You Just Never Know What Star Is Sitting Next To You In Hollywood

I did a post a while back about true angelenos that included a bit about the nonchalance with respect to famous stars. True angelenos would not go all Lucy Ricardo on the star, and at best, they would just say ... "I love your work."

So tonight, it was like older ladies at the bar, and this tall blonde dude at the end, very unassuming. We were having a great discussion about Vegas, when two women of my age sat in between us, and at some point, one of them said to the blonde dude, "I love your work." I was like ... who is that? I thought he was just some business dude, who I see all the time at my watering hole.

Lo and behold, it was Ken Howard! Once I realized that (noticing that tonight we were watching basketball on the big screen at the bar and he made some comment about the white players on the team which to him, meant the teams were from the midwest, and he was right ... and still I did not make the connect) he was THE Ken Howard from The White Shadow, which I have to admit, I watched religiously ... I was so impressed by his charisma and his lack of "look at me, I am a famous person" while we still traded "name dropping" in our respective stories about entertainment.

And this man is the president of the Screen Actors Guild. Damn ... ya never know who is sitting next to you in Hollywood!

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For you out-of-towners, find a deal on Orbitz, come to Hollywood, and rub shoulders with the famous.
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RIP, Jeff Conaway

Although he rose to fame in the TV show Taxi, he was the person on Broadway that played the lead character of Zuko in Grease, (which in the movie version was played by DUH John Travolta, reducing Conaway to playing a subordinate character, Kenickie). And, yes, I have been a closet fan of some reality television shows, so I did watch Conaway's performances on Dr. Pinsky's shows, "Celebrity Rehab."

I cannot imagine the physical pain that Conaway must have been experiencing to just end it all.

Only In Hollywood Does Elvis Ride The Bus

Just Another Stroll In The Neighborhood

I had a rather interesting day today, the kind that makes me love living in the neighborhood that I do. But, the first part had nothing to do with where I live.

I'm not sure how many of my readers are aware of what "flash mobs" are about. They sort of hit the scene a few years back, generally just to make a simple but silent statement. They grew into different types of scenarios, including the ones that appeared around the world on the 25th anniversary of "Thriller" in 2008.



This morning's flash mob that I read about and watched was an opera flash mob! It was such a cool way to start the day.



Went to work for a few hours, then came home because basically, everything was closed and not a whole lot had to be done. So, since it was like 3:30, I decided to walk to the market to pick up a few items that I don't get at the health food store (like my rum, candles, sponges, diet Coke, etc.). I thought the "little" bus was not running since it was a holiday which is why I decided to walk (with my bum knees no less), and half way to the store, I saw the "little" bus and was like, damn, I didn't have to walk. So, I figured I'd get in and out, and I'd at least be able to take the "little" bus home and not have to walk. But, when I got out of the store, I realized I had just missed it, and since they changed it from running every fifteen minutes to every half hour, I just decided to slowly walk back home (about 6 city size blocks). I get just across the street and run into someone that manages the old apartment building I used to live in, so we start chatting up things, and before you know it, an hour had passed (with me standing the whole time with my shopping tote -- it has wheels though). Finally, it turns dark, and the El Rey theater lights go on (signaling a show is probably happening later tonight) and we say bye and move on. Then I get to the end of the block where I have to turn and go up one more block to my apartment at the end, and I run into the two security guards that work at the El Rey, having some coffee at Starbucks at the corner. So I pull up my bag, and hang out for like another half hour just going over things, catching up since I hadn't seen them in a few weeks (I ride the bus home with one of them, when she is usually on her way to work!). Told them about Zaire's suspension for the prank, and we all had a good laugh. Then it was time for them to get their asses to work, so I turn the corner and start walking. I see a couple with a little baby and a large stroller. The baby was walking and the stroller was empty and I made a comment like "you can just wheel me home, my feet hurt so much!" Of course, we started talking, and the funny thing was that this couple had their apartment recently redone on an HGTV series call The Antonio Treatment, which episode I had seen (but, honestly I did not recognize the couple from just walking up the block). So, I made a couple of new friends on that walk, not to mention maybe getting a hit vis-a-vis an apartment design make-over!

Got home in time for cocktail hour! I definitely love my neighborhood! (But, boy do my feet hurt!)

Oh, Great, Drama Obama Is Going To Cause More Traffic Confusion Tomorrow

A shortsighted trip to L.A. to try to boost Boxer supporters, first doing something at USC, then going to an Hispanic (tv/radio - my bad, don't know) station after that, in Glendale.

