pigpen, if they were in town).
6. Were you a party animal? 100% drug-free, but I did have a few nights of drinking (and by "a few," I do mean like single digits for the whole school year).
7. Were you in the "In Crowd"? Yeah. I just didn't realize it at the time.
8. Ever skip school? Oh, hell yeah! It was senior year! Duh!
9. Ever smoke? Not senior year. I was seriously good.
10. Were you a nerd? Was then, am now. Proud of it!
11. Did you get suspended/expelled? Ooh, came so so so very close! The story of how I was either going to receive an F in YEARBOOK, not be allowed to walk at my own graduation, or do a public apology in front of the entire senior class for having been drunk with power earlier senior year is still legendarily comedic. I'll tell ya some time over drinks. It's a great story.
12. Can you sing the Alma Mater? North Springs has an alma mater? Hmm. Who knew?!?
13. Who was your favorite teacher? Senior year? Hmm. Gosh, I guess my Spanish teacher, whose name escapes me right now. Man... that's sad. Well, most of the high-impact teachers I had were from earlier on in high school.
14. Favorite class? Trig/Analysis/Pre-Calc/Calc. Yes. Big geek. LOVES me some math.
15. What was the name of your school? North Springs High School. Go, Spartans!
16. School mascot? Oh... um... Spartans.
17. Did you go to Prom? Three times. Good fun.
18. If you could go back and do it over, would you? Nope. I'm good.
19. Favorite memories of your Senior Year? Doing the morning announcements with Keith Greenstein and Chip Thompson ("Good mornin' North Springs!"), doing Miss Aphrodite (again) with Faith Salie, nailing my SATs, working three jobs after school and on weekends, and nearly being thrown out of school over one of many "Bon takes a stand"-isms in my life.
*giggle* That was fun!
Posted by bonnie at 8:57 AM | Comments (6)
March 31, 2006
Okay, this is weird.
I just took a quiz. Not until I saw the results did I recall having received the exact same results at some time in the past. Yup. Like just over two years ago, in fact.
What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com
Hmm. So, I'm either really boring or really stable. *snork*
Posted by bonnie at 3:34 AM | Comments (7)
February 12, 2006
One More Post
And because Rojo told me Leemsy had updated his blog with a quiz, I present this:
| Erotic Thriller |
 Winding a web of deceit comes naturally, and no one really knows the true you. Your best movie matches: Swimming Pool, Unfaithful, The Crush |
And, in honor of the fact that the above quiz-maker chose to ignore the need for subjunctive, I'll share three recent favorite "d'oh!" quotes from celebs. *shudder*
From Corey Feldman: At the height of the Corey sensation, it was very much like being in Beatlemania.
From Shanna Moakler (on prepping to pitch a pilot she wrote): I don't even want to have this meeting. I just want my agent to do her job.
From Anna Nicole Smith: It's a life-alterating experience. It really is.
Yeah. Stay in school, kids. And, actually... SCHOOL? Do better! Thanks.
Posted by bonnie at 2:07 PM | Comments (1)
February 11, 2006
Saturday Quizzes
Valentine's Day fun from sm00bs.
| Your Candy Heart Says "Get Real" |
 You don't lose your head, and hardly anyone penetrates your heart. Your ideal Valentine's Day date: is all about the person you're seeing (with no mentions of v-day!) Your flirting style: honest and even slightly sarcastic What turns you off: romantic expectations and "greeting card" holidays Why you're hot: you don't just play hard to get - you are hard to get |
*giggle*
And (also from Jodes):
| Your Job Dissatisfaction Level is 9% |
 You're resepcted by your co-workers and boss. Plus, you usually get credit for your succcesses. Don't quit, unless you know you've got something better lined up. |
Happy Saturday, all!
Posted by bonnie at 12:49 PM | Comments (2)
January 31, 2006
Imaginary Friend
I'm more implausable than Chip.
Your score was 54 in Unbelievability!
You are your author's imaginary friend, but you're not really the type of character fiction writers should aim for. You're more than a little out of the ordinary. You might have had some really crazy experiences, or have an unusual talent or two. Maybe you were even born with a tail. Whatever it is that makes you unique, it does the job well, because there are very few people like you on this planet. A novel with you as a character would be a guilty pleasure to read. It would be considered intellectual junk food, of course, but damn fun to read nonetheless. Even if many people didn't want to pay actual money to read about you and your exploits, surely it would be checked out from the library at least... once every couple of months.
You scored higher than 64% on Implausibility Link: The Are You a Plausible Character? Test written by coldrose
Oh, and in kitty news: Thwok has taken to getting high... on adhesive. She has been caught licking the top flap of unused manilla envelopes, then making that *ick* *ick* face... then licking again. And again. She HAS to be getting high from this. Why else would she continue to do it?!? Freakshowkitty!
Posted by bonnie at 12:08 PM | Comments (2)
January 28, 2006
Happy Birthday, Everybody
There are two days of the year on which the MOST people I know were born. One of them is 1/28. The other is 9/11. Seriously. Eight of my good friends share today as a birthday. Six friends share 9/11 (with another five sharing 9/12). Wow. Lots of numerological karma, having this many friends with the same b'day, wouldn't you say?
Okay, so happy birthday to all of you! Wish I could play with everyone.
Now, on to the tagging I got from the greatness that is Nini.
While I have a list of "Little Known Facts at the bonsite (which was way fun to go back through, since I created the list in 1997 and have only updated it a few times since), I still am having trouble coming up with My Five Weirdest Habits, which is what Nini has challenged me to do. I mean, how many of my "things" are habits and how many are OCD rituals? Well... I'll do my best.
1. I am incapable of turning a volume that is measured in numbers up or down to any increment other than five or zero. If my car stereo's volume is on 38, I know Keith was driving last, as I can only have it on 35 or 40. Period.
