So...my writing class has started back up again, the first thing to break open the cocoon of hell that was this horrible summer. I couldn't wait to start up again because I needed something going on in my life that was fun.
After week two of class I was "volunteered" to be in an improv beauty pagent one day before it was to happen!! I have never acted or improved anything, but I figured 'oh well, I won't know anyone watching except for my writing friends, so who cares?' I got my two costumes; one gown and one leisure wear and I was set. I got to Second City and waited around with my Stage Mama,Sasha, until it was time to get ready. The Sassy Gay Friend Show was before the show I was in and it was sold out. So as that show is going on the girls in my show got changed backstage. Before long Brain Gallivan (Sassy Gay Friend) came back and took a look at all of us and points to me and says, "You're going to win this." See, gay men can not resist me, even when I'm in costume. Too bad I'm not that irresistable to straight men! All my writing friends came and even one of the new guys from our class came out, which was really nice.
We go on in our gown looks:
Center Stage
(After my cat pooped on me during show and tell in second grade, nothing embarrasses me anymore...clearly.)
My leisure outfit was this sweet number:
Yes my talent, as choosen by the audience, was tap dancing...that was just dandy!
I didn't win, but that's ok because I'm surprised I even did it. As I was changing an older dude came back and talked to everyone and after he left I asked one of the girls who he was. Oh, just the owner of all the Second Cities. If I would have known he was in the audience, I would have been super nervous so thank God I had no clue!
With my old lady makeup still on, I drove to Bakersfield to go to Cambria with my Mom and Scottish Granny for her birthday. It's nice and foggy over there. We had lunch, went to the kniting shop for what probably felt like an eternity to my Mom, who doesn't knit, and had a wee sweetie.
The next day I went out to Grandma's and got a whole bunch of old pictures, my GG's coffee table and an AWESOME cat ring. Baller Status!
So, things are looking up, my class is going well. But the topper to all the good things is that 30 Rock is back. Yes, I still have a very good relationship with TV and last night's episode was fantastic. I couldn't get my favorite clip of Jack seducing a gay man...his tricks would have worked on me, especially the old hand through the hair. Yummers! But here's my second favorite scene of the night.
We'll see how long things so well for me. I'm sure I'll Lemon all this good stuff some how!
So...I had my birthday which, up until the day of had been perfect. But God knew nothing can be perfect for me, not yet at least. I woke up to find out that my car needed to go into the shop and $600 later it was fixed. UGH, thanks God!! The day before I had gone to Bakersfield to visit family. I went to visit my Grandma in Wasco and had a really nice "dinner" served promptly at noon followed by "million dollar cake." It was all very good and the visit was great because I got to tell her all about the TCM Festival.
I had Smith's frosting cake with Mom, Dad, Uncle David, Allen and Granny later that night. And I also got to find out that both of my grandmothers have a thing for James Mason's voice...I don't think I cared to know that.
I drove home, woke up wanting to go run errands and found out, nope, I get to go to Ford. Blah. Tasha and I still went to Mastro's for a really nice birthday dinner in Newport. She'd never been and I think she liked it, I of course, loved it.
Super cute photo of Tasha (Or as my Scottish Granny calls her "Tinnie Bash.")
Their drinks are fabulous. Tasha had wine. I'll take her word that it was good since I'm not a wine-o.
I had my favorite, a Lemon Drop with dry ice. The smokey affect is impressive when it's served.
I had a KC Rib Eye, a very fine choice of meat I will say. It was like butta. Tasha had the fillet mignon and we shared the gorgonzola mac and cheese and 1lb baked potato...I had never seen one so big!! Fantastic dinner and I was very happy to go out with a great friend and get dressed up for a fancy-schmancy dinner. I ended the evening watching 'It's Complicated' like the 80 year old woman I really am.
That Friday night Cassie came down to visit, which almost never happens so it was a big deal. We went to the Getty Saturday afternoon to see the DaVinci exhibit which was...annoying. Since I never have Saturdays off I forgot that the masses go out then and I hate being with the masses and their devil children. There were WAY too many strollers at the Getty. Children, especially those that are messy and can't walk well should NOT be anywhere near FINE art. Stay home. The exhibit itself was mainly sketches which needed to be viewed through magnifying glasses, and with all the people crammed into those rooms, it just wasn't great. Thank God there was more stuff to look at!!
I came across this painting of a Spanish woman. It was very vibrant and I was impressed with how HUGE it was...I'm a size queen.
This was a basin depicting Cleopatra's life. If you can see there are swords and sharp crap popping out everywhere, I would not be washing my face in this at all!!
This was a table which I found to be very creepy. I mean you're eating your dinner and you look down and there are all these faces smiling at you like they're saying, "Hey, thanks for the nice view."
Me and Mr. Bojangles a few lives ago.
Squinty!! It was super bright that day.