At least this time he's staying east of me. That fundraiser in Hancock Park was definitely a pain in the ass insofar as traveling was concerned.

Hence, the television and other media info ahead of time. LAPD's excuse for the last fiasco was that secret service personnel did not communicate with the local police, hence, the experienced traffic problems.

A Little Night Dancing

Debbie Allen representing 1980's dance, and Gwen Verdon, representing, well, Bob Fosse! Ah ... sitting back and enjoying.



Ok, since it's late (midnight by now) time for some hard shit dancing.



If you look closely, you'll see Janet (Jones) Gretzky among the dancers.

Live Blogging, Day Three, Mear One, 6th & La Brea

I am out again, this evening, watching "live art" develop.

I'll keep "live blogging" the event (grins). Here we are before sunset (no, not the boulevard, the damn sun setting stupid!) (the butt shot belongs to Roger L. Griffith.

Alphonse Mucha/Mear One

Only in Hollywood. Pouring my usual Rum and Coke, I saw this actually happening and went out with my cheap ass video camera. Mear One, an artist, is painting this mural on a commercial building wall (that houses an art gallery) of Alphonse Mucha. I took these shots, and I have Mear's permission to post this video and pictures.

Come on, imagine going into your kitchen, and this is the view outside of your window! I love my life!

The Spider And The Fly

Recent tweets between Lindsay Lohan and Joan Rivers, reminds me of The Spider and the Fly, with Rivers, or course, being the spider!

The back-and-forth began on Friday, when Rivers Twitter-slammed Lohan, writing that the 24-year-old is "so dumb" that her "idea of being sworn in is cursing at the judge." In her inimitable style, she added, "Lindsay Lohan said she wouldn't mind being under oath because she thought Oath was a Norwegian ski instructor," as well as "I was just reading about the new Lindsay Lohan diet, which is all liquid. 80 proof," and "Lindsay Lohan had 'F--- you' painted on her nails. What people don't know is that the judge had 'Eat me you party skank' painted on hers." The latter referred to the now-infamous profane tattoo Lohan had on her fingernail during her recent probation hearing.

Now, you have to admit, Joan still has got her style!

This is the lame retort from "the fly" Ms. Lohan:

"Joan Rivers and her 'stargument' make me believe that she and Michael Lohan are a match made in heaven," Lohan tweeted in response on Tuesday, taking a double shot at the comedienne and her own estranged father, who has said he believes Lohan needs serious treatment for her substance-abuse issues.

"All he needs is her botox doctor. 'Dr.' Drew — any ideas? Botox rehab reality show?" she followed up, adding a third victim to the feud by taking a shot at "Celebrity Rehab" star Dr. Drew Pinsky, who recently told RadarOnline that Lohan would do better in his care in a yearlong residential treatment facility than in jail, which he fears will "harden her."

Swinging at all her detractors, Lohan wrapped up by quoting none other than the G-Unit General. "In the words of 50 cent ... You shouldn't throw stones if you live in a glass house and if you got a glass jaw, you should watch yo mouth."

Very much on the lame side, and oh, so not funny! I don't mean mean, not funny, I mean, hey, Joan's posts are funny because, um, that's what she does for a living! Lohan, obviously pissed (and can't take a joke for shit) comes back with a more grade school "I know you are but what am I" retort.

Lohan, honey, get thee into rehab! You are so last year.

Shopping In Hollywood

I don't normally have a short fuse in combustible situations, like being in an abnormal line during Christmas time shopping, etc.

For some reason, the local Ralphs was fully packed, and although I could have jumped the rather large line for the 15 or less aisle, I had 18 items, and you know me, I tend to be a stickler for fucking RULES!

So after waiting like 30 minutes for my articles to start to be checked, my feet were killing me and I was not enjoying how the new bag I purchased (with wheels - to make it easier to tote my groceries home) was waffling. Then, of course, after I paid for my weekly bus pass, I have to go to the center counter to HOPE that someone shows up in the next half hour to load my bus pass card.