2. I rewrite lists. This is actually how my OCD was first suspected (by a teacher in high school). I was rewriting a list in Spanish class and my teacher sat me down for a heart-to-heart about rituals and habits and phobias. It was quite revealing. I still rewrite my lists, but not as often as I used to, since the SixHundy takes care of most of my list-making anymore.
3.
4. I cannot make a list with item number three included. Blame somesuch. It is said the "There Is NEVER a Three" rule came from the mis-remembering of a Monty Python sketch, but I've never watched Monty Python, so I can't say for sure. Whether it was supposed to be number six or number three or whatever, it has stuck as number three with my group of online friends, and it is now something that I can't NOT do.
5. Doors must be left all the way open or all the way closed. Period. A door left "ajar" or open but not all the way up against the wall behind it is somehow offensive, out of order, going to cause me stress, or create chaos in my life in some way. Want to drive me crazy? Come over, open all of my cabinets, leave all doors half-open, and put your purse or backpack on the floor (bad feng shui). I will need a valium.
6. When I bowl (which I rarely do anymore), I sing (in my head), "Mary had a little lamb," as I approach the release line. I took bowling as a phys ed in college (woo hoo) and this was the tactic taught by our instructor. My average was around 120. I liked that class.
Next, a wonderful link that was shared by the greatness that is Tony on the 24th. Only wish I'd opened the email then. But how can you know there's brilliance in the inbox? It's like the time I let a phone message go unanswered and later learned I had been cast in the "Deadbeat Club" music video, but missed it, since I figured Eric was just calling to invite me to his party that weekend. Ugh. That's what you get, busy girl!
Posted by bonnie at 3:45 PM | Comments (5)
January 24, 2006
Shows I've Never Seen
Snaked from the greatness that is TV Squad (sign up for the feed, if you haven't already. Plenty of goods).
Star Trek
The Office
CSI
Babylon 5
George Lopez Show
Charmed
Desperate Housewives
Grey's Anatomy
House
NCIS
Two and a Half Men
Oh, and in case you're NOT a gay man with gal best friends reading my blog, you should go read this so that you're caught up to speed.
Meanwhile, it's almost time for the Official Shon/Keith 80th Birthday Party Bash. If you're not already on the invite list, you need to make contact, so that you can be a part of the silly (old people) fun. (Hee hee... that's what younger wives do.)
C-ya!
Posted by bonnie at 9:56 PM | Comments (6)
January 23, 2006
Well Earned Break
Because some of the best "downtime" after a day of building office furniture and moving stuffs all over the place--we are sooooo going to have the BEST home office on the planet--is a quiz, I took two! Yay!
This one from Chip:
Which Rock Chick Are You?
From Suzer:
You are the Universe card, sometimes called the World card. The Universe is the complete, perfect whole. The spiritual path has come to an end and enlightenment is reached. Events have reached completion. The different facets of your life are well-integrated and harmoniously balanced. This is an ideal state in which to rest and feel the true state of your vibrant physical being. Your creative potential is maximized and you have achieved goals that you have set for yourself in the past. After enjoying the pleasure of this state, a new cycle can begin with new challenges and triumphs that will keep you feeling alive and keep building on the foundations you have planted thus far. Image from The Stone Tarot deck.
brought to you by Quizilla
Finally, I'd like to give a big BREAK A LEG to my honey, who has several rockstar auditions tomorrow. Meanwhile, I'll be continuing my work on the home office and the casting lists for the meetings coming up this week.
Oh, and if you want to see the face of evil, go here. Yes, she worked for me, three years ago. Yes, she knows EXACTLY as much about Hollywood as she tries to make it seem as if she does. Truly. And that should tell you plenty. *snark* :\
BTW--cubbies ROCK!
Posted by bonnie at 10:36 PM | Comments (2)
January 20, 2006
Buncha damn drunks...
Happily nabbed from my favorite co-ed Katy:
Q1) Have you ever been drunk? Yes.
Q2) How old were you the first time you got drunk? 16. Junior prom. Oh, peach schnapps will never smell the same.
Q3) Have you ever gotten/given digits while you were intoxicated? Much more likely to ask, "Who ARE you?" the next day, but yes.
Q4) Have you ever drunk dialed? Good lord, yes. Worse: drunk emailing. Thank goodness for the sent items folder and delayed SEND/RECEIVE settings.
Q5) Have you ever been drunk in front of family members? Um, how else can you be around family members?
Q6) Have you ever had to cover up the fact that you were drunk? Probably.
Q7) Have you ever been arrested for any alcohol related crime? Nope. No record whatsoever.
Q8) Have you ever hooked-up with someone while drunk? Isn't drunkedness at the root of the definition of "hooking up"?
Q9) Ever forgot their name? See Q3.
Q10) When was the last time you were drunk? I seem to recall it was a day that ended in "Y."
Q11) Have you ever been on a drunken binge? A bender? Sure.
Q12) Do you need alcohol to have a good time? Nah, I idle at a good time. Booze is a bonus.
Q13) What kind of alcohol gets you the most intoxicated? ???
Q14) Favorite liquor: Vodka (gluten-free brands only, of course).
Q15) Favorite beer: there is no such thing. Beer is icky.
Q16) Have you ever woken up after a night of drinking and found throw up? No. My friends are very good caretakers.
Q17) Have you ever swam drunk? Sure! Isn't that how nightswimming/skinny dipping happens?
Q18) What kind of a drunk are you? Emotional.
Q19) Is alcohol like "truth serum" to you? No. More like "sex serum." What?
Q20) Favorite drinking partner: Ah, Susan Hines, 1995-1997. We'd head over to the Engine Room, each buy a pitcher (Dry Blackthorne, baby), chain smoke, shoot pool, throw darts, and have a blast. Ah... I miss grad school.
Q21) Who is the most annoying drunk that you know? Probably people like Jonathan and Kenneth. They don't realize that being drunk is a relapse for them. That's pretty sad. Not so much annoying.