Me, "Harry" and Cassie
After almost a year and half of not seeing each other my "Harry" came and met us for Brazilian food at Fogo de Chao in Beverly Hills. And do I know my friends or what because they both LOVED this place. Cassie said it was like having your best friends keep coming by the table to ask if you'd like some more meat. It really is like that, they have 16 different kinds of meat there and a great salad bar and a great bar (Thin Mint cookie shots!!!) It was great and ever the classy guy, Harry picked up the tab!! Now THAT was nice.
DONE SON!
Notice how Harry is the only one that looks blissful, while the girls are bordering on pain.
After dinner we all went back to my apartment and talk, talk, talked until 3 AM. It was a VERY good time and I really appreciated them driving down to see me because it's a 2.5 and 5 hours trip for them. YIKES! Over all a really awesome birthday and if you didn't get my reference, it is, yet again, an 'I Love Lucy' one. Educate yo' self!
So...I was draggin' in the morning and did NOT wake up for the 9AM viewing of 'Sunset Boulevard.' I was not ready for my close up Mr. DeMille. I arrived for the showing of Joan Crawford's home movies which spanned from about 1938-1942-ish. They were nearly all in color but they were silent. I really enjoyed them and I was about 1 of only 500 people that have ever seen them. Her grandson, Casey, hosted the showing. He is NOT Christina's son and has never met her and said that he nor his mother, Cathy, thought that movie/book was an accurate depiction of Joan.
A really great shot of Joan hunting in the woods.
Joan and Christina sunbathing (NUDE!) It was adorable. Everything that was shown of Joan interacting with Christina was super cute. Christina was crazy and I'm glad that Joan's grandson is trying to restore her reputation.
Filmed in Shafter, CA. Not Indiana.
The first film of the day was 'North by Northwest.' It was PACKED!! Robert Osborne was there interviewing Martin Landau and Eva Marie Saint before the film. Martin Landau looks like a really nice old dude...until you watch the movie and he's creepy as hell!! Also, was he gay? It's a legitimate question because I learned that Tony Curtis dabbled in men...and animals!!!AHHHH!!!! Any who, I had never seen the movie all the way because it's ALWAYS shown in Bakersfield because the famous plane scene was filmed in Shafter, about 20 minutes away. And here's a little tidbit for you, the man that flew the plane was my Grandma's neighbor. Fact.
I am glad I hadn't seen it all the way through because it was REALLY good on the big screen. Also, this was the third movie I had noticed James Mason in during the festival. What was that all about? He is one creepy dude.
Up next, another funny person put in an interview with Buster Bluth. Buck Henry was there for 'The Graduate.' He wrote the screen play for the movie and is also Liz Lemon's dad on 30 Rock. He was very funny, even with Buster Bluth.
The movie was great and I now want to see more movies that Anne Bancroft was in.
Buck Henry is the guy that is at the hotel front desk...he reminds me of Jack Lemon a little bit.
After the movie I went back across to Club TCM and met up with Carley for a bit before I drove my tired self home.
I will for sure go to the Festival next year but the things I will do differently are 1: buy the best ticket and 2: get a hotel so I can take naps in the afternoon, driving back and forth was no bueno!
So...I went to the 9AM showing of 'The Bad and The Beautiful' at Grauman's 6, which I found is hidden and is pretty much a a normal cinema. But at 9AM I just wanted caffeine. I saw my film crew friends again at this event because Robert Osborne was there interviewing Cheryl Crane, Lana Turners daughter...yes the one that may have killed Lana's boyfriend.
The movie was good, but I had to leave an hour before the end because I had to make it to Mel Brooks' Walk of Fame ceremony.
The ceremony was packed and included a stinky hobo with matching stinky trash bag. Ugh. I saw my Writing 1 teacher there, Ira Miller, the the tall man next to the glowing angel of botox and the man in sunglasses.
There were tree cutting guys across the street that Mel Brooks yelled at and told to watch out for the birds' nests. He was super funny through out the ceremony and Carl Reiner was there and spoke.
(Sorry it's sideways, if I fixed it, it wouldn't upload to youtube, whatever, the audio is the best part.)
The real press got better footage of the ceremony and I'm barely in the last bit of this video, trying to take a photo in the top right with my huge sunglasses on.
I walked back to the Roosevelt to grab something to eat. There's a diner in the front called 25 degrees and it's always p-poppin' so I ate at the counter. I sat next to a very chatty, and nice, gay dude who had worked with Robert Osborne at the Hollywood Reporter years ago. Then a girl with a laptop sat down next to me and we chatted for a bit. She said she was from Vanity Fair and asked if she could interview me, of course!! So we talked about why there's a lack of young people here (that was a very commonly asked question to me) , why I like old movies, etc. And I ended up making in Vanity Fair.!! NEAT-O!!
I did enjoy a great burger which I couldn't even finish!
After lunch I went to Club TCM to relax before I went to see 'The Producers' at Grauman's.
Had TCM photographer not of walked by taking photos, I would have taken a nap here. I was full, very sleepy and little did I know, sun burnt, fun! I met a mother and daughter (both older than me) and chatted with them until I went across the street.