I noticed one of the managers was actually in the area. Since I've lived here close to 17 years, I know everyone that works at my local Ralphs. (OK so I'm channeling DJ Rix, sue me). I grabbed my wallet, but left my purse in the shopping cart, and moved up the aisle to make sure the manager saw me so I could get the bus pass filled. However, I was forced to endure the lunatic ravings of a stark raving "queen" blabbering about how his hand full of rain checks couldn't be honored by Ralphs. What was pathetic was that the manager kept telling the person what he COULD do, but queenie couldn't get that part through her thick skull. He kept repeating lame crap about how this one and that one told him this and that. The manager kept saying "this is what I CAN do for you" and it was just completely lost on this guy. Then the manager tells the guy, look, let's go to the aisle, you tell me what you want, I'll order it, and it will be here in less than a week, and I will call you. The guy finally shuts up and decides to take the manager up on his offer. So, before the manager takes off, he sees me, of course he's known I was there for about 15 minutes listening to this garbage. So he tells the guy, do you mind if I just fill her Tap card and then I'll meet you in the aisle and we can go over your order. So the guy actually says to ME, what is wrong with this area, you are the second person to have an attitude .... Whoa .. so I tell him, hey, if you don't like the area, just leave. Then he says something under his breath as he pushes me aside (never mind that he had to push me, my bag with the wheels AND my shopping cart with my purse aside), and I say "bite me, bitch." He replies "suck on me" to which I yell out in reply "you ain't got anything I would want to suck on."

Just a typical day doing my grocery shopping.

The new bag was cool though. Folds up to fit in my purse, but opens up to hold about two eco friendly cloth bags, but with wheels!

Hooray For Hollywood

Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner on Monday donated the last $900,000 sought by a conservation group for a land purchase needed to save the famed vista of the Hollywood sign from being spoiled by development.

Having lived most of my life in this part of town, I can remember when the Hollywood sign was lit up every night. The fact that the sign was going to actually be replaced by development really pissed me off. I can see it from my bedroom, and have grown up with it all around me. I used to take my daughter up to the area and we'd have lunch looking at the sign. I've even jumped the fence and walked up the path right up to the letters themselves (which are seriously huge).

To have this gone would be a travesty to what is officially known as Hollywood.

High five to Heff. Gonna have to go out and get me a Playboy mag just to give back to the coffers.

What I Did Today

First off, I slept until noon -- hurrah for me. Except there were two wild card football games playing today, 1:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Only the Jets/Cinci game concerned me, because if Cinci won, at some point, my Chargers might have to play them, and I already have NON fond memories of the infamous Freezer Bowl game. Glad the Jets won.

So, at around 2 p.m. I decide to hop the Dash bus (25 cents) to go to the Farmer's Market for chili at Johnny Rockets. While waiting for the bus, my neighbor was getting gas at the station where I was waiting ... offered me a drive to the Farmer's Market (and, later on, I figured given the mileage vs. the cost of gas/bus, that it was more expensive for him to give me the ride, by about 25 cents LOL). I wanted to see if my Bacardi rum was cheaper at CVS, knowing I could take the Dash back to Smart & Final where I know the damn huge ass bottle is only $16.45 (while a regular fifth costs $14.95 elsewhere). Since I took a pay cut to keep on my most experienced lawyer at the office, I have to cut back, so smack me if I'm looking to stock up on my liquor at a cheaper price!

I bought two bottles, and walked home. Took a break, then hopped the 212 bus at about 3:30 p.m. headed to Hollywood to put money on my pre-paid credit card at the usual Western Union One Stop Shopping Center (and also got next week's pre-paid bus pass).

I actually caught the same female bus driver going home as I got getting to Western Union. Hollywood was backed up for a long time because some Japanese hard rock band was filming a video (well, I can't swear they were Japanese, some one on the bus said they were, but on the way back, where filming was in full force and effect, the band was singing in English, and the drummer was not Japanese, as far as I could tell from the video posted high above the shooting).

It took us half an hour just to go about one mile thanks to the video shoot, but it was fun chatting up the bus driver. She was bitching at one point about how she hates driving and the traffic, and then I reminded her she had a union, benefits, and a decent salary, and she was like, thanks for bringing me out of my funk!

I then stopped off at Ralphs about two blocks from home, did most of my weekly shopping (sans booze, but still three bags, one over the shoulder, and two holding, and yes, I have those reusable ones from Walgreens, except I do have one kind of expensive foldable from Nordstroms that cost me ten times as much as my other bags LOL) and walked home.

Then I watched some Dallas/Philly football, but after the first half, I switched to The Mighty Ducks movie (see previous post) and had my epiphany re hockey. Funny, this year, I passed on purchasing Center Ice from my cable provider, and I have actually not watched one single game all year long, except for the New Year's Day outdoor game, where they announced the USA Hockey Team players.

USA Hockey Team ... ah, remembering where I was in 1980 (sigh).