Q22) Who is the most flirtatious drunk? Mila. Luckily, she's also way hot.
Q23) Do you have a drunken nickname? Not that I know of.
Q24) Funniest drunken scene in a movie: Anthony Michael Hall telling the "Jake" character in 16 Candles that women are all "bitches, man!"
Q25) Favorite song(s) about drinking: Gosh, I guess the only "drinking song" I know is the Chumbawumba song, circa 1997.
Q26) Have you ever woken up next to someone you didn't know? Define "know."
Q27) Have you ever been hit on by someone way older than you? Have you BEEN to Dan Tana's?
Q28) What's the worst buzz kill? Having a gun pulled on me. Yeah. I've never gotten so sober so fast.
Q29) Have you ever dated a bartender or bouncer or cocktail waitress? Of course! I was a bartender. Duh.
Q30) Do you ever say to yourself, "Dang, I need a drink?" Have you READ my blog?!?
Q31) Do strangers ever buy you drinks? Not since getting rufied. Now only Michael buys me drinks, and he's the one who pours 'em.
Q32) Have you ever drunk too much on a date? Probably not. Back when I was dating, I was usually pretty anxious about "getting it right," so I probably didn't start over-drinking until there was relationship pressure involved.
Q33) Is there anything that you refuse to drink? Anything that will gluten-poison me. And beer. That's just icky.
Q34) Have you ever been drunk on a plane? Until my prescription for diazepam ran out, no. But after that... um, yeah. Flying is stressful.
Q35) Have you ever gotten drunk during the day? Define "day."
Q36) Have you ever had to run from the cops and leave the beer behind? No cops. No beer. No issue.
Q37) What's your favorite drinking game? Asshole. Oh, how I miss HRH John and the mid-'90s.
Q38) Have you ever injured yourself while drunk? Sadly, I am much more self-injurious sober.
Q39) What's the most destructive thing that has happened while you were drunk? Should I remember?
Q40) Ever been drunk at a concert? Sure.
Q41) Are you still friends with someone you met while wasted? Hmm. I usually drink with people I know, so I'm not sure that I've met people while drinking who are still in my life... but probably. I don't keep score like that so much and I *did* go to a party school.
Q42) Why do you drink? Because I can.
Posted by bonnie at 10:42 PM | Comments (2)
January 18, 2006
B/c V-day Is Coming...
I defer to the greatness that is Chip on how to celebrate correctly.
Click here to do yourself (*giggle*).
Posted by bonnie at 11:41 PM | Comments (1)
January 16, 2006
Long Lost Meme
Oh wow, so as I'm cleaning out the storage units of my computer (getting ready for the cleaning out of the storage units of my apartment), I come across this old meme (my first, ever) initiated by BrYan (and answered in the comments section of his old old old blogs, it seems). I thought I'd posted them here, too, but I didn't (it seems), so I'll put it here now. Hop in the wayback machine, okay?
Oh, and if anyone has advice on the redesign of our home office (with Feng Shui in mind), I'd love to hear it.
Date: June 6th, 2003 - 08:30 pm
Oh, cool! I like it. Whatever it is.
> 1. How did you meet Keith? What was your first impression
> of him and did you have to change it or did you have him
> pegged from the start?
1a. On the Internet, of all places. He was on a Yahoo group for gamers and one of his fellow posters invited him to join a Yahoo group he moderated. This group was in support of the magazine he edited (fans and staff writers posting together), and, I was one of his writers. So, Keith started posting in that group and eventually we started emailing offlist, exchanged photos, made phone calls, met in person, etc.
1b. My first impression of him was that he's intelligent, clever, geeky, intense, funny, cynical, and generous. All of that is true. But all of that is just part of who he is, so even though I "had him pegged" (somewhat), there was much more to learn about him that has rounded out what I think of him now. I see flaws now that I didn't see at first--and I also see deeper degrees of the wonderful qualities he possesses. And... he's just a big ol' goofball. ;)
> 2. How did you get into casting as a profession?
By accident, I think. I came to LA to act and I ended up taking on a temp gig with Back Stage West as a survival job. They quickly learned I had a brain and some writing ability and asked me to do a regular column, interviewing casting directors. As an actor, I could think of no better job than being paid to get in front of casting directors with whom I'd never get auditions, this early in my career here.
Over three years, I interviewed 200 or so casting directors and found them to be wonderful, creative people with a really cool job. I became the go-to gal when anyone needed to speak with an "expert" on casting in Hollywood. And, casting directors started calling me to ask for help in putting together projects.
A few months ago, I got a call from a casting director who needed a casting coordinator for a reality show for Fox. I told her I'd get some names together and get back to her. She said, "No, Bon. I mean YOU." I figured, "What the hell?" and went in to interview (expecting nothing). I put a dollar amount in mind, knowing that the only way I'd do a job-job (as I LOVE freelance living and do not love office work) is if it paid, in four or five weeks, enough to print my second book this summer. Well... guess how much the job paid. Yup. Exactly.
So, I took that gig, turned down the next one (needed time off and still was working for Back Stage West), then left my job at Back Stage West over some political whatnot... just in time for the next offer to work in casting (17% pay increase and all).
When I started this most recent job, I was asked, "Did you realize you were doing the job of four people on the last show?" I said, "Y'know... it FELT like a lot of work." This time, I had an assistant and only 1/4 of the job assignment. I LOVED it and decided, if there's a place for me in future casting assignments, I'm open to taking them--mainly because I CAN do four or five weeks on, two weeks off, and so on.
So... as soon as I say yes to jobs three and four (next week), I will close the management company I started last year, as it is considered a conflict of interest to be in casting AND talent management simultaneously.
> 3. What is the furthest you've travelled for pleasure? For
> work?
3a. 4316 miles according to http://www.ofps.ucar.edu/sbi/catalog_hl y-02-03/other/lat-long.htm from Atlanta to Madrid. Twice.
3b. 1932 miles from Atlanta to Los Angeles. Twice.