I was in the second row because I wanted to be super close while Mel was being interviewed. TCM photographer finds me again!
I was pretty close but these old crones next to me told me there was no photography allowed, there was an announcement! Guess what you weathered old witch, EVERYONE else is taking photos. I didn't care for those two me-maws. Someone almost as annoying was the interviewer from Vanity Fair. He was very nervous and didn't laugh when things were funny and I'm sure Mel Brooks was thinking, "Who the hell is this guy?" He also looked like Buster Bluth from 'Arrested Development,' just like him.
"Hey Brother!"
After the interview I moved back to a seat on the side of the theater and out of the wings, in the empty row in front of me is MEL BROOKS. Holy crap. I didn't talk to him because I thought that would be rude, but I was super close to him. He left after the beginning of the film.
After the movie I went back to the Club and talked to a 19 year old guy from UCSB, Kevin, who's studying film and wants to direct. He was very interesting and knew a lot of about movies, hopefully I'll see him next year. I decided to leave after that and not go see 'Top Hat' because I am not a big Fred Astaire fan and I was super tired.
Here are some shots of Club TCM.
A screen which played a loop of dancing (and swimming) numbers from movies. It was muted because there was other music played in the club.
The dance floor had chairs on it and the bar is in the background.
So...I went to the first TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood as a birthday present to myself. I was supposed to go to Vegas, but plans fell through and this turned out to be the best choice. The first day turned out to be a longggg day for me. I had to get up and get my dress from the tailor and go pick up my tickets to the festival, I was hemorrhaging money all day long! But I paid to go see the re-premire of Judy Garland's 'A Star Is Born.' WORTH IT!!
As I left the hotel to go beautify I was stopped by TCM to be interviewed. I was wearing my HUGE Jackie O sunglasses and they asked me to removed them. I lifted them up and said, "I'm not wearing any makeup, these are staying on." I was interviewed for about 10 minutes and ended up seeing that film crew at almost every event I went to, so we became pals.
Gettin' my hur did
I drove down to the DNA Salon on Beverly and saw Meredith Morris, who's AWESOME. She did my up do from photos I brought in of Joan from Mad Men and it was perfect. Then Rada Maksimovich did my make-up, very peachy and 60's ish.
Back of my 'do
I got into my dress and drove to Grauman's, very jittery about my first red carpet...anything! I played "I'm the Greatest Star," from Funny Girl to pump myself up. Oh and did I mention I was in 5 inch heels, please God, don't let me fall! I watched a how to walk in heels video from Oprah that really helped me.
Eli Wallach
There were two red carpets, one for the real stars .
And one for the no bodies who paid BANK to come were shooed inside like schoolkids late from recess. They could of at least had someone taking photos of us for fun!
In the lobby they had a few costumes from Judy Garland's various films scattered around.
The screen was HUGE
I went to see if I needed to sit down yet and since I was alone I figured I could sit where ever and stood in the lobby to watch the stars come off the red carpet. I saw Eli Wallach come in and two ladies in matching ruffly peach outfits (I later found out one of them was Ann Rutherford, Scarlet O'Hara's little sister!! WHAT!!) I saw some people that I knew but didn't know their names, because they were newer stars and then it happened, Alec Baldwin walked in.
To the surprise of myself mostly, I was very composed. He beelined to the popcorn counter and grabbed some treats and there were some skinny mousy girl, not dressed up and had her hair in a messy bun with him. They were not affectionate, but I still didn't care for her. He went to his seat so I figured I better find one myself. This old lady asked me if I worked there and while explaining that I didn't to her I heard in the back of my left eara deep gravely, " Excuse me." I said, "Oh, pardon me." (How the hell was I so composed while dealing with my idea of perfection?!) He sat down, I found a seat that, oddly enough, was 7 seats away from Mr. Baldwin and nestled in between two of the most ignorant people I've ever met. This is what I felt like inside though,
Yes, the furthest ear is him.
Robert Osborne went up and spoke and got Alec Baldwin to come up with him ala The Essentials. I learned how to figure out the video aspect of my camera FAST!
Before the movie there was footage from the original premiere down the street at the Pantage. Lucy and Desi, Lauren Bacall and a bunch of others were interviewed and people clapped when each one came on screen. Dummy #1 to my right was there with her boyfriend, who could have saved himself $599 and left her at home to watch Gossip Girl, asked why people were clapping, those people weren't really there. I was clapping because I was exciting to see my favorite stars alive again on the big screen and for, oh, respect!
The movie began and it was wonderful. This song really stuck out to me:
(The bottom take is what was used.) It was one of the most perfect songs to see on a HUGE silver screen and made me truly appreciate movies as they should be seen as well as how Judy Garland should be seen. She seems to be one of those shoved down your throat like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn but on the big screen with a loud soundtrack and passion behind the words, I GOT why she was/is so great. And yes I did tear up. Youtube doesn't do the song justice, it was wonderful.
in·ter·mis·sion/–noun
1.a short interval between the acts of a play or parts of a public performance, usually a period of approximately 10 or 15 minutes, allowing the performers and audience a rest.