> 4. If I gave you $5000 on the condition that you had to
> spend it frivolously, what would you do with it?
God. Define "frivolously." I'd say a down payment on the way-too-expensive car I want (the Infiniti FX45) is pretty frivolous, but you might disagree.
Hm. How about having a bunch of friends come into LA for a big dinner party at one of the most posh places in town, followed by helicopter tours of the city at sunset. Good enough?
> 5. Cricket Feet?
Yes.
When I'm happy, I get "cricket feet," meaning, I rub my feet together like a cricket. So, if the goal is to be happy (a status evidenced by having "cricket feet") a company with that name should lead to happiness.
And I think crickets are major good luck, in many cultures.
This was fun! Now what? Do I ask you questions?
Posted by bonnie at 10:14 PM | Comments (0)
Because Hal Tagged Me
and I can't say no to a good tagging:
Four jobs you've had in your life: Gosh. Only four? Hmm. I'll pick the more obscure ones. Hand model, improv comedy traffic school instructor, nation-wide corporate trainer for Chili's, in-store storyteller for Disney.
Four movies you could watch over and over: And quote from, right? ;) Clerks, Sixteen Candles, The Sure Thing, and Office Space (though, again, it's way hard to pick only four).
Four places you've lived: Hotlanta, Athens, Hollywood, Santa Monica.
Four TV shows you love to watch: I'll pick current ones only. How's that? Nip/Tuck, My Name Is Earl, Everybody Hates Chris, and Real World/Road Rules: Gauntlet 2.
Four places you've been on vacation: Madrid, Maui, Scottsdale, NYC.
Four websites you visit daily: somesuch-whatnot, Breakdowns, IMDB-Pro, Showfax.
Four of your favorite foods: I'll choose ones I can actually eat (as many of my favorites are long-lost gluten-filled loves of my past life). Green corn tamales from El Cholo, carrot ginger soup, Il Moro's Insalata Garga, and Dan Tana's lobster with garlic seared asparagus.
Four places you'd rather be: Wow. I feel like this will be a cop-out, but I love where I am. I guess I'll choose places that would indicate a very big shift in my level of prosperity. Copperwynd, 404 16th, the pimp penthouse at the Palms, another "wing" of my estate (wherever that may be).
Four albums you can't live without: Another one that's impossible to narrow down to four. Viva! La Woman (Cibo Matto), Murmur (REM), Doolittle (Pixies), and Element of Light (Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians).
Four magazines you read: Real Simple (thanks, Jodi!), Living Without (thanks, Gary!), Daily Word, Wired.
Four cars you've owned: Ha! I've only owned TWO! The Hatchmobile ('86 silver Toyota Celica hatchback) and The TicTac ('90 white Mazda Miata).
Four people to do this meme: Hmm. Well, Hal already tagged the most-likely do-er (Ames), so I'll tag Krispy, Leems, Suzer, and our world's newest blogger: Aleta.
Posted by bonnie at 1:08 PM | Comments (1)
January 10, 2006
Monk Quiz
Nabbed from the great Beffers.
PS--Dear Rhetorical Letter Writer, I frickin' love you.
Posted by bonnie at 6:25 AM | Comments (1)
December 18, 2005
My TX X-mas Quiz
Texas b/c I got it from Jodes and it reminds me of Ali.
| Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas |
 Which is much more important to you than nifty presents. |
Posted by bonnie at 12:12 AM | Comments (1)
December 17, 2005
Oh, Mickey, You're So Fine!
Which DISNEY character are you most like?
brought to you by QuizillaPosted by bonnie at 12:53 PM | Comments (0)
December 7, 2005
Highlights for Music Junkies
I've been working on this over at the blog of my musical soulmate, Leemsy. Don't read our answers there (in his comments section) until you've looked it over on your own and come up with a few of the bands depicted in the image below (click to enlarge significantly).
There are 75 bands. Which ones can you name? It's like that Highlights magazine that was always in the doctor's office waiting room... but cooler.
Okay, a couple more TSOAY (thanks for the acronym, Hal) folks these days. Yay! (See what you've started, Cliff?) And, like BrYan, I'll be doing a post-mortem, but I must say it's definitely easier, once you make it past the first scary entry. To wit, my second scary entry was a piece of cake to write when compared to the anxiety I felt over writing the first. Go say hi to Julie-O, who joins me, Chip, BrYan, Hal, and the original TSOAY-er, Cliff.
Anyone else planning to test the waters?
Posted by bonnie at 12:23 AM | Comments (3)
December 4, 2005
Arrrrrrrr!
Swiped from John, my musical soulmate.
PS--Casting offers on Still of the Night go out tomorrow. The script for How I Lost My Mind and Killed Someone is up at CricketFeet.com. Rock on, casting director!
Posted by bonnie at 1:42 PM | Comments (0)
November 8, 2005
Can't Sleep
That's what I get for commenting on how soundly I've been sleeping since going on the thyroid supplements.
| Your Birthdate: July 11 |
 You're very sensitive to what's going on around you, yet you remain calm. Although you are brilliant, it may take you a while to find your niche. Your creativity is supreme, but it sometimes makes it hard for you to get things done. Your strength: Your inner peace Your weakness: You get stuck in the clouds Your power color: Emerald Your power symbol: Leaf Your power month: November |
Now I'm all up... and buzzy. Good thing I have a bunch of casting stuff to do. Damn the shiny object that is the quiz (this one, from Ames, who is having a really great week already)!
Posted by bonnie at 3:05 AM | Comments (2)
November 7, 2005
Quizzie.
Inspired by Quiz-o-Rama at Ali's blog:
| You Passed 8th Grade Math |
 |
Notice I didn't post my results to the IQ test... not much better than what gave you an "ouch," Ali. ;)
I don't even know what that means.
Ooh, but I do find this cool (and of course it's cool. It came from Nini).