Dummy #1 asks what is an intermission. I told her. She responded, "I don't know what else could be in the movie, it seems like it's done." I tell her, "Well, it's not, you have about 1.5 hrs left so you better get up." Please, go away and die because you are worthless were my thoughts. She went to get gummy bears which she smacked loudly and left the wrapper on the ground, PIG! Dummy #2 on my left asked what was restored in the movie. The audio track is all there but there are stills in black and white that were recovered from the cut scenes that we got to watch as we heard the audio, that was the restored part, which Robert Osborne, talked about, at length, had he listened!!
The movie ended and I see Dreamboat getting up and out before the lights are up so I scooted outside as well. He's walking around to get in the car, Boring McYawn is already in the car, and I say, "Pardon me Mr. Baldwin." He looked up and I walked out into the street to show I meant business. "I find you terribly fascinating," he loved that, "If you ever want to steal John Wayne's footprints..." And he laughed took my number and said ," ok, thank you." That was a reference to an 'I Love Lucy' episode and if you've never seen it, you're welcome.
I then walked over to Club TCM, because I didn't pay $1,000 extra to go to the Vanity Fair party (NEXT YEAR!!!), and bought myself a $4.99 Diet Coke. I met up with two really nice girls I had seen at the premire who were dressed cute.
Me, Carley and Amber
They left early and I went in and ran into one of the guys that had interviewed me earlier that day and I can't remember his name but we had a nice long talk. I'm horrible with names!!
The Essenstials Set
We parted and I went home around midnight because I had to be back in Hollywood the next day at 9AM to see 'The Bad and the Beautiful."
So... I recently watched the HBO movie Grey Gardens. I've seen the original documentary from the 1970s and the people on 'Hoarders' don't got nothin' on the Beales!!
I really enjoyed the movie because it gave me a better understanding of the two women from the documentary and their true stories...not just their own idealized versions. Jessica Lange was very good as Big Edie and doesn't have a bad voice either. But I felt Drew Barrymore was the best in this role, probably the best thing she's ever done. She was dead on as Little Edie and even trained her mouth to talk like a normal person and not how she normally speaks, out of one side of her mouth, like Bette Davis after her stroke!
After watching that movie I found a super cute video of cats making biscuits. The cat getting the rub down is the same breed as Mr. Bojangles.
After I watched it I looked up the reason why cats do that. Let me share:
Q: Why do cats knead?
A: That loud purring followed by the sharpening of claws on some soft spot is called “milk-treading.” A nursing kitten instinctively uses his paws to draw out milk, gently pushing on his mother’s stomach to increase the milk flow. When older cats behave this way, it’s a good sign that they’re happy, content, and probably recalling their kitten hood.
The fact that I spent that much time looking up cute cat videos and cat information is a little scary to me. I don't want to become the crazy cat lady in my 20s and when I only have one cat. I hate to think how nutty I'll be if I get more!!
Then I looked on my iPhone. I have 81 photos on there, 32 are of Bojangles. If I die in a car wreck and someone finds my phone they will think, "Whoa, that chick was really into her cat." Here are some samples to prove it.
Covering his eyes from the sun coming in so he can keep napping.
That's right, I'm knitting with my cat. I'm doomed.
I understand he's super cute and awesome but I need more photos of other things or else I'm on the road to Grey Gardens, 30 cats and a giant raccoon!
So... I tried to make a butterscotch cookie with chocolate ganache that I saw on Bakerella's blog.
I couldn't find the 11 inch pan she used but I found one that was 8in x 2in.
I have never made ganache before but it was SUPER easy. Melted butter, cream and chocolate chips. It smelled like hot coco!
I couldn't decorate it exactly like the blog, which stunk because I really thought it looked cool how she did it, but my improvised version isn't too bad.
What I did make that turned out perfectly was the Valentine's Day card. I made it while everything was baking. SUPER CUTE and easy!!!
I also did a red velvet cake from Paula Deen. It wasn't really red because I didn't have any red food dye, but really, it's doesn't matter as long as it tastes good and it's Paula Deen, y'all! You know this is gonna be decadent!!!
OK I was really good and didn't have any cookie dough, or ganache. I taste tested the cake batter because it called for vinegar and wanted to make sure it wasn't salad-y before I baked it but I did have one big finger full of frosting. My total weakness in life. It was SUPER yummy, cream cheese, marshmallow, butter and powdered sugar. Y'all....mmmm.
Cake Sandwich
Not quite the 7 luscious layers of the world famous baker, Fred Mertz, but it works.
A baking job well done and I don't even feel sick from too much dough eating because I didn't have any. 9 year old me would be shocked!
(By the way, for anyone who's nosey, the cookie goes to Eddie, Maybelline's blog about Smith's got me motivated for that, even though I'm nothing compared to God's Bakery. The cake and card go to my roommate.)
So...my writing class has started back up again, the first thing to break open the cocoon of hell that was this horrible summer. I couldn't wait to start up again because I needed something going on in my life that was fun.
After week two of class I was "volunteered" to be in an improv beauty pagent one day before it was to happen!! I have never acted or improved anything, but I figured 'oh well, I won't know anyone watching except for my writing friends, so who cares?' I got my two costumes; one gown and one leisure wear and I was set. I got to Second City and waited around with my Stage Mama,Sasha, until it was time to get ready. The Sassy Gay Friend Show was before the show I was in and it was sold out. So as that show is going on the girls in my show got changed backstage. Before long Brain Gallivan (Sassy Gay Friend) came back and took a look at all of us and points to me and says, "You're going to win this." See, gay men can not resist me, even when I'm in costume. Too bad I'm not that irresistable to straight men! All my writing friends came and even one of the new guys from our class came out, which was really nice.
We go on in our gown looks:
Center Stage
(After my cat pooped on me during show and tell in second grade, nothing embarrasses me anymore...clearly.)
My leisure outfit was this sweet number:
Yes my talent, as choosen by the audience, was tap dancing...that was just dandy!
I didn't win, but that's ok because I'm surprised I even did it. As I was changing an older dude came back and talked to everyone and after he left I asked one of the girls who he was. Oh, just the owner of all the Second Cities. If I would have known he was in the audience, I would have been super nervous so thank God I had no clue!
With my old lady makeup still on, I drove to Bakersfield to go to Cambria with my Mom and Scottish Granny for her birthday. It's nice and foggy over there. We had lunch, went to the kniting shop for what probably felt like an eternity to my Mom, who doesn't knit, and had a wee sweetie.
The next day I went out to Grandma's and got a whole bunch of old pictures, my GG's coffee table and an AWESOME cat ring. Baller Status!
So, things are looking up, my class is going well. But the topper to all the good things is that 30 Rock is back. Yes, I still have a very good relationship with TV and last night's episode was fantastic. I couldn't get my favorite clip of Jack seducing a gay man...his tricks would have worked on me, especially the old hand through the hair. Yummers! But here's my second favorite scene of the night.
We'll see how long things so well for me. I'm sure I'll Lemon all this good stuff some how!
So...I had my birthday which, up until the day of had been perfect. But God knew nothing can be perfect for me, not yet at least. I woke up to find out that my car needed to go into the shop and $600 later it was fixed. UGH, thanks God!! The day before I had gone to Bakersfield to visit family. I went to visit my Grandma in Wasco and had a really nice "dinner" served promptly at noon followed by "million dollar cake." It was all very good and the visit was great because I got to tell her all about the TCM Festival.
I had Smith's frosting cake with Mom, Dad, Uncle David, Allen and Granny later that night. And I also got to find out that both of my grandmothers have a thing for James Mason's voice...I don't think I cared to know that.
I drove home, woke up wanting to go run errands and found out, nope, I get to go to Ford. Blah. Tasha and I still went to Mastro's for a really nice birthday dinner in Newport. She'd never been and I think she liked it, I of course, loved it.
Super cute photo of Tasha (Or as my Scottish Granny calls her "Tinnie Bash.")
Their drinks are fabulous. Tasha had wine. I'll take her word that it was good since I'm not a wine-o.
I had my favorite, a Lemon Drop with dry ice. The smokey affect is impressive when it's served.
I had a KC Rib Eye, a very fine choice of meat I will say. It was like butta. Tasha had the fillet mignon and we shared the gorgonzola mac and cheese and 1lb baked potato...I had never seen one so big!! Fantastic dinner and I was very happy to go out with a great friend and get dressed up for a fancy-schmancy dinner. I ended the evening watching 'It's Complicated' like the 80 year old woman I really am.
That Friday night Cassie came down to visit, which almost never happens so it was a big deal. We went to the Getty Saturday afternoon to see the DaVinci exhibit which was...annoying. Since I never have Saturdays off I forgot that the masses go out then and I hate being with the masses and their devil children. There were WAY too many strollers at the Getty. Children, especially those that are messy and can't walk well should NOT be anywhere near FINE art. Stay home. The exhibit itself was mainly sketches which needed to be viewed through magnifying glasses, and with all the people crammed into those rooms, it just wasn't great. Thank God there was more stuff to look at!!
I came across this painting of a Spanish woman. It was very vibrant and I was impressed with how HUGE it was...I'm a size queen.
This was a basin depicting Cleopatra's life. If you can see there are swords and sharp crap popping out everywhere, I would not be washing my face in this at all!!
This was a table which I found to be very creepy. I mean you're eating your dinner and you look down and there are all these faces smiling at you like they're saying, "Hey, thanks for the nice view."
Me and Mr. Bojangles a few lives ago.
Squinty!! It was super bright that day.
Me, "Harry" and Cassie
After almost a year and half of not seeing each other my "Harry" came and met us for Brazilian food at Fogo de Chao in Beverly Hills. And do I know my friends or what because they both LOVED this place. Cassie said it was like having your best friends keep coming by the table to ask if you'd like some more meat. It really is like that, they have 16 different kinds of meat there and a great salad bar and a great bar (Thin Mint cookie shots!!!) It was great and ever the classy guy, Harry picked up the tab!! Now THAT was nice.