PS--I'm going to be out of touch for a few days. Casting meeting tomorrow for gig number 18, prereads for gig number 17 the next two days. Busy bee. That's me!
PPS--I met the DP for the documentary of 1000 Journals at the party last night. Very very very very very cool project.
Posted by bonnie at 7:57 PM | Comments (3)
November 5, 2005
Yummy!
Nabbed from someone I don't know who commented at one of my favorite blogs.
| You Are Coffee Ice Cream |
 |
I do loves me some coffee ice cream.
PS--13 Going on 30 is a really cute movie.
Posted by bonnie at 6:28 PM | Comments (1)
Pop Quiz
Because I have no photos to upload (dammit--they're *so* all up in my camera) in honor of Chip's Day in the Life Challenge, I give you this, stolen from PARF:
Let's find out just how clever you really are.
First Question: You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?
Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are absolutely wrong!
If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second!Try not to screw up in the next question.
Second Question: If you overtake the last person, then you are...?
Answer: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST Person?You're not very good at this! Are you?
Third Question: Very tricky math! Note: This must be done in your head only. Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.
Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000 Now add 10. What is the total?Did you get 5000?
The correct answer is actually 4100.
Don't believe it? Check with your calculator! Today is definitely not your day. Maybe you will get the last question right?
Fourth Question: Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini, 4. Nono. What is the name of the fifth daughter?
Answer: Nunu?
NO! Of course not. Her name is Mary. Read the question again...
Yeah. That's all good fun. Damn, I wish I'd been able to contribute good photos (read: any photos) to the cause.
Good news: had a kick-ass meeting for the film I'm casting AND a rockstar dinner with the leads in a film I cast earlier this year (yeah, they're dating now... I'd say that means I'm pretty damn good at spotting chemistry and casting romantic leads). Yippee!
Posted by bonnie at 12:06 AM | Comments (1)
October 30, 2005
My Liver!
Was it a Beavis and Butthead line? God, what a random memory. I don't even think I ever watched more than five minutes of that show, when it was on, but I seem to recall a faked accident and one of the guys clutching his chest, yelling, "My liver! My liver!" The other guy whispered, "Lower!" And he either--can't recall which--dropped his hand to his crotch and said, "My liver! My liver!" or lowered his voice and said it. Hm.
Either way...
I've started a liver cleanse. Have to do that before taking anything for my thyroid. Ugh. I had a few panic attacks, just going over it all. So much stress about mysterious issues of the bod. Very very very odd. Anyway, I'll keep y'all posted. Wish me luck.
While googling for that first image, I found this one, immediately above. It got me to thinking... how common is this practice of cutting out faces of exes in photos? I've never done it. I've never even torn a photo in half for drama. So odd to want to trash the photo to... what? Feel better? Perform a ritual, removing the person from your life more literally? Show the world you're more narcissistic than sentimental? What?
And finally, a quiz. Can YOU tell your programming language creators from your serial killers? Hee! Fun.
Posted by bonnie at 1:44 AM | Comments (1)
October 7, 2005
So Busy
Oy, I am so so so so so so so busy. Working like a madwoman on the book's revisions (and damn if this book is not getting HUGE); too busy to answer emails and phone calls asking me to cast, do book signings, and various speaking engagements; and it has (again) been too hot to move this week.
So, I've decided to take a break (I started this entry 50 minutes ago, which shows how many other brilliant blogs I've visited while coming up with this silly post) and do a li'l quiz. (From Ali.)
| You Are Apple Cider |
 |
Now, if Friday chooses to be below 90 degrees, I'll feel like it's Fall and that'll be nice. I'd like to be less annoyed by weather and more inspired to cut HUGE chunks of stuff from the book. Anyone up for clearcutting? I could use some help, but it's really thick underbrush at this stage (and I usually try to spare my proofer patrol from such heavy lifting).
Posted by bonnie at 2:00 AM
September 28, 2005
I Must Be Feeling Better!
Because I'm doing the rounds (reading blogs) and stealing from brilliant people like London Cliff.
That's a good sign.
Five Things I Can And Can't Do (Cliff's answers are way better than mine.)
Five Things I Should Know How To Do And Can't
1. cook (I burn water)
2. play guitar
3.
4. whistle
5. speak the three foreign languages I learned in school
6. say "particularly" correctly
Five Things I Shouldn't Know How To Do But Can
1. write with both hands
2. advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry
3.
4. hit bullseye, every time
5. spot and name every actor I've ever auditioned, when I see him or her on TV in something else
6. full-on background check on anyone without any significant information (SS#, address history, etc.)
Fun, no? ;)
Fun poll results (yeah, I 86'd the poll after getting a whopping 22 votes).
BonBlogs Poll!
Why do you read BonBlogs?
To keep up with your whatnots. 45% 10
To see if you're casting something new. 5% 1
THERE IS NO THREE, EVER! 14% 3
Eh, it's bookmarked. What the Hell? 5% 1
I'm secretly stalking you. 18% 4
You're stalking me and I want to know why. 0% 0
Long-time reader, first-time interacter. 14% 3
Google led me here and I stuck around. No idea why! 0% 0
Reactions to come later. ;)
Posted by bonnie at 5:42 PM
September 24, 2005
Uninspired
So, I'm thinking about how I have nothing to blog about so why bother updating except to say thank you to everyone for all of the great get-well vibes y'all sent over these past couple of weeks (and yes, I'm realizing I've spent the better part of September ill... grr) and then I visit Jodi's blog and realize, when uninspired... I can still QUIZ! Yippee!
| Your Inner Child Is Happy |
 You're cheerful and upbeat, taking everything as it comes. And you decide not to worry, even when things look bad. You figure there's just so many great things to look forward to. |
Yay! See? Even when I'm hacking up a lung, I'm a happy li'l girl in here somewhere! Ilikeat.
Found in many lakes and ponds, ducks are a common site the world over. Known for their famous quack, ducks tend to congregate in flocks or go off on their own in pairs. As a duck, you may seem friendly at times but will not hesitate to bite if someone is bothering you. Your love for travel and your ability to swim are some reasons why you are a duck.You were almost a: Pony or a Puppy
You are least like a: Mouse or a ChipmunkCute Animals Quiz
And... so... I'm a duck! Well, there ya go! Good thing I'm *not* a pony or else I'd end up across the street at the petting zoo later today! Hee hee.
Posted by bonnie at 5:17 AM
August 15, 2005
Upset Tummy :(
I remember my mom saying that I was never as miserable as when I had an upset tummy, as a little girl. I'm definitely in Whiny Bunn* mode right now.
So I took a quiz.
| Cheese Pizza |
 |
That was brought to you by Ali, who took it from Jodes, whose blog I don't visit nearly enough because I feel like a failure since I can't knit. (Kidding, Jodes. I think it's really cool and I'm just jealous.)
I think I have to go to the store now to buy something with bubbles in it. I'm crabby when my tummy is owie. I also apparently type in baby-talk then too.
* When I was a little girl and I would get particularly whiny, my parents would say, "Who are you? You can't be Bonnie Athene! She's a sweet little girl. You must belong to the Bunn family next door. You must be their little girl, Whiny Bunn."
Of course, this was very funny to them until I went over to Mr. and Mrs. Bunn's house one day and asked if I could play with their daughter, Whiny Bunn. That ended that.
Posted by bonnie at 10:59 PM
August 13, 2005
Me in 100 Things
Grabbed from Nini (and it really reminds me of the Go-Go's Girl of a Hundred Lists, which was always a favorite song even before I realized it was pretty much an ode to my OCD).
01 First grade teacher's name: N/A (never went to K, 1st, or 2nd grade--fun fact).
02 Last word you said: "G'nite."
03 Last song you sang: Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine.
04 Last person you hugged: Keith Johnson, of course!
05 Last thing you laughed at: Something on Will & Grace (a Jack line, I'm sure).
06 Last time you said "I don't remember:" Sheesh! I don't remember.
07 Last time you cried watching TV: Tonight at the gym, during the reairing of the World Trade Center towers falling as they did a news story on the release of the 9/11 tapes.
08 What color socks are you wearing? None.
09 What's under your bed? Nothing (it's bad feng shui).
10 What time did you wake up today? Hmm... something like 7am when the phone started ringing.
11 Current taste: Grapefruit juice.
12 Current hair: Red, long, in need of a rinse and trim, wet and piled on top of my head right now, post-shower.
13 Current annoyance: Lack of free time available to do stuff like purge old headshots, organize scripts, return demo reels, and begin work on my next book.
14 Current longing: Hm. Can't come up with anything.
15 Current desktop background: Cool red/yellow swirl thingy from the Mac OS abstract image files.
16 Current worry: That Thwok is not 100% healthy.
17 Current hate: No hate. Ever.
18 Current favorite article of clothing: The Gap shorts I've worn out (and the Tweeds sandals I've broken).
19 Favorite physical feature of the preferred sex: Eyes.
20 Last CD that you listened to: Mix CD from Mike at Roxbury (it's called "La Bonita's 31st Birthday Mix," I think).
21 Favorite place to be: Home.
22 Least favorite place: In traffic.
23 Time you wake up in the morning: Never the same time.
24 If you could play an instrument, what would it be? I'd love to be really good at piano.
25 Favorite color: Silver.
26 Do you believe in an afterlife? Absolutely! That question James Lipton asks about what you want God to say to you when you get to heaven... my answer is: "Welcome back! Ready to go again?"
27 How tall are you? 5'7" (but I'm often accused of being 5'9"--it's the boobs).
28 Current favorite word/saying: "My pleasure!" (I've been hearing myself say this on the phone to agents and managers all week long.)
29 Favorite book: Lovingly, Georgia (although Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting is right up there too.
30 Favorite season: Fall (and, really, it's October in Boston).
31 One person from your past you wish you could go back and talk to: Probably Mom.
32 Where do you want to go for university? Been... several times. If I go back to finish my PhD, it'll probably be at UCLA.
33 What is your career going to be like? Already is... flexible, creative, intense, social, and very fun.
34 How many kids do you want? Maybe one.
35 Said "I love you" and meant it? Every time.
36 Gotten in a fight with your dog/cat/bird/fish? No.
37 Been to New York? Of course!
38 Been to Florida? Of course!
39 Been to California? Present day!
40 Been to Hawaii? God, yes. LOVED it. Can't wait to go back.
41 Been to Mexico? Never.
42 Been to China? Nope.
43 Dreamed something really crazy and then it happened the next day? Of course!
44 Do you have a crush on someone? Of course!
45 What book are you reading now? Self-Management for Actors (for revision purposes... BTW... that's a REALLY good book).
46 Worst feeling in the world? Being misunderstood.
47 What is the last thing you think about when you go to bed at night? What all I have to do starting when I'm next awake.
48 What is the first thing you think about when you wake in the morning? Kisses.
49 How many rings before you answer? When I'm working and expecting calls, I'll pick up on the first ring. When I'm not in the "expecting calls" stage, I *never* pick up. Ever. Hate, hate, hate the phone (oh, so I guess there *is* something I hate, for that one above).
50 Future daughter's name: Grace.
51 Future son's name: Walker.
52 Do you sleep with a stuffed animal? Does Archie count?
53 If you could have any job you wanted what would it be? This is it! Except maybe I'd also be exec producing a show (still, that plan is in the works... takes time to build up to that).
54 Wish you were somewhere else? Nope.
55 College plans: Who knows if I'll go back to finish the PhD. Eh, I love school, so I probably will.
56 Piercings: Two.
57 Do you do drugs? Nope.
58 Do you drink? Yep.
59 What kind of Shampoo and Conditioner do you use? Three different kinds: Pantene, Finesse, and Be Long.
60 What are you most scared of? Heights (like on a ropes course--but NOT like rappelling down a mountain. Odd, isn't it?).