DONE SON!
Notice how Harry is the only one that looks blissful, while the girls are bordering on pain.
After dinner we all went back to my apartment and talk, talk, talked until 3 AM. It was a VERY good time and I really appreciated them driving down to see me because it's a 2.5 and 5 hours trip for them. YIKES! Over all a really awesome birthday and if you didn't get my reference, it is, yet again, an 'I Love Lucy' one. Educate yo' self!
So...I was draggin' in the morning and did NOT wake up for the 9AM viewing of 'Sunset Boulevard.' I was not ready for my close up Mr. DeMille. I arrived for the showing of Joan Crawford's home movies which spanned from about 1938-1942-ish. They were nearly all in color but they were silent. I really enjoyed them and I was about 1 of only 500 people that have ever seen them. Her grandson, Casey, hosted the showing. He is NOT Christina's son and has never met her and said that he nor his mother, Cathy, thought that movie/book was an accurate depiction of Joan.
A really great shot of Joan hunting in the woods.
Joan and Christina sunbathing (NUDE!) It was adorable. Everything that was shown of Joan interacting with Christina was super cute. Christina was crazy and I'm glad that Joan's grandson is trying to restore her reputation.
Filmed in Shafter, CA. Not Indiana.
The first film of the day was 'North by Northwest.' It was PACKED!! Robert Osborne was there interviewing Martin Landau and Eva Marie Saint before the film. Martin Landau looks like a really nice old dude...until you watch the movie and he's creepy as hell!! Also, was he gay? It's a legitimate question because I learned that Tony Curtis dabbled in men...and animals!!!AHHHH!!!! Any who, I had never seen the movie all the way because it's ALWAYS shown in Bakersfield because the famous plane scene was filmed in Shafter, about 20 minutes away. And here's a little tidbit for you, the man that flew the plane was my Grandma's neighbor. Fact.
I am glad I hadn't seen it all the way through because it was REALLY good on the big screen. Also, this was the third movie I had noticed James Mason in during the festival. What was that all about? He is one creepy dude.
Up next, another funny person put in an interview with Buster Bluth. Buck Henry was there for 'The Graduate.' He wrote the screen play for the movie and is also Liz Lemon's dad on 30 Rock. He was very funny, even with Buster Bluth.
The movie was great and I now want to see more movies that Anne Bancroft was in.
Buck Henry is the guy that is at the hotel front desk...he reminds me of Jack Lemon a little bit.
After the movie I went back across to Club TCM and met up with Carley for a bit before I drove my tired self home.
I will for sure go to the Festival next year but the things I will do differently are 1: buy the best ticket and 2: get a hotel so I can take naps in the afternoon, driving back and forth was no bueno!
So...I went to the 9AM showing of 'The Bad and The Beautiful' at Grauman's 6, which I found is hidden and is pretty much a a normal cinema. But at 9AM I just wanted caffeine. I saw my film crew friends again at this event because Robert Osborne was there interviewing Cheryl Crane, Lana Turners daughter...yes the one that may have killed Lana's boyfriend.
The movie was good, but I had to leave an hour before the end because I had to make it to Mel Brooks' Walk of Fame ceremony.
The ceremony was packed and included a stinky hobo with matching stinky trash bag. Ugh. I saw my Writing 1 teacher there, Ira Miller, the the tall man next to the glowing angel of botox and the man in sunglasses.
There were tree cutting guys across the street that Mel Brooks yelled at and told to watch out for the birds' nests. He was super funny through out the ceremony and Carl Reiner was there and spoke.
(Sorry it's sideways, if I fixed it, it wouldn't upload to youtube, whatever, the audio is the best part.)
The real press got better footage of the ceremony and I'm barely in the last bit of this video, trying to take a photo in the top right with my huge sunglasses on.
I walked back to the Roosevelt to grab something to eat. There's a diner in the front called 25 degrees and it's always p-poppin' so I ate at the counter. I sat next to a very chatty, and nice, gay dude who had worked with Robert Osborne at the Hollywood Reporter years ago. Then a girl with a laptop sat down next to me and we chatted for a bit. She said she was from Vanity Fair and asked if she could interview me, of course!! So we talked about why there's a lack of young people here (that was a very commonly asked question to me) , why I like old movies, etc. And I ended up making in Vanity Fair.!! NEAT-O!!
I did enjoy a great burger which I couldn't even finish!
After lunch I went to Club TCM to relax before I went to see 'The Producers' at Grauman's.
Had TCM photographer not of walked by taking photos, I would have taken a nap here. I was full, very sleepy and little did I know, sun burnt, fun! I met a mother and daughter (both older than me) and chatted with them until I went across the street.
I was in the second row because I wanted to be super close while Mel was being interviewed. TCM photographer finds me again!
I was pretty close but these old crones next to me told me there was no photography allowed, there was an announcement! Guess what you weathered old witch, EVERYONE else is taking photos. I didn't care for those two me-maws. Someone almost as annoying was the interviewer from Vanity Fair. He was very nervous and didn't laugh when things were funny and I'm sure Mel Brooks was thinking, "Who the hell is this guy?" He also looked like Buster Bluth from 'Arrested Development,' just like him.
"Hey Brother!"
After the interview I moved back to a seat on the side of the theater and out of the wings, in the empty row in front of me is MEL BROOKS. Holy crap. I didn't talk to him because I thought that would be rude, but I was super close to him. He left after the beginning of the film.
After the movie I went back to the Club and talked to a 19 year old guy from UCSB, Kevin, who's studying film and wants to direct. He was very interesting and knew a lot of about movies, hopefully I'll see him next year. I decided to leave after that and not go see 'Top Hat' because I am not a big Fred Astaire fan and I was super tired.
Here are some shots of Club TCM.
A screen which played a loop of dancing (and swimming) numbers from movies. It was muted because there was other music played in the club.
The dance floor had chairs on it and the bar is in the background.
So...I went to the first TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood as a birthday present to myself. I was supposed to go to Vegas, but plans fell through and this turned out to be the best choice. The first day turned out to be a longggg day for me. I had to get up and get my dress from the tailor and go pick up my tickets to the festival, I was hemorrhaging money all day long! But I paid to go see the re-premire of Judy Garland's 'A Star Is Born.' WORTH IT!!
As I left the hotel to go beautify I was stopped by TCM to be interviewed. I was wearing my HUGE Jackie O sunglasses and they asked me to removed them. I lifted them up and said, "I'm not wearing any makeup, these are staying on." I was interviewed for about 10 minutes and ended up seeing that film crew at almost every event I went to, so we became pals.
Gettin' my hur did
I drove down to the DNA Salon on Beverly and saw Meredith Morris, who's AWESOME. She did my up do from photos I brought in of Joan from Mad Men and it was perfect. Then Rada Maksimovich did my make-up, very peachy and 60's ish.
Back of my 'do
I got into my dress and drove to Grauman's, very jittery about my first red carpet...anything! I played "I'm the Greatest Star," from Funny Girl to pump myself up. Oh and did I mention I was in 5 inch heels, please God, don't let me fall! I watched a how to walk in heels video from Oprah that really helped me.
Eli Wallach
There were two red carpets, one for the real stars .
And one for the no bodies who paid BANK to come were shooed inside like schoolkids late from recess. They could of at least had someone taking photos of us for fun!
In the lobby they had a few costumes from Judy Garland's various films scattered around.
The screen was HUGE
I went to see if I needed to sit down yet and since I was alone I figured I could sit where ever and stood in the lobby to watch the stars come off the red carpet. I saw Eli Wallach come in and two ladies in matching ruffly peach outfits (I later found out one of them was Ann Rutherford, Scarlet O'Hara's little sister!! WHAT!!) I saw some people that I knew but didn't know their names, because they were newer stars and then it happened, Alec Baldwin walked in.
To the surprise of myself mostly, I was very composed. He beelined to the popcorn counter and grabbed some treats and there were some skinny mousy girl, not dressed up and had her hair in a messy bun with him. They were not affectionate, but I still didn't care for her. He went to his seat so I figured I better find one myself. This old lady asked me if I worked there and while explaining that I didn't to her I heard in the back of my left eara deep gravely, " Excuse me." I said, "Oh, pardon me." (How the hell was I so composed while dealing with my idea of perfection?!) He sat down, I found a seat that, oddly enough, was 7 seats away from Mr. Baldwin and nestled in between two of the most ignorant people I've ever met. This is what I felt like inside though,
Yes, the furthest ear is him.
Robert Osborne went up and spoke and got Alec Baldwin to come up with him ala The Essentials. I learned how to figure out the video aspect of my camera FAST!
Before the movie there was footage from the original premiere down the street at the Pantage. Lucy and Desi, Lauren Bacall and a bunch of others were interviewed and people clapped when each one came on screen. Dummy #1 to my right was there with her boyfriend, who could have saved himself $599 and left her at home to watch Gossip Girl, asked why people were clapping, those people weren't really there. I was clapping because I was exciting to see my favorite stars alive again on the big screen and for, oh, respect!
The movie began and it was wonderful. This song really stuck out to me:
(The bottom take is what was used.) It was one of the most perfect songs to see on a HUGE silver screen and made me truly appreciate movies as they should be seen as well as how Judy Garland should be seen. She seems to be one of those shoved down your throat like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn but on the big screen with a loud soundtrack and passion behind the words, I GOT why she was/is so great. And yes I did tear up. Youtube doesn't do the song justice, it was wonderful.
in·ter·mis·sion/–noun
1.a short interval between the acts of a play or parts of a public performance, usually a period of approximately 10 or 15 minutes, allowing the performers and audience a rest.