61 What clothes do you sleep in? Panties and a tank top.
62 Who is the last person that called you? An agent, making sure I got the tape of his clients he messengered over today.
63 Where do you want to get married? On the beach at sunset.
64 If you could change anything about yourself what would that be? I'd be forever a size 12. That's where my body is happy and that's a good healthy size for me to feel like the goddess I am. (Isn't it weird that, if I could change ANYTHING about myself, it would be my weight? Why not change that I'm obsessed with my body? Yeah... that would be a nice shift too.)
65 Who do you really hate? Oh, all right! If I must... how about high-maintenance people? But really, that's not hate. It's annoyance.
66 Been In Love? Constantly.
67 Are you timely or always late? Perpetually prompt.
68 Do you have a job? Yes. Several. Always.
69 Do you like being around people? I like being around myself the most (Mom taught me early in life to get comfortable with my own company, for which I'm grateful), but when I'm in a social place, I LOVE being a party girl. I'm very good in groups. I work a mean room.
70 Best feeling in the world? Satisfaction over a job well done. Any type of job.
71 Are you for world peace? Sure! In theory. It's just that it exists outside the theoretical that makes it hinky.
72 Are you a health freak? Yep.
73 Do you have a "type" of person you always go after? I used to. It was the artist, creative, tortured intellectual with passion and drive. Brilliant and funny and a bit cynical. Actually, y'know what? I think I still go for that type in all of my friendships and business dealings. Hm.
74 Do you want someone you don't have? Not really. I'm generally pretty satisfied in life.
75 Are you lonely right now? Nope.
76 Ever afraid you'll never get married? Nope. Keith says there are four types of marriage (spiritual, emotional, religious, and civil). Technically, we've been "married" for four years now, just not in all of the various ways recognized by society.
77 Do you want to get married? Not again! ;)
78 Do you want kids? Love having Quinn in my life. Hope to have a child when/if it's meant to be. Not really attached to it either way.
79 Cried today? Yes.
80 Bought something today? Dinner at Baja Fresh.
81 Gotten sick today? Nope.
82 Sang today? Yes.
83 Said I love you today? Of course!
84 Wanted to tell someone you loved them today? If I wanted to, I told them. I never hold back an "I love you."
85 Met someone today? No.
86 Moved on today? Oh, yes. I'm very proud of the way I've handled some issues with grace today.
87 Talked to someone today? Goodness, yes. Many someones, coordinating all of this casting stuff.
88 Had a serious talk today? Yes. Several.
89 Missed someone today? Yes.
90 Hugged someone today? Of course! Hugs are like oxygen!
91 Yelled at someone today? Only in a mock-yell, playing with Keith about his silliness.
92 Dreamed about someone you can't be with today? No.
93 Danced today? No.
94 I.M.ed someone today? Nope.
95 Watched TV today? Yes. And about a hundred demo reels and taped auditions on the computer's screen while editing for uploading.
96 Played dress up today? Only if you count wearing a sarong as "playing dress-up" (which Keith would, since I'm usually in shorts).
97 Left someone a comment today? Of course! I'm a very comment-y blog friend.
98 Sent someone more than five text messages today? I don't think I've sent someone more than five text messages *ever*.
99 Gone to the movies today? Nope. Just worked on casting one.
100 Completed another survey today? Just did, thanks. ;)
Okay... who's next? Ali? Kris? Deb? C'mon... y'know you want to!
Posted by bonnie at 12:08 AM
August 9, 2005
Grr.
Because I'm having a grrrrrrrrr day (and Keith won't let me spray his ankles with compressed air), this is how I'm venting.
Meme snarked from Ames (and more of it below)...
LAYER ONE: ON THE OUTSIDE
Name: Bon
Birthdate: 07.11.70 (so cool and reflexive)
Birthplace: Hotlanta
Current Location: Hollywood (in spirit)
Hair Color: red, but in major need of a touch-up.
Righty or Lefty: lefty, except with scissors. It's weird.
LAYER TWO: ON THE INSIDE
Your heritage: Scotch-Irish, Cherokee, Dutch, and about a dozen other whatnots.
Shoes you wore today: the shoes I bought to replace the ones I really love, from Tweeds (RIP).
Your fears: rope courses, closed-off spaces, cotton balls (see standup comedy routine from Comedy Store 2000 for details).
Your perfect pizza: gluten-free (sadly, none exist).
Goal you'd like to achieve: absolute, unconditional self-love (same goal since Corey Allen's acting class at Margie Haber Studios, 1999).
LAYER THREE:
Since there is never a three, the rest of the meme is in the extended entry, should you be interested. ;)
LAYER FOUR: YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW
Your most overused phrase on IM: I don't IM. But when I chat at PARF on Fridays, it's probably LOL.
Your thoughts first waking up: Spoken: "Honey? Come be close!"
Your best physical feature: the rack. Always the rack.
Your bedtime: Huh?
Your most missed memory: plopping my head in my mom's lap, having her stroke my hair and baby-talk me, even at age 29.
LAYER FIVE: YOUR PICK
Pepsi or Coke: as a shareholder, it must be Coke, even though I'll have none of either.
McDonald's or Burger King: neither has good gluten-free choices, so... um... yeah, whatever.
Single or group dates: what's a DATE? Just kidding. Usually Dan Tana's and usually with whatever group of people has gathered. That means, sometimes group dates and sometimes it's just us and heavy-handed drink-pouring Mike.
Adidas or Nike: in honor of the great Mitchell Fink, it must be Adidas (swag is good).
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: rarely, so no opinion.
Chocolate or vanilla: chocolate.
Cappuccino or coffee: neither. I don't do the coffee.
LAYER SIX: DO YOU? or ARE YOU?
Smoke: not anymore.
Cuss: yup. Way too much.
Single: nope.