Dummy #1 asks what is an intermission. I told her. She responded, "I don't know what else could be in the movie, it seems like it's done." I tell her, "Well, it's not, you have about 1.5 hrs left so you better get up." Please, go away and die because you are worthless were my thoughts. She went to get gummy bears which she smacked loudly and left the wrapper on the ground, PIG! Dummy #2 on my left asked what was restored in the movie. The audio track is all there but there are stills in black and white that were recovered from the cut scenes that we got to watch as we heard the audio, that was the restored part, which Robert Osborne, talked about, at length, had he listened!!
The movie ended and I see Dreamboat getting up and out before the lights are up so I scooted outside as well. He's walking around to get in the car, Boring McYawn is already in the car, and I say, "Pardon me Mr. Baldwin." He looked up and I walked out into the street to show I meant business. "I find you terribly fascinating," he loved that, "If you ever want to steal John Wayne's footprints..." And he laughed took my number and said ," ok, thank you." That was a reference to an 'I Love Lucy' episode and if you've never seen it, you're welcome.
I then walked over to Club TCM, because I didn't pay $1,000 extra to go to the Vanity Fair party (NEXT YEAR!!!), and bought myself a $4.99 Diet Coke. I met up with two really nice girls I had seen at the premire who were dressed cute.
Me, Carley and Amber
They left early and I went in and ran into one of the guys that had interviewed me earlier that day and I can't remember his name but we had a nice long talk. I'm horrible with names!!
The Essenstials Set
We parted and I went home around midnight because I had to be back in Hollywood the next day at 9AM to see 'The Bad and the Beautiful."
So... I recently watched the HBO movie Grey Gardens. I've seen the original documentary from the 1970s and the people on 'Hoarders' don't got nothin' on the Beales!!
I really enjoyed the movie because it gave me a better understanding of the two women from the documentary and their true stories...not just their own idealized versions. Jessica Lange was very good as Big Edie and doesn't have a bad voice either. But I felt Drew Barrymore was the best in this role, probably the best thing she's ever done. She was dead on as Little Edie and even trained her mouth to talk like a normal person and not how she normally speaks, out of one side of her mouth, like Bette Davis after her stroke!
After watching that movie I found a super cute video of cats making biscuits. The cat getting the rub down is the same breed as Mr. Bojangles.
After I watched it I looked up the reason why cats do that. Let me share:
Q: Why do cats knead?
A: That loud purring followed by the sharpening of claws on some soft spot is called “milk-treading.” A nursing kitten instinctively uses his paws to draw out milk, gently pushing on his mother’s stomach to increase the milk flow. When older cats behave this way, it’s a good sign that they’re happy, content, and probably recalling their kitten hood.
The fact that I spent that much time looking up cute cat videos and cat information is a little scary to me. I don't want to become the crazy cat lady in my 20s and when I only have one cat. I hate to think how nutty I'll be if I get more!!
Then I looked on my iPhone. I have 81 photos on there, 32 are of Bojangles. If I die in a car wreck and someone finds my phone they will think, "Whoa, that chick was really into her cat." Here are some samples to prove it.
Covering his eyes from the sun coming in so he can keep napping.
That's right, I'm knitting with my cat. I'm doomed.
I understand he's super cute and awesome but I need more photos of other things or else I'm on the road to Grey Gardens, 30 cats and a giant raccoon!
So... I tried to make a butterscotch cookie with chocolate ganache that I saw on Bakerella's blog.
I couldn't find the 11 inch pan she used but I found one that was 8in x 2in.
I have never made ganache before but it was SUPER easy. Melted butter, cream and chocolate chips. It smelled like hot coco!
I couldn't decorate it exactly like the blog, which stunk because I really thought it looked cool how she did it, but my improvised version isn't too bad.
What I did make that turned out perfectly was the Valentine's Day card. I made it while everything was baking. SUPER CUTE and easy!!!
I also did a red velvet cake from Paula Deen. It wasn't really red because I didn't have any red food dye, but really, it's doesn't matter as long as it tastes good and it's Paula Deen, y'all! You know this is gonna be decadent!!!
OK I was really good and didn't have any cookie dough, or ganache. I taste tested the cake batter because it called for vinegar and wanted to make sure it wasn't salad-y before I baked it but I did have one big finger full of frosting. My total weakness in life. It was SUPER yummy, cream cheese, marshmallow, butter and powdered sugar. Y'all....mmmm.
Cake Sandwich
Not quite the 7 luscious layers of the world famous baker, Fred Mertz, but it works.
A baking job well done and I don't even feel sick from too much dough eating because I didn't have any. 9 year old me would be shocked!
(By the way, for anyone who's nosey, the cookie goes to Eddie, Maybelline's blog about Smith's got me motivated for that, even though I'm nothing compared to God's Bakery. The cake and card go to my roommate.)
I have no gaydar, I have a cat named Mr.Bojangles, who is probably gay come to think of it, and I'm surrounded by stupid turds. So...like a big breasted Liz Lemon.