Have a crush: constantly.
Think you've been in love: perpetually.
Like high school: only sometimes.
Want to get married: in denial. ;)
Believe in yourself: absolutely.
Get motion sickness: yes. Especially in the back seat of a Towncar or in a plane with a hangover.
Think you're attractive: sometimes. Sometimes I'm a goddess like none other. Other times I'm slothzilla. It's part of having a childstar/teen-anorexic brain. Hard to fix.
Think you're a health freak: anytime I'm pegged to one extreme or another, I'm either alcoholic or obsessed with fitness. Depends on the day you catch me. Right now, I'm working out like a maniac and wish I could hit the gym several hours a day. *shrug*
Get along with your parents: who?
Like thunderstorms: miss 'em like crazy!
Play an instrument: probably can plunk out a few notes on just about anything and can read sheet music enough to get by.
LAYER SEVEN: IN THE PAST MONTH
Drank alcohol: yup.
Gone on a date: sure.
been on stage: constantly.
eaten an entire box of Oreos: never!
Eaten sushi: not since going gluten-free. :( Bummer, since I love/miss sushi.
Been dumped: only by the CSA.
Gone skating: no, but I read about it, at Chip's blog, plus others.
Gone skinny dipping: oh, man... it was a year ago, but we did that nightly while house-sitting and LOVED it. We sooooooo need a pool.
Stolen anything: no. I've gotten much better. ;)
LAYER EIGHT: HAVE YOU EVER
Played a game that required removal of clothing: of course.
Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: sure.
Been caught "doing something:" like... sex? Sure. I'm old. It happens. ;)
Been called a tease: just the other day by MCJ!!
Gotten beaten up: yeah, but I usually beat as well as I got beaten. Ask Scott Freeman or Jared Herbst, the boys I beat up back in my school days. ;)
LAYER NINE: GETTING OLDER
Age you hope to be married: 34.
Number of Children: well, there's Quinn, which counts. I'd like to have a girl, but I don't know... we have to be in a really secure financial situation before we bring more kids into the world. Quinn-support and OUR OWN support is plenty, right now.
Describe your dream wedding: I love that this is in "getting older." LOL
How do you want to die: in my sleep, without pain, like Mom did.
What do you want to be when you grow up: always living my dream, whatever that should become.
Where would you most like to visit: there's a major list there, really. Changes regularly. Almost always involves a passport.
LAYER TEN: IN A GAL/GUY
Best eye color: brown
Best hair color: dark brown
Short or long hair: longish
Height: 6'+
Best first date location: very public.
Best first kiss location: lips.
LAYER ELEVEN: IN THE NUMBERS
Number of people I could trust with my life: hm. A few. Hard to quantify. A few, certainly.
Number of CDs I own: ha! In the world of "CD as Casting Director," I'd say only me. ;) In the world of that musical disc... I'd say 300-400, maybe.
Number of piercings: two.
Number of tattoos: two.
Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: oh, goodness, too many. My RSiCopyright services indicate my name is in print pretty effin' regularly, which is kinda cool. Most of the time, it's actually me, and not the Red Cross admin or the Board of Regents member (much less the stripper).
Number of scars on my body: more than a few. I count tattooed-over scars as scars, moles I wish were gone as scars, and being a keloid kid, I'd say I have a goodly number of scars to count. I try not to count. Why quantify pain? I'd rather count the number of happy places.
Well, that was fun. Definitely improved my mood, even for a moment. Now the bed! ;)
Posted by bonnie at 4:01 AM
July 19, 2005
Quick Quiz
Nabbed from Nini (who has a very cute photo up an entry below the one I've linked).
Posted by bonnie at 2:15 PM
May 7, 2005
Geography
Two quizzes from Maria. One from weeks ago that I kept forgetting to put on here. A funny T-shirt spied in NY. Plus a rant and a thank you.
You Belong in London
A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique woman like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.
What City Do You Belong in?
Nope. Too cold. Too rainy. No London. But thanks.
American Cities That Best Fit You: |
| 75% Los Angeles |
| 65% Honolulu |
| 65% Portland |
| 55% Atlanta |
| 55% Chicago |
Yup. That's about right.
You scored as Chelsea.
Chelsea is an area in Lower Manhattan west of Park Avenue from about 30th Street to about 14th Street which includes the Flatiron District. It's well known as a gay friendly area. It's also really hip and upscale. It's great place to shop for things for the home. If there is some kind of new innovative soap dish out you're bound to find it here. There are a lot of good places to eat... but, the prices can be a little high. The bartenders in this area are some of the best in the city and they know how to make everything. When some new drink comes out you can bet it came from Chelsea! The only draw back is the entire place is crawling with yuppies. But if you're a yuppie that's probably Okay.
Chelsea 83%Which neighborhood in Manhattan is best for you?
Alphabet City 72%
SoHo/TriBeCa 67%
Upper West Side/Morningside Heights 67%
Hell's Kitchen/Theatre District 61%
Stuyvesant Town 61%
Inwood 56%
Harlem 50%
Kips Bay 50%
El Barrio 45%
China Town 28%
Upper East Side 22%
Financial District/Battery Park 17%
Washington Heights 11%
created with QuizFarm.com
A note about TriBeCa: I was seriously embarrassed for the mess of people interviewed during the TriBeCa Film Festival who couldn't tell you what "TriBeCa" meant. Worse, even, was that the show doing the story (some Entertainment Tonight-type show) got it wrong, saying, "It's short for the Triangle shape the district makes!"
*thud*
Morons. That takes care of "Tri." You just need to look at your little map to come up with "Be" and "Ca." Sheesh!
Oh, and thanks for all the support and love on the panic attack stuff. I'm doing better. Need some more time. I'm taking it. Yay!
Posted by bonnie at 1:12 PM
December 8, 2002
http://www.spynotebook.org/photoblog/beatles.jpg
Posted by bonnie at 5:54 PM | Comments (0)